Posts by simon g
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I don't see Key repealing that in a hurry, if at all.
I see a worsening economy, and a highly-publicised referendum providing a useful distraction. You can see where that will lead.
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Rodney, speaking this afternoon:
"We've made it clear that we support John Key and a National-led government. We're not going to throw our toys out of the sandpit, but we certainly think that we face challenging times and we campaigned on a change of direction, and we're looking for that change of direction, and as I've said before, sometimes John Key, I find him to the left of Helen Clark, which isn't good enough for our country.''
1999 isn't on the internet, so obviously it never happened. But nevertheless, I'm sure Jim Anderton and Helen Clark weren't playing these games when forming their new government.
ACT and collective cabinet responsibility: a fight waiting to happen.
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National/ACT keep another promise: Tougher Sentencing
A Taranaki farmer has been sentenced to prison for nine months for posting a threatening letter containing white powder to former Prime Minister Helen Clark.
Judge Alan Roberts told the Hawera District Court said prison was his only option, in order to prevent copycat offending.
Douglas Hancock, 61, from 40km east of Stratford, pleaded guilty to making criminal threats after sparking a full scale security alert at the Beehive three months ago.
His letter called Miss Clark a gutter mole and warned her to get out of New Zealand while she still could.
It arrived on the 8th floor of the Beehive where staff work for the Prime Minister's office.
The powder was actually flour, but 58 staff were evacuated for a day and four had to be hosed down.
Rejecting defence suggestions of community work or home detention Judge Roberts said the crime was tailor made for copycats and a light sentence could lead to prolific similar offending.
Hancock was also ordered to pay $4694 to the Fire Service and $500 to four employees who touched his missive.
(Radio NZ)
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Craig, I think Winston should have been sacked for his policy speeches alone, even if he'd never, ever taken a dodgy dollar.
But he had his leeway. Now if Key wants to exercise greater control over ACT minister(s), then he's got to be prepared to sack them. And it is a stone-cold certainty that he'll soon be faced with that problem.
Wouldn't it be better to keep them at arms' length to start with? Otherwise it'll just be the same old dilemma: is the government divided or the PM weak?
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What Don Christie said. Give him your electorate vote.
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Re- ACT and National
Are they going to return to collective Cabinet responsibility? On policy matters (putting aside financial shenanigans) Dunne & Peters had a lot of leeway under Clark. It is hard to see ACT putting up with the old fashioned facade where everything the government does is always right. No way will Rodney & co be dining on the rodents, especially given what they've said even after the election.
Key would be better off giving them room to rant, I reckon. While instructing Epsom Nats to start looking for a Simon Bridges, very publicly ("nice electorate you got here, Rodney, it'd be a real shame if something happened to it, know what I mean, guv?").
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Rodney Hide and John Key together now on Sunday, revealing that their policies and plans are very different.
Er, shouldn't this interview / debate have happened on TV One before we voted?
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JohnA
The Maori Party would be crazy to give National confidence and supply without huge concessions. Lose your virginity, you want the keys to the Porsche, not just the ride.
Clear lesson from 4 previous post-election deals: the voters don't care about ministers being in or out of cabinet, about confidence & supply or any other details. That's for politics junkies (us).
You go with the government, or you don't. Not a sophisiticated understanding, sadly, but that's how it's presented and perceived. As our new PM would put it: explaining is losing.
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And what the hell is a secario? Bring back the sub-editors I downsized ...
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The people have spoken, the bastards!
(California legislator Dick Tuck, 1970's)
Still, I can't really share the doom and gloom. If McCain & Palin had won I'd be so angry I'd be joining the Weather Underground. When Key wins I just enjoy the weather.
This will sound like I'm plagiarising Pangloss, but ... I honestly think there are plenty of silver linings here for the left-leaners among us. Ever since 1993, there have been parties for people to cast a cop-out vote for, with NZ First and United Future the main vehicles. Now the personality parties are effectively dead. Good.
At the next election people unhappy with the government will vote Labour or Green. No mucking around with false prophets. (Yes there is the Maori Party, but they are either going to get into bed with the Nats and get a terminal STD, or oppose the Nats and be part of the alternative government next time round. The National - ACT - Maori love-in will be a crockery throwing contest long before Bill English's first budget).
The only obstacles to this rosy secario for 2011 are new breakaway parties from National (e.g. Bible Bashers For Bashing) or Labour (The "Fuck Off Goff" Front), going down the well-worn path of using an electorate to oppose the people who put them there. In theory, this might happen, but after last night, there aren't many potential defectors in Labour with a safe seat to fall back on.
Labour ran a dumb campaign, attacking a guy the public wanted to like. Too soon. But the voters won't like him much in three years' time - which means his caucus won't like him much either. Not when the polls are going to put them out of a job.
So all Labour have to do is stay sane, and not indulge in the kind of blood-letting the left have often loved. Keep on good terms with the Greens and Maori Party, and wait for electoral gravity.
PS Anyone see Stephen Joyce & Roger Douglas on Agenda? Short version: Douglas says review the promises, Joyce says we'll keep them. That's within hours. Now just add three years ...