Thank you for your opinion. I don’t know how much you followed it but cases I was referring to were the Peters v Davison trials, which Winston won.

Focusing on the real issue? And Neil, you call it a wasted exercise? Without Winston the Bolger government would have done absolutely nothing… In fact, they tried to get away with doing exactly that. I agree, the Winebox Inquiry Commission report was a wasted exercise… Which is why Winston and Ian Wishart (see The Paradise Conspiracy) relentlessly continued to pursue the issue, resulting in the biggest exposure of government department incompetency in NZ history. I am surprised you downplay the Magnum transaction, David, considering it was the central focus and crux of Winebox.

I am an extreme right ACT supporter but I am not blind to the fact that Winebox made a much greater difference to NZ’s tax laws than Rodney Hide ever did with his crusade against the IRD. I am not saying Hide didn’t save those people with all the media publicity, but looking at the wider picture nothing has changed in substance. What happened in the end? The IRD got a slap on the wrist but ultimately the department still operates under the exact same conditions. Without Winston Peters the tax law loopholes arising from the 80s reforms exploited by white collar criminals would still be there, and in the end it would still be the lower tier taxpayers who take the fall.

Going to be an interesting race indeed.

Winnie? Toast and jam.

Bob has done what was required of him – a good and somewhat difficult campaign, due to the “Grey Power” vote at the time, and to get rid of the “bauble”. He succeeded.

Being a similar vintage we applaud the work he has done in Parliament particularly, and in his constituancy, in the Building Industry side and Leaking Homes. He has served his constituancy well. We appreciate his non nonsence “kiwi” style, which upsets the PC brigade who don’t like the truth in “simple” terms.

“Bauble” he has shown himself to be nothing but a big “MOUTH” who stands only for himself. It is a pity that some of his fellow MP’s are still supporting him, because there are some good people there, and they will fall at the next election as it is doubtful that they will get 5%.

Mr Bridges has been a prominent criminal lawyer in Tauranga for the past several years, specialising in jury trials. Mr Bridges was educated…

So, Simon Bridges speaks in the third person then?

[DPF: Only when doing a press release, as everyone does]

The only potential criminality exposed was the Magnum transaction and it was a seriously borderline call – even Judges disagreed about whether it was illegal, if I remember correctly.

Now the Winebox inquiry did expose some very dubious tax avoidance measures. And that was a good thing. But Peters massively over-reached with his claims.

My apologies to Ron Mark but I am sure he understands collateral damage.

Well, GPT, there’s a certain wisdom in the only proverb “when you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas.” Mark is a bit of a curate’s egg, but Brian Donnelly has shown himself to be an intelligent and thoughtful contributor (though one I disagree with more often than not) when Winnie isn’t looking. Shame.

Yes this is true, he has shown himself to be a skillful politician, especially when it comes to getting what is best for WINSTON. All he has ever said is that he will “negotiate” with the party that has the most votes first. That is not to say he won’t go into coalition with the party that comes second.

If the Nats are going to pull back in Tauranga in the hopes of assuring themselves a coalition partner, they are playing a dangerous game. I cannot see how you could trust Winston to follow what the constituents say – he is after all “Bauble Man”, and he really does appear to dislike the Nats.

At first I though these people must have very sad and boring lives not to have anything more interesting to talk about.

But then a speech at a conference has managed to get millions of people to support Barack Obama.

Neil, shows how much you know about politics. Call a man who has been in govt on both sides of the block and about the place longer than most in National, the man who has all but charmed the pants off the US Secretary of State,

oh bugger what do I know, I guess that’s a light weight. Laughable analysis of one hell of a political career there sunshine.

His bullshit and vile suggestions that all he needed to fix the housing problem in NZ is five minutes. What all that time, why not just 1 minute, you are apparently a superman in disguise of an arrogant tosser.

Why if he thinks he can fix the problem of housing (leaky homes, shortages etc) in NZ in only five minutes is he leaving as he’s about to get his chance. According to you folk, National are on the verge of government, so there you go sunshine, you are going to get more than 5 minutes, you are going to get 3 years.

So why are you running away if all you needed was five minutes. Why are you hiding. Your vile and disgusting comments this evening on National radio portray a man who is overcome with the allure of his own self worth, yet with out the intestinal fortitude to carry through your hollow threats. You are nothing with those words, and thank god you time in this government has come to an end, piss off you arrogant hollow wanker. Deserting the people of NZ when all you needed was 5 minutes, hang your bloody head in shame.

Still we have Simon Power to “Stomp Out Crime” there’s one thing to look forward to, a crime free NZ.

New Zealand deserves better than all of this hot air and false promises.

Unfortunately for Clarkson he announced before all this that he would stand. But John suddenly Cluefull wants Winston in the Cabinet, just making sure he has the numbers. So Clarkson has to stand down. And Winston will stand in Tauranga. Mark my words: National + NZ First formn the next cabinet.