Herald on Greens
And today the Herald looks at the Greens:
Performance rating this term: 6/10
Recovered and refocused after the death of Rod Donald soon after the 2005 election. Has spent the past three years forging itself as a party that can stand out of the shadow of Labour. Has had some policy gains, largely in one-off projects. However, has not been able to make any gains in the polls, despite growing public concern on environmental issues and Labour’s own low polling.
However the latest Colmar Brunton had them at 7%, so they may be starting to pick up support now – time will tell.
Assets and liabilities:
Sue Bradford is one of the party’s better-known faces, as a staunch advocate for social policies, and should be used more. All MPs are strong voices for their causes, the party has a diverse party list and does its research thoroughly for its policies. But it is still viewed as airy-fairy by some voters and as too “nanny state” by others, after the anti-smacking law and the push for the ban on the sale of incandescent light bulbs.
Not just light bulbs they want to ban either!
Achievements and failures:
A stellar run getting private members’ bills passed into law – including allowing mothers to keep babies in prison for longer, and getting rid of the “youth wage”. Sue Kedgley’s flexible working hours bill and Nandor Tanczos’ waste minimisation bill also became law. Played significant role getting the Government to agree to electrify Auckland’s rail network. …
But from outside government its successes have largely been restricted to one-off projects. Was forced to cave in after threatening to pull its support for the Emissions Trading Scheme despite getting no concessions on its main concerns, and settled for a $1 billion fund to make homes more energy-efficient.
As the ETS pushes up power and fuel prices, and at a time of weak economic growth, it may become a political liability.
October 8th, 2008 at 11:04 am
DPF:
“……..As the ETS pushes up power and fuel prices, and at a time of weak economic growth, it may become a political liability…..”
“MAY”??????????
HAHAHAHA………(rolls round on floor, slappng thigh…..)
October 8th, 2008 at 11:53 am
The success of the Greens in the latest Parliament has been due to the razor thin margin that the government has. The last 3 years have seen the tail wagging the dog in ways that we have not seen previously, simply by virtue of the fact that this government is prepared to do a lot to keep itself in power, and the small parties aligned to it, know it.
October 8th, 2008 at 11:59 am
If temperatures in NZ rise by 6 degrees, will we still need insulation in the houses?
October 8th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
More whitewashing from media socialists. Trevor Loudon’s (world renown) website is where I get my news on the Watermelons.
October 8th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Redbaiter, if you continue to be moderate, then we are on the same side.
If you descend into foul mouth tirades than I will come and haunt you.
You may want to meet me ,and beat me up. No Worries. I am up for it.
An apology to our misguided guests would make all the difference.
October 8th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
“More evidence of the global socialist conspiracy. Right-wing opinion sites that say what I like to hear are where I get my ‘news’ on the watermelons.”
October 8th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
“viewed as airy-fairy by some voters and as too “nanny state” by others,”
Hey look at that, 85% of kiwis are “others”. Outstanding marginalisation from Labours PR firm the Herald.
October 8th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
“Trevor Loudon’s (world renown) website is where I get my news on the Watermelons.”
No wonder your views are so well-rounded and informed.
October 8th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Redbaiter -
“Trevor Loudon’s (world renown) website is where I get my news on the Watermelons.”
So, where do you go to get your news on the Greens then?
October 8th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
“Sue Bradford should be used more”. What nonsense! She was the proponent of the anti-smacking bill which in my eyes anyway makes her absolute anathema. I would think she would be one of the most unpopular politicians in New Zealand?
You do have to wonder if MPs had to be voted in by an electorate, as they all used to under first past the post, how many of the Green MPs would get in? Sue Bradford, Keith Locke — I can’t see many electorates letting them into Parliament.
October 8th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Trevor Loudon, in a just world, one not stacked by leftwing biased stooges, would be getting a weekly column in a major daily paper, and regular investigative articles printed. And if we also got to read an op-ed by Patrick Moore occasionally, and some by Bjorn Lomborg, we would be properly informed about the Greens/Watermelons. But they have a support base, based, as is usual in this country, on myths and lies which have remained unaddressed by the MSM “social watchdog”. (The social watchdog got tied to a tree and emasculated by Feminazis about 20 years ago).
October 9th, 2008 at 8:30 am
Feminazis ate my kitten.
October 9th, 2008 at 8:57 am
Interesting mention of Bradford there, yes. She seems to be some sort of political superwoman – she was behind the ‘mothers with babies’ bill in Parliament which didn’t actually need a third reading because every party loved it! On the other hand – Section 59.
5 Green private members bills drawn this term, 5 of them passed. That 6/10 could’ve been a 7.5 maybe?