Hide resigns
April 28th, 2011 at 1:19 pm by David FarrarRodney Hide resigned as Leader of ACT at midday. Don Brash will be elected Leader at the next Caucus meeting.
I’d like to pay tribute to Rodney at this point in time. It is primarily due to Rodney that ACT survived in 2005 and 2008. Over his 15 years in Parliament Rodney has had a greater and more benficial impact on Parliament than most MPs.
I’m glad he is so happily married to Louise, and has become a Dad again. That will remind him of what is truly important in life – far more so than politics.
It looks like Rodney will remain an ACT MP and Minister until the election.
The immediate issues for ACT are:
- Does John Boscawen remain Deputy Leader, or does that revert back to Heather Roy.
- Does John Banks stand in Epsom for ACT.
- List Ranking
While I have said previously that I’m not sure how good a fit John Banks is to ACT, there is considerable logic to having a candidate in the seat who will clearly win it for ACT. If they look guaranteed to win the seat, then they can campaign that voting for ACT is not a wasted vote, and that the more people who vote for them the more influence they will have on policy.
It is possible a Brash led ACT will also make it harder for Winston Peters to get traction (which is of course a good thing). Winston planned to campaign hard on the foreshore & seabed issue, but a Brash led ACT may be more effective in appealing to the coastal coaltion supporters.
Where NZ First, and Labour and Greens, will attack is on economic policy – especially wages, asset sales and superannuation. Goff is already suggesting that it was a cunning National plot to have Don roll Rodney (which is hysterically untrue).
The reality is that Don and Rodney are near identical minds on economic policy. What will determine their influence on Government is not so much who the leader is, but how many seats they win. At 10 seats you roughly expect twice the influence of 5 seats.
So as I said earlier, the next few polls will be interesting.
UPDATE: An excellent blog post from Cactus Kate on ACT.
Tags: ACT, Don Brash, Rodney Hide
April 28th, 2011 at 1:27 pm
Why not have Brash stand in Epsom? Surely he would win it, the man does have a high profile.
Banks does not fit in with Act at *all*.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 1:28 pm
So as I said earlier, the next few polls will be interesting.
I bet they will, especially for National and Labour. It’s anyone’s guess how this will affect the balance of percentages.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 1:32 pm
Why can’t Brash win his own seat? Why does Hide automatically have to drop out of Epsom?
It’d be great if some of the minor parties started focusing back on their core again. ACT: low taxes and better economy, Greens: the environment. I don’t really know what any of the other ones stand for so I can’t sum them up unfortunately.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 1:33 pm
Sic transit gloria etc, etc, etc.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 1:35 pm
Don’t turn your back on Heather Roy.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 1:36 pm
Komata 1.33 couldn’t agree more. If ACT can show me they are an effective ginger group for National they’ll get my vote.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 1:36 pm
The next issue is John banks and the Epsom seat. John boscowan could stay as deputy but that may change if banks wins the Epsom seat nomination.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 1:36 pm
So we will have in November
RIGHT (a renamed ACT)
CENTRE National and Peter Dunne
LEFT Labour
FAR LEFT Greens
Centre Maori Maori Party
Racist Far Left Maori Hone Party
Plus the fringe wasted vote parties .
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 1:36 pm
It’s a really interesting time, now we know where we stand with ACT, Hone is now starting to play his games again. It will be interesting to see how his launch of the MANA party goes and whether he will resign his seat. If he does do the later, I think John Key should pull a fast one and rethink the election date so he doesn’t have to have a by-election. This will effectively stop Hone in his tracks as he will not have parliamentary resources to call on.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 1:38 pm
Can see ACT polling close to 5% fairly quickly. I think many were over Hide. I blame it on his danicing with the monkeys and health regime. I liked him fat, he looked normal then.
Don’t understand the Banks bit, he just don’t fit.
They should pick a few high profile people (maybe Banks) and go for some marginal seats and of course, where ever Winnie stands too.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 1:38 pm
Goff probably got his infomration from this blog post: Are there any ACT members involved in the Brash bid?
Killer quote:
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 1:41 pm
Goof wouldn’t bloody know if you up him. He should be looking at the puddle of crap that used to be the labour party before he mouths off as far as I’m concerned.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 1:42 pm
I was pointing out that the two main people involved were not ACT Party members. They were National Party members. I guess Don will resign in the next few days.
However there is a big difference between some individual members of National getting involved with ACT, and Phil Goff’s suggestion this this was some sort of cunning plan launched by the National hierarchy.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 1:44 pm
As an Epsom voter, can I make a plea to spare us BANKS. He is brand fail, brand boring, brand old, brand yo-yo and I’m being polite. If ACT respect their party or the Epsom voter at all, at least give us Boscawen or Brash himself. As a Nat who votes strategically and one who would have had to swallow a rat to vote for Rodney, I could not stomach to vote for Banks period.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 1:44 pm
Goof dealing with self interested unionists and a gaggle of gays so he wouldn’t recognise a cunning plan if stripped naked, painted itself purple and danced naked on the piano singing cunning plans are here again.
He’d just say get off the funiture Chris.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 1:48 pm
I sincerely hope Dr Brash uses Rodney rather than casting him aside. It would be such a huge talent to waste, Rodney’s knowledge of Parliamentary procedure is far greater than the rest of them put together.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 1:48 pm
It would be strange having someone so recently campaigning in favour of massive heavy rail investment in Auckland to being part of ACT.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 1:49 pm
Like a true Nat David, you are slooooowly getting it.
Huge hoot how wrong-footed all the media luminaries have been from Day 1.
Get your heads round this: on November 26, Don Brash will be Prime Minister.
Epsom, Schmepsom!
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 1:51 pm
Jesus Ansell get someone to look into that tumor in your brain will you.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 2:04 pm
I’m (partly) with you John Ansell.
I predict 20 seats approx for ACT in the election. This is achievable; it only needs one in five voters to agree with Don Brash that the country is facing economic ruin if something isn’t done (and don’t forget that Brash is an economic success story in his own right), that too many New Zealanders live off the welfare of the rest of us, that we should stop giving preference to Maoris over other New Zealanders and that its madness to cut our own throats with the ETS and other fictional ‘carbon’ scams. How difficult is this? Everything that this man says makes good sense, so surely one in five voters will have the basic intelligence to agree with this?
This country is in crisis (both economically and socially) and we desperately need action NOW.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 2:07 pm
Get your heads round this: on November 26, Don Brash will be Prime Minister.
That’s comedy gold.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 2:18 pm
The only manner in which don Brash can roll John Key would involve heavy roading equipment.
Not saying I’m against it, its just unlikely.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 2:19 pm
Note that even Cactus Kate has consigned idiot Banks to the toxic bin.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 2:19 pm
If the man can get nearly 40% of the vote with ACT policies in the good times (having been cheated out of the PMship in the last week by an overspending Clark), why on earth wouldn’t he do better than that in a crisis when everyone can see that maturity and responsible management are sorely needed?
Given seven months of the clearest possible communications, why would it be so hard to persuade voters of the truth that their play-way, smile and wave amateur PM has been conning them, and has sacrificed their futures at the altar of his own personal popularity?
Given seven months, why would it not be possible to explain in the clearest possible terms what an economy is about and what is required to run it properly for the general betterment of every New Zealander?
Given seven months, why would it not be possible to persuade even the staunchest empty-headed socialist or deluded Nat blogger that Don’s idea of caring about people is EXACTLY the same kind of caring as practised by every parent worthy of the name?
We’re just talking about achievement values for God’s sake – not exactly to the right of Genghis Khan.
The right has always failed spectacularly to point out that their ideas are as mainstream as hell. Maybe the era of lies and broken promises by amateur politicians is about to end. Maybe we’re about to get a proper leader.
And no, I’m not on Don’s payroll. After this, he may not want me. But someone needs to raise that party’s sights from Epsom to Wellington.
The public is four million minds, all of them changeable. A week is a long time in politics. Seven months is an eternity.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 2:20 pm
Ummm… I am pleased for ACT’s sake, and I must say I have a bit of a mancrush on our Don right now as well, but 20 seats? Prime Minister? No. ACT is back in parliament for sure, but at my most optimistic appraisal, I doubt they will have more than ten MPs (and ten would be a great result). Stop fapping and calm down.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 2:21 pm
Get your heads round this: on November 26, Don Brash will be Prime Minister.
I guess you are just having a stir John.
Act may or may not win in Epsom. If they put Banks in there it will be interesting, he got done in the mayoral race and has plenty of negatives in various demographics.
Where else would Act win a seat?
Not looking hopeful (if he even tries).
Hmmm.
So far it looks like a maybe for one seat, and the rest from the list. The list. What will the list look like?
Brash has ambitions for a party vote in double figures and he and others keep mentioning him (actually National) getting 39% in 2005. He’s dreaming in that sort of territory. Unless he wants to get attention by marrying into royalty and going in and out of drug rehab.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 2:27 pm
Perhaps the time has come for National to stand a strong candidate in Epsom.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 2:28 pm
Given seven months of the clearest possible communications, why would it be so hard to persuade voters of … ?
Part 6 of the Broadcasting Act.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 2:29 pm
Congratulations to Don Brash, a well managed transfer of power. But we do not want John Banks in Epsom. While his more recent bout as mayor was more acceptable than previous – I guess he matured – recycled politicians are less than this blue ribbon seat deserves. We want a fresh face, a dynamic individual who has been successful in his own right, and a potential successor to Brash who at 70 has a limited political future..
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 2:30 pm
Perhaps the time has come for National to stand a strong candidate in Epsom.
I understand former National MPs (and current National Party members) John Banks and Don Brash are considering their options.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 2:32 pm
Pete – really silly examples which are for one – labour seats. Secondly, most of the voters outside of Epsom didn’t give their local candidate their vote and voted strategically – which in the last election was to get Helen Clark out. Act (except for Rodney in Epsom) did not campaign on winning their seat. I would also imagine John Boscowan was contesting the Mt Albert by-election to keep Act (and himself) in the frame – not to win the seat.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 2:32 pm
Brash should stand for Epsom.
Vote:Banks should be standing in Tamaki, but Bosco has a good enough shot out here provided he gets enough support on the ground. I fear that won’t happen, and we’d gladly elect Banks. Having said that, Boscowen deserves a chance at a winnable seat, he’s been a solid footman for ACT and has a lot of qualities that many National voters would appreciate.
April 28th, 2011 at 2:33 pm
He may be dreaming getting your vote Pete, but most voters are not stupid. Slow to get their heads round things, yes, but even intelligent people like Nat bloggers are slow to get their heads round things.
Have you ever changed your mind, Pete? No you probably haven’t. But I have and so have most right-wingers. Brash was a Fabian Socialist (did you know he refused to join the Australian Labor Party only because he wouldn’t sign up to their White Australia Policy?) Douglas was third generation Labour. Ken Shirley was a Trotskyite, and possibly Stephen Franks too.
Most minds are not calcified. They change on receipt of new information. Seven months is tons of time to dispense that information – as long as it’s done in an interesting way, and as long as you’re armed with that most devastating of all weapons, The Truth.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 2:35 pm
trout – that’s the best angle to push now if Act want this to work. They have to get fresh new talent that appeal to a wider vote if they want to get anywhere near their ambitions. Epsom is their best chance of getting an electorate seat.
Banks would be a huge risk as a recently failed egomaniac. I guess if it’s his money he can try and call some shots, but surely he can’t be the future of Act.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 2:39 pm
Don should say to people: “Look, you’ve had three years of a popular prime minister, and look where it’s got you. So how about we try a competent one?”
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 2:41 pm
John – yes, I have changed my mind before and am probably more willing than most to do it in politics. I will be listening right up until November 26th. And I won’t rule out voting for Act.
But to move 38% is going to take a heck of a lot – and break a lot of new ground in political promoting. Most voters may not be stupid but most voters are dumb and deaf and blind when it comes to campaigning. Selling a vision and a financial understanding is a lot different to selling hamburgers.
Maybe Act should rebrand as the McBrash Party. Might get into trouble offering free toys for every vote though.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 2:43 pm
“but most voters are not stupid” ….and here we part company.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 2:46 pm
Have to agree with all the others saying: PLEASE DO NOT GIVE US BANKS IN EPSOM!
Let’s have someone new and fresh-faced, barring that, Boscawen, secondly Brash. Although, personally I would like to see Brash focus on leading the party and have someone else win a seat.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 2:49 pm
labour will be spinning like crazy .. they know this is even more danger to them than their own stuff ups. Go Hone, you are da man. Once he has the screaming nutjob Sykes on board, will be goneburger BUt it will be a gay ,, I mean, a fun old-time
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 2:50 pm
Stage II of the coup John? Don as PM? Pre- or post-election? I think the broader electorate, that is the folks who’re not members of the BRT or ACT might provide a sobering message in the coming months.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 2:51 pm
“He may be dreaming getting your vote Pete, but most voters are not stupid”
I agree John. But does Don. If he had of had confidence of the ACT membership he would have been happy to have the membership decide on the leader. I think it probable but by no means certain he would have won. I do not know if that was put to him but I doubt if he would have accepted judging by his public statements.
I am not very optimistic about his view on any form of direct democracy.
I will still be voting ACT and probably maintain my membership for obvious reasons but am not impressed with his tactics.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 2:54 pm
This could be dangerous for Labour, as National could move further left than they already are, taking more of Labour’s vote, especially the union members (but not the unionists) – to counter the mildly right leaning ACT, which will be empowered following this. If this were to happen, the ones that could do well are the loony greens, as the hard left gaggle of gays that support labour may well head for them.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 2:56 pm
The mere thought of Banks standing for Epsom makes me glad I live in Mt Albert.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 2:56 pm
And so we come full circle, my arch nemesis DPF. . . . Let us analyse the facts.
I wonder – is National still ‘mad’ at Brash? No. Suddenly it’s all ‘cometh the hour, cometh the man’.
So pretty good result for National, having a former Nat Leader in charge of a current ally and ideologically similar party.
Is John Key going to the polls embarrassed by the continued presence of ‘perk-buster’ Hide?. No.
So again a pretty good result for National.
Will Labour be able to criticise Key for ‘not contesting’ Epsom under Hide? No. So really this has worked out quite well for National.
Is it possible that an enhanced ACT party presence will snipe at Labour/Winston support?
Yes.
Sooo . . . .All Good for National really.
And yet only days – sorry hours ago ago National were pretty cross at Don Brash, and his ‘botched coup attempt’ – if we are to endorse your Kiwiblog narrative …
And perhaps that’s how one might see it, – but I suspect one might only if one were Stevie Wonder Being lead by Roy Orbison in a darkened room through a swimming pool of black ink with the lights out, and with the assistance of a buoyancy-challenged guide dog.
I recall (correct me if I’m wrong) that this story about Brash/ACT emerged here at kiwiblog before it featured in the National media. How might I shake this feeling that kiwiblog has featured as a ‘covert operative’ in this process? My point being that it seems that as ‘Kiwiblog’ rises in profile, is it not valid to test its credentials as an objective source of information, as opposed to being a means to disseminate a party’s agendas?
When I raised some of these issues a couple of days ago you responded with the Wildean put-down of: ‘Don’t be an idiot’. One geyser sarcastically asked if I thought 9/11 was an inside job, too. If an ‘idiot’ could see that this set of circumstances could have ‘backroom deal to neutralise Hide at the polls’ written all over it – why did it not occur to an astute political commentator such as yourself, to at least braoch such a possibility. Or were your buddies in the Party treating you like the proverbial mushroom?
Are we to accept that Brash was ‘the lone gunman’ in this particular assassination and simply move on. If this is the case then he must be some kind of superman.
I only ask for information. . .
Now it appears that Goff is running a similar line and let the record show I’m no fan of the Philster, – But surely you can see in hindsight that as serendipitous goes this whole circumstance is about as good as it gets for Key?
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 2:57 pm
Gone by lunchtime
Good luck to Brash, hope his gift of the gaffe has been worked on since his Leader of the National Party days.
I guess now the Rodent will never have to explain why the supercity ended up costing money instead of saving it…?
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 2:58 pm
Why this fixation with bloody Epsom??
Brash has now provided a safe home for every Nat with a brain and a conscience. Believe it or not, there are quite a few of those. They’ve been dying for somewhere to flee to, and now they’ve got it.
National supporters now have a clear choice: The Cheesy Fake or The Real Deal? When they see this clearly – as even they will in seven months – the little traitor’s halo will shatter as quickly as it formed.
By November, the Scaredy Nats will be rocked back on to their Bill English Memorial Rump of 20%, while the party that embraces their founding principles will deservedly be on 40%+.
Laugh away, but you slowcoaches didn’t see this coming, did you?
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 3:00 pm
DPF – Don’t you think this will actually help Winston?
Brash, the honest little devil, wants to; raise the retirement age, means-test superannuation, scale back ‘ill-targeted’ policies like the gold card.
Nevermind that Key previously ruled these things out – he can’t be trusted – he ruled out increasing GST too, right?
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 3:01 pm
Act Party vote:
1996 – 6.1%
1999 – 7.04%
2002 – 7.14%
2005 – 1.51 %
2008 – 3.65%
Interesting that their vote collpased the year Brash lead a National revival (he deserves some but not all the credit for that).
On the surface 5% looks easily do-able, especially if National presents a lacklustre budget, but 10% looks exceptional. So no John, I still don’t see it, yet. Brash is not exactly a charisma king (he’s a burger king).
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 3:03 pm
Shit Ansell, who knew you were so nasty and demented.
(Actually, probably lots of people)
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 3:07 pm
“I’d like to pay tribute to Rodney at this point in time. It is primarily due to Rodney that ACT survived in 2005 and 2008.”
I do think you are stretching things DPF, Winston hide survived in 05 because Brash gave the people of Epsom a nod and a wink, he survived in 2008 because of the same arrangement with Neville Key and because he managed to convince the great Sir Roger to stand again.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 3:07 pm
Apart from Rodney, Banks seems to me to be the only effective Campaigner and that is why he has to be the one to contest the winnable seat of Epsom. Boscowan has been the most genuine, hardest working member in the house, but lacks the charisma and hard talking common touch that is natural to Banks. Likewise Brash for all his ability and knowledge has little ability at the campaign level, that is why it has to be Banks.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 3:14 pm
Mattyroo
I only see this as bad for the Greens, there will be a slight rise in support for Labour given today’s announcement if for no other reason than the hard left will be scared of wasting their vote on the Greens.
When you couple that with the loss (and it is a huge loss) of the Green’s grandmother figure in Jeanette Fitzsimons then the signs are very bad for the Greens.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 3:14 pm
I say that ACT will kick-ass in the coming election.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 3:18 pm
Backster @ 3.07pm
If a recycled loser like Banks is the best candidate ACT can find for a winnable seat then Dr Brash has wasted his time & the party is dogtucker.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 3:20 pm
John A,
Are you chanelling Philu and PennyB? Sure as heck sounds like it.
Just had a look at the election stats from 1996. No doubt DPF is doing that in much more depth than I, but what it shows is that in 1996 Act obtained 6.1% of the vote and 8 seats, 1999 7% and 9 seats, 2002 7% and 9 seats, 2005 1.51% and 2 seats and in 2008 3.65% and 5 seats.
So based on back of an envelope cacluations ,even if Brash boosts Acts’ popularity above the margin of error by nibbling away at National support to where it was in the party’s heyday it will at best bring about an increase of 4-5 seats. Will that make Brash PM? No, can’t see it.
Brash’s problem is that he is too smart and appeals to smart conservatives such as Cactus Kate. Chris Trotter’s “Waitakere man” will not warm to him as they do with John Key.
my 2 cents
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 3:20 pm
Exciting times indeed, and once the dust has setttled, the right result for ACT.
Hide has been unfairly derided by the media when in fact if one takes a step back he has done an excellent job. Admittedly he made a few errors (no one including himself is denying that), but not to the degree the media would like us to believe. Just a case of our left-wing media making a mountain out of a mole hill.
The challenge for ACT is how they handle Epsom. I think Hide is actually quite popular with his electorate, even though the media try to tell us otherwise all the time. The reality appears quite different. I’d prefer Hide to run still.
We should now see the donors and business in general opening their wallets for ACT, so funding will be much more available.
5% is now a distinct reality, though ACT will be taking votes from National, so the danger is National may move more to the Left.
The Left must be cringing, and for me this is the most enjoyable thing to watch today.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 3:23 pm
Yes, that is another way of looking at it BB, and I don’t disagree. However, I think your hypothesis may be more short-term, whereas mine is more of a long-term prediction.
The only thing that would make me happy though, is complete electoral oblivion of the deceitful pricks that are the watermelons.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 3:25 pm
Walking the plank, squeezing into racing cars… yes, let’s go for someone competent shall we?
He may well be competent as a framer of policy (that’s debatable from an ideological perspective, but no one could deny he has the intellect) but sadly his narcissitic delusion that he’s leadership material is about to collide – again – with the undeniable fact that he’s not.
Leadership is about more than dryly enunciating policy, it’s about convincing a whole lot of people – not just the true believers but many who don’t agree entirely with your policy prescriptions – to put aside their doubts and follow you.
That’s a tad difficult to do if you keep insisting on stumbling off the end of a plank.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 3:26 pm
Pete George@10:38am on the previous thread: “Ah yes, and Banks. Brash’s new Exclusive Brother.”
You had quite a lot to say in 10 comments on the earlier Brash thread – much of it questioning Act / National in ever-so-reasonable tones calculated to conceal support for policies of the left. (And please spare me that earlier put-down about “narrow thinking” for even alluding to a left / right divide in politics.)
However, an attempt to smear Banks with the expression “Exclusive Brother” is a step too far for me. If you happen to know as fact that Banks is a member of the Exclusive Brethren religion, and you believe that that is relevant to his potential involvement in a Brash-led Act Party, let’s have the information and your related reasoning. Otherwise it’s far from honest to use such innuendo to deliver cynical ad hominem attacks.
PG@2:41pm: “I will be listening right up until November 26th. And I won’t rule out voting for Act.” Sorry, Pete. Why can’t I bring myself to take that comment seriously?
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 3:28 pm
What would be more spectacular right now is a coup from Little in the same style as Brash to give Labour a makeover…..if only they had the B@lls.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 3:29 pm
If I was John Key I would call a snap election as soon as I got back from the little knees up at Westminster Abbey.
That would stuff up all the wild predictions and deflate a few egos real quick.
He would probably get enough to govern alone.
No ACT, no Maoris, and best of all Hone caught short in the starting blocks with Goofy going onto his own barbecue straight after his defeat.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 3:41 pm
“By November, the Scaredy Nats will be rocked back on to their Bill English Memorial Rump of 20%, while the party that embraces their founding principles will deservedly be on 40%+.”
You’re pretty confident there Mr Ansell, care to place a friendly wager on the result?
Say $500NZ to a charity of the winner’s choice? I’ll even be generous – if ACT get more than 20% of the party vote in November, well short of the 40% you consider to be their due, I’ll consider you the winner.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 3:45 pm
calendar girl – I’m not connectiong Banks directly with the Exclusive Bretheren, I have no idea what his religious affiliations are although I’ve seen comments that he’s a Christian.
It’s been suggested that Banks is together in this with Brash and is financing or may finance Brash/Act, the expression “Exclusive Brother” is just depicting another religion/money connection with Brash. Maybe it’s not something Brash wants anyone reminded about.
You don’t have to take anything you read here seriously.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 3:46 pm
John Ansell 2:19. I hope you are right. They will have to get their message through the socialist MSM though, without it being distorted.
cheers
David Prosser
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 3:53 pm
Pete – “You don’t have to take anything you read here seriously.”
Which is a rather facile response that appears to give licence to tar any one with whichever brush that happens to be lying around. Or as I prefer to call it – ‘Dog whistle’. But, each to their own, I suppose.
Johnboy I think that the date of the election is out there – and that itself has had a couple of interesting by-products. In particular this episode and also featuring in Hone’s machinations. It just shows the range of unintended consequences taht can arise from a decision.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 4:01 pm
I think this will energise the right. Or maybe thats just cause I’m pumped
Once The Don is officially leader, I will be rejoining the ACT party.
Their are more pissed off right wingers than those in wellington realise.
I don’t think the GOP saw the tea party movement coming and i don’t think National realise how much the Don will revitalise ACT! (maybe DPF does as witnessed by this weeks negativity).
Good times are ahead. 10-12% come election day and National will have to move to the right.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 4:06 pm
Lee, don’t you think it’s a bit cheeky to mention dog whistling after your previous comments on this thread? Calendar Girl seemed to take something I said a bit too seriously, and then said she doubted she could take something I said seriously. Isn’t that a bit picky?
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 4:07 pm
Ansell, you’re my kind of dude. Yep, for Nat voters it’s going to be electorate vote Nats, party vote Brash. Win/win. Forget Epsom, Brash is going for PM. Nats haven’t quite got it yet, and fair enough it’s a surprise move. But they were elected for reform. Not achieved. The election will be Brash vs Key/English. Woohoo. Fun times. Thanks Don.
People don’t love conviction politicians, but they vote for them.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 4:07 pm
Must be time to drag out some more leaked emails from the old filing cabinet of doom.
Vote:Maybe enough for another book, or a play, a movie Oh the ecstasy, the rapture the the the … this is better than sex
April 28th, 2011 at 4:08 pm
As one who has given their party vote to ACT from day one i am delughted we know have both Rodney and Don in the party.
This will further the cause of we Freedom Fighters and reduce the power of the anti freedom parties Labour and the Greens.
Those who would take us back to the tyranny of the Clark era must be defeated such they never rise again to attack our freedoms.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 4:10 pm
John Ansell
Me thinks you’ve had a little overly excited rush of blood to the head – perhaps sensing a new billboard contract in the offing with Don in charge? Jokes aside there is a difference between rescuing ACT from its endless round of petty electorally fatal squabbling (there is no guarantee that ACT MPs, members and activists will head Cactus Kate’s superb advice) and polling at 40%.
Brash was able to ride a popular wave of discontent over treaty settlements in 2004 but that lightening will not strike twice. Brash is a hopeless retail politician no matter how economically sound his policies might be (which I believe they largely are). NZ is a mostly centre-left country economically and the Nats Labour-lite approach and its popularity is testament to that. Brash can campaign on a range of favourite right wing hobby horses and there is no way Key will embrace them. In fact National will be able to trade off media portrayals of Brash’s extremism by portraying themelves as middle of the road rightish leaning steady as she goes managers with what I believe will be relative electoral success.
A truly visionary PM could take NZ a little (and I mean a little) further to the right economically but that aint happening with Key at the helm and I’m sorry but Brash lacks the charisma and media skills to ever be the messenger for this re-positioning.
So yes he has IMHO rescued ACT and he may well get ACT to 5% or slightly higher but once the media get stuck into him, they will have a field day and no matter how well managed he is, he will stuff up. Remember the old axiom – if you could imagine them in a scout uniform they are never going to poll enough to be PM – likewise can you see yourself having a few brews in the pub with Brash? – not likely and you could see him in a scout uniform every day of the week! Sorry John – these are the harsh political realities his new minders will have to face. Can Brash and his senior MPs be an effective voice in a 2nd Key Administration? Absolutely. Will Brash ever be PM? Absolutely not.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 4:10 pm
@David Prosser – and what message it that?
Seems to me all Brash stands for is: look after the rich white folks and the rest can starve.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 4:12 pm
No, Pete, that won’t wash with me. Your own words make it clear that you used the “Exclusive Brother” expression to evoke a non-existent association between Banks and the Exclusive Brethren religion. That’s misleading, perhaps seriously so when Banks is known to have strong Christian beliefs that are probably not aligned to the EB denomination.
Very poor form on your part.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 4:14 pm
Oh happy day in the Starboard household ! All power to the Don!
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 4:15 pm
I am delighted Brash is now leader of Act. I was in a quandary as to who to vote for this coming election but now I know.
John Ansel, I really wish you are right that Don leads the next government, but I very much doubt it, primarily because he will not get a fair deal from the very left leaning MSM. I still remember how blatantly they tried to do him in before the last election (as an example, consider how mercilessly they shafted him for his “walking the plank” photo, yet were strangely silent with HC photo of her pumping gas when her leadership was in question). I was a little surprised to see the tone of the clusterf**k story by DPF. I expected that from the MSM, but not so much from here.
Labour squandered the best economic conditions of a generation, but people still happily voted for them. Even though JK is not doing much better to arrest our deteriorating standard of living most of the public still believe the nonsense of the “failed policies of the nineties” so are completely immune to the fact that there is a better way. I fear his common sense policies will fall on deaf ears.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 4:16 pm
@YWD
The conclusion of all Brash has said is computed by your brain and that is the output?
Deep man, deep.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 4:16 pm
“Seems to me all Brash stands for is: look after the rich white folks and the rest can starve.”
You could say the same about harawira…all he wants to do is look after ” his ” people and whitey can take a flying fuk.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 4:17 pm
This is the sort of ‘democracy’ that ANZACs were supposed to have died for?
Where the ‘will of the people’ is supposed to be ‘the basis for the authority of government’?
Where Don Bra$h, who apparently has the anonymous big business(?) cash – takes over the leadership of a party at lunchtime, that he just joined this morning?
In order to try and achieve a National/National (oops! ACT) coalition government to force through more Rogernomic$ type reforms?
‘Shonky’ corporate raider John Key plus ‘Don the Dictator’? (‘Mr Magoo’ morphed into ‘Mr Burns’ – from the Simpsons?)
‘Don the Dictator- who apparently has no respect for lawful due process in his ACT /National takeover – so how much respect is he going to have for the ‘RULE OF LAW’ inside Parliament?
Oh yes!
How convenient.
Parliament cannot be held accountable to the law because it is ‘sovereign’ and has the power to change the law.
So – why bother with Select Committee processes at all?
Why not pass EVERYTHING under ‘urgency’?
This current National/ACT government has got this railroaded Rogernomic$-style blitzkrieg approach to the passing of legislation off pat…………..
(hmmm….. where has this track been gone down before??)
Why doesn’t Dictator Don just complete his new ‘unbridled power’ look – by growing some facial hair above his top lip?
Why doesn’t Dictator Don then practice his new ‘unbridled power’ walk – swinging his outstretched straight arms without bothering to bend his knees?
Wakey wakey people!.
If you think the majority of the voting public have had a collective frontal lobotomy and forgotten that what’s good for big busine$$ is NOT good for the majority of us – I respectfully suggest that you reconsider the Botany by-election results.
For those who feel concerned about this blatant display of corporate-style NZ ‘democracy’ – which works according to the ‘golden rule’ – ‘those who have the gold – make the rules’, there is something YOU can do this Sunday:
MARCH FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE!
Sunday 1 May
Assemble 2pm
Opposite Britomart
Penny Bright
Vote:http://waterpressure.wordpress.com
April 28th, 2011 at 4:22 pm
@Penny
Fundamental lesson, it may be difficult, but… You have to earn money to spend it, if you don’t you become broke and are completely fucked. All the wee spend ups STOP.
Earning money is not fundamentally evil.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 4:24 pm
You say “a non-existent association” and then “probably not aligned” – are you certain about that?
Can’t you see the similarity between “strong Christian beliefs” plus lots of money plus a desire to influence politics and what the EB tried? Maybe you can and want to bury it in the past. That was a serious mistep by Brash, I hope he’s learnt from it and this time round is nothing other than fully up front and honest.
The possibility of hidden agendas will be one of the biggest hurdles he will face. If he is caught out again he will roasted. No more “gone by lunchtime” comments in private.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 4:24 pm
Thanks but no thanks Penny, it will be a collective of the same old hacks with loudhailers.
I would rather give myself a penis piercing with a 4″ nail and dads old claw hammer, if it’s all the same to you.
Vote:Ta
April 28th, 2011 at 4:27 pm
“Brash was able to ride a popular wave of discontent over treaty settlements in 2004 but that lightening will not strike twice. ”
hmmm you must live in the US.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 4:28 pm
I just read your blog, and also Cactus Kate’s post, which you referred to as “excellent”.
You seem to have differing information, or opinion over one crucial point though.
David you said:
“Goff is already suggesting that it was a cunning National plot to have Don roll Rodney (which is hysterically untrue).”
Whilst Kate said:
“I doubt any of Hide’s team will want to stay on to assist what is effectively a National take-over of ACT. That’s right, the Party was taken over by Brash, a Nat and his mostly National supporters because ACT people couldn’t collectively keep their shit together and stop infighting. I thought it would be a cold day in hell before Douglas passed the parcel to a true Nat. But there you go.”
I think there is little validity in denying that this coup has anything to do with National, when the leader of National – the Prime Minister John Key – is keeping his image clean on the other side of the world right now, cooing the media over being licked by dogs and eating cup cakes with the Queen and talking rugby with French leaders.
I don’t think the timing is a coincidence. Both in that Brash has done this at a time where so much of the media is focusing on the Royal Wedding, and that Key is overseas and can avoid much of the debate.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 4:31 pm
John Banks makes me want to vomit.
Keep Rodney.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 4:34 pm
kiwiinamerica:
With respect (and I do respect you) you’re stuck in the paradigm (I hate that word) of what IS. I’m talking about what can be.
Brash is a change agent who’s biggest failing last time was not pushing on when he had his foot on Clark’s throat. Being inexperienced in politics, he took the advice of the same lily-livered so-called experts who are now stuffing up the country.
He has produced one political earthquake, two if you include today, and the planets are moving into alignment for another in November.
This would not happen if the poll was held today, but after seven months of relentless unvarnished truth-telling, that’s an entirely different matter.
If the media want to be helpful, fine. If they don’t, cut them out and go round them. We still have letterboxes and poster sites, and there’s these newfangled toys called the internet and email.
It’s about having a goal and finding a way to achieve it. You’ve done that, I know.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 4:37 pm
@publicwatchdog
You know you’ve lost the debate when Hitler references are required. Godwins Law and all that …
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 4:46 pm
Stop digging, Pete. Such debating contortions are tiresome.
You might do better to reflect on the irony of you – of all posters today – urging someone else to be “fully up front and honest”. Thanks for the laugh.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 4:51 pm
John
Thats not how Joe Sixpack voter will see it I’m afraid. This ‘coup’ is only an earthquake on the right – middle NZ will raise their heads from the footie and wonder briefly what the fuss is about. The 2004 earthquake rightly tapped into middle NZ anxiety on the treaty settlement process – there is not the same level of intensity over the foreshore and seabed – there should be but there isn’t.
Brash will do better this time for sure but all this is a contest for the right’s vote. The happy posters on KB today are reliably right wing. Elections are won in the centre. New media will make a difference but Brash isn’t just fighting the MSM but the centre left stranglehold a broad swathe of NZ society including academia, the bureaucracy, now the police and almost all the media. NZ is not the US – there is no substantive right leaning media or think tanks with real clout. As soon as Key and co dog whistle about extremism, its open signal for there to be an almost universal narrative to be promoted and new media will have a devil of a job even keeping up with that onslaught.
There will come a time when the playing field will be more even and so Brash will get a more even shake. If he were more charismatic and powerful and able to connect Key like to the electorate I would rate him to overcome this headwind like Reagan did. Brash’s thinking is better than Reagan’s but he’s light years away from Reagan’s retail political skills.
Billboards (and your Iwi Kiwi campaign was stunning), letter boxes, slick ads will never make up for a man who looks good in a scout uniform – sorry John – its the brutal truth. Brash’s own political awkwardness undid alot of the good work of Orewa and Iwi/Kiwi.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 4:52 pm
@calendar girl you doth protest too much. The intent was pretty obvious. Brash got “caught out” last time with the EB. So a play on words is really not that big a stretch if the very financially capable Banks might be bank rolling Brash. It’s only your knowledge of Banks religious background that’s sparked off your defence mechanism. I had no idea he was a Christian.
I still want to know why Hide can’t stay in Epsom? Have I missed something completely? Is there not another seat anywhere in NZ where Brash or Boscowen could actually stand a chance? (I’m in the spare me Banks category too whilst not being in Epsom)
@lance @v please don’t feed the trolls.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 5:04 pm
labrator – Brash has made it clear a number of times he does not want Hide hanging around, I suspect Hide staying until the election is a compromise between them.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 5:05 pm
What Don has done is the classic corporate style takeover – the first in NZ political history I would wager. When you look at what was at stake it made no sense for him to join ACT first because if he failed to get the leadership as an ACT member and then left to set up a new party he would look like a poor loser. Better to approach the ACT board with a proposal: I get you more funding, hold Epsom and grab at least 7% of the vote, in return you make me leader. If the board (and caucus) agree then great. If not, he hasn’t lost anything and he carries on with plan B (set up a new party). Plus the way he has done it grabs way more media attention and public interest. At the end of the day Brash has won so how he achieved it will be quickly forgotten.
And while we are making outrageous predictions, How about this: at least one sitting National Electorate MP will jump ship and join ACT before the election!!!
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 5:17 pm
I wonder if any will leave National for other parties once they wake up to whats going on around them.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 5:20 pm
Big gamble, out-smarted everyone, showed balls and came through. Well done. Whether is he right or wrong for the country remains to be seen but at least he has the courage of his convictions to try.
Vote:Penny – your post again shows that you apply double standards. What law has Brash broken?
April 28th, 2011 at 5:21 pm
Brash is welcome, but Banks can stay with Labour lite, where he belongs.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 5:25 pm
Follow @DrBrash on Twitter. Just brilliant.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 5:26 pm
Earlier today Fisiani said:
“So we will have in November
RIGHT (a renamed ACT)
CENTRE National and Peter Dunne
LEFT Labour
FAR LEFT Greens
Centre Maori Maori Party
Racist Far Left Maori Hone Party
Plus the fringe wasted vote parties.”
Fisiani could not have stated it better.
Circa 1970, the celebrated US columnist, Stuart Alsop, wrote “The Real Majority” a book which argued that to win in any “real” democracy a politician/party had to win and control “the middle”.
All the esoteric BS above is just that! And hot air.
Vote:Good evening.
April 28th, 2011 at 5:30 pm
kiwi-in-America……
Vote:I doff my hat.
Exellent
April 28th, 2011 at 5:34 pm
Ironically, I believe Don could win Rodney.
The Rodney electorate that is.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 5:36 pm
well any fleeting hope of objectivity from the MSM is dashed with Primes Barry Fucking Soper doing a hatchet job.
follows Hides comments with the comment “oozing insincerity”. gee the guy just lost his job that he loves, hes probably a bit cut up.
funny they never comment on the sincerity of that stuff when it was the greens ripping each other apart when Sue Bradford lost the co- head nutcase role, or when a labour MP says they support goof.
then we get Soper deciding he thinks brash will make hide resign his portfolios. wow, such insight from someone who should be telling us what has happened not what he thinks will happen with his total lack of knowledge.
makes me glad that 99% of the time i read blogs rather than watch the news. fucking disgrace from the MSM so far.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 5:42 pm
Come on now folks, having Banksie back in the house will be worth it for the humour value alone.
I cannot wait for the first exchange between Banks and John Hatfield, or the first battle between Mallard and Banks, it will sure make the house a lot more interesting.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 5:46 pm
Grendel, you should remember Soper is one of the most pathetic journos around, and a keen fan of Helen Clark during her government.
Mr Soper has little or no credibility.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 5:49 pm
I can see I am going to have a lot of fun here.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 5:50 pm
Goff’s pathetic whine on Radio National (which in the interests of accuracy, really should be renamed Radio Labour):
“It’s all a big right wing plot to lower the minimum wage and rob the poor.”
Isn’t it a strange left-leaning country where a party like ACT get called “extreme right wing”?
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 5:53 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXwNoaOpDMw
At least I have tried to find out to whom NZ is indebted?
(OIA reply from Bill English included…..)
Penny Bright
Vote:http://waterpressure.wordpress.com
April 28th, 2011 at 5:55 pm
Things were tracking along nicely – National were on hand to govern alone-, Labour dead in the water, the far left about to implode properly with Hone and Sue and the marriage from hell and then the ACT wankers and their vanity come along and will now probably grab party votes from National,, from National folks not Winston and his geriatrics.
Brash had no answers and made no headway on dear Leader and his popularity was solely based on one speech at Orewa.
People seem to forget, most of ACT’s policy was from Douglas who thought it all up inside a Labour government but got stymied by a gutless Lange.
Typical New Zealand, not happy unless things are being nicely fucked up.
John Ansell – Brash will be PM – get off the gear son you are making an arse of your self
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 5:55 pm
The list of donors to the ACT Party this year should be interesting, the last time Brash took over leadership of a party offering to bring in new large donors there was less transparency.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 5:57 pm
Whale Oil has produced a list of winners and losers after Hide’s resignation. He wrote:
Loser: David “Clusterf**k” Farrar: Won himself a great new nickname because of one of his ill-informed posts.
By the way, has anyone heard from Chris Diack today?
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 5:58 pm
another star dances its dying day
Vote:into in a frozen night sky
twinkle toes shoes’ move stage left
scuff marks signal struggle
at the end in a puddle
bespattered bloody body
spent, still, silent
April 28th, 2011 at 5:59 pm
virtualmark (1,120) Says:
April 28th, 2011 at 5:25 pm
Follow @DrBrash on Twitter. Just brilliant.
Does anyone remember that Prime Minister parody blog that was active around 2003-2004 where the author was pretending to be Helen Clark and made a whole bunch of hilarious posts? I loved that one. If anyone remembers its address I’d love to go through and read the archives again.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 6:05 pm
I bet [deleted by DPF and 30 demerits]
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 6:09 pm
@tristanb – Get out of the gutter !
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 6:11 pm
i could not even watch tv3, they seem to be recounting everything he has ever done, but through the tinted glasses of a whiny msm idiot.
once again this never happens when anyone else gets rolled, where was the opening story on tv3 showing all the stupid things bradford has done when she lost out.
They dare to say that Act has become a cult of pesonality, unlike say United, or Progressives, or Hones new party, or NZ first, or the greens or Labour under helen. oh its only bad when Act apparently did it.
You expect the leader to be a name and have recognition, the only ones that don;t these days are goof and the green head tokers. that does not make those parties a cult of personality. a cult of personality makes them a cult of personality (and Jamderton is the worst ever for that, followed closely by Winnie).
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 6:31 pm
Great to see Hide go down but Brash as leader??..I am with Rex. He is not leadership material..he is not even politician material. He made a fool of himself last time he tried this caper. With Act’s fantastic record of three or four monthly implosions , I give Brash six months. How can someone who cannot manage their own personal life possibly manage a political party or a portfolio?
Vote:Well I guess there is one positive , he will make Key look like a good speaker.
April 28th, 2011 at 6:35 pm
Anyone who refers to the infamous Iwi/Kiwi billboards as “good work” is so last century.
I look forward to that debate kicking in again.
Oh, that’s right, KIA supports colonialism.
Meanwhile, elsewhere, talking about colonialism, Fatah and Hamas continue the charade of a “government” of occupied territories. Hamas, in particular, risks losing its mantle as the prime resistor of occupation as it moves ever closer to a collaborationist setting (a mantle the sad remnants of the PLO has already embraced).
And the US is rocked by even more extreme weather events, recording a number of tornados not seen since since 1930, but with a congress in the grasp of climate change deniers.
However, there is good news from that quarter. In Wisconsin, six Republican senators are facing recall election soon. And despite the best efforts of the GOP, not one Democratic senator has had a recall petition succeed.
And Congressman Ryan, of the Ryan budget plan, a plan that would make our Don seem to the left of Lenin, has faced a hostile reception from his own voters.
Even though it has given KIA a home, the US still has the capacity to do more good than bad, especially when the Hispanics take over.
Food for thought, huh?
Oops. sorry. I thought I was in GB.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 6:44 pm
Thats not how Joe Sixpack voter will see it I’m afraid. This ‘coup’ is only an earthquake on the right – middle NZ will raise their heads from the footie and wonder briefly what the fuss is about.
KIA Brash isn’t aiming for Joe Sixpack he’s aiming for thinking Nats who aren’t happy, and there are a great deal of those. He’s not particularly in wooing people who usually only float between National and Liarbore, although I would not be surprised if ACT’s policies actually do grab a good few thousand of those as well.
Oops. sorry. I thought I was in GB.
It’s called the UK these days, Luc. Probably some lefties thought it was tewwible the greatest colonial power in history had the word Great in its name as if it was proud. Idiots, weren’t they, to listen to them and change it.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 6:57 pm
Will Brash remember Key’s vote for him in his successful leadership coup? I’m sure English will remember. This looks to be an ill-fortuned love triangle does it not? How incestuous is the NZ right these days
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 6:58 pm
Cheers reid.
I’ve found my glasses, thanks.
I think Brash will be a significant political player in the run-up to the election. I agree with all the pundits who say this makes JK’s job much more difficult. That’s OK. Helen managed it well, so he’s got a bit to live up to.
I think it’s really good that ACT will get back to its roots. We need that debate.
Depending on events, I can see an ACT playing the race card quite shamelessly, as Brash does, garnering up to 20%, dragging a National-led government far to the right. And there appears to be no love lost between Brash and National.
Or will Labour/Greens/Maori/Hone?/Winstone? sneak through the middle?
So much to look forward to!
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 7:00 pm
calendar girl – Pete never rules anything out. Asteroid to wipe out civilization tomorrow? Sure! Elephants in the bath? Could be! Humans are grieving Gaia? Of course!. It’s all part of his comic relief routine.
As for ACT – I’m happy. My already assured vote is less likely to wasted.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 7:01 pm
One bloody great leap backward for ACT!
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 7:02 pm
All I see is National losing 10% of its vote and ACT picking up half that.
That means Labour can now win but if National do they will be dependent on ACT.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 7:04 pm
Banks is the answer. You have got to be delusional. Failure as a Nat MP. Never did a thing except lie about increasing the police force. I.e. by giving a new name to traffic cops.
Loud mouth
Attacker of Hubbard.
Failure as ACC Mayor. Grossly increased debt. Pandered to every sector he could and worse lost to a fucking socialist in Len Brown.
And this is your winner.
Good luck with that.
Epsom people really can’t be that bloody dumb. Can they?
How about Key calls early election. ( yep he can change his mind).
National stand a good strong candidate in Epsom.
Act disappears forever.
Oh and by the way this ain’t the first time Douglass has destroyed the things he has built.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 7:05 pm
If the posts in this blog are any reference point then there is obviously a lot of support for Don Brash.
I can only speak for myself, and though many would see it as idiotic,
I would have voted for Peters NZF on the foreshore issue. ,
I like Rodney and I was a member of ACT, but in the end we just all gave up.
Now everything has changed. Shortly I will resign up to Act and vote ACT.
I know that Don is not the charismatic , as we all do , but deep down we know this country of ours is suffering.
What could we do about it while smile and wave let us down so badly.
This is a new rally point.
Things have changed.
I feel more optimistic about New Zealand today than I can ever remember since I was a child.
Things will change now for the better.
Watch NZ dollar rise, and Winston snarl.
peter quixote
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 7:06 pm
Nothing wrong with that. Better than today’s pandering to the whims and whishes of the racist Maori Party.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 7:07 pm
Farrar, thanks for the kind words about Rodney,
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 7:10 pm
“How about Key calls early election. ( yep he can change his mind).
National stand a good strong candidate in Epsom.
Act disappears forever.”
Sigh….you would think that after all these years even the morons would have a better grasp of MMP politics.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 7:12 pm
Banks would be the lamest stunt candidate since Winston First sent Tim Shadbolt into wherever-it-was, to no noticeable effect
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 7:13 pm
The election campaign will focus on what Key is prepared to rule in or rule out with any coalition with ACT.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 7:19 pm
The Brash act has been a contrast of Chutzpah and Klutz, and I think the Banks liason is very much the latter. Take his money, sure, but don’t bet the electorate on him.
You shouldn’t rule things out krazyk, you never know what might happen at Easter.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 7:31 pm
I said that earlier BB. (Once he gets back from the festivities of course).
Under MMP all things are possible of course and I would enjoy so much watching all the balloons deflate.
Many of them have been gaily rising aloft here today.
Fully inflated to bursting point with their sense of knowledge and importance.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 7:34 pm
pq (150) Says:
April 28th, 2011 at 7:05 pm
Watch NZ dollar rise,
And thats good for NZ is it?
Dairy farmers who supply 24% of our income probably wouldn’t think so.
Kiwifruit farmers won’t thankyou.
Film makers, software sellers and all those other money earners for NZ won’t actually think its a good scheme.
Money traders might. Importers might bu hey that will cause inflation and then you can have higher interest rates and the pensioners will be happy. I,E. Brash and Banks.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 7:35 pm
For those who think Banks is unsuitable for Epsom, why?
National was planning on standing a serious candidate against Rodney, if they do so now against Banks they are basically declaring war on their own right rump. Hello.
I don’t think they will.
Apart from that I don’t see a problem for Banks in Epsom and I’m wondering what is the rationale behind those who think there may be, based on the imaginary scenario National’s candidate is not strong?
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 7:36 pm
Brash will stand in Epsom
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 7:37 pm
big bruv (8,982) Says:
April 28th, 2011 at 7:10 pm
Please tell me how this takeover Brash who will not contest a seat but will pony in his mate Banks is good for MMP.
You are very quick to criticize all the other parties for their behavoir but now all ios forgiven by the Twin Gods of hell is it?
Not very consistent BB.
Vote:But who would be surprised?
Eh.
April 28th, 2011 at 7:38 pm
Banks lives there reid and is probably well regarded amongst the generally well-heeled.
I suspect not many of them voted for the nutter Brown last time a contest was held.
He will piss in.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 7:39 pm
Luc Hansen says
I think Brash will be a significant political player in the run-up to the election..I think it’s really good that ACT will get back to its roots. We need that debate………………………………………….
I think that might be a mighty subtle piss take Luc , and I like it.
But if its not, Brash will be significant in the fact that he has nothing to lose and like anyone running against an incumbent can say anything he likes, unfortunately he will bring out the race card to appease the few who need the validation that many of our problems are raced based in New Zealand.
In reality Brash can no more offer a quick fix to NZ’s problems than National can. We have just gone through a global financial meltdown as well as major domestic issues. These issues are unprecedented in my life time and I am having trouble thinking when there has been a double whammy like this ever for NZ, ( Napier 1931 and depression probably.)
Reid mentioned ACT are the thinking man’s National voter — oh dear, they will never hold the benches, they may have a say momentarily at some stage but their machine isn’t up to it long-term, Brash is getting on and we saw with the Garrett fiasco ( nothing personal David ) they can’t even do due diligence on their candidates.
Brash goes then what?, Douglas is old, and they have just shit canned Rodney ,the only person who can give them some longevity.
We don’t need a coalition in NZ in 2011, we need certainty, not vanity from troughers
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 7:40 pm
Apart from that I don’t see a problem for Banks in Epsom and I’m wondering what is the rationale behind those who think there may be, based on the imaginary scenario National’s candidate is not strong?
Well here’s the problem.
Banks.
Not an ACT person, never has been and never will be so if he is to be the front man then ACT is no longer ACT but some hybrid of a Christian Party.
You heard it here first.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 7:46 pm
“We don’t need a coalition in NZ in 2011, we need certainty, not vanity from troughers”
FPP might I suggest then PaulEB?
Certainty assured for three years.
At least the troughing can be hidden from view more easily.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 7:46 pm
Brash will take Epsom
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 7:48 pm
Banks lives there reid and is probably well regarded amongst the generally well-heeled.
My point exactly Johnboy. I thought BTW he lived in Paraitai Dr or did he move or does Epsom cover St Heliers these days?
Whale made a good point last night also, re: Brash living in Tamaki. He thinks Brash would have a good chance there. I’m not sure myself there’s a fair bit of Labour there and a bloke’s bloke like Muldoon could grab em but Clem couldn’t and Don certainly won’t be able to. But he may not need them, if I’m as I’m out of touch with the electoral boundaries there as I am in Epsom
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 7:49 pm
A “Brash is not fit to lead a Christian party meme” viking?
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 7:50 pm
V2
Because Banks has a religious belief system that’s personal to him, please explain how now all of a sudden he has (will) transform(ed) ACT into a Christian party.
Also I would bet you a cup of coffee that there are a shit load of Aucklanders who wish they had voted for JB in the last local body elections. I dont have a vote in Auckland anymore but I followed that election & I did not hear Banksy using his belief system as an electoral platform
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 7:51 pm
Cheers, Paul.
I was being serious, for a change, I will admit.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 7:52 pm
Brash will stand in Epsom
Why do you say that, pq?
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 7:54 pm
John boy
You’ll get no argument from me regarding FPP, anything is better than this farce we have now where party hacks who spend enough time on their knees are guaranteed a super scheme on the tax payer
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 7:55 pm
Certainty that the victor will lust after electoral support by flapping around in the issue breeze? Or certainty that the victor will do what’s best for NZ in long term?
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 7:55 pm
V2
Who else can ACT get to stand in Epsom that will guarantee them a win?, all the polling shows that Banks will shit in irrespective of who Neville Key decides to stand against Banks.
And let’s be honest, apart from Brash and Banks there is nobody else (and I say that only because Sir Rog is retiring) in the current ACT line up who will galvanise the public into at the very least taking notice of the party, the cluster fuck Calvert from Dunedin has been an abysmal failure as an MP since she took David Garrett’s seat.
ACT need to make some waves, they will campaign on the economy and one rule for all, I cannot think of anybody better to be at Brash’s side than Banks given that they will be the issue’s that ACT take into the election campaign.
Banksie is a street fighter, hopefully he has given up on the ‘new John’ image he tried to portray during the Mayor race and goes back to the old Banksie who is at his very best ripping the arms and legs off the pinko’s.
A Don Brash led ACT WILL be a part of our next government, I predict they will gain between 8%-11% of the votes and hold the balance of power, should they take a number of votes from the Nat’s then that can only be a good thing, we simply cannot afford another three years of Neville Key (as nice a guy as he is)
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 7:56 pm
its time to get real dudes,
Vote:Brash will take Epsom,
and make our Country , our dear New Zealand better,
I will be there to make sure it happens
April 28th, 2011 at 7:57 pm
reid: Victoria Ave Remuera.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 8:00 pm
“where party hacks who spend enough time on their knees”
Pray tell us more PaulEB.
(is it only in the Labour Party or all they all at it?).
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 8:00 pm
Reid mentioned ACT are the thinking man’s National voter — oh dear, they will never hold the benches, they may have a say momentarily at some stage but their machine isn’t up to it long-term, Brash is getting on and we saw with the Garrett fiasco ( nothing personal David ) they can’t even do due diligence on their candidates.
Brash goes then what?, Douglas is old, and they have just shit canned Rodney ,the only person who can give them some longevity.
We don’t need a coalition in NZ in 2011, we need certainty, not vanity from troughers
We certainly do Paul. Just a little bit too much change and uncertainty all over this land, at the mo. I agree.
Possibly this is why Key is playing it like Bolger – Mr Reliable.
However every conservative recognises don’t we that things need to change, that we can’t continue as we have been, we must change course and therefore, we must change the settings. Notice that I said must not should.
One advantage of change to the degree the entire country has and is experiencing it is that we get used to a new normal. This creates conditions of opportunity as well as the possibility of great loss either if it is squandered or if the path out of it is miscalculated.
I think Brash serves a useful purpose in drawing to people’s attention facts which should have been enunciated long ago by the MSM but haven’t really ever been, and that can’t be bad.
The correct path out of where we are now is TBC, but I don’t think Brash brings anything other than a useful perspective to the debate and subsequent consensus.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 8:04 pm
reid: Victoria Ave Remuera.
I used to live in Victoria Ave as well Johnboy, but unfortunately it was in Hokowhitu, Palmerston North, instead of Remuera. Mum and Dad used to say it was better than Remuera.
Thanks for that.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 8:06 pm
BB @ 7.55pm
There may be enough mental defectives in Epsom to allow Banks to retain the seat for ACT but think of the effect on the party vote. I can promise that a party that includes Banks will never receive my vote & there’ll be a shitload more like me in the rest of NZ.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 8:07 pm
I guess your old pile in Palmy wasn’t worth $3,000,000 when you flogged it then reid?
As they say. Location,location,location!
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 8:15 pm
read here dudes, Brash will stand in Epsom
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 8:15 pm
The coming of one law for all, will undermine the principled position ACT took on access to the courts. It weakens ACT’s credibility.
It will make the right wing case seem like protection of white male middle class privilege.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 8:20 pm
Last I heard Brash was an agnostic…which is really a soft word for atheist. I hope so as I don’t want a god squadder leading ACT…it would all be over then.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 8:21 pm
“read here dudes, Brash will stand in Epsom”
pq, pray tell why, or change the subject and say something else.
It’s just that this isn’t a highway and you aren’t a billboard and we’re not driving.
I can promise that a party that includes Banks will never receive my vote & there’ll be a shitload more like me in the rest of NZ.
Why Nasska? Seriously.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 8:22 pm
In the long term this helps National because they need coalition partners and United and the Maori Party are either unreliable or likely to disappear. The left will come back and (barring labour completely imploding) future elections will be a lot closer than 2011 will be.
In the short term National must be spewing. They were poised to get a huge vote in November and possibly govern alone. ACT could get between 5 and 10% but that will all come from National. Meanwhile Labour is down to its hardcore supporters who will not shift and even if there is a shift among centre voters it will be to United and NZ First (to balance ACT in any coalition). Fear of Brash may even shift soft supporters away from National. National will still get in in November but in a weaker position than they would have otherwise.
Anyone who thinks it gives Labour a chance of governing is dreaming as is anyone who thinks that National will stand by idly and let ACT steal 20% of the vote off them.
Obviously this is good for ACT, Rodney has been a disaster this term and this will turn things around and attract money and fresh candidates. But they need to ensure they have a successor to Brash. You can’t renew a party in the long term by selecting a 70 year old.
…So not my end of the political spectrum but it sure is interesting to watch.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 8:22 pm
I’d rather have Graham Capill join ACT than that shit Banks.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 8:22 pm
Now we just wait for the first classic Brash stumble..
He is such a TV disaster ..just waiting to happen
Anyway ..a lot of talk here about the dire state of the
NZ economy and how we are on the edge of disaster ..
Seems we are just a little bit closer now – after the govt
Vote:gave an international yachting syndicate $34 MILLION bucks
…one of those things that’s “nice to have” I suppose.
April 28th, 2011 at 8:24 pm
I have cousins in Victoria Ave P.N. Reid. They have been there for yonks. 40 plus years
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 8:27 pm
…one of those things that’s “nice to have” I suppose.
What wasn’t “nice to have” was a contractual commitment put in place by the previous government.
Vote:National didn’t think it was nice, they had to.
April 28th, 2011 at 8:28 pm
Thank God and bad hair days for Peter Dunne.
He will keep National in the center he says.
The evil Righties/Darkies have finally met their match.
“Meanwhile, United Future leader Peter Dunne said Mr Brash’s “hostile takeover” of Act would “horrify” most New Zealanders.
“Today the reality of what will be at stake in the November 26 election has been spelt out clearly for all New Zealanders and it should scare them,” he said.
Mr Dunne said with Labour “in meltdown” National would lead the next Government and the only question remaining was: “Which party do New Zealanders want to influence that government?”
As a “rigid right wing ideologue” Mr Brash’s leadership of Act would drive National to the far right.
“Give him influence and a hand on power and watch the New Zealand we know become a harsher, more brutal place,” Mr Dunne said.
On the other hand, he said the Maori Party would push the Government toward activism and race-based laws.
United Future, said Mr Dunne, intended “keeping National anchored in the centre”.”
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 8:28 pm
nasska
” I can promise that a party that includes Banks will never receive my vote & there’ll be a shitload more like me in the rest of NZ.”
You are right nasska, there will be thousands of you who will not vote for Banks, however that does not matter at all, what does matter is that at least 8% of the population will vote for ACT with Banks as a candidate.
It’s called MMP, and finally..at long last..after many years of ignoring it, the bloody right have worked out how to play the game.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 8:34 pm
Dunne will keep nz anchored to the status quo. Fuck that. Dunne has blinkers on. He’s got the vision of a short thick plank
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 8:34 pm
Mind your blood pressure there BB. nasska isn’t rich enough to live in Banksies new electorate so he hardly matters really.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 8:35 pm
Yeah Dunne sees the opening as National sheds votes in the centre because of the prospect of a ACT tail wagging the National dog.
For this reason instead of National trying to win 50% alone, it will be National and ACT trying to win 50% … . Ironically the former was probably a better bet than the latter is now.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 8:38 pm
Reid @ 8.21pm
To use a corny old joke….. Why do people take an instant dislike to John Banks…..It saves time. Banks deliberately comes across as smarmy & arrogant in a manner that would make Rob Muldoon seem like Ghandi. As a mayor he was an incompetent wanker as proved by his massive electoral loss to the socialist Len Brown.
In short he personifies everything I could detest in a politician.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 8:41 pm
Still a good National candidate in Ohariu this time should see Peter consigned to making a living as a model at hairdressing competitions. Something he seems well qualified for.
(I’m only jealous really Peter, being a tad follically challenged myself).
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 8:42 pm
Johnboy 8.2
Thank God and bad hair days for Peter Dunne.
He will keep National in the center he says.
The evil Righties/Darkies have finally met their match. ………………………………
Thanks very much for that, I’d forgotten the fucking gnome still existed. To think Peter Dunne is all that stands between us and the apocalypse….no sleep for me tonight
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 8:45 pm
All it takes is one good man PaulEB.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 8:47 pm
If we need to get rid of anybody it is Dunne, hopefully the Nat’s will run a candidate with a pulse this time around and not that useless bloody Shanks shelia.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 8:48 pm
The real reaction to Brash taking over leadership of ACT will be seen in who National stands in Epsom and Ohariu.
If they secretly want to be led in policy by Brash they will take United out in Ohariu.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 8:51 pm
In short he [Banks] personifies everything I could detest in a politician.
Goodness, nasska.
Really?
Why?
He’s a great family man, a wonderful benefactor to the community, a rags-to-riches-dragged-himself-up-by-his-own-bootstraps roller coaster of a success story of an utterly brilliant human being.
What have you done with your life, so far, by way of contrast?
(Hint: I don’t rate the fact you managed to register on KB v highly).
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 8:52 pm
Peter Dunne has been a political prostitute for many years. Always ready to sell his body to the highest bidder (as long as he keeps his ministerial sinecure), there is no reason to expect any better from him now.
I, for one, would love to see this trougher and chameleon roundly defeated in Ohariu-Belmont.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 8:52 pm
“not that useless bloody Shanks shelia.”
Do you think National needs to run a proper “Mans man” against Charles/Peter in Ohariu then BB?
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 8:53 pm
BB @ 8.28pm
I’ve still got sufficient wits to realise that I don’t reside in Epsom. I referred in my comment to the party vote. My understanding was that the party vote determined the number of MPs in the Party. I would have thought that 10 or 12 MPs would be more desirable to ACT than Banks plus two or three.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 8:55 pm
Why Ohariu, SPC?
Why would they sabotage the best revenue minister they have ever had? What’s the gain?
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 8:55 pm
I saw her in action during the last campaign. Abysmally useless is not far from being an accurate description.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 8:57 pm
He is your local MP then Manolo?
What disrespect you show.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 8:57 pm
Vitality will win this election. People are so bloody sick of negativity, mudslinging and ad hom. Dunne and goff are much the same — soporific
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 8:57 pm
Totally agree BB
Anderton gone, Dunne gone two less “parties” drawing a wage.
If Brash is any good stand him in Ohariu, Rodders in Epsom, Banksy in Porirua against Kris
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 8:58 pm
reid @ 8.51pm
…”What have you done with your life, so far, by way of contrast?”….
I suppressed all urges to be an arrogant politician.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 9:01 pm
Can’t wait for the first polls…my National vote has certainty now converted to ACT. At 70, nobody can accuse Don of being in this game for his own benefit. He believes in his policies and that’s more than most politicians.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 9:03 pm
Indeed Dibbo. Beaten only in sincerity by Jimbo who is 73.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 9:05 pm
Ditto.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 9:08 pm
DPF now the slumber party is over, and we have a fight on. Brash stands to capture the dissatisfied National vote plus probably the dissatisfied Labour vote. He is on a winner and will rescue ACT to beyond 5%. The fact that it has happened quickly without to much blood on the floor, is testament to Brash and his backers . It will be interesting to see what shape ACT will transform to under Brash.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 9:09 pm
reid you know very well that this term National struck a deal with the MP to minimise the ACT leverage – because they made all sorts of first term policy concessions to win.
However their second term manifesto policy agenda is not yet clear, if they want to be led in policy by Brash (let him write it) they would have to be dependent on ACT for their majority.
So if they target the Oharou seat but not Epsom, the meaning is they secretly want to be led in policy by Brash in the second term.
Whereas if they do not they are intending to use United to win votes in the centre for the same leverage they used the MP in the current term.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 9:10 pm
i love when i read comments like – ACT! will just be a party for middle class (upper too) white men.
GOOD!
bout time we had someone looking out for us
as for peter dunne – what a turd
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 9:11 pm
nasska
You may well have sufficient wits to realise that you do not live in Epsom, however, clearly those ‘wits’ do not extend as far as helping you identify who made the comment as to where you do, or do not, live.
Anyway…having Banks on the ticket in Epsom is the best move ACT can make at this time, they need to be assured of one seat and all indications are that Banks will win it with ease, Brash alone will bring along enough party votes to ensure that ACT grab at least 8% of the party vote (Personally I think they will get more than 8%)
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 9:11 pm
Indeed Dibbo .Beaten only in sincerity by Walter Nash who was 86 years when he died in office.
He was so sincere he even ignored calls from the labour party to shuffle off.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 9:16 pm
Age or sex (or sexual preferences) should not be issues here.
Reagan was 69 when he took the office of POTUS.
McCain didn’t lose because he is 70 odd.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 9:18 pm
When was the last time a party leader on the right had spent most of their non political career in the public sector?
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 9:18 pm
Thats Mr.Reagan to you Luc.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 9:18 pm
“intending to use United to win votes in the centre”
They won’t win many SPC:
http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2008/partystatus.html
Bill and Ben were getting almost as many as Dunnie.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 9:19 pm
“McCain didn’t lose because he is 70 odd.”
Whereas you were a loser the day you were born Luc.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 9:20 pm
SPC
Jenny Shipley teaching?
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 9:21 pm
John Ansell
“The Truth.”
Whoah!!!! Too scary.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 9:22 pm
No. He says he just had to rescue Act from political oblivion.
And his next calling is to rescue the country from financial ruin.
Only then will he consider relaxing into retirement.
Luc – I think McCains age was a significant factor in him losing. Remember the line “if he croaks look who will take over”?
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 9:23 pm
Given that Brash is still a member of the national Party , we now have two national parties.
Vote:As Winston Peters said , None of the players in this soap opera would win acting awards…It was all a jack up to drag us screaming back into the 1980s. But we can all relax because we know the ministers son’s private life will floor him as it did before.
April 28th, 2011 at 9:24 pm
A turd, maybe dime. But a well manicured turd.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 9:25 pm
nookin – i cant stand that smug bastard. his income never changes. every govt welcomes in though, just incase they need him the next time round.
i dont even know what shit hole he represents. im sure its horrible though
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 9:27 pm
80′s? Muldoon or douglas?
Vote:Nothing much wrong with what roger did
April 28th, 2011 at 9:28 pm
Joana, do you think Peters is the one to rescue us from screaming back to the 80s?
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 9:28 pm
Key has just ruled out having Brash as Finance Minister or Deputy PM. That didn’t take long.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 9:28 pm
JFK’s private life merely enhanced his reputation joana.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 9:30 pm
There’s also Bill English at Treasury (some farming), Shipley teaching and Brash at the RB, Bolger farming, McLay law, Muldoon accountant before a long political career – not many involved in private sector business etc (barring self-employed farmers) …
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 9:31 pm
Yes, dime — but he does keep a hairdresser fully employed. I think he is expendable as far as the Nats are concerned. He only brings the one seat and they can take that with a good candidate. He did however bring us the family commissioner!
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 9:32 pm
MMP and minor parties are just a direct reflection that here in NZ we tend to beleive that every man and his dog should be able to have a say! In reality this doesn’t produce good Government which is something we are sadly lacking.
Vote:Good leaders have a vision and lead and tend to ignore the noise of the voices shouting around them. We havn’t seen this type of leadership for some time.
April 28th, 2011 at 9:32 pm
There is hope yet then gee90.
I suspect Key will soon rule out having Hone as Minister of Lands and Maori Affairs just in case he wins his seat next election.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 9:33 pm
Dime – It’s true. Dunnie is the original flap-in-the-electoral-breeze MMP poster boy – All things to all parties, while being nothing to everyone.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 9:33 pm
Key clearly has the back of English, possibly to save his own.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 9:36 pm
Once I would have voted John Key, but his rhetoric in setting NZ on a path to economic prosperity has been as empty as his political head. At least Brash has a plan. Its more than any politician has laid before the electorate in a long while.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 9:38 pm
Key clearly has the back of English, possibly to save his own………………….sorry what?
Don Brash is a failed leader of the National Party – he’s not the Messiah, he’s not even a naughty boy , he’s a 70 year old who obviously has too much time on his hands and has succumbed to the entreaties of some ACT MP’s who were looking at unemployment come November
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 9:39 pm
So it seems Neville Key has decided we will keep borrowing $300m a week, he has (apparently) already ruled out Dr Brash as being minister of finance.
I do hope Neville’s arrogance comes back to haunt him.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 9:40 pm
Someone always brings a pin to a balloon party.
You’re a bastard PaulEB.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 9:42 pm
Smile-and-wave utters his usual rubbish lines. NewstalkZB reports:
Key speaks on ACT Party change
The Prime Minister is insisting having Don Brash as leader of the ACT Party changes little for his Government. Dr Brash has now taken over the leadership from Rodney Hide.
John Key says the ACT Party has always been extreme and it’ll be up to the party whether it’ll consider working with a centre right Government after the election. He’ll meet with Dr Brash early next week to discuss which ACT MP will serve as a Minister.
In the meantime John Key says Rodney Hide has his confidence and will retain his portfolios. The Prime Minister also says he sees no need to call an election before the 26th of November.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 9:42 pm
Paul, the issue could have been who would be deputy PM or Minsiter of Finance in any coalition with ACT and Key has said English will be – guarding the back of English is to state a determination for Key to remain majority partner in second term policy decisions.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 9:42 pm
I do hope we get to see a TV debate between Double Dipton English and Dr Brash on how to fix our economy.
While I am no fan of blood sports it would be great viewing to see Dr Brash tear Double Dipton apart.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 9:45 pm
“In the meantime John Key says Rodney Hide has his confidence and will retain his portfolios. The Prime Minister also says he sees no need to call an election before the 26th of November.”
Just lost his big chance. What a dick. I thought he was a hotshot trader once. Must have lost the touch. Spent too much time in the back of an Iroquois not wearing his earmuffs I guess.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 9:52 pm
SPC
I hear you, but a lot here are presuming National will suffer to the extent they will be relying on ACT, I do not believe this will happen this term 2011 – 2014.
Once this phoney war is over and campaigning actually starts Key is going to blow most away, he has plenty to talk about bearing in mind he’s no mug when it comes to making a quid. He will come back from this ‘do’ in London this weekend sharp as a tack .
Act has the economy only (the perception that NZ does not have a level playing field regarding rights is just that, a perception and most can see this), and as there are only a couple of economies world wide that are in good shape, harping by ACT will sound hollow and get very tedious for the entire campaign
Brash can being very damaging to New Zealand in the lead up to this electio
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 9:57 pm
BB
You and I can fix our economy, its a piece of piss. Cut welfare, cut taxes, incentivize business developement, incentivize immigration and foreign investment, allow more over seas land sales sell assets and cut the public service. Thats the easy part.
The tough part is to do it in away that we can still be a civilized society and recover at the same time.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 10:00 pm
I forgive John Ansells hyperbole and euphoria given the result of the coup.
Vote:Brash as the leader of Centre-Right National scored 40% in 2005.
Brash as the leader of Right ACT will score 40% in 2011????????????
Brash as the leader of right ACT may score 10% in 2011
John Key as leader of Centre-Right National scored 45% in 2008
John Key as leader of Centre National may again score 45% (losing 7% to ACT and gaining 7% from Labour)
Labour in 2008 scored 34%
Labour in 2011 are polling 29% and may drop to 22% in November.
If Labour polling is this low then Green leaning voters who gave their vote to Labour in the close contest of 2008 may revert to Greens.
Labour could score 19%. Greens 8%
Labour with current 21 electorate seats would only be entitled to 23 seats and could cause an overhang and have just 2 list MP’s. So no Andrew Little.
April 28th, 2011 at 10:05 pm
Fisiani
Awesome………that would be truly awesome
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 10:08 pm
If Banks is Epsom and Brash Tamaki. Where will Paul Henry stand? North Shore against Maggie Barry?
Vote:(I may have the big brown stick out here but one never knows?)
April 28th, 2011 at 10:14 pm
“If we need to get rid of anybody it is Dunne, hopefully the Nat’s will run a candidate with a pulse this time around and not that useless bloody Shanks shelia.”
I wouldn’t hold ya breath. Besides if the Greens get their shit together and give their electorate vote to Chauvel then Dunne is history. No matter what arrangement the Nats agree to with Dunne, Shanks will still go for the electorate vote and split the centre-right vote allowing the left to take the seat.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 10:16 pm
Paul Henry against Peter Dunne now that would be fun
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 10:17 pm
and
are two interesting juxtapositions if you consider the axis of it is Brash and both were made by the same person.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 10:18 pm
didnt Paul Henry once run for national and lose to a tranny
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 10:23 pm
Sorry meant to edit out overhang.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 10:26 pm
The key election battle is in the centre.
Will people switch from Labour to National to allow it to rule alone even if National loses its right wing support to ACT?
I doubt this, and if the centre drift is away from National while they also bleed to ACT on the right – they could fall under 45%, even with ACT at only 5% – 40%, if ACT reach 10%.
National alone can win 50%+, but the sum of a National-ACT coalition is smaller, not larger.
This is why National will look at United in the centre as a centre vote holder – to reduce ACT leverage, if they allow ACT to be seen to be in the position to get coalition leverage they will lose centre votes to Labour, or United, or NZF.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 10:48 pm
now key refuses to work with brash as finance minister.
Really, the whole point of act is finance reform.
Key has basically rejected Act.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 10:51 pm
The key election battle is in the centre.
Agree.
Will people switch from Labour to National to allow it to rule alone even if National loses its right wing support to ACT?
But National doesn’t lose support if voters switch to ACT, for where else are ACT voters to go.
Instead, this frees up National to rove freely amongst the floating voter population and capture hundreds of thousands with a blitzkreig of smile and wave such as the modern Western world has never before witnessed.
Isn’t it exciting?
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 10:54 pm
It’s certainly exciting for I Predict.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 10:58 pm
Goff might take up the offer
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 11:00 pm
I think this will be a blessing in disguise for Rodney and his personal life, and that whilst his ego may have taken a brusing today, he can rest easy knowing that he has made his mark in NZ politics and served the people well (albeit with a few hiccups) and to the best of his ability. It won’t be long before he realises that losing the leadership will be the best thing that has happened to him in a long while, especially now that he’s a new dad once more. Good luck to him.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 11:03 pm
In the end the thing between Key and Brash is ego – Key wants credit for getting National into a second term (free from the first term promises limiting policy options) and does not want Brash taking the credit for what is achieved through this approach in any second term.
The other factor is that the more in control he appears to be, the greater the potential vote for National-ACT in total.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 11:07 pm
Well said Paul. That’s an angle which has been understated isn’t it. Rodney’s contribution to the political landscape, which is considerable but perhaps for another thread.
Rodney, thanks. You did an excellent superb job, you can and should be proud and you have my gratitude. I welcome you, one of the few, to the club of those whom I don’t mind paying pensions to.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 11:20 pm
Pete: “Lee, don’t you think it’s a bit cheeky to mention dog whistling after your previous comments on this thread?”
Evidently indicates a lack of understanding of what ‘dogwhistling’ is by one of us and I’m happy to defer to your greater understanding – so correct me if I’m in error, but I would have thought that by coming into the forum openly stating and reiterating my views plainly, asking questions outright and directly addressing and inviting a candid response from the person I questioned, alongside an open explanation of my motives for asking the question were about as far away from ‘dogwhistling’ (as I understand it anyway) as you might conceivably get. As opposed to referring to Don Brash and his ‘Exclusive Brotherhood’/'McBrash’ thing. As Calendar Girl has pointed out and I for one, happen to agree with her. It’s just a bit snidey and I’d suggest ‘dogwhistly’ . If there is such a word.
What is your understanding of the term? Clue; it doesn’t really get covered as a device by referring to it as ‘cheeky’, or by using it to promote a covert agenda which doesn’t really fool anyone with half a brain-cell. Still if playing the passive-aggressive butter-wouldn’t-melt stylee is as deep as it gets for you, I’ll be happy to defer to your evident state of blissful . . . what is the mot juste? – ah yes . . . fuckwittery.
I’ve enjoyed this, you get some rest, now… And remember – don’t have to take anything you read here too seriously.
God I love reading my stuff. I swear I just got a semi reading it back to myself.
You silly man.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 11:23 pm
In the end the thing between Key and Brash is ego
I don’t know either personally SPC but to the extent one can interpolate traits from actions, I’d say you may be right about Key, but not about Brash.
To me, Brash is driven by the desire to put his vast economic understanding to good use, because he believes we are in a parlous dilemma and he can see a way forward. Brash is intelligent furthermore he is seventy and wealthy enough to retire quietly which he could easily have done. Why SPC is he buying himself this coming turmoil if it’s only, as you believe, for ego. Doing things for ego is a young man’s game and most grow out of it in their thirties-forties, by the time you get to the more intelligent 70-year-olds, it’s unheard of.
Key OTOH is still under study, TBC. It will be interesting to see his reactions to all of this, over the coming months.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 11:23 pm
Good.
Don Brash shouldn’t mind that from an electioneering point of view. One of Act’s problems in the last 3 years has been loss of identity. By Key rejecting Brash immediately, that leaves only the Maori Party. I welcome the National Party campaigning on the platform that its only coalition party it hasn’t rejected is the Maori Party.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 11:42 pm
One thing I do not want to see from John Ansell is a Key/National attack campaign – it would be a total turn off. Also whilst I think a lot of people want to see National given a good push and a backbone to go with it, I don’t think that includes getting rid of the most popular PM. There is some merit to National’s gently, gently approach – to keep the centre vote shored up in order to get a massive mandate at the next election, and they may have had the goods to make more gains if it weren’t for the earthquakes.
It could well be just part of John Keys election strategy to keep Don at arms length – so that he retains that large centre vote. Labour/Greens/Winston/Hone would have a field day scaring everybody they possibly can to try and claw back/gain the votes – which they will do anyway, but John is just cutting off that avenue for them.
Such is the game of politics.
Vote:April 28th, 2011 at 11:53 pm
I have to admit to being an extremist.
For example, I believe all people in the same country should be subject to the same laws. I also believe the government should stop spending so much of our hard-earned taxpayers’ money.
Please don’t stone me for such extremist views. I can but try to moderate them.
Vote:April 29th, 2011 at 12:12 am
Yeah that’s the centre ground battle shady.
The other side of it is about Key and Brash building a legacy of achievement by coming into politics.
reid, I think you can call that ego, because it implies it’s their involvement that would make the difference.
Key keeping Brash at arms length is part of the strategy for winning votes in the centre, but its also about who ultimately decides after the election the policy decisions and where the political credit goes – National as much as Key has an interest in that.
Vote:April 29th, 2011 at 12:12 am
‘Thats not how Joe Sixpack voter will see it I’m afraid. This ‘coup’ is only an earthquake on the right – middle NZ will raise their heads from the footie and wonder briefly what the fuss is about.’
Well ACT better be hiring Crosby Textor then…
Vote:April 29th, 2011 at 12:12 am
reid 11:07 pm. I couldn’t have said it better myself.
cheers
David Prosser
Vote:April 29th, 2011 at 12:33 am
Not sure if Key gets it – it is far too early to be ruling things in or out.
This has been the problem with National, they’ve ruled so much out, there is nothing left to rule in. Nobody wants to vote for expensive bench warmers.
Vote:April 29th, 2011 at 12:36 am
@shady
“Most popular PM” is all poll-driven fluffies. Look at Kevin Rudd, one week the most popular PM in Australia’s history. The next week on the scrap heap.
Vote:April 29th, 2011 at 1:21 am
If the Don does well In the election, wouldn’t be lovely to Deal to the Double Dipping Dipshit from Dipton.
Vote:April 29th, 2011 at 1:24 am
Why is Key planning to holiday on Mars?
Explains why New Zealand needs to borrow $300 million a week. How many powerball wins is that?
Vote:April 29th, 2011 at 1:34 am
Don, Deal to the Double Dealing Dipshit from Dipton will you.
Vote:April 29th, 2011 at 3:44 am
Brash’s coup would never have been possible if the ACT brand had not been so damaged by its infighting and Rodney squandering the few electorally appealing features he offered (like the perk busting). Look I like Don Brash, he was an excellent RB Governor and he’s one of NZ’s pre-eminent economic thinkers. I’ve followed the reports of his 2025 Task Force closely and he has espoused policies that, if implemented, might see NZ close the gap with Australia.
But here’s the rub – there’s a big difference between policy espousal and policy implementation. There is a reason why Key’s National government is so popular in the midst of such lousy economic statistics and its not just because Goff and Labour are so awful (which they are). Its because he’s found New Zealanders’ ideological and political sweet spot and he won’t allow the coalition he leads to deviate too much from it. It really doesnt matter what clever thinking people think the country ought to do – its about what a governing party can pass through Parliament and still get re-elected. Obama’s problems are not because he’s dumb – the guy clearly is clever – it’s just he tried to take the US past its ideological centre of gravity. Clark prospered politically when she tempered Labour’s left leaning extremes and faltered when she succumbed to her inner socialist and let Labour move from the safe centre.
Can NZ as a country be persuaded to vote for more right wing policies? Only if it is led by a genuinely charismatic clear thinking leader who can articulate conservative principles in ways that ordinary NZers can understand. That was Reagan’s genius. There is a limit though and it is one born of the generations of NZers who’ve come to believe that the welfare state and a bigger government role in the economy (and thus the taxes needed to support this) is still desirable. The economic chickens of such policies have not yet really come home to roost in NZ like they have in say Greece or even the UK and so there is little political stomach for the measures that Brash genuinely promoted in the 2025 Taskforce.
Brash will temper his policies and boil them down to a suite of policy provisions that, to most of us on Kiwiblog, will seem very attractive. But Key as already tipped his strategy regarding Brash – to reduce the leakage of National votes to ACT by branding Brash as extreme. In that he will be ably assisted by Labour, the Greens, Winston 1st and a left tilting MSM. Key still wants to govern alone or at the very worst, be in the same position is in right now, which is not having to rely on 2 coalition partners and be able to play the centrist hero between right leaning ACT and a nornally leftish Maori Party. In order to appeal to fed up small c conservative mostly male Labour voters, Key has to demonise Brash and reassure these mildly centre left voters who voted Labour 1999 – 2002 (and some in 2005) that ACT WON’T drag his government to the right. THAT is where the fight will be over in the 6 months leading up to the election.
Brash backers are hoping he’ll do better politically but there’s no getting around that he is a lousy retail politician. ACT supporters are hoping the party infighting will stop but these are all hopes that, when you look back at Brash’s past political pratfalls and ACT’s numerous circular firing squads, they may be nothing more than wishful thinking.
ACT will enjoy a poll bounce largely on the backs of all the publicity and the fact that Brash is a well known figure but I’m picking that it will be largely at National’s expense. Brash will bring some disgruntled righties from off the sidelines and if Key can play the careful balancing act between publically demomising Brash while privately planning to somehow harness his economic skills in a 2nd Key Administration, the very best those of us on the centre right can hope for is that the total centre right vote might grow slightly.
Vote:April 29th, 2011 at 6:14 am
I dedicate this song to wodney, the sweetest man to ever look like a silver-back gorilla.
Vote:
April 29th, 2011 at 6:23 am
National party candidate for Epsom? Joyce or Dr Jackie Blue?
Vote:April 29th, 2011 at 6:38 am
“David you said:
“Goff is already suggesting that it was a cunning National plot to have Don roll Rodney (which is hysterically untrue).”
Whilst Kate said:
“I doubt any of Hide’s team will want to stay on to assist…………. before Douglas passed the parcel to a true Nat. But there you go.””
Yes DPF and I can differ in opinion however I am not saying for one moment National orchestrated this coup. Rather Brash himself with I suspect the old Roger the Dodger leading from the front. These events could not have happened without Douglas “passing the parcel” so to speak. The organised photo of Silly Hilly and Roger grinning around Brash’s apartment is not an accident of genius papping, it is a set-up.
I don’t think the Royal Wedding had anything to do with the timing. That would be giving far too little credit to the media who are left in NZ and swooped like hawks on the matter.
Now we have 250 comments here I say – next – what’s up with the Labour coup?
Vote:April 29th, 2011 at 6:42 am
KIA – You nailed it – the main difference being in my mind that Key can ‘publically’ distance himself from Brash and appear more credible while doing it, than he could have done from Hide. I remain to be convinced that ACT has become anything other than National’s straight-man in an increasingly hilarious routine called ‘And I was laughing all the way to the polls’..
Vote:April 29th, 2011 at 6:43 am
They will switch some from NAtional to Act but it could flow the other way too. Overall it may not be at National’s expense, Act could climb with a few out of the large chunk of uncommitted pollees who lately haven’t been happy with anyone.
I think you’re being very optimistic. Labour where steady on 32% in the just released Roy Morgan Poll, that suggests the 29% from TV3/Reid was just one of their occasional blips down.
Vote:April 29th, 2011 at 6:59 am
Doesn’t Brash fit that category too? Except we don’t know yet about the shadow.
It will be interesting to see who else comes out of the woodwork – if Brash is to achieve anything like his ambitions then he will have to build a strong list. I hope he gets better than the likes of Banks.
Vote:April 29th, 2011 at 7:49 am
There all kinds of twists in the 2011 election plot and each one could change the outcome. Does Rodney stay on past 2011 but only an a high ACT list spot? Does Brash change the name and branding to a Reform Party? Does Banks stand in Epsom? Whoever stands in Epsom for ACT – who will National stand against them? Where will Brash stand – Epsom, Tamaki? Who does Brash bring in at the 3, 4 and 5 slots as Catcus Kate outlined – crucial decision? Does Labour stick with Goff? If no who? How much traction does Hone’s left leaning Maori party get? Does he choose well known credible candidates or just recycled radicals like Annette Sykes? Does he merely take left leaning votes from the Greens, Labour and Maori Party? Does Mana split the vote in the Maori seats allowing Labour through thus destroying the core Parliamentary representation of the Maori Party? Can Winston make enough noise with all this going to build on his core vote of around 2.5/3% and get to 5%? Does Labour stabilize at around 30% or collapse a la National in 2002 to its hard core base of around 20%? Will we win the Rugby World Cup?
Very interesting times.
Vote:April 29th, 2011 at 7:50 am
kiwi in america @ 3:44 am
….”But here’s the rub – there’s a big difference between policy espousal and policy implementation….”
Very cogent analysis. Brash & ACT are faced now with holding the line in an increasingly hostile environment as they head to the election. They need to stay focused on their core message (after they rediscover what that message is) but do so while being attacked from all sides. Much of the attack will be personal, and is going to come from National. That will hurt.
A Kiwi notes in the later post above, the election has suddenly become a little more interesting!
Vote:April 29th, 2011 at 8:37 am
Hmmm the Pratchett curse: May you live in interesting times.
Labour has had it’s ROI on spend per vote increased through no action of it’s own. They can sit back, draw some conclusions and let conspiracy theories abound. Hide may not be a completely innocent victim (convenient timing for the coup given he has a newborn and may want to throw himself into matters personal for a time. I imagine he’ll drop/ have a couple of portfolios taken from him and SURPRISE pick them up again next year. If the workload is an issue he won’t stand in an electorate but come in as 2 on the list. Labour will win from attracting the loony left voters from Winston and the strategic vote from the Greens. The election outcome and where the government lands on the political spectrum will all depend on how the centre right vote is cast. The blue greens may want to counter balance the hard right. Will they stick with National or look at 2002 as a precedent and vote UnitedFuture.
Vote:April 29th, 2011 at 8:50 am
KIA:
That’s the essence of our problem. Like a smoker seeing others fall to lung cancer and believing they’re different and will escape the same fate, so individual NZers turn a blind eye to our country living beyond its means. MMP combined with a lotto-inspired hope for a better future ensures a politically disinterested population. Politicians feed off voter disinterest (or narrow self-interest) and use MMP for their gain rather than that of the whole country.
I’m past believing any form of popular approach to governance can see us arrest the now measurable slide towards sleepy pacific economy status. The bottom of that slide has social turmoil and, and the Greeks have discovered, partial loss of economic sovereignty as the bailout funders (primarily Germany in their case) rightfully start making demands.
Perhaps Australia will be to NZ what Germany has been to Greece.
Vote:April 29th, 2011 at 8:58 am
“Perhaps Australia will be to NZ what Germany has been to Greece.”
I just came back from Portugal.
There were graffiti slogans painted everywhere saying, “Fuck off Nazis!”
I don’t know if it was a general race statement, a reaction to the economic situation, or a reaction to the increasing number of German tourists going there.
Vote:April 29th, 2011 at 9:01 am
Perhaps New Zealand will keep chugging away with varying degrees of success and failure, likle we have managed to do since the once great Britain gave us the heave ho.
Talk of a one way slide to doom sounds as bad as the fringe climate scaremongers.
Vote:April 29th, 2011 at 9:06 am
Doom is not a destination Pete. It’s a path and, economically speaking, NZ is merrily treading it.
Vote:April 29th, 2011 at 9:09 am
krazykiwi
Vote:Sad but true comments. I see nothing remotely close on the policy horizon that will even begin to dent the wage/GDP gap with Australia. What will we do when it climbs from the current 38% to 50%? There are so many pockets of strength and so many innovative businesses in NZ but the reality is that our brightest and best can only see their economic dreams being fulfilled in Oz, the UK, Canada, the US etc. I love NZ -I travel back frequently – I’ve just acquired the licensing rights for two cutting edge green technologies that a NZ based partner and I will market in 2012 so I am still quite committed to NZ. But MMP makes it nigh impossible to break NZers addiction to the welfare state and the excessive zeal of the environmentalist groups have effectively put most of our mineral wealth off limits and the majority of NZers have no clue of the cumulative impact of this . We still have teachers wanting the government to legislate away the wage gap with Australia! Brash is one of the few politicians who gets this and knows what needs to be done but he will never get a chance to implement any of it.
April 29th, 2011 at 9:24 am
I dont know whats happend to DPF – hes awful quiet this morning.
Vote:Maybe his lack of seeing what ‘The Don’ was up to has sent him into a state of poor health – some sort of shock.
April 29th, 2011 at 9:30 am
- or maybe he has been out celebrating.
Vote:April 29th, 2011 at 9:53 am
Well, this is about as interesting as watching paint dry. Seriously, I’m contemplating a quick squiz at Whoar!
Vote:April 29th, 2011 at 10:38 am
Nothing identifies the inconsistency to party principles in the Hide vs Brash issue than surrounding drug policy.
Either drugs are an issue or they are not. On the eve of the release of the Law Commission review on Drug Policy, the alcohol debate and other inconsistencies in “state care” health promotion this contrast (and philosophical and party principled inconsistency) has been overlooked.
When Brash was speaking in Christchurch when he was Nat’s leader he was grotesquely illinformed on the subject unable to field even the most basic of questions surrounding drug use and the war on drugs yet he claims to aspire to Friedman economic theory. Such a man is undeserving of of the oxygen the media is giving him. Bring back Rodney!
Vote:April 29th, 2011 at 10:40 am
NickArcher
Vote:Crosby Textor made the last election so boring…All the Nats were instructed to repeat the same phrases over and over..you must remember it..
Tax cuts , tax cuts , tax cuts..It wasn’t even subtle brain washing , It was so boring and so repetitive. Lets hope that this election at least some of the candidates will be capable of debating issues.
What will C?T’s catch cry be this time round? One thing is certain , it will be really , really boring.
April 29th, 2011 at 11:44 am
A troglydyte replaced by a dinosaur, does ACT have a death wish or something? Why doesn’t someone just shoot it and out it out of its misery?
Vote:April 29th, 2011 at 1:42 pm
When is someone going to do a ‘Downfall” parody of Hide in his bunker?
And for that matter, I still havn’t seen one for Goff during the Hughes saga!!!
C’mon…………..someone must be itching to do it.
Vote: