Blog Bits

Wednesday, July 9th, 2008 at 11:49 am

Not PC looks at some quotes from Green Party candidates such as how the solution to Maori smoking is to honour the Treaty of Waitangi.

JafaPete makes an apology to Lynton Crosby.

Tumeke opens a book on the 2008 election date. I was one of a dozen ro so who correctly picked the date last time. My pick at this stage is 8 November.

Whale Oil compares some quotes:

Isn’t it funny how people keep repeating things because they just need to convince themselves that despite all evidence to the contrary they are actually right?

John Howard was one of them.

“Mr Howard has predicted the poll margin will narrow once the election is called”

and Helen Clark is another.

“I believe that in the home straight before the election itself the polls will begin to narrow.”

Tags: , , , , , ,

Blog Bits

Tuesday, June 10th, 2008 at 6:42 pm

Karl du Fresne calls the Media 7 show on the Pacific immigration debate a gang-up on Dom Post Editor Tim Pankhurst.

Steven Price points out to the Ministry of Justice that their site for court decisions of public interest, is missing all the interesting ones. To be fair I think it is up to the Judge to tick the box on whether it should go there, but regardless someone in the Ministry should use their common sense and make sure the EFA judgements and the abortion law one go up asap. The latest EFA is here for those who want it.

JafaPete asks whether people are just voting for change for change’s sake. He agrees with Chris Trotter that the anti-smacking bill may have been a turning point. He also says the EFA may have had an impact on the Government’s unpopularity.

No Right Turn covers the abortion debate and High Court decision. I am not surprised with the High Court ruling – it has been apparent for some decades that we have a de facto abortion on demand regime, despite a legislative framework that reserves it for serious danger to physical or mental health. Now I support abortion (up to a certain date) on demand and even though it would probably be a very heated debate, the proper way to change laws is through public vote or the legislature – not through the back door. The issues were covered on this blog back in March, and in a sign of hope it was a reasonably rational debate with analysis, not just name calling.

Graeme Edgeler covers issues in the Criminal Procedures Bill, and does a summary of each of the dozen or so changed. Excellent.

Colin James is not a blogger (in fact I would call him an anti-blogger!) but his op ed on inflation is worth reading.

Tags: , , , , , , ,