Kiwiblog

The ACT Board has spent the last few months quietly cleaning house, to prevent a recurrence of the infighting which damaged them earlier this year. They understand that open warfare puts people off voting for you.

We see the results of the house cleaning in the Herald today:

Peter Tashkoff is crying foul over his expulsion from the Act Party because party leader Rodney Hide attended the meeting at which his fate was decided and voted against him. …

The vote was not unanimous, but party president Chris Simmons said a majority of 75 per cent support – at least nine out of 12 votes – for removing Mr Tashkoff was “comfortably” met.

ACT can now focus on two key things:

1. Retaining Epsom
2. Gaining enough party vote to remain relevant

Fun summer reading can be decisions of the Broadcasting Standards Authority. Some recent decisions:

1. They reject four complaints against TV3 for Ali Ikram’s satirical piece of Maori TV getting the Rugby World Cup rights. It wasn’t that funny a piece of satire, but no way should it be illegal!
2. They also turn down two complaints against TVNZ and Paul Henry over his comments re the Maori flag.
3. ACT member Peter Taskhoff is sucessful against TVNZ for a story at an arms show than unfairly portrayed him in a negative light.
4. Kerry Bolton wins against Radio NZ for Chris Laidlaw’s programme which made holocaust denying accusations against him withotu verifying them.
5. Henk van Helmond loses against TV3 for door stopping him at is home in relation to threats about Sue Bradford.
6. A complaint against TV3 for coverage of the Boobs on Bikes parade was not upheld.
7. A complaint fron a Patty Towl against Solid Gold FM for the joke that Ellen DeGeneres is the second most powerful lesbian on the planet, and Chris Carter being the first – was not upheld.

Craccum did some fun interviews with a few candidates this week. Some of the questions they asked are worth repeating here.

Wellington is burning down and you can take only one other MP with you, who would you take and why?

• Pete Hodgson (Lab) – Rodney Hide because he’s so full of piss, we could use him to put the fire out.
• Pita Sharples (Maori) – Tariana Turia or she’d haunt me if I left her there.

If you can define your life in terms of isms, what would it be?

• Aaron Galey-Young (UFNZ) – Antidisestablishmentarianism
• Pita Sharples – Dreamism
• Oliver Woods (RAM) – Social democratic left pragmatic nationalism
• Nikki Kaye (Nat) – Environmentalism, capitalism, compassionism, sportism, wineism

What would be your ultimate campaign song and why?

• Pita Sharples – ‘What’s the matter you ah shut appa your face’.
• Oliver Woods – ‘Crush ‘em’ by Megadeth

Greatest New Zealander, Garth George or Owen Glenn?

• Pete Hodgson – Tim Shadbolt
• Pita Sharples – Kupe
• Oliver Woods – The Mad Butcher
• Nikki Kaye – There are many great kiwis but if I had to choose between the two I would pick Owen Glenn because of his suggestion to hold international volley ball competitions if he became consul to Monaco – that’s gutsy.

If you were Jim Anderton, what would you ban and why?

• Pete Hodgson – Who Wants to be a Millionaire?
• Peter Taskhoff (ACT) – I’d ban toxic politics but then Jim Anderton would be left speechless.
• Aaron Galley-Young: Boy racers in public streets.
• Pita Sharples – I would ban Jim Anderton.
• Oliver Woods – Elderly, useless, conservative politicians.
• Nikki Kaye – If I was Jim Anderton I would need a completely new wardrobe and I would ban myself from wearing short skirts.

A pdf of the Craccum article is here – backpage.