PM confirms Nov 26 election date

[Bald Eagle]

OK here we go again. (http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/4608324/PM-confirms-Nov-26-election-date)

Time to start thinking who we want shafting us and selling our toys / spending our money.

For the cynics among us what has the WRC got to do with the election anyway.

[oneofsix]

Quote in the article from the Honorable John Keys;
''I think the New Zealand public are sick of games,'' he said.

That I agree with but that's all pollys do. Let him lead by example ... :drinkup:

[Banditbandit]

Yippeee ... 10 months and we get to boot out this bunch of drop kicks and shallow smilers ....

Do I give a fuck who replaces them ???? No way in hell ...

[imdying]

Do I give a fuck who replaces them ???? No way in hell ...That's cause you're a Kiwi and not able to think into the future. You're in good company though, most of the country...

[oneofsix]

That's cause you're a Kiwi and not able to think into the future. You're in good company though, most of the country...

I don't know. I think Banditbandit is on to something. As discussed many a time on these forums one lot is as bad as the other so what does it matter who the replacements are. To keep them listening to the population keep voting them out very 3 years :innocent:

[Bald Eagle]

To keep them listening to the population keep voting them out very 3 years :innocent:

I'm onto the deliberate trap there - voting them out doesn't change their listening just alters where they sit at the trough.

[Banditbandit]

That's cause you're a Kiwi and not able to think into the future. You're in good company though, most of the country...

No mate ... it's 'cause I have no one to support in the elections ... I don't like any of the suckers ... Yes, I am politically aware ... and yes, I can think into the future ... I can conceive a better future than any of the silly fuckers we have in power right now ...

And yes, I am generally supportive of the Maori Party - but not when they open their mouths and suggest that smoking in private cars is made illegal ...

I used to be inclined to the view "Don't vote - only politicians win" ... however so many people died to ensure we have a vote that I am actually reluctant not to use it ...

[maggot]

I dunno why we don't just follow the egyptian example, seems to be working for them.. :innocent:

[admenk]

I dunno why we don't just follow the egyptian example, seems to be working for them.. :innocent:

Not enough people here could be arsed to actually turn up at a protest?

[maggot]

Just spin them some shit about trees being cut down and mines being dug and art deco houses being demolished, that'll rouse 'em, surely!

[Whynot]

will there be free beer?

[admenk]

I'm voting Taranaki Independence party :whocares:

[Spearfish]

With all the recent media about ageing bikers I thought first on the list would be good old Winston (hand out the scones and Depends samplers) Peters.:shifty:

[nosebleed]

For the cynics among us what has the WRC got to do with the election anyway.

The World Rally Championship? Probably nothing

[Banditbandit]

I dunno why we don't just follow the egyptian example, seems to be working for them.. :innocent:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJjV5bfXcTM

[onearmedbandit]

Has the Labour party got a leader yet?

[Mully]

No mate ... it's 'cause I have no one to support in the elections ... I don't like any of the suckers ... Yes, I am politically aware ... and yes, I can think into the future ... I can conceive a better future than any of the silly fuckers we have in power right now ...


So, you'll be starting your own Party then?

Chop, chop. Only 10 months to go.

[Coldrider]

For the cynics among us what has the WRC got to do with the election anyway.
NZRFU is budgetting a $30M loss, to be picked up by taxpayers.

[Mully]

NZRFU is budgetting a $30M loss, to be picked up by taxpayers.

Ah, but if the ABs win, then the country will be jubilant (except Swoop, of course) and be more likely to vote the incumbent back in.

[Gremlin]

One of the real issues with democracy is the people voting for a party. Not all people are intelligent (not all are stupid either). But enough vote for what they want, not what the country needs. Then they complain when the bigger picture goes pear shaped.

3 years really isn't that long a time, and continually cycling as we don't like one or the other fucks up the bigger picture. Couple that with the parties trying to do things to get back into power (instead of making a healthy country), and you wonder why things are fucked.

Case in point is mining. Hardly popular, but then the country cries when we don't get tax cuts or something, as they can't be afforded. You can't have it both ways.

[Coldrider]

Ah, but if the ABs win, then the country will be jubilant (except Swoop, of course) and be more likely to vote the incumbent back in.and what sporting fixture will they use to persuade us on the referedum, FPP, MMP, STV etc?

[phill-k]

Give me someone like clark at least she had an air of dignity and perhaps aloofness but for fucks sack did he learn nothing from his interviews with Paul Henry, he is gullible likes to be liked and can be taken in very very easily and you want him for PM no wonder we are still floundering around

Quote from a piece in the herald

In an interview on Tony Veitch's Radio Sport breakfast show on Friday, Mr Key was asked if he would like to be Australian cricketer Shane Warne, and replied: "Yeah, well given his current liaisons with Liz Hurley."

"I like Liz Hurley actually. I reckon she is hot," Mr Key said.

He later said actress Jessica Alba "looked pretty hot", and described Angelina Jolie as "not too bad" either.

and the article

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10703662

I know I know u all who support the fuckwit will say he is only stating the obvious, yes it is but as a PM you need to know when to open your mouth and when to keep your thoughts very much to yourself, actually this is a trait of an autocrat / dictator, a person who doesn't actually realise his position or who doesn't actually care.

[Gremlin]

I'd prefer a pm to be more down to earth. I've always said it should be run like a business. The more down to earth he is, hopefully, the more in touch he is?

Couple that with the fact we have less people than some cities, we should have a Lord Mayor and Council. None of this councils everywhere AND a parliament.

[Coldrider]

I'd prefer a pm to be more down to earth. I've always said it should be run like a business. The more down to earth he is, hopefully, the more in touch he is?

Couple that with the fact we have less people than some cities, we should have a Lord Mayor and Council. None of this councils everywhere AND a parliament.Does that mean no matter where we lived, we would be in a suburb of Wellington?

Definitely agree with comments though.

[Gremlin]

Does that mean no matter where we lived, we would be in a suburb of Wellington?
'course not, top dog is still the Mayor, and we still have multiple cities (who wants to be in Wellington aye? :innocent:)

Just have a chief for the city or something...

[rainman]

Case in point is mining. Hardly popular, but then the country cries when we don't get tax cuts or something, as they can't be afforded. You can't have it both ways.

Are you seriously arguing that the only way for us to afford tax cuts is mining?


a person who doesn't actually realise his position or who doesn't actually care.

He doesn't care about NZ, just himself. All he has to do is smile, wave and get the idiots who vote for him to tick the box for "that nice Mr Key", or "that down to earth Mr Key" or whatever and his job is done. He's not the "leader", just a figurehead. Also, he wanted PM on the CV and doesn't care enough to do anything useful after that. Worst. PM. Ever.


I'd prefer a pm to be more down to earth. I've always said it should be run like a business. The more down to earth he is, hopefully, the more in touch he is?

And there is all the evidence you need.

Irrespective of the past histories and failings of Labour and the Nats, hatred of Helen/Cullen/the Greens/whoever, how your parents vote, whether you're a farmer, whatever - anyone who votes Key/the Nats back in for a second term is voting to destroy this great country. I agree Labour is hard to vote for at the moment (actually Phil's the closest to a centrist/semi-right-wing leftie that can be had, hardly a socialist menace), and there are few compelling parties to vote for, but a second-term Nat government would completely fuck us for decades.

If ever there was a time to vote a government out of power, it would be now.

[Gremlin]

No rainman, I'm not saying that about tax cuts. I'm saying if the majority of the country doesn't want to do a revenue generating activity (whatever, mining is one option) then don't expect the books to have excess money to throw somewhere else (schools, tax cuts whatever). I'm saying you can't have it both ways, yet people throw a tantrum when they can't have both.

Labour and National are the two real viable options. Labour governed through massive prosperity for 9 years and left a massive mess. National looks unpopular for cleaning up what needed to be done (number of people in Govt employment was one such example), and now people aren't happy. The 3 year popularity cycle creates a mess of the economy.

[rainman]

Labour governed through massive prosperity for 9 years and left a massive mess.

I think that is a popular myth. They certainly didn't do all they could have done, and splurged a bit (ok, a lot) at the end to buy votes, but our government debt levels are still pretty low. There's always more value to extract from the tax dollar (on a diminishing basis, of course) and Labour could have been way more prudent in their spending - but the economy was not as poked when the Nats came in as they like to say (sometimes, when it suits them).

We do have a large private debt problem, of course, but that's because we like property and almost all our banks are Aussie banks. And we like the Ooh Shiny when we are really not an advanced enough economy to live as high on the hog as we do.

[Gremlin]

Labour also played with the unemployment figures. It looked like they had major success reducing unemployment, yet government department employment rose by about the same. This adds to government expenditure etc, and National looked unpopular when they released all the fat Labour had introduced.

I'm certainly more a fan of National than Labour, as I fundamentally believe that when businesses do well, people do well, and when businesses do poorly, people do poorly... we all derive an income from somewhere. In a very simplistic view, Labour is for the people, National is for business...

That said, it doesn't stop either from coming up with some of the most stupid or contradictory ideas ever... :facepalm:

[Brian d marge]

Please Vote for the;

Party

People

Combination of the above

That has the most compassion for the poor and the the average Joe

forget the rhetoric , resist party speak and what ever

As it isn't the party in power who is pulling the strings , So do the best u can

You are not Rich, you wont be rich , and 70 % of your fellow Kiwis ARE IN THE SAME BOAT ( think its 70 not sure )

If your Granny votes for Mr Key cause hes a nice man ,,, Byatch slap her and say DANG Woman,,, I done gone told you not to meddle in Poloticks

I would like to see

State utilities run like a good non profit org ( business like )
Good budgeting ( ala National with out the business round table )
A strong focus on Health /education / and healthy food ( remove the gst off fresh veges etc)

The total abolition of CD , DB and Lion brown

and Nick smith Hung drawn and Quartered with a blunt pocket knife

oh and Bacon sandwiches free to the over 40s :innocent:

Stephen

[Berries]

For the cynics among us what has the WRC got to do with the election anyway.
For the real cynics, what has the election got to do with anything ?

[Fatt Max]

I've booked my general erection for the weekend, fucked if I'm waiting till November, me nads are like watee melons maaaaaan...

[Laava]

Expecting any votes FM?

[Fatt Max]

Expecting any votes FM?

Reckon the missus might cast a vote or two, could be a well hung parliament

[trustme]

I think that is a popular myth. They certainly didn't do all they could have done, and splurged a bit (ok, a lot) at the end to buy votes, but our government debt levels are still pretty low. There's always more value to extract from the tax dollar (on a diminishing basis, of course) and Labour could have been way more prudent in their spending - but the economy was not as poked when the Nats came in as they like to say (sometimes, when it suits them).

We do have a large private debt problem, of course, but that's because we like property and almost all our banks are Aussie banks. And we like the Ooh Shiny when we are really not an advanced enough economy to live as high on the hog as we do.

What they did do was grow public spending to a level that has proven to be totally unsustainable when the inevitable down turn arrived. Nats are borrowing 300 mil a week to try & cover the short fall but it can't go on for ever. When the inevitable cuts come don't blame National , blame the Labour govt.
Labour by trying to right all the damage that they perceive Rogernomics to have caused have recreated the same bloated public sector & subsequent public debt that made Rogernomics necessary in the first place.

[Banditbandit]

So, you'll be starting your own Party then?

Chop, chop. Only 10 months to go.

Naaa .. I could not think of anything worse than being in parliament .. and I have no respect for politicians ... why the fuck would I want to be one ????

[onearmedbandit]

I think that is a popular myth. They certainly didn't do all they could have done, and splurged a bit (ok, a lot) at the end to buy votes, but our government debt levels are still pretty low. There's always more value to extract from the tax dollar (on a diminishing basis, of course) and Labour could have been way more prudent in their spending - but the economy was not as poked when the Nats came in as they like to say (sometimes, when it suits them).
.

Really? This article (http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/mar2008/newz-m24.shtml) would suggest that in early 2008 the NZ economy was slipping into recession, if not already there. And yet the Labour govt., in your own words, 'They certainly didn't do all they could have done, and splurged a bit (ok, a lot) at the end to buy votes'. Myth. Hardly.

[Banditbandit]

Labour also played with the unemployment figures. It looked like they had major success reducing unemployment, yet government department employment rose by about the same. This adds to government expenditure etc, and National looked unpopular when they released all the fat Labour had introduced.

I'm certainly more a fan of National than Labour, as I fundamentally believe that when businesses do well, people do well, and when businesses do poorly, people do poorly... we all derive an income from somewhere. In a very simplistic view, Labour is for the people, National is for business...

That said, it doesn't stop either from coming up with some of the most stupid or contradictory ideas ever... :facepalm:

How fascinating ...

Wasn't it Business that supported the neo-liberal Labour Party of the 1980s - (Bob Jones in particular was instrumental in getting Lange, Douglas and Co elected) which promtly deregulated everything and created the business environment under which NZ businesses thrived? Our basic business - rural production - benefitted hugely from the changes brought in by the Labour Government then ...

In 2005, under a Labour Government, the World Bank said Godzone was the Most Business Friendly country in the world ... under our current National Government, which claims to be business friendly, we are now rated only third ...

And on and on ...

Stop looking at the political propoganda ... it's all loaded bullshit ..

[avgas]

That's cause you're a Kiwi and not able to think into the future. You're in good company though, most of the country...
Is that my flash light up there?

Nope can't find the source of all that light shinning out of your arse.

May be its one of those ego things I keep hearing about.

What ever it is, its shoved up there good Nostradamus.

[Banditbandit]

Really? This article (http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/mar2008/newz-m24.shtml) would suggest that in early 2008 the NZ economy was slipping into recession, if not already there. And yet the Labour govt., in your own words, 'They certainly didn't do all they could have done, and splurged a bit (ok, a lot) at the end to buy votes'. Myth. Hardly.

Interesting that this is Socialist political propoganda ... But what did the new National Government do? Give us tax cuts and borrow money overseas to pay for it ... does that sound like Fiscal Responsibility ??? Drop us deeper into debt ????

They are all as bad as each other ...

[MisterD]

Interesting that this is Socialist political propoganda ... But what did the new National Government do? Give us tax cuts and borrow money overseas to pay for it ... does that sound like Fiscal Responsibility ??? Drop us deeper into debt ????


Now who's propogandising? You're following the Labour line of "borrowing for tax cuts" because if we hadn't cut income tax we wouldn't be borrowing so much. I'm happy to agree with the government that we're borrowing to continue funding government spending programs because overall taxes weren't cut, the balance was shifted more onto consumption with the GST rise.

I'm 100% sure that if we'd had a Labour government these last couple of years we'd have seen at least as great borrowing to fund government "stimulus spending"...and boy am I glad we haven't had a government pissing away money on some equivalent of Obama's pork-fest.

I'd rather have seen some greater cuts to government spending, but JK obviously believed the theory that that would be a negative impact on the economy, I guess the proof of that pudding will be in the UK.

So the ideological argument boils down to: government stimulus spending versus private stimulus spending...

[Banditbandit]

Now who's propogandising? You're following the Labour line of "borrowing for tax cuts"

No ... the info is not hard to find from other sources ... I don't rely on the Labour bullshit either ... Sometimes I happen to agree with Labour, sometimes with National. I'll admit to being of the radical left ... but I'm certainly not a Labour support .. or even an Alliance supporter - they were just as bad ...

[superman]

Key is a good dude and he needs to be in another term to sort out the terrible beneficiary system!

People constantly complain about student loans but really the government is losing a whole lot more in the student allowance system. Do people know that thousands of the students get around $160 per week that is a benefit that they'll never have to pay back! You get that if your parents "taxable income" is under about 60,000 per year and you attend university.

Now private school kids with parents that own their own business have a "taxable income" of less than 60,000 per year. Yet they were going to a school that cost their parents 13k a year. They get a free 5k a year from the government!

I because I'm just a typical european with a dad on a straight taxed wage has no way to get around it and so I get nothing. I have to work 13 hours a week to get what they get for nothing, when I could be spending that time studying rather than working just to get enough money to get to uni. Though according to the government if your parents earn over that threshold they should be willing to give 5k a year to their kids...

They are legally bludging and get extra time off to get pissed, and I'm bloody working my ass off to try and get the same amount. Though I guess I'm advantaged in society because I'm a white male. So I deserve to have to work more. :angry:

[Bald Eagle]

Key is a good dude and he needs to be in another term to sort out the terrible beneficiary system!
. :angry:

:rofl: :rofl: made me snort my coffee.

[Swoop]

but if the ABs win, then the country will be jubilant (except Swoop, of course)
Bah Humbug!


Rates bill arrived yesterday. $11- for the thugby cup bollocks, again.
I'll be very happy, when the thugby retards have all fucked off and gone home.




If the all blacks lose...:shutup:

[Banditbandit]

:rofl: :rofl: made me snort my coffee.

Yeah .. I had to wipe my keyboard after that one ...

[Brian d marge]

Key is a good dude and he needs to be in another term to sort out the terrible beneficiary system!

People constantly complain about student loans but really the government is losing a whole lot more in the student allowance system. Do people know that thousands of the students get around $160 per week that is a benefit that they'll never have to pay back! You get that if your parents "taxable income" is under about 60,000 per year and you attend university.

Now private school kids with parents that own their own business have a "taxable income" of less than 60,000 per year. Yet they were going to a school that cost their parents 13k a year. They get a free 5k a year from the government!

I because I'm just a typical european with a dad on a straight taxed wage has no way to get around it and so I get nothing. I have to work 13 hours a week to get what they get for nothing, when I could be spending that time studying rather than working just to get enough money to get to uni. Though according to the government if your parents earn over that threshold they should be willing to give 5k a year to their kids...

They are legally bludging and get extra time off to get pissed, and I'm bloody working my ass off to try and get the same amount. Though I guess I'm advantaged in society because I'm a white male. So I deserve to have to work more. :angry:
Do a little more reseach , and come back to the table

The student loan is / was a mess there a wider issues , with it

Stephen

[MisterD]

No ... the info is not hard to find from other sources ... I don't rely on the Labour bullshit either

Doesn't change the fact that your argument is exactly the same one that the Labour Party has been pushing...




Now private school kids with parents that own their own business have a "taxable income" of less than 60,000 per year. Yet they were going to a school that cost their parents 13k a year. They get a free 5k a year from the government!

I because I'm just a typical european with a dad on a straight taxed wage has no way to get around it and so I get nothing. I have to work 13 hours a week to get what they get for nothing, when I could be spending that time studying rather than working just to get enough money to get to uni. Though according to the government if your parents earn over that threshold they should be willing to give 5k a year to their kids...

^^^
This is why Labour will lose the election IMO, if Goff can't get people like superman -who appear to be a traditional Labour constituency- to vote for him he's toast.

[Banditbandit]

^^^
This is why Labour will lose the election IMO, if Goff can't get people like superman -who appear to be a traditional Labour constituency- to vote for him he's toast.

Huh ?? He comes across to me as a typical non-thinking national voter

[MisterD]

Huh ?? He comes across to me as a typical non-thinking national voter

Whatever. If Labour can't lock down the wage-earners (as opposed to salaried professionals) and their kids struggling to get through Uni they're headed back to the opposition benches.

[phill-k]

Key is a good dude and he needs to be in another term to sort out the terrible beneficiary system!

People constantly complain about student loans but really the government is losing a whole lot more in the student allowance system. Do people know that thousands of the students get around $160 per week that is a benefit that they'll never have to pay back! You get that if your parents "taxable income" is under about 60,000 per year and you attend university.

Now private school kids with parents that own their own business have a "taxable income" of less than 60,000 per year. Yet they were going to a school that cost their parents 13k a year. They get a free 5k a year from the government!

I because I'm just a typical european with a dad on a straight taxed wage has no way to get around it and so I get nothing. I have to work 13 hours a week to get what they get for nothing, when I could be spending that time studying rather than working just to get enough money to get to uni. Though according to the government if your parents earn over that threshold they should be willing to give 5k a year to their kids...

They are legally bludging and get extra time off to get pissed, and I'm bloody working my ass off to try and get the same amount. Though I guess I'm advantaged in society because I'm a white male. So I deserve to have to work more. :angry:

Tell me are you doing a masters or something in oral and written English by any chance:innocent:

[superman]

Tell me are you doing a masters or something in oral and written English by any chance:innocent:

Lol, obviously as you can tell I hate essay writing and english as a subject with a passion. Straight equations/mechanical problems for me. :yes: Guess I really should polish up on my blithering mayhem splurges.

Although after all... to do english I'd have to be doing a Bachelor of Arts. :facepalm:

[superman]

Huh ?? He comes across to me as a typical non-thinking national voter

Do tell me who put in place the current level of welfare bullshit we have?

Aww we need to pay all those poor single mothers who got knocked up when they have no money and no education. They're obviously prone to good life choices.

Those poor benificiaries who have been on the dole for years, society has really let them down. We should increase the dole value so it's even easier to actually live on it rather than make it an amount that just covers necessities.

High level of borrowing from the government to pay bills is a big issue due to NZ's absolutely dire credit situation. National is still going through cutting back whatever bureaucratic crap the Labour party dreamed up to create "jobs". Ooo yay we could all do with more bureaucrats, that's good for the country. Bet if labour got back in they'd start "creating more jobs" for the unemployed and then we'd get another good dose.

Do you think Labour would cut back spending more than National? No, they'd probably fork out more for votes with some crap about "lower GST at least for fruit". And increase taxes on higher income earners/businesses as labour loves to play the mixing money around society game. I don't want to have some government that penalises people reaching the top in their given profession. That just gives them even more reason to bugger off overseas, which would then doom the economy to crap unless we had an unskilled workforce useful of shoving into mines? We'd borrow more and we'd end up even more in the shits, I would much rather have ACT become the majority power than Labour at the moment. :shit:

Key has acted superbly as a leader of the National party, he is creating a much more efficient governent with the tools available. Keeping skilled professionals in the country to try and get the economy out of its slump as well as increasing prospects for NZ to have greater trade relations with the worlds most powerful countries.

Surely some of you guys remember NZ back in the 60's. Top of the world in education and standard of living next to Switzerland. And now we're in 30th place or something for the developed world. This country has the means to get back up there, and we need someone who truly sees the big picture. Quite frankly Goff seems to live in some tiny little place between here and the next election.

Education is supposed to improve constantly. Not head back into the dark ages, no wonder my girlfriends 16 year old friends can't comprehend anything more than the gossip written within a womens weekly, and one of them already got pregnant and had a kid! I can't remember learning a thing from teachers in Primary other than it was naughty to write stories in class about people being smacked with dildos. I had my own books on maths my parents bought me I just went through. I remember a teacher telling me once a spacecraft started accelerating it kept accelerating forever...

[phill-k]

Surely some of you guys remember NZ back in the 60's. Top of the world in education and standard of living next to Switzerland. And now we're in 30th place or something for the developed world. This country has the means to get back up there, and we need someone who truly sees the big picture. Quite frankly Goff seems to live in some tiny little place between here and the next election.

Education is supposed to improve constantly. Not head back into the dark ages, no wonder my girlfriends 16 year old friends can't comprehend anything more than the gossip written within a womens weekly, and one of them already got pregnant and had a kid! I can't remember learning a thing from teachers in Primary other than it was naughty to write stories in class about people being smacked with dildos. I had my own books on maths my parents bought me I just went through. I remember a teacher telling me once a spacecraft started accelerating it kept accelerating forever...

Interesting you compare us to Switzerland, whilst we in NZ go silly spending John Keys tax cut did you know that Switzerland still has a personal tax rate about 10% greater than ours, stamp duty on a large number of financial transactions, property and wealth tax, as well as a superannuation and health tax.

There population are among the happiest in the world and funny they still have those top earners remaining in the country, so what does that tell you?

[superman]

Interesting you compare us to Switzerland, whilst we in NZ go silly spending John Keys tax cut did you know that Switzerland still has a personal tax rate about 10% greater than ours, stamp duty on a large number of financial transactions, property and wealth tax, as well as a superannuation and health tax.

There population are among the happiest in the world and funny they still have those top earners remaining in the country, so what does that tell you?

Higher tax is definitely something the government should work up to eventually, but not when the economy is the way it is at the moment. They should be encouraging business to build and the tax cuts are supposed to help people do that.

I would be fine with a higher tax system if we had a government as effecient as that, but we'd have to get away from the whole English system of party/leader votes and encourage politicians to actually work together, not bicker away at eachother.

Switzerland has a consesus government which is actually democratic. Here when I vote I get to choose the party and leader, and then they'll make all the decisions. In Switzerland any large decision of major importance is put straight back onto the people through BINDING referendums. So even if your leader of choice didn't get in, the actual majority of people have power, not some party that happened to not even get 50% of the countries vote!

Plus... their higher tax is easily offset by their higher wages. Average wage of $84,000 NZD. If we had that, sure take away some more bet I'd still be happy.

[shrub]

Give me someone like clark at least she had an air of dignity and perhaps aloofness but for fucks sack did he learn nothing from his interviews with Paul Henry, he is gullible likes to be liked and can be taken in very very easily and you want him for PM no wonder we are still floundering around

Quote from a piece in the herald

In an interview on Tony Veitch's Radio Sport breakfast show on Friday, Mr Key was asked if he would like to be Australian cricketer Shane Warne, and replied: "Yeah, well given his current liaisons with Liz Hurley."

"I like Liz Hurley actually. I reckon she is hot," Mr Key said.

He later said actress Jessica Alba "looked pretty hot", and described Angelina Jolie as "not too bad" either.

and the article

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10703662

I know I know u all who support the fuckwit will say he is only stating the obvious, yes it is but as a PM you need to know when to open your mouth and when to keep your thoughts very much to yourself, actually this is a trait of an autocrat / dictator, a person who doesn't actually realise his position or who doesn't actually care.

Then we have this little gem:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10703972

Our Beloved Leader is a lighweight and a bit of a flake - I wonder if he used an astrologer to set the election date.

[shrub]

Key is a good dude and he needs to be in another term to sort out the terrible beneficiary system!

People constantly complain about student loans but really the government is losing a whole lot more in the student allowance system. Do people know that thousands of the students get around $160 per week that is a benefit that they'll never have to pay back! You get that if your parents "taxable income" is under about 60,000 per year and you attend university.

Now private school kids with parents that own their own business have a "taxable income" of less than 60,000 per year. Yet they were going to a school that cost their parents 13k a year. They get a free 5k a year from the government!

I because I'm just a typical european with a dad on a straight taxed wage has no way to get around it and so I get nothing. I have to work 13 hours a week to get what they get for nothing, when I could be spending that time studying rather than working just to get enough money to get to uni. Though according to the government if your parents earn over that threshold they should be willing to give 5k a year to their kids...

They are legally bludging and get extra time off to get pissed, and I'm bloody working my ass off to try and get the same amount. Though I guess I'm advantaged in society because I'm a white male. So I deserve to have to work more. :angry:

Poor you. :violin::crybaby::crybaby::crybaby::crybaby::cryba by::violin:

[Banditbandit]

Then we have this little gem:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10703972

Our Beloved Leader is a lighweight and a bit of a flake - I wonder if he used an astrologer to set the election date.

And did you see TVONe news last night? The little twit mincing around on the stage ... no dignity at all - up there with his appearance on david letterman ... a brilliant demonstration of Pill-K's point ...

He'll do ANYTHING to get in front of a TV camera ... (He'd probably strip if he didn't think he would lose Family First votes )

[MisterD]

And did you see TVONe news last night? The little twit mincing around on the stage ... no dignity at all

Trouble is for you, the electorate seem to respond to his ability to not take himself too seriously...it's still such a refreshing change to Clarke's bile and spite and the smile that could reduce small children to tears...

[shrub]

Trouble is for you, the electorate seem to respond to his ability to not take himself too seriously...it's still such a refreshing change to Clarke's bile and spite and the smile that could reduce small children to tears...

The trouble is for us is that the kind of voters that can be swayed by a goober dancing about in RWC clothing with a new-age hippy bracelet are not the kind of people I want choosing our PM. Helen Clark had a brain, political nous and dignity - she also had great sense of humour, but it was quite complex which is why you never saw it.

[MisterD]

The trouble is for us is that the kind of voters that can be swayed by a goober dancing about in RWC clothing with a new-age hippy bracelet are not the kind of people I want choosing our PM. Helen Clark had a brain, political nous and dignity - she also had great sense of humour, but it was quite complex which is why you never saw it.

Ah but it's the first rule of sales isn't it? People want to buy from people they like and JK seems to come across as being open and transparent, whereas the only time you felt like you saw the real HC when when she let the likes of "cancerous and corrosive" or "haters and wreckers" slip out. Perhaps she'll lighten up when she finally comes out...

I'm all for having to pass a test and get a licence to enable one to vote though.

(Disclaimer: I have never given my party vote to National and I won't this time either)

[Bald Eagle]

JK seems to come across as being pretty and insincere

There fixed it for you

[MisterD]

Desperate wishful thinking

Likewise..

[shrub]

Ah but it's the first rule of sales isn't it? People want to buy from people they like and JK seems to come across as being open and transparent, whereas the only time you felt like you saw the real HC when when she let the likes of "cancerous and corrosive" or "haters and wreckers" slip out. Perhaps she'll lighten up when she finally comes out...

I'm all for having to pass a test and get a licence to enable one to vote though.

(Disclaimer: I have never given my party vote to National and I won't this time either)

The only problem is he may come across as open and transparent, but in reality he's not. Kind of like John and John's used cars - your best mate and will look after you till the end of time when your chequebook is still in your pocket, but the moment the cheque has cleared he can't be arsed. It will be interesting to see what National do when (if?) the win the election.

[MisterD]

The only problem is he may come across as open and transparent, but in reality he's not. Kind of like John and John's used cars - your best mate and will look after you till the end of time when your chequebook is still in your pocket, but the moment the cheque has cleared he can't be arsed. It will be interesting to see what National do when (if?) the win the election.

Yeah that's the kind of thinking you see over at the Labour Fanzine, sorry, Standard. But he made a whole lot of promises last time...keep WFF, no asset sales etc which have all been kept and this time he's said up front partial sell downs of some assets. He's not going to suddenly jump to some hard-right economic agenda, because a) he wants to go steadily and (in that horrible management-speak) "take people with him" and b) he's pretty centrist / soft-right at heart anyway.

[Banditbandit]

Do tell me who put in place the current level of welfare bullshit we have?

A combination of Labour and National are responsible. Labour introduced social welfare to help those in need in the 1930s .. note "those in need" NOT everyone ...

There was already old age pensions and other things introduced pre-Labour ... The Nats bowed to the middle class pressure "I've paid taxes all my life, I should be entitled ..." and extended the pension scheme to cover everyone - not just those in needs - and at a cost of millions ... Labour tried to Income-test eligibility (would have saved millions) - and the Nats revoked that ... No party is innocent here.


Aww we need to pay all those poor single mothers who got knocked up when they have no money and no education. They're obviously prone to good life choices.

Those poor benificiaries who have been on the dole for years, society has really let them down. We should increase the dole value so it's even easier to actually live on it rather than make it an amount that just covers necessities.

Hmm ... Jenny Shipley, as Minister of Social Welfare, reduced the benefits below the liveable level. Otago University was asked to do some research to find out what the minimum level people could survive on. They offered up a figure, to which Treasury said "too much" and lopped of 10 per cent - and that became the benefit figure. So the benefits were/are 10% below what was an allowance to survive on.

I agree there are issues with the system .. the issue for me is not the actions of the solo mothers, but the effects on the children if the benefit is cut ... or axed.


High level of borrowing from the government to pay bills is a big issue due to NZ's absolutely dire credit situation. National is still going through cutting back whatever bureaucratic crap the Labour party dreamed up to create "jobs". Ooo yay we could all do with more bureaucrats, that's good for the country. Bet if labour got back in they'd start "creating more jobs" for the unemployed and then we'd get another good dose.

Yeah yeah yeah .. go here and read this ...

http://www.treasury.govt.nz/government/financialstatements/yearend/jun10/09.htm

Notice in the first table, and subsequent information, that the debt/percentage/GDP figures have been steadily improving but then, in 2008 when the Nats came back to powerr -debt ratios have been sharply increasing ...

Go here and look at this

http://www.ssc.govt.nz/display/document.asp?DocID=7926

Public servant numbers have dropped in 2010 by 0.3 percent since June 2009. A drop of 118 - the first drop in numbers since 1999.

This one gives you the public servant figures as at June, 2008 ..

http://www.voxy.co.nz/national/2008-workforce-profile-public-service/5/5416

' "In the 12 months to 30 June 2008, the number of public servants increased by 3.6 percent to 45,934. This is the smallest percentage increase over the past eight years," Iain Rennie said.'

118 less Public Servants - yeah yeah massive change ... big deal .. I'll certainly vote for a party that promised massive reductions in beaurocracy and delived a 0.3 per cent reduction :facepalm:


Do you think Labour would cut back spending more than National? No, they'd probably fork out more for votes with some crap about "lower GST at least for fruit". And increase taxes on higher income earners/businesses as labour loves to play the mixing money around society game. I don't want to have some government that penalises people reaching the top in their given profession. That just gives them even more reason to bugger off overseas, which would then doom the economy to crap unless we had an unskilled workforce useful of shoving into mines? We'd borrow more and we'd end up even more in the shits, I would much rather have ACT become the majority power than Labour at the moment. :shit:

Just like the Nats borrowed to pay for our tax cuts .. and have increased indebtedness since they took office ... :facepalm:


Key has acted superbly as a leader of the National party,

:rofl:


he is creating a much more efficient governent with the tools available. Keeping skilled professionals in the country to try and get the economy out of its slump as well as increasing prospects for NZ to have greater trade relations with the worlds most powerful countries.

:rofl:



Surely some of you guys remember NZ back in the 60's. Top of the world in education and standard of living next to Switzerland. And now we're in 30th place or something for the developed world.

Wrong ... in reading, maths and science we are FOURTH .. go look here

http://www.geographic.org/country_ranks/educational_score_performance_country_ranks_2009_o ecd.html

Interesting who is above us, but more interesting Britain is in 13th and the USA last in 33rd ..


This country has the means to get back up there, and we need someone who truly sees the big picture. Quite frankly Goff seems to live in some tiny little place between here and the next election.

Education is supposed to improve constantly. Not head back into the dark ages, no wonder my girlfriends 16 year old friends can't comprehend anything more than the gossip written within a womens weekly, and one of them already got pregnant and had a kid!

Well, if you will fuck airheads then you have to put up with their airhead friends



I can't remember learning a thing from teachers in Primary other than it was naughty to write stories in class about people being smacked with dildos. I had my own books on maths my parents bought me I just went through. I remember a teacher telling me once a spacecraft started accelerating it kept accelerating forever...

That doesn't surprise me .. most people can not rememebr what they learnt in primary school ... but you've missed the point of primary school education ... ou don't start learning "stuff" until you get to high school ...

Pity they didn't teach you how to avoid the propoganda bullshit ...

[shrub]

YBut he made a whole lot of promises last time...keep WFF, no asset sales etc which have all been kept and this time he's said up front partial sell downs of some assets. He's not going to suddenly jump to some hard-right economic agenda, because a) he wants to go steadily and (in that horrible management-speak) "take people with him" and b) he's pretty centrist / soft-right at heart anyway.

I'm not sure John Key is centrist/soft-right. Or centrist left, or hard right or really anything. Like the used car salesman he is whatever will get the sale. I also don't think John Key has an agenda beyond being PM, and I personally think Bill English and Jerry Brownlee are the Prime Minister. They know that neither of them are electable in the modern world of personality based politics, and when they found John were delighted. He has such a lovely smile, and everyone loves him but stands for nothing; so was the perfect man.

I interviewed English just after the 05 election, and he made some very interesting comments about Brash that left it in little doubt that he didn't like him or how he worked. He also made it clear that he had little desire to be the leader of National but I got the feeling that he is a very ambitious man. I think he is more moderate and a little more pragmatic than Brash, but his personal orientation is significantly more neoliberal than the current National government appears on the surface.

He is also a really nice guy and surprisingly charismatic in person and I have met him half a dozen times over the last few years and enjoyed every meeting. And I can't stand Jerry Brownlee, he's an unpleasant and arrogant cock.

BTW I did not give Labour my party or candidate vote last election and have no intention of doing so despite quite liking Phil Goff (he rides a bike and loves bikes).

[superman]

The trouble is for us is that the kind of voters that can be swayed by a goober dancing about in RWC clothing with a new-age hippy bracelet are not the kind of people I want choosing our PM.

You don't like the majority of society?! :shit: What a typical angry old fart.

[shrub]

You don't like the majority of society?! :shit: What a typical angry old fart.

No, just cynical. You're young and bitter, I'm old and cynical.

[superman]

No, just cynical. You're young and bitter, I'm old and cynical.

You honestly would prefer Goff? What attributes him to have any better luck when the entire world economy is shite. Easy to attack someone who has to try and get the country through a worldwide slow down.

[shrub]

You honestly would prefer Goff? What attributes him to have any better luck when the entire world economy is shite. Easy to attack someone who has to try and get the country through a worldwide slow down.

I think that's where we differ - I don't see luck having anything to do with it, and if I saw Key having done anything intelligent or positive; let alone "aspirational" I might change my mind. Instead I see him smiling sweetly, mincing about in RWC clothes, finding various vapid Hollywood stars "hot" and wearing an ionic bracelet (completely lacking in any scientific proof).

He's an idiot. Goff is a bit boring, but he's not an idiot.

[Brian d marge]

What they did do was grow public spending to a level that has proven to be totally unsustainable when the inevitable down turn arrived. Nats are borrowing 300 mil a week to try & cover the short fall but it can't go on for ever. When the inevitable cuts come don't blame National , blame the Labour govt.
Labour by trying to right all the damage that they perceive Rogernomics to have caused have recreated the same bloated public sector & subsequent public debt that made Rogernomics necessary in the first place.

you have been watching waaay to much telly

go back and see who was at the root of rogernomic and who actually caused the debt in the first place

report back with cap in hand

Stephen

[MisterD]

He's an idiot. Goff is a bit boring, but he's not an idiot.

Ya reckon?

You're the leader of the opposition heading into election year...you're struggling to compete with a PM seen as younger, fresher and more dynamic...you very obviously dye your hair...and you completely fail to have any kind of prepared response to the inevitable question....so you deny it...then claim your wife told you to do it.

No, he's an idiot.

[shrub]

He is an outstanding manage and was head hunted from a senior role in the private sector to a key role in a government department, and has been in that role for several years now. He has seen costs for service deliveries fall and quality of service grow, but a couple of years ago their funding was cut. His top people, mostly recruited by him from the private sector, got frustrated at being unable to do their job properly and several have since left, either for better paid jobs in the private sector or for Australia.

He is now left with the long term and frequently lowest quality staff trying to do their job with reduced resources including lower staff numbers and increased demand. He has had enough and is going to a much better paid job in Canberra working for the Aussie government.

[Edbear]

Not sure why, but I'm beginning to get the distinct impression that the Pollies and those running the country are actually human beings, a lot like us, really.... :gob:

Imagine a cross-section of KB'rs running the country, maybe that would fix things up... :yes:

[tri boy]

National will shit it in come Nov.
Simple as that.
The whining labour group need to cry their lil eyes out now, as nobody will give a fecking toss as soon as the Rugby starts.
Key has pulled a masterly political move.
Who says he hasn't got political nous?

[Mully]

National will shit it in come Nov.
Simple as that.
Who says he hasn't got political nous?

And Labour have nothing

Goff's response to dying his hair was pathetic, whereas Key handled it really well.

I get the distinct impression that Labour have written off this year, Goff and King will be dumped and new leadership will take Labour into 2014 with a shot of actually winning.

[pete376403]

If Keys masterly move is to have the election just after the RWC, when everyone is supposed to be on a high and will vote National just because they are so happy...


What happens if the All Blacks don't win? After all, they don't have a very good record in this competition.

[Virago]

If Keys masterly move is to have the election just after the RWC, when everyone is supposed to be on a high and will vote National just because they are so happy...

What happens if the All Blacks don't win? After all, they don't have a very good record in this competition.

Simple - everyone blames Helen Clark.

[Skyryder]

If Keys masterly move is to have the election just after the RWC, when everyone is supposed to be on a high and will vote National just because they are so happy...


What happens if the All Blacks don't win? After all, they don't have a very good record in this competition.

Just another reason I'm backing Robbies team.

Skyryder

[Indiana_Jones]

He doesn't care about NZ, just himself. All he has to do is smile, wave and get the idiots who vote for him to tick the box for "that nice Mr Key", or "that down to earth Mr Key" or whatever and his job is done. He's not the "leader", just a figurehead. Also, he wanted PM on the CV and doesn't care enough to do anything useful after that. Worst. PM. Ever.


Funny, Comrade helen "I'm a rug muncher" clark didn't do the exact same thing.....nooooo she wasn't after a UN job at all.....

worst kept secret ever lol

-Indy

[pete376403]

Funny, Comrade helen "I'm a rug muncher" clark didn't do the exact same thing.....nooooo she wasn't after a UN job at all.....

worst kept secret ever lol

-Indy

really? Can you refer us to any post where you (or anyone else) announced, say, six - eight months or so before it happened, that Clark would get the UN job?

[Brian d marge]

He is an outstanding manage and was head hunted from a senior role in the private sector to a key role in a government department, and has been in that role for several years now. He has seen costs for service deliveries fall and quality of service grow, but a couple of years ago their funding was cut. His top people, mostly recruited by him from the private sector, got frustrated at being unable to do their job properly and several have since left, either for better paid jobs in the private sector or for Australia.

He is now left with the long term and frequently lowest quality staff trying to do their job with reduced resources including lower staff numbers and increased demand. He has had enough and is going to a much better paid job in Canberra working for the Aussie government.

Yes minister

Stephen

and a mother with 2 preschoolers does ? well she doesnt quit and go to Aussie ,,,,

[Indiana_Jones]

really? Can you refer us to any post where you (or anyone else) announced, say, six - eight months or so before it happened, that Clark would get the UN job?

Can't, she banned the net and free press lol

She's a career politician, they're all just as bad as one another. Eyes only the next step up and sod the punters in the process.

-Indy

[shrub]

Can't, she banned the net and free press lol

She's a career politician, they're all just as bad as one another. E
-Indy

So it's a bad thing for a career politician to run the country? My doctor is a career doctor and my mechanic is a career mechanic - should I get someone else to fix me and my bike? Maybe someone who was a bloody good painter but felt like a career change?

And I thought the right loved the idea of "eyes only the next step up and sod the punters in the process"

[MisterD]

really? Can you refer us to any post where you (or anyone else) announced, say, six - eight months or so before it happened, that Clark would get the UN job?

Well it was never a dead cert, but it was obvious to anyone that that's where she was job hunting. There are some very good figures somewhere of "our" UN contributions-they ramp-up significantly ahead of the 2005 and 2008 elections. She bought that job with our money.

[Indiana_Jones]

So it's a bad thing for a career politician to run the country? My doctor is a career doctor and my mechanic is a career mechanic - should I get someone else to fix me and my bike? Maybe someone who was a bloody good painter but felt like a career change?

And I thought the right loved the idea of "eyes only the next step up and sod the punters in the process"

I've always felt it's a bit funny for a MP to be a 'man of the people' if they've only gone to uni and then straight into politics. Sure I'm not saying one doesn't get life experiences from uni etc, just seems odd.

And "eyes only the next step up and sod the punters in the process" is nothing to do with left/right or politics really. It's just human greed. Left and right are just as greedy as the other.

-Indy

[Banditbandit]

If Keys masterly move is to have the election just after the RWC, when everyone is supposed to be on a high and will vote National just because they are so happy...


What happens if the All Blacks don't win? After all, they don't have a very good record in this competition.

What happened to Jenny Shipley - the ABs lost and Labour won the election ...

[Swoop]

Goff is a bit boring, but he's not an idiot.
The jury is still out on that one. He is all talk and little substance (typical labour politician), but somehow is still leader of the opposition.

[Banditbandit]

The jury is still out on that one. He is all talk and little substance (typical labour politician), but somehow is still leader of the opposition.

Unfortunately, Labour don't have an alternative ...

[MisterD]

the ABs lost and Labour won the election ...

You've got to say that it'll be less of a shock if the ABs fail again this time...

I can just imagine that if, as the Labour Fanzine reckons would have been the smart move, Key had gone pre-World Cup (get it out of the way blah-blah) then he would now be being pilloried for having no confidence in the ABs or some such nonsense.

[MisterD]

Unfortunately, Labour don't have an alternative ...

Oh they do, they just don't have an alternative who's prepared to lead into a near-certain defeat. They're all positioning for Goff's post-election rolling / retirement.

[Banditbandit]

Oh they do, they just don't have an alternative who's prepared to lead into a near-certain defeat. They're all positioning for Goff's post-election rolling / retirement.

Yeah .. trot out some names and let's see if we can keep a straight face ..

[Indiana_Jones]

Bring back Muldoon!

-Indy

[MisterD]

Yeah .. trot out some names and let's see if we can keep a straight face ..

Well old "silent T" Cunliffe seems to be the generally-accepted favourite...interesting analysis by Dim Post (http://dimpost.wordpress.com/2011/02/06/on-leadership-non-goff-related/) on Robertson's prospects

"Helen Clark was leader of the Labour Party for about fourteen years. My impression is that she generally promoted Labour MPs who made her feel comfortable, and that making Clark comfortable meant being personally loyal to her and lacking the ability to pose a challenge to her leadership. So such people became the bulk of Labour’s front bench, and the work of governing the country was carried out by Clark, Cullen, and very high calibre staffers like Heather Simpson, Mike Munroe and Grant Robertson. This would explain why Labour flew apart when most of these people left, and why Robertson advances through his fellow Labour MPs as if they were made of smoke."

[Banditbandit]

Bring back Muldoon!

-Indy

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/51PfMQolwHL._AA240_.jpg

[Banditbandit]

Well old "silent T" Cunliffe seems to be the generally-accepted favourite...interesting analysis by Dim Post (http://dimpost.wordpress.com/2011/02/06/on-leadership-non-goff-related/) on Robertson's prospects

"Helen Clark was leader of the Labour Party for about fourteen years. My impression is that she generally promoted Labour MPs who made her feel comfortable, and that making Clark comfortable meant being personally loyal to her and lacking the ability to pose a challenge to her leadership. So such people became the bulk of Labour’s front bench, and the work of governing the country was carried out by Clark, Cullen, and very high calibre staffers like Heather Simpson, Mike Munroe and Grant Robertson. This would explain why Labour flew apart when most of these people left, and why Robertson advances through his fellow Labour MPs as if they were made of smoke."

The quote is accurate and why they are up shit creek in a barbed wire canoe for leadership material ...

Robertson's sexuality is a major issue - just think how KBers would react - and you have the reason why he's not a great choice right now.

[shrub]

I've always felt it's a bit funny for a MP to be a 'man of the people' if they've only gone to uni and then straight into politics. Sure I'm not saying one doesn't get life experiences from uni etc, just seems odd.
-Indy

You might be surprised how much one learns from university.

John Key went from university to the corporate world to Merrll Lynch first in Singapore, then in London. The National Party essentially head hunted him and he didn't work his way up through the ranks learning as he went. I have spent some years in the corporate world, not at the same level as our Johnny of course, but nonetheless I am very familiar with the culture and the people. It's not the real world and he is no more a "man of the people" than Helen Clark - in many ways his huge wealth is a barrier to being able to connect with the ordinary citizens.

He is also not a businessman in the same way as Mike with his plumbing business or Mary who runs a chain of retail shops. He was earning over US$2M pa running the foreign exchange division of Merril Lynch, where he worked with (almost entirely) foreign economists and traders - all of whom will have been university graduates, most of who were probably postgrads.

Tell me how that better qualifies him to be a man of the people than someone who has been in politics most of their working lives? Incidentally, most of politics for a backbencher involves dealing with your constituents, few of whom are highly paid foreign born money market traders.

[Indiana_Jones]

I never said Johnny boy was much better then clark, was just observing it in general. Most pollies are out of touch on the ground level I reckon, and have been for some time.

The other thing I did'nt quite get was how cullen laid into key for being 'a rich prick', I mean heaven forbid someone actually worked their way up the career ladder and earnt their own money instead of sitting on the dole all day....

-Indy

[MisterD]

You might be surprised how much one learns from university.

I learnt more useful stuff in my summer holidays from University, working on a farm. I did come away with an abiding dislike for student politicians though...

[shrub]

I learnt more useful stuff in my summer holidays from University, working on a farm.

Why does that not surprise me?:facepalm:

[MisterD]

Why does that not surprise me?:facepalm:

Because even you're sensible enough to recognise that diesel mechanics is more useful than the quantum variety?

[shrub]

Because even you're sensible enough to recognise that diesel mechanics is more useful than the quantum variety?

Yes, we will always need people to do the shitty, dirty jobs and people like you will always fill a useful role in society. Not a role that adds anything, but a useful role all the same.

Good on ya :clap::2thumbsup

[Mully]

Oh they do, they just don't have an alternative who's prepared to lead into a near-certain defeat. They're all positioning for Goff's post-election rolling / retirement.

Yep - I've been thinking that for a while.

Come the end if 2011, Goff and King will be rolled (probably by Cunliffe) and Labour will start preparing for 2014.

Unless some twilight zone thing happens, and we end up with a Labour/NZ First Gummint next time.

(BTW, how the FUCK does Winnie "I won't take the baubles of office. Ohh, pretty baubles" Peters still get any traction?)

[Swoop]

It is pleasant to see that Phill-in Goff will work with the mafia.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10704908

Looks like National for another 3 years.

[shrub]

Yep - I've been thinking that for a while.

Come the end if 2011, Goff and King will be rolled (probably by Cunliffe) and Labour will start preparing for 2014.

Unless some twilight zone thing happens, and we end up with a Labour/NZ First Gummint next time.

(BTW, how the FUCK does Winnie "I won't take the baubles of office. Ohh, pretty baubles" Peters still get any traction?)

Winnie gets traction because he's a really nice guy who cares about the old people and who is all about sticking to the past.

I think you're right, despite National being very much a lame-duck government they will win by default because Goff et al are little better (if at all). I anticipate a Labour government in 2014 with a very different face.

[Brian d marge]

231375ipredict says , National

Stephen