NX-Files

 

Nandor shatters shackles of time

"Nandor Tanczos left Parliament yesterday, saying he was going away to cleanse his soul and wouldn't need to know the time any more."

^Cleanse his soul... cleanse it with dope perhaps;).

Referring to Question Time: "It's a time when I'm most ashamed of being a member of Parliament," he said.

"You all know what I'm talking about."

That was a reference to the abusive shouting and bad behaviour that go on during question time.

^I agreed. Nandor was/is my favourite green MP. It's easy to disregard him because of his dreadlocks, but he has many positive qualities. He's not from the psychotic far left of the party and advocates negotiating with both sides of the house. He's apparently pretty onto it with IT issues. He also showed good manners in the house - his dislike of shouting matches is something akin to Don Brash.

As a non-dope smoker I respect his principled stand on the issue, and dare I say it, even his right to smoke dope.

 

We must go for nuclear power, says AWU NEWS.com.au

""If we are going to be a green Labor government, then we have to look at nuclear," Mr Howes told The Australian newspaper."

"Mr Carr and Mr Howes are pushing for Labor to drop its long-standing policy of rejecting nuclear power. "

"Mr Carr said nuclear power was the critical bridge between the carbon era and energy from renewable resources. "

^Not only are the Australians having the nuclear debate, but it's being debated within the Australian Labor party! Over here Helen Clark has completely shut down debate on this issue within her own party & the nation through scare tactics. It's the hallmark of this PM to put short-term political convenience over the long term needs of the country. She'd rather dick around with anti-smacking laws rather than address the shortfalls in our energy strategy. The irony is that if the lights started going out in NZed, or if the price of electricity sky-rocketed more than it has, domestic violence and smacking is bound to increase. 

 

Smack referendum next year, says Clark - 26 Jun 2008 - Politics: New Zealand Political News
"will inevitably lead to voter confusion, congestion in polling places and put at risk the timing of the parliamentary count." - According to the PM.

Helen Clark is right, I'm might get confused in the polling booth and hold the pen upside down. Or get disorientated and think I'm in the toilet - which could be embarrassing.

Perhaps Helen Clark should accompany me to the polling booth; make sure I tick the right boxes

 

On the House - stuff.co.nz:

"It’s ironic that National has escaped unscathed despite also voting for it, but that’s another matter."

Yes it is another matter and political junkies like Colin Espiner well know that oppositions don’t set the legislative agenda. The anti-smacking bill was introduced by Sue Bradford with the complete support of the Prime Minister. John Key took a risk by introducing the inconsequential clause and instructing National MPs to vote for it. So I don’t know where Espiner gets off, I suspect he’s playing devils advocate.

If any further evidence was needed to prove NZ First's arrogance, then having Peter Brown shout 'Shut up National' across the house pretty much does it.

Peter Brown is effectively telling 55% of New Zealanders to 'shut-up' as that is National's level of support if the latest option polls are anything to go by.

It's like a mouse roaring at a lion.

 

John Armstrong: Denial not a good look for Labour - 24 Jun 2008 - Politics: New Zealand Political News, Analysis and Comment including 2008 election coverage - NZ Herald:

"Seeing [bad polls], voters might desert that party for other options, particularly minor party ones which might be able to constrain a National-led Government.
That was National's fate in 2002 when its vote collapsed to just 21 per cent and NZ First and United Future were the beneficiaries."

As much as I want Labour to be annihilated in the up and coming election, I want them to remain competitive for the following reasons:

1. If a National govt. looks certain, some of their vote may break off to minor parties (as what happened to Labour in 2002).
2. Some of Labour’s collapsed vote may go to Winston Peters - and no body wants that!
3. A close election engerises National and Labour's base, brings out the volunteers, and makes for a fun election e.g. 2005.

In saying that I don’t think National voters are in any mood to risk their vote, regardless what happens to Labour.

So, going by my logic, if I pollster rings and asks who am I voting for, I should say Labour – followed by twenty hail marries and a shower to try and get clean again ;).

 

Smacking petition runs out of time - 24 Jun 2008 - Politics: New Zealand Political News, Analysis and Comment including 2008 election coverage - NZ Herald:

"Asked why it could not be held at the same time as the election, which must be held by November 15, she replied: 'Just in terms of sheer organisation, I do not think that is possible'."

Yeah right. All be it for me to doubt the exulted Dear Leader, but how hard can it be to stick a tick box on the ballet with the question; do you want to repeal the anti-smacking law. Hell I'll even do it for her on Microsft Word and I'll insert some wing dings to really impress her.

For the record, I would hesitate ticking that box. The the main reason I'd tick the box is as a one fingered salute to Sue Bradford and Helen Clark, because the way they went about introducing the S59 anti-smacking bill with their holier than thou approach was insulting to most New Zealanders.

 

On the House - stuff.co.nz:

"remember when Labour fell well behind National during Don Brash’s meteoric rise to popularity after he took over as leader in 2003. Clark quickly realised that Labour’s affirmative action policies for Maori were a major turnoff for voters, and after initially calling Brash a racist she accepted that Labour had got it wrong and changed tack accordingly."

When National rose in the polls under Don Brash, Labour launched their 'listening' tour of NZed. Helen also made her big 'bring it on' speech. Labour at least appeared determined to hold onto power.

Fast forward to 2008 & National is streets ahead in the polls & Labour is just sitting on it's hands. Is Helen keeping the leadership dogs at bay with a promise of a 'neutron bomb' she plans to drop on National? I hope not, but I guess we'll just have to wait & see.

 

Happy with sex ... and Bob Brown NEWS.com.au:

"The proportion of people wanting more sex and nudity had remained at 10 per cent since 2004."

^only ten pecent ;). The result was taken from the latest Trends in Australian Public Opinion report.

 

Ex-pats lament Tsvangirai's stand down - Newstalk ZB:

"'He's intimidated them from even running and it is a disgraceful, horrific thing that's going on there.'"

^ Agreed. Of course Helen's intensified language is not meant as a distraction from Labour's woeful poll results. Though she's done it before; remember the strongly worded protest Helen and Goff made to Israel over their spies using NZed passports. The protest was much stronger than what MFAT adviced because at the time it was politically covenant to do so.