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Politics

October 9, 2019

I Argue That Campbell Live’s ‘Stone Wall’ And ‘Caravan Of Complaint’ Serve Democracy Well

Campbell Live has introduced a new feature on the programme. They’re calling it ‘The Stone Wall’ and it will display the names and photographs of Cabinet Ministers, from the PM down, who decline invitations to appear on the programme. The idea isn’t entirely new. For a long time Fair Go had a ‘Wall of Shame’ which served... Read More

Politics

October 9, 2019

A Sort Of Open Letter To The ABCs In The Labour Caucus

A good mate pointed out to me that it wasn’t very smart to heap abuse on the heads of people whose opinion you hoped to change. He was referring to my most recent post On the extremely rare danger of overestimating Labour Party Stupidity, in which I called the ‘Anyone But Cunliffe’ brigade ‘numbskulls’. My good mate... Read More

Politics

October 9, 2019

Lessons In “Followship” From The Labour Party

In the past I’ve written several posts and articles about voluntary euthanasia. The ‘voluntary’ bit is crucial, since no-one who wants to go on living, however great their pain or however inconvenient their continuing existence to others, should be cajoled or browbeaten into changing their mind. But it is hard to come to terms with... Read More

Politics

October 9, 2019

Reflections On A 50:50 Male:Female Quota For Labour Members Of Parliament

This post originally appeared on in the Dominion Sunday Times where I had a weekly column. For no good reason I can think of today the two people in the dialogue were named ‘Straight’ and ‘Narrow’ and the piece itself titled ‘Alas Straight and Narrow’. The column was a spoof on the concept of quota-based,... Read More

Politics

October 9, 2019

Mt Albert Musings

In his column in today’s Sunday Herald Matt McCarten accuses Labour Leader Phil Goff and the Labour Party hierarchy of ‘a stunning display of political cowardice’ for having ‘kneecapped’ list MP Phil Twyford in his bid to be selected as Labour candidate in the Mt Albert by-election. McCarten’s argument is that Labour bosses were so fearful of a... Read More

Politics

October 9, 2019

The Writing’s On The Wall For David Shearer – And It’s In Tapu Misa’s Hand.

A quite remarkable thing happened this morning. Herald columnist Tapu Misa gave it as her view that David Shearer should stand down as leader of the Labour Party. Misa is the finest columnist in the country – intelligent, informed, rational, considered in her judgements. More importantly, she is never cruel or unkind. Unlike most other columnists, including myself from... Read More

Politics

October 9, 2019

On Shane Jones – Cock Of The Walk

Shane Jones is one of only two people I have ever hung up on. Trevor Mallard is the other. I don’t take well to being bullied or abused. I do Mallard an injustice by mentioning him in the same context as Jones. I have considerable respect for Trevor and nothing but contempt for Jones. If I ever... Read More

Politics

October 9, 2019

I Meet Cameron Slater And Get To Thinking About Boring Politicians

On Sunday on The Nation Bill Ralston, Rachel Smalley and I had the pleasure of interviewing Cameron Slater of ‘Whale Oil’ fame. I hadn’t expected it to be a pleasure. Slater’s politics are at the opposite end of the spectrum from my own and his and his Whale Oil followers’ perpetual use of gratuitously offensive language... Read More

Politics

October 9, 2019

John Banks – A Personal Reassessment

In a slim file in my office, marked ‘Legal’, I have a document dated ‘Thursday the 9th day of December 1993’. It’s headed STATEMENT OF CLAIM. The claim is made by one John Archibald Banks of Whangarei, Member of Parliament (Plaintiff) and TV3 Network Services Limited (First Defendant) and Brian Finbar Myram Edwards of Auckland (Second Defendant). It’s a writ for defamation. The... Read More

Politics

October 9, 2019

How Phil Goff May Come Into His Own In The Televised Election Debates

There’s general agreement that the three televised debates between John Key and Phil Goff scheduled to take place between now and the election could play a significant role in changing voter perceptions of the two contenders. Television viewers have seen a lot of Goff over the last three years primarily because he has, on principle,... Read More

Politics

1 2 OLDER POSTS

I Argue That Campbell Live’s ‘Stone Wall’ And ‘Caravan Of Complaint’ Serve Democracy Well

A Sort Of Open Letter To The ABCs In The Labour Caucus

Lessons In “Followship” From The Labour Party

Reflections On A 50:50 Male:Female Quota For Labour Members Of Parliament

Mt Albert Musings

The Writing’s On The Wall For David Shearer – And It’s In Tapu Misa’s Hand.

On Shane Jones – Cock Of The Walk

I Meet Cameron Slater And Get To Thinking About Boring Politicians

John Banks – A Personal Reassessment

How Phil Goff May Come Into His Own In The Televised Election Debates

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