Food for thought...

The question remains, is H1's (along with H2) influence within Labour still a good thing? The trillion dollar question (yes, inflation adjusted) is, is it time the apron-strings were cut?

Smoko talk...

Did you hear that a number of Government Departments are busy “down-sizing” – yeah right!

Statsics should show many are re-hiring those who have been laid off as “consultants”. Those being rehired are smiling all the way to the bank...not only do many get their redundancies, they are being paid far more than before.

Phil needs a pill...

Labour has a headache at the moment – are they “damned if they do and damned if they don’t”?

Phil Goff was smart (intentional or not) by saying John Key was slick – of course John Key is and the country knows it. If Phil Goff had said anything else, his comments would have been seen as disingenuous.

For Labour to survive they must work to be firmly in the centre. (Incidentally, the same place where National appears to be.) The results of a survey among Labour supporters might not provide the pragmatic answers Labour needs to survive. The results will be heavily weighted with responses from the left’s feminists and unionists.

The true test of and Andrew Little’s presidency (and Phil Goff’s leadership) will be if they can steer an ever slowing vessel in a centre lane, keep moving and avoid the rocks of the left....they will only be damned if they don’t!

PS
When Trevor Mallard says that Labour is not looking at the Leadership, it confirms that they are.

an honest billboard...

I once saw one of the best billboards ever while driving through Cannons Creek in Porirua...

"Vote for me I need the money."

Posted by the McGillyGully Serious Party. Remember them!

Food for thought...

Chris Finlayson is reported to have said that the real test of a politician was not if he stood up to his enemies but if he stood up to his friends.

Are the numbers stacking up for the Tories?

The Lib Dem’s could be the spoilers for the Tories. Polling has shown they take more votes from the Conservatives than Labour. Like previous elections in New Zealand, the party (or in the UK case, parties) with the most votes, won’t necessarily win the most seats. Labour could still win the most seats. Remember this is a First Past the Post election.

Another question is, if the Liberal Democrats can hold together. They have come unstuck a little with the Party’s plans to grant an amnesty to illegal immigrants. Not exactly a smart policy. Overstayers don’t vote and those who do vote won’t necessarily agree with the argument put forward by the Lib Dem’s Treasury spokesman that legalizing their status will mean more taxes.

Hey don’t you think David Cameron and Nick Clegg look alike?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rk5HvJmy_yg

“WIN-ie” Peters

The person I am watching to rise and rise is none other than the old political animal Winston Peters.
He’s looking refreshed and in his element, especially among his loyal support base, Grey Power.
In Winston’s unique humble way NZ First’s web site “claims” a number of victories...I suspect the royal “we” should be an “I”...

We got the SuperGold card organised for you.
We got rid of the super tax and got super payments raised to 66%.
We got 1000 extra police
We got free Doctor's visits for the under 6's
We saved the racing industry
We secured funding for eldercare
We lowered business tax
We got $17.3M for Maori Wardens
We got the minimum wage raised for young workers

The following comment is also on the site
“There is no doubt Winston Peters has some unfinished business. Watch this space!”

...well Amen to that!

Political Chameleons...

An ability to change to survive in life is important! Staying true to what you believe is at the heart of having integrity in politics, otherwise you are nothing other than a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

So what happens when your views change, or you change?
One of the greatest people to adapt in New Zealand politics was Helen Clark.
I remember years ago at meetings she was shy and stayed talking with just one or two supporters.
She learned! By the time she finished her term as Prime Minister she had learnt to “work a room” and engage people.
Also, while she was naturally on the left, she managed to survive in the middle by not forming a coalition with the Greens.

We are also seeing some significant other changes at the movement...
The “greening” of John Banks.
A “no nukes” National Party (John Key).
A “moderate” Kevin Rudd

Only time will tell if any are wolves in sheep’s clothing or they are in fact doing what come naturally to a Chameleon – changing colour to survive.

That’s why Kiwis are still accepting of them because they understand they believe what they are saying.

Left, Right, Centre hey whatever!

Welcome.

Let's see if these posts can bring a freshness and difference to the debate about our great Country.

Just reading KiwiBlog's categorizing of where bloggers sit – left, right, centre etc etc.

Most Kiwi’s are a bit of everything. That’s why the two most natural coalition partners in New Zealand are in fact National and Labour.

Could that ever happen, maybe – I’ll talk about that later.
I’ll try to be fair from my completely unbiased perspective! (Yeah right!).

Trust you will enjoy.