By-election 'sends message to Rudd'

Nationals candidate Darren Chester triumphed with 63 per cent of the two-party preferred vote in yesterday's poll, against Labor candidate Darren McCubbin's 37 per cent.

"I think it's an extraordinary result that you have a 7 per cent swing against Mr Rudd only seven months after he has won the election, which would be one of the largest swings against a newly elected government, I think, since Federation."

Jim Bolger to chair new rail company

"Full details, including the structure of the company, its name and even the new paint job for the trains, will be announced at the official hand over from Toll to the government in Wellington on Tuesday. ONE News will bring you the story.."

John Armstrong: Does National have a Cullen in its ranks?

"This is the Cullen that the public has tired of and grown to dislike - the quick-tongued, arrogant-sounding smarty pants who was grudgingly slow to get his head around personal tax cuts."

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. 


Dope, Nandor Tanczos , Greens

Quote

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.

Nuclear, Climate change

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'."

On the House - stuff.co.nz:

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

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.

..........arrogant form. "Labour's policy is to tell the truth about
National's policy". What a load of rubbish. Just answer the question...

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.

Today I transferred my opinion blog to Blogspot from my Windows Live Space to see if I prefer this platform.

http://brashtalk.blogspot.com

I'm also experimenting with a new blog name.  I've another blog name in the pipeline if I don't like 'BrashTalk'.

I'll probably duel post on Windows Live Space and Blogspot until I decide which one to keep. 

As odd as it seems I actually try and stay loyal to Windows Live products.  But eventually even I get frustrated with Microsoft products and find something more user friendly.  The thing is Microsoft products have some good features but are let down by not giving their customers flexibility like having multiple Spaces under one passport account.

Other times it can be something small.  For example I battled to get the Windows Live Toolbar to work for me i.e. open search results in a new tab and the blogging feature.  I emailed Microsoft a couple of times and scoured the web for info., but eventually I gave up and use the Google toolbar.  And since I'm using the Google toolbar the natural progression is to use Google products.

Unlike many people I'm not cynical about Microsoft at all.  So when they start losing customers like me, then they should really be concerned. 

Of course in typical Microsoft fashion they'll probably suddenly improve their products (IE8 beta is just around the corner) and I may regret making the change.

The fact that Australia's Labor is pursuing big public/private sector partnerships and kept the increase in government spending to a mere 1 per cent in its debut Budget shows how out of step New Zealand's Labour-led Government has become with international norms, leading New Zealand into a cul de sac, he says.

Fran O'Sullivan: Coalition mates need to be ready for National's vision - 21 Jun 2008 - Politics: New Zealand Political News, Analysis and Comment including 2008 election coverage - NZ Herald

National has been branded as Labour-lite many times, and not without reason, so it's good to read English's alternative vision for New Zealand; one that won't be curtailed by Winston Peters.

"I don't mean to be impudent," said one reporter, "but why are you wearing a kilt?"

Sibley explained: "It has to do with genitalia. If you are on the smaller side, then pants are not uncomfortable."

Obama, his gay accuser and the lawyer in a kilt - New Zealand's source for World News on Stuff.co.nz

Dunno what's he talking about.... pants are well comfortable ;).

Technorati Tags: Obama,humour, small dick

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."

Her office later explained to me that while it was true the legislation had been written a year ago, Burton had been “busy” that year and unable to find time to table the bill in Parliament. When I asked what he had been doing, they replied “well, the Electoral Finance Act took up a lot of his time”.

On the House - stuff.co.nz

I always thought that with so much time devoted to drafting the Electoral Finance Bill that something had to give....

What's more important; law and order or fiddling with electoral laws for your own benefit..?  Labour have got to assess the reasons why they're seeking power in the first place.  Because by neglecting law and order they're really betraying themselves.

Helen Clark and John Key, back from parliamentary recess, appeared to subtly changed their styles. 

Helen Clark was a touch more conciliatory and actually addressed the questions rather than attacking John Key with condescending rubbish. 

John Key, on the other hand, adopted a more aggressive posture with a showmanship delivery. 

It was an improvement for both politicians.  I suspect Helen has been told to dial back her arrogance in Question Time, but she's going to find that hard with Key going on the attack. 

Quote

Honda rolls out new zero-emission car

"The biggest obstacles standing in the way of wider adoption of fuel cell vehicles are cost and the dearth of hydrogen fuel stations. For the Clarity's release in California, Honda said it received 50,000 applications through its website but could only consider those living near stations in Torrance, Santa Monica and Irvine."

"The small number of hydrogen fuel stations is the "single limiting factor" for fuel cell vehicles".

Helen should substitute her 'carbon neutral' rhetoric with something a little more realistic such as building hydrogen re-fueling station in Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington. 

Editorial: Neglect may cost Labour:

A broader Green Party would build some conservation projects on private property rights and recognise the power of market forces to ensure resources are used sustainably. A party of that stamp would draw support from across the spectrum and could contemplate dealings with any government.

The Green Party needs to move out of left field and become a central player.

If I were to start my own political party, it would be a right-leaning environmental party.  It would encourage ethical buying i.e. the purchase of products which have an ethical objective e.g. carbon neutral, free range eggs, or made in NZed.  Either way it gives the individual the power to decide through the market.

It would give incentives for private individuals to restore environments with native flora using sound ecological principles.  I.e. Kahikatea corridor to allow for movement of native species.  Wetland restoration to purify water etc. 

It would rather put a billion dollars towards cleaning up our environment and helping to save the kiwi than give it to Russia through an emissions trading scheme. 

It would trust NZers to contribute their own money toward environmental causes therefore would advocate the lowest possible tax. 

It would promote and incentivise clean technology which includes nuclear.  It would develop a strategy for introduction of hydrogen cars - nuclear energy is the only efficient way to extract hydrogen from water (electrolysis).  Damming a river to power our cars would be ridiculous.

Just a few ideas .