Archive for April, 2009
Wednesday, April 29th, 2009
Interesting that John Key began his press conference on Monday by covering off the politics of the swine flu epidemic first. No false modesty from him. New Zealand’s response, he claimed, had been swift, thorough and appropriate.
Posted in Articles | 4 Comments »
Monday, April 27th, 2009
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The decision by Greens Co-Leader Russel Norman to stand in the Mt Albert by-election on June 13 is the latest example of the Greens’ attempts to re-position themselves on the political spectrum, given the likelihood of a two term National government. The debate on the centre left will ...
Posted in Articles | Comments Off on The Greens’ deal with National
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009
The proposal to sell our defence bases and lease them back to the armed forces from their new, private sector landlords is a pretty good example of the short term thinking that is driving the whole process of public private partnerships. Any wishful thinking that such a sale and leaseback ...
Posted in Articles | 23 Comments »
Monday, April 20th, 2009
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During the election campaign last year, Joe Biden caused a mini-flap by suggesting that within his first six months in office, Presaident Barack Obama would be tested in an international crisis by one of America’s enemies. Increasingly though, it looks as if that crisis will be triggered by ...
Posted in Articles | 16 Comments »
Saturday, April 18th, 2009
Oh dear. In the black and white universe in which the likes of No Right Turn reside, I’m now allegedly a supporter of despotism for daring to present evidence that the structure of the Fiji electoral system – as played out in the elections of 2001 and 2006 - just ...
Posted in Articles | 4 Comments »
Thursday, April 16th, 2009
Chris Trotter is well able to look after himself, but the recent criticism on him by No Right Turn over the Fiji situation is worth a few comments. The notion that an election, any election is an over-riding litmus test of political legitimacy cannot pass unchallenged, and NRT begs the ...
Posted in Articles | 5 Comments »
Tuesday, April 14th, 2009
[For Fiji click here]
A few months ago, Scoop asked Paula Bennett at John Key’s post-Cabinet press conference whether she saw a pressing need – in the light of the global financial crisis – to relax the criteria for special assistance to families who would become dependent on the state for ...
Posted in Articles | 9 Comments »
Tuesday, April 7th, 2009
Barely five months into the Key administration, the centre right is plainly making far more effective use of its ideological bedmates than Labour ever did with the Alliance, or the Greens. Rodney Hide is not even in Cabinet. Fewer than four per cent of voters voted for Act’s agenda ...
Posted in Articles | 17 Comments »
Friday, April 3rd, 2009
Barack Obama came to London seeking a fresh spending package to revive the global economy and – despite European objections that tighter regulation and not more money was the way to go – he has got a surprisingly large trillion dollar package out of the G20 meeting. But will it ...
Posted in Articles | 4 Comments »
Wednesday, April 1st, 2009
This week will be dominated by coverage of Barack Obama’s first foray on the world stage, as President. Today and tomorrow he will be in London for the G20 gathering to discuss economic stimulus and financial reform. ( Expect fireworks from Brazil and other emerging economies being hit by a ...
Posted in Articles | Comments Off on Obama’s debut on the world stage , more Auckland