If National wins ...

[Major von Tempsky]

I'm amazed if she is stepping down as a result of the Chris Trotter article. Trotter failed to point out that she scored only 22% in the byelection and has never won a marginal seat. Also "Apparently Jacinda is no lightweight in the brains department, either." On what basis was that statement made? Hasn't written any books or cited articles, hasn't originated any policies, has stated several times that she doesn't have any ambition to be leader or deputy leader. Everything she has scored has been by default, it's really a measure of how terribly, terribly weak the competition within Labour is! She's a victim of social promotion.

[elZorro]

I'm amazed if she is stepping down as a result of the Chris Trotter article. Trotter failed to point out that she scored only 22% in the byelection and has never won a marginal seat. Also "Apparently Jacinda is no lightweight in the brains department, either." On what basis was that statement made? Hasn't written any books or cited articles, hasn't originated any policies, has stated several times that she doesn't have any ambition to be leader or deputy leader. Everything she has scored has been by default, it's really a measure of how terribly, terribly weak the competition within Labour is! She's a victim of social promotion.

Here's a bit from Colin James yesterday, in the ODT. He's one guy who does his research, so he should know. And in case you're thinking otherwise, as far as I know he worked with Winston in the National Party ranks a few decades ago. These days he tries not to show which way he'd vote, as he is a political commentator.

https://www.odt.co.nz/opinion/ardern...ard-work-ahead

Here's Rachel Stewart with another hard-hitting and accurate piece on water quality. Do not let this government fool us, they control ECAN, they're trying to control the media, and behind them are the farming lobby.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/ne...ectid=11809138

[fungus pudding]

Here's a bit from Colin James yesterday, in the ODT. He's one guy who does his research, so he should know. And in case you're thinking otherwise, as far as I know he worked with Winston in the National Party ranks a few decades ago. These days he tries not to show which way he'd vote, as he is a political commentator.

AhhaaaBwaaahahahahahahahahabwa!!

[westerly]

AhhaaaBwaaahahahahahahahahabwa!!

can quite understand complaints about eZ's posts, irrespective of number. But mine are different. Educational and enlightening, and provided for the edification and enjoyment of all the readers.

Yeah rite.

westerly

[GTM 3442]

King stepping down. Big loss to Labour. Pity they haven't got a good replacement in their female ranks, so they'll go for 3rd best as deputy unless they abandon the ridiculous gender balance nonsense.

Labour are looking as though next time they make it to the treasury benches (my guess is 2020), they may be in the same position as 1972 and 1984.

Plenty of experience of politics, but nobody (or almost nobody) with any experience of government.

[elZorro]

Labour are looking as though next time they make it to the treasury benches (my guess is 2020), they may be in the same position as 1972 and 1984.

Plenty of experience of politics, but nobody (or almost nobody) with any experience of government.

Well I guess that comment might depend on your benchmarks. Last time Labour were in, they achieved good surpluses every year, and the economy grew in a real way, near record unemployment of 3.7%. This National govt has delivered record deficits, is still borrowing to pay interest costs, and is only making a small paper surplus on the books. Their economic growth is tied to net immigration and house price increases, at the expense of ordinary NZers. So while some National MPs have experience of government, it doesn't look like they learned anything, or contributed to it. Time they all moved on to retirement and out of politics, I'm sure they've set themselves up well.

[Baa_Baa]

Labour are looking as though next time they make it to the treasury benches (my guess is 2020), they may be in the same position as 1972 and 1984.

Plenty of experience of politics, but nobody (or almost nobody) with any experience of government.

Precisely, no valid argument to that. Will Labour have any politicians experienced in government? The hollow argument put forward is to bag National's achievements and ignore their with 9 years experience, yawn. NZ needs stable experienced government to continue to build on the gains National have achieved. Labour are so far from that it's laughable.

[elZorro]

Precisely, no valid argument to that. Will Labour have any politicians experienced in government? The hollow argument put forward is to bag National's achievements and ignore their with 9 years experience, yawn. NZ needs stable experienced government to continue to build on the gains National have achieved. Labour are so far from that it's laughable.

BaaBaa bull, that's so far off being accurate, it's laughable. The gains that National has made? Who for? Not the country as a whole, that's for sure. They haven't governed, they've simply adjusted the tax and spending settings to suit the well off, they've kept immigration high, and they've pretended not to notice what happened next.

[Baa_Baa]

BaaBaa bull, that's so far off being accurate, it's laughable. The gains that National has made? Who for? Not the country as a whole, that's for sure. They haven't governed, they've simply adjusted the tax and spending settings to suit the well off, they've kept immigration high, and they've pretended not to notice what happened next.

EZ bull, as usual you avoid the point and pick around the fringes. That is a trite and shallow summary of 9 years of National government achievements and doesn't answer the question whether Labour has any experience of governing in their caucus.

No offence intended.

[elZorro]

EZ bull, as usual you avoid the point and pick around the fringes. That is a trite and shallow summary of 9 years of National government achievements and doesn't answer the question whether Labour has any experience of governing in their caucus.

No offence intended.

I'd like to know what the National govt achievements were, apart from what is misconstrued as a "steady set of hands". They definitely sought to reduce the power of the state in areas such as affordable housing, so they emptied out anything that might cost a bit to sort out, and sold off a good portion of them, to take the cash out and back into the general coffers. They adjusted immigration upwards, left it at record settings, knowing full well it would put pressure on housing, and that property owners like themselves would profit from it. It's also overloaded infrastructure like roading networks in Auckland. They've overseen board member and councillor changes in local govt, regional councils, overran ECAN, to ensure their lobbyist mates get a helping hand. If they'd really been good for the country, they wouldn't have needed nasty people like Jason Eades and Cameron Slater to help get them through. John Key was a good fibber, now we have Bill English trying it on with water quality and druggie comments to the press. Stuff he either knows about, and is spouting lies anyway, or he just has no idea and is parroting lines from somewhere.

Bill English was keen on repaying the newly acquired debt in 2014. Back then the interest cost was $3.6bill a year, it'll be higher now. That amount of interest is a lot bigger than any so-called surplus he's running. And he's not paying anything off, he's thinking about tax cuts to try to swing the election.

I hope the NZ press continue to wake up to the situation, and just as in the USA, they'll hold politicians to account.

There are still quite a few Labour people left from the fifth Labour govt, and many others who have been MPs in opposition, so they know the ropes too. Note that Annette King is not leaving the Labour Party, she'll continue to work within the structure. Many other retired Labour MPs are doing the same.