The issue is that this is one disaffected persons opinion.
Who's to say (apart from Rohan) that he is more capable than those higher on the list - maybe they have already done harder yards?
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Hmm ... did you had a look at the list at all? Just remind me of the hard yards Kiri Allan (place 20) or Willie Jackson (place 21), Ginny Andersen (place 27) or Marja Lubeck (place 31) have done for Labour? Sure - Willie Jackson belongs to the left wing red socks ... and used to play formerly for the losing Alliance, but the others? How do they deserve that much higher places on the list unless it is all about race or sex? And hey, there are plenty others - just have a look at the list:
http://www.labour.org.nz/list
It's also related to gathering votes and networking/liaising with those making the list decisions, being involved in regional jobs for the Labour Party over a few years, not just jumping into an electorate candidacy. Has the candidate proven they can work with a wide range of people? Very important for the actual job of being an MP.
The general public might not have heard of them, but those high up the list will have been working on that position for a few years.
"The 9th floor: Jim Bolger says neoliberalism has failed NZ and it's time to give unions the power back "
Not surprising I suppose there has been no comment from the right on the former Prime Minister' s
opinions.
There again the Press editorial this morning was somewhat sympathetic to Labour on the List discussion.
National seems to be following Labour candidate selections withe more than a nod to diversity. When their List is finally made public sometime in September any candidate upset by their position will be have been well and truly silenced by the party whips.
Paula will be encouraging tipping for good service but I am not sure many MP s qualify.
westerly
Budget says country's finances are in great shape.
Increased accommodation allowances should help 'stretched' investor landlords a bit .....and if course the tenants who are a bit 'stretched' as well
After this budget suppose odds on National wining election just got tighter - and Labour / Green now at even longer odds
I'm yet to have a good look at the budget, FP. But increasing the housing supplement will surely end up largely in the hands of landlords, with rents more likely to be paid when due. Many other lolly-scramble parts of the budget were largely catch-up funding. But if it's an extra $2bill or so, there goes the surplus, and they haven't even started repaying any of their new borrowings yet. They'll have to hope there isn't another GFC around the corner.
Very little of the budget is about turning the economy around.
The way to win a war is to occupy the enemy"s ground.... A tinge of red + blue = purple?
I think Grant Robertson discussed it well on TV1 this morning, no KiwiBuild, much lower tax refund for the lowest paid, it's still a trickle-down philosophy from National. And $1mill towards climate change work. That might be the most damning part of the whole budget. What can you do with $1mill?