NZ | Politics Thread - Page 7

Milan Luka · May 10th, 2009, 06:19 AM

Speaking of Russel Norman. Havent seen any polls for the upcoming Mt Albert byelection. Voting 13 June.

Main candidates

Nationals Melissa Lee. I've met her, she was intense. Smoked like a crack addict. Really decent lady, but quite stern.

Greens Russel Norman.I hate to bag a fellow Aussie but this guy bores me. There is something so personality minus about him. Even the fact he goes out with the sister of a Hollywood actress doesnt make him any more exciting.

Labours David Shearer. This by-election is his to lose. Clark got 59% of the vote in last years election. Strange that he leaves his UN job dodging bullets in Basra or wherever it was to take over from Helen Clark who has left for her UN job.

With Labour being so unpopular at the moment and the Greens cannibalising their vote I wouldn't be surprised if Lee romps home in this one. Doesnt make a huge amount of difference as she is already a List MP.

deepred · May 11th, 2009, 06:03 AM

Then again, John Boscawen has thrown his hat in the ring for ACT, and United Future and the Kiwi Party are about to announce their candidates. So it's not as clear cut as it seems. Debates over the structures of the Waterview link and Greater Auckland complicate matters further.

Milan Luka · May 14th, 2009, 01:50 AM

Maybe best left for the Auckland transport thread to debate but it looks like the Nat decision on SH20 might scuttle Lee's chances of winning this by-election.

Radio National also had the knives out against her this morning- allegations she misquoted a police report about Sth Auckland in a heated discussion.

cambennett · May 14th, 2009, 02:42 AM

What Melissa Lee said was just plain stupid. The National Party's PR people must have been just about in tears.

What I don't get is the rationale for her comments. How would a new motorway stop criminals from anywhere getting to Mt Albert? Wouldn't it actually make it easier by giving them an alternative route? She has restated this at least twice since it does not seem to make any logical sense.

She comes across as arrogant, abrasive and a little ignorant. I can't understand for the life of me why they were so keen to leapfrog her in as their candidate surely they had better options. Unless, of course, it was just a cynical ploy based on the number of people of Asian ethnicity living in Mt Albert.

jarbury · May 14th, 2009, 03:20 AM

Except Ravi Musuku is also Asian. And there are probably more Indians than Koreans in Mt Albert.

Melissa Lee is coming across as a bit stupid really, just trying to bring everything back to stupid sound-bites relating to "getting tough on crime".

cambennett · May 14th, 2009, 05:00 AM

Yeah i forgot about old Ravi. Well beats me then. I can't think of why they were so keen to get her in there.

It was obvious from her apperance on Q and A the other day that "getting tough on crime" was going to be her thing. (National's market research must have identified this as the key issue besides the waterview connection) Trying to make out that improved law and order will be a fringe benefit of building the Waterview connection would have to be one of the stupidest things i've heard.

Shoredude · May 14th, 2009, 06:47 AM

Mt albert is india central.

Kane007 · May 14th, 2009, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cambennett

She comes across as arrogant, abrasive and a little ignorant. I can't understand for the life of me why they were so keen to leapfrog her in as their candidate surely they had better options. Unless, of course, it was just a cynical ploy based on the number of people of Asian ethnicity living in Mt Albert.

Sounds a lot like Steven Joyce, except the Asian bit!

jarbury · May 14th, 2009, 08:44 AM

Yeah. Not just offensive but also plain stupid. How the heck would building a motorway reduce crime?

What a n00b

Kane007 · May 14th, 2009, 09:17 AM

Well it's getting harder to select the most despised politician. Joyce or Lee.

Jeeze it wasn't too long ago that Mallard soaked in the wrath of the SSC and NZ society as a whole.

See, we are all A-political

.

jarbury · May 14th, 2009, 09:27 AM

I dislike Steven Joyce more.... largely because he has more power.

deepred · May 14th, 2009, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cambennett

What Melissa Lee said was just plain stupid. The National Party's PR people must have been just about in tears.

What I don't get is the rationale for her comments. How would a new motorway stop criminals from anywhere getting to Mt Albert? Wouldn't it actually make it easier by giving them an alternative route? She has restated this at least twice since it does not seem to make any logical sense.

She comes across as arrogant, abrasive and a little ignorant. I can't understand for the life of me why they were so keen to leapfrog her in as their candidate surely they had better options. Unless, of course, it was just a cynical ploy based on the number of people of Asian ethnicity living in Mt Albert.

I'm Asian, and Ms Lee certainly doesn't speak for me.

Milan Luka · May 14th, 2009, 12:47 PM

It certainly was a stupid thing to say but I really think it has blown out of proportion.

She was obviously flustered and would have realised straight away that what she meant to say and how it sounded were completely at odds.

That said someone holding public office should be able to stop and think before they say something that the media will obviously jump on. And its unfortunate to see Phil Goff gleefully discussing this, careful not to say but inferring that her comments about 'South' Auckland were racists.

And I dont want to be so horrible about Russel Norman now. I saw him on Close Up tonight and he seemed a bit more personable. He even said something that made me chuckle, wasnt that funny but- cant remember it now.

Sukkiri · May 14th, 2009, 09:33 PM

I can't believe Melissa Lee said what she said in regard to the Waterview Connection... She seems like a real Margret Thatcher-type. I'm watching her on breakfast now, I feel kind of sorry for the National Party.

cambennett · May 14th, 2009, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deepred

I'm Asian, and Ms Lee certainly doesn't speak for me.

No i didn't mean that at all. What i was saying was that selecting her as National candidtate could have been a cynical ploy by the party made on the basis of her ethnicity. However as Jarbury pointed out this is probably not the case as there is as there more people of Indian descent in the electorate and the previous candidate was Indian.

cambennett · May 14th, 2009, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jarbury

I dislike Steven Joyce more.... largely because he has more power.

My vote would also go to Joyce. This guy is arrogant in the extreme and he has more potential to seriously stuff things up. Melissa lee will be the Sarah Palin of NZ politics and probably disappear into obscurity if she loses the by election.

jarbury · May 15th, 2009, 02:22 PM

12.25am and parliament's still debating the Super City bill!

http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/AboutParl/SeeHear/PTV/

cambennett · May 15th, 2009, 11:23 PM

I kind of agree that a referendum would be fair on this issue but what can Labour hope to acheive with the fillibuster? Just piss the government off?

jarbury · May 16th, 2009, 08:30 AM

National bypassed select committees and public submissions on this bill to "save time". Labour's making it so they don't really save that much time.

A fair enough response once you read the bill and understand its implications.

Milan Luka · May 19th, 2009, 07:28 AM

New Zealands 1st Prime Minister Henry Sewell (1807-1879)
Held office: 1856.

Born in the Isle of Wight, Sewell arrived in New Zealand in 1853 to assist with the development of the settlement of Canterbury. He became member for the seat of Christchurch and served in the initial colonial government.

In 1856 Governor Browne announced that NZ would become a self governing colony. As Sewell was always a strong advocate of self determination, and due to being considered a moderate amongst his peers he was asked to form government. Sworn in as Colonial-Secretary on May 7th his tenure as the nations first leader lasted only 2 weeks however due to a vote of no confidence headed by William Fox, who in turn became the colonies second Premier.

Sewell returned to the UK later that year and became an advocate promoting NZ, helping to negotiate trade deals and drum up migration. In 1859 he returned to the Colony and was appointed Treasurer. In 1860 the Land Wars broke out again, as a pacifist Sewell resigned from government protesting against the policy of land confiscation.

Retiring to the UK in 1873, Sewell died six years later at his home in Cambridge.

May 14th, 2009, 05:00 AM	#126
cambennett Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Auckland Posts: 2,123 Likes (Received): 3	Yeah i forgot about old Ravi. Well beats me then. I can't think of why they were so keen to get her in there. It was obvious from her apperance on Q and A the other day that "getting tough on crime" was going to be her thing. (National's market research must have identified this as the key issue besides the waterview connection) Trying to make out that improved law and order will be a fringe benefit of building the Waterview connection would have to be one of the stupidest things i've heard. Last edited by cambennett; May 14th, 2009 at 06:04 AM.

May 14th, 2009, 09:17 AM	#130
Kane007 12 Solo's so far! Join Date: May 2006 Location: North Shore City Posts: 2,962 Likes (Received): 0	Well it's getting harder to select the most despised politician. Joyce or Lee. Jeeze it wasn't too long ago that Mallard soaked in the wrath of the SSC and NZ society as a whole. See, we are all A-political . __________________ As the most venerable D Lange would say..."Stupid, I can smell the hydrocarbons on your breath from over here!"

May 14th, 2009, 09:33 PM	#134
Sukkiri Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Undefined Posts: 668 Likes (Received): 2	I can't believe Melissa Lee said what she said in regard to the Waterview Connection... She seems like a real Margret Thatcher-type. I'm watching her on breakfast now, I feel kind of sorry for the National Party. __________________ Stay hungry, stay foolish.

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May 10th, 2009, 06:19 AM	#121
Milan Luka stupid sexy flanders Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Out in the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 2,742 Likes (Received): 74	Speaking of Russel Norman. Havent seen any polls for the upcoming Mt Albert byelection. Voting 13 June. Main candidates Nationals Melissa Lee. I've met her, she was intense. Smoked like a crack addict. Really decent lady, but quite stern. Greens Russel Norman.I hate to bag a fellow Aussie but this guy bores me. There is something so personality minus about him. Even the fact he goes out with the sister of a Hollywood actress doesnt make him any more exciting. Labours David Shearer. This by-election is his to lose. Clark got 59% of the vote in last years election. Strange that he leaves his UN job dodging bullets in Basra or wherever it was to take over from Helen Clark who has left for her UN job. With Labour being so unpopular at the moment and the Greens cannibalising their vote I wouldn't be surprised if Lee romps home in this one. Doesnt make a huge amount of difference as she is already a List MP.

May 11th, 2009, 06:03 AM	#122
deepred Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wellington Posts: 874 Likes (Received): 2	Then again, John Boscawen has thrown his hat in the ring for ACT, and United Future and the Kiwi Party are about to announce their candidates. So it's not as clear cut as it seems. Debates over the structures of the Waterview link and Greater Auckland complicate matters further.

May 14th, 2009, 01:50 AM	#123
Milan Luka stupid sexy flanders Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Out in the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 2,742 Likes (Received): 74	Maybe best left for the Auckland transport thread to debate but it looks like the Nat decision on SH20 might scuttle Lee's chances of winning this by-election. Radio National also had the knives out against her this morning- allegations she misquoted a police report about Sth Auckland in a heated discussion.

May 14th, 2009, 02:42 AM	#124
cambennett Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Auckland Posts: 2,123 Likes (Received): 3	What Melissa Lee said was just plain stupid. The National Party's PR people must have been just about in tears. What I don't get is the rationale for her comments. How would a new motorway stop criminals from anywhere getting to Mt Albert? Wouldn't it actually make it easier by giving them an alternative route? She has restated this at least twice since it does not seem to make any logical sense. She comes across as arrogant, abrasive and a little ignorant. I can't understand for the life of me why they were so keen to leapfrog her in as their candidate surely they had better options. Unless, of course, it was just a cynical ploy based on the number of people of Asian ethnicity living in Mt Albert.

May 14th, 2009, 06:47 AM	#127
Shoredude Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Auckland Posts: 510 Likes (Received): 0	Mt albert is india central.

May 14th, 2009, 12:47 PM	#133
Milan Luka stupid sexy flanders Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Out in the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 2,742 Likes (Received): 74	It certainly was a stupid thing to say but I really think it has blown out of proportion. She was obviously flustered and would have realised straight away that what she meant to say and how it sounded were completely at odds. That said someone holding public office should be able to stop and think before they say something that the media will obviously jump on. And its unfortunate to see Phil Goff gleefully discussing this, careful not to say but inferring that her comments about 'South' Auckland were racists. And I dont want to be so horrible about Russel Norman now. I saw him on Close Up tonight and he seemed a bit more personable. He even said something that made me chuckle, wasnt that funny but- cant remember it now.

May 15th, 2009, 11:23 PM	#138
cambennett Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Auckland Posts: 2,123 Likes (Received): 3	I kind of agree that a referendum would be fair on this issue but what can Labour hope to acheive with the fillibuster? Just piss the government off?

May 19th, 2009, 07:28 AM	#140
Milan Luka stupid sexy flanders Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Out in the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 2,742 Likes (Received): 74	New Zealands 1st Prime Minister Henry Sewell (1807-1879) Held office: 1856. Born in the Isle of Wight, Sewell arrived in New Zealand in 1853 to assist with the development of the settlement of Canterbury. He became member for the seat of Christchurch and served in the initial colonial government. In 1856 Governor Browne announced that NZ would become a self governing colony. As Sewell was always a strong advocate of self determination, and due to being considered a moderate amongst his peers he was asked to form government. Sworn in as Colonial-Secretary on May 7th his tenure as the nations first leader lasted only 2 weeks however due to a vote of no confidence headed by William Fox, who in turn became the colonies second Premier. Sewell returned to the UK later that year and became an advocate promoting NZ, helping to negotiate trade deals and drum up migration. In 1859 he returned to the Colony and was appointed Treasurer. In 1860 the Land Wars broke out again, as a pacifist Sewell resigned from government protesting against the policy of land confiscation. Retiring to the UK in 1873, Sewell died six years later at his home in Cambridge.