Thoughts on Labour Leadership

If Labour don't want David Shearer I suggest ACT just buy him. We sure as hell didn't spend the coin on good advertising.

Labour May Just Owe Tizard An Apology

Labour's Kim Kardashian is turning into a Glue pony.

The publicity machine has been cranked up yet again around Labour's Kim Kardashian. Apparently she slashed Nikki Kaye's majority and performed brilliantly in Auckland Central. So much so that she's been touted already as front-bench material in a Labour reshuffle.

But really, did she do so well on Saturday?? Let me debunk yet another myth about Labour's prize trophy girl.

Based on election night results we can already compare how their rising star performed compared with Judith Tizard, a woman whom Labour threw to the hounds by talking her out of returning on the list and relegating her with derogatory remarks.

In 2008 the vote count with a 1,497 majority in favour of Nikki Kaye was as follows

Kaye 14,677 or 42.91%

Tizard 13,180 or 38.53%

Roche 4,592 or 13.43%

And list vote

National 14,112 or 40.08%

Labour 12,166 or 34.55%

Greens 5,446 or 15.47%

In 2011 the vote count on election night with a 535 majority was:

Kaye 12,358 or 45.17%

Ardern 11,823 or 43.21%

Roche 2,188 or 8%

And list vote

National 11,754 or 42.96%

Labour 7,125 or 26.04%

Greens 6,024 or 22.02%

Nikki Kaye actually increased her percentage share of the electorate vote in Auckland Central despite the Green's Denise Roche pleading on television and all over the electorate in an MMP dirty deal for their supporters to vote for Ardern in 2011. And Ardern herself sending this out stating that there are "only two candidates in Auckland Central asking for your electorate vote". Kaye also increased National's share of the list vote. Whereas Ardern barely scratched to match Labour's total percentage.

In 2008 the Greens didn't openly assist at all and Tizard was allegedly deserted by her own supporters but with specials to count, Tizard is outpolling on raw numbers against Ardern 13,180 to 11,823. Even if on specials Ardern passes this mark it is quite clear the vote swapping that was orchestrated in the Labour-Greens dirty deal. Kaye has kicked her arse all over the electorate.

Of more importance, Ardern, in an effort to win the seat for herself by co-operation with the Greens oversaw a disastrous plummet in Labour list vote from Tizard's 12,166 (34.55%) to Ardern's 7,125 (26.04%). Such tactics nationwide of candidate over party largely attributed to Labour not picking up extra MP's and pressuring the National lead.

Labour therefore owe Judith Tizard a huge apology.

If their own rising star in Ardern with a hand of the Greens cannot beat Tizard's last performance in 2008 it tells you that the only difference between the two Labour ladies is good publicity and a hell of a lot of window dressing from adoring colleagues and party hacks.

Under closer analysis I can conclude once again that Labour's Kim Kardashian is underperforming, over-rated and being pumped as the future of the Labour Party when in fact she's just very average and no Helen Clark that's for sure.

She's not even a Judy T on this racing form.

Ardern's best hope is to secure Phil Goff's seat nomination in Mt Roskill or even go bludge Rongotai off soon departing Deputy Leader Annette King.

Or in a miraculous turnaround on the special votes.

Doing worse than Judith Tizard in a seat is not career enhancing.

Line In Sand on Asset Sales

The Maori Party look set to do a deal with National to support them on the grounds of preferential treatment for Iwi groups to buy into pending asset sales. You know, the same Maori Party that campaigned against asset sales.

Personally I think it is great Maori wish to buy into these assets with money they sponged out of Treaty Settlements, but they can wait in bloody line like everyone else and stop blackmailing National into supporting them for a pay-off for their mates.

And perhaps use the dividends from these assets to, oh I don't know, actually pay out to their people so they can all rely less on the taxpayer for more welfare.

Tariana Turia is reported as saying:

Iwi want to be "major players" if the new National Government goes through with its planned state asset sales, Maori Party leader Tariana Turia says

Imagine the outcry if John Banks and ACT went in with this attitude:

Alan Gibbs, Michael Friedlander and Sir Michael Fay wished to be "major players" if the new National Government goes through with its planned state asset sales, Act Party Parliamentary leader John Banks says

Labour Auckland Central Roll Out The Big Guns

Jacinda "Kim Kardashian" Ardern is really bringing out the big guns in the final week of the campaign.

Clearly super confident of victory she has now allowed this random woman on the far left of this snap to slap a rosette on and walk around the electorate campaigning like it's 2008 all over again.

Anyone recognise her?

2011 Youth Candidate Review - Greens

The Greens are not a political party they are an international marketing brand. It would be like I guess Apple standing in election worldwide. I treat them as such. With suspicion that no one is as clean, green or as mean as others think they are. I missed profiling James Shaw, as I was too exhausted after the research on the two ladies. In consolation for him I will acknowledge he is one of the better looking male candidates on the campaign trail.

Ironically these two young Greenies are probably going to all be elected on the list ahead of the three young Union plants from Labour, making the compare and contrast even more interesting to complete.

Holly Walker



Holly has one of the best online presences of all the young candidates and therefore has a far better chance of a favourable review if the material isn't too nutty. Which while I am a little bit sick in my mouth when she starts talking about her rather distorted view of the "evil" of inequality blinded by her own start in life, she is not a complete tree-hugging nutter. She also has an excellent sense of humour for a pinko.



Holly has worked in a disciplined fashion on twitter and Facebook and has disclosed her CV in full on the Green's website. Bless her, she even survived and thrived in an interview with Bryce Edwards, one of the dullest men on You Tube stuttering through yet another interview.

The measure of how nice Holly Walker really is can be found in evidence that she's even been kind to Ducky in Hutt South.

At age 29 Holly has completed a BA in English and Politics and trotted off to Oxford on a Rhodes Scholarship. She is also like Stephen Whittington a champion debater. Quite why she achieved the heights of that and accepted a lowly job working for scum list MP's as political and media advisor you would have to ask her. Remembering until recently at her list position of number 12 there wasn't a chance she would be in Parliament at all.

Holly is the perfect Green MP. So politically correct she had a civil union because her gay friends could not legally get married. The nice, smiling, grating academic over-achiever who has all the tools to actually perform something commercially but never will because she thinks it is all absolutely horrifying. After a couple of hours of background completed, I describe her as a non-commercial Theresa Gattung in geek chic. Interestingly Holly wears a greenstone dangly piece from her neck. I was given the same at a friend's wedding for attending. I pulled it apart trying to take the attachment off the cord and ruined it so it sits cordless in my drawer. Holly's seems to have fared better.

Holly's Oxford thesis addressed the 'Closing the Gaps' Maori development policy in New Zealand 1999-2001 and her focus is on inequality and indigenous development. Yawn.

I wanted to watch Backbenches Hutt South before I completed this review but it isn't available overseas for me to view yet. Instead I had to watch Edwards' full interview and block out his gnawing stuttering and tsking. And I watched all the interview to see how long it took me before I was sick of Holly. She has a nice voice, good tone and unlike many young candidates, doesn't speak down to people so I was able to my surprise get through the entire thing. She just needed to put the damn coffee down. What was that about?

The audience took her down on GST (Greens don't want it removed) but the Greens wanted free tertiary fees which is always now treated with suspicion and contempt by everyone who actually has had to pay them. A student with a BA then addressed the elephant in the room that his BA was bloody useless. She didn't answer that well.

Like a good leftie, Holly simply agreed with every suggestion to spend money, give more to "poor" people and that there needed to be more debate. She may be on the Labour CGT "Expert panel" at this rate.

In Simon Wilson's words, I get the feeling this girl would talk the back off the bus before "Kim Kardashian" Ardern and Nikki Kaye even boarded it. She is way cooler than both as she brews her own beer. Like David Seymour building his own car, that makes her stand out as far more useful than the average pollie.

But for all the Oxford study she had to ask what the difference between legalisation and decriminalisation of drugs. A little face palm. Even Nandor knows that.

Should she be an MP? Ideally needs to go get a real job first however her current position says to be she doesn't wish to do anything else but work in politics. She is no worse in that regard than any in Labour and of far better academic stock than Kim Kardashian. As a centre-left MP she ticks all the boxes. From my perspective I wished she would use that brain for something commercially viable. I would vote for her to be on the list of a centre-right political party if she was right wing. In other words she has potential if you could reprogram her bleeding heart brain.

Could she be an MP? Easily. The horrid grating inequality thrashing is dull and boring which means she's the perfect little card carrying pinko. Her rejection of fifth form economics puts her in line to be the Greens Finance Spokeswoman.

Will she be an MP? I think so as the Greens will crack 10%. Thinking positively, if Holly gets in a whole host of Labour MP's will not and given the lack of talent in the young Labour blood "coming" though in 2011 it is just as well really.

You get the feeling though Holly wants to change the world. Someone needs to quickly tell her this will not happen so she avoids disappointment.

Julie Anne Genter



Julie Anne is almost 32 years old and born in Minnesota. She went to UC Berkeley for a BA and published a paper on the (wait for it) "philosophical justification for affirmative action". Her other academics include CIEP Political Theory & Economics, IEP, Paris; Sciences Po Scholar; Master of Planning Practice, University of Auckland (1st class); UofA Masters Scholar.

Reading her CV that is available online, I get the underlying feeling that this is the Green candidate who wants to blow up cars and give New Zealand the largest white elephant of a public transport system it can. I shudder what she would do in Auckland if let loose to have tea with Len Brown.

Julie Anne is also photographed wearing what looks like Maori designed neckwear and has an atrocious habit of (in John Ansell's words) "Maorification" of everything. Calling herself "Ngati Pakeha". but being a white American chick with a thick accent, this comes off as well try-hard.

Julie Anne has just a few years in the workforce but like Holly has ended up an advisor to the Green Party. It looks as though they rely on her for advice regarding Transport, Energy and Climate Change and the RMA.

She does however fit the stereotype for a Greenie as a certified yoga teacher with an interest in different styles of dance (West African, modern) who is in to painting, drawing, and gardening.

Should she be an MP? An American Greenie dictator of the New Zealand public transport system? I think not.

Could she be an MP? Bit of a one-trick pony in a farm facing the ETS really. It is bad enough having an Australian as the co-Leader, and now the Greens are foisting a Yank on the House of Representatives?

Will she be an MP? I hope so for no other reason than at number 13 on the Greens list it would mean Labour would have had an atrocious night and there will be blood on the floor.

Tomorrow (or Friday depending on my flying time and availability) - the minor rabble - NZ First, Mana and Maori.

2011 Youth Candidate Review - Labour

Deborah Mahuta-Coyle

Today it is the turn of the pinkos to suffer trial by CV. Let me start with number 26 on the Labour list Deborah Mahuta-Coyle. I did not even have to get the A grade insults out here because the pinkos seem to have already given her the glad eye, and it is not pretty.

Deborah until three months ago worked in the Goffice (apparently hasn't been removed from the staff list) and has been told to take one for the team, travel no doubt on the taxpayers tit and stand against the unmovable Simon Bridges in Tauranga. Bridges is not concerned enough to even engage her publicly and one can understand why he is not bothering.

Mahuta-Coyle is on the list ahead of Stuart Nash, Clare Curran, Brendon Burns, Chris Hipkins, David Shearer, Steve Chadwick and Phil Twyford. General consensus online seems to be that this has opened more than a few mouths wide in horror. The Unions rated her on their wishlist of candidates as 4th behind Little, Wood and Mika.

On the Own our Future page Deborah claims:

I’m 30 and my husband and I are looking to buy our first house – and if it wasn’t for Kiwisaver it would be an impossibility. This is a reality for many Kiwis our age and it doesn’t seem right.

I put my hand up to stand in Tauranga because I believe Tauranga needs better, fairer representation in Parliament. An MP who will work hard to represent the interests of those living in Merivale and those in Mt Maunganui.

The poor Dear at age 30 cannot afford a house? Really? Most legal and accounting professionals at that age cannot do likewise! Mahuta-Coyle really is pandering to the Labour "eat the rich" electorate here by the display of faux poverty. She works in the Goffice and would be in the top tax bracket for heaven's sake probably pushing $100k as an over-inflated Wellington salary. If she can't afford a house on her own income that's a failure of her own let alone the wage of the male partner with it. Kiwisaver should have nothing to do with it. Pretending to be poor to appeal to "youff" and underclass just isn't cool anymore. The competition with the Mana Party is too tough.

Even Dim Post can see the silliness of rejuvenating the Labour Party with a Goff staffer and carpet-bagging her to Tauranga.

Maui Street was less charitable

Mahuta is one of Goff’s press secretaries. One would think association with the incompetent Goffice would be a liability. It really is indicative of the poisonous patronage that pervades the Labour Party. Around a month ago I attended one of the local list selections here in Wellington. Obviously Mahuta was speaking. My impressions of her were less than flattering. Her speech was not notable in any way, she displayed no great insight, the speech itself was hardly rhetorically remarkable and I sensed an air of arrogance about her. In my opinion Josie Pagani, Michael Bott, Jordan Carter and Rino Tirikatene were far superior. According to the local members Mahuta, despite possessing no qualifications like intellect or character, was guaranteed a high placing by virtue of her position in the party.

It is a bit pre-emptive to have a Wiki when Labour need 30% for her to get there but "Debs" seems full of confidence so I will advertise her as already there.

"Debs" has already got herself into trouble on Twitter for her a false sledge on Clare Robinson “just take your national party rosette out of your pocket and slap it on your forehead.”. Lets hope regardless of the election result, she takes over Red Alert from Clare Curran and provides the second part of a Mah(d) and Mallard comedy duo. Curran is the only Labourite strong enough to stop Mallard from gaining all permission access on Red Alert to go nuclear. Mahuta at 5 foot tall would not cope.

I could not find much of a CV online, just a Herald interview that noted she graduated (surprisingly) in the entirely safe subjects of Politics and Maori from Victoria University and has worked inside the Labour Party for ten years for Goff, Clark and Horomia. At the age of 30 and a third of her life, this firmly makes her a party hack. A party hack who will die in the ditch with Goff, this piece of political judgment:

On why its policies seem popular, but not the leader: "We need to do better [as a party]. And when the campaign starts proper, he'll connect with more Kiwis."

Phil Goff is doing many things this campaign but connecting is not one of them.

Should she be an MP? Of course not. Mahuta-Coyle joins a long list of Labour staffers who think they can be MP's. Not many have done anything else but leave University and work in the Party.

Could she be an MP? For Labour, of course. She's a perfect candidate. Academically better qualified than Kim Kardashian who has slipped her way up to number 13 on the Labour List, Mahuta-Coyle is also Tainui and a female that gives her as many points as all of Stuart Nash's degrees and work experience combined.

Will she be an MP? Here is hoping not as it would mean Labour would have polled 30-33% on Saturday. I predict she will be miraculously "re-appointed" in the Opposition Leaders office working from Monday for Labour's next leader.

Michael Wood

We will start with Michael's most fabulous claim to fame the attempting banning of Penis lollies.

At number 32 on the list his Union mates have failed him a tad as Labour would need to poll around 32% to get him in.

Wood, 31 years old from FINSEC was rated second behind Andrew Little as the Union's choice. I don't quite know why, he seems as far removed from a Union Man traditionally as one could get.

As an observer by far the best thing Michael has ever done in his life was marrying a woman far smarter and more politically astute than he is as she is picking Labour to lose three key electorates. Wood is also somewhat unique in that he is one of the only men I have read of in politics who does something called splitting childcare. That is, he works part-time to look after the kiddies. I cannot imagine "Iron" Mike Williams and his bovver boy mates ever sanctioning that.

Despite being the whipping boy to stand and fail in safe National seats, Wood seems to be a genuinely nice man who I have known of since University days. With his child minding duties he should be winning all those silly polls as to which politician would you leave your kiddies with? Wood doesn't trumpet a great academic record, sporting prowess or anything really. He doesn't have to, he's a Unionist.

Wood also has a track record of saving wounded animals on the campaign trail. Just yesterday Facebook recorded him rescuing a poor little Duck from near disaster when attacked by a cheeky darky gull.

Should he be an MP? No worse than other young Labour candidates with Union backgrounds. Fails the white male test for advancement in the Labour Party even if he shares child care. I suggest he contact Paul Foster-Bell so he can find some Tangata Whenua somewhere.

Could he be an MP? Not this time and if he stands and fails in too many other elections and by-elections he will inherit the strong taint of being a perennial loser. Timing is important in politics and now is not the time.

Will he be an MP? Not this time. But eventually the Union will push with their cash and he will be in an electable list position.

Jerome Mika

Mika is an EPMU bitch make no mistake about that. His candidate page is full of idealistic waffle and weasel words and should have been ripped apart by Labour's Comms team and rewritten as it tells us absolutely nothing about him. At number 36 on the Labour list he needs 34% to have a look in so his wiki is premature as well.

Mika lost out to Louisa Wall in the safe Labour seat of Manurewa in a classic Labour Union shitfight.

A bit like Union Hollow Man Wood, there is nothing really available about Mika online but loads of pictures of him rubbing shoulders with everyone in the Island community he can find including All Blacks, rugby players and everything blokey. Mika looks happy, smiley and a leg-opener for Phil Goff into the Island communities, an organiser of his community carrying the clipboard to sign-up voters and members.

If Mika was a skinny white boy he would be Michael Wood.

Should he be an MP? Of course not. JAFU (Just Another F***ing Unionist). Hasn't achieved anything of note outside of "community work" which as so many then end up doing he is leveraging a political career of the back of.

Could he be an MP? Unionist + Labour Party + Islander + hangs out with rugby stars = A shoo in ....for Labour eventually.

Will he be an MP? Not this time. At number on the list 36 he needs a 34% poll for Labour on Saturday. Thanks to the Greens this will not happen.

2011 Youth Candidate Review - ACT and National

(pictures will be inserted when blogger behaves itself)

David Seymour

If David makes it to Parliament on Saturday night he will become the first new entrant who has come through ACT on Campus (now termed "the Killer Bees") right through the ranks of the Party. Generally perceived as an extreme self-promoter (sending Board members atrociously large amounts of material all about himself before the list selection) David ranked his achievements and future at the tender age of around 28 as somewhere up there with a combination of a Nobel winning economist, Pulitzer Prize Winning author and coach of the All Blacks. Problem with David is that he doesn't need to go to these extremes because he had a track record in the Party that was going to eventually mean he was always going to make it.

David was educated in New Zealand as he will tell you at Auckland Grammar then went to Auckland University to complete a BE in Electrical Engineering and a BA in Philosophy. Light on work experience and opportunity in New Zealand he commendably shot off to Canada to work for a "think tank" for a few years doing god knows what, and is currently hedging his bets as one would being an ACT candidate, and is officially on sabbatical. Can 28 year olds even have one of those?

David built his own car. Not many candidates standing for Parliament in 2011 can claim they would have the first clue how to do that. That makes him slightly cooler than the other kids.

My original impression of David is that was is need of a good trip to Vegas, whereby he would ideally meet some hookers Hangover style in a hot tub and spend three days in a coke-induced stuper before returning to real life whereby he would take himself a little less seriously. I still have that impression. He is a young face, but more representative of the uptight sort of youth you would find still living at home with their parents. You could imagine David in a bar talking the varnish off the bar stool at 2am about Hayek and Von Mises than actually enjoying his free time chasing tail.

All this aside in Auckland Central against Nikki Kaye and Jacinda "Kim Kardashian" Ardern, two slightly older candidates and sitting MP's, Seymour looks like and is a star. His performance in the Auckland Central Back Benches debate in front of a hostile crowd and next to three often screaming estrogen-filled comparatively empty vessels, was superb. He isn't afraid to heckle and stick it to the opposition getting the best hit of the night landing square on Ardern about her links to Morrinsville. One observation I will make from the clips I have seen is that Seymour needs to dumb down his messages especially about Economics, so the 99% have a hope in hell of what he is talking about. Especially at his age where he just looks like a smart arse. Once he manages this and gets more experience and confidence in being less serious about himself, he may develop the charisma and personality required to lead the Party. Which is where I see him heading.

Should he be an MP? No not yet, too young, stiff and inexperienced. Ideally send him back off overseas to come back in ten years. I have no idea what Seymour earned in Canada but I hazard a guess in his career right now he would be getting a substantial payrise to enter politics. Meaning by my radar he's not ready for it.
Could he be an MP? Definitely yes. He ranks as far better than anyone his own age or the younger candidates from the 2008 intake. Wouldn't let anyone down in ACT who has supported him.
Will he be an MP? Maybe. If ACT are stuck on four MP's on election night, Don would do the Party and New Zealand a favour for the future by pissing off to Washington or Singapore and letting Seymour through from the List at number 5.

Stephen Whittington


Stephen has the dubious honour of working as basically Sir Roger Douglas' PA but only well after Roger was cool and able to do cool stuff. In that time no doubt he would have been ordered to draft all sorts of daft arse policy, the culmination of not stopping Roger in his tracks being around 17 pages of nonsense too close to the election that never made it past the cutting floor as Roger went back to the future and wanted an asset tax.

Whittington went to Victoria University and completed an LLB (Hons) and a BA in Latin and headed to Russell McFactory to work in the tax law team whereby he is destined for a life as a bitch killing himself in the vagaries of New Zealand tax law before turning into a zombie and becoming Manager then either escaping Alcatraz by moving overseas or becoming Partner and wedded to "the Firm". Whittington has instead in a politically charged process of internal law firm politics, potentially poked that career by declaring publicly his political stripes and standing for a Party at one stage that has been on .7%.

Whittington is obviously, like all these kiddie candidates, academically extremely bright but at age 25 I cannot find being debated to about employment law, welfare, foreign policy actually all that credible. His main achievement outside of being at the embryonic stage of this tax law path to doom, is as a debating champion. Fine. But it is wearing thin top advertise yourself as in 2009 "the 15th best speaker in the world". Not one journalist has asked if this includes or excludes Obama least of all worked out how the claim is measured. His performances on television have been good but listening to him he needs to remember he is speaking to people and not constantly in a debating contest. It is all too intense. Debating is one thing but in a Party of a few MP's your time in the debating chamber on your feet is limited. Whittington appeals to his loud debating University mates who can't shut up about anything, let alone how good their boy is. He may very well be in the future.

That's about all I can write about Whittington because there isn't anything else. It is not indictment on his intellect or achievements to date. It is just that he is 25 years old, preppy and like Seymour, has absolutely no edges or mongrel yet to him to cling to that make him stand out as interesting.

Should he be an MP? Far too young, no. Especially as in his career right now he would be getting a substantial payrise to enter politics. Meaning he's not ready for it.
Could he be an MP? Yes. Again he compares favourably to other 25 year olds and the 2008 intake.
Will he be an MP? No. Not with ACT's likely election night score. Took a big one for the team as he's put himself out as a candidate, scored the black mark in his political neutrality profession test and had stuff all chance of making it to Parliament. Either blind faith or very poor judgment listening to Roger and Don that they would manage 15% vote.


Simon O'Connor

Simon O'Connor is the ultimate accidental candidate. His candidate profile on the National Party website is here. Pulled in a bizarre fashion from a standing list of prospects after the tragic early demise of Allan Peachey, I ask has there ever been a luckier potential politician than O'Connor? In the seat of Tamaki he could last longer than Muldoon's 31 years without any of the passion, experience, gifted skill or bastardly charm that Sir Rob possessed.

Whaleoil pointed O'Connor out to me crossing the street outside the National Party campaign opening. The men he was with looked more the candidate than he did. A mild, non-descript, bland skinny man indeed. I have a rule in life never to trust skinny, runty men. It usually means they are vegetarian and all vegetarians are shifty in nature. And they are usually long-distance runners to stay that thin. Which means they wear split shorts. A pet hate of mine up there with Bob Jones and his aversion to sunglasses on heads.

O'Connor was a list candidate for National in 2008. How did we all miss that? He lost to a far superior candidate well-rounded Sam Lotu-liga in Maungakiekie where he is alleged to have run dirty tricks in his attempt to be selected. Whaleoil profiled O'Connor during the Tamaki selection.

Apparently O'Connor is a "long time National loyalist" and a "stalwart". He's my age for heaven's sake. How can you be a stalwart? I tried to trace O'Connor's working career and started with his current job as a "Contracts Manager for Southern Cross Health Society" and then his previous very vague "several roles within the Ministry of Social Development".

O'Connor looks like the sort of person who has trained his whole life and never actually practised anything. He is alleged to have four degrees which in itself shows the lack of confidence and over-compensation to actually achieve anything outside the safe confines of the University moss for fear of being under-qualified when dealing with adults. I mean who on earth needs four degrees when their aim always has been to be an MP or otherwise snot grovel their way through the National Party and its connections? O'Connor even trained as a Priest and then never went through with that either.

Should he be an MP? No, non-descript, trained in everything achieved in nothing. A stereotypical middle-manager.
Could he be an MP? Of course. And he will be as dull and grating as a church service on a Sunday with a hangover.
Will he be an MP? Unfortunately definitely. Landed with his bottie on one of the safest National seats in the country.

I promised Scott Simpson but Whaleoil told me I would be kicked out of the VRWC for even mentioning his old bones so instead I have:

Paul Foster-Bell

Foster-Bell has gained somewhat of a cult following in Wellington Central with his doppleganger Grant Robertson. A difficult looking, esoteric man who cannot decide which parent he wishes to represent in his surname, he holds a Degree in Archaeology and a Diploma of Business. Such a background will really only make him perfect for removing the Labour Party front bench from the rubble on Sunday and studying their dinosaur-like bones before selling them to offshore museums to the highest bidders through his diplomatic connections.

The funniest thing about Paul is that he claims to be of "English, Scots and Maori descent". I don't quite know where the Maori comes in. Perhaps his mother talked to one in 1972 while bringing the washing in? The least funny thing is he spent seven years working for MFAT. And he is a "Blue Green" which means he believes in the lunatic carbon trading scheme and hugs Nick Smith at random.

Foster-Bell comes across as a member of the "cultural elite" but then there is a weird gap from his A Bursary in 1994 from Whangarei Boys High to his graduation in 2004 with a BA. Didn't Marc Ellis finish his degree quicker than that? Somehow he's then jumped in 2008-09 to being bright enough to attend Oxford. But not so bright that he's poked his diplomatic record by standing for National without a decent list spot.

Should he be an MP? Not for National no.
Could he be an MP? Wellington Central already have a pet MP who is used to sucking off the taxpayers tit in Robertson, they don't need another almost identical but for the blue rosette.
Will he be an MP? At number 57 he is one below Paul Quinn which says what the Party hierarchy think of him. However if there is a giant mudslide all over Labour, he will get in. I don't know the precise numbers required but according to Pollster Farrar if National get 65 seats Foster-Bell will get there. Good luck to him because if they poll that high, none of us in the VRWC will actually mind.

Tomorrow - Labour and the Greens.

Rena Penguins Released

Cute aren't they?

Lets hope the @dpfdpf's stay well away from the @whaleoil

2011 Election - Youth Candidates

I promised a series on the young candidates at the election and I shall deliver with two or three plucked from each of the Nats, Labour, ACT, Greens and well are there any elsewhere?

There's no more obvious place to start than the ones I know most of, in ACT and David Seymour and Stephen Whittington.

So they can have a wet one in anticipation and send me their best bios (like Aaron Gilmore did in 2008) I will pluck from the Nats the new Tamaki candidate Simon O'Connor and Scott Simpson, while Scott is not young I previewed most of the 2008 intake for National last time and Jami-Lee Ross is so good he doesn't provide any amusement.

From Labour I will take rising stars Annette King and Parekura Horomia, no just joking, we have to go down to Deborah Mahuta-Coyle at 26, Michael Wood at number 32 and Jerome Mika at number 34 to find any even marginally electable new youth at all. I previewed the possibles last time in 2008 and none have improved in those three years to warrant a review of my comments last time. I missed "Smile and Cave", Labour's Kim Kardashian the first time but have reviewed her recently.

The Greens are the most fun so I shall take Holly Walker at number 12 and Julie Anne Genter at number 13 and James Shaw for good measure at number 15.

They've no chance of electing any youth at all in NZ First from their Lions/Rotary/Mason/Head Hunter line-up but a closer look at their token Chinese candidate Jerry Ho at number 15 is too delicious to pass up. And Ben Craven at number 14.

Mana have a token non-recycled protester radical hack in Misty Harrison at number 5 on their list. With a rap sheet "24 year old from Wanganui who grew up learning the Maori language and tikanga through Kohanga Reo, Kura Kaupapa Maori and Kura Maori (bilingual) and who is today studying for a Masters in Maori Law and Philosophy at Te Wananga o Raukawa" how the hell could I resist that? Red rag to a Cactus stuff really.

The Maori Party don't have a succession plan post the aging and slow moving Kaumatua Sharples and Turia. They have few younger candidates but this one is right out of brain-washed activist school and funded by the taxpayer from cradle to well past her first job, part English, Kaapua Smith.

I will not pretend I am not entirely bias in reviewing these young candidates.

I don't think any of them should be in Parliament at all until they have achieved something independently notable in their lives than just their University degree and a post graduate diploma in political shit stirring of their various colours paid for the taxpayer. A few have been staffers. Therefore lowering themselves to the worst job there is - actually working for MP's. They've watched how to put their snouts in the trough from the very best. We cannot therefore expect them to behave any better than their Masters. Many are on the Treaty Gravy Train. I will call that out.

But with the likes of Jacinda Ardern, Simon Bridges, Gareth Hughes, Chris Hipkins and well Paul Quinn in Parliament, the barrier has been well lowered to provide representation for every brand of academic and career underachievement and disappointment.

There is precious little critical analysis by mainstream media of potential candidates. I will judge this crop harshly but always fairly. I will read between the lines and rip all their CV's apart layer by layer and show you what they've actually managed and compare it to what they claim they have. No PR, no media manager, no requests for interviews as MSM have to complete as a courtesy.

Raw and blogged.

Would These Children Have Survived In Japan, Sweden or the Czech Republic?

Mitchell on Child Poverty sensationalism

Lindsay tells it like it is:

More than 100 New Zealand children who died last year would probably have survived had they lived in Japan, Sweden or the Czech Republic, a new documentary shows.

But not if they had lived in Australia, the United Kingdom or Canada which all cluster around similar infant mortality rates as New Zealand.

Canada 5.2
NZ 4.8
United Kingdom 4.6
Australia 4.1

Of course these children may have survived in Japan, Sweden or the Czech Republic as in New Zealand they are just SOCK (some other c**** kids) to the feral heaving pathetic underclass who stay in their mother's state house. That has nothing to do with the country and everything to do with the parentage. Let me remind you of just some of their faces.







Killed by their own family. Not by any government.

Lindsay then goes on to talk about what causes the diseases this whino Bryan Bruce is sooking about in the upcoming campaign statement for Labour:

These unhealthy environments are often due to nobody taking responsibility for safe standards of hygiene and cleanliness. Mould can be cleaned from walls; floors that babies and toddlers crawl on can be vacuumed and mopped; food refuse can be removed rather than left to rot and attract flies and maggots. Overcrowding is frequently a symptom of choice. Choosing to share accommodation to reap more income and choosing to have children.

That's right, the heaving pathetic underclass are too lazy and inept to clean the state house you have paid for them to squat in. They would rather live in squalid conditions than take some pride and keep their living space clean. I look forward to watching the campaign statement for the left and commenting on the footage inside homes that many middle responsible New Zealanders could not afford, yet are required to pay for so these ferals can spread more of their filth.

I remind you of a post I composed in July which outlined the real competition for New Zealand's heaving pathetic underclass is not the rich or middle classes in New Zealand it is Asia. The post examined why if you can't make it in New Zealand there's no chance in hell you would survive in countries with people more desperate and motivated than you are.

Put simply Asia's poor and desperate are better than the poor and hopeless in New Zealand. They work harder, they have aspiration and desire to do better than they are. They are superior in every regard.

If New Zealand's worst ever were shipped to Japan, Sweden or the Czech Republic they wouldn't survive in their current state. They'd be swiftly kicked into shape by locals not used to harbouring such woeful ineptness. The kids would be removed from their woeful parents immediately and placed in homes better able to look after them.

I did a quick google of health services available in Porirua.

Compass Primary Health Care

Children in New Zealand are entitled to free basic oral health services from birth to 17 years of age, until their 18th birthday. It’s important to enrol your child as early as possible into the service, so that you can arrange the first check-up. Your child’s first visit will usually be between their 1st and 2nd birthdays.

Services for Maori

Services for Pacific Health

Capital Coast

In Wellington, fees for the under 6s have been reduced significantly. Most Urgent GP/ primary care after hours services will treat you even if you can’t pay at the time.

Maori Services C&C DHB

A full directory written in PC gobbly gook especially for Maori and Pacific Islanders. Whanau Ora is mentioned numerous times. None of these services look expensive because no Maori or Pacific person would use them. Most look free.

For heaven's sake, you can lead a horse to water, if it won't drink then how on earth is it the responsibility of anyone else but those individuals concerned? I am sure there are many more services available in the Porirua area available to Maori and Pacific people all at no cost to the recipient. Maori services have existed for years, Whanau Ora and the Maori Party have become intimately involved in this.

Are you telling me that the Maori Party have achieved nothing to get word out to their people these services are available? Of course they have. Are you telling me that after the multi-millions sometimes billions in Treaty Settlement money that Maori haven't funded their own health services and support in communities? Of course they have. Maori community leaders must be pulling their hair out that their people aren't even clued up enough to know where to go when they are providing the services.

That these children may be dying of diseases from the third world when there is first world medicine and practitioners available says more about the quality of the pathetic nag being led to the water than the water provided.

Labour's Death Wish

Is this a hoax?

Labour have stooped to a new low here. In terms of cruel and heartless it's about a 11 out of 10 even on my very high scale. It is also total bullshit. An upset reader scanned it in for the Whaleoil tipline and in the process has shone a whole load of light on the nastiness of this Labour campaign.

This brochure firstly is cataclysmic in vileness for its "Under National you won't be around to celebrate her first birthday". Which has instant thoughts of the reader:

- dying
- separating from their spouse

Imagine reading this if your partner has just died before the kiddie turned one?

The slogan "Vote to keep families together" is even worse. Welfare does anything but.

And lets think from a working parents perspective, if the child has a party during the day they miss the bloody party don't they as they are WORKING? Imagine picking this out of the letterbox when you know you will miss their birthday as you are working as most parents are. Like they should be guilty for not being there. Beneficiaries are of course special as they couldn't possibly be asked to be working parents could they?

It is also complete bullshit that National policy would require a return to work the child is one. It is actually five years old. And only part-time work. Labour may wish to read the extract here.

This leaflet is targeted at the solo parent instilling fear that they would have to under National go back to work and therefore miss the child's first birthday. It also has ransom type font introducing Labour's promises.

Not to forget that most working women actually return to work once they've had a child within the year.

The bigger nonsense is because children's birthday parties are usually held at weekends anyway. How many friends does a one year old actually have for heaven's sake? None. Their parents have friends and they all are invited over for a meaningless party for a child who has no idea what the drunk adults are celebrating. I know about these parties because I am invited to plenty and avoid them like the plague. These parties are only held during the day if all the mothers are beneficiaries because again, all the invitees are at work.

This idea could only have come from a male as I even deem it too offensive to run as an attack ad. I refuse to believe a woman would endorse this as a brochure acceptable in an election campaign.

It is far worse than the aggressive CTU ad I blogged of the other day.

Let us know from which Labour male creative pit of darkness this came from so he can face the wrath of angry Mummies who will without a doubt hate this brochure

It is right up there with the false eviction notices sent to state house tenants to scare the elderly and intellectually handicapped in 2005.

Britain's Working Class Ain't Working

Britain has a million young unemployed between ages 16-24.

It really seems to be their own fault however. Here is an excellent essay in the Daily Mail outlining the problems of Britain 2011. Basically the working classes have turned into lazy slobs and politicians have forced young people into higher education at Universities where subjects are best taught in apprenticeships.

The author notes other countries where the thickos are shipped off to technical schools.

The Education fallacy reigns in New Zealand as well. Thousands of young New Zealanders are given the false hope of highly paid promising careers in entirely useless subjects at University and Polytechnics. Britain is an excellent example of what this false hope brings.

And employers everywhere are quite categoric as to why this is happening: British employees, they say, are lazy. They turn up their noses at manual jobs, or any work they consider too menial for them, whereas Poles and other Eastern Europeans are only too willing to work all hours and turn their hand to anything.

No politician dares to tell the truth to the million unemployed young people, and the millions more ‘students’ who hope to be employed when their studies are complete.

HOS Sensationalism AGAIN

Game changer?

Their own bloody poll has National increasing! Notice how they won't round 49.89 percent up to 49.9. Hehe. Bitches.

National 49.89 per cent (up 0.4),
Labour 29.1 (up 0.4),
Greens 12.6 (no change),
Act 1.7 (up 0.2),
NZF 4.9 (up 1.2)
Maori Party 0.7 (up 0.2),
Conservatives 0.6 (down 0.4),
Mana Party 0.4 (down 0.4),
United Future 0.1 (down 0.6).

All this poll proves is how important that Epsom vote for John Banks and return ACT as a coalition partner for National. And how Ohariu voters need to do the same with Peter Dunne.

The alternative is a now higher chance of Winston.

Lies, More Lies and Statistics

Another beat-up about income inequality in the Dom Post using hopelessly out of date data in a terribly written piece slanted at electioneering. It looks like it has been written by an Occupy protester it is that bad.

The report's 2004 data – the latest available – reveals the richest 10 per cent collectively possess $128 billion in wealth, with median individual wealth of $255,000. In contrast, the poorest 10 per cent collectively possess $17.2b, with median individual wealth of $3200. While the richest 1 per cent held 16.4 per cent of the country's net wealth, the poorest 50 per cent owned just 5.2 per cent.

And more inaccuracy:

Disparities have plateaued since 2000, largely thanks to Working for Families tax credits, bigger pay packets for middle and low-income earners and declining investment returns for the rich.

But the gap between rich and poor still ranked ninth worst in the developed world in 2008.

So it's improved? How did they measure this in 2008 when the last statistics were accumulated in 2004?

And a ridiculous example of a net beneficiary who "earns" $25,000, lives in a state house and will probably be pulling more WFF credits than she earns. These are not mentioned.

Hang about? 2004? Wasn't that while Labour were in government? Five years of them?

Yawn. As I posted this week, do we really care that there is an income and wealth gap? It is a necessary feature in an aspirational economy.

Tea Tapes

Come on, we all know what is on the tapes. Today Winston blubbed out the following:

1. "Don's a strange fellow"
2. "agh yes we've been down that road before"
3. "Winston's supporters are dying off"

Shit, the same conversation has been had among ACT members recently and National ones for years. Leading political commentator David Farrar has been overheard stating number 3 in analysis of NZ First. It's a running joke up and down the country that Don is strange, Key knifed him once and would wish it to happen again and Winston's supporters are ancient.

Game changing? Hardly. It's all a bit dull now. The two John's weren't even on a manly boozer, they were sitting drinking bloody tea.

As for shifty looking Bradley Ambrose nee White



Is that a Burberry print chav hat?
Another reason he should be mocked mercilessly.

CTU Use New Campaign KFC Tactics

Labour are well known in their history for busing in voters and handing out KFC.

This election Labour sponsor, Helen Kelly's wealthy Council of Trade Unions has poured members funds into a series of advertisements targeted at their voting pool. The under class and lower wealth classes of New Zealand.

Not one European male, Asian or Indian, professional male or female of any race, not one well dressed or attractive model. All have been dressed and constructed in a way to look as underclass and needy as they could.

Sunglasses, gansta headgear, shaved female head, hats on sideways or backwards, threatening positions with knives for heavens sake, tatts, hoodies, earrings, nose rings, absolutely shameless use of kiddies as vanity props and skateboards.

None would be ACT or National voters, or even United Future or baseline NZ First.

They are all made to look on DPB or other welfare or to be in low paid work such that they are not net taxpayers.

Labour MP's have been plugging the ads on social media today.

This is an ad for Labour which will backfire I think as the models have been made to look so desperate and pathetic that it will attract Mana and Green voters to the booth instead. They are specifically worded to incite hatred against those who these voting groups currently believe to be more powerful than they are and lead by link straight to the enrollment pages. The models used are made to look as threatening as possible to the middle and upper wealth classes. A few there basically look ready to rob your house or steal your kid's cellphone.

The authorisation statements do not specifically show who is funding the advertisement or their motives. I believe they are so inciting in their imagery against the centre-right parties that they should come off Labour, Mana, Maori Party and Greens funding in equal proportions.















A classic example of nasty politics of division from a nasty Union for a nasty Party.

CUBS - Cashed Up Bogans

If ever there was an article that showed the worth to New Zealand of mining then this is it.



Where drop-out losers can pull A$200,000 a year.

Then go out and SPEND it all.

The heavily tattooed Mr. Dinnison, who started in the mines seven years ago earning $100,000, owns a sky-blue 2009 Chevy Ute, which cost $55,000 before a $16,000 engine enhancement, and a $44,000 custom motorcycle. The price tag on his chihuahua, Dexter, which yaps at his feet: $1,200.

A chihuahua? The gayest of all dogs.

The average salary in the Australian mining industry was about 108,000 Australian dollars, or about US$110,000, in 2010, which includes some part-time and lower-skilled workers and is well above the A$66,594 average for all Australians, according to the Australian government's Bureau of Statistics.

How many bogans and with it low-skilled Maori, would not like to be earning that sort of coin?

Behind every man there has to be a thinking woman and it sounds like this CUB has one:

Lina Mitchell, his 28-year-old fiancée, said she is committed to teaching Mr. Dinnison how to manage his money. "The miners will spend the money on cars, bikes, parties," she said. Mr. Dinnison, meanwhile, said he is committed to mining. "I'm qualified enough now that I'll always have a job," he said. "Without mining, I'd be an auto mechanic making $600 a week. I love mining, mate."

Bless.....the stupid and their money will always be parted and with it stimulate massive economic growth.

Labour are whinging and bitching about low wages in New Zealand yet have come up with zero solutions that would not be inflationary and therefore hurt the very people it is meant to help. Here is a solution.

Drill baby drill.

Twitter Links

The highlight of the political debates this election is when supporters of all participants (and critics) jump on twitter and have a tweet war. Many a time it is better than the debate itself.

I call on all Labour and National supporters to arm themselves for all out tweet war in debates between now and election night. Make it special.

Twitter I have found is effective for two things

- sledging (debate fodder, abuse to and from MP's, political opponents, Quade Cooper etc..)
- linking content back to blog and website feeds

Masters of sledging are of course Whaleoil, Duck and Tau Henare. I can give it a good nudge as well as can Lew. Then there is Dim Post, but he's a bit tweet lame. This young fellow can give it a good nudge, Jabba can as well as Keeping Stock. Stuart Nash started in a promising fashion but then got a bit hot under the collar and pulled back.

Tweeting is the modern day equivalent in politics of heckling at political meetings. The best part is you don't have to listen to boring long speeches from drones as they can only use 140 characters. And you can do it 24/7 at them from your desk, your home or mobile on your phone. Especially if you have an all-you-can-eat data plan (or your boss or the taxpayer pays the bill). And media can participate as well and often do. Twitter in many ways has turned political discourse into online meetings and then onto an interactive online war game once everyone is involved.

To those not interested in politics it must be horrifying all the carnage witnessed. But like all good gamers, it will not deter those who know what it is really about. Scoring.

All politicians should be made to tweet and I relish the chance we will get if Andrew Williams is elected an MP for NZ First and a techie introduces him to tweeting. Please.....Please......

The best parody twitter account by far is Dr Brash. I have no idea who is doing it but chocolate fish to the reporter who can track the offender down. Steve Braunias is a lazy but when on, brilliant tweeter, Bill Ralston likewise. Jonathan Marshall will be one to watch. John Campbell tweets, Heather du Plessis-Allan is a cheeky tweet, Paddy Gower is of course a deceitful bastard on twitter. There's a whole heap of repeaters on twitter but like their sub-editors when mentioning blogs, I can't be bothered linking to them.

I am linking Cameron M Caldwell here who will have far more attention than he deserves now for being caught tweeting about underpant purchases and sending tweets to his missus when she is in the next room and he is in the mancave.

Of the sports stars you can get your Sonny Bill fill here as well as Piri Weepu and Cory Jane. Even better is Mrs Cory Jane is also on and has to watch as her husband is drooled over by infantile girls. She doesn't take any shit. With respect to sports commentators, try Carebear who is hilarious, not to be confused with Sweary the Bear. And Richard Boock who is a screaming Labour loving pinko, but concentrate on his sports tweets instead.

General tweetists I enjoy are Rachel Goodchild, Unpcnzcougar, RGTP The Pork and Boganette.

The full list of those I follow is here for you all to copy. I prefer to keep the numbers down so my feed isn't clogged so I have a barrier to entry of quality over quantity.

NO to Movember

Movember is just awful. I still recall the horror when Whale went Chopper Reid on us in the midst of his depression and grew the most frightful "thing" on his face. Thank God Spanish Bride has more control over matters this year and Whale has all his mind on the election.

New Zealand men should just raise funds by blackmailing their wives and partners into giving them money for fear they will grow mo's and beards in November.

Here is the usually cute, cuddly Scotty Stevenson with a full un'.

And Richie McCaw is now about a 2/10 with that on his lip.

Actually it could be good therapy for women.

If you've just parted company with a bloke, ask him to grow a mo' so you don't miss him in the slightest. If he will not do that for you, get a picture of him and photoshop a moustache on it and look at it every day until you are cured. It would hasten the one month turnaround for sure.

Getting the MP's You Deserve - NZ First

Take away the current sideshow, ACT's top candidates of Isaac, Nicolson, Seymour, Simmons and Whittington are worthy contenders for spots on any Major Party list.

For a minute however lets go to the horror show of 26th November and NZ First breaking through the 5% barrier. Number THREE on the NZ First list remember is this guy, probably the most maverick, entertaining, truly fabulous local body politician we have seen in Auckland.

Andrew Williams



No tree in Wellington would be safe, no bar tab big enough. Winston's best chance at a drinking buddy. Williams would be fabulous entertainment in the Capital and would last about another fiscal quarter before Whaleoil managed through his tipline to secure entertainment for three more years. I-predict would instantly start a book on when Williams would be forced to resign in disgrace.

Tracey Martin at number two is a non-descript local busy-body politician of no note at all.

Richard Prosser is jack of all trades, master of absolutely none.

Barbara Stewart allegedly was in Parliament from 2002-2008. I am a political junkie and can't even remember her.

And rounding off at number six is Brendan Horan who is only really known for a short stint reading the weather. And a promising career as a cheap , cheesy lounge singer.

New Zealand First's other candidates look like they've been plucked directly from Rotary and Lions meetings all across the country. Or recruited for being mates with the Peters whanau. The list is a weird mix of opportunists, dreamers and the downright underachieving.

If New Zealand votes back NZ First they truly will get the MP's they deserve. These candidates have done nothing for three years. NZ First has been dormant for that period. They have no real policy platform other than their past branding. They have Winston and no succession plan whatsoever.

I challenge the mainstream media to move off the tea-tapes and do their job to really shine a spotlight on the (lack of) talent in the top 5% on these Minor Party lists starting with NZ First, moving to the Greens, Mana Party and Maori Party.

Today's Funny

Brand Brash - Pallor Mortis

0.7%

That's how low Brand Brash has taken ACT. The lowest polling since TV3 started records according to Duncan Garner. It means for every 1000 people only 7 will vote ACT. It caused me to face palm on hearing the news. Moreso the defence that ACT polls better on the day than before the election. This is not really the point after the infamous cup of tea last week.

I opined back in April:

ACT's survival depends on Brash's brand. He's ratted out Rodney's brand but will now face an onslaught from the adoring opposition that will make his first go in politics seem like a picnic. They will lick their lips at Brash incoming. Brash will not survive this to November unless: a) the Party is staunchly united behind him like we've never been behind any Leader before and; b) he is managed by some sort of political genius.

Two polls at .9% and then taking ACT to a new low of .7% in the polls two weeks from the election (and I'm informed as low in internal polling from other political parties) when Dr Brash confidently said he could poll 15% on election day makes Brand Brash prima facie poked. This confidence based we actually know now on a poll that never existed. Well no reputable third party has ever seen the poll have they? Was it done by Research First?


Brash made the egotistical mistake of believing that popularity as Leader of the National Party and "almost" stealing an election, could be translated into his own cult of personality in ACT so he could pressure John Key to the right. Problem is he doesn't really have a charismatic personality so has been outshone by a man with a larger one. Well two John's, Key and Banks.

If according to Brash, Brand Hide was toxic what has happened since proves Brand Brash is nothing short of Pallor mortis. The public just hate him but more importantly core ACT voters aren't too keen on him and like it or not politics is a popularity contest. It is all rather extraordinary watching him bumble through day after day.

But the killer to his Brand has been how John's Banks and Key have had to attempt resuscitation.

John Banks has had to come in and save the day, could there be anything more embarrassing for Brash than this? There is no doubt who runs the ACT Party - John Key and with it John Banks. Dr Brash is worse than redundant for the purposes of keeping National honest and Banks now ceremonial carries around his head.




John Banks has had to behave like a gold digging ho to a sugar daddy running to John Key begging for his help over an unmanly cup of tea. Banks would not have performed this emasculating act of shame lightly.

Critics can spin all they like but this was an MMP electoral accommodation attempt made before the election out in the open and not a dirty deal done after it as any with Mana, Winston, Maori Party and the Greens will be on the left. Key simply played his hand as he had to as I previously posed the question, or risk losing a potential coalition partner for certain. A far more stable coalition partner voting wise than the Maori Party, who would be certain to stop most of National's agenda for term two.

Banks is a proud man, a gazillionaire street-fighter in his own right, not used to licking the boots of anyone let alone asking for welfare. And that is what he has had to do, ask for more than a nod or a wink in Epsom as in the past, it is an attempt at political welfare. Banks has done a marvellous job of achieving his goal of gaining the Prime Minister's assistance. He has singlehandedly outperformed Brash on every mainstream media platform. He is on message and on fighting form. Even the grumpy side-members of mainstream media have acknowledged this. I reviewed Banks' performance here and gave him top marks.

Banks has a young team of volunteers in Epsom and works them like he's the pied piper. They will be loving campaigning with someone who has that sort of energy and enthusiasm. He will be looking after them all as well in his old school polite fashion. One confided in me that he was loathing working with such a conservative but had changed his mind after the first day.

The least "ACT" in terms of principles of all the candidates for ACT is currently its MVP.

While Banks was on Campbell Live last week entirely on message, tonight Dr Brash appeared to talk about a tape he hadn't listened to, to speak about what his candidate told him was on it, without knowing what John Campbell obviously knew as most of the TV3 newsroom by then. What actually was on the tape.

It was an interview that never needed to happen, it was bizarre Brash agreed to even bother going on. Campbell could have at any stage buried him with the actual contents of the tape. It was risky and stupid. No adviser would have told him to go on. Again, Brash would have made that decision and mind up alone.

Even if he makes it that far, John Key can never put Brash into his Cabinet in a finance role, for the same reasons he could never put Sir Roger Douglas in there. Brash designed his comeback on pressuring Key and English to the right and with it some of his recommendations. The grovelling Banks has had to do in Epsom eliminates any upper-hand Brash may have ever had. With 15% he may have had some power. With 3%-4% but only gained with Key's heavy-handed help in Epsom to get that, Brash comes with no power in a coalition to do anything that he has stated needs doing in order to save the country.

Voters can vote National safe in the knowledge it has a coalition partner of convenience to make up the numbers. ACT's influence next term will be minimal. Any leftist commentary threatening ACT as the nasty side of the National Party pulling them harshly to the right is simply lying. It cannot work like that.

There is really only one thing for Don Brash to do now for the good of ACT and that is step aside before the election. The effect is two-fold:

1. It removes his pallor mortis from ACT and gives it a chance of polling 3-4% on election day and Banks a better chance of winning the seat of Epsom.

2. Far more importantly for ACT's future, it moves the more marketable and baggage-free Catherine Isaac, Don Nicolson and David Seymour into real contention of getting to Parliament one up their current rankings. All are entirely what is needed to bring ACT back as a Party over a leader in a state of pallor mortis.

On Sunday Dr Brash gave a scripted good speech about why ACT is the only coalition partner that National should consider.

It screamed:

New Zealand needs ACT!

He's correct and I will vote that way still for the good of the centre-right.

The downfall in his argument is since Brand Key is propping up the Party with more than a helping hand and Banks is now effectively in charge of driving the bus;

ACT doesn't need him.