Craig: I have no idea where the attack ad came from – I just saw it on Jordan’s site, and linked to it. I have also linked to many of the retreads of National’s Tui-style billboards without knowing who made them up. I don’t actually regard that as all that important – so long as what I’m linking to remains in the bounds of good taste, and I certainly think the Brash/Iraq ad did.

All this amateur ad stuff was fun while it was National allies doing it… Are we to take it from your comments that when Labour allies fight back that it becomes less fun?

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Rantz,

My mother said she hated Muldoon for saying that about Rowling, but I think Rowling was too nice and, lets face it, too weak for politics. The jibe was cruel, but……

I think you may have a point. No, not about cowardice, but that Dr Don may be not quite cut out for the toughness required to lead a political party.

Transparency of party funding, yes, definitely, and transparency about how the tax cuts will be funded. If people are to get more of their wage/salary back in their pockets they deserve to know what service cuts will be made. Hip hops and singalongs do not add up to a meaningful reduction in tax to “the mainstream”. Joy.

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The media are doing a disservice to the NZ public. When they “say” there is anger at not declaring a date for the election, it is only a talking point for the politicians and the media to beat up a non story. The “mainstream” (whatever that is?) does not care.

Same thing with this issue over Iraq and Brash. National don’t want to have it as an issue because they know the majority of NZers would not support being shrub’s lap dog.

Sheer arrogance for the media to say it is not an issue the public care about. Especially when they are the ones who repeat the talking points of the political parties and are too lazy to be journalists.

Funding is a real issue too, and if National are going to be cagey about their supporters and if they use a trust fund to wash the identity off then be careful.
We deserve transparency. That said it would have been nice if Labour carried these new found ideals through their last six years.

Don reminds me of Bill Rowling, A shiver looking for a spine to run up, heh heh heh

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um..craig..new zealand soldiers coming home in bodybags, nervously waiting for a possible/probable bomb attack/s on our public transport systems, and american warships in our harbours, are very potent images..that most new zealanders (hookers and bar-owners and ancilliary industries excepted for the latter), don’t want a bar of…

this national will find..to their cost…

phil(whoar.co.nz)

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Craig

I don’t know whether Iraq and anti-Bush sentiment is a big vote shifter. I think it might be big enough.

We’re talking about a 3% shift in the electorate. There will be people who will have to think hard about the two issues and decide on balance. How many I don’t know…

I’d like to see the tax and budget issue explained better by labour. The “surplus” that isn’t and all the rest. That IS the Nats big issue and it looks like a winner if it isn’t addressed by labour or cancelled by Brash being unable to admit a mistake. Infallible, just like Dubya. I have to wonder where these people come from.

I don’t think anyone wants Mallard anymore. I voiced my sentiments earlier, he either has proof (and I note that he neither presented any nor denied he had it) or has a serious problem with his big mouth not being big enough to accomdate his shoes. I am reserving judgement but I can’t imagine why he’d withold supporting evidence if he had any.

respectfully
BJ

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Craig

Perhaps you will describe it to me, as I have no Windows Media Player and will not let the MS malware on my boxes, and my TV is in a box in the garage until my little girl decides to be a tad better behaved

respectfully
BJ

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BJ:

Well, I think Labour (and the Greens) have grossly over-estimated how useful Iraq and anti-Americanism is as a vote shifter. I’ll keep saying this until you folks on the left get a clue, but if you’re going to go for the jugular it helps if you’re smears have some foundation is fact. Yesterday, Mallard was repeatedly challenged on Agenda to front up with evidence of his allegations that National is funded by Yank sugar daddies, our policy is written in Washington not Wellington etc. etc. etc. He repeatedly declined.

Want to talk about trust? Get your attack dogs sedated.

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Joy:

Do you follow links? Frog links to an “attack ad” (Frog’s words not mine) at Jordan Carter’s blog above – whose source is not disclosed. Um, what was Frog saying about trust and credibility and transparency folks?

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BJ,
Yes, I think perhaps the size and nature of the o’seas debt does need clarification. The emphasis in the media has been on personal debt. I recall a political campaign, long ago, when the level of o’seas debt was a highlight. Not that I necesarily think it needs undue attention, but if it exists and if the so called surplus is real, then the voters deserve to know the facts. Joy.

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I THINK Craig was trying to make the point that the campaign was (from National’s point of view) about taxes. The Iraq business brought home their shocking problems on that score, instead of the not so shocking problems labour has on the topic of tax. IMHO this is a winner for Labour.

I don’t think however, that the tax thing will go away as much as they wish. Labour still needs to make the “spent” nature of the oberac number clear to the population, possibly in the context of paying down overall debt, of which we have plenty. This would take away the Nats most potent weapon.

respectfully
BJ

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Excuse me Craig, but who are you accusing of attack ads? And what attack ads are you refering too? I am mystified. Joy.

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You joking right? Brash can’t answer a straight question and it’s Labour’s fault??? Hehe, right-wingers have always had a problem with responsibility from my experience. I’ve always assumed that’s actually the reason why it’s so much a part of their rhetoric.

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Joy:

Well, it look like it’s Labour who can’t hack a competitive campaign. And like sleaze merchants everywhere, when Mallard is asked to front with the evidence he suddenly loses his voice.

And with all due respect, when you and Jordan don’t actually disclose the source of your *attack ads* I think you have credibility and honesty issues to address much closer to home.

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Like the U.S. neocons, whenever something inconvenient comes up, he calls it irrelevant history. Heh.

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It is my humble opinion that Don Brash, well used to be The Man in the secure confines of the Reserve Bank, will not handle the rough and tumble of a political campaign. Joy.

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