A choice for the media
Here’s a challenge for the media this Sunday. Two parties are officially launching their election campaigns. One in Wellington and one in Auckland. The Auckland launch belongs to the party that is only polling about half as much as the other, it’s leader is widely discredited and censured, and its chances of re-election look slim at this stage. The other party, with the Wellington launch, has well-respected leaders and MPs who have been regularly rolling out credible, detailed policy, talking about current issues other than just itself, and has a robust nationwide campaign with candidates in nearly every seat. It looks likely to be re-elected back to Parliament and maybe Government this election.
So, which event will the media give the bulk of its coverage to on Sunday evening and Monday morning? On all criteria except scandal and gossip I would think the choice should be obviously leaning in one direction.
Incidentally I nearly couldn’t link to New Zealand First’s Campaign Launch because the only upcoming event on its official website was and address by Peters on Friday 11 July. Luckily Winston Says is on the ball with news that his campaign launch has John Rowles – I hope the Greens’ musician can compete with that:
October 2nd, 2008 at 7:42 am
“rolling out credible, detailed policy, ”
Laughed hard at that one. Most of it is empty marketing, and none of it costed.
October 2nd, 2008 at 8:09 am
BP
“and MPs who have been regularly rolling out credible, detailed policy”
Snap! I had to laugh at that line.
October 2nd, 2008 at 8:51 am
very funny
October 2nd, 2008 at 9:48 am
BP, BB
If you want costings a party that has the resources to hire people to do them is all you can choose. Greens are volunteering to do this stuff.
As far as the “empty marketing” charge, what “policy” is not?
I mean, and beg pardon if I am incorrect about this, a POLICY as opposed to an implementation plan, describes the goal, not the steps to reach it.
That’s the way I am used to using the word. Does it mean something different here? Does it mean something different in politics here? I suppose it could but I think that it is more likely that both of you have taken the cheap shot ,,, and missed.
respectfully
BJ
October 2nd, 2008 at 9:59 am
But there’s not even basic analysis.
If you increase costs, which virtually every Green policy does, then you’re going to need to raise revenue. How? Borrowing? Increasing taxes? What?
October 2nd, 2008 at 10:23 am
Here’s one just rolled out this morning, BB & BP. Not hellishly expensive, and parts of it even you guys might like.
BB, I’m told the animal welfare one is due out next week.
October 2nd, 2008 at 10:31 am
No… I think I have to reject your premise,
Every Green policy does NOT increase costs… and I think that this canard needs to be understood in terms of the difference between a policy and an implementation. The Green principles do not provide enough cover for the most left-wing among us to simply say “soak the rich”… they demand fairness and the party as a whole has a healthy respect for the operations of the market.
However, the Greens tend towards populism in most things and prefer a GINI index that looks a lot flatter than what we have. That isn’t a “policy” as much as a predilection, and it leads to the (I think correct) impression that we WILL tax more and transfer wealth more. However, my personal impression is that the party recoils from doing the things you are afraid of. Fairness is a lot more important than you think and hard work getting rewarded is not something we abandon when we opt into the party.
respectfully
BJ
October 2nd, 2008 at 10:39 am
“BB, I’m told the animal welfare one is due out next week.”
I look forward to it.
October 2nd, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Uncosted policies “tut! tut! etc”
Tell me BP, are you expecting the Greens to be on the Treasury Benches when Election results come in?
October 2nd, 2008 at 5:44 pm
really, part of the next government? Your dreaming. Labour pizzed all over you last time. face it, the greens are an easy lay as far as labour is concerned, your love is expected, not sought after. As my dear departed gran said, no man loves a woman that gives herself up to quickly or easily.
Part of the next parliament, hopeful.
October 3rd, 2008 at 8:05 pm
I am looking forward to the animal welfare policy as well. Any chance we can have it debated on frog blog?
October 5th, 2008 at 9:25 am
“It looks likely to be re-elected back to Parliament and maybe Government this election.”
In a thread funnies, this one takes the biscuit!
Being wooed by National are we?
That’s your only chance of occupying anything other than the fursthest back of the back-benches.
Maybe if you named the party more honestly you’d do better.
I suggest, “The Communist Consortium of Aotearoa” since the “Communist Party” is already taken by people not scared to admit what they actually are.