Putting it to the vote
Today was the day our country went to the voting polls to elect the government for the next three years. The polls have just closed later tonight we'll know who is our next government. I did my vote along with my Mum. I won't be wasting time with political opinions. I based my party vote based on Fiscal Policy and overall performance for the last three years not my emotions. So we'll just wait and see what happens later to night when all the votes are in. At the time of writing only 18% of the votes are in - it's going to be a long night.
I've just posted elsewhere that at the moment it looks like Winston Peters has used up the ninth of his political lives. It will seem odd not hearing him in the House, for at least the next three years.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely strange indeed. You're right. Winston used up the last of the nine lives with his dishonesty - typical in a politicians base nature. They start off good then get caught with their hand in the cookie jar. I think all that contraversy of late with him effectively ended his political career. We'll see in three years time maybe if he stands again that is.
ReplyDeleteWhat else could he be, except a politician? A living clothes mannequin, maybe? He's already done/doing the radio talkshow bit -- that's what kept him in power under National in the 1990s, as I recall.
ReplyDeleteI'm off to bed. Been awake now for over 26 hours straight -- fireworks or no, I'm going off to crash for the night. I'll wake up and take a look at the ruins tomorrow.
Maybe he is Virgils best *friend*.
ReplyDeleteI'll bring a spade along for the ruins shall I? And Time Team as well.
That last bit was more apt than you think -- I've visiting St Lukes' cemetery in Mt Albert today, part of the Auckland Region Gathering of historical societies.
ReplyDeleteYou crack me up. St Lukes Cemetary? Scarey (Just kidding!!!!)Oh well our (not) friends International Disasters have just gained to the keys to Lady Helens' Rolls Royce. I shudder to think.......
ReplyDeleteSomeone at a messageboard overnight (an Aussie I once knew, and you can probably guess who) said it was a great result, as "grown ups" would now be in charge of the country. Yeah, right. Whatever political persuasion, just about the only grown-ups in Parliament have been Peter Dunn (who hardly says a word, and the Nats promised him the Speaker's role -- ha!) and Jim Anderton, who got my party vote because he has ethics.
ReplyDeleteI have known for a long time that Labour wouldn't win. The wheels have been coming off Helen's cabinet for some time now. Can't help feeling quite pessimistic this morning, though. Hopefully, Key keeps his word and doesn't give Roger Douglas a place in cabinet. But, as I'm pessimistic ...
I'm of the same opinion. You and I both know Roger Douglas will end up in cabinet. Rogernomics will return with a vengeance. Somewhere I have a herald article on how Rogernomics never worked and it didn't. Deja vu I can see happening. User pays aset sales..same old garbage all over again and people will start wondering why they voted in National by majority? Give it time then we'll see how people are after Key sells Kiwibank. Of course it will happen.
ReplyDeleteNext bet on the card: will Key and his Nats remember what Federated Farmers asked them not to forget, i.e. the water storage issue?
ReplyDeleteMy money's on Beehive Amnesia by two lengths over What Were We Thinking? and Gee, I Don't Know.
Fed Farmer's will start a flood of press releases any time now. Don Nicolson is in Aussie at the moment.
ReplyDeleteOn the Beehive amnesia - I concur. Yes you can tell neither of us are too happy about the majority choice (mutter)
what did the locals at the polling booth think of your taking photos?
ReplyDeleteAh-ha!!! I asked and made sure I didn't photograph any of the voters!!! I had free licence which was good. I was careful about what I photographed. Take a look at the guy on the voting table amongst the ladies there. Notice he had a National Supporters badge on? Influencing the vote?LOL!!!
ReplyDeleteScrutineers are allowed to wear lapel badges in party colours -- just not have anything saying the party name.
ReplyDeleteSee: http://www.elections.org.nz/rules/parties/partysub/e5-party-scrutineers.html
Trouble was it had the words NATIONAL on it. I should have zoomed in - as if I really cared? Nah. Guy liked National okay fine.
ReplyDeleteYou know, getting back to the elections I'm a bit worried about Mr Rogernomics - my parents certainly weren't fans of his at all. it'll be interesting to see where this government takes us in the years to come.
ReplyDeletebtw good riddance Winston.
ReplyDeleteIf the other scrutineers had been worth their salt, they could have made a special complaint about that National Party one. It is expressly forbidden to have the party name on that badge.
ReplyDeleteI hope someone does hop up and down. I'd say the same if it was a Labour person -- they should read the rules, they're quite clear.
Winston burned his bridges one too many times. I guarantee you that is exactly what this country will get. Rogernomics with a vengeance plus ten. National adopted exactly that after they took power from the Lange government. We ended up with most of our country's assets being sold for a song. Tax cuts for the rich - guess what the top tax rate is being cut. Funny that. If Roger Douglas had his way we would all be on a flat tax rate. He warred with David Lange over it but Lange wouldn't shift on that score. Bad news. I shudder to think what the balance of payments will be in twelve months time. Tax cuts mean spending cuts on everything.
ReplyDeleteComments crossed over. I have the photo to prove it. I'm surprised he was allowed to wear it at all. None of the others were....hmmmm
ReplyDeleteThe press have asked Key once again today about Roger Douglas -- Key said categorically that Douglas would not be on his cabinet.
ReplyDeleteA case of watch this space?
Definitely ACT won''t support Key if Douglas isn't a cabinet minister. I can see it coming.....there'll the wrangling but ACT will get their way. Definitely a Watch this Space situation.
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