OMG What a beautiful photo of our dear leader, LOL.

I will be lobbying hard for Simon today. We should have some interesting discussions a The Furnace tonight. Still time to get added to the booking.

Shit Ed. Why did we have to wake up to that horrible picture?
Nearly broke my screen.
Only thing that stopped me is you can’t buy another one at a decent price.
double what I paid for some a few months back, if you can get one.

Looks very much like Bolger and Boag have had their heads together in the confessional.
NZ the way we want it isn’t any better than NZ they way I will tell you how it will be.
Two sides of the same coin.

NZ desrves much better than that.

Party vote Act. Toss the tosspots out.

Of course this all plays into the Peters playbook. Simon will never be PM.

One guess who has been in Bolgers whisky bottle lately.

Worse if Simon goes Peters will want his old seat back.

Not going to happen.

If you look up irrelevant hasbeen in the dictionary you should find a picture of Bolger and Boag sitting next to each other in rocking chairs at the Quisling home for old politicians who don’t know when to shut up.

Ryan Bridge on AM Show wanting to hear from Todd Muller and Nikki Kay. What do they stand for? “Are they tree huggers in blue jeans”. With them as leaders of National what would be the difference voting for Cindy.

Ukrainian Lawmaker Releases Recorded Phone Calls Of Biden, Poroshenko That Contain Eyebrow-Raising Remarks…..

https://www.dailywire.com/news/ukrainian-lawmaker-releases-recorded-phone-calls-of-biden-poroshenko-that-contain-eyebrow-raising-remarks/

Straight from the brain-fartorium, PTPM is suggesting a 4-day working week so we can all go touring NZ, spending the dollars we won’t have because we’re only working 80%.
Covid 19 coronavirus: Jacinda Ardern floats four-day working week as part of recovery

Muller sounds like AGM alarmist unless he thinks that is a way to get support.

B and B
Old, rejected politicians that don’t know either that they are irrelevant or when to shut up.

Interesting that there was an article on Matt King telling ‘St Jacinda’ to take a hike last night.
The comments on FB were almost all overwhelmingly supportive of him.
I don’t believe these ‘Polls’ (that tell us we all adore Jacinda and love our Socialist Government etc etc) for a second!

Post-lockdown chat up lines:

* What disinfectant are you wearing?
* Why don’t we slip into something less protective?
* Until I saw you, I was just bored stiff.
* Why don’t we get a Zoom?
* My PPE? It’s made of boyfriend material.
* Would you handle my package if I left it outside for 2 days?
* I have toilet roll.

OK now we’re fucked – Todd Mueller and Nikki Kaye?

So the blue rinse idiots at the National party HQ are proving that they are long, long overdue for the knacker’s yard. Having appointed what seemed to be the least charismatic and least electable Leader since .. well Bill English (don’t get me wrong BE is a brilliant MoF – probably the greatest we’ve ever had – but he’s a two time loser as leader), they appear to be trying to out do themselves by elevating an even more uncharismatic and unelectable leader with a face that’s perfect for radio. For goodness sake Nats – do you want NZ to be turned into Venezuala? Because you are doing everything right if you want to!

And don’t get me started on that harpy Nikki Kaye as Deputy. She’s utterly bonkers and further left of centre than Helen Clark! She also possesses the signal characteristic of being deeply unlikeable – sure she can play the cancer card -but she is loathed across the National caucus.

The National party are like how English rugby teams used to play in the 70s, 80s and 90s – they behave like they don’t want to score points against the opposition. They won’t run the ball and they kick it back the moment they find they’ve got their hands on the pill.

FFS we’re in a post-Brexit, post-Trump, post-Truth world. The only thing that counts is the attack sound bite, it’s not like Labour aren’t giving them enough opportunities and ammunition – National just don’t have a clue how to win in the new environment. So much for globalist John Key’s renewal and the next generation – he looks to have totally broken the National party – it’s amazing after all the appalling shit that Labour threw at him and his kids, he’s now lining up behind them – what a fucking douche con man that short-ass git was. Bring back Steven Joyce or grow the fuck up and give the ball to Brawler Collins – it’d be worth it for the blood on the carpet.

Caucus vote tomorrow will be like turkeys voting for an early Christmas.

We’re all fucked!

National are self deluded past redemption if they think that their marginally different policies are going to spirit them over the line ahead of Hugzilla.

We live in an age of the soundbite rather than the two hour speech. Charisma beats knowledge. Style beats substance.

Wake up & smell the coffee!

Spare a thought for the farmers battling the huge drought That is still rolling along. and will be a perfect storm for the NZ economy.

Now O Conner is asking farmers to employ people etc.!
That is some assistance from the COL ?

Thanks DP. Perfectly voiced how I feel about the leadership challenge.

Talk about National bland following National bland. Keep Simon until after the election. Who in their right mind would want to take on leadership of the Nats going into this upcoming quagmire of an election unless they have an overly inflated opinion of their leadership skills. I vote for policies and competence not for the personality of the leader. Sort your policies out National, leadership is just a part of the window dressing to getting the job done.

Cindy will not like this.

Australia handling Covid consequences better than NZ: PM’s Business Advisory Council

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12333598

Paula Bennett ‘confident’ her leadership role is safe ahead of National’s emergency caucus vote

National’s Paula Bennett is confident she’ll still be in the deputy leader hot seat following her party’s emergency leadership vote tomorrow.
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/content/tvnz/onenews/story/2020/05/21/political-panel.html?auto=6158085873001

“That’s my plan, and I’m feeling good and I’m feeling confident. And I think we’ve got a message to get out there and get on track and just keep doing what we’re doing because the country needs us,” said Ms Bennett.

“I’m feeling really confident standing here this morning, John.”

Ms Bennett described National as being like a “family”, and she predicted that by Friday afternoon it would be back on track. But she said she also wishes they weren’t doing the vote.

‘I’m no sheep’: National MP Matt King rubbishes Government’s COVID-19 distancing rules
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/05/i-m-no-sheep-national-mp-matt-king-rubbishes-government-s-covid-19-distancing-rules.html

The Northland MP posted a photo of him and his elderly parents – who were celebrating their 55th wedding anniversary – posing with Greens Restaurant staff on the weekend.

The photo caused major backlash from some Facebook users, who described his decision to ignore distancing rules to stand close to staff as “a disgrace”, “embarrassing” and “idiotic”.

But King says the Government’s rules are “random and illogical”, and told irate commenters the staff member he’s standing next to was the one who waited on their table.

King says it would’ve been impossible for the server to distance himself while serving their food, describing the rules as “a charade”.

“The rulings coming out of this Government are random and illogical. Only 10 at a funeral is allowed and then next day 100 is okay. Same with religious gatherings,” he wrote.

“I’m no sheep, each individual can assess the risk and make their decision accordingly (sic).”

Interesting observations about the future of university education.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/05/breathtakingly-overpriced-product-mike-rowe-says-covid-19-revealed-college-really/

The MSM are using National’s leadership challenge to distract the public from the badly spiraling economy and insidious job losses that are growing daily. Now the MSM are trying to drag Judith into the fray of speculation. It is all designed to take our eye off the ball.

‘Dark arts’: Is Judith Collins plotting a post-election coup?
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/05/dark-arts-is-judith-collins-plotting-a-post-election-coup.html

I read this on the other blog. Any idea wha he is referring to?

“MrTips
A little birdy tells me Jacinda and Ashley are in for a wee shock soon.

The genie is nowhere near back in the bottle and the ides of June are coming.”

I would ask but that would break my selfimposed ban from commenting.

I see that Todd Muller has arrived in Wellington.
Was he doing a Rev David Clark and was hiding at home as the party didn’t want him at work!

Venezuela food prices anyone?

Food prices soar during lockdown as panic-buying pressure settles in
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/money/2020/05/food-prices-soar-during-lockdown-as-panic-buying-pressure-settles-in.html

Even a bargain brand loaf of white bread has surged by 24 percent

Overall, the cost of food rose 1 percent in April, and by 4.4 percent over the past year which is the biggest annual price rise since 2012. But these price changes aren’t all down to the supermarkets.

Panic buying put pressure on suppliers, and the supermarkets were worried they’d sell out so they dropped their promotional discounts.

Countdown and Foodstuffs promise discounts are back now, but they wouldn’t allow Newshub’s cameras inside to film it.

OCR predicted to fall below 0 percent by end of 2020
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/money/2020/04/ocr-predicted-to-fall-below-0-percent-by-end-of-2020.html

In March, the OCR was slashed by 75 basis points, with banks adjusting their floating rates immediately, and some cuts later to other lending and deposit rates.

Westpac chief economist Dominick Stephens said the Reserve Bank would also double its quantitative easing (QE) programme to $60 billion in May, but would be unlikely to up it any more after that.

He said a negative OCR would remain for about a year, and while it would incentivise lower retail rates, those would not go into negative.

However, growth beyond the September quarter would be be harder to come by

“You’re going to have the legacy of people being unemployed, not spending and that having a second-round effect on shops’ revenues.

“Declining house prices might affect behaviour, some businesses might have folded and others might have taken on a lot of debt to help them get through. All of those things mean the recovery could well be slow.”

I called it about 3 months ago..2 yr fixed rate mortgages at 2.5% , and dropping like a stone.
“ANZ has cut its one year special home loan rate to 2.79%, the lowest ever in the New Zealand market.”

Great to see people like this guy speaking out about how the media are not questioning the press releases being put out about the vaccine trials

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/trust-being-undermined-harvard-medical-school-prof-questions-faucis-shading-vaccine-results

New Zealand’s housing bubble on the brink of bursting – global economist
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/money/2020/05/new-zealand-s-housing-bubble-on-the-brink-of-bursting-global-economist.html

We’re entering one of the most difficult periods in history, says global economist and writer Harry Dent Jr, and New Zealand could bear the brunt of a burst housing bubble following the economic fallout of the COVID-19 crisis.

Dent’s economic predictions have been met with both scepticism and amazement over the decades. In the late 1980s, the economist forecasted that the leading Japanese economy would enter a dramatic slowdown lasting more than a decade. In the early 1990s, he claimed the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) would reach 10,000. Despite backlash and widespread disbelief, his predictions eventually proved to be true.

During an economic downturn, properties stand to lose their value. In this instance, homeowner’s may have mortgages greater than the property’s worth, and be in negative equity. If they need to sell, they will receive far less than the sum they initially paid.

Dent strongly disputed the Reserve Bank and the Treasury’s forecast that New Zealand will follow a ‘V-shaped’ recovery. Recent predictions claim that a steep rise will follow a sharp decline, allowing the country’s economy to re-stabilise by the end of next year. Dent says that theory is “totally unrealistic”.

He predicts the next global boom will fall between 2023 and 2036 – but between now and then is where things get risky.

“I’m giving people a warning. This is not just an ordinary recession. It’s not about the virus – except it’s the perfect trigger, because you can’t stop the virus with money-printing like you can with stock crashes or recessions. This is a time for people to look at their real estate, their stocks – get as safe as you can for a few years.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2DMIhP4z2M
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo holds a press briefing at the State Department.
20mins

“The CCP threatened us with economic retribution for the simple act of asking for an inquiry into the virus outbreak”

MPs expenses appear to show Todd Muller has been campaigning for months to roll Simon Bridges
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/05/mps-expenses-appear-to-show-todd-muller-has-been-campaigning-for-months-to-roll-simon-bridges.html

Muller has been touring the country with his surface travel costs doubling from $5999 between October-December 2019 to $11,848 between January and March this year.

He’s also more than doubled how much he spent on accommodation out of Wellington from $1354 to $3324.

Party leaders always spend the most, but Muller is just $2655 off Simon Bridges’ expenses of $37,183 – and his include crown limo costs, so should be way more.

In 2018, the leaking of MPs’ expenses caused one of the biggest political scandals in modern politics after Bridges spent up large on crown limos.

Muller told Newshub it was not about campaigning but meeting with farmers – part of his role as National’s agriculture spokesperson.

Did any see the interview by the ERC of Alicia Wright, Chief Electoral Officer? She rightly got a good grilling. She appears not to know the difference between consulting and advising. She needed to be reminded that the Minister of Justice is a Labour MP.

Bridges will come out stronger if he wins this Friday. That will piss the other side right off. Their plan to rock Nationals boat will be a massive fail, like everything they do, and come back to bite them on their arses.

Talking to a guy in one of my business suppliers and he’s been put on a four day week and only 32 hours of work ,their business is looking at a 30% to 40 % reduction in turnover ,the business,,,,,Toyota NZ…..not good at all.

Election 2020: National MP Nick Smith questions Electoral Commission’s ‘political neutrality’ in stand-off
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/05/election-2020-national-mp-nick-smith-questions-electoral-commission-s-political-neutrality-in-heated-stand-off.html

“Voting will start two days earlier than planned on Saturday 5 September and we’ll have more advanced voting places, especially on the weekend before the election on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September… It will look like a mini election weekend.”

Wright said the Electoral Commission consulted with Justice Minister Andrew Little because there were “implications around resources to consider” and the commission “needed to ensure the minister was aware of that”.

Dr Smith said the “key difference” is that the commission informed the Government and gave them the chance to provide feedback, whereas Opposition political parties were told what the commission planned to do without the same opportunity.

He said providing the Government with knowledge on when the early voting will start is “important political intelligence” to secure advertising placements. He said the three governing parties should not have that advantage.

“Don’t you think it creates some difficulties about the political neutrality of the Electoral Commission when some of the parties in the election have got notice beforehand of the sorts of changes that you’re going to advance?”

He said it “came as a bit of a surprise” to the Justice Committee that the commission “thinks it can make changes” to the Election Day procedures “without any consultation” with some political parties.

Wright said the commission “looked at a range of mechanisms to ensure that we are providing a service for those people who are unable to go into voting places”.

What do we have to show for any of it?

Contractors and consultants cost Government $914 million last year
New figures show the Government spent almost $1 billion on contractors and consultants last year.
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/contractors-and-consultants-cost-government-914-million-last-year

The spend of $914 million is slightly more than the year before ($900.2 million in 2017/18).

But it is less as a percentage of the total spending on the public sector workforce: 12.8 per cent, down from 13.4 per cent.

This is due to the public sector workforce expanding. Two whole new agencies were created in this time, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and departmental agency Te Arawhiti.

“It’s early days but we are starting to head in the right direction,” State Services Commissioner Peter Hughes said.

The Government ordered the core public sector to rein in and report contractor spending more clearly amid controversy over the high bills two years ago.

It was unknown how the Government’s response to Covid-19 will affect expenditure on contractors and consultants in the next 12 months, the commission said.

The biggest spenders were Inland Revenue, with $206 million, up $11 million year-on-year, and the Education Ministry, $147 million, up $15 million.

The top five biggest spenders of the 32 core agencies mandated to rein in spending, between them accounted for more than half the spend, or $567 million.

Corrections was one, rising steeply to $59 million, while only Internal Affairs among the top five actually cut its spending, by $1 million to $57 million.

Social Development was the major agency to make a big cut – down $23 million to $46 million.

Fourteen agencies had relatively stable spending, and six managed sizeable cuts, though often off low bases, such as the Serious Fraud Office cutting a million off the previous year’s $1.7 million bill.

Unintended consequences or just hopeless planning and understanding

https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/real-estate/121566744/coronavirus-rental-freeze-hits-mum-and-dad-landlords-hard

FYI

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/300017656/todd-muller-the-uninteresting-middle-manager-lacking-charm-and-zing

Prettied, preened and time to start the journey to Hamilton. See you guys in a bit!

ClarkE Gayfords and stunt babys tv advert in aussie is banned!

From TV1:

……”National has dropped dramatically, down 17 percentage points to 29% – its lowest Colmar Brunton poll result since 2003.”……

And Godboy hasn’t even hit his stride. I reckon he’ll get them under 25%. 🙂

Pressure mounts as National falls to 29%, Labour skyrockets in 1 NEWS Colmar Brunton poll

Labour has surged in support and National has plunged in the latest 1 NEWS Colmar Brunton Poll, heaping pressure on National leader Simon Bridges.
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/content/tvnz/onenews/story/2020/05/21/party.html

Party support
Labour Party – 59% (up 18 percentage points)
National Party – 29% (down 17 percentage points)
Green Party – 4.7%
New Zealand First – 2.9%
ACT – 2.2%
Māori Party – 1.2%
Don’t Know/Refused – 16%

Now watch suicide go through the roof. FUCK, New Zealanders are stupid.

https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2020/05/latest_poll-75.html

Old ‘Baity has published a list of names of the backstabbers- a few surprises in there if it’s to be believed;

Amy Adams, David Bennett, Dan Bidois, Chris Bishop, David Carter, Matthew Doocey, Andrew Fallon, Nikki Kaye, Barbara Kuriger, Todd Muller, Scott Simpson, Nick Smith, Stuart Smith, Erica Stanford, Nicky Wagner, Hamish Walker, Nicola Willis, Jian Yang.

Not a bad opinion piece from rabid Red…

https://truebluenz.com/2020/05/21/nat-rats-who-stabbed-simon-bridges-in-the-back/

Who was a bestie of Bolger, helped drink through drums of whisky?
Who was Bolgers Auckland Granny who drunk whisky with him?
Who has has running around telling us Simon wouldn’t get to voting day as leader.
Who was Bolgers bum boy back in them days?

Who has been making all the noise?

Looks like the Nats. need to cancel some retiree’s membership and find some better friends.