July 2008

John Armstrong: The Great Survivor goes hunting for brainless meerkats – The last refuge of a politician in serious trouble is to blame the media. Not so in Winston Peters’ case. Blaming the media is not sufficient. When Peters strikes problems, they are deemed the product of a vast media conspiracy against… [NZ Politics]

John Armstrong outline 4 factors behind the refusal of Winston Raymond Peters to hold himself to the same standards he demands of others.

1. Any explanation of exactly what happened to Sir Robert Jones’ $25,000 donation to the party risks highlighting the fiction that NZ First is morally superior to other parties and does not accept money from big business interests or deliberately hide such donations.

2. Offering some insight into what happened to Sir Robert’s donation would only invite more scrutiny just when the story appears to be (slowly) running out of steam.

3. The reluctance of all parties to open their financial books for inspection. The only one which regularly publishes its accounts in any detail is Labour.

4. Winston Peters is Winston Peters. He does not come in safe, diluted versions. When you buy the package – as Labour has discovered late in the parliamentary term – you get the full package.

Heh, Winston Raymond Peters certainly is a poisoned chalice. Only one thing is for certain when you get into bed with Winston, he’s going to shag ya in the chook and you are sleeping in the wet spot with a sore arse.

Nats suspect Govt offices broke law – National deputy leader Bill English says government departments may have effectively been breaching electoral laws for seven months by using the term “Labour-led Government” on their websites.
Mr English yesterday released advice… [NZ Politics]

The Labour-led theft of public monies continues unabated. Not only that the Government has breached the Electoral Finance Act 13,600 times on government website!

Why does Labour find it so hard to follow the law?

Garth George : I’m sick of nanny state and MMP – Back in December last year I predicted to a gathering of Herald columnists that National would win this year’s election by a landslide sufficient to allow it to govern alone.
Nothing has happened since to make me regret that prediction…. [NZ Politics]

Another very good curmudgeonly article by Garth George on why he hates MMP. He mostly hates MMP because of one “tiresome and turbulent little man”. He is of course talking about Winston Raymond Peters.

Here is a little reminder of Winston Raymond Peters a few years back. Perhaps some of the MSM might go back to Bill Hodge for some additional comments on Winston Raymond Peters.

[quote]“Constitutional lawyer Bill Hodge has a strong opinion on the apparent hospitality.

“I consider this very much a deep seated form of corruption in the Parliamentary process in law making… This is unlike anything that’s gone on in the past. In fact, I might say it’s unlike anything I’ve been aware of, or even heard of, in my time, in 30 plus years in New Zealand,” Hodge told ONE News.

“The appearance is that private money had an effect on a public function,” he said. Hodge said Peters’ actions have undercut the Select Committee’s report.

“As a report – that now has very little value. And I would not be surprised if the other participants, the other players in that particular branch of the fisheries, would say let’s run this again,” Hodge said. The constitutional lawyer says Parliament should investigate.

“I would think, in the first instance, Parliament and its Committee will look into the matter seriously. And they have a wide range of remedies available to them – suspension, admonition and ultimately expulsion,” Hodge said.[/quote]

Since Winston Raymond Peters the former member for Tauranga is in the news alot I think it is timely to announce that Simon Bridges has launched his online campaign with both a Facebook profile and his new website.

So far in the campaign Winston Raymond Peters has worked very hard to win Tauranga……for Simon.

Look at this nice photo of Simon having his ears bent by some old dears. I ask you who’d really want to be an MP?

And in a little touch of irony since Simon is taking on Winston Raymond Peters I note that Aaron Bhatnagar has helped out Simon with the site. Actually that is bloody funny.

Clayton Cosgrove is a nasty piece of work so when he stood in the General Debate today and proceeded to hurl insults about the place I watched with extreme distaste.

That was until he had a crack at Rodney Hide and his yellow jacket. Old Plug-head said “What sort of fiscal genuis spends $1400 on a yellow jacket”

Rodney called a point of order and then pointed out that it was a bit rich of the Minister to talk of “Fiscal Genius” and then asked him how much he had spent on his failed “Punch and Grow”.

Brilliant, Bloody Brilliant, especially from one not well endowed in the thatch department either.

Nice slap down on Plug-Head.

Peters walks out on journalists, won’t answer questions – The relationship between the media and New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has hit a new low.
Mr Peters walked out on a stand-up interview with journalists at Parliament this afternoon.
Reporters were seeking his response… [NZ Politics]

Winston Raymond Peters has lot the plot. He was in the house today and again rambled and obfuscated and slung abuse. In the general debate the gist of his drivel was;

* Informed Speaker in May 2005 of allegations now appearing in Dominion Post (I think this is re the scampi issue back then)
* Said TVNZ has two investigators trying to dig up dirt on him.
* Talked of how Bill Ralston at TVNZ hired Phil Kitchin, as is this is somehow sinister
* Alleged that Phil Kitchin has misled Bob Jones in order to get a story
* Said that he sacked Rex W in 1996 and Rex not credible as he chats to teenage girls online
* Said that he was told at his mother’s funeral that there is a “pot of money” on offer for anyone who can dig up dirt on him
* Referred to the media as brainless meerkats
* Said that when he refuses to answer a stupid question, that is not a denial!

Again Winston has attacked Rex Widerstrom. If I was Rex I’d dump all my Winston dirt files on Phil Kitchin. Amusingly Winston also raised the Scampi issue again…the man is certainly wishing death upon himself with that one. Interesting also that he has again raised his personal fued with iIan Fraser and Bill Ralston. Sources tell me that Ian Fraser is a regular dinner guest of Sir Robert Jones so lets see where that attack goes.

More intersting in the General Debate though was to watch Labour Minister after Labour Minister rise to support Winston Peters and attack national about the Waitemata Trust. Now they clearly miss the point. Everyone know about the Waitemata Trust and all their donations were declared. We have only just found out about the Spencer Trust and NO donations have ever been declared.

Winston Raymond Peters then went outside and abused journalists for not standing ont he correct step when addressing him. Not surprising though given his tiny stature and the need probably for him to be at least four steps above even the most short-arsed of journalists.

Hide lodges Peters complaint with Serious Fraud Office – Act party leader Rodney Hide has lodged a complaint about Winston Peters with the Serious Fraud Office.
He said questions raised by the media, including the Herald , about donations to Mr Peters’ New Zealand First Party were issues… [NZ Politics]

The one man opposition Rodney Hide has lodgeda complaint with the Serious Fraud Office over Winston Raymond peters and his dodgy, hypocritical dealing with big money donors.

Good on Rodney.

Boobs event organiser: City won’t stop parade – Businessman Steve Crow says his Boobs on Bikes parade down Queen St will go ahead, despite a new bylaw aimed at stopping events deemed offensive.
The Auckland City Council passed the bylaw last week, only weeks before Mr Crow plans… [Auckland News]

I fail to see how boobs are offensive. If you are some sort of puritan who finds breast offensive then don’t bloody look. Avert your eyes. Do anything else but don’t bloody rob good keen men a chance at free oggling.