TrueblueNZ

Don Brash and the Smell of Fear

Don Brash’s return to politics has some of the current lot suffering palpitations. National know he could inflict serious damage on their own electoral objectives. Some people at ACT would be all a lather at the thought that should Dr. Brash take control there, their own presence may not be required. Going a step further, a new party would have a serious and probably fatal impact on ACT and cut a huge slice off National’s vote. Both these groups would be earnestly hoping Brash will just remain sitting on the sidelines.

David Farrar speculates bizarrely that Don might get only 4% of the vote if he starts a new party. WTF?? I reckon its highly possible for Brash with a new party to pick up around 20% of the vote. Too high I hear some say. Nope, don’t forget Brash only just failed to drag the hapless National over the line in 2005. According to Wikipedia-

At the New Zealand general election on 17 September 2005, National under Brash’s leadership made major gains, and achieved what was at the time the party’s best result since the institution of the mixed member proportional electoral system in 1993, compared to their worst result ever in 2002 under the leadership of his predecessor, Bill English.

So Brash is a vote puller. There are a tonne of real voters (not poll respondees) who keenly await a real politician. They’ll vote for Brash. There are those who don’t like National, but don’t like ACT even more. They’ll vote for Brash in a new party. There are those highly pissed off at the perception that the Maori Party is running National. They’ll vote for Brash with his one law for all principle. Brash by the sheer power of his electoral appeal and his conviction politics, frightens the pants off wishy washy John Key and the aimless unprincipled National party he leads.

ACT is polling 1.5% or thereabouts. If Brash joins them, he might raise that to 10%. Half of what he would with his own new party. Many people just will not vote for ACT. A new party overcomes this hurdle.

With a new Brash led party on the scene, ACT would be lucky to win the 1.5% they garner in the current polls.

So Brash is all positive, a new party is the way for him to go and I hope he does take that path. (if it is at all possible given the time frame) Nothing would cheer me more than to see the smug smile wiped off John “Mr. Popular” Key’s face when Don Brash’s new party reports a 20% vote at the next elections.

April 25, 2011 Posted by Redbaiter | NZ Politics | 17 Comments

Paul Foster-Bell, Nat’s Wellington Central Candidate “a comfortable fit”

National have selected Paul Foster-Bell as their candidate for Wellington Central, and as usual, they’ve just rubber stamped someone who they think will participate in the election using the same old strategies- enunciating a blunted and clouded message that makes it difficult for anyone listening to discern any difference in approach to that of the Labour party candidate (Grant Robertson).

For a start, Paul proudly announces himself as a Bluegreen, at the same time as he states he is “committed to National’s core principles”. Sorry Paul. You have to be one or the other. Nick Smith is the leader of the Bluegreens, and he runs around taking money from some enterprises and dolling it out to others. This is what Bluegreens do, when they’re not introducing crazy unscientific regulations or lunatic schemes like Smith’s carbon trading plan.

A core principle of National is that they are “to oppose interference by the State in business, and State control of industry”. Maybe Paul can tell how the objectives of the Bluegreens are compatible with this principle. They are not of course, which is why Nick Smith and his Bluegreens should not be part of National but a separate party.

National probably won’t win the seat, so why not nominate someone who will start preaching some home truths to Wellington Central, and articulating the traditional National Party viewpoints, rather than a wet liberal of no discernible worth to the cause and apparently ready to utter the same old same old empty political cliches about “what he stands for” at the drop of a hat.

Is there anyone like that left in the party? A traditional Conservative like Sid Holland? Short answer is no there is not. National has been hijacked by wet liberals. That’s why Paul Foster-Bell won the selection.

Paul’s CV is over the fold. Read more »

April 25, 2011 Posted by Redbaiter | NZ Politics | 23 Comments