Gordon Campbell on stoking fears about cannabis law reform
It was always going to be hard to have a rational debate on cannabis reform. Far easier for politicians to win votes by stoking alarm.
Simon Bridges
Gordon Campbell on the welcome restoration of prisoners’ right to vote
One one front, the government has now done the right thing, and has partially restored the right of prisoners to vote
Gordon Campbell on National’s anointing of Christopher Luxon
Clearly, the National Party hierarchy is very, very excited about Christopher Luxon
Gordon Campbell on Simon Bridges trying to paint himself as a warrior against political correctness
Having failed all year at being a credible alternative Prime Minister, National leader Simon Bridges has lowered his aspirational target this week to something more within his range.
Gordon Campbell on allegations of left wing bias in the mainstream media
The “left wing bias” accusation dates back at least to the mid 1990s… The charge was ridiculous then, and is ridiculous now.
Gordon Campbell on Labour’s mishandling of the alleged sexual assault
The focus of Labour’s alleged sexual assault scandal has now shifted from the party organisation to the Beehive.
Gordon Campbell on the cheap politics that National is playing with gun reform
In the wake of the Port Arthur massacre, Tim Fischer chose not to pander to his own party’s worst short term instincts…
From the Hood : J’Hackuse
Better Analogies for National Pilfering Budget Data
Gordon Campbell on the Budget leak
No doubt the Police will carry out their investigation of the Treasury Budget hack with more courtesy and nuance than their pursuit of the Dirty Politicssource.
Gordon Campbell on why we should support the junior doctors strike
The powers that individual DHBs are seeking look like a throwback to the early 1990s. Then, as now, the rationale was that this local “flexibility” was necessary.
Gordon Campbell on the alleged crisis over our relations with China
If New Zealand’s relations with China are ‘deteriorating’ then you still need a microscope to detect the signs.
Gordon Campbell on the Nelson fire and what it says about our response to climate change
The Nelson fire has been a warning of things to come.
Gordon Campbell on National’s tax handouts
Simon Bridges has unveiled a heavenly vision of a “Not Tax But Still Spend” government.
Gordon Campbell on National’s new, fledgling blue-green partner
Every year around about this time, National floats its own distinct vision of a different sort of Green Party…
Gordon Campbell on whether the Pope of Parliament can ever be anything other than a Catholic
’Tis the season of goodwill towards all humankind… except it would seem, towards the Speaker of Parliament.
Gordon Campbell on what the polls say about National’s leadership
Like his Tory counterpart Theresa May in Britain, National Party leader Simon Bridges seems widely unloved, and safe in his job only to the extent […]
Gordon Campbell on Labour’s backdown over the Hobbit law (and Jami-Lee Ross)
Clearly, Jami-Lee Ross is not waging a normal form of political warfare, with agreed rules of combat and rational cost/benefit calculations.
Gordon Campbell on the Jami-Lee Ross Saga
Secretly taping your political leader and threatening to release the contents in public is not a good way to win clemency, or gain support from your team
Gordon Campbell on the teachers’ struggle for better pay and conditions
These days, strike action is essentially a game of three dimensional chess, and the industrial stoppages coming our way in education are a case in point.
Gordon Campbell on counting the cost from the Bridges leak
Surely, the public would not be left in the dark forever about the identity of the person who had tried to make political capital out of this privileged information? Unfortunately, yes.
Gordon Campbell on why Japan is our new best friend
On Thursday, Acting PM Winston Peters will be playing host to the nearest thing to his doppelganger in the Asia-Pacific region.
Gordon Campbell on National’s latest attempts at relevance
National has now moved to Plan B in its pose as the only “responsible” party of government. Having ignored the existence of massive problems in […]
Gordon Campbell on Police pursuits
The willingness of the Police to play Russian roulette with public safety via its current policy on pursuits continues to end in carnage
Gordon Campbell on the departure of Steven Joyce
In the end, the party leadership left the loaded revolver on Steven Joyce’s desk, and he did the decent thing. Amy Adams as Finance spokesperson […]
Gordon Campbell on the poisoned chalice Simon Bridges has won
Voters on the centre-right of politics need to pray that Simon Bridges is not the only winner from the National leadership contest.
Gordon Campbell on the gun debate, here and in the US
Gun ownership in the US is a mystery to New Zealanders, and so is the constitutional fetish that surrounds it.
Gordon Campbell on National’s leadership contest
Essentially, English ran a great FPP campaign last year, and if the political system hadn’t changed 25 years ago you’d count that performance as a success…
Gordon Campbell on National’s leadership rumbles
There’s a ritual to leadership changes after an election loss, and the National Party is dutifully following the script.
Gordon Campbell on the real truth deficit in welfare
The most troubling thing about the current emphasis of government policy is that “success” seems to be judged entirely on whether people are being moved off benefits…
Gordon Campbell on the National leadership “contest”
Key’s endorsement of English has turned this “contest” into a race for second place.