Gordon Campbell on Defence spending, Alabama, and Dolly Parton
The spending lavished on Defence projects to meet the risks that could maybe, possibly, theoretically face New Zealand in future is breath-taking.
Donald Trump
Gordon Campbell on the right wing’s fetish for tax cuts
Going as low as the Republicans have done will not only wildly expand the deficit, but require cutbacks to welfare provisions, and hiking taxes on middle America.
Gordon Campbell on National’s penchant for bashing (a) students and (b) beneficiaries
Occasionally, political parties paint themselves in their true colours, almost by accident.
Gordon Campbell on Ardern’s refugee non-deal
Trump has welshed on the Manus deal to Australia… On the weekend, Turnbull humiliated Jacinda Ardern in turn, by once again rejecting New Zealand’s offer.
Gordon Campbell on Peters’ end game in the coalition talks
We’re now entering the Agatha Christie phase of coalition negotiations, given all the main characters have been summoned to the drawing room today by M. Hercule Peters.
What’s New Zealand telling Trump about his threats to North Korea?
Sometimes friends have to tell friends they’re acting crazy…
Gordon Campbell on the US public’s attitude to nuclear war
A recent MIT report suggests that the American public is far more tolerant of the mass killing of civilians than the media tend to assume.
Gordon Campbell on North Korea, neo-Nazism, and Milo
With a bit of luck the planet won’t be devastated by nuclear war in the next few days. US President Donald Trump will have begun […]
Gordon Campbell on why Trump is a good thing
As candidate and President alike, Trump has been a bad salesman for the policies he espouses.
Gordon Campbell on the current US moves against North Korea
If Martians visited early last week, they’d probably be scratching their heads as to why North Korea was being treated as a potential trigger for global conflict.
Gordon Campbell on Emmanuel Macron’s plans for France
Emmanuel Macron’s “revolution” will complete its electoral phase with the final round of voting for the Assemblee Nationale.
Gordon Campbell on the limits of political loyalty
In the wake of the Comey testimony, one of Donald Trump’s White House defenders has claimed in her boss’s defence: “The President is not a liar.”
Gordon Campbell on Tillerson’s problems with Trump
Tillerson’s sober re-assurances to PM Bill English that the US remains committed to global and regional engagement count for very little.
Gordon Campbell on the Rex Tillerson visit
Rex Tillerson will be welcomed in style – even though he could fairly be called the least influential person in decades to hold the post.
Gordon Campbell on the US bailing out on climate change
Naturally, Trump has framed his decision as a patriotic duty. Yet the withdrawal will do next to nothing to restore American jobs and communities.
Gordon Campbell on marketing the Greens
While there will be a sigh of relief all around that the old Morris dancing/hemp smoking days have gone for good, it is not quite so evident what the current Greens stand for.
Gordon Campbell on housing, exploding lap-tops and Jon Taplin
How useful a thing really is National’s programme of building 34,000 houses, as a solution to the crisis of housing affordability? Answer: not very.
Gordon Campbell on Alfred Ngaro’s standover tactics
When someone like Alfred Ngaro is being paid circa$350,000 a year (in salary and perks) you’d think he wouldn’t have to learn on the job about the basic moral rules of his role.
Gordon Campbell on the Kim regime
It would be nice to know (a) what the guy in Pyongyang is thinking about all this and (b) what an achievable strategy goal for the US might look like.
Gordon Campbell on the costs of cost-cutting
Finance Minister Steven Joyce has been persuaded to pony up an extra $10 million to keep the jobs of 26 safety officers in the Police commercial vehicle investigations unit
Gordon Campbell on the fate of Edgecumbe’s uninsured
Should Edgecumbe residents who don’t have enough (or any) insurance still receive assistance from central government – or not?
Gordon Campbell on regime change, bombs and Syria
Now that America has found its greatness again the traditional way – by bombing someone – the misgivings have set in.
Gordon Campbell on National’s token National Super age hike
A policy rollout about appearances rather than urgency, driven more by National’s political need to guard its flank than the country’s best interests. Is there a pattern here?
Gordon Campbell on Ardern’s ascension & Trump’s triumph
It’s about time we cut the crap about Jacinda Ardern being only a show pony.
Gordon Campbell on the Mt Albert aftermath
Now Labour has got a Jacinda Arden – young, smart, compassionate, politically and media adept – what on earth does it do with her?
Gordon Campbell on what Trump may mean for us
The chaotic presidency of Donald Trump has been a weird form of spectator sport for the past three weeks. Horrible, but you can’t stop watching […]
That’s The Way You Do It
As the President continues trying to throw the immigrant-and-refugee baby out with the bathwater, there is increasing attention on the man behind the curtain.
Gordon Campbell on the Bill English phone call, La La Land, and jazz
The reality is that the President enjoys sweeping powers under the Immigration and Nationality Act
Gordon Campbell on Thiel, and the sympatico between Peters and English
We got a less manicured and truer picture of Bill English at yesterday’s press conference
Gordon Campbell on the government’s (lack of a) response to Trump
It is unfortunate, but hardly a surprise that Bill English and his Cabinet colleagues should have been left gormlessly uncertain about the impact of the […]