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content='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggy-JGVg-YQECOjwC4dgvo7j3kBEyz_Wxkofpt3HD4GhwbSC5UVuFKjBHe1cWdr2q6Y1pbz2EOJ6oIk-vjw8ELV6VsuTBJHfJaIS_0yvOBStYmARQcJ0YKbRbJoQLKnfZ-AwFupXdJJk0/s320/1506493026527.jpg' itemprop='image_url'/> <meta content='2932158055298887404' itemprop='blogId'/> <meta content='7602582741749069506' itemprop='postId'/> <a name='7602582741749069506'></a> <h3 class='post-title entry-title' itemprop='name'> <a href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2017/09/elections-2017-so-you-say-you-want.html'>Elections 2017: So you say you want a coalition</a> </h3> <div class='post-header'> <div class='post-header-line-1'></div> </div> <div class='post-body entry-content' id='post-body-7602582741749069506' itemprop='articleBody'> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggy-JGVg-YQECOjwC4dgvo7j3kBEyz_Wxkofpt3HD4GhwbSC5UVuFKjBHe1cWdr2q6Y1pbz2EOJ6oIk-vjw8ELV6VsuTBJHfJaIS_0yvOBStYmARQcJ0YKbRbJoQLKnfZ-AwFupXdJJk0/s1600/1506493026527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="617" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggy-JGVg-YQECOjwC4dgvo7j3kBEyz_Wxkofpt3HD4GhwbSC5UVuFKjBHe1cWdr2q6Y1pbz2EOJ6oIk-vjw8ELV6VsuTBJHfJaIS_0yvOBStYmARQcJ0YKbRbJoQLKnfZ-AwFupXdJJk0/s320/1506493026527.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <i>This is probably one of the last in the <b><u>Elections 2017</u></b> series and a topic which we always had to address, but like finding a nest of spiders in your sock draw its not a pleasant one to deal with.</i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Musically aware readers may notice right off the bat that the title of this post is essential a play on the opening line to the Beatles 1968 song <i>Revolution</i>, in which the group, but mostly John Lennon, express some concerns about some of the revolutionary sentiment going round at the time (this was 1968 after all)*.</div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Well, you know, I am not writing a hit pop song or having any concerns about the revolutionary mood in this day and age but I do have some issues with the current bout of horse-trading that’s passing for “coalition negotiations” at the moment.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> As I noted in my last post the end result of a fair and democratic election is a highly undemocratic process where the various parties begin to wheel and deal in order to form a government. <o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> “But that is politics under MMP!” I hear you cry in anguish at my failure to understand the obviousness of Mixed Member Proportional politics.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Well Sparky, you may be right but before you go betting the farm you might want to consider that be it MMP or FPP both systems for running democratic elections have very clear rules and structures which MUST be followed to ensure that the election process remains fair and democratic so why not the same with the process for making a coalition?<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> This is why election advertising must be down before vote day, this is why advertising budgets are controlled, this is why there are observers and a whole galaxy of rules and regulations starting all the way down at how voting should be conducted on the day (as noted on the vote form and how the polling place is setup) up to who gets to sign off on the final outcome (technically the Governor General when they formally appoint the PM and next government). <o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> All of these things ensure that the end result is free and fair and NZ gets to boast that it remains a democratic state rather than many of countries which like to pretend they are democratic (for example China, Thailand, North Korea, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Australia and the US of A**) but in reality are not.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> So it’s pretty clear that these rules and regulations exist to ensure a fair result yet as soon as the populace has completed voting we step away from the clean and orderly streets of election town and cross the tracks into the crack house ghettos of coalition negotiations where anything goes and nothing is off the table.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <i>Imagine its evening time, the sky is a fiery red, the day time traffic has faded away and the people of the night have come out. Imagine further, Bill English dressed up as a street walker outfit (stockings, short skirt, heavy lipstick and hair teased just so) standing on a street corner trying to attract the attention of any potential customers.<o:p></o:p></i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <i>Now here comes a shiny black Beemer cruising down the way, Bill tosses his mane and strikes a pose that says “Hey baby, wanna party?” The car pulls up to the curb and the tinted windows roll down, with a whine of servos, to reveal the Cheshire cat grin (and silver mane) of Winston Peters.<o:p></o:p></i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <i>The pair briefly discuss terms there on the street before, with a flash of shaved leg, Bill hops in and the Winstonmobile rolls off to some secluded back alley to complete the deal. Soon Bill is back on the boulevard looking for the next customer but is now joined by Steven Joyce in skin tight boob tube and skirt while Jacinda (rocking the “girl next door” look but still clearly on the make) plys her trade across the way.***<o:p></o:p></i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> This might be a somewhat colourful description of the process but all the essential elements are there as this is not some clean cut business deal between buyer and seller but one party prostituting those that voted for them to anyone who will pay their fee. The only thing we don’t know is if Bill English is addicted to P and walking the street to fianc茅 his drug habit.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> I am aware that there cannot be a rule for everything and every situation and that countries round the world which have had coalition governments have to go through a similar process but as NZ has a political system which has thrown up two previous coalition governments in the last 20 years (along with various confidence and supply situations) and both of these did not end well so I don’t think it’s a long ask to have some basic format to how these things go which is not a slightly more glamorous version of the world oldest occupation.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Even worse is that this situation was clear to every voter and their dog months before we even went to the polls but the process is still being run (or at least covered by the media) as if this is some shock outcome which no body has had time to prepare for so we had better just wait while peeps figure this out.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> And let’s not get our heads twisted round the idea that this can only be done after the fact of voting has taken place. The only difference between the before and after is that the numbers have firmed up, which does not stop parties from setting out positions, no go areas and discussing the matter before the big day, which some, to their credit (see the Greens and Labour) have been able to do.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Perhaps things would be different if it was not Winston Peters, again, being the person to which everyone is waiting on for an answer, perhaps a less capricious kingmaker might just have gotten down to brass tacks but then again the only other possible king maker out there (not really but let’s never discount the unlikely as an option) is the Greens and I think the stomping the party got at the polls (just over the 5% threshold) means they will probably not be too keen to make any risky moves by going out to play with National.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> And if I may borrow some further lyrics from <i>Revolution</i> I would “like to see the plan” for what Winston has in mind because I read in the paper that Peters has refused to get back to people until all the special votes are counted on October the 12<sup>th</sup> which is nothing more than stone cold BS as a few percentage points or an extra seat is not going to fix the issues of policy and personality that are really what Winston is all about when it coalition time.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> What is needed here is not set rules about coalition building but principles. Some basic principles about how a party might make a coalition set out before the election might go a long way to giving voters some certainty about the post-election coitus interruptus that we are all now suffering because if voters knew more about which way a party would swing in a coalition situation it would probably make for a different outcome.<o:p></o:p><br /> <br /> Then there is the fact that the 5% threshold seem both a barrier to minor parties but also a safeguard against chaos in parliament.</div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> In fact, I think part of the reason Winston lost his seat in Northlands and the party slipped back in the polls is because he was so obtuse about which way he was likely to go. Winston was so busy making sure that he was greased and ready for any action that came his way that he nullified his actual appeal to voters who saw NZ First as a party less about any specific or identified principle and more set up to get the greatest windfall for its leader post-election.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Winston’s rhetoric this election has been a far cry from his glory days with the Winebox and its shows.<br /> <br /> Gone are the days when Winston could cause chaos and fear in the halls of power, in the 90s (specially before 96) he had more than one MP and senior civil servant on the ropes and seemed a genuine folk hero, exposing corruption and bad behavior as the then National Government was caught in a number of scandals relating to the Winebox. These days the resonance is just not there and saying National has a Chinese spy in its midst (which may or may not be true) just does not cut it.</div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> So like the song says<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: windowtext; padding: 0cm; text-decoration-line: none;">You say you'll change the constitution</span><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: windowtext; padding: 0cm; text-decoration-line: none;"><br /> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: windowtext; padding: 0cm; text-decoration-line: none;">Well you know<br /> We all want to change your head</span><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: windowtext; padding: 0cm; text-decoration-line: none;"><br /> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: windowtext; padding: 0cm; text-decoration-line: none;">You tell me it's the institution</span><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: windowtext; padding: 0cm; text-decoration-line: none;"><br /> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: windowtext; padding: 0cm; text-decoration-line: none;">Well you know</span><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: windowtext; padding: 0cm; text-decoration-line: none;"><br /> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: windowtext; padding: 0cm; text-decoration-line: none;">You better free your mind instead</span></span></i><i><o:p></o:p></i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> The only thing about this process I like is that I still believe that I know the outcome (see my post about the <i>The Daffodils of Change</i>) and that the reality of this situation is that it’s not a 50/50 spilt like people keep saying or that Winston is supporting a deeply unpopular second term government into a third but that this is a deeply unpopular (yes even with its 46 percent) third term government who is desperate to remain in power in the face for a broad base of calls for change (Labour, Greens and yes even NZ First if Winston’s supporters are to be believed).<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> That the situation of NZ First/National does not behoove players like Shane Jones (with his Labour pedigree) or the general tone of party supporters means that any deal with National risks going against a greater grain than if he goes with Labour and the Greens.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> But Winston is Winston and Winston will do what Winston does so we now get to watch this single individual dither around for another two weeks while the sheckles change hands before getting to the money shot (so to speak) of going with Labour.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> So if Winston is going to carry to carry round a picture of Bill English he aint going make it with anyone anyhow and I say that because Winston is know to have apologized to NZ First voters in the later 90's (specifically in his then electorate of Tauranga) for his going with National in 96 when the mood of the nation (much like it is now) was not conductive to three more years of their antics.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> So, don't you know its going to be alright.</div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Alright?</div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> *-Later on Lennon plunged a lot more whole heartedly into the spirit of the age but at this point he was still on the fence.</div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> **-I might be wrong about the two of those examples<o:p></o:p><br /> ***-To be fair we could have had Winston in the short skirt and on the street corner but it just seemed better having Bill do the cross dressing.</div> <div style='clear: both;'></div> </div> <div class='post-footer'> <div class='post-footer-line post-footer-line-1'> <span class='post-author vcard'> Posted by <span class='fn' itemprop='author' itemscope='itemscope' itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'> <meta content='https://www.blogger.com/profile/11041002150165406443' itemprop='url'/> <a class='g-profile' href='https://www.blogger.com/profile/11041002150165406443' rel='author' title='author profile'> <span itemprop='name'>E.A.Blair</span> </a> </span> </span> <span class='post-timestamp'> at <meta content='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2017/09/elections-2017-so-you-say-you-want.html' itemprop='url'/> <a class='timestamp-link' href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2017/09/elections-2017-so-you-say-you-want.html' rel='bookmark' title='permanent link'><abbr class='published' itemprop='datePublished' title='2017-09-28T14:30:00+14:00'>14:30</abbr></a> </span> <span class='post-comment-link'> <a class='comment-link' href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2017/09/elections-2017-so-you-say-you-want.html#comment-form' onclick=''> 2 comments: </a> </span> <span class='post-icons'> <span class='item-control blog-admin pid-121313707'> <a href='https://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=2932158055298887404&postID=7602582741749069506&from=pencil' title='Edit Post'> <img alt='' class='icon-action' height='18' src='https://resources.blogblog.com/img/icon18_edit_allbkg.gif' width='18'/> </a> </span> </span> <div class='post-share-buttons goog-inline-block'> <a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-email' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=2932158055298887404&postID=7602582741749069506&target=email' target='_blank' title='Email This'><span class='share-button-link-text'>Email This</span></a><a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-blog' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=2932158055298887404&postID=7602582741749069506&target=blog' onclick='window.open(this.href, "_blank", "height=270,width=475"); return false;' target='_blank' title='BlogThis!'><span class='share-button-link-text'>BlogThis!</span></a><a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-twitter' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=2932158055298887404&postID=7602582741749069506&target=twitter' target='_blank' title='Share to X'><span class='share-button-link-text'>Share to X</span></a><a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-facebook' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=2932158055298887404&postID=7602582741749069506&target=facebook' onclick='window.open(this.href, "_blank", "height=430,width=640"); return false;' target='_blank' title='Share to Facebook'><span class='share-button-link-text'>Share to Facebook</span></a><a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-pinterest' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=2932158055298887404&postID=7602582741749069506&target=pinterest' target='_blank' title='Share to Pinterest'><span class='share-button-link-text'>Share to Pinterest</span></a> </div> </div> <div class='post-footer-line post-footer-line-2'> <span class='post-labels'> Labels: <a href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/search/label/Elections%202017' rel='tag'>Elections 2017</a>, <a href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/search/label/NZ%20First' rel='tag'>NZ First</a> </span> </div> <div class='post-footer-line post-footer-line-3'> <span class='post-location'> </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="date-outer"> <h2 class='date-header'><span>Monday, 25 September 2017</span></h2> <div class="date-posts"> <div class='post-outer'> <div class='post hentry uncustomized-post-template' itemprop='blogPost' itemscope='itemscope' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'> <meta content='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfApeXbBIUzYFRMgNirEV7ndYVw5pKWeWE5lQoGpelma-GlsNRqDxAv3GPtFJCMtj37aqK_KL-XRvXMc3gNeHI_Izur2ZRGLXdI-cnJfl-_kmtGEF9T-t6w47saQD7gsjqUgWeUF-XLE/s1600/Domc.jpg' itemprop='image_url'/> <meta content='2932158055298887404' itemprop='blogId'/> <meta content='6693936890472546517' itemprop='postId'/> <a name='6693936890472546517'></a> <h3 class='post-title entry-title' itemprop='name'> <a href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2017/09/got-democracy.html'>Got Democracy?</a> </h3> <div class='post-header'> <div class='post-header-line-1'></div> </div> <div class='post-body entry-content' id='post-body-6693936890472546517' itemprop='articleBody'> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfApeXbBIUzYFRMgNirEV7ndYVw5pKWeWE5lQoGpelma-GlsNRqDxAv3GPtFJCMtj37aqK_KL-XRvXMc3gNeHI_Izur2ZRGLXdI-cnJfl-_kmtGEF9T-t6w47saQD7gsjqUgWeUF-XLE/s1600/Domc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfApeXbBIUzYFRMgNirEV7ndYVw5pKWeWE5lQoGpelma-GlsNRqDxAv3GPtFJCMtj37aqK_KL-XRvXMc3gNeHI_Izur2ZRGLXdI-cnJfl-_kmtGEF9T-t6w47saQD7gsjqUgWeUF-XLE/s1600/Domc.jpg" /></a></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Well we can’t say we did not see it coming.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Yes folks, here we are, again, for the third time in recent memory as we get to play another exciting game of “What does Winston want, and is it worth it to give it to him?”<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> But first the numbers.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> National got the bulk of those who actually bothered to vote (more on that in a moment) while Labour pulled back those previously wayward voters (you know the ones that had voted Green the past few elections) while the Greens only just escaped electoral annihilation and NZ First (despite its reduced vote numbers) ended up where we expected them to be; sitting in position of deciding where NZ will go for the next three years.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> The Maori Party and Mana were obliterated at the ballot box by voters who had tired of their piss-poor antics while Gareth Morgan acted like a spoilt child/very rich man when voters did not flock to his banner of rational populism.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Finally the voters of Epsom confirmed their kinky fetish for David Seymour and ACT by returning him to parliament but probably in opposition.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> And it seems that after such a democratic process as this election was (because we don’t have easily manipulated electronic voting machines or people dropping off pre-stuffed ballot boxes at polling places) that now having to wait while a single individual decides the outcome for us is extremely undemocratic.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> One question on people minds is "what will his price be and will it be worth it because the last two governments which did a deal with the devil got exactly what they bargained for in the end?"<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> With that in mind I am torn between wanting Winston to back National right into the god awful outcome they are going to get as a fourth term government, struggling with a mess of problems of their own making and wanting Winnie to throw in his lot with Labour, usher some change to NZ before the inevitable substance hits the fan.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> In the end the real losers will be both parties because if you’re dependent on a highly capricious third party, with the moral scruples of a predatory fish, to get you into government then you will get burnt no matter what the outcome is. The only winner in this scenario is Winston (and I mean just Winston: not NZ First or any of those who voted for him).<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Of course no power seeking politician in their greed addled mind will give up a shot at the throne so instead of expecting Bill English or Jacinda Ardern to say no to the poisoned chalice we will more likely get to watch them twist, turn and dance like puppets to the dictates of Winston before one of them blinks and the other gets the crown.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> All of this is standard stuff for NZ politics and nothing we have not seen before but what is interesting is that voter turnout only just cracked 78% (up slightly from previous elections) which leaves over 20% of the voting populace too apathetic to vote and has killed dead any idea that there was a generational shift about to take place in NZ politics with some sort of “youth quake” reshaping the political landscape.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> So it seems that Mike Hosking was right all along and for the next few days (or possibly weeks) we get to cool our heels while Winston Peters cuts a deal with either Bill or Jacinda over the future of NZ.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Speculation at this point is invited and the media has already started trying to figure out the puzzle but as I have said before even on the best of days it could still come down to how tight Winston’s pants are or what colour a reporter’s shirt is so there is only so much room for figuring the angles.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Best case scenario has nothing to do with what party he supports but rather how well the damage can be mitigated by which ever party comes after. The next best outcome is he supports Labour because “change” (and because watching Bill English implode as his dreams of PM are cruelly snatched way remain an entertaining prospect) while the least preferred option is another three years of National doing little because Winston has them by the short and curly’s.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> But despite all such manoeuvring only one true question remains.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Is the fact that one fifth of the population not bothering to vote, and by extension handing over the whole outcome to one individual to decide “democracy in action” or something else? Is that populism kiwi-style? </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> I really don't know.<o:p></o:p></div> <div style='clear: both;'></div> </div> <div class='post-footer'> <div class='post-footer-line post-footer-line-1'> <span class='post-author vcard'> Posted by <span class='fn' itemprop='author' itemscope='itemscope' itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'> <meta content='https://www.blogger.com/profile/11041002150165406443' itemprop='url'/> <a class='g-profile' href='https://www.blogger.com/profile/11041002150165406443' rel='author' title='author profile'> <span itemprop='name'>E.A.Blair</span> </a> </span> </span> <span class='post-timestamp'> at <meta content='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2017/09/got-democracy.html' itemprop='url'/> <a class='timestamp-link' href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2017/09/got-democracy.html' rel='bookmark' title='permanent link'><abbr class='published' itemprop='datePublished' title='2017-09-25T10:31:00+14:00'>10:31</abbr></a> </span> <span class='post-comment-link'> <a class='comment-link' href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2017/09/got-democracy.html#comment-form' onclick=''> 13 comments: </a> </span> <span class='post-icons'> <span class='item-control blog-admin pid-121313707'> <a href='https://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=2932158055298887404&postID=6693936890472546517&from=pencil' title='Edit Post'> <img alt='' class='icon-action' height='18' src='https://resources.blogblog.com/img/icon18_edit_allbkg.gif' width='18'/> </a> </span> </span> <div class='post-share-buttons goog-inline-block'> <a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-email' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=2932158055298887404&postID=6693936890472546517&target=email' target='_blank' title='Email This'><span class='share-button-link-text'>Email This</span></a><a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-blog' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=2932158055298887404&postID=6693936890472546517&target=blog' onclick='window.open(this.href, "_blank", "height=270,width=475"); return false;' target='_blank' title='BlogThis!'><span class='share-button-link-text'>BlogThis!</span></a><a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-twitter' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=2932158055298887404&postID=6693936890472546517&target=twitter' target='_blank' title='Share to X'><span class='share-button-link-text'>Share to X</span></a><a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-facebook' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=2932158055298887404&postID=6693936890472546517&target=facebook' onclick='window.open(this.href, "_blank", "height=430,width=640"); return false;' target='_blank' title='Share to Facebook'><span class='share-button-link-text'>Share to Facebook</span></a><a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-pinterest' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=2932158055298887404&postID=6693936890472546517&target=pinterest' target='_blank' title='Share to Pinterest'><span class='share-button-link-text'>Share to Pinterest</span></a> </div> </div> <div class='post-footer-line post-footer-line-2'> <span class='post-labels'> </span> </div> <div class='post-footer-line post-footer-line-3'> <span class='post-location'> </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="date-outer"> <h2 class='date-header'><span>Wednesday, 20 September 2017</span></h2> <div class="date-posts"> <div class='post-outer'> <div class='post hentry uncustomized-post-template' itemprop='blogPost' itemscope='itemscope' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'> <meta content='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmp0qJPl_dsK6EhnjpgTVps7aUKFu6JvXO0Llo7ZoyUnAC-b1msPS55iMq9Zuy-kxZDI3qWnT7QNnQXxfnkGW9KRfwkEB51BOTrzbTavvE-DWm1uV2uPo4ExVvjr3Ba1LL5xLEh-alJEk/s1600/Other+side.jpg' itemprop='image_url'/> <meta content='2932158055298887404' itemprop='blogId'/> <meta content='3200092949059280337' itemprop='postId'/> <a name='3200092949059280337'></a> <h3 class='post-title entry-title' itemprop='name'> <a href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2017/09/elections-2017-see-you-on-other-side.html'>Elections 2017: See you on the other side</a> </h3> <div class='post-header'> <div class='post-header-line-1'></div> </div> <div class='post-body entry-content' id='post-body-3200092949059280337' itemprop='articleBody'> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmp0qJPl_dsK6EhnjpgTVps7aUKFu6JvXO0Llo7ZoyUnAC-b1msPS55iMq9Zuy-kxZDI3qWnT7QNnQXxfnkGW9KRfwkEB51BOTrzbTavvE-DWm1uV2uPo4ExVvjr3Ba1LL5xLEh-alJEk/s1600/Other+side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmp0qJPl_dsK6EhnjpgTVps7aUKFu6JvXO0Llo7ZoyUnAC-b1msPS55iMq9Zuy-kxZDI3qWnT7QNnQXxfnkGW9KRfwkEB51BOTrzbTavvE-DWm1uV2uPo4ExVvjr3Ba1LL5xLEh-alJEk/s1600/Other+side.jpg" /></a>Readers may have noted the lacks of posts here recently which has been because I have a) other things to be doing with my time, and b) there seemed to be nothing left to comment about in regards to the electoral process.</div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> As of today I have been commenting, reading, writing, researching and generally thinking about NZ politics since I started this blog (ironically on September 23 last year) at a near daily level and the only change is that I have, for the third time in my life, come full circle and realised how loathsome and degrading politics really is.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Yes that’s right, not one, two, but three times I have now come back to the inevitable conclusion, towering above me like some dark monolith, that politics is a wretched soul destroying pursuit which delivers minimal outcomes for maximum pain.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> The signs were all there for those who do read this blog to see and for me the heady rush of politics soon degraded into something akin to bitter cynicism which needed to be stomped out rapidly and without mercy lest it infect the rest of me.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> But to cut a long story short the end came quickly when I watched Steven Joyce lying his heart out and caring not a damn that all and sundry knew he was a dirty little doggie that had been caught soiling the rug.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> That said this is not to ascribe some saintly virtue to any other party or politician this electoral cycle because all have been behaving just as expected by making promises they are unlikely to keep or acting just so in order to get votes.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> And I find myself again faced with the rather dark, and bitter, realisation that a much younger self had in 1996 when I voted for the first time almost instantly regretted it. Long story short I voted for Winston on the basis of his promises to remove national and felt like a heart broken lover when he sidled up with National post-election.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> But this is not all negative as I have had plans to wrench the content of this blog away from the increasingly narrow focus it had developed on NZ politics and more accurately NZ politicians and political parties, and it took getting to this state to motivate me to do it.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> So apart from some post-election coverage readers will notice a shift in content on this blog as I return to some of the wider topics I covered when I was over at Kiwipolitico and here on this blog.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> There are plenty of great blogs out there doing NZ politics and by simply focusing on just that I was painting myself into a niche I was never happy, or comfortable, being in.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> So after this Saturday I will be returning to some of the things I have been wanting to do and will be putting NZ politics on the backburner until something significant of note happens.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> In post terms this means more posts about places in the world that interest me (and those requested by readers); more posts dealing with issues facing our society (both NZ and the wider world) and more material which is less about politics and more about anything else I am wanting to write about (history, culture, military affairs, art and perhaps even some of my fiction). Who knows I may even find time to review a book or film from time to time.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> I am not sure if readers will like this change but at the end of the day I blog as an outlet for me rather than for other people but I do enjoy it if others do get something from my oft demented output.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> So good luck space-monkeys, see you next week and don’t forget to vote (whoever it is for).<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> E.A.Blair</div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> PS – No post about Gareth Morgan and TOP will be posted pre-election (even though it has been written) as there was just not enough of substance in a political party that is less than a year old to do anything with so that post has been shelved until after election day when we can see what kind of future the party has. <o:p></o:p></div> <div style='clear: both;'></div> </div> <div class='post-footer'> <div class='post-footer-line post-footer-line-1'> <span class='post-author vcard'> Posted by <span class='fn' itemprop='author' itemscope='itemscope' itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'> <meta content='https://www.blogger.com/profile/11041002150165406443' itemprop='url'/> <a class='g-profile' href='https://www.blogger.com/profile/11041002150165406443' rel='author' title='author profile'> <span itemprop='name'>E.A.Blair</span> </a> </span> </span> <span class='post-timestamp'> at <meta content='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2017/09/elections-2017-see-you-on-other-side.html' itemprop='url'/> <a class='timestamp-link' href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2017/09/elections-2017-see-you-on-other-side.html' rel='bookmark' title='permanent link'><abbr class='published' itemprop='datePublished' title='2017-09-20T15:58:00+14:00'>15:58</abbr></a> </span> <span class='post-comment-link'> <a class='comment-link' href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2017/09/elections-2017-see-you-on-other-side.html#comment-form' onclick=''> 19 comments: </a> </span> <span class='post-icons'> <span class='item-control blog-admin pid-121313707'> <a href='https://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=2932158055298887404&postID=3200092949059280337&from=pencil' title='Edit Post'> <img alt='' class='icon-action' height='18' src='https://resources.blogblog.com/img/icon18_edit_allbkg.gif' width='18'/> </a> </span> </span> <div class='post-share-buttons goog-inline-block'> <a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-email' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=2932158055298887404&postID=3200092949059280337&target=email' target='_blank' title='Email This'><span class='share-button-link-text'>Email This</span></a><a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-blog' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=2932158055298887404&postID=3200092949059280337&target=blog' onclick='window.open(this.href, "_blank", "height=270,width=475"); return false;' target='_blank' title='BlogThis!'><span class='share-button-link-text'>BlogThis!</span></a><a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-twitter' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=2932158055298887404&postID=3200092949059280337&target=twitter' target='_blank' title='Share to X'><span class='share-button-link-text'>Share to X</span></a><a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-facebook' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=2932158055298887404&postID=3200092949059280337&target=facebook' onclick='window.open(this.href, "_blank", "height=430,width=640"); return false;' target='_blank' title='Share to Facebook'><span class='share-button-link-text'>Share to Facebook</span></a><a class='goog-inline-block share-button sb-pinterest' href='https://www.blogger.com/share-post.g?blogID=2932158055298887404&postID=3200092949059280337&target=pinterest' target='_blank' title='Share to Pinterest'><span class='share-button-link-text'>Share to Pinterest</span></a> </div> </div> <div class='post-footer-line post-footer-line-2'> <span class='post-labels'> Labels: <a href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/search/label/Elections%202017' rel='tag'>Elections 2017</a> </span> </div> <div class='post-footer-line post-footer-line-3'> <span class='post-location'> </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="date-outer"> <h2 class='date-header'><span>Monday, 4 September 2017</span></h2> <div class="date-posts"> <div class='post-outer'> <div class='post hentry uncustomized-post-template' itemprop='blogPost' itemscope='itemscope' itemtype='http://schema.org/BlogPosting'> <meta content='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1eLxkXVgqVdUzAV6S1mvF8JXRzXHRBSFNLiwx8sL9G1ArKxIErjb1kj0PwrKE9qrBBMMY4dtoanlyL2OfZbFzT5ru03UX1G3G-HYA62-1JKt4Ges_hjKw-Ge-PKtfMR5FCA2Q7NoHHW8/s320/daf.jpg' itemprop='image_url'/> <meta content='2932158055298887404' itemprop='blogId'/> <meta content='8907466944654025629' itemprop='postId'/> <a name='8907466944654025629'></a> <h3 class='post-title entry-title' itemprop='name'> <a href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2017/09/elections-2017-daffodils-of-change.html'>Elections 2017: The daffodils of change</a> </h3> <div class='post-header'> <div class='post-header-line-1'></div> </div> <div class='post-body entry-content' id='post-body-8907466944654025629' itemprop='articleBody'> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1eLxkXVgqVdUzAV6S1mvF8JXRzXHRBSFNLiwx8sL9G1ArKxIErjb1kj0PwrKE9qrBBMMY4dtoanlyL2OfZbFzT5ru03UX1G3G-HYA62-1JKt4Ges_hjKw-Ge-PKtfMR5FCA2Q7NoHHW8/s1600/daf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="419" data-original-width="630" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1eLxkXVgqVdUzAV6S1mvF8JXRzXHRBSFNLiwx8sL9G1ArKxIErjb1kj0PwrKE9qrBBMMY4dtoanlyL2OfZbFzT5ru03UX1G3G-HYA62-1JKt4Ges_hjKw-Ge-PKtfMR5FCA2Q7NoHHW8/s320/daf.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <i>If this election has been my medicine then I am now off my meds.</i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> There are three weeks still to go before this election is “officially” over but for me it ended this morning when I saw daffodils in Hagley Park.</div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> “Daffodils?” You ask (somewhat puzzled). “Yes, daffodils” I reply.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Daffodils: a quintessential symbol of spring, a whole gaggle of daffodils shooting forth from the grass along the river bank and under the trees. Daffodils: signalling the end of the cold damp winter and heralding the eventual return of warmer, balmy summer days.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> See where this metaphor is going?<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Spring is in the air, yes we have had a few showers now and then but there is a definite warming and I no longer find my cat hidden under my duvet, looking at me with indignant eyes that say “do you mind, your letting the heat out”*.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Of course spring does not mean summer just yet but it’s those little barometers of nature which know better than the weatherman which way things are going. <o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> And it was in that unguarded moment when I saw those daffodils that its image struck straight through the crust of the conscious mind in into the deep depths of my subconscious, when I realised that even with three weeks to go this election was over. <o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> It’s over, dear reader, not because the calendar says it’s so, not because the polls say it’s so (although they are looking rather daffodil-like at this time) and not because the politicians say it’s so but because the daffodils say it is so.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> But before I announce the winner let us consider the losers first.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <b><u>ACT <o:p></o:p></u></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> To say that David Seymour and ACT have been irrelevant this election is completely incorrect as David has been politically irrelevant since the day he got gifted his seat in the house and the party has been irrelevant since the mid-2000s.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Nothing he or the party does has any meaning or bearing on the political landscape of NZ and they know it. <o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> I don’t even consider them when I look at poll results and apart from a few obligatory pieces I see in the media, written to give the illusion of “equal coverage”, there is nothing he can say or do that will prevent him and the party from being identified as a bunch of misguided zealots with the same dangerous and outdated ideas that got NZ into this mess in the first place.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Also with the numbers looking close there might not even be the safety of National standing aside in Epsom to get him back into parliament as ACT poll so far below the margin of error that its clear they exists only by the grace of National.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> So ACT gets a giant L for “looser” stamped on its hand and we can consign them to the dustbin of history.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <b><u>MAORI/MANA </u></b><o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> For a while the alliance of the Maori Party and Mana seemed like a good idea as its avoided splitting any potential votes and pooled resources for the coming campaign. <o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> However Tuku Morgan’s plan to use Labour as whipping boy for all of the their ill fortune only worked somewhat even when Andrew Little was still leading Labour, as even then their polling still never climbed above 2%, but took a complete nose dive when Jacinda Ardern took over.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> The Maori Party irrepably soiled its name when it hitched its waka to National for one season too many and even the recent comments by Marama Fox that they would be willing to work Labour are not going to help it get back all those Maori seats Labour holds.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> If National is gone in government then so too will the Maori party be gone. They might retain their current seat or even pull back a seat or two from Labour (although I have yet to see anything which indicates that) but there will be no seat at the cabinet table for them in a Labour government after both the Party and the Maori King (at the urging of Tuku) decided to denounce Labour in no uncertain terms.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Gone by Monday the 25<sup>th</sup> of September.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <b><u>GREENS</u></b><o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> There is not much left to say about the sad and sorry saga that has been the Green party in the last 12 months so I will simply summarize here by saying that James Shaw ran an unsuccessful internal coup on the party to seize control which tore the party apart and destroyed the Green brand as the only principled party in NZ politics.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Shaw now gets to be leader in all but name (as he is still calling himself “co-leader” but he is fooling nobody) but he is the leader of a party that had a 15% poll rating only two months ago and is now hovering around the 5% threshold like a soap bubble circling the drain.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Probably worst of all is that Shaw might survive this election but under his leadership the party is doomed to be seen as nothing more than a bunch of Champagne environmentalists playing at politics rather than a genuine political party.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Back to the compost heap.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <b><u>NZ FIRST</u></b><o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Wait, what?<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Oh yes, NZ First faithful, even Winston is going to lose this election because despite being the potential “kingmaker” again this election it’s clear that his mojo aint what it used to be and the recent slip in the polls show the party also hovering only slightly higher than the Greens at the 5% threshold.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> But what about Winston power to anoint the new PM I hear you cry?<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> So what? Winston gets to choose the king but he will never get to be the king and that’s what he wants. Also this election will be Winston’s last tilt at the windmill and in order to secure his legacy in NZ politics he has to avoid making the ruinous choices he made in 1996 and 2005 when he backed the wrong horse and saw him being cursed rather than heaped in hosannas. <o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> This election Winston has to make the right choice and while he is not in the looser category like ACT, the GREENS or MAORI/MANA at best he gets to redeem himself rather than reap the rewards that this election could have brought.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> It’s not his polling or his cruddy party members that put him in this bracket but the simple fact that when he goes NZ First goes also and that for a man on whose shoulders so much has rested he has twice made the wrong choice for New Zealand (ie the job of a MP) in order to benefit himself in the short term.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> So this September, when Labour and National come calling, Winnie has only one choice but to support the winner (see who that is below) or be consigned to the same dustbin that Peter Dunne and United Future went into (slightly different to the dustbin that ACT is going into) as a malingering political mercenary who never lived up to the promise he had.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> If he does not his legacy will be similar to many of his fellow MPs (think how people like John Banks and Gerry Brownlee are viewed) and that is not what he wants, deep down Winston wants to be loved.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> And now we come to our runner up, drum roll please…<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <b><u>NATIONAL</u></b><o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Sorry readers from Kiwiblog, I know a few of you over there really dig Bill & Co but it’s time to accept that has not been a good year for National or their political fortunes.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Ever since John Key left, National has been forced to get by on its own means without the gigantic crutch that Key’s popularity was for them and its shown.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Little that Bill and the B Team have done in the last 10 months has resonated with the electorate or helped stave off the ravenous monster that Jacindamania has been. <o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> What’s worse is that had Andrew Little stayed leader of Labour it was almost a given that Bill would get to be PM and see National into a fourth term. What stings even more is that they (and Key) knew this and they did everything they could to keep Little in play rather than let Jacinda get to be leader in what I can only call “the Jacinda Ardern anti-coup plan”.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> To give them their due they nearly pulled it off and possibly would have if for a few small “details” that they forgot to consider.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> The first is that by being the current government in power they don’t get to harness any of the populist energy that is going around at this time (they lost that when Key jumped ship). <o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> The second is despite Labour being the party that let the free-market beast that is neo-liberalism into NZ, National has been forever identified as the party that still supports its cruel tenants even while the its noxious after effects such as the housing hernia, failing education and health systems and dirty water sicken the nation further.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> The third is that National is a third term government which has long since spent the mandate given to it in 2008 and was previously holding on only due to its claim to be a “steady pair of hands” when the opposition seemed about as capable of running the nation as the pissed inebriants of a hens night or stag party. With Jacinda and Labour on the rise that argument is swept away in the effervescing fervour that they are riding.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Even the usual election lolly scramble promises of money for this or money for that have only managed to slow the tide and for most people it’s either too little too late or an obvious election bribe with no reality behind it were National to get back into power.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Thus for Bill English he gets to be the man who led the party to electoral defeat twice and if this does not end his political career I don’t know what will.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> If there is a saving grace for National it is that hopefully being out of government will allow many of the deadwood MPs that currently infect the party (such as Collins, Brownlee, Smith, Tolley, Bennet et al) to slither gracefully into the night and allow a new generation of younger, and less corrupted, MPs to take over and revitalise the party.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> The origins of National come from 1935 and the failure of the Liberal and Reform parties (the forerunners of National), as the then government to manage the great depression and the nation (which also saw the election of the first Labour Government under Michael Joseph Savage) and it’s this fate which National either has to embrace, by reforming itself or face the same fate as those parties (National did not return to government until 1949).<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> The lesson here is obvious. National in opposition can take the time to tap into the mood of the nation, figure out a less toxic set of principles to guide their policy and rebuild the party brand after it was hollowed out by the skeezy antics of John Key and debased by the rest of its MPs in their never ending quest to hold power for its own sake rather than to serve the national interest.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> I have never born any ill will towards the National party itself, only its MPs and brain trust and I remain a political pragmatist (rather than a tribalist) who votes where the best outcome for NZ (not myself) lies and who knows, if National can get rid of that lice ridden free-market security blanket that its forever clutching (while its sucks its political thumb) I might someday consider voting for it.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <b><u>WINNER - LABOUR</u></b><o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> So yes, Labour for the win, and I am not even a Labour supporter nor will I be voting for them this year BUT it’s impossible to deny the energy that Jacinda Ardern has generated as party leader and the effect that has had on party fortunes.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Fact: Labour still does not have a policy pot to piss in BUT Jacinda.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Fact: there are still deadwood MPs in the party which need to be ruthlessly pruned before the party can grow again BUT Jacinda!<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Fact: Labour needs to live up the promise of change (ala the spirit of Norman Kirk and 1972) that is currently driving the mood of the electorate BUT Jacinda!!<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Jacindamania might not be affecting everyone (as I write this a Nicky Wagner party van drives past my window) but after nine years of National the mood of the natives of NZ (ie that’s all Kiwis) is restive and you only have to look at the polling to see what’s coming.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Labour is not “trending up” when you look at the poll charts but shooting up like a bottle rocket. Sure there is a ceiling to that rapid climb but Labour is no longer cannibalizing vote share from the Greens but now it’s capturing it from NZ First and National (as per the latest polling numbers) which means that Labour has rebuilt its voter base and is now looking over the fence at Nationals (and NZ First’s) verdant pastures.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> To be sure the insane popularity of Ardern and the party is being driven by the appetite for change that populism (and nine years of National) has created and thereby turned Labour from moribund political entity to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsX0VHMw_Z8" target="_blank">dynamic avatar for political change</a> and that if not willing (or able) to effect that change they will hit the <a href="https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.co.nz/2017/08/elections-2017-how-to-avoid-post.html" target="_blank">post-election slump</a> like all those other avatars which thought getting elected was all they had to do (Trump, Macron, Trudeau, May ect).<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Even if the nightmare scenario occurs and National gets back in (either by itself or supported by Winston or the Greens) then it still wins in the same manner as Jeremy Corbyn did in the UK by retaining its avatar status while the Tory party (both UK and NZ) dissolves into a steaming miasma of low poll results, infighting and crisis mismanagement.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Then come the next election labour can swoop in and pick over the carcass of National (and sadly the nation) any time it wants because the mood in NZ after three more years of the Bill and Bennet show (reduced human right anyone?) will be just this side to the left of Smiths Dream.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Even if Labour 2017 only serves one term like Labour in 1972 (due to the death of Norman Kirk) there is still a lot of good things Labour can do in those three years (like Labour did between 1972 and 1975 to re-orientate NZ with the world, strengthen state housing and ACC).<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> And for a moment let’s just address the elephant in the room which is the popularity of Jacinda Ardern. <o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> It’s not, as some have so bitterly described it, as “lipstick on a pig” or a temporary thing but like John Key (who acknowledged recently how popular she is) something which, in itself, might not supplement for bad policy (as Key’s did not for National) but it could carry the party through three terms as government which might be as far as the party is looking at this time.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Also Ardern’s popularity will not save her should Labour fail to follow through on what’s needed for NZ but that’s not on voters’ minds at this time. <o:p></o:p><br /> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Whats on their minds at this time is CHANGE, some change, any change. Something has to give and for that to happen all those hopes and dreams are being invested in Jacinda to make that change as the avatar for said change.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> And that’s where the daffodils come in because after the long winter of discontent that has been the current National government, Jacinda (and by proxy Labour) are the daffodils of change poking through the cold soil and reaching up for the warm bright future above.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <b><u>SUMMARY</u></b><o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> I am willing to admit that I do not have a time machine (yet) nor is what I write 100% guaranteed but at this time I am 95% certain that this is the outcome as instead of my usual rigorous analysis I am going on gut instinct and wild inspiration, which at this time is seems to be the right way to deal with the stultifying deadlock that the capricious nature of Winston Peters and FukYoo Politix has inflicted on this election.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> In a situation where no choice is clear it is better to make one’s own fate and cut through the Gordian knot that this election has become.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Do you think its wishful thinking on my part? <o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> Let’s see come September the 24<sup>th</sup>.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> <br /></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"> *-Now I just find it on top of the duvet, looking at me with eyes that say “one word: plastics”.<o:p></o:p></div> <div style='clear: both;'></div> </div> <div class='post-footer'> <div class='post-footer-line post-footer-line-1'> <span class='post-author vcard'> Posted by <span class='fn' itemprop='author' itemscope='itemscope' itemtype='http://schema.org/Person'> <meta content='https://www.blogger.com/profile/11041002150165406443' itemprop='url'/> <a class='g-profile' href='https://www.blogger.com/profile/11041002150165406443' rel='author' title='author profile'> <span itemprop='name'>E.A.Blair</span> </a> </span> </span> <span class='post-timestamp'> at <meta content='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2017/09/elections-2017-daffodils-of-change.html' itemprop='url'/> <a class='timestamp-link' href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2017/09/elections-2017-daffodils-of-change.html' rel='bookmark' title='permanent link'><abbr class='published' itemprop='datePublished' title='2017-09-04T13:56:00+14:00'>13:56</abbr></a> </span> <span class='post-comment-link'> <a class='comment-link' href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2017/09/elections-2017-daffodils-of-change.html#comment-form' onclick=''> 29 comments: </a> </span> <span class='post-icons'> <span class='item-control blog-admin pid-121313707'> <a href='https://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=2932158055298887404&postID=8907466944654025629&from=pencil' title='Edit Post'> <img alt='' class='icon-action' height='18' src='https://resources.blogblog.com/img/icon18_edit_allbkg.gif' width='18'/> </a> </span> </span> <div 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Twitter?</h2> <div class='widget-content'> <a class="twitter-timeline" href="https://twitter.com/EABlair6?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">Tweets by EABlair6</a> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div> <div class='clear'></div> </div><div class='widget PopularPosts' data-version='1' id='PopularPosts1'> <h2>Popular Posts</h2> <div class='widget-content popular-posts'> <ul> <li> <div class='item-thumbnail-only'> <div class='item-thumbnail'> <a href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2019/05/why-i-am-retiring-from-political.html' target='_blank'> <img alt='' border='0' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEfKhTLUouuQW1haLFK8rST87F0Coc650b4WTTJs8Df3ULsG-GuPWoWNNETxQUPX78-gpeEs5KamOtO3Gu8HiroHO_L0jPSO2EZXhjkfKbKDV_h8nEEfAVLU3kY5xZKFSBRDUHFth3n_4/w72-h72-p-k-no-nu/proxy.duckduckgo.com.png'/> </a> </div> <div class='item-title'><a href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2019/05/why-i-am-retiring-from-political.html'>Why I am retiring from political blogging</a></div> </div> <div style='clear: both;'></div> </li> <li> <div class='item-thumbnail-only'> <div class='item-thumbnail'> <a href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2017/09/elections-2017-daffodils-of-change.html' target='_blank'> <img alt='' border='0' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1eLxkXVgqVdUzAV6S1mvF8JXRzXHRBSFNLiwx8sL9G1ArKxIErjb1kj0PwrKE9qrBBMMY4dtoanlyL2OfZbFzT5ru03UX1G3G-HYA62-1JKt4Ges_hjKw-Ge-PKtfMR5FCA2Q7NoHHW8/w72-h72-p-k-no-nu/daf.jpg'/> </a> </div> <div class='item-title'><a href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2017/09/elections-2017-daffodils-of-change.html'>Elections 2017: The daffodils of change</a></div> </div> <div style='clear: both;'></div> </li> <li> <div class='item-thumbnail-only'> <div class='item-thumbnail'> <a href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2018/01/new-zealand-politics-2017-change-is-as.html' target='_blank'> <img alt='' border='0' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2lIEiMMSfBls2N1s29yQxCbpGhTNq_dHHnkS70irmAdOytK6mx-qMhrm8IbMkhr27KnOpZtv_erSQrfET9OA1U1M-72CwsaEM8QlBRSUjSkkJlZTqUes24CLwHlV1RdGf5-dOUs67CmY/w72-h72-p-k-no-nu/202853-677x450-whitelaundry.jpg'/> </a> </div> <div class='item-title'><a href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2018/01/new-zealand-politics-2017-change-is-as.html'>New Zealand Politics 2017: A change is as good as a revolution</a></div> </div> <div style='clear: both;'></div> </li> <li> <div class='item-thumbnail-only'> <div class='item-thumbnail'> <a href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2017/04/dont-kid-yourself-jerry-its-demotion.html' target='_blank'> <img alt='' border='0' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8NfoIGbD934TLoesiWLgOHB6o7YBAxDdMNUey0dt19uJfeUUNsPK0Flltgj44b3x_axyFHYAQ8s935cU4nxr9ih7-HdJSV2MAktQaGu61dBmteE4QsqorUju6eIJvkif5O6zm16jQ6YM/w72-h72-p-k-no-nu/blimp.jpg'/> </a> </div> <div class='item-title'><a href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2017/04/dont-kid-yourself-jerry-its-demotion.html'>Don't kid yourself Gerry, its a demotion not a promotion!</a></div> </div> <div style='clear: both;'></div> </li> <li> <div class='item-thumbnail-only'> <div class='item-thumbnail'> <a href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2017/08/elections-2017-how-to-avoid-post.html' target='_blank'> <img alt='' border='0' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsXwX3CSUeGHLPoBLQyl2Dgb_VH_Ire0GkIlcKjuSxv2K82Y9m0hv_NEVjmpS06nOg6TuolG4dltv8dw5waTGlpA4JoPel0VMvfsu13E9fqzDZZse2JhLBGt5bai5_ce1kryr2N3MFZr4/w72-h72-p-k-no-nu/slump.jpg'/> </a> </div> <div class='item-title'><a href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2017/08/elections-2017-how-to-avoid-post.html'>Elections 2017: How to avoid the post-election slump</a></div> </div> <div style='clear: both;'></div> </li> <li> <div class='item-thumbnail-only'> <div class='item-thumbnail'> <a href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2017/08/elections-2017-political-billboards.html' target='_blank'> <img alt='' border='0' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjitIplfNjCLkP7zcOa1ZvD6BAJlFTU2VAVYIpZFgOBVv7mv7WV63QFccf1_IpOjBTh-e2Wj3UYm6IgeYLsmND19jv43LtqbF9wNca2D4XKYpweiKAsciY4brpL4Uum5drUgrxgIm5kq-A/w72-h72-p-k-no-nu/billboards.jpg'/> </a> </div> <div class='item-title'><a href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2017/08/elections-2017-political-billboards.html'>Elections 2017: Political Billboards - The good, the bad BUT mostly the fugly!</a></div> </div> <div style='clear: both;'></div> </li> <li> <div class='item-thumbnail-only'> <div class='item-thumbnail'> <a href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2018/10/dead-party-walking.html' target='_blank'> <img alt='' border='0' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsgMo4oQblH1IM4WYGH876Y9p5ibzw9V8C5OJ9kbt_UER3VfFgnnwDgYTH6eRB5PqRHr480MHU5k6kqnGcLwhhw6Hm2HS6RhZIghd5XsQOvbaePFqKv537G5vUWA7ZKirCp6uyMCNKKos/w72-h72-p-k-no-nu/Don-t-Open-the-walking-dead-30308284-500-280.jpg'/> </a> </div> <div class='item-title'><a href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2018/10/dead-party-walking.html'>Dead Party Walking</a></div> </div> <div style='clear: both;'></div> </li> <li> <div class='item-thumbnail-only'> <div class='item-thumbnail'> <a href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2017/09/elections-2017-see-you-on-other-side.html' target='_blank'> <img alt='' border='0' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmp0qJPl_dsK6EhnjpgTVps7aUKFu6JvXO0Llo7ZoyUnAC-b1msPS55iMq9Zuy-kxZDI3qWnT7QNnQXxfnkGW9KRfwkEB51BOTrzbTavvE-DWm1uV2uPo4ExVvjr3Ba1LL5xLEh-alJEk/w72-h72-p-k-no-nu/Other+side.jpg'/> </a> </div> <div class='item-title'><a href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2017/09/elections-2017-see-you-on-other-side.html'>Elections 2017: See you on the other side</a></div> </div> <div style='clear: both;'></div> </li> <li> <div class='item-thumbnail-only'> <div class='item-thumbnail'> <a href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2017/07/the-partys-over-greens-vs-winston.html' target='_blank'> <img alt='' border='0' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDSeeGm5A_JMkmB5cvGalrldn8kHJ2Z0jxcJgFneKlIt-H6dqRwLbeolyMl9AzLINLikPPuh5AN3aeoZIPgfDzGiHdZV3-Op_6fQhJhrUZe_-s4v20_xn5yHo3_TcPlkpHuyNv1C1PtLY/w72-h72-p-k-no-nu/party.jpg'/> </a> </div> <div class='item-title'><a href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2017/07/the-partys-over-greens-vs-winston.html'>The Party’s over: Greens vs Winston</a></div> </div> <div style='clear: both;'></div> </li> <li> <div class='item-thumbnail-only'> <div class='item-thumbnail'> <a href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2018/01/and-now-few-words-from-new-spokesperson.html' target='_blank'> <img alt='' border='0' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkvqxRBSncL4oFiekv_zFGTxxaLqvxFeJPzDVEi0SH9DQIV4lp3k-txg7AUipYVq_Jb6EuEEBXc-PTsR82wgv1kh-OC49quftMUkcTDFEY-LjUHM7YKKLIPGRXsNnlMUUGQh2vIIpWCIM/w72-h72-p-k-no-nu/stephen-king-it_pennywise_5_tim-curry_clown.jpg'/> </a> </div> <div class='item-title'><a href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2018/01/and-now-few-words-from-new-spokesperson.html'>And now, a few words from the new spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy and McDonalds: Bill English</a></div> </div> <div style='clear: both;'></div> </li> </ul> <div class='clear'></div> </div> </div><div class='widget BlogList' data-version='1' id='BlogList2'> <h2 class='title'>Blogs List</h2> <div class='widget-content'> <div class='blog-list-container' id='BlogList2_container'> <ul id='BlogList2_blogs'> <li style='display: block;'> <div class='blog-icon'> <img data-lateloadsrc='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uRP1J0E6e8Yhq89mPlRcs0azNjMgX4UfXuWrWxkuORnDDhb0Ct6sjQz3yl6fyt_V0cluj8xyXQgtVAOcRxhJDapdOBXc4KrE9LoiLxAIs=s16-w16-h16' height='16' width='16'/> </div> <div class='blog-content'> <div class='blog-title'> <a href='http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/' target='_blank'> Bowalley Road</a> </div> <div class='item-content'> <span class='item-snippet'> *Record Numbers: The H墨koi m艒 te Tiriti, which began at the tip of the North, and the tail of the South, on 11 November, culminated outside Parliament on ... </span> </div> </div> <div style='clear: both;'></div> </li> <li style='display: block;'> <div class='blog-icon'> <img data-lateloadsrc='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tV4fp-Atq--GUhdJHg4eQAZKMzhgdHwKVgU_vlvq9irskISnSXSYRubwJviWdtKXtMrYuWp4P5gMjrQeUHXf_noOEIXdQMyeHtxtpTA98=s16-w16-h16' height='16' width='16'/> </div> <div class='blog-content'> <div class='blog-title'> <a href='https://brianedwardsmedia.co.nz' target='_blank'> Brian Edwards Media</a> </div> <div class='item-content'> <span class='item-snippet'> The web design aspect of an online business is crucial. A website must be user-friendly, attractive […] </span> </div> </div> <div style='clear: both;'></div> </li> <li style='display: block;'> <div class='blog-icon'> <img data-lateloadsrc='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vbdfN7XwqbT48dDlqoqkb4aokEmLH-11F_lMMv3y8NPowuHbnXWM2HCkecjG97evULNvadh471GMHOUpbdmnzgWJ0N78mSxB6rSmfW=s16-w16-h16' height='16' width='16'/> </div> <div class='blog-content'> <div class='blog-title'> <a href='https://croakingcassandra.com' target='_blank'> croaking cassandra</a> </div> <div class='item-content'> <span class='item-snippet'> Apologies for nothing much recently on New Zealand macroeconomics and related topics. My spare time is pretty much consumed at present with my Bank of Papu... </span> </div> </div> <div style='clear: both;'></div> </li> <li style='display: block;'> <div class='blog-icon'> <img data-lateloadsrc='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sl9cA5XfwSzUT82qfpc9P_F8TcwZCACoUeTVkc8K9FdZjWu0vrrjCXacRvPS1PTBV6IYs6VBw_p6x0X122Jtbl6kk3re0hivbE=s16-w16-h16' height='16' width='16'/> </div> <div class='blog-content'> <div class='blog-title'> <a href='https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz' target='_blank'> Kiwiblog</a> </div> <div class='item-content'> <span class='item-snippet'> My great friend Nikki has died. It was inevitable since that diagnosis in 2016 that she had incurable breast cancer, . But that doesn’t make it less pain... </span> </div> </div> <div style='clear: both;'></div> </li> <li style='display: block;'> <div class='blog-icon'> <img data-lateloadsrc='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_t3RaPCkH_dc0iFWn76PC1Bo45zxXClJK3RMte-zzOvh7ZWh0dp5RCduOEm2fsnSipjSvPwGwSX-rFTIFCyzUk7-BY72Kzry-eYqw=s16-w16-h16' height='16' width='16'/> </div> <div class='blog-content'> <div class='blog-title'> <a href='https://www.kiwipolitico.com' target='_blank'> Kiwipolitico</a> </div> <div class='item-content'> <span class='item-snippet'> The latest “A View from Afar” with Selwyn Manning and I follows the lines drawn in my most recent post here at KP. Because the podcast is basically a dialo... </span> </div> </div> <div style='clear: both;'></div> </li> <li style='display: block;'> <div class='blog-icon'> <img data-lateloadsrc='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uPjVb0gwz28nOCHaPHWCNW21uMFB7v5_hOrHLAhtPsJoqyUYWS14sfGvJM6SwKAuz79DslUDyf3eB4OhcrNEyvSiTkX_m3xde_01YTPlE=s16-w16-h16' height='16' width='16'/> </div> <div class='blog-content'> <div class='blog-title'> <a href='http://norightturn.blogspot.com/' target='_blank'> No Right Turn</a> </div> <div class='item-content'> <span class='item-snippet'> The racist piece of shit government is a year old this week, so there's a bunch of retorspectives and looking forwards and so on. Today it was Rimmer's tur... </span> </div> </div> <div style='clear: both;'></div> </li> <li style='display: block;'> <div class='blog-icon'> <img data-lateloadsrc='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vtjttg4cziKpujofpVVDTNJLXXNSEWr_nqYijk3mEzFDLIpwf49X9g9IbpJO25ku-6uFvGGKn3h8NL1jQtggP0Bf8=s16-w16-h16' height='16' width='16'/> </div> <div class='blog-content'> <div class='blog-title'> <a href='https://pundit.co.nz' target='_blank'> Pundit</a> </div> <div class='item-content'> <span class='item-snippet'> My idealistic position on the role of MPs was articulated by Edmund Burke: ‘Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; a... </span> </div> </div> <div style='clear: both;'></div> </li> <li style='display: block;'> <div class='blog-icon'> <img data-lateloadsrc='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_snlzzZlM18urmmejQoDaaaLwp8-Fsif8SyJqeGATPrGgur50Zv3B2h7k3hieMl6LXV99XlHCpaU5Ou9mJe1Gd_cHEq9pJPN08R=s16-w16-h16' height='16' width='16'/> </div> <div class='blog-content'> <div class='blog-title'> <a href='https://thedailyblog.co.nz' target='_blank'> The Daily Blog</a> </div> <div class='item-content'> <span class='item-snippet'> Puberty blockers to be prescribed more cautiously in New Zealand after review Doctors will be told to show caution in prescribing puberty blockers in New Z... </span> </div> </div> <div style='clear: both;'></div> </li> <li style='display: block;'> <div class='blog-icon'> <img data-lateloadsrc='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_utGe-AK_lWf3-vLOZHKXlWULjiIQJCU9F8nOCq62ikJmJZJAbAssQWu89aPZCDVM6d2lIGlyVE3cx_yhY2nXoa-GYtgQ=s16-w16-h16' height='16' width='16'/> </div> <div class='blog-content'> <div class='blog-title'> <a href='http://werewolf.co.nz' target='_blank'> werewolf</a> </div> <div class='item-content'> <span class='item-snippet'> Israel seems on the brink of achieving the war with Iran that Benjamin Netanyahu has been trying all year to provoke. Until now, Iran had [...] </span> </div> </div> <div style='clear: both;'></div> </li> <li style='display: block;'> <div class='blog-icon'> <img data-lateloadsrc='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tObJXFOzSJpMAoDdx9pC8WaXQxQ5yUX1ZfZA-2ZKgQ2jtOxHUituuKVV-bUDD95BSNnziDknvQ38-SHgwlloAenkgj=s16-w16-h16' height='16' width='16'/> </div> <div class='blog-content'> <div class='blog-title'> <a href='https://51.79.246.82/' target='_blank'> Your NZ</a> </div> <div class='item-content'> <span class='item-snippet'> Syair HK, Kode Syair HK 30 Januari 2024, Forum Syair HK 30 Januari 2024, tempatnya sumber informasi mengenai kumpulan Syair HK 30 Januari 2024 dari waktu... </span> </div> </div> <div style='clear: both;'></div> </li> </ul> <div class='clear'></div> </div> </div> </div><div class='widget Label' data-version='1' id='Label1'> <h2>Labels</h2> <div class='widget-content list-label-widget-content'> <ul> <li> <a dir='ltr' 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href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/search/label/US%20Politics'>US Politics</a> </li> </ul> <div class='clear'></div> </div> </div><div class='widget BlogArchive' data-version='1' id='BlogArchive2'> <h2>Archive</h2> <div class='widget-content'> <div id='ArchiveList'> <div id='BlogArchive2_ArchiveList'> <ul class='hierarchy'> <li class='archivedate collapsed'> <a class='toggle' href='javascript:void(0)'> <span class='zippy'> ►  </span> </a> <a class='post-count-link' href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2019/'> 2019 </a> <span class='post-count' dir='ltr'>(9)</span> <ul class='hierarchy'> <li class='archivedate collapsed'> <a class='toggle' href='javascript:void(0)'> <span class='zippy'> ►  </span> </a> <a class='post-count-link' href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2019/05/'> May </a> <span class='post-count' dir='ltr'>(1)</span> </li> </ul> <ul class='hierarchy'> <li class='archivedate collapsed'> <a class='toggle' href='javascript:void(0)'> <span 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href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2018/'> 2018 </a> <span class='post-count' dir='ltr'>(47)</span> <ul class='hierarchy'> <li class='archivedate collapsed'> <a class='toggle' href='javascript:void(0)'> <span class='zippy'> ►  </span> </a> <a class='post-count-link' href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2018/12/'> December </a> <span class='post-count' dir='ltr'>(3)</span> </li> </ul> <ul class='hierarchy'> <li class='archivedate collapsed'> <a class='toggle' href='javascript:void(0)'> <span class='zippy'> ►  </span> </a> <a class='post-count-link' href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2018/11/'> November </a> <span class='post-count' dir='ltr'>(3)</span> </li> </ul> <ul class='hierarchy'> <li class='archivedate collapsed'> <a class='toggle' href='javascript:void(0)'> <span class='zippy'> ►  </span> </a> <a class='post-count-link' href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2018/10/'> October </a> <span class='post-count' dir='ltr'>(5)</span> </li> </ul> <ul class='hierarchy'> <li class='archivedate collapsed'> <a class='toggle' href='javascript:void(0)'> <span class='zippy'> ►  </span> </a> <a class='post-count-link' href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2018/09/'> September </a> <span class='post-count' dir='ltr'>(1)</span> </li> </ul> <ul class='hierarchy'> <li class='archivedate collapsed'> <a class='toggle' href='javascript:void(0)'> <span class='zippy'> ►  </span> </a> <a class='post-count-link' href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2018/08/'> August </a> <span class='post-count' dir='ltr'>(2)</span> </li> </ul> <ul class='hierarchy'> <li class='archivedate collapsed'> <a class='toggle' href='javascript:void(0)'> <span class='zippy'> ►  </span> </a> <a class='post-count-link' href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2018/07/'> July </a> <span class='post-count' dir='ltr'>(6)</span> </li> </ul> <ul class='hierarchy'> <li class='archivedate collapsed'> <a class='toggle' href='javascript:void(0)'> <span class='zippy'> 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class='post-count' dir='ltr'>(1)</span> </li> </ul> <ul class='hierarchy'> <li class='archivedate collapsed'> <a class='toggle' href='javascript:void(0)'> <span class='zippy'> ►  </span> </a> <a class='post-count-link' href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2018/02/'> February </a> <span class='post-count' dir='ltr'>(7)</span> </li> </ul> <ul class='hierarchy'> <li class='archivedate collapsed'> <a class='toggle' href='javascript:void(0)'> <span class='zippy'> ►  </span> </a> <a class='post-count-link' href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2018/01/'> January </a> <span class='post-count' dir='ltr'>(8)</span> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> <ul class='hierarchy'> <li class='archivedate expanded'> <a class='toggle' href='javascript:void(0)'> <span class='zippy toggle-open'> ▼  </span> </a> <a class='post-count-link' href='https://thekiwifirewalker.blogspot.com/2017/'> 2017 </a> <span class='post-count' dir='ltr'>(74)</span> <ul class='hierarchy'> <li class='archivedate collapsed'> 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