The bile from the Jami-Lee Ross affair must be corrosive to the Opposition and its leader.
Chris Carter, Richard Worth, Aaron Gilmore, Pansy Wong and Todd Barclay are all former MPs who skulked off from Parliament in the past decade after falling out with their leader. They disappeared quietly into relative obscurity, but I like to think they are all sitting together over a beer somewhere sniggering and watching Jami-Lee Ross take a can of petrol, pour it over Simon Bridges and then strike a match.
Ross has quit to stand again in a by-election in Botany. It is an act of supreme bravado Winston Peters would be proud of. Actually, come to think of it, Peters did pretty much the same to his leader, Jim Bolger, in 1991. However, Ross may not have the same success as Peters had then.
Ross got 63% of the vote in Botany at the last election. A strong National candidate could take more than half of that vote off him, while Labour’s candidate could improve on the 25% slice its man got last time.
Denne historien er fra October 27 - November 2 2018-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
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Denne historien er fra October 27 - November 2 2018-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
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First-world problem
Harrowing tales of migrants attempting to enter the US highlight the political failure to fully tackle the problem.
Applying intelligence to AI
I call it the 'Terminator Effect', based on the premise that thinking machines took over the world.
Nazism rears its head
Smirky Höcke, with his penchant for waving with a suspiciously straight elbow and an open palm, won't get to be boss of either state.
Staying ahead of the game
Will the brave new world of bipartisanship that seems to be on offer with an Infrastructure Commission come to fruition?
Grasping the nettle
Broccoli is horrible. It smells, when being cooked, like cat pee.
Hangry? Eat breakfast
People who don't break their fast first thing in the morning report the least life satisfaction.
Chemical reaction
Nitrates in processed meats are well known to cause harm, but consumed from plant sources, their effect is quite different.
Me and my guitar
Australian guitarist Karin Schaupp sticks to the familiar for her Dunedin concerts.
Time is on my side
Age does not weary some of our much-loved musicians but what keeps them on the road?
The kids are not alright
Nuanced account details how China's blessed generation has been replaced by one consumed by fear and hopelessness.
