Putting on the style - in Clinton fashion

Could be a coincidence, but we couldn't help noticing that in National's "We've made mistakes" TV campaign, Prime Minister Jenny Shipley strides across a courtyard with her jacket flung casually over her shoulder and held with a hooked forefinger.

We've seen that pose before - when Bill Clinton, in one of Apec's most gracious gestures, walked up the steps of the Auckland Museum with his jacket held that way, thus modelling for the world his stylish, Christchurch-made, black merino polo shirt.

Is this what they call presidential-style campaigning?

Confused? You can't be

The Bewildered People's Party is ... well, bewildered that it is rating around zero in opinion polls.

"We are totally ignored by the media, the pollsters, the general public and even by Richard Prebble," says party leader Tony Steemson. "I don't understand what's going on, as usual."

While not rating his party's chances very high, Mr Steemson is taking heart from the number of sitting MPs likely to be re-elected who are bewildered enough to qualify as members.

"We hope they will join up at the earliest opportunity. We only need half a dozen or so to come over to us, then we'll be able to seize the balance of power immediately after the election and basically take over the Government."

The BPP's "truly wonderful policies"are on line at www.inetcom.co.nz.

Say sorry to the spud

Nandor Tanczos, a member of the Wild Greens group which vandalised a genetically engineered experimental crop in Canterbury, said this week that he would be willing to turn up to a restorative justice conference if the scientists whose work he destroyed attended.

As the Green Party's justice spokesman, Mr Tanczos had just released a policy for restorative justice to make offenders accept responsibility for their crimes, say sorry to their victims and pay restitution.

But what's the margin for error?

Labour leader Helen Clark told Mt Albert senior citizens she had her palm read while visiting the Thai Foreign Minister's office in 1995. The reader said she would be Prime Minister by Christmas - but didn't say which Christmas.

We don't need another look at the palm to tell her it wasn't Christmas 1996.

But I'm famous, dammit

Sports Minister Murray McCully may still have work to do on his public profile. At the end of the lineup to meet the returning All Blacks at Auckland Airport, he was approached by a photographer seeking a better shooting position.

"Do you mind," asked the snapper - not from this publication, we hasten to add - "if I squeeze in beside you here, Maurice?"

Proud of what he's dun

Dun Mihaka, who made a name for himself baring his buttocks to the Queen in the 80s in the traditional insult known as the whakapohane, is pressing his name into the service of his campaign as an independent in Te Tai Tokerau.

The back of his green hatchback bears the legend "Been there, Dun that." Perhaps' United's Peter Dunne could similarly campaign on his record.

As if you were wondering

The large hoardings which say "Hi Helen, Hi Jim, Hi Taxes" in really big letters have no logo to identify whom they are promoting. But, for the record, the "J.J. Grant" whose name appears at the bottom in really small letters is campaign manager for the National Party.