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John Armstrong: Voter turnout a worry for National Party
Not so much your typical party conference; more a group-hug exercise in exorcising evil spirits.
Not so much your typical party conference; more a group-hug exercise in exorcising evil spirits.
Labour's alternative Budget manages somehow to be both cautious and audacious - and is all the better in political terms for being so, writes John Armstrong.
Yesterday the Labour leader had to pick himself up off the floor, writes John Armstrong. David Cunliffe succeeded - just. He had John Key near the ropes if not on them, albeit very briefly.
When it comes to casting aspersions, few insults are as venomous, vicious or more driven by utter contempt than accusing someone of being a "scab", writes John Armstrong.
David Cunliffe is in deep political trouble. So deep that his resignation as Labour's leader may now be very much in order, writes John Armstrong.
So predictable has Winston Peters become in timing his beating of the anti-immigration drum near an election that you can almost set your watch by it, writes John Armstrong.
Given the hype and the publicity, Kim Dotcom and his fellow comrades in Internet-Mana have not exactly set the world on fire in yesterday's Herald-DigiPoll survey, writes John Armstrong.
Paul Goldsmith was gasping like a fish out of water, writes John Armstrong. When he did find his voice, he made an absolute hash of answering the reporter's questions.
The downfall of John Banks may have seemed the story of the week. But the feasting by the mob on what was left of his dignity was essentially a sideshow, if a rather unsavoury one, writes John Armstrong.
The Greens are straining at the leash. They are not just hungry for power. They are starving.
Dotcom was upfront about his $3 million donation. But that may have been a bit of mischief designed to send a shiver down the spines of other parties, writes John Armstrong.
Not so much a dog whistle; more a bit of a dog's breakfast, writes John Armstrong. That sums up Labour's attempts to link immigrant levels to the spiral in house prices.
If Hone Harawira has sold his party's soul to the devil, one thing is for sure, he got a good price for it, writes John Armstrong.
Labour and the Greens need to wake up and smell the coffee, writes John Armstrong. The underlying message that both Opposition parties should take from last weekend's two television polls is that their working in isolation from each other is not working.
It must surely be tempting fate to mention it, but there are definite signs that Labour has finally emerged from its long bleak winter, writes John Armstrong.
John Key was certainly comparatively loquacious in defending the Americans' use of drones even though they are responsible for the deaths of innocent civilians, writes John Armstrong.
The merest mention by Winston Peters of the words "bottom line" is enough to send a shiver down Nats and Labour spines, writes John Armstrong.
When it comes to searching for the inhabitants of that land otherwise described by politicians in Tolkien-sounding fashion as Middle New Zealand, you need look no further than the Hastings suburb of Mahora.
Right now, it feels as if the political gods are bored with the widely-held assumption that National will cruise to victory in September's election, writes John Armstrong.
No matter which Opposition MP crossed his path, John Key - to the obvious delight of his colleagues - showed no mercy.
John Key is punting on the Opposition attack running out of steam by the time Judith Collins goes on leave, writes John Armstrong. That is not a safe bet.
A torrid question-time in Parliament tomorrow could make or break embattled Justice Minister Judith Collins, political columnist John Armstrong writes.
Could things get any worse for David Cunliffe than they did this week? John Armstrong on Labour's schisms.
Shane Jones' shock decision to quit as a Labour MP will lead voters to draw one conclusion and one conclusion only, writes John Armstrong.
The reluctance of her fellow National MPs to come to her aid no doubt in part reflects their annoyance that she was so silly, so unwise, writes John Armstrong.
Winston Peters has got to the crux of the matter of whether Judith Collins is guilty of such a grave conflict of interest she would have to be sacked, writes John Armstrong.
You need poke a stick at a wounded animal through the bars of its cage for only so long before you get a reaction, writes John Armstrong. In Judith Collins' case, you get more than a reaction.
The Maori Party may have ended up playing a joke on itself and been seen to sell out on both principle and independence, writes John Armstrong.
Having turned its caucus room in Parliament Buildings into a war room staffed almost around the clock by policy wonks, political strategists, experts in social media, plus assorted press secretaries