Hmm. I’m not sure about the reliability of privately-funded political surveys (although National Party operative David Farrar may do quite well from them) but I notice this approach …
The leaflet includes a survey of 2200 New Zealanders commissioned by Mr Craig which showed that 71 per cent of respondents felt MPs should consult their electorates and vote according to their wishes.
… targeting National MPs seems to be standard fare for Colin Craig’s Conservative Party.
Here’s a NZ Herald report about Colin Craig’s latest effort to get traction for his Party. He seems to be trying to establish a point of difference, re-staking a claim on the right of the political spectrum.
With the ACT Party looking shaky to the point of distemper, there will be room on the right for a new fringe party. Mr Craig may be quite prescient in basing a line of attack on Prime Minister John Key’s credibility as expressed in his twisting-in-the-wind voting record.
But calling John Key “too gay”? Really?
“First, attract attention by any means…”
It was interesting to hear that Lockwood Smith’s biggest regret after 30 years in Parliament was that he voted in accordance with his electorate’s wishes and not his conscience on the issue of Homosexual Law Reform…
On Wednesday, he told the House of his remorse at some of his past decisions.
“Regrets that have lingered include my voting against the homosexual law reform bill in 1986.
“I faced the classic dilemma of voting according to my own judgement or the opinion of those I’d been elected to represent. As a new member, I opted for the latter and always regretted it.”
— Parliament’s departing Speaker has told the House his biggest political regret is voting against the decriminalisation of homosexuality. — Radio NZ
If Colin Craig’s public pressure campaign succeeds, perhaps there’ll be more regrets of the same type expressed.
Does Mr Craig miss the point that roughly half the MPS in Parliament are list MPs … so they have no electorate to canvass for remote-control voting guidance of the sort he seeks to apply to Mr Key?
It’s an old debate — should MPs vote on the basis of myriad informal referendums (referenda) expressing the electorate’s ‘wishes’? … Or are they there to represent the electorate applying their best judgement and in accordance with their conscience?
I’m with option 2.
– P
However, fundamentalist microparties tend to stay that way. At the moment, the Cons are polling 0.5 percent in most opinion polls, probably within the margin of error. And based on what happened back in 1996 and 2005 (to the Christian Coalition and United Future), I don’t think voters would tolerate another one.
Hi Craig Y.
Yep, that’s what history shows us. Fundamentalist religious parties are only a minor influence and face an uphill battle in NZ.
Still, so long as they stay the right side of hate speech, I feel such groups have a right to participate in the democratic process, huh?
By coincidence, I got talking with some old radio workmates at Paul Holmes’ funeral and the topic of Christian political party figure Graham Capill came up.
One of the guys I was talking to swore he’d picked up an essence – aura? – that gave him an awful feeling about the guy long, long before the details of his predatory criminality came up.
It seems to me that a moralistic standpoint — as your public identity — can become like a cage for some of these people (think weeping televangelists) … and they lose their authenticity as a result.
Colin Craig is walking a tight-rope. But he knows that, I’m sure.
– P
Ahh don’t speak to soon. Two words Green Party.
And targeting Surveys Polls to slant the results is not new and will continue. To happen.
Ask yourself how many times have you been one of the participates of the.
“we asked 2000 normal NZers’ what toliet paper they use and if they fold or scrunch. Answer probably None.
Observation: Conservative Party? wouldn’t the Labour “we just feel by doing nothing approach will change the world while keeping everyone happy and we can blame everyone else ” party. be the Conservatives better choice? National is not conservative.
Two things:
(a) Scrunch. Thanks for asking.
(b) Yes, you’re right, National is not a “true” conservative party (thank goodness for that).
It’s as ‘natural politician’ John Key said: All New Zealanders have ‘a socialist streak’.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/5516068/Socialist-streak-just-means-we-have-a-heart-says-Key
– P
And i wasnt suggesting Colin Craigs exclusion – or anyone elses …i was expressing an opinion.
My opinion affects my responses.
I dont think any of these “minority extremes” … be they nutjob christians, equally nutjob muslims or any ethnic belief system that challenges the ‘norms’ built up over 150 years plus in NZ … should be allowed to slither their way into average Kiwis lives.
Problem is – these nutjob peripheral extremist minorities seem to want to have the right to enforce their peccadilloes on everyone else.
These things may not really cause a ripple for capitalists like thyeself .. but they pose a shitload of issues for the rest of us …. so suck it up
He is a christian … therefore he believes in people who cant be seen and touched or engaged with except according to some very strange ritualistic and ecstatic practices. The people or entities he believes in … and placates every sunday without fail … then have requirements he then seeks to enforce with all the zeal his faith requires … on the rest of us. Just like muslim pollies as well.
These people shouldnt be let out after dark – let alone into parliament.
Key is the same – he believes in the invisible untouchable entity called “the market” … he worships it – he placates it (oh dont we all know that) and he has sex with it regularly … ie he bends over and lets it fuck him and NZ over. I’m sick of being the fall-orifice for some believer/s in the giant incubus/succubus of fairytale neo liberal beliefs.
That’s horrible imagery Ivan. Please don’t indulge in it here, whatever your passionate POV about such events and people.
Also, I get uneasy when people (in this case you) make declarations about other people’s religious beliefs — and then go on to suggest (in jest, in your case, I hope) that such beliefs should somehow disqualify those people from participation in our democratic processes and institutions.
I recall a similar discussion with Martyn Bradbury over his espoused idea that certain right wingers should not be allowed.
http://www.thepaepae.com/on-a-collision-course/17572/
I find that sentiment deeply undemocratic and it surprises me that you would suggest the exclusion of Colin Craig’s Conservative Party (CCCP) from NZ’s political institutions.
Tell me you’re not serious.
– P
No mate – its valid imagery simply because of the propaganda that most of us have been fed since we suckled at our mothers breast (hopefully that image doesnt offend).
We’ve been taught many of us – to accept these myths and fairytales and such systematic propagandising can be dangerous to ones health and wellbeing.
Let me explain … i quite like Colin Craig – i admire his self made man image and factual outworking of same. I like his unequivocality including on the holmes led show (cant remember the name – forgettable!!) where he said he had certain scottish and jewish tendencies with regard to money etc etc (paraphrased obviously) – and of course the gnome of TVNZ and his “expert” (“we is all experts…” to quote Da Ali G”) all decried his simple, modest and unvarnished statements…
My point is Pete … how can we believe or engage with – principles, precepts, beliefs, actions, policies that are based upon entities/beliefs/theories etc that are intangible, unproved by physical evidence etc etc etc ….
I cant engage with Colin Craig – i may agree with some of his policies – but i cant even begin to engage with something that is rooted ultimately in something unseen, unproven and frankly often intolerant.
key and his neo-liberal doctrine and CANT are exactly the same.
Yes i am serious.
And to summarise …
Its all about HOW they participate …
Participate as a human being on a level playing field (yep thats good)
Participate (or attempt to) on a basis of this is my belief system and this is how you should also view matters …(nope thats bullshit)
Simple really.
If you took the time to really carefully read shakespeare .. or indeed the greek plays .. you really would find things to get upset about mate … seems they were far more direct and earthy in ancient times.