Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone...

A photo I like

My two favorite Prime Ministers. New Zealand PM John Key and Canadian PM Steven Harper.

Photo courtesy of the PM Harper's site.

Snow on Las Vegas strip

A rare site indeed... Snow in Vegas and it is not illegal. The Las Vegas Strip has had 3 inches of snow today, beating the record of 2 inches in 1967. A few airplanes can land at the local airport, but none can leave as there is no de-icing or snow equipment onsite. What a shame, being stuck in Las Vegas.


Photo from www.drudgereport.com

Simon Bridges MP maiden speech

This is a great speech from the recently elected National MP for Tauranga, Simon Bridges. Expect to see more of him in the up and coming years.

Political Buffoons?

You tell me??? If you can name the folks and their party affiliation and country I will be impressed.

ACDC concert Los Angeles

Brilliant... Seats were great, music was LOUD (still deaf)...

10 out of 10.

O J Simpson sentenced

O J goes to jail for at least 5 years for as long as 15 years.

Goodnight Kiwi

It's great to have the goodnight Kiwi back long after a long absence, but aren't Kiwi's nocturnal birds?

Tagged by Heine

I don't really do these things, but I was tagged by Clint Heine to blog 7 things that most people don't know about me, so here goes. The rules are:

1. Link to the person who tagged you
2. Post the rules
3. Share seven random or weird facts about yourself
4. Tag 7 random people at the end of the post with their links
5. Let each person know they’ve been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

1. Puntiki is a made up name which was given to me by one very effective Auckland Councilor.
2. I can play the bag pipes ( sort of ), well not very well but I used to be able too.
3. The Rt Hon Jonathan Hunt once lost a bet to me for a bottle of wine and he paid up.
4. Rodney Hide once saved me from getting whacked by an angry rich lister. (Thanks Rodney)
5. I have been in Real Estate for 13 years and was previously a trained BMW parts technician.
6. I cant stand Jagermeister, Black Sambuca, gin or rum.
7. I am a member of the Cathedral Club. ( We need to meet more often )

I Tag.... Mike Stark, Aaron Bhatnagar, Andrew Sanderson, Cactus Kate, Blair Mulholland, Sage NZ and Trevor Loudon.

The future Cabinet?

At a secret location Friday November 14th 2008

Change of Government in NZ

Congratulations to PM elect John Key and the National Party of NZ for such a great result on Saturday 8th of November. Congratulations to Rodney Hide ACT Leader and re-elected MP for Epsom for getting 3.72% of the party vote and 5 MP's into government. It looks very likely that National / ACT and possibly The Maori Party and Peter Dunn will be involved in the next National led government. It is nice to have a change after 9 years of Labour. Helen Clark was a very strong PM and PM Elect Key has some big shoes to stand in. Helen Clark has stood down as Labour Leader and is expected to be replaced by Phil Goff.

Change in USA. Barack Obama President #44

Congratulations to President Elect Obama.

Today, he has been given a mandate from the people to lead us into a new history making era. As Sen McCain said in his honorable concession speech... We must get behind our new President #44 and give him our support, as I will.

I went out to the local after a nice dinner at friends place and there is a BUZZ in the air that I have never seen here before. The people I saw out were very happy about the outcome and it truly is time of change.

One America.....

Lewis Hamilton F1 World Champion 2008

It came down to the last corner. It looked like Massa was about to be World Champion thanks to some brilliant driving by Vettel in the Torro Roso overtaking Hamilton to put him in 6th and out of contention. When all of a sudden on the last corner Timo Glock of Toyota slowed to let Hamilton past and Hamilton won the championship but only just.
I do feel sorry for Massa.... He truly deserved it... Maybe next year.

A special message for you.

Update

Well it is all very exciting this week. The Brazilian F1 is being held tomorrow and either Lewis Hamilton of McLaren or Felipe Massa of Ferrari will be the world champion. It comes down to the wire as this will be the last race of the season and currently Lewis Hamilton is 7 points ahead of Massa. Massa is on pole with Hamilton positioned at #4 for the race. Massa will need to win or come 2nd with Hamilton making a serious mistake to tahe the championship but anything is possible.

The election in USA is tightening up. A lot of folks have voted early and there is 1-2 points in it which is within the margin or error. There is a realistic chance that the election could go to Democrat Barack Obama or Republican John McCain both Senators. This will be my first time voting in USA and I am looking forward to it. I hope that the result is clear cut and we dont need to have a Florida 2000 replay. Tuesday November 4th is the day.

In New Zealand it is looking fairly good for a National / ACT government after the November 8th election. John Key has publicly stated that he will work with ACT and there is a strong chance of ACT leader and MP for Epsom having a cabinet position after the election if National are in the position to govern. A party vote for ACT will enable National to get things done for the people of NZ in a way that is going to make a positive change. ACT is a reliable partner for National and they will work well together. I will be making the trip to NZ in time to watch the results. My mother is running for ACT in Rodney District and has been working very hard indeed. I am looking forward to hearing about the results with my folks and other party supporters on election night. Things are also looking good for National Candidate Simon Bridges in Tauranga, he will make an excellent MP. Winston may be looking for a job after the election.

SO get out and Vote......... The choice is yours.

Screw Labour

I got this from Blair Mulhollands blog..... thanks Blair...

Dear Mr Obama

National to have ACT in cabinet

withI was looking at David Farrar's blog and I noticed that he has a link to this interview with National Party leader John Key.

John Key says that after this election in New Zealand on November 8th that ACT Leader and MP for Epsom Rodney Hide would be in a National led cabinet.

This is only natural as ACT and National will be like competitive cousins when working together on the same team rather than a gang war as it could be under a new Labour led govt.

So bravo to John Key for his candid interview and Party VOTE ACT.

Question is: What Cabinet position will Rodney Hide get?

McCain climbing in the polls...

It seems that the polls are tightening very quickly before the US election on November 4th. The difference between Sen McCain and Obama is now within the margin of error. There is a lot of press out there about Obama enjoying the company of some undesirable characters and most people including "Joe the plumber" is concerned about Obama's true thoughts and intentions??? This election will go down to the wire. Will there be a Tom Bradley effect, will there be a last minute surge for McCain or Obama....This election has broken a few traditions so really anything that happens between now and November 4th could sway the vote.
Vote McCain.

A Dangerous Threesome

Greencard lottery time

It's Green Card lottery time

New Zealanders are eligible for the “Diversity Visa Lottery Program”.

Applications to win a Green Card to live and work in the US are open till 12 noon Eastern time on 1 Dec 2008.

More information at the State Department website which is: Here

If you have a previous drug charge, a DIC / DYI, or a conviction, don't bother applying. There is no payment necessary up front, you only pay to the US consulate if you win as a documentation fee (some people set up fake sites and charge you upon application and rip you off). If you win you will have the option to move to the USA upon being approved ( normally within 1 year of winning) and you will need to be in the USA for 6 months and 1 day of every year (for tax reasons). You will then be elegible to become a citizen after you have been in USA for 5 years (on US soil). This is a fantastic way of moving legally to USA. I encourage you to apply if you'd like the opportunity.

Cheers

Robert

Hydrogen filling station in West Los Angeles

I was getting my haircut at my usual place, which led to taking my car to be cleaned at the usual place and interestingly enough there is a hydrogen fueling pump just across the road on Santa Monica Blvd at the shell station. Upon close inspection it looked to be all hooked up, but alas there were no Hydrogen Bmw 7 series or Honda Hydrogen cars lining up. While the service station my have made the investment and at this time not getting a return, it is a great sign of things to come.

ACT

A message from ACT New Zealand for you to consider before voting in the upcoming election



For a change of government and a government of change: Party VOTE ACT

The Maori Party or ACT?

Who would you most like to see in parliament after the election on November 8th?

The Maori Party and Labour

or

The National Party and ACT?

DO you want another 3 years of PM Clark, or would you prefer a change of government and a government of change with National / ACT making a difference to make NZ a better place, increase NZ's stance in the world and get the flow of money going to the hardworking people of NZ and be TOUGH on crime?

Is New Zealand a better place now than it was in 1999 when Helen Clark and Labour came to power? Really is it?

Labour has a PC facsination which is taking NZ down the road of doom.

You give your disobedient child a clip and you can end up in jail.
It is likely that you know one or two or three or more folks who are tied up with the P epedemic.
The Police are weak and are too busy giving speeding and parking tickets than solving serious crime.
The cost of everything in NZ is obscene.
Wages are low if we compare to other 1st world countries.
Taxes are too high and the lazy are sucking NZ dry by getting handouts and not working.
NZ military is unfortunately the laughing stock of the South Pacific. There is not enough enlisted folk to properly run the frigates and equipment NZ has.
Labour stopped NZ's fighter wing and there is currently Oriens and Hurcules or AUSTRALIA to rely on if god forbid something terroristic or unusual happens. NZ has lowered her guard.

This has to be fixed. NZ is currently broken.

NZ has the ability to be a strong, wealty, well educated, proud and prosporus country. Will this have a chance of working under another 3 years of Labour / NZ First / Greens?

Do you like being where you are right now?

or

Do you want a better opportunity for yourself and NZ?

So if you feel that NZ is a truly better place since 1999 continue as you have done.

If you know that NZ can do a lot better, that the government can actually make you proud, be TOUGH on crime and put more money in your pocket, that the people and businesses of NZ have the ability to step it up a gear and become truly world class competing with the Australian, Canadian, US and European's, that the Police are to be relied upon to protect and serve, that that tax rates should be lower and that the education system needs to be modified then.

Party Vote in every electorate for ACT, also vote for the ACT candidate in Epsom (Rodney Hide) and Botany (Kenneth Wang) ( and Rodney District(my mother Beryl Good) :-) and Support your National Candidate with the Candidate vote in the rest of the country. The Party Vote for ACT will secure a Government of Change and a change of government.

F1 world championship 2008

We have two races left in the 2008 Formula One championship. Currently McLaren's Lewis Hamilton leads the points table with 84 points over Ferrari's Felipe Massa with 79 points. BMW's Robert Kubica on 72 is in the running but has qualified badly for todays Chinese Grand Prix, so he has a big race ahead of him to keep in contention for the title. Unfortunately my favorite driver Kimi Raikkonen and current World Champion is not in the running for a double title and will be working hard to keep Massa in front of Hamilton. Fernando Alonso who has twice been World Champion with Renault has mentioned that he'd prefer Massa or Kubica to win the title over his old team mate Hamilton, so Hamilton best preform today and watch out for tank slaps from other teams... . The last two races are going to be great.

First place gets 10 points
Second place gets 8 points
Third place gets 6 points
Fourth = 5 points
Fifth = 4 points
Sixth = 3 points
Seventh = 2 points
Eighth = 1 point
Hamilton needs 16 points to guarantee the Championship over the last two races provided that Massa and Kubica get points in the next 2 races which means he needs to get a first and third place to clinch it. He is on pole today in China followed by Kimi and then Massa. Lets see if he doesn't stuff it up again this year.

W the movie

I just got back from the opening night of W the movie by Oliver Stone. It was a somewhat comedic performance with many laughs throughout the show and surprising enough I believe that it shows George W Bush in sympathetic light.

Basically, it made Dick Cheney look like the devil, along with Donald Rumsfeld and the folks who convinced President Bush that there were WMD's in Iraq. It is not the best movie I have seen by far, but it made GWB look like a President who meant the best for Iraq and Americans and was badly advised and somewhat tricked by some of his advisors. Colin Powell, Karl Rove and GWB are the good guys in this movie. The lady who played Laura Bush is beautiful. Condoleeza Rice looked like a puppet although in real life I think she is a very effective Secretary of State. Watch it if you will, but I am not sure if you'll want it for your DVD collection, buy Forgetting Sarah Marshall instead.

Sarah Palin to be on SNL this weekend

News out there is that Alaskan Governor and Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin is to be on Saturday Night Live this weekend. Hope that we can tell the difference between her and Tina Fey, this will be brilliant.

Gallup Poll: McCain up on 47% Obama on 49%

It has been leaked today that according to a new Gallup poll Sen McCain is on the up with 47% and Sen Obama is on 49% of likely voters. This puts the candidates in the margin of error which shows that it could well be a dead heat come election time on November 4th. If Obama wins Florida he could well be President, If McCain wins Florida he could well be President. This is going to be a close race and it shows that both candidates are in the running for the White House. There is still work to be done for both campaigns.... McCain and Obama are currently having dinner together at a roast in New York.... Sounds like fun.

Joe Biden's Dan Quayle moment

I like Joe Biden, but he has had a few Dan Quayle moments lately including this :-)



Very good.

McCain Obama final debate

I just finished watching the 3rd and final Presidential debate. It was by far the best of the 3. Sen McCain was in true form, he did tell Sen Obama that if he (Obama) was looking to run against George Bush then he should have run 4 years ago. Sen McCain made it clear that he was not President Bush and that the country needs a clear change of direction away from Bush policy. McCain also said that he is a federalist and thinks that abortion should be a subject that the individual Sates decide. He also showed true form and reassured me that he is the best candidate for President this election. Sen Obama was of course charismatic and likable, but I did find that once again he kept saying that he agreed with Sen McCain on a few subjects. He knodded often when McCain was talking policy and did laugh a few topics off with a big smile when called on.
Both candidates were presentable and I will stand by my statement that whoever is the next President will have my respect and WILL take USA in a new direction for the better, but my preference for President is Sen McCain.
Out of 1 - 10, 10 being the best in presentation and performance in todays debate, I rate.

Sen Barack Obama 5.7
Sen John Mccain 6.8

While it wasn't a direct knock out, John McCain won this debate. Roll on the election.

Simon Bridges 20 points ahead in Tauranga?

I am pleased to hear that the National Party Candidate for Tauranga Simon Bridges is rumored to have a 20 point lead over NZ First leader Winston Peters. If this is accurate and true then I am very comfortable in saying that Simon Bridges will be the best Member of Parliament Tauranga has ever had. So If you are in Tauranga give Simon Bridges your candidate vote and give ACT your party vote for a change of government and a government of change.

Canadian Election. Stephen Harper is still PM

OTTAWA — Stephen Harper’s Conservatives won a muscular minority mandate Tuesday night as Canadian voters entrusted the prime minister with the levers of government in tough economic times — but not a blank cheque. Congratulations to the Conservatives, Stephen Harper and the citizens of Canada.....

The outcome saw the Liberals sink to they’re lowest level of popular support since the election of 1867 — and surely means a third change of leadership in five years for what was long dubbed Canada’s natural governing party. Unfortunately the Liberal leader Dion was not as effective as he had hoped. His English was terrible and he had trouble understanding questions given to him by the English speaking media. As I mentioned in a previous posting, I am expecting Mr Dion to be looking for a new occupation very shortly.

Justin Trudeau who is the son of deceased Canadian PM Pierre Trudeau won his seat in this election. He is up and coming, so expect him to endeavor to be the Canadian PM one day.

The Conservatives were headed for 143 seats, up from 124 in the last election, while the Liberals were down to 77 from 103. The NDP was up by nine seats to 38 and the Bloc Quebecois shed two seats to 48. Two Independents also won.

I would have preferred a majority for the Conservatives and Stephen Harper, but the people of Canada have given them more seats and they are just shy of a majority. There is work to be done, but all in all a great result.

ACT campaign launch Rodney Hide speech

This is Rodney Hide's speech to the public of New Zealand at the ACT Party Campaign Launch; Alexandra Park, Auckland; 11am, Sunday October 12 2008. Read it, it is spot on.

Welcome everyone; welcome to Epsom.

Last election Epsom was the difference; it made the difference to our Parliament. This election you can be the difference; you can make the difference to our next government.

Last election I told Epsom voters, they could vote Richard Worth, and get Richard Worth.

Or they could vote Rodney Hide, still get Richard Worth, plus me, plus the ACT team.

That's how MMP works. The good people of Epsom understood. Epsom voters voted for me. They got Richard Worth. They got me. And they got Heather Roy. They made a difference to our Parliament. A big difference. If you doubt that, ask Winston Peters.

This election I am asking you to ensure the next National Government makes a difference.

It doesn't matter where you live. You can be the difference. From North Cape to Bluff. You can party vote ACT. That's a vote for a government of change. And that's what the country so desperately needs.

It's that simple. A Party Vote for ACT will ensure John Key makes a difference.

On election night 2005 I was elected MP for Epsom. It was against the odds. It was against all predictions.

Strangely, I didn't feel I had won the seat. I felt instead Epsom voters had put their trust in me.

I had gone door to door, looked the young and the old, the rich and the poor, in the eye and asked them one-on-one to vote for me. I had never done that before. And they did. It was humbling.

I resolved that night to be the best MP that I could be for Epsom. I did not want anyone to regret the day they voted Rodney Hide.

And in turn the people of Epsom have reinforced my values and ideals. Given me a real sense of purpose.

I thought if I could make such a difference for myself and for Epsom then we could do the same for ACT and for our country.

We set the goal of being the best that we could be. We got out and talked to business leaders, commentators and economists on what was needed to make New Zealand the best country that we can be. We set out to lift our sights and the sights of our country.

To tackle a big goal you must first work out where you want to be. You have to picture your ideal.

We love to beat Australia at sport. We expect to. It gives us pride, self respect.
Beating them at rugby and netball is one thing. But what about striving to pass them where it matters, on how we provide for ourselves and our kids. That's the ideal.

The other parties have given up trying to match Australia. They say we can't. They say we shouldn't even try.

Not ACT. We are the party with the big goal. Our goal is to beat Australia by 2020 - economically, politically, socially, environmentally, and at sport. It means radically lifting our sights. It means telling Wellington it's no longer business as usual.

It means recognising that our government is failing us, it's not working, it needs sorting - and fast.

It's the failure of our government that has elderly ladies telling us they're orphans. Not because they have lost their parents, but because their children and their grandchildren have left.

Their grandkids are growing up cheering the Wallabies, not the ABs.

It doesn't have to be.

We can and we should lift our economic performance to bring our kids home which in itself will further lift our performance.

It is not enough though to have the big goal.

I have learned the hard way that you need a plan to get there. And you need to measure your performance. And tweak your plan based on your results.

That's why ACT has a 20-Point-Plan to beat Australia and bring our kids home.

It's a plan to bake a bigger economic cake, not simply slice up the one we already have.

This week I was critical of John Key's economic response to the world financial turmoil. He didn't have one. But John Key understands MMP. He knows to be Prime Minister he has to win votes from Helen Clark. He can't risk putting any difference of substance between his policy and the policies of Helen Clark and Michael Cullen. And so he cuddles them close, and just tweaks Cullen's budget when global turmoil calls for a comprehensive economic response.

ACT is the party that can tell it like it is. We can spell out what we need to do.

First up, let's tell it like it is. Michael Cullen rivals Muldoon for economic ineptitude. New Zealand has been in recession all year - before the world financial turmoil.

We are heavily indebted. The rest of the world funds our lifestyle. Our current account deficit is a whooping 8.3 percent of GDP.

The rest of the world's willingness to fund us is over. That's what this world financial turmoil means to us. Our banks and corporate are going to find it tougher to roll over their loans. There's a worldwide shortage of investment funds right now.
That will force major adjustment for New Zealand families. No matter what politicians think. The adjustment will work through the exchange rate. Our dollar will fall choking off imports and stimulating exports to make us live within our means. Costs will increase making it tougher for New Zealand businesses and households.

Tweaking Cullen's budgets won't do.

We need economic leadership and economic direction. We need a recovery package. That's what ACT's 20-point plan is.
Government must facilitate the transfer of real resources from government to the productive sector so we can pay our way. It's going to happen anyway. The only issue is whether the transition is going to be painful or easy, and whether we are going to emerge from the turmoil even stronger or another basket case.

The way to facilitate the necessary transition is to cap government expenditure in real terms, free up the labour market and radically reform the Resource Management Act.

Both John Key and Michael Cullen agree that government can't afford big tax cuts. Well, here's a newsflash - we can't afford John Key sticking to Labour's spending plans.

Our government is too fat. It's squeezing us all. It desperately needs a trim.

Cullen has increased expenditure over the last ten years by 230 dollars a week for every household over the rate of inflation. That's a whopping increase. And ask yourself? Have you seen a 230 dollar-a-week improvement in government under labour? I don't think so.

And it's set to get even bigger. And John Key agrees with that.

ACT will cap the growth of government, that will force Wellington to get its budgets and priorities right, and enable lower and flatter taxes that will spur investment and growth.

Capping the growth of government will allow us abolish Cullen's 39 cent envy tax. Party vote ACT, and it will be gone by Christmas. That's an important signal to send. We will no longer have a government that will punish those who try to get ahead.

Small businesses and the self employed will be motivated to create real wealth for themselves and the nation. It will be a signal to Kiwis overseas that it's time to come home, their energy and enterprise will be welcomed and rewarded.

We are going to need them.

Party vote ACT and the thirty nine percent envy tax gone by Christmas. That will be a difference.

That's the first part of a recovery package. It stops government soaking up even more of the resources needed in the export sector so we can pay our way.

The second part is to free up the economy so exporters can expand their businesses to take advantage of the lower real exchange rate and cushion the effect of the higher cost of imports.

That means reforming our labour market and the Resource Management Act. That's what ACT's Anti-Red Tape Bill does. That Bill is in front of Parliament and needs passing into law.

The third thing we must do is dump the dopey Emissions Trading Scheme. The Scheme was always a dog. It was all pain for no environmental gain. Now is not the time to be artificially driving up costs on businesses and households by creating a pretend market in hot air. The ETS will simply export successful New Zealand businesses overseas, making the real exchange rate problem worse. It will drive up costs for households, cost us jobs, and make us poor. The Emissions Trading Scheme has to be dumped and dumped fast.

A party vote for ACT is a party vote for smart green policies, not the dumb stuff. It's a vote to dump the Emissions Trading Scheme.

ACT is the only party this election that can be the difference. And the voters who party vote ACT will be the voters who will make the difference. That's how MMP works.

It's not just Epsom voters who can be the difference this election. Every voter can be.

There are small businesses now going to the wall because they are being squeezed paying for an ever- fattening government. Families are struggling to make ends meet with taxes, rates and other charges.

But John Key's hands are tied. That's MMP. He's just going to fiddle with KiwiSaver and tax credits. He's had to ignore the big hairy gorilla in the room - that's the government itself. Whittle that down, people will have more money in their pocket and the country will prosper. It's simple.

ACT can say that. ACT can do that. But only ACT can be the difference. That's the message you must take away from here today.

Vote not just for a change of government, vote for a government of change, party vote ACT.
Do that and we'll ensure the next National Government makes a difference.

Roger Douglas has taught me it is not enough to have a big goal and policies, you need the people who can make it happen.
That's why I have been lucky with Heather Roy. She has done all the work for ACT in Parliament so that I could concentrate on Epsom. Epsom voters really did get two for the price of one.

To make the difference in the next government, I went out to get the best people to join us.

And who better at a time like this than our best-ever Minister of Finance. To get the best, I asked Roger Douglas, not just to help out. Not just to stand. But to come back to Parliament and be part of a Government of change.

Roger has helped me enormously. I don't know anyone who understands politics better or has more experience and history. He is the only politician I know who can lift his sights to where we can be. He is a visionary. He is the only politician I know with the courage to debate big ideas. He doesn't claim to have the answers. But he has an uncanny knack of going out and finding them.

John Key ruled Roger Douglas out of his Cabinet. That's disappointing. I guess that's what John feels he has to do because otherwise Helen Clark will scare voters from National by decrying Rogernomics. But here's the question John can ask Helen.
What is it about anything that Roger Douglas did as Minister of Finance that you would change?

The end to the wage-price freeze?

The end to import licensing?

The end to opening New Zealand to the world?

Halving the top tax rate from sixty-six cents to thirty-three?

Would Helen change any of that? Come to think of it, she hasn't. In fact, she and Michael Cullen voted for it. The lot.

And what is it about ACT's 20-point plan that Helen Clark objects to?

Is it holding government expenditure to the rate of inflation? Lowering and flattening taxes? Having school vouchers or scholarships so parents sending their kids to private or independent schools no longer have to pay twice? ACT's Regulatory Responsibility Bill to slash red tape?

It all looks good and necessary to me.

But it's not up to Helen Clark or John Key.

Ultimately, it's up to you. That's how MMP works. If you want a change of direction, not just of government, you will party vote ACT. If you think Sir Roger's ideas and experience would add to our parliament and our government, especially at this time of world financial crisis, then it's in your hands. You can be the difference this election, you can party vote ACT.

Trust me, in the next few months John Key's going to need all the help he can get. Now more than ever, Roger Douglas's vision and ideas are going to prove invaluable.

ACT would not be here if it was not for John Boscawen. He has already made a difference.

Without his energy, enthusiasm and unbelievable organisational capacity, I would not be the MP for Epsom. We saw it again with his campaign against Labour's dreaded Electoral Finance Act that shuts down free speech in New Zealand. I said to John: you can't rely on the National Party to protect free speech. They never have in the past. The only way he could ensure freedom of speech was restored and protected was to come to Parliament. I have a bigger motive. John has the energy and enthusiasm we need in ACT politicians.

Party vote ACT and let John lose in Parliament. They won't know what's hit them.

I often get asked what the number one issue of this election is. I say crime. David Garrett has said to me a flat tax is good, but you can't enjoy it if a young thug has run you through.

I have heard the politicians talk and talk about law and order. Hours of it. I have concluded they have no answers. They just play politics with it. As for the bureaucrats, it's their ideas that have put us in the mess we are in.

ACT worked to come up with a no-nonsense policy to deal with crime. Not satisfied I asked Garth McVicar of Sensible Sentencing and Peter Low of the Asian Anti-Crime Group to audit the policy for us.

Garth agreed with Zero Tolerance, with police prosecuting the most minor offenders such as taggers, because that's how to stop crime when it starts.

He said Truth in Sentencing, where you serve the full sentence, with abolition of parole, was right.

He explained to me the agony that victim's families have to go through as part of the parole system, re-living the trauma and being re-victimised simply to keep the killer locked up and the community safe. That's gotta go.

But there was more.

Garth said Three-Strikes-and-You're-Out.

It's so simple.

Commit a violent offence and you serve your full sentence. No parole.

Second offence gets the maximum sentence. No argument. You also get a warning from the judge about the consequences of committing a third strike offence.

Third offence and its twenty-five years to life. Die in there if need be.

Fact is there are seventy-seven people in jail for murder with more than three jail sentences for violent crime to their name, before the murder. They should not have been walkingthe streets. Under ACT's policy similar violent thugs won't be. Think of the lives saved.

That's seventy-seven innocents who should be alive today. That's two bus loads

Seventy-seven families that would not have been devastated.

Amazingly, only ACT has the policies to deter the hardened thugs and lock up the psychopaths.

National favours truth in sentencing - but only after you have been sentenced twice. Announcing their policy John Key gave the examples of notorious killers such as Anthony Ronnie Dixon and Charlie George Baker and William Bell. One had a hundred and sixty. Another one hundred and two previous convictions. Fact is, they all had numerous violent convictions. Under ACT's three-strike policy they would not have been free to kill. Their victims would still be alive.

That's a difference. That's a difference worth voting for.

Having the policy was one thing. What we really needed was someone to make it a reality. That's why I asked the ACT Board to keep the Number 5 position on our list open. I wanted to get a specialist. And I got one.

Garth McVicar introduced me to David Garrett. He's a barrister. Like me he's knocked around a bit. Worked on oil rigs. But his passion is stopping crime. And the policies needed to fix it. He's travelled to the States. He's seen Sheriff Joe's tent jails. He's studied the three-strikes-and-you're-out policy and drafted the legislation for New Zealand. He has worked pro bono for the victims of crime and been a spokesman for Sensible Sentencing. He's the man going to parliament to make our streets safe.

Make a difference. Party vote ACT and put David Garrett in Parliament to make our country safe and secure once again.

Here's another thing. It's the fundamental right of every New Zealander to defend themselves. I would hope I have Virender Singh's guts to chase the thugs down that knifed him, slashed his nephew's hand and bashed his nephew's wife.

I would hope that I too would stand up for myself and my loved ones. Virender Singh rang the police three times while fighting off the young thugs. His shop and his family were under attack. The third time he rang he pleaded, does someone have to die here before you come. One of the thugs lunged at his nephew to run him through the chest. His nephew grabbed the knife to save his life and sliced his hand badly. Virender was in a struggle with a thug and got knifed in the back of his leg. A woman who rushed out of a next door shop was bashed and her eye closed.

Virender and his family were under savage attack. They fought back.

Virender gave chase and bashed one with a hockey stick. There was no one else to protect him and his family. He did the right thing. He did the brave thing. He should get a medal.

Instead, six policemen come to his house, take him to the station, interview him, lock him up and charge him for two counts of assault. He's now out on bail.

Here is a small businessman protecting his property and being charged for his pains. There's only one word for it. Madness.
We have got it back to front in New Zealand.

Government and criminals are running amok with hard working and law abiding Kiwis paying the price.

And what's our government busying doing? It's telling us what light bulb we can buy. And how we are to shower. And making us criminals because we gave our toddlers a smack on the bum so they learn the difference between right and wrong.

That's why there must be change. Not just of government. But of direction.

Fortunately there is a way for those self same, hard working and law abiding Kiwis to make a difference.

Yes, they can vote for National and get rid of Helen Clark. But always remember, MMP saw John Key and National voting to criminalise smacking.

A party vote for ACT is a vote to dump Helen Clark AND dump her policies.

This really does bear repeating. A vote for National is just a vote for change of government. A party vote for ACT is a vote for a change of government AND a government of change. That's what we need.

And, so long as you give your party vote to ACT, we'll do it.

Now is your chance to make a real difference.

We'll do it with outstanding MPs like the remarkable people behind me.

We have real people with real policies, vision and passion to get New Zealand values back on track.

People prepared to go to Parliament to fix things.

New Zealand is facing critical economic times.

Now is the time for clear thinking. Now is the time for strong economic leadership and clear direction.

Now is the time to encourage business to invest and expand and employ.

Now is the time as a nation for us to unite in a determination to emerge stronger from the global financial crisis.

Now is not the time for the hope and pray policies of Labour.

Now is the time to implement long overdue policies to strengthen the New Zealand economy.

Yes. ACT's time has come.

Now is our moment.

We can emerge from this present crisis stronger than we have ever been. We can once again build an economy that will sustain us and our families and a society where our mums and daughters are safe.

We can regain our pride, our self respect.

We can catch and match Australia.

And you can make a real difference this election.

You can Party vote ACT.

Get your friends, your neighbours, your workmates, your family to Party Vote ACT.

Tell them, they can be the difference.

Then we'll ensure the next National Government makes a difference.

We won't let you down.

We will make your vote count.

I will make sure of that.

Thank you

ENDS

Makes sense to me. A party vote for ACT is a vote for change of government and a government of change. Party Vote ACT November 8th 2008.

Putin gets a tiger cub

Russian Federation PM Vladimir Putin's favorite birthday present this year is a rare Ussuri tiger cub. These Tigers are endangered, so I am sure that it may not be such a good thing for him to keep it.

Vlad has been seen affectionately petting the two-month-old female cub on Friday. The tiger weighs only about 20 pounds and sleeps in a wicker basket at Putin's residence outside Moscow.

Putin says a good home will be found for the tiger, presumably in a zoo or wildlife preserve. He hasn't decided what to call her, but is leaning toward Mashenka or Milashka.

Putin refuses to say who gave him the cub for his 56th birthday, which was Tuesday. I wonder why......?

The Ussuri tiger is also known as the Siberian, Amur or Manchurian tiger. Fewer than 400 are believed to survive in the wild.

PM Putin has also released a Judo DVD in the last week to be used to teach the young folk of Russia about self defence. I wonder if they will translate it to English and ship it abroad?

ACT up National down

The latest Roy Morgan Poll shows National Party support at 40.5% ((down 7%) not good) , with small lead over the Labour Party at 37.5% (up 1%). If the Election were held this weekend there would be a hung Parliament in New Zealand with either major party capable of forming a governing coalition.

Greens is at 9% (up 2.5%) Can you imagine the Greens holding the balance of power....???

NZ First is 4% (down 1%) The boat is sinking for Winston.

ACT NZ 3.5% (up 2%) ACT is on the up and up. People want ACT to be tough on crime.

Maori Party 2% (up 0.5%) Expected a slightly higher result.

Progressive Alliance 1% (up 1%)

United Future 1% (up 0.5%)

Others and Independents 1.5% (up 0.5%) Mcgilligutty Serious in full effect???

This is not good news at all for NZ. Is NZ better off now than in 1999 when Labour came into power? NO it is not. If you think it is your name might end in Cullen and Clark???

Crime is up drastically. Red tape is strangling everything, the Police are not capable of doing their job with confidence, taxes are still high, there is a P epidemic, NZ has practically no military or Air Force, the economic climate is slowing as is the real estate market, the whole country is turning into a PC community, and to top it off wages are low and everything is outstandingly expensive in NZ. The people have the power to make a true and real change for the better.

Why do the NZ people appear to be happy being jipped? There is 4 weeks for change. Do your research on ACT at www.act.org.nz Look at their policy, look at what they are going to do to be TOUGH ON CRIME with their Law and Order Policy, look at their policy on tax and giving the power back to the people, cutting red tape, fixing Resource Management that is just too much. New Zealand and New Zealanders deserve better than Labour, NZ First and the Greens.

What needs to be done by the NZ voters for change in NZ is to Party Vote ACT and with exception of Epsom and Botany where you chould give both ticks to ACT simple as that.

I hope you make the right decision for you and for New Zealand.

Party Vote ACT

Dow Jones loses 7% ends at 8,579.19

Palin - Biden debate October 2nd 2008

The US Vice Presidential debate is now complete, with 69,989,000 people watching the debate. This was the most watched VP debate EVER. Both candidates gave a great performance. Gov Sarah Palin was genuine, informed, reasonably funny and personable, and put up a commendable debate. She had a lot to do in debating the well respected and polished speaker of Sen Biden, who was polite, also well informed and courteous. As per usual if you look on Fox News Gov Palin won and if you look at CNN Sen Biden won. The general consensus before the debate was that the Gov would tank... and the Senator would gaff...... Well neither tanked or gaffed and in fact both were impressive. I liked the line that Gov Palin took out of #40's book and told Sen Biden that "Here you go again" pointing to the past and not the future.
I respect Sen Biden as I have mentioned before. We know where Sen Biden has been in the past with his statements and pronunciations. He has had to move a bit to the left to get behind Sen Obama. With Gov Palin we had a 5 or 6 weeks look into what she believes in and wading through all the BS spin that pops up I think you will find that most of the public that watched the debate will be relieved to know that the Governor of Alaska actually has it.

Dow Jones drops -777.68

That is the biggest drop in the Dow ever I believe. Someone will make lots of funds when it pops back again. Crude oil also dropped and the US$ made gains. Very unusual day.

John McCain suspends Presidential campaign.

Sen John McCain has temporarily suspended his Presidential Campaign to get back to Washington and fix the financial situation that has occurred in the USA. He has asked for the Presidential debate this Friday to be postponed and he has called upon Sen Obama to join him and get this problem sorted in a bi-partisan way before Monday. This is a bold move and I hope both Presidential candidate Senator's can work together to make a difference in this bad fiscal situation. John McCain (and maybe Barack Obama) putting the people first.

New Zealand Elections November 8th 2008

The New Zealand Election has been announced as November 8th 2008. This is an exciting time for NZ. Give your National Party Candidate the Electorate vote and ACT your Party Vote.
If you are in Epsom Electorate Give Rodney Hide ACT leader both votes.
You can make NZ a better place after November 8th 2008 with ACT and National.

AC/DC World Tour

AC/DC have a new website (click on banner above to view) and are about to release a new album called Black Ice on October 20th 2008. They are also going on a world tour probably for the last time, and I intend to go to a few of their concerts. Last time they were in town (Auckland) it was the day before School Cert and I was not allowed to go :-( I must admit that was 16 years ago.... Time flys. I am thinking Madison Square Garden.... in NYC... Rock on.

September 11th 2008

Let us not forget...

Canadian elections October 14th 2008

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper

Canada's Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper dissolved Parliament on Sunday and called an early election for next month in hopes of strengthening his Conservative minority government's hold on power.

The October 14 election will be Canada's third ballot in four years. Maybe Canada needs MMP?

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative party needs an additional 28 seats to have a majority in Parliament. Although he has downplayed that possibility, polls in recent days indicate his right wing party has a chance to do so, and with Mr Dion as the opposition leader he will.

The Conservatives unseated the rather corrupted Liberal Party in 2006 after nearly 13 years in power, but as a minority government the Conservatives have been forced to rely on opposition lawmakers to pass legislation and adopt budgets. A minority government in Canada always leads to early elections.

Analysts said PM Harper's Conservatives had a better shot of winning now than if they waited until being forced by the opposition into a vote later, when the Canadian economy might be worse off.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Harper visited Governor General Michaelle Jean and asked her to dissolve Parliament. The governor general is the representative of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, who is Canada's head of state, but the position is purely ceremonial and the governor general obeys the wishes of the prime minister.

Electoral legislation that Harper helped enact after he came to power in 2006 fixed the date for the next election in October 2009, but a loophole allows the prime minister to ask the governor general to dissolve Parliament.

"Between now and October 14, Canadians will choose a government to look out for their interests at a time of global economic trouble," Harper said after the meeting.

"They will choose between direction or uncertainty; between common sense or risky experiments; between steadiness or recklessness."

Liberal leader French Canadian Stephane Dion who can barely speak English, said the election offers a stark choice between his party and the "most conservative government in our history." The Liberals have a record of corruptness, Eastern PM's and bad economic and foreign ideals, so Mr Dion has a lot of work ahead of him.

The Conservatives now fill 127 of the 308 seats in Parliament. The Liberals have 95, Bloc Quebecois 48, the New Democrats 30 and the Greens have one seat. Three seats are held by independents, and four are vacant.

Dion, a former environment minister who named his dog Kyoto, wants to increase taxes on greenhouse gas emitters amongst other things. Dion has moved his party to the crowded left in Canada by staking his leadership on a "Green Shift" tax plan.

The Conservatives have been targeting Dion's plan in television and radio ads, saying it would kill jobs and drive up energy costs even higher than the current high levels. Dion has said he would offset the higher energy prices by cutting income taxes.

Dion hasn't had much success selling the plan to Canadians, many of whom have viewed him as a weak leader ever since he surprisingly won leadership of the party in late 2006.

"I love to be the underdog. I love being underestimated," Dion said. Wonder what Mr Dion will do for his next career?

Many expect Dion to be removed as leader if he loses the election. Therefore I am expecting a new left wing Canadian Liberal leader to be appointed after Stephen Harper is sworn in as PM of Canada with a Conservative majority after October 14th.

McCain Palin 08

Senator John McCain has chosen 44 year old Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin to be his running mate for the 2008 US Presidential election.

This is a good choice for Sen McCain as Gov Palin has a strong approval rating of 80% +/- in Alaska, she has age on her side and she is a lady, as well as her conservative progressive views. This should seal the deal for the disgruntled Clinton voters who are planing on voting outside of the Democratic party this time, it should help with the folks who were not 100% on Mitt Romney, and it will be the second time ever that a lady has been nominated for the VP of the USA.

I think that Gov. Sarah Palin is a great choice. I expect a President McCain in November with the first ever female VP Sarah Palin.

McCains VP???

So... Sen Obama has made a strong choice in Sen Biden for VP, who will John McCain pick?

I think that there are a couple of options. Mitt Romney seems to be the most preferred as he is rather strong on the economy, is a successful businessman and was popular in the nominations. He had a few head butts with Sen McCain at the beginning, but they'd make a strong team. Will having a Mormon VP put the ever important conservative league of the Republican party off though?

Secretary of State Rice has been mentioned although it will probably be a long shot. She has mentioned she is not interested (but so had Biden), but she'd do a great job. She appears to be single and there has never been a Lady VP, a black VP or a single VP in history (with certain exceptions), so having Sec Rice as VP would break all the records. Might look like a continuation of the Bush Cheney administration though???Gov Charlie Crist of Florida. He is a strong support of John McCain and also is a popular Governor in a state with 27 Electoral college votes which would be handy..... He has a similar look to John McCain and is engaged to be married soon. Governor Huckabee.... Mike Huckabee is a very charasmatic fellow. He has got a great sense of humor, he has been a successful and popular Governor of Arkansas and he appeals to the conservatives having been a Baptist Minister in the past. He plays in a rock bank and is very likable. He'd make a fantastic VP in my opinion, but can he pull as many votes for McCain as Romney would?Sen Lieberman and Sen McCain are very good friends. Sen Lieberman was Al Gore's VP choice in 2000 which was unsuccessful. Sen Lieberman is an Independant who votes with the Democratic causus and has been very outspoken for John McCain. I am not sure that it is necessarily a good idea to have Sen Lieberman as VP. If he is not VP and McCain wins I would be sure that he will be in President McCain's cabinet.What about this wild card.........???Anything is possible in US politics.......