Today, the NZ Herald reported:
A 34% drop is unprecedented and clearly shows that the court of public opinion has made up its mind. John Banks and the Act party are gone burgers.
Despite this, it appears that John Banks needs to be found guilty of making a false declaration before Key will hold him to any sort of account. Even when the evidence is overwhelming and irrefutable, the Prime Minister is sitting on his hands.
Clearly John Keys blather about requiring higher standards from his political flunkies was just spin, and he's willing to allow Banks to chip away his Teflon coated character. This is obviously to ensure National's controversial asset sales will have the numbers to go through.
On Friday, TV3 reported:
It's unfortunate for New Zealand that our Prime Minister doesn't respect public opinion.
John Key should rethink the economically questionable asset sales, with some polls showing 90% are against the proposal. There is no question that most Kiwi's don't want to sell our children's future.
Any credible leader would also stand John Banks down until the investigation into the so-called "anonymous" donations is concluded.
You can bet your bottom dollar that the Police undertaking the investigation are under a lot of pressure to delay their findings until after the asset sales legislation goes through, which is similar to how Key used the police during the teapot tape debacle.
They don't call him slippery for nothing.
Under pressure Act Party leader John Banks has been dealt a further blow with disastrous poll results out today.
If a by-election were held tomorrow in Epsom, Banks might well be down the river on the next cabbage boat, a line he used with Paul Holmes on a TV interview last week.
Banks, copping heavy criticism over donations from Kim Dotcom and SkyCity listed as being anonymous from his 2010 mayoralty bid, has lost a great deal of support, according to the Herald on Sunday-Key Research survey.
Only 10 per cent of electors would vote for him now - down from 44.1 per cent at the election last November - and a National candidate would romp home.
More said they would vote for a Labour candidate than for Banks. In a party vote, the vast majority would vote National, and fewer than 1 per cent would vote Act.
A 34% drop is unprecedented and clearly shows that the court of public opinion has made up its mind. John Banks and the Act party are gone burgers.
Despite this, it appears that John Banks needs to be found guilty of making a false declaration before Key will hold him to any sort of account. Even when the evidence is overwhelming and irrefutable, the Prime Minister is sitting on his hands.
Clearly John Keys blather about requiring higher standards from his political flunkies was just spin, and he's willing to allow Banks to chip away his Teflon coated character. This is obviously to ensure National's controversial asset sales will have the numbers to go through.
Prime Minister John Key is resolute – his Government got the mandate from voters at the last election, and the asset sales will go ahead.
[...]
Thousands of people have already signed a petition which hasn't even been officially launched yet – it needs 310,000 signatures.
However, Mr Key won’t budge – his party is in power, and he says that’s enough.
Green Party co-leader Russel Norman says Mr Key’s one-vote majority is “the thinnest majority possible to go ahead with privatisation”.
It's unfortunate for New Zealand that our Prime Minister doesn't respect public opinion.
John Key should rethink the economically questionable asset sales, with some polls showing 90% are against the proposal. There is no question that most Kiwi's don't want to sell our children's future.
Any credible leader would also stand John Banks down until the investigation into the so-called "anonymous" donations is concluded.
You can bet your bottom dollar that the Police undertaking the investigation are under a lot of pressure to delay their findings until after the asset sales legislation goes through, which is similar to how Key used the police during the teapot tape debacle.
They don't call him slippery for nothing.
