Votes should be weighed, not counted

Sad, sad, sad. Yet another cynical attempt to manipulate voters.

And I'm disappointed to see it coming from The Standard Team, they're better than that and have kept the negative campaigning to a tolerable level, while focusing on what really matters... what's actually coming out in terms of policy.

So why did they have to come out and call on Progressive Party supporters to cast their party vote for another party on the left and create an overhang? Because it will "help the Greens or Labour get another seat."

Highlighting the problems with the alternative, and a bit of negative campaigning never goes amiss, but this is plain wrong.

Manipulation of the electoral system is never a good option - that's why it was refreshing to see Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia pushing their two-tick campaign. It minimises the overhang and makes it easier for the Maori Party to deal with either major party without alienating the majority of the electorate by wielding disproportionate power (the only person in this nation allowed to do that is Winston).

I hate to quote Brooke Howard-Smith from TV3's Target, but Standard team, shame on you.

PB.

Nats likely to be furious over having to pay for Crosby Textor

The boys at The Standard will be well-chuffed with Yoda's column in the Herald on Saturday - after a sharp campaign of explaining away the evils of Crosby/Textor, John Armstrong became the first to indulge them when he wrote:

However, selling "Brand Key" as a breath of fresh air in an otherwise fetid political atmosphere was hardly credible if National was going to team up with Peters once the election was over.

July was definitely the cruellest month to Jonkey, with 15 posts tagged to the brandkey moniker (13 in the first fortnight). A good place to start for research's sake is here.

With a solid strike-rate like that, I'm certain C/T will be keeping an eye our liberal lads, and who knows where that could lead?

Is that DPF I hear, reminiscing over yesteryear?

The lady doth protest too much, methinks

Taking DPF's advice, I aim to do this in under 30 minutes.

Tory hack writes:

The Sunday Star-Times best efforts to re-elect the Government continue. They try a double header today.

Socialist hack writes:

Tracey Watkins is said by some of her colleagues to be spending an ‘unseemly’ about of time hanging out in John Key’s office, she’s certainly spent enough time at National HQ recently to get similar with the wall hangings. So, it’s fairly safe to say we know where her loyalties lie, and it’s not with journalistic independence.

Baby hack hopes partisan communication specialists who engage in tit-for-tat games on the interwebs recognise irony.