New Zealand Election 2017

[Sestak]

Why does Winston hate ACT?

Because ACT is the only party that isn't power-hungry/spineless enough to bend to Winston's every whim.

[Sestak]

Nah, Kiwis are fine with the electoral system, much to the irritation of the establishment. And a party like NZF will always have a niche, even if it isn't NZF in particular. Heck, one could draw comparisons with the pre-MMP era Social Credit party, which was at some times very popular (although not enough to actually make it into parliament)

One of the weird things about MMP is although people often scaremonger about a huge number of minor parties and nutcases proliferating, New Zealand's party system has stayed relatively, well not stable exactly, but very much rooted in the traditional system. Especially now all the oddballs like the Maori Party have gone or been rendered as harmless puppets (i.e. the Greens making the steps into becoming a permanent annex of Labour and ACT being kept alive at the whims of National), you now have a good old "two and a half party" system.

It's only "good old" if you're a big fan of the "Half Party". I'd rather not have to rely on xenophobes to do everything.

[Sestak]

Well, whichever party he goes with is the one I'm not supporting in 2020.

[Sestak]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/98031249/winston-peters-decides-national-labour-may-learn-fate-at-same-time-as-the-public

The announcement is expected this afternoon, but we are not being told if it will be early or late afternoon.

Grrrr.

Winston's showmanship is seriously starting to tick me off.

[Sestak]

https://twitter.com/avancenz/status/920802640245563392

Ugh now he might be delaying further.

Also this is just cruel: https://twitter.com/avancenz/status/920802860283052033

[Sestak]

This could mean something:

https://twitter.com/patrickgowernz/status/920852980693209089

Winston must be enjoying this so much. What an a**hole.

[Sestak]

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[Sestak]

Just two quick questions for the all of you:

If Winston goes with National, does Jacinda resign?

If Winston goes with Labour, does English resign?

[Sestak]

Literally the press is split on who he's going with.

God damn it Winston.

[Sestak]

The one good thing about them being split on the number of cabinet positions is that it looks like Winston probably hasn't been offered PM.

[Sestak]

Announcement will be at the hour, per The Guardian.

(probably a little later than that; Winston will likely tease it as long as possible during his speech before announcing his decision)

[Sestak]

Alright, 20 minutes left. Let's make some final predictions.

I think he goes with Labour.

[Sestak]

https://twitter.com/henrycooke/status/920874288357314560

This is almost as intense as the floor reports from the July 31 healthcare vote.

[Sestak]

Well, its the hour.

Let's see.

[Sestak]

Surprise no leak yet, usually these things are leaked to the media by someone before so he must be keeping his cards really close to his chest.

Oh yes. He may not have even told the leaders yet. (Or at least he hadn't until like the last hour or so).

[Sestak]

Imagine if he just doesn't show up and leaves us hanging for like an hour and then says there's not going to be a decision today.

[Sestak]

Imagine if he just doesn't show up and leaves us hanging for like an hour and then says there's not going to be a decision today.

He's 20 minutes late.

He might actually be doing it!

[Sestak]

PFFFT HAHAHAHA!

https://twitter.com/jo_moir/status/920879803766489089

[Sestak]

Could one of the leaders issue an ultimatum, either announce his choice in the next 24 hours or the deal is off and that might force him to stop playing games although he did this in 1996.

That would take English and Shaw going into coalition talks.

(Which I'm secretly hoping will somehow happen)

[Sestak]

Are you kidding me? Live on Facebook??!! DID HE FAKE OUT THE PRESS?

[Sestak]

Could one of the leaders issue an ultimatum, either announce his choice in the next 24 hours or the deal is off and that might force him to stop playing games although he did this in 1996.

That would take English and Shaw going into coalition talks.

(Which I'm secretly hoping will somehow happen)

It won't, Both English and Shaw hate each other. I don't get why you endorse a NAT-GRN Coalition when it was never going to happen in the first place.

Some very wishful thinking on my part.

I'm probably going to support ACT next round - tired of everyone else kissing up to Winston.

[Sestak]

Lol did anyone else hear that Windows disconnect sound on the stream?

[Sestak]

Lol did anyone else hear that Windows disconnect sound on the stream?

No, but I don't think the press pool know they've been fooled yet.

They definitely know about the Facebook stuff.

Also, my stream is no longer loading.

[Sestak]

Jacinda to speak immediately following Peters. English will likely speak afterwards.

The question is: is the concession going to come first? Or the victory speech?

[Sestak]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqOof4BjvY8

YouTube live stream of NZ Herald.

Man, Peters is taking forever.

and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever