The Politics Thread

[janea4old]

I seem to have posted the Jacinda Ardern article twice. Removing one copy. Edited January 19, 2023 by janea4old

[Noel]

Kitara Ravache! Ooo La La - gimme some of dat! Hey, kitty girl! 

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[janea4old]

Full text of her speech
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300787810/live-jacinda-ardern-resigns-as-prime-minister-labour-to-vote-on-new-leader-on-sunday

Ardern's unexpected announcement:

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced her resignation shortly after 1pm today, during a press conference at the party retreat in Napier.
She says colleagues who knew her well were not surprised that she, over summer, had decided she would stand down this year.

{in reference to the Southern Hemisphere summer}

She told reporters: 

"I believe that leading a country is the most privileged job anyone could ever have, but also one of the more challenging. You cannot, and should not do it unless you have a full tank, plus, a bit in reserve for those unexpected challenges. 

"This summer, I had hoped to find a way to prepare for not just another year, but another term - because that is what this year requires. I have not been able to do that."

Ardern says she has no plan after this year's election, but wants to spend time with her family. She says she will stay on as an electorate MP until the election.

"I am not leaving because I believe we cannot win the next election, but because I believe we can and will," she said.

Here is the official statement from the Prime Minister's office:

“Being Prime Minister has been the greatest honour of my life and I want to thank New Zealanders for the enormous privilege of leading the country for the last five and a half years,” Jacinda Ardern said.

“With holding such a privileged role comes responsibility, including the responsibility to know when you’re the right person to lead, and also when you’re not.  

“I have given my absolute all to being Prime Minister but it has also taken a lot out of me. You cannot and should not do the job unless you have a full tank, plus a bit in reserve for those unplanned and unexpected challenges that inevitably come along. 

“Having reflected over summer I know I no longer have that bit extra in the tank to do the job justice. It’s that simple. 

“I have spoken to the Governor-General this morning to let her know.

“In addition to our ambitious agenda that has sought to address long term issues like the housing crisis, child poverty and climate change, we also had to respond to a major biosecurity incursion, a domestic terror attack, a volcanic eruption and a one in one hundred year global pandemic and ensuing economic crisis. The decisions that had to be made have been constant and weighty. 

“I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved over the last five years in spite of the many challenges thrown at us. We’ve turned around child poverty statistics and made the most significant increases in welfare support and public housing stock seen in many decades.

“We’ve made it easier to access education and training while improving the pay and conditions of workers. And we’ve worked hard to make progress on issues around our national identify - I believe that teaching our history in schools and celebrating Matariki as our own indigenous national holiday will all make a difference for years to come. 

“And we’ve done that while responding to some of the biggest threats to the health and economic wellbeing of New Zealanders, arguably since World War Two.

“The Labour team are incredibly well placed to contest the next election. They are the most experienced team in the country and have shown they have the skills necessary to respond to whatever comes their way.

“I’m not leaving because I believe we can’t win the election, but because I believe Labour can and will win it. We need a fresh set of shoulders for the challenges of both this year and the next three. 

“As to my time in the job, I hope I leave New Zealanders with a belief that you can be kind, but strong, empathetic but decisive, optimistic but focused. And that you can be your own kind of leader - one who knows when it’s time to go,” Jacinda Ardern said.

 

More here:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/19/jacinda-ardern-resigns-as-prime-minister-of-new-zealand

“I don’t want to leave the impression that the adversity you face in politics is the reason that people exit. Yes, it does have an impact. We are humans after all, but that was not the basis of my decision,” she said.

Ardern said she had no future plans, other than to spend more time with her family.

She thanked her partner, Clarke Gayford, and daughter Neve, whom she gave birth to while holding office, as “the ones that have sacrificed the most out of all of us”.

Statement from the prime minister's website:
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-announces-resignation

Edited January 19, 2023 by janea4old

[janea4old]

[DRW50]

 

[Noel]

For humor:

Marley & GoFundMe: A George Santos Story

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Edited January 20, 2023 by Noel

[DramatistDreamer]

[DramatistDreamer]

After he and his lawyer were charged $1 million for a previous frivolous lawsuit against Hillary Clinton, James Comey and others, it appears that Trump and his lawyer have withdrawn another frivolous lawsuit against AG Letitia James.

[Juliajms]

They just can't stop trying to punish poor people. Shameful!

https://twitter.com/SamiScheetz/status/1616230826848489478?s=20&t=R4EzF2Uq_6oSJCGyy3W6Nw

 

 

Edited January 20, 2023 by Juliajms

[Noel]

Thanks, @DramatistDreamer! Morning Joe briefly had a segment of this Russian oligarch topic, but didn't go as thoroughly as the article you have provided. Once again, thank you.

Rep. Kinzinger: People Like Matt Gaetz Don’t Have This Country’s Heart In Their Mind

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Edited January 21, 2023 by Noel

[DramatistDreamer]

You’re welcome @Noel. Unfortunately, with the exception of PBS, most television shows aren’t going to really go in depth with these news topics.

[Juliajms]

I hadn't seen it, but PBS just let me watch it. I knew a lot of what was in it, but not the details. I should have known the Koch brothers were knee deep in these crimes against humanity. I agree 100% that the oil companies were (and are) run by psychopathic liars. I just think the politicians who went along are much worse and many people have known the truth for decades. Our leaders had academic and government studies (as mentioned in the frontline report) that showed that global warming is real. They chose to sell out.

Its reminiscent of the CEO's of cigarette companies standing in front of Congress swearing their products don't cause cancer. They gave politicians just enough cover and money to prolong the status quo, but most educated people knew they were lying. Same with all the junk food/beverage companies. They have their scientists actively trying to create ultra processed food that the human brain craves, while pretending they aren't selling us poison. Of course, they also lobby against sugar taxes.

Speaking about crimes against humanity have you seen the documentaries about what Texico/Chevron did in Ecuador? 18 billion gallons of toxic water dumped on tribal lands in the rain forest. 1,000 open toxic oil pits. It happened in the 70's and it's still in the courts. I doubt the people who were poisoned will ever see justice. Everyone involved should have spent their lives imprisoned.

 

[DRW50]

@DramatistDreamer It's very interesting seeing that as !@#$%^&*] Carlson recently had a piece on berating big government/the left/what have you for making people feel bad about using nicotine and encouraging them to smoke pot. A reminder of just how much power these lobbies and shadow companies have.

[DramatistDreamer]

I have read a bit about it but I haven’t seen any documentaries based on this. It is egregious that greed blinds people to the obvious suffering of entire communities of people. 

Carlson is a greedy pig out for ratings. It sad that anyone in this life would believe a word that he says. He’s bought and paid for.

[dragonflies]

Hello 911 I'd like to report a murder lol!!!