1. NEW NATIONAL LINE UP
2. EDITORIAL: THE GREENS ARE YELLOW
3. PPTA GETS WHAT THEY VOTED FOR
4. AFGHANISTAN TV GUIDE
5. TOP TEN CHANGES UNDER BILL ENGLISH
6. WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

1. NEW NATIONAL LINE UP

"National’s new line-up is the next step on National’s path to Government," Opposition Leader Hon Bill English said today.

"Over the past two days I have met with each member of Caucus and discussed with them how they can contribute to a National team working towards Government. I have set out to build on MPs’ strengths and put together an effective team."

"National is at a critical stage in finalising substantial policy. For this reason, I have decided to retain an overview of policy by retaining the Finance spokesmanship.

"Under this arrangement, there will be two Associate Finance spokespeople, Hon David Carter and Hon Dr Lockwood Smith. Dr Smith will be responsible for fiscal issues and Mr Carter the balance of the portfolio. David Carter will move into the spokesmanship next year when has had time to come to grips with the portfolio.

"The new Shadow Leader of the House will be Gerry Brownlee. Nick Smith will take up Education. He will also retain his responsibility for the Environment.

"Wayne Mapp, Georgina te Heuheu and David Carter will move to the front bench. I have also promoted Simon Power and Lynda Scott.

"I have discussed Jenny Shipley’s plans with her and we have agreed that she will take responsibility for State Services and Trade.

"National is the underdog for the next election, so we have a big political job ahead of us. The changes I have announced are the next steps to achieve that goal," Mr English said.

Check out www.national.org.nz for the full list of rankings.

2. EDITORIAL: THE GREENS ARE YELLOW

The Green Party claim they are receiving "hundreds" of faxes and emails every day in support of their campaign against the American bombings in Afghanistan. I wonder how many of those are abusive emails like the ones I have sent.

I am no great fan of the Greens (and that's an understatement) but I have been particularly sickened by their whingeing about American retaliation. They claim to be concerned about civilian casualties. What about the 6000 civilians dead in New York City? What about the 8000 Shiites apparently slaughtered by the Taliban? What about the women who are stoned, beaten and murdered for crimes such as going to school or exposing their faces in public? When do you have the guts to say "enough is enough"?

Another question for the Greens, and their sanctimonous friends on the left (Noam Chomsky et al) - how many more civilians will die if the terrorists are left in peace, to carry on with their plans? What kind of a message does it send to aggressors around the world if the US refuses to retaliate for the slaughter of its civilians?

The Taliban have had a month's warning that there will be no distinction made between those who committed the acts, and those who shelter them. They chose to side with the terrorists; they are now suffering the consequences.

The Greens should also explain how they would deal non-violently with terrorists. How exactly do you "negotiate" with Bin Laden? Perhaps Matt Robson could include Kabul on his "Peace tour" of universities. I'm sure the Taliban would love a lecture on non-violence.

What is more sickening is that Green Foreign Affairs Spokesman Keith Locke, who now opposes US action in Afghanistan, wrote an article in 1980 entitled "Why Workers Should Support Soviet Action in Afghanistan". Not only did he defend the communist invasion, he also celebrated Pol Pot's coup in Cambodia in 1975.

The values of peace, freedom and democracy do not come lightly. If you are not prepared to stand up and defend those principles, then you don't deserve them.

3. PPTA GETS WHAT THEY VOTED FOR

Yesterday’s protest at Parliament by members of the PPTA was a far cry from the protests of bygone years when a Labour member was only too happy to front up to disgruntled teachers, National's Education spokesperson Gerry Brownlee said today.

On Wednesday Justice Minister Phil Goff met two donkeys on the steps of Parliament, and discussed animal welfare issues with them. However the following day Labour Ministers and MPs, once the darlings of the PPTA, refused to meet the protesters.

Mr Brownlee told the teachers that the strike action is unacceptable. He said the union has acquiesced to the Government's workload encumbrance, the NCEA, and now it is punishing students for a breakdown in negotiations.

"The union insists on promoting a one-size-fits-all system for New Zealand's secondary schools. Until it moves out of the twentieth century and comes to grips with the challenges of this millennium, it will never raise the status of teachers.

"There is a strong case for good teachers to be paid more. Speakers at the Knowledge Wave Conference were united in one thing - the value of the education system to our economy and the worth of good teachers.

"The PPTA campaigned on behalf of Labour at the last election. They are now getting what they voted for," Mr Brownlee said.

4. AFGHANISTAN TV GUIDE
MONDAYS:
8:00 - "Husseinfeld"
8:30 - "Mad About Everything"
9:00 - "Suddenly Sanctions"
9:30 - "The Brian Benben Bin Laden Show"
10:00 - "Allah McBeal"

TUESDAYS:
8:00 - "Wheel of Terror and Fortune"
8:30 - "The Price is Right If Usama Says Its Right"
9:00 - "Children Are Forbidden From Saying The Darndest Things"
9:30 - "Afganistans Wackiest Public Execution Bloopers"
10:00 - "Buffy The Yankee Imperialist Dog Slayer"

WEDNESDAYS:
8:00 - "U.S. Military Secrets Revealed"
8:30 - "When Northern Alliance Attack"
9:00 - "Two Guys, a Girl, and a Pita Bread"
9:30 - "Just Shoot Everyone"
10:00 - "Veilwatch"

THURSDAYS:
8:00 - "Matima Loves Chachi"
8:30 - "M*U*S*T*A*S*H"
9:00 - "Veronicas Closet Full of Long, Black, Shapeless Dresses and Veils"
9:30 - "My Two Baghdads"
10:00 - "Diagnosis: Heresy"

FRIDAYS:
8:00 - "Judge Laden"
8:30 - "Funniest Super 8 Home Movies"
9:00 - "Captured Northern Alliance Rebels Say the Darndest Things"
9:30 - "Achmeds Creek"
10:00 - "No-witness News"

5. TOP TEN CHANGES UNDER BILL ENGLISH

1. Webcams will be installed outside Michelle Boag's holiday bach to give advance warning of the next coup.

2. English will secure his leadership by making Simon Power health spokesman for a few years.

3. English will campaign for the youth vote by hanging out in the Gore public toilets with Mikey and Newsboy.

4. English will email Christine Fletcher telling her she can't have her old job back, even if she cries.

5. English will cultivate a "hip urban" look by switching to David Cunliffe's barber.

6. Tony Ryall will be instructed not to test Georgina Beyer's prediction in the House that he'd "look good in this dress I'm wearing".

7. Maurice Williamson will be "promoted" to new role re-programming all MPs' video recorders for daylight savings.

8. Contraceptives will be banned in caucus as the party adopts English's plan to double National's vote in 18 years.

9. The charasmatic Richard Worth will be deployed to steal the Auckland vote with his charms.

10. Michael "pair of knockers" Cullen will watch Benny Hill re-runs in search of more witty lines.

6. WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

http://www.rightclick.co.nz

A great web resource which contains information and links to various right-leaning organisations around New Zealand. It has links to interest groups, political parties, mailing lists, book reviews and satire. It is even color-coded to warn you of potential socialist links - they are in red.

Any views expressed here are not necessarily those of New Zealand Young Nationals, or the New Zealand National Party.

Contributions, feedback, articles and subscriptions welcome. Email
newwrite@national.org.nz

Editor: Phil Rennie

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