The Linesman is a new blog of digital caricatures of New Zealand politicians.   Not Sure what Bill English is supposed to be in the one above (Emperor Palpatine?), but this could be a cool resource for other political blogs.

While the Christian parties had 1996 to give them hope, most knew they had no chance.  While the Libertarianz and the Workers’ Party would be happy just to stand by their ideals, you have to wonder why the Alliance doesn’t just join Labour or the Greens or why the Marxists of RAM are so coy about their politics.

In what’s become a biennial event, the Far Right and Left are having another Labour Weekend protest and counter-protest. 

This’ll be the first notable outing of Kyle Chapman’s Nationalist Alliance, which will no doubt prove just to be the same old collection of skinheads and white supremacists.   On the other side the plain anti-racists will no doubt be accompanied by the masked anti-bypass/GE/Bush/deodorant crowd who’ll help things get messy. 

Apparently, the Nationalist Alliance are expecting to gather 100 people for what they hope will move them beyond the politicle sideshows of their past efforts.  That won’t happen.

Having made a few predictions, I’ve backed myself on iPredict. 

In Wellington Central I’m backing Robertson (bought 25 at 80c) but think Franks is underpriced (bought 14 at 15c but have a sell order for 18.7c).

For the overall election outcome I’ve shorted both a National majority (50 at 23.41c) and National getting more than 48% (14 shares but an order to cover that should it reach 44c). Also I’ve bought Clark remaining PM (100 at 26c but selling for 30c, which tonight’s poll supports).

I’ve also lost 15c by misreading a bet on the OCR.

With the real campaign having kicked off, the efforts of two minnow parties stood out for me.  

RAM’s anti-GST on food petition, which leveraged their membership, is great grass roots organisation.  This issue could have been picked up by any of the populist parties but only RAM put runs on the board with it.  They should crack four figures voting results – a significant minnow achievement.

The Family Party clearly took on board the lessons of Destiny’s 2005 campaign.  Their coherent, persistent and active campaign to win South Auckland seats has far exceeded minnows’ normal low standards.

The Family Party is counting on South Auckland voters being stupid or ambivalent about economic policy.   The party has rather right-wing economic policy.  The voters it is pursuing have always voted  Labour (economically left wing). 

The Family Party must be assuming stupidity or ambivalence if they expect to win seats in South Auckland voters.  This is, of course, not even considering that these voters might not want to create another coalition partner for National in Parliament.   

I’m guessing people in Mangere, Manukau East and Manurewa aren’t that unsophisticated.

I received one of my first pieces of junk mail for the upcoming election.  What struck me was, as you can see, how motherhood and apple pie the slogans on it were.

These could be slogans for the majority of the candidates standing.  The worst thing about this stuff is that the candidate using it is smart enough to have come up with something much better. 

Which candidate? Click here (although you if you’re able to be fooled by the wonders of Microsoft Paint you may be a little confused )