Probably won't sleep too well, myself. Worried about the climate. Been listening to some wombat telling me Trump is the best thing ever for the environment because of all the golf courses he has built!
Never knew Seeger supported Obama. Jeez!
There was a real Bob the Builder in politics: Bob Clarkson, from Tauranga.
He was much funnier than Savile--hell, so is Keir Starmer---and almost as funny as Trump.
Bob Clarkson
Robert Moncrieff Clarkson CNZM (born 1939 in Gisborne) is a former Member of the New Zealand Parliament. He was the National Party MP for Tauranga from 2005 to 2008.
... began selling and servicing tractors in Matamata before deciding to import V8 motors from the United States, a business he continued for nine years.[1] Clarkson then moved into commercial building construction. ....
Sexual harassment allegation: "left testicle" During the campaign sexual harassment allegations were made against Clarkson by a former employee. Clarkson claimed the allegations were the result of a misunderstanding arising from a mention of his left testicle to a colleague. It was claimed Clarkson repeatedly made jokes, such as "I bet my left testicle the all blacks will win" to female employees. Clarkson, in the heat of the controversy, grabbed and talked about his crotch to a female reporter.[4]
Campaign overspending petition Winston Peters filed a petition in the High Court of New Zealand alleging that Clarkson had spent more on campaigning than is allowed under the Electoral Act 1993. The Act prescribes a campaign spending limit of $20,000 per local candidate. Peters alleged that Clarkson had spent more than $100,000. However the High Court found that Clarkson had only spent $18,159. The court ordered Peters to pay $40,000 in legal costs to Bob Clarkson.[5]
Controversy over minority groups In several interviews, Clarkson made a number of comments which caused offense to Muslim and homosexual groups. He was reported as saying that Muslim women wearing burqas, who did not want to fit in should "go back to Islam or Iraq" and that burqas should not be worn in banks or courts. Clarkson also made reference to the number of gay and lesbian Members of Parliament (MPs) in the New Zealand Labour Party and was quoted as saying "We've got a problem there they are employing more of those than average people."[6] The National Party MP caused further controversy after comparing homosexuality to nose picking, saying that "If you walk up and down the street picking your nose, you're a bit different, aren't you? You're going to offend somebody." Clarkson was also reported as saying he had nothing against gays and lesbians unless they tried to "ram it down" his throat.[7]
Folole Muliaga Clarkson during a parliamentary debate on an electricity regulation to protect vulnerable customers yelled out "pay your bill" several times while the case of Folole Muliaga was being discussed. Muliaga died after her electricity was cut because she could not afford to pay the overdue bill. When asked to apologise in parliament after offence was taken by another member to the interjection, Clarkson left the House after refusing to apologise. Clarkson said: "Sorry that's his problem."[8] Clarkson was reprimanded for the comments after John Key said the comments were "distasteful."
Stepping down from Parliament In May 2008 it was announced Clarkson would not stand for re-election.[9] He did not deliver a valedictory speech before he left Parliament on 25 September 2008. In 2011 he announced he was leaving the National Party and joining ACT New Zealand,[10][11] although he did not stand as a candidate for that party.
Honours and awards Clarkson was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to philanthropy, in the 2003 New Year Honours.[12]
on November 6, 2024, 6:37 am