When I say " dowdy childless and emotionless Helen Clark." I mean that it what a lot of people perceive her to be.

While I do not once for a moment think that she is the greatest prime minister NZ has had, I would have to say she is up there. I think my biggest regret is that she went to UF in 2002 rather than the greens. I think things would have panned out very differently.

Hi all, long time reader, first time poster.

Well, I have been famous for my so-called rants over the past few years, especially since 2004/2005. I dropped off a little after that, but life kinda got in the way...

Anyway, I just want to share my thoughts on what happened. Firstly, I am fearful greatly for this nation. National alone, or even with Peter Dunne, I could live with. Barely. Its what ACT will extract out of National that worries me. I saw Roger Douglas' rant on TV3 last night and though, here we go its going to be a nasty few years. Then you have plutocrats like Boscowen, who seems to think that multi-millionaires giving cash to political parties in exchange for policy concessions somehow equates to freedom of speech. And you also have David Garrett, who if he had his way, will turn New Zealand into a Clockwork Orange style police state. The Maori Party I wouldnt trust that much either....to me its all about the brown ripping off the brown. All this talk about unbundling to me is just about handing buckets of taxpayer funds to the Maori elite to provide a substandard service to poor Maori who quite frankly deserve better than patronisation. I really hope I am proved wrong, but if you take the economic crisis into account, we are going to see Roger-nomics and Ruthanasia part 2.

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On Winston, like him or loathe him, he does bring forth issues that really need to be debated, such as immigration, and the level of foriegn control over our economy. And it has to be conceded that he has delivered on a few of his promises over the course of his time on the political scene. He has also been a competent foriegn minister,establishing a good relationship with the USA. I actually belive that the reason behind his concession and bowing out is because John Key might have promised him the role of Ambassador to the USA if National won the election behind the scenes. I might be wrong, and it is simply because he realised that his time had come to do. I dont have any strong feelings about him either way, I think he has been both a blessing and a curse, and his departure will be a loss. I would expect to see NZF dissolve and bleed off its membership to Labour and National (Ron Mark I think will end up on a National party ticket in 2011).

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Labour looks to have been left in good shape for the next 3 years. There has been a lot of young people coming in, and a lot of them have progressive left views, as well as a smattering of centerists. Also looks to be a broad base of people, from unionists like Carol Beaumont, to centerist businesspeople like Shane Jones. Labour has firmly closed the door on Rogernomics, and might just tack slightly more to the left, indeed as it had done over the past 18 months or so...Helen Clark knew what she was doing when she stepped down, she wanted a fast bloodless transition in the leadership, rather than one dragged out till 2009/2010..A new Labour leadership team will take some time out to have a break over summer, and then get stuck into taking on National in the new year. Labour are going to go all out to make sure that National only last one term. I am picking that Phill Goff will be leader (he has the experience if nothing else), Maryan Street will be deputy, and Cunliffe will be finance spokesperson. I think a lot of the old gaurd such as Mallard who have been liabilites will be shunted off to the back bench and out the door in 2011.

I dont think that Helen and Michael will go their full term. Ill give them both 18 months. (I wonder if Andrew Little will contest Mt Albert after Helen goes?)

As for Jim Anderton, the guy has spent 15 years rotting on the opposition benches. He says that he intends to serve out his full term, but some how I doubt it. He will be gone in 18 months time.

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The smacking parties (Kiwi, Family and so on) fizzilled, which can only be good. It goes to show really, when push comes to shove smacking isnt actually a big deal.

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Its also a good result for MMP, as we have a clear indication of what sort of result we are going to have. Without the uncertainty of previous elections, I think that this result is going to give MMP a better reputation among the voters, and if a referendum is held like it has been suggested, I think MMP will stay, if only by a small margin

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It would be fair to say that the Maori Party is here to stay, and they might be able get all 7 seats in future, and pick up a few party votes as well...without HC, Labour may be more receptive to the idea of working with the Maori Party in future. And despite what the right may think, Maori party, especially those on lower imcomes or from a working class backgrounds go for Labour. Their system of owning land and the like is collective, In Maoridom it is generally about sharing.

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The right won this election, fair and square, no doubt about that. John Key has run a good campaign, selling himself as the ordinary bloke, the man of the people, His wife is beautiful, and his children are well mannered, he is an ordinary family man, as opposed to the dowdy childless and emotionless Helen Clark. He has presented himself well on television, and lets face it, he holds himself well. Hes going to have a hell of a time handling Roger Douglas though...

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And the last word is with the Greens. I look forward to seeing them go from strength to strength in the future, and I hope that Kennedy Graham gets in on the specials, that would give them a strong voice.

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It was always going to be a big ask for a 4th term, and I think the mood for change had been ingrained. There is an old saying that governments lose elections, and I think that Labour lost this election more than labour won it. I think people got sick of Helen and swapped her for John. Plus there is all that stuff about greed and that which I am not really going to go into there..

Well then, that is that....hopefully Russell, National wont cancel your show on TV7 and replace it with some reality show about bachelorttes getting extreme makeovers or something....