By: Larry Williams | Thursday, October 04, 2012 5:50 PM

ON PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE

The debate was on the economy with a lot of emphasis on tax.

It was a good stoush.

Romney who is seriously behind in the polls was actually very good. On the economy Romney knows his stuff. It was a commanding performance. It will probably give his campaign a lift I think.

The interesting thing was that Romney showed some humility. He kind of looked human. Previously he has looked like he was devoid of the human touch. The Republicans even brought in his wife at the convention to humanise him.

Another factor running against Romney is that he represents Wall St, and that is not the side to be on when his country is in financial tatters, due in part to the actions of Wall St.

But today at times Romney had Obama on the ropes. He won I think. I was surprised.

Obama was always on a hiding to nothing being the incumbent of course.

 

ON JOHN KEY

The PM will just have to suck it up over the GCSB and Dotcom affair.

He is being portrayed as a liar which I think is unfair, but that's the way it is.

The information that has been released from the earlier meeting with the GCSB shows the Dotcom mugshot appeared on a screen in a montage of 11 other images. A brief reference was made about the police working with the GCSB. That's it.

To be sure, I'm kind of wondering why the GCSB never actually discussed this in detail. The memo is very clear that the PM was not briefed on any aspect of Dotcom. Key was briefed on nothing. He should have been. The clean out of the GCSB can't come quick enough.

I note there are more stories today about suggestions Dotcom was being snooped on from last November. This claim appeared in the Dominion Post. There is no evidence presented in the story to support this. If substantiated this will be sheeted home to Key by opponents.

Anyway, one would hope that Dotcom had been spied on a lot earlier. I'd have had the SIS all over him. Why the GCSB was is a mystery.

I'm hopeful that now the Government has worked up the courage to revoke Tyson's visa they might now have a look at Dotcom's residency.

 

ON TYSON

There seems to be little negative reaction to Tysons visa being revoked.

The promoters still think they have got a shot at this but that is most unlikely. The Minister won't change her position again.

I think Kate Wilkinson was in fact decisive. She granted the application on the back of the Life Education Trust support. They withdrew that. The Minister withdrew the visa.

What made Tysons visit more unpalatable was his claim that he didn't rape the woman he was sent to prison for. And that the PM couldn't stop him from coming.

Tysons a moron but would I tell him to his face ? Probably not.