I am glad that Obama won the US Presidential elections. This is not just because I dislike the Republican party in the US, but also because the feeling of change that has surged around the world in recent days can only help remove the Labour party from government in New Zealand.

I myself am very much a centerist / center rightist in political views. With both Labour and National bending much towards the center in recent years there is actually very little different between these two parties. So why then the time for change? Surely the status quo is acceptable?

My decision on who I support then comes down to two concerns.

1. The other political parties that will be rquired if any to form the government and their relative clout.
2. and to a lesser extent the personalities of the political parties.

Coalition Partners:
By these concerns I simply foind that supporting Labour is simply a choice that I can not stomach. For Labour to form a government based on expected results they would need to form a grand coalition between the Greens, Progressive, the Maori Party, and NZ First on the unlikely chance they return to parliament this election. Jim Anderton is insignificant, and I don't suspect NZ First will be back so I will ignore them at this stage.

The Maori Party: What are their policies... they certainly are light in this area, although I will admit that I do like the fact that Tariana Turia wants to get rid of the Dole and replace it with some training / work for the dole type scheme. Entrenchment of the Maori Seats ... I am strongly apposed to this without a reformation of how MMP is run. The Maori Party with the Maori seats equals a guaranteed overhang under MMP as it is currently designed, and overhangs should be the exception not the norm under a working system. Allowing a system with a continual overhang simply brings us back closer to FPP where it was easier to form a majority government with a minority of the party vote.

The Greens: This is the political party that makes me really not want Labour to win this election. I believe that this election in particular the Greens have been inflated above their means by disenfranshised Labour voters. Should National win this election many of these left-swing voters will return to Labour in 2011 (making Labour once again more palitable). My problem with the Greens is that they are a party of ideals with a lacking of common sense, and with the Greens having a much larger share of the political power in a Labour grand coalition I can see them bringing the country economically to its knees.

Personalities:
Personalities play a much more minor role in influencing my decision, but still does come into play. Firstly the personality of the party itself. WTF has gone on with Labour this year, their campaigning has been consistently negative and to a certain extent desperate. Whether it is the Electoral Finance Act, the H-Fee non event, and their repeated attempts to dig dirt on John Key they have not done anything positive, and I think this has largely driven the Labour to Greens flight. The other people who I just can't stand is the all-condecending Micheal Cullin, and the bossy Helen Clark. A National win would hopefully allow Phil Goff to clear out the closet and take over. National has a few gits as well; Lockward Smith & Maurice Williamson (fortunatelly they both will be off to the back bench should National win). Bill English does not stack up will either in my opinion, but I am willing to forgive him after he let himself get smacked around a bit in the Fight For Life back in 2002. John Key while inexperienced is a fast learner and is easy to get on with, and from a foreign affairs standpoint its John Key and not Helen Clark I would like as the face of New Zealand.