A debate has already cropped up on Twitter from those on the Left side of the spectrum which means Josh’s post has hit the mark.

However, I do note that Slater has become a diminished force at the moment and no longer holds such influence as he did at his peak in the last term of this current National administration.

That said there is nothing stopping Slater nor others that are equally as diminished such as The Daily Blog from coming back in MK2 form. The question is not whether they are being able to but more to the point are they willing to.

Translating this into Local Government level I have noted the same five Councillors who went against the Deputy Mayor in the Mayoral Censure Motion last year are in some what a diminished capacity themselves with their attacks against the rest of the Council.

While I give credit for being predictable their attacks against the other 15 Councillors (incl, the Deputy Mayor) falls into the same situation John has mentioned about the Democrats vs the Koch Brothers.

Now there is plenty of opportunity to be had with the valuations vs rates vs Unitary Plan saga as is. But these five Councillors are fighting the ever changing war using the same battle tactics that has so far denied Conservatives taking control of the Council in itself. New blood using both new and old tools such as path pounding and blogs seem to be carving out their strategies in the war that is valuations vs Rates vs the Unitary Plan. Whether this new blood steps up for the full assault and test themselves via the voting processes in 2016 has yet to be seen but I bet they are working such strategies as I write this.

As for blogs having influence at Local Government Level? Yes they do and can wield quite a bit of influence for better or for worse with quite mixed results in both success and failures.

Two particular blogs hold such prestige with two main stream media pieces also holding that prestige as well. And all four treat it with absolute respect as well even when the four might differ in opinion.