I have little respect for Butler - in my opinion she attacked the persona, when she had a winning position (as has been proven). She lost by a few votes to Paul Hudson, who is well associated in the public mind with City Holdings. The Thursday before elections closed, City Holdings had a large ad in the ODT. If I'd been her, I'd have sued the ODT for a re-run of the election. You have to ask the question: Who OK'ed that? Presumably the buck stops with the Editor.
 
But the article you refer to, is interesting indeed, as is the Oaten comment.....
 
Looks to me that the theory is 'if you're going down, come out swinging'.

While it is only a Game to sum and others building a legacy of profligate spending OTHER PEOPLE MONEY....it should be treated as a PENALTY when fouling others pitches.
Adding an extra burden pitched at a RATEPAYER is no hardship for those whose who are actually recompensed....by the said RATEPAYER, who got to Stand the stand and interest on top and then has to pay to see the match....on their already borrowed for pitches....and no doubt borrowed with......munny.
It is a doubly difficult PILL to swallow, when compounded like that.
As this country is not all it is cracked up to be, you can see quite clearly, just who will be paying the Bill until the next BALLS-up.
TAXING those who actually played the game, but lost the match is just an obsene, scene that we will all have to STAND, especially if stupid and paying TAXES and PENALTY RATES.
I hear the half time refreshments were a delight to be hold...and the delight is not of the Ratepayers, nor Taxpayers making.
Nor is being Ruled by fools and taxed like robbers part of the Game we should all be playing.
When the Servants get more of the benefits and perks for the parks, then you know when  it is a pot calling kettle black.....to get miffed and stiffed and fouled to...BOOT.
Such is the game we are playing.