[caffiend]

So, those of you who believe she "sold-out" simply to keep power; what else should she have done in her position? The only way to keep a Labour-led coalition was to compromise. Should she have instead refused to form a coalition?

The problem there is with MMP and the douchebags in NZ politics in general who ultimately manage to get some form of power/influence, not with Helen herself. I doubt very much that she enjoyed most of her last term, or the decisions she had to make and the public "support" (read: noncommittal lack of chastising) she had to show for certain individuals.