Born in Gisbourne, 1939...(insert 1939-2005 here)... His election was one of national significance because he was contesting the Tauranga electorate, the seat which Winston Peters had held for 21 years.

So lets do a review of Burqa Bob's more memorable moments during his term in the 48th Parliament.

First of all, why is Burqa Bob called Burqa Bob? Here's an excerpt from The Herald to answer that:

The outspoken National MP was reported yesterday as saying that Muslims wearing burqas in public should "go back to Islam or Iraq".

Of course, he was quick to try to remedy his faux pas by saying he'd be happy to meet with Javed Khan, president of the Federation of Islamic Associations. Though Bob had an opinion on him too, saying he needed to "thicken his skin up a little bit".

Within day's of that Bob decided he'd have yet another rant, this time about the nations homosexuals.

"If you walk up and down the street picking your nose, you're a bit different, aren't you? You're going to offend somebody.

"Take that gay parade. They flaunted themselves out there that they're all different than us, and to a certain extent, in my mind, they're trying to make out that we should be the same as them."

The idea of gay couples being allowed to adopt gave him "the guts ache", and even small-scale displays of homosexuality, such as two men holding hands, made him feel strange.

"You can't convince me that's normal.

Interesting, Bob. You're quite the statesman.

Now let's remind ourselves of an interview by TV3's Sarah Gregory, which luckily didn't include a camera.

"They declined to speak on camera but at one point Bob Clarkson, amazingly, said to me 'I'm having to stand up, my crotch is so sore', and actually grabbed his crotch."

To which the party president, Judy Kirk, promptly gave him a 'ticking off' and said, "He is a hard case but I do think it was unwise. I'll be talking to Mr Clarkson." The result of said talk has made his time in the House a rather quiet one, and he is no longer the praised candidate but the silenced National MP. Here are a few of his words which formed when he opened his mouth while the wind blew his tongue around.

• (12 Dec 2007) Interjection: "You'd better hurry, this is under urgency."
• (6 Dec 2007) Interjection: "Pay it back."
• (5 Dec 2007) Interjection: "Whoo-hoo!"
• (17 Oct 2007) Interjection : "Bureaucratic!"
• (10 Oct 2007) Interjection : "Tell us the end of the story."
• (19 Sep 2007) Interjection : "Force?"
• (22 Aug 2007) Interjection : "A bit like the Labour Government."
• (21 Aug 2007) Interjection : "Yes, I did, actually."

So remember, when you get to the polling station and you're wondering which party deserves your vote, think to yourself, 'what would Burqa Bob do?' Is it really your intention to make him your comrade, or God forbid your MP?
After all...

"I'm Bob Clarkson and I'm not going to change."