Hard News: And this week we look at ... Auckland!
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And you know something, I don't like Helen Clark politically but I've no reason to doubt mututal acquaintances who say that she's actually a really warm, funny woman who doesn't come across in public that well.
I don't think she's ever eagerly agreed with the suggestion that homosexuals should be sodomised with barbed wire -- or, indeed, said any of the hateful things that Banks has chosen to say in public. In that sense, there's not really a comparison. I also know people who've worked for Banks who regard him as a loathsome bully.
OTOH, that doesn't disqualify him from being good and decent in some settings, and I do think he's changed a bit over the years.
Funny thing is, I'm told Clark always had a soft spot for Banks.
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Will you lobby the government to clarify offensive behaviour under the Crimes Act in order to prevent parades involving nudity and/or offensive behaviour eg boobs on bikes, beach nudity
I wonder if this includes breastfeeding ?
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I don't think she's ever eagerly agreed with the suggestion that homosexuals should be sodomised with barbed wire -- or, indeed, said any of the hateful things that Banks has chosen to say in public. In that sense, there's not really a comparison.
My point, and one I didn't make very well, is that her rather chilly and brisk public persona isn't all there is to her. I know a guy who knew Muldoon very well and said he could never quite reconcile the pugnacious politician and the rather sweet man who was his friend.
Anyway, I digress. Think it will a snow day in hell before Edwards ever votes for Banks, but I don't see anything wrong with him acknowledging that Banks doesn't spend every moment beheading kittens and fag-bashing.
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Aw, fuck it. Perhaps I'm just too sodding old and tired to spread the hate as wide and deep as I used to. Now people who used to get the full body fire and brimstone treatment just make me sad and snarky.
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Now, I'm scared. I like it better when you bring the pain.
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3410,
I just got robocalled by John Banks.
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I know a guy who knew Muldoon very well and said he could never quite reconcile the pugnacious politician and the rather sweet man who was his friend.
My Irish nana loved Muldoon. She lived in G.I which was part of his electorate and he was very helpful to her in dealing with her IHC son.Muldoon was very popular for a while when I was a kid but of course now he has been written out of National Party history that's something we don't talk about.
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Now people who used to get the full body fire and brimstone treatment just make me sad and snarky.
Hmm, you mean the CraigSlap™ is on hiatus? Methinks it will be back.
Here's some Kim Deal to help save your desk.
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Good grief. Those questions are an illustration of quite how weird Family First is.
Their sole definition of an acceptable view of "afford housing" is "get rid of zoning restrictions".
Except when it comes to brothels, apparently.
And I wouldn't be surprised if they're party to the McMansionisation of housing in NZ.
I've mentioned it before, but that article is all the more reason for a McMansion tax.
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I just got robocalled by John Banks.
You too -- I've been trying to convince the campaigns of Banks and Brown to take me off their mailing lists and getting no joy. Unsolicited mail/robo-calls/spam strikes me as a rather perverse way to court voters.
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Insofar as McMansionisation and Family First go...they've got a small business donor and sponsor list on their Family Forum conclaves that doesn't seem to include any real estate firms. McCoskrie himself is an encapsulated fundie who used to be a Radio Rhema talkback host and tends to think the world is more sock con than it really is.
Craig Y
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BTW, Russell?
I hope the above means the candidates will get a grilling on their responses to the FF survey. Apparently, there's also a (Herald) newspaper ad pdf on the VYV website now as well...And at some point, closer to Decision 2011, I'd love to be on one end of a mike pointed at McCoskrie and asking him some searching questions about real family needs as opposed to FF's version of them...
Craig Y
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And at some point, closer to Decision 2011, I'd love to be on one end of a mike pointed at McCoskrie and asking him some searching questions about real family needs as opposed to FF's version of them...
Goodsex and Sexcrime, anybody?
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I presume Smith also conveniently 'forgot" to tell listeners that Churchill was dumped as PM by the British electorate in the first post WWII election?
Post WWII?
That's a very euro-centric view of the major event of the 20th century =)
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Hush, kiddies. Can you hear the sound of a hundred desks splintering under the impact of a thousand Liverpool kisses?
Tee shirt gold
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I presume Smith also conveniently 'forgot" to tell listeners that Churchill was dumped as PM by the British electorate in the first post WWII election?
Then decided five years later that he wasn't such a bad egg after all. Randolph and Jennie's little boy had a life that resembled a roller-coaster designed by a crackhead.
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However, I do concede that Banks appears to have mellowed since his first term as mayor.
OTOH, that doesn't disqualify him from being good and decent in some settings, and I do think he's changed a bit over the years.
Politics is about perception and politicians, these days, are managed by media advisers.
I know which version of Banks I consider closer to the real man and it ain't the "New Improved" version. Of course, there is the possibility that he has learned "how to do the job properly" but, you know, leopards, spots etc.I wonder if this includes breastfeeding ?
But of course, why else would God have given us "Formula"?
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3410,
I know which version of Banks I consider closer to the real man and it ain't the "New Improved" version.
His focus groups have shown that the people want sincerity, so that's what he's giving 'em.
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Digressing briefly across the ditch...bluidyhell. Does anyone believe that this Bob Katter bloke isn't an utter tosser outside his native Far Right -oops, Far North- Queensland?
He's a classic Australian politician and a reasonable proxy for many far north Queenslanders. He certainly odd, conservative, protectionist and Christian. But he's also genuine. I don't mind politicians I disagree with if they're at least sincere and in Katter's case, he also faithfully represents his constituents.
I can't abide the cynical, focus-grouped, pastiche politician who only ever says what s/he thinks you want to hear and has little if any conviction. I want to know who I'm voting for and against.
And, to his credit, he walked away from a deal with Labor when the Libs, who'd done bugger all for the bush for decades according to Katter, came up with more of what he'd asked for and because he thought it was the right thing by his electorate (whether it was or not isn't the point).
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Digressing briefly across the ditch...bluidyhell. Does anyone believe that this Bob Katter bloke isn't an utter tosser outside his native Far Right -oops, Far North- Queensland?
Possibly not, but since I don't get a vote in the federal Division of Kennedy I don't expect anyone who does to give a flying fuck at a donut hole what I think of their choice. And if you think Katter is what constitutes the "far right" of Australian politics, far be it from me to harsh your bliss.
Still, as I said two weeks ago, isn't it ironic that Julia Gillard doesn't believe in two people of the same gender being allowed to marry, but is now finding political polygamy well inside her comfort zone.
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Yes, but come on, CR...Tony Abbott is probably a goner after this, and will be replaced by someone more palatable to the electorate. And there already seems to be friction over the Libs deputy leadership. Snatching defeat from the jaws of near-victory, anyone?
Craig Y
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Still, as I said two weeks ago, isn't it ironic that Julia Gillard doesn't believe in two people of the same gender being allowed to marry, but is now finding political polygamy well inside her comfort zone.
Yup.
Yes, but come on, CR...Tony Abbott is probably a goner after this, and will be replaced by someone more palatable to the electorate. And there already seems to be friction over the Libs deputy leadership. Snatching defeat from the jaws of near-victory, anyone?
I don't think they'll roll Abbott quite so quickly. He'll reasonably claim he took them to within a whisker and that there's a chance another election could occur soon. The Bishop thing is longstanding - and as much about Western Australians as anything else.
As much as I'd love to see Turnbull their leader, I can't vote and if I could, I'd not vote Liberal (unless I lived in his electorate, in which case I most certainly would).
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Yes, but come on, CR...Tony Abbott is probably a goner after this, and will be replaced by someone more palatable to the electorate.
No way is he a goner. The feeling is that he almost pulled off a massive upset. He's come out of this looking very good. The first Liberal party meeting is happening right now and both Abbott and his deputy will be re-elected unopposed.
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Yes, but come on, CR...Tony Abbott is probably a goner after this
Wishful thinking, namesake o' mine. How soon we forget when the conventional wisdom was that Gillard would rip off Abbott's head and fuck the bleeding neck-stump with the honeymoon period strap-on. We all know what happened -- and it wasn't all down to an awe-inspiringly ill-disciplined and incoherent campaign from the ALP. Much as I dislike Abbott, he's in a much stronger position than he deserves to be. Then again, so is Gillard and the back-room boys who put her in power in the first place.
Of course, the really interesting challenge for Abbott is whether he avoid the lure of mindless GOP-style obstructionism and play a much smarter long game.
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How soon we forget when the conventional wisdom was that Gillard would rip off Abbott's head and fuck the bleeding neck-stump with the honeymoon period strap-on.
The bleeding neck stump, jesus ya gotta stop watching I Claudius.
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