Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Idiotic and lamentable behaviour

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  • Graeme Edgeler,

    Mind you, if National can't form a government next election at least the right wing bloggers will fall silent...

    Hardly.

    Renewed (and louder) complaints about something called "the Maorimander".

    Laments against MMP as undemocratic etc. if they do well with electorates.

    Repeated assertions that Labour stole the last election and shouldn't even have been in government this time.

    Observations that they changed electoral laws in their favour... etc.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    They'll be to busy moving to Aussie, or inciting a military coup, or simply retreating to the bath with a 40oz bottle of Bombay Sapphire and a stanley knife.

    Oy vey...

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Don Christie,

    Certainly is, then again do you think perhaps Labour has made a rod for their own back

    For sure and of course. But this goes beyond that. In fact, I really doubt this bill appeals to Labour's constituency. Must people in NZ probably don't really care even though it is quite important. It was being pushed through for pretty non-political reasons, wasn't it? How many extra votes for the parties that pass this bill?

    This was an opportunity for that overworked word, statesmanship. Keys had his example set by Peters.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    This was an opportunity for that overworked word, statesmanship.

    Certainly, Don - and that works both ways. So does good faith bargaining.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • ron,

    That is breathtaking.

    Why on earth would the PM, who needs the support of National to pass this bill, not invite John Key to the briefing? Truly ming boggling.

    It also casts an interesting light on Jane Clifton's "it's all because Annette King is such a cow" explanation of events.

    Yeah, what would Jane know? Tell me who her partner is again...

    auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 77 posts Report

  • InternationalObserver,

    Truly ming boggling

    It's spelt minge.

    Since Jun 2007 • 909 posts Report

  • Tony Kennedy,

    This post has really nothing to do with the content of this thread other than the fact that it might help people chill out a bit.

    So from today’s Dom, in its review of tonight’s game between Manawatu and Tasman, Manawatu coach Dave Rennie referring to Argentinean fullback Francisco Bosch is quoted as follows:

    “he’s a typical South American, he’ fairly flamboyant. But he’s a really good bugger and certainly popular with the boys”

    Translating that into Spanish would be an interesting challenge

    Only in NZ Rugby :-)

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 225 posts Report

  • Don Christie,

    Why on earth would the PM, who needs the support of National to pass this bill, not invite John Key to the briefing? Truly ming boggling.

    "What do you mean, Flash Gordon approaching"? (sorry, I was thinking of Ming boggles).

    Well, I dunno. Maybe Key was overseas or just out of cell phone coverage or in a meeting. But if the PM of any hue makes and effort to pick up the phone and initiate direct contact I would at least expect that Key would have heard about it.

    Here's what McCully wrote a couple of weeks ago:

    The answer is simple: Annette King is really, really arrogant. And at the sharp end of politics, really serious arrogance, mixed with a solid dose of real stupidity, can yield some very unfortunate consequences.

    That is pretty toxic stuff. Talk about personality attacks.

    He goes on:

    Concerned at the outcome of the select committee report, Helen Clark asked for a meeting with then Leader of the National Party Don Brash and invited her Ministers to state their case. On 7 July 2004 Dr Brash wrote to the Prime Minister in response, restating the concerns outlined in the National Party’s minority report

    Don Juan refuses a meeting, maybe Helen's no match for his superior intellect. Just a letter to her in which Brash states:

    “if there is a significantly greater level of consultation by your Minister of my relevant colleagues.” And nothing happened.

    So what, after being invited to join consultation by Helen Clark National didn't show up? WTF?

    About the recent mess he says:

    At the very last minute, an alleged NZ First amendment was trumpeted in the media as a solution to the issue of complementaries. From media reports it appears ineffective anyway. But neither King nor New Zealand First has even given the National Party the courtesy of a copy of the proposal, much less engaged in consultation.

    McCully must have forgotten that the PM gave him a call on the blower. Sure, it wasn't Annette King (who, need I remind you, is really really arrogant and stupid, let's remember). Not as bad as forgetting about offering to give away our nuke free status, but up would rate high in my "just how forgetful are ya" meter.

    By the way, I haven't read Jane Clifton's article, but does it in anyway reflect McCully's version of events? ron?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report

  • Paul Williams,

    Key's mismanagement has probably lost him some of the political capital he developed having worked the Smacking compromise and I wonder too if it doesn't herald (sorry couldn't resist) the end of his ultra-long media honeymoon?

    By appointing a leader with so little parliamentary experience, National took a real risk - albeit somewhat hedged by English - and this is the outcome. Worse still, in an effort to look pragmatic, Key's flip-flopping merely reminds us of Brash.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

  • ron,

    Maybe Key was overseas or just out of cell phone coverage or in a meeting. But if the PM of any hue makes and effort to pick up the phone and initiate direct contact I would at least expect that Key would have heard about it.

    Please, Don. This issue has been around for the last 5 years. That's five years - how long does it take to get the main players around the table? But no, it's all Jonh Key's doing, the same John Key who saved the govt's bacon over the anti-smacking bill. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it's not his job to rescue the govt every time it gets itself into a bind.

    Annette King is really, really arrogant

    Obviously you've never seen her in action. She can be really, really arrogant.

    By the way, I haven't read Jane Clifton's article, but does it in anyway reflect McCully's version of events?

    I haven't read it either. But I hope you're not suggesting there's a conflict of interest. Nah, I didn't think so.

    auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 77 posts Report

  • Don Christie,

    I haven't read it either. But I hope you're not suggesting there's a conflict of interest.

    No of course not. As DPB found out to his cost, that sort of thing just doesn't happen.

    If it did, Clifton would no doubt have reported the call from the PM.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report

  • InternationalObserver,

    Seriously, if the Aussies want to play hardball over our apple exports why are we so hellbent on changing our laws to kowtow to their idea of uniformity on trans-Tasman trade rules.

    Since Jun 2007 • 909 posts Report

  • Lyndon Hood,

    FWIW this constitutes a denial - or at least a different story - from Copeland on his vote.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report

  • Eleanor,

    I wrote to Annette King's press secretaries asking to be added to their list for any mail-outs and / or releases from her office pertaining to the ANZTPA.

    This is a pretty straightforward request.

    It was a year ago and I have never heard from them.

    wellington • Since May 2007 • 81 posts Report

  • rodgerd,

    Sorry, Don, I just don't buy the notion that there's any blameless victim here.

    Well, there's a surprise.

    And ron, we've moved on from David, since he's gone. We're on the "National party leader caught lying in attempts to smear journalist" now.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 512 posts Report

  • Don Christie,

    Lyndon, are you sure that Copeland press release is not the generator thing you had on Scoop the other day?

    Surely he is not so stupid as to say this:

    "I did agree to consider such a proposal - in fact I made such a proposal to Annette King - but in the end made a firm decision against it," said Mr Copeland.

    He made the proposal and then made a firm decision against it. That's what I like, decisive politicians. At least you know where you stand with Gordon.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report

  • InternationalObserver,

    "National party leader caught lying in attempts to smear journalist"

    Well, that's one way of spinning it. A spin to the left of course ...

    I read Key's denial of what Audrey Young published not as a 'smear' but as an attempt to clarify. Unfortunately for Key his memory of events was not supported by the 3 journos present or of Young's tape recording. Key would have known there were 3 reporters present and a tape recorder waved under his nose; so he perhaps should have checked with them first before releasing that wrong statement.

    I think "Key puts foot in mouth" or "Key shoots self in foot" would be fairer than "Key caught lying".

    Maybe Polly's should start doing what Celebrities/Rock Stars do when interviewed -- have their own tape recorder running too, so they can later check what was said vs what was quoted. It might have saved Keys from this embarrassment.

    Since Jun 2007 • 909 posts Report

  • rodgerd,

    A spin to the left of course ...

    More like an uncharitable description. But not inaccurate, either.

    I read Key's denial of what Audrey Young published not as a 'smear' but as an attempt to clarify.

    If you were any more charitable, you'd be giving him your shirt.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 512 posts Report

  • Danyl Mclauchlan,

    And ron, we've moved on from David, since he's gone.

    FINALLY. I thought Public Address would NEVER tire of that subject </sarcasm>

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 927 posts Report

  • Don Christie,

    Danyl, just how many PA posts are required on any one subject?

    Anyway, feel free to add to this discussion if it hasn't been covered enough for your liking.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report

  • Danyl Mclauchlan,

    Danyl, just how many PA posts are required on any one subject?

    David Farrar always asks me the same question when I have him up about ignoring news stories he finds uncomfortable.

    And I note that the amount of comments covering Keys stupid but basically trivial offense is already larger than the entire discussion of the Benson-Pope-Setchell affair.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 927 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    Craig,

    Now, if you're a purist libertarian who thinks legislative gridlock is utopia there's no downside. The rest of us might have some doubts. Don't get me wrong, Ben, I applaud the breath-taking cynicism and contempt for the electorate you're proposing. I'd prefer to have a little more faith in the intelligence of the peasants.

    I don't think anything about the situation is utopia. It's shithouse that we don't really know the position of the next likely government on most issues. It's not hard to confuse the 'peasants' as you call the electorate, you just withhold information and make ambiguous and/or contradictory statements. That doesn't make them stupid, just people who've got better things to do than follow the intricacies of the political soap opera you are watching.

    I didn't say I think there's an agenda. I said we don't know what Key thinks. It could be nothing. It could be an agenda. I don't know because it's not articulated clearly and consistently or followed up with any documentation.

    Which basically means that we either vote for a collection of personalities branded as National, and trust them to make all the decisions for us, or we stick to Labour as the devil we know. Both choices are shit, IMHO. So don't give me any of this "delightfully naive" bs, I'm clued up enough to know that I don't know, and why. It's not for lack of interest or trying to find out.

    It's those who think they do know that are delusional.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    It's those who think they do know that are delusional.

    Are you delusional if you think you know you're delusional?

    Sorry, I'm having a silly afternoon.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    FINALLY. I thought Public Address would NEVER tire of that subject </sarcasm>

    I was going to write a DBP memorial last Friday, but I couldn't summon the motivation. I'd blathered about it on every radio slot I do and contributed to that thread.

    There wasn't much more I could think of to say that every man and his dog hadn't said: the man had trouble telling the truth under pressure and was a huge political liability. Dammit Danyl, even you didn't bother to comment ;-)

    I do feel a certain pride in having suggested right at the beginning of his troubles that Rodney Hide's aim looked to be trying to catch him misleading Parliament. As turned out to be the case.

    You'll note also that the two previous threads here on the therapeutic medicines bill have been extensive, useful and lively. We have an interest in this.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • andrew llewellyn,

    And I note that the amount of comments covering Keys stupid but basically trivial offense is already larger than the entire discussion of the Benson-Pope-Setchell affair.

    But Key has at least one supporter posting here - something that cannot be said for DBP & the post concerning his demise.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report

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