Attack of the Knuckleheads

Written By: - Date published: 8:45 am, April 6th, 2013 - 97 comments
Categories: humour, john key, Media, twitter - Tags: , ,

knuckleheadLogoAs is now well known, Key has had a wee tanty at the media:

John Key calls media ‘Knuckleheads’

Prime Minister John Key has gone on the offensive, calling the media “knuckleheads” for their reporting on the appointment of GCSB head Ian Fletcher …

Speaking on RadioLive, Mr Key also said he would refuse to answer immediately any questions in Parliament or from the media that required details he did not have to hand.

Looks like the knucleheads are going to wear it as a badge of honour!

knucklehead1

and

knucklehead2

I wonder how far the knucklehead rebellion will spread…

97 comments on “Attack of the Knuckleheads ”

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  1. Tiger Mountain 1
    6 April 2013 at 9:10 am

    Extraordinary behaviour from a Prime Minister in todays digital world. Most NZ PMs going back to Muldoon have snapped eventually at some stage during their media relations but ShonKey’s signalled new approach is simply unacceptable from a taxpayer funded ‘leader’.

    • freedom 1.1
      6 April 2013 at 10:09 am

      Key’s not a leader, he’s an oligarch

      • tc 1.1.1
        6 April 2013 at 10:52 am

        Key executes the hollowmens script and does as many junkets as he can.

        I dont think the hollowmen would be too interested in meddling with GCSB etc so i think we are seeing the big swinging dick unable to keep his ego in check in bowing to his US idols.

  2. ianmac 2
    6 April 2013 at 9:14 am

    Knuckleheads Unite!
    Could be interesting the next time Mr Key is interviewed and he won’t/can’t answer questions under his Knucklehead Law.
    I do hope that continual refusals will not make him look churlish or ignorant or shifty or humourless.

    Perhaps a new Party could be formed. Knuckleheads United. Has a good ring about it?

  3. idlegus 3
    6 April 2013 at 9:57 am

    not a squeak in the otago daily times about john keys remarkable day yesterday, i guess when key was talking about knucklehead journalists he wasnt referring to the odt!

    • ghostwhowalksnz 3.1
      6 April 2013 at 10:03 am

      They must have a real early early Friday deadline- its tough out there in newsprint land

      • idlegus 3.1.1
        6 April 2013 at 10:16 am

        i meant in todays paper, saturday, the day after.

        • ghostwhowalksnz 3.1.1.1
          6 April 2013 at 12:19 pm

          Thats what i meant, the saturday paper is mostly put to bed during normal working hours Friday.

          Maybe the front page is held till 9pm

  4. Gashead 4
    6 April 2013 at 10:04 am

    Quote from NZHerald: “Speaking on RadioLive, Mr Key also said he would refuse to answer immediately any questions in Parliament or from the media that required details he did not have to hand.”

    The Translation: The National party’s real leaders don’t trust him. He’s been told to shut the hell up until his spin doctors have given him clearance!

  5. BM 5
    6 April 2013 at 10:10 am

    Looks really hypocritical.
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10875732

    But the public expect that from Labour, which is why they poll so low.

    • freedom 5.1
      6 April 2013 at 10:21 am

      one more time,
      the difference being that this PM has lied to Parliament.

      • BM 5.1.1
        6 April 2013 at 10:26 am

        If he’s done nothing wrong why would he lie?, even Brian Edwards said there’s no issue
        This lying angle is just more Labour party bull shit and reporters trying to fill column inches.

        This will blow up in Robertson face.

        • Lanthanide 5.1.1.1
          6 April 2013 at 10:31 am

          “If he’s done nothing wrong why would he lie?”

          Because he’s a compulsive liar, obviously. He just can’t help it.

          • Rhinocrates 5.1.1.1.1
            6 April 2013 at 2:09 pm

            Interviewer: Mr Key, what colour is the sky?

            Key: Fsssssth…. B…Brown!

            Interviewer: No, it’s not. I’ll ask you again: what colour is the sky?

            Key: Green!

            Interviewer: Nooooo….

            Key: Pink with orange spots!

            Interviewer (shaking head): Now you’re being silly.

            Key: The MacKenzie tartan!

            Interviewer: Come on, it’s blue – everyone knows that.

            Key: Well you might have an expert that says that, but I can find an expert who says that it’s purple and orange paisley.

            Interviewer: You just said that it was in the colours of the MacKenzie tartan.

            Key: I did not, and from now on, I’m only going to answer written questions that are given in Sanskrit.

            Interviewer: Do you actually read Sanskrit?

            Key: I might, I might not. If I can’t I won’t reply, If I can, I might not either.

            [in reality, no interviewer would be so persistent of course.]

        • freedom 5.1.1.2
          6 April 2013 at 10:33 am

          lying about doing nothing wrong is still lying
          and it matters not the topic the party nor the reason
          HE LIED TO PARLIAMENT
          what about that is ok with you?

          • dumrse 5.1.1.2.1
            6 April 2013 at 11:04 am

            So, forgetting is a lie ? Well fuck me what do you call forgetting about your million dollar secret off shore bank account …..

            • freedom 5.1.1.2.1.1
              6 April 2013 at 11:41 am

              perhaps you are unclear on what the lie was
              (and please if I am wrong can folk let me know, as I do not enjoy labouring under falsehoods)

              In my understanding of the topic there are a couple of lies, the first, that you refer to, could be wiped off the table as forgetful, or economical use of the facts. Those facts pertaining to the phone call and who made it and when etc.

              The big lie though is the shortlist. His declaration to Parliament about how he was not involved in the selection process or the management of the shortlist, this was repeated the next day by Brownlee. Who I imagine will be looking for anything else to do on Tuesday but be fronting to the House.

              • dumrse …
                6 April 2013 at 6:22 pm

                And it would seem that the short list was rejected by Rennie and the PM advised accordingly. The PM then told a mate about a vacancy and back to SCC it all went. If there is a lie in here that is so obvious, then how come the Privileges Committee is not on the trail already. Lets not forget, it is in your opinion it may be a lie.
                Further, If this is all about the quality of leadership of the respective parties, lets make a comparison with David Shearer and his off shore bank account. IMO, his failure to complete the register in the required manner for four consecutive years, was intentional, therefore fraudulent.

                • freedom …
                  6 April 2013 at 6:43 pm

                  1. On Campbell Live Rennie admitted being unexcited with the list BUT the PM decided to throw out the short list.
                  2. The only person making it about the quality of leadership is you and your echo chamber.
                  3. You want to talk quality of leadership how about your coalition partners?

                  4. Far too nice an evening to scrap with cabbage moths

            • prism 5.1.1.2.1.2
              6 April 2013 at 12:27 pm

              dumrse
              Whose million dollar a/c? Key’s? or Brownlee’s or…?

            • Matthew 5.1.1.2.1.3
              6 April 2013 at 1:03 pm

              Because forgeting you have money in a bank account overseas does not affect the strategic integrity of a government department, let alone an agency with a mandate to use dubious methods of intelligence gathering on (apparently) anyone they see fit.
              Shearer cannot use his overseas bank account to harm others that do not follow a particular political ideology, but a Prime minister installing his mate in the top job of Spys-r-us certainly could.

              • dumrse …
                6 April 2013 at 6:36 pm

                Your first line is probably correct but then you run off the rails. IMO, being forgetful is insignificance against the failure to declare the offshore bank account for four consecutive years. As noted above, IMO it was deliberate therefore fraudulent.

                • karol …
                  6 April 2013 at 6:47 pm

                  How do you explain the fact that Shearer declared his US account to the NZ IRD? Surely if it was a deliberate fraud, he wouldn’t have declared it to them (the people who can claim tax of him, while omitting to declare it on the parliamentary register? Or he is a pretty stupid fraudster.

                  Anyway, that may all be academic – putting on my Kremlinologist hat, I reckon Shearer’s days as caucus leader are numbered.

                  Nevertheless, Shearer’s infringement is just not on the same plane as Key’s deliberate obfuscation of his intervention that subverted fair employment processes & measures to ensure our country’s security and intelligence services are in safe hands…. not even close.

            • freedom 5.1.1.2.1.4
              6 April 2013 at 2:24 pm

              dumrse
              As a spinner of yawn inducing disinfo you must be going for the record.
              Shearer’s account has grown from the declaration base of $50,000 to a $Million, within a month-
              -I used oilslick for the reference data. I suspect you feel more secure within its toxic radiance 🙂
              http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2013/03/hooton-on-shearers-offshore-slush-fund/

              and I certainly have no interest in Shearer apart from he may be leading a partner party in the next Government of this Country. A Country that deserves so much better than the broken machine we have installed tinkered with and increasingly had serviced on the cheap

            • Murray Olsen 5.1.1.2.1.5
              6 April 2013 at 3:25 pm

              It’s millions now, dumbarse, as in at least two. Please try to keep up with your greasy idol’s bullshit.

            • North 5.1.1.2.1.6
              7 April 2013 at 12:16 am

              Get over your fixation with Shearer, Knucklehead Dumbarse. Sorry for your wife you must be a bastard to live with.

            • deemac 5.1.1.2.1.7
              7 April 2013 at 9:11 am

              A million dollars? It seems to have doubled in your fevered imagination! And hardly secret as it was declared to IRD. No-one believes Key forgets so many things – he’s PM FFS – so he must be lying. What was your point again?

          • Shorts 5.1.1.2.2
            6 April 2013 at 12:27 pm

            Why is lying to parliament considered worse than lying to the NZ public?

            Both should be stackable offenses

            • geoff 5.1.1.2.2.1
              6 April 2013 at 2:20 pm

              Both should be stackable offenses
              Demoted to stocking shelves at Pak n Save?

              • Robert Glennie …
                6 April 2013 at 6:26 pm

                Its a job Geoff and although it is dead boring, shunting trolleys (said from years of hard experience doing it)is worse. Spare a thought for the thousands of people around New Zealand who are resigned to crappy jobs like stocking shelves. Having been there and done that I know where they are coming from.

                • geoff …
                  7 April 2013 at 7:33 pm

                  I hope you don’t think I was having a dig at supermarket workers. Not sure if you think I was, but that’s the impression I get from your reply.

        • Draco T Bastard 5.1.1.3
          6 April 2013 at 11:21 am

          If he’s done nothing wrong why would he lie?

          Well, my guess would be that he’s actually done something wrong that he’s trying to hide.

        • One Tāne Huna 5.1.1.4
          6 April 2013 at 11:34 am

          If he’s done nothing wrong why would he lie?

          That’s what’s been bothering me. Because he did lie, by omission at the very least, to Parliament and the public.

          Such a stupid thing to do, unless he really does have something to hide.

          Motivation is irrelevant at this point though, he’s dead meat. Think what it did to Winston First when he was caught out.

          • Ugly Truth 5.1.1.4.1
            6 April 2013 at 7:43 pm

            Motivation is always important. It’s quite possible he thought he needed to conceal the truth in order to keep the unpleasant realities of national security out of the spotlight.

            • Huginn 5.1.1.4.1.1
              7 April 2013 at 5:22 am

              Whaaaaa?????!!!!!
              Was he trying to keep the unpleasant realities of national security out of the spotlight?
              Really??????

              Well he’s done a fantastic job of THAT, hasn’t he?

              • Ugly Truth …
                7 April 2013 at 8:56 am

                Lawyers and politicians both spin the facts to suit their agenda, the adversarial nature of the system make this inevitable.

                The fact that he isn’t a competent liar is in his favour, it shows that he hasn’t had much practice at it. That and the fact the he promised transparency suggest that he’s basically honest and didn’t expect that he would have to do it as part of his job.

                • One Anonymous Knucklehead …
                  7 April 2013 at 9:18 am

                  The only thing being “shown” here is what a dupe you are.

                  • Ugly Truth …
                    7 April 2013 at 9:25 am

                    So you can show how I’ve been misled, or did you drink the koolaid?

                    • One Anonymous Knucklehead …
                      7 April 2013 at 5:11 pm

                      The fact that he in an incompetent liar is not in his favour. The assertion that he cannot have had much experience is debatable: perhaps he has until now, worked in an environment where his actions were scrutinised less, or one where dishonesty was rewarded.

                      Incidentally, examples of bankers being rewarded for dishonesty are all over the news. Funny that.

                      Who drank the kool-aid again?

          • Vagabundo 5.1.1.4.2
            7 April 2013 at 8:11 pm

            “why would he lie?”

            Yeah, that’s the thing that bothers me most about this affair. Let’s face it, if Key had either stayed quiet or immediately volunteered the “fact” that Rennie wasn’t impressed with the shortlisted candidates for the GCSB position, so he called up someone that he felt was a far more suitable candidate than those involved (or had Rennie contact him instead, which is apparently far more in line with SOE for these sorts of things) then in all likelihood, the MSM and the voting public would have gone “Oh OK, then” and moved on – ergo, no real issue outside of some grumbles around here, Red Alert and on The Daily Blog. Instead, he chose to lie and obfuscate, which has turned this into a fiasco for him. So why would he lie? Is he doing it because, as some others here have speculated, of a compulsion, or is he trying to hide something? His decision to demand everything in writing first suggests the latter, but who knows.

        • Green machine UpandComer 5.1.1.5
          7 April 2013 at 12:12 am

          http://www.nzherald.co.nz/ahmed-zaoui/news/article.cfm?c_id=549&objectid=3561493

          Here is Helen Clark saying she will do exactly what John Key did BM, except far more blatantly and more like direct recruitment. This will blow up in Robertson’s face because he’s been involved in this exact sort of thing before, along with his party.

          • One Anonymous Knucklehead 5.1.1.5.1
            7 April 2013 at 8:43 am

            Helen Clark said she would lie to Parliament? Why are you always so full of shit? Do you like the taste or something?

  6. ianmac 6
    6 April 2013 at 10:22 am

    Sean Plunkett has a sense of humour after all.: “Ninth Floor Beehive: John Key sitting behind large desk with Monopoly board laid out before him, fixating on the utilities. Muffled knock on door, enter Iain Rennie, State Services Commissioner………”

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/columnists/sean-plunket/8515252/John-Key-Who-are-you-and-why-are-you-in-my-office

    • yeshe 6.1
      6 April 2013 at 10:51 am

      Love it ! Reminds me of Mark Twain: ” Never pick a fight with someone who buys ink by the barrel”, or whatever the internet equivalency. Beware Mr Key, your teflon is cracking. Not long now !

  7. One Anonymous Knucklehead 7
    6 April 2013 at 11:46 am

    Key has lost the plot. I thought the brain fades lies to Parliament were bad enough, but now he’ll only answer written questions? Hey, Prime Minister, I have a question for you:

    When you’re standing in front of the mirror, do you prefer oil or water-based lubricant?

  8. Rodel 8
    6 April 2013 at 11:54 am

    Funny how Mr Key sometimes looks like a possum caught in the headlights

  9. Dan1 9
    6 April 2013 at 12:01 pm

    I worry about Key. I dug around this morning on Wikipedia. I wonder how many of these characteristics apply?

    Cleckley introduced 16 behavioral characteristics of a psychopath:
    Superficial charm and good intelligence
    Absence of delusions and other signs of irrational thinking
    Absence of nervousness or psychoneurotic manifestations
    Unreliability
    Untruthfulness and insincerity
    Lack of remorse and shame
    Inadequately motivated antisocial behavior
    Poor judgment and failure to learn by experience
    Pathologic egocentricity and incapacity for love
    General poverty in major affective reactions
    Specific loss of insight
    Unresponsiveness in general interpersonal relations
    Fantastic and uninviting behavior with drink and sometimes without
    Suicide threats rarely carried out
    Sex life impersonal, trivial, and poorly integrated
    Failure to follow any life plan.

    • Colonial Viper 9.1
      6 April 2013 at 12:04 pm

      Key made it to being relatively senior in the investment banking world, so a minimum 50% level of those will have been a prerequisite.

      • ghostwhowalksnz 9.1.1
        6 April 2013 at 12:24 pm

        whats this ‘investment banking’ ?

        Thats very 60s and 70s term.
        Key was only in one area , currency trading.

      • prism 9.1.2
        6 April 2013 at 1:22 pm

        Danl
        I looked up this Cleckley list and the one I saw had a note at the bottom which sounds apposite.

        “Very often indications of good sense and sound reasoning will emerge, and one is likely to feel soon after meeting him that this normal and pleasant person is also one with -high abilities. Psychometric tests also very frequently show him of superior intelligence. More than the average person, he is likely to seem free from social or emotional impediments, from the minor distortions, peculiarities, and awkwardnesses so common even among the successful. Such superficial characteristics are not universal in this group but they are very common…”
        The heading also referred to narcissism which might be relevant to Key.
        http://www.angelfire.com/zine2/narcissism/psychopathy_checklist.html

        I was curious about No.3 – Absence of delusions and other signs of irrational thinking
        In another google post – http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/ppp/summary/v008/8.2campbell.html
        the author said :
        On what I will call a rationalist approach to delusion, delusion is a matter of top-down disturbance in some fundamental beliefs of the subject, which may consequently affect experiences and actions.
        In Key’s case that would mean that he has fundamental problems in understanding his responsibilities of correct information and compliance in action to all the people of NZ.

  10. freedom 10
    6 April 2013 at 12:18 pm

    Key presents new anti-knucklehead strategy
    http://postimg.org/image/vhahlmwub/

  11. TheContrarian 11
    6 April 2013 at 1:02 pm

    I can’t believe he actually said ‘knuckleheads’.

    • freedom 12.1
      6 April 2013 at 1:21 pm

      wow, not one solitary mention of what was said in Parliament
      Watkins also makes it all about the process, nothing about the lies

      • AsleepWhileWalking 12.1.1
        6 April 2013 at 1:40 pm

        She does towards the end, and overall the article is pretty scathing I thought
        When he was asked if he had had any contact with Mr Fletcher since his school days Mr Key said he could not recall any particular occasions. And when he was later asked what role he played in the appointment, Mr Key responded: “Only that the state services commissioner came to me with the recommendation.”

        It wasn’t just that Mr Key misspoke. He was asked the question in various ways and the basic thrust of his response didn’t waver.

        You can play the semantic game all you like, but ultimately it boils down to one thing. By any acceptable yardstick, those answers were simply not true.

        Mr Key’s subsequent explanation, that he forgot, also stretches credulity.

        • Arfamo 12.1.1.1
          6 April 2013 at 1:48 pm

          “Reporters who do and then criticise him for getting it wrong are knuckleheads and the Opposition are all liars anyway, was the substance of Mr Key’s “poor me” rant on Radio Live yesterday.

          But his hissy fit over the spy boss debacle was also textbook politics: The more you bluster and accuse the media of lies and bias, the more likely the public will tune the media out.”

          Watkins is probably right about this.

        • freedom 12.1.1.2
          6 April 2013 at 2:54 pm

          “Maybe that explains why Mr Key’s initial reaction to questions about Mr Fletcher was to be less than up front. Maybe he felt that getting too deep into explanations about why he wanted an outsider brought in would get too messy. ”

          If the above is the passage you mean (and I can not see any other candidates) I do not see how that is meant to suggest to the Public that it refers to actions in the House or that Key’s answers in the House were less than legit. The opening line could have been from a Q+A for a ribbon cutting for all it fails to describe.

          I read the article through and through numerous times earlier and again just now, because I was certain I must have kept missing it, but it simply is not there. There is no reference to actions within Parliament. All of the statements Watkins comments on are from other press events or the Fairfax questions.

  13. Plan B 13
    6 April 2013 at 2:52 pm

    Wiki says that :

    Knucklehead may refer to

    Someone who is hardheaded, stubborn

    So is he saying that the media are hard headed and stubborn- does not sound like a bad thing for the media to be.

    Did he mean that though?

    Does he know what knucklehead means ?

    Most other definitions I could find say it refers to a stupid person

  14. ak 14
    6 April 2013 at 2:57 pm

    A contrast with what some of these very same knuckleheads actually wrote about Winnie – leader of a minor party accused of a fib about something as obscure and basically irrelevant as freely-given funding – as against a PM definitely and blatantly lying about the appointment of his own, personally conflicted and almost omnipotent spy to an agency with a dodgy record, might be interesting if anyone had the time…..

    Watch it, but: “heh heh, yeah ta….by the way Ian, got anything on Bradbury, Campbell or this Robins clown yet?”

  15. The Pink Postman 15
    6 April 2013 at 3:09 pm

    Well I hope the journalists remember this insult at election time,just as I hope the Herald will remember the \search warrants that were used in their offices over the Dot .Com episode,
    However at election time I have no doubt the Tory dominated press will as usual, tell us how good the Nat’s are and how bad Labour are . I hate to think how they will,treat the Greens ,

  16. Treetop 16
    6 April 2013 at 3:48 pm

    Would Key sue for defamation or slander?

    • Pete 16.1
      6 April 2013 at 5:41 pm

      That would be a hard row to hoe in light of Lange v Atkinson qualified privilege.

  17. Phil 17
    6 April 2013 at 6:07 pm

    “A knucklehead has round knobs on the cover resembling knuckles that give the knucklehead its name”.
    For once I can see nothing but the truth in Key’s statement.

    • Anne 17.1
      6 April 2013 at 6:42 pm

      From John Key in today’s Herald article “PM: Media are knuckleheads”.

      Helen Clark went out there and shoulder-tapped people, said ‘you’re in the job’. I didn’t do that,” Mr Key said.

      He did not provide examples, but senior sources have claimed Sir Bruce Ferguson was directly approached by Helen Clark to be Chief of Defence in 2001. Sir Bruce did not return calls yesterday, but the appointment had raised eyebrows because he was chosen over more senior personnel.

      Now re-listen to Sir Bruce Ferguson’s interview with John Campbell…

      http://www.3news.co.nz/Former-GCSB-head-Sir-Bruce-Ferguson-speaks-out/tabid/367/articleID/292879/Default.aspx?ref=vid_2012-11-22"

      Pretty obvious who is telling the truth.

      • Anne 17.1.1
        6 April 2013 at 7:37 pm

        I’m still not too savvy with linking articles (especially when there is more than one item) but I want to add the following:

        It seems to me that John Key and certain senior sources (note these types of sources are never named) are inferring Helen Clark followed exactly the same practice. Sure, for less important positions – such as a govt. quango – she may have shoulder tapped individuals, but for a role as sensitive as intelligence chiefs she followed strict protocol. It is clear from Ferguson’s comments that the correct procedures were followed when he was appointed to the role of GCSB Director. Suggestions to the contrary are mischief-making to the point of being treasonable and in my view should be treated as such.

        Democracy is under serious threat when we have a PM who does not follow these protocols, and then lies about it and tries to frame a former PM in an attempt to cover up his own misdeeds.

      • Matthew 17.1.2
        6 April 2013 at 10:26 pm

        Be interesting to see if Clark responds to that …..

        • Anne 17.1.2.1
          7 April 2013 at 9:06 am

          Probably not Matthew. To respond could lay her open to claims she has something to hide. Ferguson can’t respond for the same reason. Yet his interview took place before Key and co. made the specific allegation against him and Helen Clark, so his original testimony has far more integrity on that basis alone.

          I withdraw my treasonable accusation – a bit over the top. But this constant lying by Key feels like it sometimes.

      • Green machine UpandComer 17.1.3
        7 April 2013 at 12:21 am

        http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10875732

        Here is an example – gee I wonder where you all were when Helen Clark was doing/saying this? I’m sure there was intense outrage etc. It was the SIS too, they’re pretty dicey, kind of like the GCSB.

        John Tamihere has confirmed that Helen did it elsewhere.

        Mr Ferguson was tapped for his role, over more highly ranked military men.

        Mark Prebble was appointed state service commissioner when he was Helen’s departmental head in 1998. That’s a relationship that goes beyond knowing some dudes brother etc

        Robertson was privy to all of these decision as number 3 in Helen’s private office.

        This is going to blow-back in Labour’s face

        • One Anonymous Knucklehead 17.1.3.1
          7 April 2013 at 7:48 am

          Getting desperate much? Get a fucking clue, this is about your Prime Minister lying to Parliament and the public, not about any of your witless bullshit.

  18. Tazireviper 18
    6 April 2013 at 6:57 pm

    Can/or will any MSM Journos/repeaters hold up their
    hands and confess to being knuckleheads

  19. tracey 19
    6 April 2013 at 7:36 pm

    Knuckleheads? Is he still reading archie comics?

    BM you are forgetting keys 8 months of outrage at the former om prior to an election, and his promise to paul henry on live tv to answer questions he isnt even asked.

    Add them all up. You dont forget you rang the guy who now heads a department you oversee.

  20. tracey 20
    6 April 2013 at 7:37 pm

    Knuckleheads? Is he still reading archie comics?

    BM you are forgetting keys 8 months of outrage at the former pm prior to an election, and his promise to paul henry on live tv to answer questions he isnt even asked. Thats how transparent he promised to be.

    Add them all up. You dont forget you rang the guy who now heads a department you oversee.

  21. ghostrider888 21
    6 April 2013 at 7:56 pm

    “panhead” or ‘shovelhead” sound like our good ol’ boy Key; a whole lotta noise going nowhere fast!

    • Murray Olsen 21.1
      7 April 2013 at 2:37 pm

      1930s solutions to modern problems?
      Many of us would be a lot happier if Key had got a panhead for his midlife crisis rather than a country.

      • ghostrider888 21.1.1
        7 April 2013 at 4:13 pm

        Yep! would fit right in with the dominant culture. however, Key would likely select a machine that was currently trendy, suitably positioned in the market and polling well; possibly in a grey, pink, or pastel shade with a blue pin-stripe or “flash”. personally, if there is a photo of Key demonstrating the balls to ride anything above 10KW of power on two wheels, well I’ll, I’ll, I’ll chew on the strap of my helmet, that’s what I’ll do.
        Very disgraceful however, to witness such a “master of the universe” continue to evade, lie, and now “run” from his own press. Hope he doesn’t embarass our nation further in the eyes of the Chinese this week.

  22. AmaKiwi 22
    6 April 2013 at 10:56 pm

    It is essential for dictatorship to have a secret intelligence network: the KGB, the Gestapo, J. Edgar Hoover using the FBI’s information for blackmail, etc.

    The GCSB is our secret police. Keeping them under control and out of politics is critical for freedom.

    Because of our parliamentary dictatorship, we would have no way of knowing if the head of GCSB was helping to undermine our parliamentary dictator’s opponents:

    radicals on The Standard
    Maori “terrorists”
    environmental Greenie”terrorists”
    anti-capitalism, anti-TPPA, union “terrorists”
    Chris Trotter,Nicky Hager, etc. (add Cunliffe)

    The issue is: the PM recruited a personal friend who has no prior military or intelligence experience to justify his appointment to run our secret intelligence apparatus.

    THAT is the issue.

    Ian Fletcher must go. There must be a broad investigation by overseas investigators with no links to NZ politics. The system must be changed so GCSB oversight is by ALL parties in parliament.

    • Colonial Weka 22.1
      6 April 2013 at 11:06 pm

      “The issue is: the PM recruited a personal friend who has no prior military or intelligence experience to justify his appointment to run our secret intelligence apparatus.”

      From what I can tell he was brought in not to just run the GCSB but to make radical changes to it.

      You are right, this is a critical issue. The hobbits are sleeping while Saruman makes his moves.

      • AmaKiwi 22.1.1
        6 April 2013 at 11:10 pm

        The disgusting part is the PM says, “You have my word for it” and the MSM does NOT say, “Your word is not enough. We need proof.”

        The tv show Dragons Den is Key type business people. They ALWAYS demand PROOF. You can bet Key did when he was in business. Our MSM should demand proof, too.

  23. North 23
    7 April 2013 at 12:25 am

    All that’s needed is one whistleblower. Johnny Liar Pants On Fire.

  24. Ugly Truth 24
    7 April 2013 at 9:21 am

    Knuckhead award number one goes to Radio New Zealand for describing the selection process as due process.

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2551100/grant-robertson-john-key-is-riding-roughshod-over-due-process

    Due process is from the common law, it has nothing to do with the parliamenary selection process.

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 24.1
      7 April 2013 at 10:43 am

      It’s appropriate that you’re posting this nonsense in a thread about “knuckleheads”

      ‘Due process’ is the legal requirement that the state must respect all of the legal rights that are owed to a person

      Wikipedia.

      “A person” in this case being someone applying for the GCSB role. Don’t let this stop you, though, you’re quite entertaining.

      • Ugly Truth 24.1.1
        7 April 2013 at 11:07 am

        Wikipedia doesn’t know its arse from a hole in the ground on issues like this.

        Due process of law. Law in its regular course of administration through courts of justice. (Blacks 5th)

        law of the land:
        Due process of law (q. v.). By the law of the land is most clearly intended the general law which hears before it condemns, which proceeds upon inquiry, and renders judgment only after trial. Dupuy v. Tedora, 204 La. 560, 15 So.2d 886, 89I: The meaning is that every citizen shall hold his life, liberty, property, and immunities under the protection of general rules which govern society..- ‘See Due process of law. (Blacks 5th)

        lex terre
        The law of the land. The common law, or the due course of the common law; the general law of the land. Equivalent to “due process of law”. In the strictest sense, trial by oath; the privilege of making oath. (Blacks 5th)

        • Colonial Viper 24.1.1.1
          7 April 2013 at 11:19 am

          academic and not applicable.

        • One Anonymous Knucklehead 24.1.1.2
          7 April 2013 at 1:27 pm

          “Due process of law” ≠ “due process”

          You see that bit where you added extra words because you think it supports your position? It undermined your position.

          Not very good at this, are you?

          Oh, and Wikipedia is a lot more credible than you are.

          Please continue, though, I enjoy watching your contortions.

          • Ugly Truth 24.1.1.2.1
            7 April 2013 at 4:19 pm

            due process
            n.
            An established course for judicial proceedings or other governmental activities designed to safeguard the legal rights of the individual.

            http://www.thefreedictionary.com/due+process

            • One Anonymous Knucklehead 24.1.1.2.1.1
              7 April 2013 at 5:03 pm

              “other government activities” – like employing someone for example…

              • Ugly Truth …
                7 April 2013 at 7:01 pm

                You could always take it out of context.

                … other governmental activities designed to safeguard the legal rights of the individual.

                • One Anonymous Knucklehead …
                  7 April 2013 at 9:42 pm

                  Are you pretending to be stupid or does it come naturally? Your hand-picked definition says that there is an “established course…designed to protect the rights of the individual” in “judicial proceedings or other governmental activities”. This includes recruitment to government positions, period.

                  Duh.

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