Daily review 28/01/2022

18 comments on “Daily review 28/01/2022 ”

• Comments are now closed

1. Dennis Frank 1

   28 January 2022 at 6:20 pm

   So National's

   caucus heads to Queenstown this weekend for a two-day caucus retreat and Luxon told Newsroom it will be an opportunity to set out his expectations once again to MPs, and work out a plan of how to get from where they are now to a winnable position at next year’s election.

   “We’ll talk about how I expect them to be out in the real world engaging with stakeholders and broader industry, voters, people and finding out what their needs are,’’ he said. Over the summer, Luxon and his deputy, Nicola Willis, spent time working out how they would measure each MP’s performance in their portfolio and the key messages to deliver in his State of the Nation speech.

   Luxon told Newsroom he wants the party’s policy “sharpened up’’ this year. “Sometimes we get lost in too much intellectualism …in a big policy document and a big book. Seventy-five pages isn’t particularly helpful; I just want to know what the four or five things are each MP is going to do in their portfolio that will make the biggest difference for New Zealanders.’’

   https://www.newsroom.co.nz/luxons-got-leadership-woes-poll-not-one-of-them

   An action plan! How exciting! And you really feel for the poor buggers having to produce a 75-page document. Which previous leader instituted such a high bar for intellectual attainment??
   • Nic the NZer 1.1

     28 January 2022 at 6:26 pm

     I think Luxon's statement was more along the lines of (Mark Twain's words) "I didn't have time to write you a short letter, so I wrote you a long one". So it sounds like they will be very busy indeed.
     • Blazer 1.1.1

       28 January 2022 at 11:37 pm

       Wonderful..Nic..at last some..traction.
   • Dennis Frank 1.2

     28 January 2022 at 6:32 pm

     If you put the action plan together with the performance measurement technique you can probably surmise the Luxon caucus rating method.

     A staffer would compile printouts of all media reportage of MPs meeting with stakeholders, industry & voters, and count the number of mentions of the 4/5 things that make a difference show up. The count would be totted up monthly and the results reported to the next caucus meeting.

     Meritocracy would be established by ranking the top ten and also-rans would be given training in how to do better. Prizes could be awarded for the most consistent appearances in the top ten every half-year.
     • Peter 1.2.1

       28 January 2022 at 6:38 pm

       Results reported to caucus? Do they report their internal polling to caucus yet?
   • observer 1.3

     28 January 2022 at 6:34 pm

     "Over the summer, Luxon and his deputy, Nicola Willis, spent time working out how they would measure each MP’s performance in their portfolio"

     Judith Collins' portfolios: Research, Science, Innovation and Technology.

     Official "performance measure": policies in those key areas.

     Actual performance measure: not saying anything, ever.
     • Patricia Bremner 1.3.1

       28 January 2022 at 7:06 pm

       We already know what Bridges is going to "bark" about.. "wasting money… on people"

       This is a deflection. Willis and Luxon will rate the team because …. They are the “Top Team” I have some pop corn at the ready.
       • mary_a 1.3.1.1

         29 January 2022 at 11:51 am

         Hi Patricia. More to the point I'd be interested to know who will measure Luxon and Willis' performances.
   • RosieLee 1.4

     28 January 2022 at 7:54 pm

     "Intellectualism"? Really?
     • Dennis Frank 1.4.1

       28 January 2022 at 9:08 pm

       Well, he could be a follower of Socrates, who "said that intellectualism allows that “one will do what is right or [what is] best, just as soon as one truly understands what is right or best”. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellectualism]

       That would make sense on the basis that 75 pages were necessary for a Nat MP to get up to speed on what's right or best.

       Medieval theological intellectualism is a doctrine of divine action, wherein the faculty of intellect precedes, and is superior to, the faculty of the will

       Of course Luxon, as an authentic christian, is just as likely to discern the utility of divine action operating through the intellect, empowering will. Maybe his wife once said to him "Darling, you were divine!"

       It would tend to get a guy thinking, eh?
2. Dennis Frank 2

   28 January 2022 at 7:28 pm

   Backgrounder on the saga of cultural icon vs global opinion leader:

   Rogan, who inked an exclusive $100 million deal with Spotify in 2020, has a listenership of around 200 million, making him one of the most influential voices in the world.

   Over the course of the pandemic, Rogan has used that position to boost discredited or debunked science about the pandemic, claimed that young, healthy people didn’t need vaccines, and given a platform to multiple people who are renowned for spreading false claims about COVID-19.

   While Rogan has at times admitted he’s made mistakes—he called himself a “fucking moron” for claiming young people didn’t need vaccines—he continues to give credence to debunked theories about COVID-19 and vaccines.

   Recently, he hosted Robert Malone, a controversial doctor who claims to have helped invent the mRNA technology currently being used in COVID-19 vaccines. Malone, who’s been discredited and denounced by medical professionals for spreading inaccurate and potentially dangerous misinformation, was recently banned from Twitter. But Rogan gave him a platform to continue to spread his lies.

   As a result of Malone’s appearance, 270 scientists, doctors, healthcare workers and professors signed an open letter slamming Rogan as “a menace to public health” and calling on Spotify to establish a misinformation policy.

   https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjbzbd/neil-young-joe-rogan-spotify

   Seems a classic free speech controversy in which medical ethics are the focus. So to

   the ultimatum that rock legend Neil Young gave his management team and record label on Monday night, demanding they remove his music from Spotify’s streaming platform because it also hosts Joe Rogan’s podcast, which Young says is spreading dangerous disinformation about COVID-19, “potentially causing death to those who believe” it.

   Spotify doesn't care if beliefs kill people – beliefs have always done that, throughout history. Ole Neil isn't seeking to rescue them from making mistakes that may kill them. He's just averse to the spiritual contamination on the platform.

   Rogan's three parts Italian to one part Irish ancestry. His career began as a martial arts champion, shifted to stand-up comedian, then tv star. His political views & cultural values are an eclectic mix:

   He has described himself as socially liberal, saying that he supports same-sex marriage, gay rights, women's rights, recreational drug use, universal health care, and universal basic income, but also supports gun rights and the Second Amendment.

   Rogan describes himself as a strong supporter of freedom of speech, and has criticized what he describes as "cancel culture" and what he perceives to be suppression of those who hold right-wing views in the television and film industry. He has also criticized what he describes as an American foreign policy of military adventurism.

   Rogan endorsed Ron Paul in the 2012 U.S. presidential campaign and voted for Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. He endorsed Bernie Sanders during the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries, but ended up voting for Jo Jorgensen in the general election. Rogan has criticized political polarization in the United States…

   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Rogan

   Since he was born the year Neil Young hit the big-time in Buffalo Springfield (1967) there's a substantial generation gap between these guys.
   • Muttonbird 2.1

     28 January 2022 at 9:08 pm

     Neil Young did not give an ultimatum at all. This is what is being reported by all in sundry but the letter to his management said he wanted his music off Spotify immediately because they also hosted Rogan.

     Apparently in the letter he said you can have Rogan or I but not both. This has been misinterpreted as an ultimatum but the thrust of the letter was they can keep Rogan and his misinformation.

     Young was pulling out, not fighting with Rogan or Spotify. Neil Young made a stand. Even more of a legend now.
     • mauī 2.1.1

       28 January 2022 at 10:20 pm

       I wouldn't call a legend someone who can't handle scientific debate and difference of opinion. These are the sort of bloody minded people who won't change their mind even in light of new or changing evidence.
       • McFlock 2.1.1.1

         28 January 2022 at 10:28 pm

         Yes, I can see why he wouldn't want to share a streaming platform with them.
       • Stuart Munro 2.1.1.2

         29 January 2022 at 8:56 pm

         Rogan is scarcely a host of scientific debate.
         • mauī 2.1.1.2.1

           29 January 2022 at 9:04 pm

           Well he's interviewed a couple of scientific experts in their field recently who can't get a hearing on mainstream, So I have to disagree.
   • joe90 2.2

     28 January 2022 at 9:58 pm

     The supposed global opinion leader and company are arseholes.

     https://twitter.com/AlexPattyy/status/1486114744436240384
     • McFlock 2.2.1

       28 January 2022 at 10:07 pm

       Trevor Noah had a pretty good response – both addressing the point and giving it the respect it deserved.

• Comments are now closed

• Log in
• Donate
• Contribute post

• Articles RSS