I’ll bite –
Must be Keys cause it don’t make any sense.
unless you want it to – then its a charming statement of guileless uncomplicated straight talking which is what this country needs from its leaders.
This should be a wake up call to the Labour leadership. Sleep walking to victory is not going to work. They need to be doing something much more significant than playing guitar and talking about mango skins.
You may be right Socialist Paddy but they got this hit by going pretty hard against Maori over the water rights issue, and getting pretty tough on beneficiaries, again. Not sure the Left has an adequate counter for either of those yet.
Interesting to see Maggie Barrie stepping into the ring.
After Conference National are really emboldened. Apparently there was a great celebrity debate in which Key was mercilessly lampooned, and they all took it in great humour.
2014 is definitely not there for the taking – it is there for forcing out of their cold dead hands.
“they got this hit by going pretty hard against Maori over the water rights issue, and getting pretty tough on beneficiaries, again. Not sure the Left has an adequate counter for either of those yet.”
I don’t suppose they’ve tried sticking up for maori and beneficiaries, have they?
Your are too generous AD. By far.
Perhaps the voters cannot envision Labour winning?
Perhaps the voters cannot see what is different about Labour now from what it was the last time they rejected us?
Nothing. Same team, slightly different face. That is why we are still behind in the polls from where we were in 2008. If you keep doing he same thing, you keep getting the same result.
…they got this hit by going pretty hard against Maori over the water rights issue,
So did the Labour government, if you remember. Helen Clark sneered that she’d rather talk to Shrek the sheep than meet any of the Maori protestors (more than twenty thousand of them) in Wellington. She also got the likes of Trevor Mallard and Clayton Cosgrove to regularly make anti-Maori statements.
and getting pretty tough on beneficiaries, again.
You mean, getting tough on the poor. The rich beneficiaries are being looked after very well indeed. How much tax did they get out of paying in the last three years, I wonder?
Not sure the Left has an adequate counter for either of those yet.
How about: speaking out against bigots like Don (Enoch) Brash instead of panicking every time someone like him stirs up racial animosity? How about speaking out for the poor and oppressed instead of anxiously trying to show how “tough” you can be on them?
Don’t expect any change Paddy, watching labour reminds me of Telecom under Gattung,
She was chosen by the incumbent fat cats to do as they say not what actually was required to grow the business…..unlike Telecom there’s no pot of gold from Joyce waiting for them just minor party oblivion.
Aye TC but when you think back to the leadership campaign and who was supporting Shearer you really have to question the sanity of many in Labour’s caucus.
When right wingers like Slater, Farrar, Tamihere, Matthew Hooton, Michelle Boag and John Tamihere stood up and said that Shearer would be the best leader for Labour they should have smelled a rat and gone for Cunliffe.
And until they get rid of Shearer and co, that’s where it’s going to stay in the doldrums. When are Labour going to realise that the experiment of silence and kissing up to Key does not work. Oh well they are now Nat lite, and not worth voting for. So a lot of non voters from last time are just shrugging their shoulders and saying that they won’t bother to vote next time too. And this time it really is their own fault. And now they want to be able to lock an incompetent in as leader, and make it so that you would have to lever them out with Dynamite and a crow bar. I am sorry, but at the moment they do not deserve the support that they are getting from us, as they are clearly interested in following their own agenda’s and to hell with their supporters.
More than “ä wake up call” is wanted – we have been demanding this for years! Labour requires arousal from a comatose state, a condition that might take long, even for ever!
”This is the first time the New Zealand Roy Morgan poll has measured support for this new party”, unquote,
Perhaps the 3% of support magically appeared for the Conservative Party in the past 2 weeks, or was it there all the time,
3rd option, Roy’s pulling your left one,(with a small rate of success i cannot at the present register as a %),
Riffmatic and stuff aint my strong suit so one of the people what’s brainy in that area might be able to tell us all what would have to happen within a poll for the sudden emergence at 3% of ‘another’ Party,.
What the latest poll smells like from here is a ‘jack up’ pure and simple, the Right simply positioning itself early for the 2014 election where it needs coalition partners on the right with a chance of providing at least 1 extra seat off the back of a donated Electorate seat from National,
Where a % of support may have evaporated from Labour/Green, (they both lost in this poll),is in the bizaare announcement from both Shearer and Norman that they have no plans to buy back the assets now being stolen by National on behalf of it’s 40% support base,
That from both Labour and the Greens after months of protest by opponents of asset sales was a grand kick in the balls and now has me re-considering my voting options…
The rumor in Wellington is that Nationals own polling has them bouncing around on their traditional base 40-42%,
But, Roy Morgan had to move things around a bit in this poll to accommodate the insertion of the Conservative Party for the first time,
For National to Govern after the 2014 election, National themselves know that they are going to need more than Banks and the ‘Hairdo’ + the ‘Poodles’ even if they all keep the seats that they presently hold there’s a 99% chance that none of them will gather further electoral support,
So, in order for it to be viable for National to ‘give away’ another of it’s safe electorate seats there need be every chance that ‘the Party’ it plans on gifting that seat to has every chance,(in the minds of National’s core vote) of bringing at least one more MP into the Parliament riding the coat tails of the gifted National held electoral seat,
With the numbers at where i see them now the Party gifted that seat by National would have to gain at least 2 more seats off of the MMP % of Party votes for the present little jack-up to be of use to them,
The latest Roy Morgan is simply an attempt to facilitate the above,(ie: give a Party with Zilch media attention oxygen), rather than the usual play the margin of error always showing the party’s of the right from the high side of the margin of error while showing the party’s of the left from the low side of that margin of error,
Once they have ensconced ‘the Conservatives’ in the polls as a viable 3%, (to Nationals core vote),and, given that party oxygen and television airtime Roy can go back to business as usual as far as manipulative polls goes….
We can either end up living a life that others expect of us or lives based on our own truth. The difference is the difference between living a conscious life or one that is unconscious. And that’s the difference between living and not living.
The strangest little story is going on in Scotland. Stephen Gough has a mission to walk around naked. Something along the lines of people are good, people are their bodies so bodies are good it’s quite an involved, but at the same time simple realisation for him. So he walks naked. He’s gone from Land’s End to John O’Groats twice. Pyschologically, he’s fine.
The problem is in Scotland he keeps getting arrested for breaching the peace, he defends himself naked, goes to prison naked, and determines to walk out of there naked – then he is promptly arrested again. He wants to walk home to the South of England – naked. The upshot is this has been going on for 6 years. That’s right – 6 years in prison, in virtual solitary confinement, for living his belief that the human body is not offensive and to believe it is isn’t rational. This truth means he walks up and down the country naked.
It appeared that Gough and the Scottish legal system had unwittingly created the perfect legal quandary. How to release a naked man who is in prison for being naked?
The prison management and police came to some agreement and a few days ago he managed to walk from Perth to Dunfermline, where someone complained and he was arrested again, 3 days after leaving prison. Currently he’s waiting for his court date. It appears if he can make it to the English border he’ll be ok because the interpretation of the law is more liberal. In Scotland it’s a theoretical idea that he might cause offense, in England you don’t get arrested unless it actually causes offense to sombody.
he admits to experiencing doubts about his stance. “Yeah, of course. I wake up in the morning and think, what the fuck am I doing here? But what I’m doing isn’t about me. I’m challenging society and it must be challenged because it’s wrong.”
There’s something philosophically pure about this that the legal system, even ones that use actual offense as the criteria for arrest, can’t handle.
But if he was rambling in Europe it’s likely he wouldn’t even get a mention. Not sure how he’d do in New Zealand.
I can admire the sentiment on living a conscious and considered life, looking critically at society. However, I don’t really understand the desire to walk around naked, especially somewhere like Scotland, the north of England, or anywhere in Scotland or England in winter.
The conscious mind is always clothed in language, and the Naked Rambler. needs to explain why he is walking naked to make his point.
Going naked is reactive against society’s norms, and is not proactively living as you want.
The RNZ Morning Report item on the progress of Sue Moroney’s paid parental leave bill yesterday, shows yet again how National is truly the nasty party. it’s the first bill reported on in the Parliament sends three members’ bills to select committee @8.13am.
Sue Goodhew had the gall to criticise Labour for spending recklessly and wanting to spend on something because it was a good idea, whether or not it was affordable! Jacinda Ardern sounds like she delivered a great speech, in spite of the Nat MPs shouting out that she wasn’t qualified to comment because she doesn’t have children….. “children or coal”.
NAct continue to criticise the opposition for things they are guilty of….. they have become frighteningly Orwellian.
“Stop subsidising heavy polluters and we can back kids. Build one less road of national significance and we can help kids and their families,” she said. “This Government has proven that their priority is not children.”
Ms Barry, 52, responded by asking: “How many kids do you have?”
The North Shore MP later added: “Don’t be so precious, petal.”
The Opposition side of the House erupted with calls for an apology, which the first-term Government member refused to give.
[…]
“Stop subsidising heavy polluters and we can back kids. Build one less road of national significance and we can help kids and their families,” she said. “This Government has proven that their priority is not children.”
I would have thought an MP getting their information from comprehensive research, reports etc on such issues, is better than taking just one woman’s experience. Furthermore, Barry shows why it is a relevant issue to Ardern personally, because, at any time, she can/could be making a decision as to if/when to have children.
Barry…. a light weight intellectually, and, just plain nasty.
Ms Ardern was asking people if they “preferred coal or children”.
“Stop subsidising heavy polluters and we can back kids. Build one less road of national significance and we can help kids and their families,” she said. “This Government has proven that their priority is not children.”
Ms Barry:”How many kids do you have?”
And later: “Don’t be so precious, petal.”
Labour MP Trevor Mallard later wrote on his Twitter feed: “Shame on Maggie Barry … Women parliamentarians should know better than to criticise each other for not having children.”
Speaking after the debate, Ms Barry, who had her only child in her late 30s, said: “I am not apologising for it. I don’t think it’s a very sensitive issue. Jacinda dishes the dirt as much as any.”
Barry is right, Labour can do it dirty too, but that doesn’t excuse her for unnecessary nastiness like this. Nothing is gained and respect is lost for the taunter.
The Speaker has released the names of Lobbyists with security access cards to Parliament. And interesting list, with those representing interests in representing financial institutions or (largely unsustainable kinds of) energy companies/interests, or backgrounds supporting business and the National Party in the majority:
For some insight into Russell McVeagh, (McLeech), Thirty Pieces of Silver By Anthony Molloy QC, is great reading.
Also McLeech just happen to be representing King Salmon who are applying through the EPA to expand their Dirty, Disease ridden salmon farms in the Marlborough Sounds.
Derogatory comment about female opposition party members “not having children” is nothing new from the National Party.
Weren’t they always making snide remarks about Helen Clark along the same lines ?
Yes, the Nats like to keep gender stereotypes in place, and for women to keep their (in Nat eyes) subordinate position as mothers. And they tend to use women to police other women in doing this (see Paula Benefit’s track record)…… unless they are a woman with a Taser, who is prepared to crush cars (preferably by making themselves a spectacle in fetishist high heels).
And they do not have a good record in supporting women with children, especially if they are on low incomes.
Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE (Labour): I am very glad that the National Party are talking about their so-called glorious, Nuremberg-like rally that happened at the weekend, because the Prime Minister came out of that, triumphant in his own mind that the National Party faithful…
Not exactly parallel. The swipe at Ardern (as a working woman) was personal and targeting supporting women (of child-bearing age) who are the least powerful sex in the Nat scheme of things. Cosgrove was attacking a triumphalist party who have a strong record in government of anti-democratic policies and legislation.
Although, I’m not that keen on such hyperbolism or use of that extreme metaphor, which will probably launch me into mod if I name it.
I don’t like it whoever does it. And despite some opposition to criticising Barry on KB it’s not all one way there:
“This is a brainfart by Maggie Barrie.”
“These stupid remarks reflect on the party reputation, as has been the case with liebour, and rightly so.”
“maggies comments were a bit crap”
Maggie Barry is a nasty little common gardener. It seems that many people resort to just this sort of personal attack because they do not have the intellectual capability to argue the actual policy under debate.She is a nasty vindictive piece of work. The women of the National Party are all the same.A gaggle of shrews all vying to be Apha female in order to impress the little man.Wonder what he has been promising them?
If my former flatmate is anything to go by, they simply buy all of National’s brighter future tripe and don’t know anything about any of the people involved or any of the policies and what they mean.
She works in ECE and was very angry about the 2010 budget. I suggested to her not to vote National next time; not sure how (or if) she voted in 2011.
You are so right about the Alpha females of National, trying to out macho one another. Whilst driving in the last few days (a rare event for me) Paula (lard arse) Bennett came on the radio and said words to the effect “We are going to take the benefit away from those people on the run from the police”….the shrill refrain followed by a giggle Dr Evil would have been proud of.
My heart sank, is this the type of glib nonsense our leaders are reduced to I thought. Such a stupid statement by such an ill educated and pig ignorant bully. So lets break it down a little:
* on the run from the Police….who decides who is on the run, or just not around etc?
* on the run…does that mean guilty prior to charge or court? Or is that just assumed?
* does guilty of an offense mean you should be kicked off of a benefit? Is Social Development now an arm of Corrections / Justice?
* does Paula think that some cop stating you are on the run from the law means that you must be guilty and therefore to be stripped of your rights as a citizen at her whim?
* benefit stopped as above…what happens to dependents? Or are they guilty by association?
In short this bitch is playing fast and loose with the rights of the citizen, she is well out of order. Where are Shearer and Parker when you really need them to stand up?
the twitter hashtag #maggiebarrystandingorders is providing some real gems! My favourite so far: “You can only talk about asset sales if you have three TradeMe stars or more. #maggiebarrystandingorders”
Maggie the boys lusted after, the middle aged men swooned, she of the fabulous red hair, such a flower, a blossom. We wise gardeners know that such beauties as anenome, clematis, daffodil, wisteria, lily etc are all poisonous. To quote the Bard “This potent poison quite o’ercrows my spirit”:
Complaints under another section; 134(2); were not possible because they must be laid within six months of the return being supplied, and police had first received the complaint 10 months after the six months had expired.
Well, the government’s good news lasted about ten minutes …
From Red Alert, here are the new private members’ bills, drawn from the ballot today:
State-Owned Enterprises and Crown Entities (Protecting New Zealand’s Strategic Assets) Amendment Bill (Clayton Cosgrove)
Resource Management (Restricted Duration of Certain Discharge and Coastal Permits) Amendment Bill (Catherine Delahunty) Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill
Ombudsmen (Cost Recovery) Amendment Bill (Shane Jones)
Minimum Wage Amendment Bill (David Clark)
No Right Turn says “It’s all on.” See italics!
i.e. Key (and yes, Shearer) now have to stop mucking around and vote Yes or No to marriage equality. Stand by for more squirming …
Banks’ “win” will get a headline for a few hours. Louisa Wall’s win will make headlines for months.
Now all we need is for MPs who favour marriage equality to say so – without waffle and weasel-words. Plus, the inevitable bonus of Craig and Tamaki and co ranting against this. Bigots being exposed, and ultimately, losing. With Key pandering to both sides.
The problem is that although Labour think this Bill is the most important thing to happen bloody near forever, nobody else really gives a stuff. That is the answer to previous questions as to why women identify with Key and why young women identify with National, they simply have more important things in common to worry about (like children).
Labour have isolated themselves into an “identity politics” party at the expense of wider support.
It’s not a question of “the most important thing”.
It’s a private members’ bill, and a conscience vote. Opposition MPs don’t get to write the budget, decide policy direction, or do much at all. This is one of the few things they can do. Yesterday’s double win was a good example.
If there are easy votes in opposing this, National (i.e. Key) will oppose it. But there aren’t any more. So the law will pass, because it is now on the right side of public opinion. That’s good, right?
Human rights used to be considered fairly important but then we got a serious case of neo-liberalism and now everyone seems to have more important things to worry about like feeding themselves.
That Stuff link (now updated) shows why this bill is not just morally right … it’s also good politics:
Watch the Nats run for cover …
Environment minister Amy Adams said she would ”give it some thought.”
”My initial view is that what we have seems to be working pretty well, but I’m not taking a position at this stage,” Adams said.
Health minister Tony Ryall said he wanted to look ”at exactly what it is before we make a decision on that.” He refused to say if he supported gay marriage.
New Plymouth MP Jonathan Young said he had no comment – other than he would canvas the views of his constituents.
Defence minister Jonathan Coleman said he wanted to read the bill before forming a view.
Translation – As soon as Key gives them the nod, they will (miraculously) make up their minds.
Get a bulk order of popcorn, this is gonna be fun.
In Maggie Barry world will they only be able to discuss Gay Marriage if they have a same sex partner. I get so confused about the rules coming from the Nasties.
If his, or anyone’s, opinion gets shot to pieces by logic and fact then they should probably change their opinion – not complain that they can’t have an opinion.
Here’s a statistic that you won’t see in research on anti-Semitism, no matter how meticulous the study is. In the first six months of the year, 154 anti-Semitic assaults have been recorded, 45 of them around one village alone. Some fear that last year’s record high of 411 attacks – significantly more than the 312 attacks in 2010 and 168 in 2009 – could be broken this year.
Fifty-eight incidents were recorded in June alone, including stone-throwing targeting farmers and shepherds, shattered windows, arson, damaged water pipes and water-storage facilities, uprooted fruit trees and one damaged house of worship. The assailants are sometimes masked, sometimes not; sometimes they attack surreptitiously, sometimes in the light of day.
There were two violent attacks a day, in separate venues, on July 13, 14 and 15. The words “death” and “revenge” have been scrawled in various areas; a more original message promises that “We will yet slaughter.”
It’s no accident that the diligent anti-Semitism researchers have left out this data. That’s because they don’t see it as relevant, since the Semites who were attacked live in villages with names like Jalud, Mughayer and At-Tuwani, Yanun and Beitilu. The daily dose of terrorizing (otherwise known as terrorism) that is inflicted on these Semites isn’t compiled into a neat statistical report, nor is it noticed by most of the Jewish population in Israel and around the world – even though the incidents resemble the stories told by our grandparents.
The day our grandparents feared was Sunday, the Christian Sabbath; the Semites, who are not of interest to the researchers monitoring anti-Semitism, fear Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath. Our grandparents knew that the order-enforcement authorities wouldn’t intervene to help a Jewish family under attack; we know that the Israel Defense Forces, the Israel Police, the Civil Administration, the Border Police and the courts all stand on the sidelines, closing their eyes, ….
so for a bit of light relief who is going to support the WWF in their call for China, Vietnam and Thailand to do something about their contribution to Elephant and Rhinoceros extinction threats.
So I’ve read it all again, again. This time in English. Before I’d stuck to the Swedish versions of the leaked police interviews to make sure I was going to the closest source. The translation into English is good and accurate, in my opinion. Here’s the link…
It’s all here, virtually everything I tried to get the Guardian, the Independent, the Observer, the New Statesman interestsed in examining.
One’s struck by lots of things in the police interveiws. Firstly the Swedish police can conduct telephone interviews in the case, as they’ve done with several of the ‘witnesses’, without the need to arrest anyone, so why not Assange?
The almost total lack of any witnesses or evidence to confirm that any crime actually took place, apart from the statements of the two women involved, and they are ‘tainted’ and arguably wouldn’t stand up in court to cross-examination, even in Sweden, which is why the first prosecutor in Stockholm dropped the case like a hot stone.
The two women did not go to the police and claim that Assange attacked, asssaulted, used violence, or raped them. And they should know. ….
By the way, what’s the provenance of the transcripts? I’ve not seen it mentioned that they’d been leaked before. I’d hate for someone to think that I just took random internet websites at face value.
You’ll notice that at the end of the post, I wrote that one could learn more by clicking onto the Media Lens site, and I helpfully provided a hyperlink.
No evidence whatsoever that transcripts had been leaked.
They were leaked, all right. That’s an English translation.
How do you know that this isn’t just Assange fanfic?
It’s not. Unlike the fictional “case” against Assange, this leaked evidence stands on its merits: it has not been refuted.
But what a neat and nasty little propaganda coinage: “Assange fanfic”.
It’s demeaning to his defenders on two levels:
1.) The FAN part of “fanfic” implies that, as well as being “celebrities like Jemima Khan”, Assange’s principled defenders (Chomsky, Pilger, Maguire, Ellsberg, and millions more) are merely “fans”;
2.) The FIC part of “fanfic” implies that Assange’s defence is fictional, and fraudulent.
Neat propaganda, but shallow, and utterly without merit—just like the fictional “case” against Assange.
How do you know that this isn’t just Assange fanfic?
It’s not. Unlike the fictional “case” against Assange, this leaked evidence stands on its merits: it has not been refuted.
So your evidence of the authenticity of these transcripts is that the Swedish government hasn’t commented on the accuracy of internet documents that claim to be leaked evidence in ongoing investigations?
And I wasn’t suggesting Chomsky or Pilger invented the transcripts. Just that some little internet groupie who bought a “team assange” tshirt might have wanted to write their own Shades of Grey.
Do you have any evidence whatsoever that any or all witness interviews have been leaked? And that this “transcript” is accurate?
And even if the link IS true and accurate (doubtful), do you seriously have no qualms at all about publicly distributing the evidence gathered in ongoing police investigations into sexual assault? IMO, a group prepared to do that would be just as willing to fabricate “transcripts” to help defend their cause. The ends justify the means, and all that.
I imagine Assange’s supporters would number in the dozens nowadays. For some reason people tend to go off cowards who run away rather than face the consequences of their own sleazy actions. Those who have gone off him recently include most of the people that you list as being his supporters. They were helping him and showing a remarkeable degree of trust right up until he did a runner and blew the money they’d put up as security against him bottling out.
On the up side, if he ever needs a bed for the night in NZ, I’m sure he’ll find you most obliging, Mozza. If you know what I mean 😉
I imagine Assange’s supporters would number in the dozens nowadays.
His supporters include the most admired and principled political dissidents in the world. And millions more, of course. But feel free to go ahead and pretend otherwise.
For some reason people tend to go off cowards who run away rather than face the consequences of their own sleazy actions.
His “sleazy actions” were to sleep with groupies. I’ll bet you would do the same if you ever did anything brave enough to give you the heroic status that Assange has earned. There is no evidence that he did anything illegal—but you would know that if you did any serious reading on the subject.
Those who have gone off him recently include most of the people that you list as being his supporters.
Oh really? And your evidence for this is…. what, exactly?
Seriously, CV? Morrissey has been spamming the Open Mikes for days now with copypasted Assange defence crap. When asked to actually establish provenance for his sources, he cannot.
Meanwhile, we’ve already had an epic thread wherein plenty of explanatory articles have been linked to and generally brushed away by Morrissey, yourself, et al because … well … Sweden should just cede its legal sovereignty, and Zionism, and also “sex makes fools of us all.”
Yeah, but it’s the people who want Assange held accountable for his actions who are just meanies.
Ever considered that maybe the way rape culture oppresses and victimizes women might be a little bit more important than how much it ~hurts your feelings~ to be called a rape apologist when you’re indulging in rape apologism?
So all you are interested in is Assange being held accountable, yeah? Hey I go with that 100%.
If Sweden can give an assurance that they aren’t going to ship Assange off to Guantanamo Bay asap – a pretty easy statement to make I would have thought – than I agree Assange should be shipped off to Sweden asap to face the legal music.
If Sweden made such a statement, Ecuador would have no more grounds to protect Assange in their embassy either.
But yeah, why don’t you keep focussing on protecting Sweden’s ‘legal sovereignty to ship Assange to a US military prison anytime they want to’.
Not sure. Factors might include:
– Level of media attention
– Lack of UK political agreement
– Strength of public support for Assange
– Complications from UK judicial oversight
Regardless, Sweden should give Assange (and the rest of the w/orld) an assurance that he will not be shipped off to Guantanamo Bay asap.
Not sure. Factors might include: – Level of media attention – Lack of UK political agreement – Strength of public support for Assange – Complications from UK judicial oversight
– becue Sweden doesn’t have any media?
– doesn’t do shit against a red notice
– damned Assande-hating swedes
– because the one and only time Swedish inteligence services broke the rules (just after 9/11) the courts didn’t get involved?
And face it – the Swedes haven’t shot any electricians since 9/11, have they?
So getting an assurance should be a walk in the park right, McFlock? One little assurance and the Ecuador embassy has no more grounds to protect Assange.
You get what you want: Assange with no where else to run to.
An assurance not to be shipped to Guanatano Bay under the pretext of routine investigative questioning on something completely irrelevant is not that big a “favour” now, is it.
And you would get what you want: Assange kicked out of Ecuador embassy protection and on a plane to Sweden.
Still: the US’s extradition treaty with the UK gives them pretty much carte blanche (thanks TB…), Sweden’s less so. Why would the US want him in a country it will be harder to extradite him from?
But I’m not getting into this, I’ve seen the epic threads…
Morrissey has been spamming the Open Mikes for days now with copypasted Assange defence crap.
The examples of “spam” I posted were: (1) an official release by Women Against Rape, expressing the gravest concern about the sincerity and the truthfulness of the “allegations” against Assange; (2) a meticulously detailed Media Lens exposé of the (so-called) liberal media’s parroting of official lies about Assange; and (3) Nobel Peace laureate Mairead Maguire’s plea to the Ecuadorean government to grant Assange political asylum.
If that’s “spam” then Garth George is a brilliant journalist, Christine (Spankin’) Rankin is a child advocate, and Peter “Possum” Dunne is a profile in courage.
When asked to actually establish provenance for his sources, he cannot.
I can, and I did. It’s interesting, on the other hand, that the persecutors of Assange have provided not a scintilla of evidence.
….generally brushed away by Morrissey, yourself, et al because … well … Sweden should just cede its legal sovereignty, and Zionism, and also “sex makes fools of us all.”
I’ve never said or written any of those things. You’re just making it up as you go. Have you considered a job with the Key administration?
Yeah, but it’s the people who want Assange held accountable for his actions who are just meanies.
There is no evidence against him at all, as you would know if you read up on this travesty with any seriousness at all. However, there is of course evidence that he did what a journalist should do, and exposed massive state crimes being perpetrated by (among others) the United States and its satellite regimes. Those are the actions that they want to punish him for; but they were not illegal, of course. Hence the invention of these sex allegations.
The prosecutors of Assange seem to think there is probable cause. Contrary to what teamassange groupies might think, the interwebz are not the judiciary.
What “provenance” did you provide? A link to some random web page? No other sources to suggest that the swedes were investigating a massive leak of documents relating to sexual assault investigations? None of the witnesses confirming the contents of the transcript? No swedish “bradass87”?
The faithful have been fabricating icons and supporting evidence for millenia. And not everything on the internet is true. All I want is some corroborating evidence.
Sweden should give Assange an assurance that he will not be shipped out to Guantanamo, the Ecuadorians will have no grounds to keep him in their embassy, and then you will get exactly what you want – Assange in front of Swedish criminal investigators.
So an entire Swedish legal system should compromise because some guy jumped bail in the UK?
I much prefer the option of patient justice – if he ever wants to go anywhere in the developed world, he has Swedish and British fugitive notices to worry about, as well as US. And if Ecuador wants to build international links, well they’ve got him on tap, haven’t they. A cross between Carlos the Jackal and Paul Gadd.
Promising to not ship someone to military internment in Guantanamo Bay on completely unrelated matters can compromise a so-called justice system?
And if Ecuador wants to build international links, well they’ve got him on tap, haven’t they. A cross between Carlos the Jackal and Paul Gadd.
So you don’t want to get Assange in front of Swedish criminal investigators asap? You prefer to keep the Swedish women complainants waiting while some kind of international espionage intrigue gets played out?
Nope.
A promise not to extradite someone to country B is a compromise of the justice system:
A promise not to deport straight to guantanamo means a promise not to extradite to the US, period.
A promise not to extradite to the US means a promise not to extradite to the US even on charges that are legitimate, such as if he raped someone in the US (if he’s ever been there).
A banket promise not to extradite to the US means a promise not to extradite to any nation that might give him to the US. Even if they, too, have 100% legitimate charges.
Basically, you’re asking the Swedes to guarantee that he’ll never be deported to damned near anywhere on the panet, no matter what he’s accused of and no matter how much evidence and no matter what international obligations.
But there’s no compromise if they look at requests on a case by case basis. Just like the UK did.
But I’d actually prefer it if Assange decided to take responsibility for what he did, and front up to face the charges. The dangers of plane flight back to Sweden would be a bigger threat to his life and freedom than the danger of rendition to the states.
Hey McFlock – where did you put your concern that the women complainants in Sweden get justice quickly, on that priority list of international law, intrigue and espionage?
Oh yeah I see now, you added it as a footnote: Assange should just man up and take the risk of being shipped out to Guantanamo Bay held under military arrest on the chin, as a matter of course.
I’m sure he’ll take that candid suggestion under advisement.
You want to protect Sweden’s justice system and you want to protect Sweden’s sovereign right to extradite persons anywhere in the world that they are empowered to, for any reasons their justice system and various international treaties allow.
You want to protect the integrity of both the Swedish justice systems and international law. Is that right, eh? Are you sure that’s all?
I want justice systems to work with integrity. Extradition is part of that. That way they can hold all criminals accountable for their actions, and ensure that the innocent aren’t convicted unjustly.
That will improve public confidence in the justice system, so the public would be more likely to report crme of all types – especially sexual crimes, which have a microscopic reporting nature.
That wil reduce crime.
Is there anything inconsistent in all that? What more do you think I want?
oh, by the way: Why didn’t the UK send him to the states again?
I want justice systems to work with integrity. Extradition is part of that.
Are you truly genuine about that?
Specifically, do you believe that in addition to extradition, asylum from politically motivated prosecution is another legitimate part of the system of international law?
And if so, do you then accept that Ecuador has the full right (under established international law) to provide Assange with temporary refuge while its government assesses his individual case on its individual merits?
So why didn’t he ask for political asylum in the UK? They take asylum-seekers, too. Like Sweden does, interestingly enough.
I’m not sure I’ve ever criticised Ecuador’s right to consider and grant asylum. I’m criticising Assange for hiding behind conspiracy theories to avoid a sexual assault investigation.
oh, by the way: Why didn’t the UK send him to the states again?
You accept that seeking asylum from politically motivated prosecution is a legitimate part of established international law. Just like extradition is.
You further accept that Ecuador has the right to give Assange temporary refuge while it assesses the merits of his case on its individual merits.
And since you said that you would be very patient with the necessarily slow movement of complex legal processes (in order to protect the integrity of the international justice system was your rationale), you will no doubt accept Assange exercising his rights under international law to request asylum, and for Ecuador to exercise its sovereign rights to assess that request thoroughly and with due process.
Am I correct, or have I misread your stance of principal on international law as being more genuine than it really is?
I believe in asylum, I even believe in Assange’s right to claim asylum for protection against political prosecution.
So why didn’t he ask for asylum from the UK? What was the ruling when his lawyers brought up political oppression in the extradition hearing. Did they? The UK can grant asylum too.
He’s claiming asylum from country C because country B decided to extradite him to country A on probable cause for investigation into sexual assault and rape.
I believe in Assange’s right to claim asylum as protection from political persecution. I don’t believe in his right to pervert the principle of asylum by using it to avoid answering questions about sexual assaults. To me, it looks suspiciously like the latter.
So: Why didn’t the UK send him to the states again? Why are the swedes more likely to? and I’ll add: why didn’t he ask for asylum in the UK?
So you are willing to wait for Ecuador to do what it needs to, in order for them to properly and legally assess Assange’s request for political asylum using thorough due process?
Lets wait and see what happens then. You won’t try and rush or prejudge the issues will you?
I have no choice but to wait for Ecuador’s decision. Interwebz arguments do not substitute for a justice system in any nation.
I do find your hierarchy of competent legal systems intriguing, though:
Sweden is a corrupt politicised pawn of the US satan;
The UK is better than Sweden, but not good enough to be asked for asylum or indeed not extradite to Sweden;
Ecuador is an enlightened nation that will deliver the judgement of Solomon.
Bear in mind that so far Assange has struck out with 2 out of 3 seperate judicial systems. And I get the impression that if Ecuador refuses asylum you’ll be saying “let’s try the next one”. And if he camps further and further down Embassy Row you’ll end up praising the wisdom and justice of the Iranian government.
Why didn’t the UK send him to the states again? Why are the swedes more likely to? why didn’t he ask for asylum in the UK?
And I get the impression that if Ecuador refuses asylum you’ll be saying “let’s try the next one”.
The justice system by its nature presents individuals with more than one opportunity for their case to be heard. That is what the system of appeals is all about.
My point was that it’s all very well for you to ask me to keep an open mind, but the fact is that your mind is closed to the possibility that he did it, knows there is no real risk of being deported to the US by sweden, but is using fear of TPTB as an excuse to avoid accountability for his actions.
Seriously, if that were the true state of affairs, how could someone convince you of it? All courts that rule against him are stooges of US imperialist hegemony. All accusers are ignorantly spreading black propaganda. The most flimsy uncorroborated internet link in his favour proves his innocence. Is there any theoretical way that the logical possibility of his guilt and abuse of asylum could be demonstrated to you, if it were true?
Why didn’t the UK send him to the states? Why are the swedes more likely to?why didn’t he ask for asylum in the UK?
dogma, what you find when solutions never materialize, welcome
to the under perfrorming NZ economy, for decades and decades.
The same trite arguments that miss the essential point about the NZ
economy, that we reward investment in housing over productive endeavors.
But wait its worse.
Values. Glen Owen charity is a role model hang over from the
class system because it reinforces the view that we must be all
wealth to be generous to our lesser citizens. That merit be damned,
wealth is all that matters. Surely to be successful like Nordic nations
we need also to look up to successful people who are fabulously wealth.
In fact its because we speak the same language as Americans, and
their culture dominates ours, and we don’t have Nobel prizes (or wealthy
people who reward intellectualism), that we continue to pick the worse
economic policies for NZ, because some trite US twit says charter schools,
or whatever, is the next cool economic fad.
National and Labour are hollow idiots pandering to poor policy prescriptions
because they can’t beat out the nonsense imported from the US.
The biggest problem for NZs economy (and that of the rest of the world) is that we’ve been rewarding the rich for being rich and not only letting them get away with corruption but giving them multi-million dollar golden handshakes when their hands are caught in the till.
Not to mention tax cuts that have to be financed from debt paid for by the rank and file taxpayer….dont give me any crap about the rich paying the most tax.
Its now a very real fact, that the artificial construct of a business entity is consider equivalent to a person (SCOTUS), but the greatest burden, tax if you will, upon Mother Earth has not yet been provided with even basic rights. Sue God? NO! Mother Earth should sue the USA.
I’m assuming that most still pay significant tax under the progressive tax system and have also been subject to the same GST rises as everyone else ?
As for the SOE sell down if you’re bemoaning the fact that people can purchase a few thousand dollars worth of shares as a reward for the rich being rich I think you’re being overly bombastic.
1: they pay less tax than they did 5 years ago. That is a “reward”. The poor pay more.
2: Subject to the same GST rises… depending on how they structured their finances, how much goes through companies or trusts, and how much is invested. Unlike the poor, who spend all their money on personal goods and services therefore probably pay 15% of their entire “after tax” income on GST.
3: You might sniff at a few thousand bucks returning 18% not being much of a reward. Alternatively, the other 95% of the country would gratefully appreciate it.
1. How do you know they pay less tax than they did five years ago, they might then again they might not with GST changes and other tweaks in the tax system? As I said there used to be an interesting dataset published by treasury I think on tax by type and income bracket.
2. Again you make assumptions – this may or may not be the case.
3. Are you suggesting that the shares in SOEs being offered are going to return 18% ….fantastic i’ll make sure to invest and if that’s the case you should invest as mush as possible yourself.
1: tax rates are lower in higher brackets
2: indeed. Just as if my lotto numbers come up, I don’t have to collect the winnings.
3: yeah good call – fubared those math alright 🙂 But it’s still an investment that poor people can’t make in infrastructure that everybody already equally owns.
1.Tax rates are lower than they used to be in higher tax brackets, they are still higher in the higher tax brackets and those in the higher brackets still pay the majority of income tax in NZ. I still believe that there is room for a high earners tax bracket in NZ in line with the highest level across the Tasman.
2. Not sure what you’re trying to say here.
3. I’ll bet you that even someone of very very modest means could lend money if they could ensure an 18% return.
1: So because higher earners have a slightly higher tax proportion, the tax cuts they received (coincidentally just before we nosedived into massive deficit) is in no way a reward?
2: they might or might not funnel their spare cash through trusts or companies. Therefore they might ot might not be subject to the same proportion of GST payment. Just as I might or might not choose to pick up my winnings, the prize is still there for me.
3: aye, that’s why I said I fubared the math. But they’re solid investments (barring ToW claims or a leftwing govt getting balls and renationalising at punitive rates). And rich people are the ones with the opportunity to invest – poor people have no assets against which they can borrow to play stockmarket trader.
1. Higher earners pay more tax always have and always should, as I’ve said in the present conditions I think there should be a high earners tax bracket in NZ in line with the highest level across the Tasman.
2. It is illegal to charge non-business expenses to a business
3. I think we’re getting into the argument about what is rich, there are certainly people who wouldn’t have the funds or be able to get the funds to invest, there are also likely to be many who couldn’t be classed as rich who could if they so chose. For those people i wonder if they should be offered to cash in the government’s contribution to their Kiwisaver funds to invest if they so chose ?
1: The question is, if they receive a tax break on what they previously paid – isn’t that a reward? Even if they still pay a higher proportion of tax?
2: Yes. But it’s amazing what counts as a “business expense”.
3: allowing people to use government retirement contributions to help them purchase part of a company they already own via the government? See, “rich” people don’t need to risk their retirement savings in order to buy something that they already owned.
2. anyone who has run a business or worked as a contractor knows to claim back GST and minimize tax as much as possible. It’s prudent business sense to do so.
So the only assumption is that you are assuming that NZ’s middle and upper class are not prudent in business.
There is really no arguing that a high income tax break and a rise in GST hit’s PAYE earners whilst limiting the impact on high income earners.
I’ll think you’ll find that if people are rorting GST they’ll receive a major rodgering from IRD sooner or later. Similarly you’re assuming that the majority of those on more than an average or those on high incomes a making that income through their own business i’m not sure that is the case and even if it is whether you could assume that they are all not paying their fair share of tax.
You’ll need to give me an example on the second point so I can understand what you’re meaning.
The company doesn’t need to be their primary source of income.
Just the mechanism through which they funnel their income, or hold assets in (e.g. Double Dipton and his trust). And it doesn’t need to be illegal rorting, just “minimisation” (as CV sorry, UR, said).
It’s not hard to rort GST on things that a low income earner couldn’t.
Transport, entertainment costs, furniture. It’s as easy as a couple becoming joint shareholders in your own company, suddenly dinners out are share meetings and offset tax.
Sure not all high income earners run their own trusts or companies (The majority i’ve met do).
But they still did get a tax break anyway while everyone below gets a GST hike. And the people below don’t have the opportunity/means to offset their GST.
No matter whether your rorting the system legally (which isn’t hard to do) or not, it doesn’t change the fact that this is an option generally only available to the wealthier.
Come on HS mate, you can’t seriously be trying to insinuate that the higher earners have had equal breaks to those on the lower rates under National.
You really believe that National’s policies are bringing a brighter future for the poor?
270,000 children in poverty, the great exodus of our talented and poor job prospects (unless you are high skilled and white apparently).
Surely a GST rise and a tax break for top earners wouldn’t be considered as rewarding the rich for being rich, would it?
It wouldn’t be a priority if I was in Government with the above environment.
Their policies risk a further exodus of our young and talented. The very young, talented youth who for 20 years our taxes have invested in through one of the OECD’s best education systems. This would be my priority, minimizing a massive loss on investment.
Similarly you’re assuming that the majority of those on more than an average or those on high incomes a making that income through their own business i’m not sure that is the case and even if it is whether you could assume that they are all not paying their fair share of tax.
That’s not an assumption any more. We know for a fact that the bludgers are stealing from the rest of us.
Aero Noble sentiments indeed
But a lot of the dynamite used in the world today is used to kill other people and dig up vast quantities of minerals for big corporations.
Sweden has its first right wing government in a log time.
so would you trust them .
30,000 words in five days. Translators normally manage about 2,000 words per day. This feat was by no means a world record but it was difficult and a lot of hard work.
The roughest parts were the transcripts. Transcripts are the next best thing to being there – to having a video recording. The task of the transcriber is to record every non-word, sound, and pause in addition to the actual content, this to as accurately as possible convey the attitude and reactions of the interviewee.
Good translations normally never attempt a ‘word for word’ approach. It’s not only words that differ in different languages – it’s the ideas and concepts as well. The goal of a translator is otherwise to get the idea across rather than produce stilted language no one really grasps. But the translations of the transcripts necessarily took another approach: reproduce all the commas, full stops, ellipses, and even the strange constructs as found in the originals.
There’s only one way to study these documents: as a whole and with the working assumption everyone is telling the truth. Save for several deliberate attempts by Anna Ardin to obfuscate the truth, this approach seems to work.
The ‘case’ (if one dare call it that) hovers on two incidents. One takes place in Enköping in the morning. The two people involved have a simple exchange of two lines each before going at it again for what likely is the fifth time in a long sleepless night. The girl’s just come back to bed after being out early and shopping, the two of them make love again, and start dozing off to sleep.
Suddenly the one starts all over again. The girl senses the man is about to penetrate her. ….
If it were anti-Assange, it would obviously be lies, and probably Zionist. (That link may mark the point at which I chose to stop engaging people obviously willing to spin anything they can in order to avoid stating simple facts: “Assange should face the allegations made against him because they are serious allegations, and if the US wanted his ass David Cameron would have served it up to them already.”)
… it would obviously be lies, and probably Zionist.
That’s twice today you’ve tried to trivialize my case by mentioning the word “Zionist”. The fact that I have never said anything like that probably won’t make any difference to you, but I’d like to point it out to serious readers.
I linked to exactly who did say it, Morrissey. Sorry for not actually tarring all you “shut up, all evidence against Assange is lies and if you aren’t pro-Assange you haven’t read anything about the case, except you might have read a lot but it’s all lies if it’s not pro-Assange” fanpeeps with the same brush.
Yes, it was Vicky, not me. And probably not most of the other supporters of Assange. I’m interested to see that you still chose to include it as one of the arguments you allege his supporters make, in spite of the fact they do not.
Sorry for not actually tarring all you “shut up, all evidence against Assange is lies and if you aren’t pro-Assange you haven’t read anything about the case, except you might have read a lot but it’s all lies if it’s not pro-Assange” fanpeeps with the same brush.
You don’t have to be pro-Assange, but if you are foolish enough to parrot the black propaganda of the U.S. and U.K. governments, then you either have NOT read a lot on this travesty of a case, or you are profoundly corrupt.
The whole issue has become too bound up in absolutes. Of course Assange should comply with the laws of the countries he parades through. Of course he shouldn’t treat women (or anyone else) as though they are disposable. Of course an interview can be carried out by phone. Of course Assange should go to America and martyr himself, and of course the Yankees should stop pretending to occupy the moral high ground.
Of course Ecuador should not let itself be used as a straight man to this clown’s antics. Of course Wikileaks should have properly protected its data from external access and/or betrayal.
Of course Wikileaks can be a force for “good”.
Of course we sound like economists discussing rational actors.
The whole issue has become too bound up in absolutes.
So everything’s relative, is it? The lies told by the authorities and their media vassals like the Guardian, the Murdoch gang and the BBC somehow balance up the exposure of those absolute lies by truth-tellers like Assange and Bradley Manning? It seems that the fact that the U.S. military was absolutely caught out by an absolutely dedicated, absolutely determined journalist is just too much for you to take in, my friend. The only cure for that is more reading. Serious reading, that is.
Of course Assange should comply with the laws of the countries he parades through.
He does comply with the law. There is no evidence he has committed any criminal act. And… he “parades through” countries? Maybe you’ve mixed him up with that fraudster Barack Obama.
Of course he shouldn’t treat women (or anyone else) as though they are disposable.
Who says he does? Take care, my friend, not to automatically believe what government apparatchiks tell you.
Of course Ecuador should not let itself be used as a straight man to this clown’s antics.
So Assange is a “clown” now? A “clown” who “parades” through countries. Now that is a clown with gravitas.
Of course Wikileaks should…
How about dropping the sarcasm? There are enough bewildered people on this forum as it is.
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1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’. ...
Chris Trotter writes – MELISSA LEE should be deprived of her ministerial warrant. Her handling – or non-handling – of the crisis engulfing the New Zealand news media has been woeful. The fate of New Zealand’s two linear television networks, a question which the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications ...
TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’. The data is from February this ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications:Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
Chris Trotter writes – The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Māori are yet to see anything from this Government except cuts, reversals and taking our people backwards, Māori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...
The Coalition Government’s refusal to commit to ongoing funding for social housing is seeing the sector pull back on developments and families watch their dreams of securing a home fade away, says Labour Housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty. ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel. “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says. "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board. “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti. “I have asked her to ...
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States. “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor in Honiara Solomon Islands’ incumbent prime minister Manasseh Sogavare has been re-elected in the East Choiseul constituency. It is the opening move in the political chess match to form the country’s next government. Returning officer Christopher Makoni made the declaration late last night after ...
Headline: The moment of friction. – 36th Parallel Assessments In strategic studies “friction” is a term that it is used to describe the moment when military action encounters adversary resistance. “Friction” is one of four (along with an unofficial fifth) “F’s” in military strategy, which includes force (kinetic mass), ...
The Fast-track Bill, if passed, would allow three Ministers, unchallenged and unchecked, to approve the immediate extraction and exhaustion of one-off resources. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne iamharin/Shutterstock For many people, the term “bulk billed” refers to a GP visit they don’t have to pay ...
Emmas Hislop, Sidnam and Wehipeihana discuss what’s in a name. Emma Sidnam: Hello Emmas! Thank you so much for agreeing to do this with me. My first question for you is related to what’s been on my mind for a while. It’s very important. You see we’ve recently had some ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Sievers, Research Fellow, Global Wetlands Project, Australia Rivers Institute, Griffith University Chris Brown Humans love the coast. But we love it to death, so much so we’ve destroyed valuable coastal habitat – in the case of some types of habitat, ...
Josh Thomson on the 80s milk ad jingle he can’t stop singing, the beauty of The Simpsons, why Jersey Shore is as good as Shakespeare and more. For someone who spends a lot of time on our screens, popping up in everything from 7 Days to Taskmaster, Educators to Good ...
In apparent defiance of the Biden administration, the Netanyahu government has now initiated missile strikes against Iran. Last Saturday night (Sunday morning in New Zealand) Iran launched more than 300 drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles against Israeli military targets. With the assistance of US, UK and possibly French forces, ...
Māori representation brings a perspective that encompasses not only the interests of Māori communities but also a broader, holistic approach to environmental stewardship and community well-being, principles deeply embedded in Te Ao Māori (the Māori ...
When Thomas James was on his solo camp as part of Outward Bound, the keen outdoorsman didn’t find it too challenging, as others often do. In what might just be the perfect illustration of his character, he saw it as a great opportunity to solve a few problems. “I thought, ...
This week in Auckland, a group of young people took over the microphone at a ministerial press conference, to explain why they oppose the Fast-Track Approvals Bill. One young woman said, ‘We’re here because we love Aotearoa New Zealand. We want to raise our children in an environment that’s thriving, ...
The summer was wonderful. Evie was wonderful, too; finally a teenager, finally worthy of long, hot days. She shaved her legs for the first time and bought cut-off shorts from the op-shop that made them look long. She got a Warehouse singlet so tight on her new shape that her ...
From the unstable and drippy to the hi-tech and pretty, here’s our ranking of all the tunnels you can drive through in this country. The first tunnel seems to have been built in 2200BC in Babylonia, kicking off a global phenomenon for digging holes in order to get places more ...
Lucinda Bennett on the art of being greedy but resourceful. This is an excerpt from our weekly food newsletter, The Boil Up. When I picture the market, it is always this time of year. Crisp air, dripping nose, counting coins with cold fingers. Sunlight pale, filtered through specks of dew still ...
Zoë Colling’s favourite piece in the ‘That’s So Last Century’ collection is a lubrication chart for a sewing machine from the ’60s. It’s about the size of a postcard, and carefully maintained. “I like it that this piece of ephemera highlights that manual and technical side of the skill involved ...
Kia Ora Gaza A passionate haka reverberated through Auckland International Airport as a medical team of three New Zealand doctors received an emotional farewell from a big crowd of supporters before flying to Turkey to join the international Freedom Flotilla to Gaza. The doctors, who left Auckland yesterday, hope to ...
With submissions closing today, Macassey-Pickard says groups around the country have been supporting a huge range of people to make their submissions. ...
Our response to the new legislation is informed by targeted conversations with practitioners working in the system and through an implementation lens. ...
The new ‘Fast-track Approvals Bill’ would give just three Ministers the power to approve or deny development projects. They would avoid the usual checks and balances that are in place to protect rivers, land, the ocean, and communities. ...
COMMENTARY:By Eugene Doyle Helen Clark, how I miss you. The former New Zealand Prime Minister — the safest pair of hands this country has had in living memory — gave a masterclass on the importance of maintaining an independent foreign policy when she spoke at an AUKUS symposium held ...
The government's released the list of organisations provided with information on how to apply - just hours before public submissions on the bill close. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milton Speer, Visiting Fellow, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney Before climate change really got going, eastern Australia’s flash floods tended to concentrate on our coastal regions, east of the Great Dividing Range. But that’s changing. Now ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elizabeth Finkel, Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow, La Trobe University Sia Duff / South Australian Museum In February, the South Australian Museum “re-imagined” itself. In the face of rising costs and inadequate government funds, CEO David Gaimster, who took the reins last June, declared ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alan Pearce, Professor, School of Allied Heath, Human Services & Sport, La Trobe University, La Trobe University This week, Collingwood AFL player Nathan Murphy announced his retirement, brought on by his concussion history and ongoing issues. The 24-year-old’s seemingly sudden retirement, ...
The Mental Health Foundation provides support and resources for those facing the loss of their job, so it’s wrong in the very week the Government adds another 1000 jobs to its tally of cuts, that this is happening. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Howard, Senior Lecturer, Discipline of English and Writing, University of Sydney Daniel Boud/Sydney Theatre Company Decay, terror, revulsion. These are three of the central themes of Thomas Bernhard’s rarely performed play The President. The Austrian is one of the greatest ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says threats by ministers Shane Jones and David Seymour to reform or close down the Waitangi Tribunal were “ill-considered”, as legal experts say the ministers may have breached Cabinet Manual conventions. “I think those comments are ill-considered and we expect all ministers to actually exercise good ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ye In (Jane) Hwang, Postdoctoral Research Associate at School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney Shutterstock You’d be hard pressed to find any aspect of daily life that doesn’t require some form of digital literacy. We need only to look back ten ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rob Newton, Professor of Exercise Medicine, Edith Cowan University Pexels/RDNE stock project You’re not in your 20s or 30s anymore and you know regular health checks are important. So you go to your GP. During the appointment they measure your waist. ...
A new poem by Evangeline Riddiford Graham. Mitochondrial Problem I. It was long drive to Kansas for the man and his dog but you have to understand he said She doesn’t fly. Which calls to mind not carsick shitting barking or whining but a dog who chooses not to as ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)Hot off the press, this debut ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Wajnryb McDonald, PhD candidate in Criminology, University of Sydney Less than 24 hours after Ashlee Good was murdered in Bondi Junction, her family released a statement requesting the media take down photographs they had reproduced of Ashlee and her family without ...
Chief executive Shaun Robinson said it has not had any government funding cut, but government-funded contracts have not kept pace with rising costs. ...
The Ministry of Health has delayed the release of its evidence brief on the safety, reversibility and mental health and wellbeing outcomes for puberty blockers. While we wait, Julia de Bres speaks to those with firsthand experience. Best practice gender-affirming healthcare is based on trans people’s self-determination and agency. The ...
Barcelona’s city streets have gone from traffic-clogged to pedestrian-friendly. How? Superblocks. Ellen Rykers explains. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week I read a great interview with renowned urbanist Janette Sadik-Khan by The Spinoff’s Wellington editor Joel MacManus: “You can reimagine streets, ...
Student groups ‘Climate Action VUW’, Schools Strike 4 Climate and VUWSA will be on the street in Wellington today, the last day for submissions on the Fast-track Approvals Bill, with a message that the fight against the Government’s ‘War on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sofia Ammassari, Research Fellow, Griffith University Since 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity has grown exponentially – and so has the formidable organisational machine of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). These two factors will be key to delivering the BJP a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendon Hyndman, Associate Professor of Education (Adjunct) & Senior Manager (BCE), Charles Sturt University During COVID almost all Australian students and their families experienced online learning. But while schools have long since gone back to in-person teaching, online learning has not gone ...
Yes, they’re better for the environment. No, that’s not a good enough reason for me to use them. Once every 26 days or so, my period arrives, and if struck by an act of God, I am caught red-crotched without products. How, after 17 years of this, do I still ...
“It will cause significant harm to our environment and communities. It is completely at odds with New Zealanders’ relationship with nature and our need for a low-carbon, sustainable economic future." ...
The Chair of the National Maori Authority, Matthew Tukaki, has warned a Parliamentary Select Committee that fast-tracking legislation is a perilous practice that undermines the core tenets of democracy, transparency, and accountability. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Tenbensel, Associate Professor, Health Policy, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images Since coming into power, the coalition government has adopted a simple but shrewd see-how-fast-we-can-move political strategy. However, in the health sector this need for speed entails ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Hronis, Clinical Psychologist, University of Technology Sydney Darya Sannikova/Pexels Whether you’re watching TV, attending a footy game, or eating a meal at your local pub, gambling is hard to escape. Although the rise of gambling is not unique to Australia, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Wong, Forrest Fellow, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia Have you ever wondered if there are more insects out at night than during the day? We set out to answer this question by combing through the scientific ...
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Starter for 10,
Who said this and when?
“I think that the bond of trust that’s built up between a prime minister or politicians in the electorate is very important.”
Slippery the Prime Minister to Shane Taurima on TV1’s Q+A, Sunday 22nd July 2012…
I’ll bite –
Must be Keys cause it don’t make any sense.
unless you want it to – then its a charming statement of guileless uncomplicated straight talking which is what this country needs from its leaders.
Doubt it was Labour or the Greens. I don’t think they do “trust”.
Jesus Mary and Joseph.
The latest Roy Morgan is out and Labour is down 2.5% and National is up 2%.
This should be a wake up call to the Labour leadership. Sleep walking to victory is not going to work. They need to be doing something much more significant than playing guitar and talking about mango skins.
You may be right Socialist Paddy but they got this hit by going pretty hard against Maori over the water rights issue, and getting pretty tough on beneficiaries, again. Not sure the Left has an adequate counter for either of those yet.
Interesting to see Maggie Barrie stepping into the ring.
After Conference National are really emboldened. Apparently there was a great celebrity debate in which Key was mercilessly lampooned, and they all took it in great humour.
2014 is definitely not there for the taking – it is there for forcing out of their cold dead hands.
“they got this hit by going pretty hard against Maori over the water rights issue, and getting pretty tough on beneficiaries, again. Not sure the Left has an adequate counter for either of those yet.”
I don’t suppose they’ve tried sticking up for maori and beneficiaries, have they?
You know, like a left-wing party might.
Of course not but what else can you expect of a right wing party that’s catering to the right while trying to appear left?
The Waitakere Myth is neither Maaori nor a beneficiary. ‘Nuff said.
Your are too generous AD. By far.
Perhaps the voters cannot envision Labour winning?
Perhaps the voters cannot see what is different about Labour now from what it was the last time they rejected us?
What is different about Labour now from what it was the last time they rejected us?
Nothing. Same team, slightly different face. That is why we are still behind in the polls from where we were in 2008. If you keep doing he same thing, you keep getting the same result.
…they got this hit by going pretty hard against Maori over the water rights issue,
So did the Labour government, if you remember. Helen Clark sneered that she’d rather talk to Shrek the sheep than meet any of the Maori protestors (more than twenty thousand of them) in Wellington. She also got the likes of Trevor Mallard and Clayton Cosgrove to regularly make anti-Maori statements.
and getting pretty tough on beneficiaries, again.
You mean, getting tough on the poor. The rich beneficiaries are being looked after very well indeed. How much tax did they get out of paying in the last three years, I wonder?
Not sure the Left has an adequate counter for either of those yet.
How about: speaking out against bigots like Don (Enoch) Brash instead of panicking every time someone like him stirs up racial animosity? How about speaking out for the poor and oppressed instead of anxiously trying to show how “tough” you can be on them?
Don’t expect any change Paddy, watching labour reminds me of Telecom under Gattung,
She was chosen by the incumbent fat cats to do as they say not what actually was required to grow the business…..unlike Telecom there’s no pot of gold from Joyce waiting for them just minor party oblivion.
Aye TC but when you think back to the leadership campaign and who was supporting Shearer you really have to question the sanity of many in Labour’s caucus.
When right wingers like Slater, Farrar, Tamihere, Matthew Hooton, Michelle Boag and John Tamihere stood up and said that Shearer would be the best leader for Labour they should have smelled a rat and gone for Cunliffe.
In order to control any given entity, you simply have to control key elelements.
In this case its the senior Labour MPs, and the strategy people such as Pagani et al.
Job done, really easy, Labour supporters aint ever getting “their party” back!
The only reason people can’t understand this is because they simply can’t accept that our “democracy” is a sham!
Its done, finished, until people wake up, and get very vocal/visible, in real life, not on the fucken net!
That’s a bit harsh, Trevor’s been working really hard on his figure.
And until they get rid of Shearer and co, that’s where it’s going to stay in the doldrums. When are Labour going to realise that the experiment of silence and kissing up to Key does not work. Oh well they are now Nat lite, and not worth voting for. So a lot of non voters from last time are just shrugging their shoulders and saying that they won’t bother to vote next time too. And this time it really is their own fault. And now they want to be able to lock an incompetent in as leader, and make it so that you would have to lever them out with Dynamite and a crow bar. I am sorry, but at the moment they do not deserve the support that they are getting from us, as they are clearly interested in following their own agenda’s and to hell with their supporters.
More than “ä wake up call” is wanted – we have been demanding this for years! Labour requires arousal from a comatose state, a condition that might take long, even for ever!
Here is the real ‘imperative’ in the poll,
”This is the first time the New Zealand Roy Morgan poll has measured support for this new party”, unquote,
Perhaps the 3% of support magically appeared for the Conservative Party in the past 2 weeks, or was it there all the time,
3rd option, Roy’s pulling your left one,(with a small rate of success i cannot at the present register as a %),
Riffmatic and stuff aint my strong suit so one of the people what’s brainy in that area might be able to tell us all what would have to happen within a poll for the sudden emergence at 3% of ‘another’ Party,.
What the latest poll smells like from here is a ‘jack up’ pure and simple, the Right simply positioning itself early for the 2014 election where it needs coalition partners on the right with a chance of providing at least 1 extra seat off the back of a donated Electorate seat from National,
Where a % of support may have evaporated from Labour/Green, (they both lost in this poll),is in the bizaare announcement from both Shearer and Norman that they have no plans to buy back the assets now being stolen by National on behalf of it’s 40% support base,
That from both Labour and the Greens after months of protest by opponents of asset sales was a grand kick in the balls and now has me re-considering my voting options…
I would have thought the margin of error would make such small percentages not that meaningful at this stage.
The rumor in Wellington is that Nationals own polling has them bouncing around on their traditional base 40-42%,
But, Roy Morgan had to move things around a bit in this poll to accommodate the insertion of the Conservative Party for the first time,
For National to Govern after the 2014 election, National themselves know that they are going to need more than Banks and the ‘Hairdo’ + the ‘Poodles’ even if they all keep the seats that they presently hold there’s a 99% chance that none of them will gather further electoral support,
So, in order for it to be viable for National to ‘give away’ another of it’s safe electorate seats there need be every chance that ‘the Party’ it plans on gifting that seat to has every chance,(in the minds of National’s core vote) of bringing at least one more MP into the Parliament riding the coat tails of the gifted National held electoral seat,
With the numbers at where i see them now the Party gifted that seat by National would have to gain at least 2 more seats off of the MMP % of Party votes for the present little jack-up to be of use to them,
The latest Roy Morgan is simply an attempt to facilitate the above,(ie: give a Party with Zilch media attention oxygen), rather than the usual play the margin of error always showing the party’s of the right from the high side of the margin of error while showing the party’s of the left from the low side of that margin of error,
Once they have ensconced ‘the Conservatives’ in the polls as a viable 3%, (to Nationals core vote),and, given that party oxygen and television airtime Roy can go back to business as usual as far as manipulative polls goes….
Stephen Gough, AKA The Naked Rambler
The strangest little story is going on in Scotland. Stephen Gough has a mission to walk around naked. Something along the lines of people are good, people are their bodies so bodies are good it’s quite an involved, but at the same time simple realisation for him. So he walks naked. He’s gone from Land’s End to John O’Groats twice. Pyschologically, he’s fine.
The problem is in Scotland he keeps getting arrested for breaching the peace, he defends himself naked, goes to prison naked, and determines to walk out of there naked – then he is promptly arrested again. He wants to walk home to the South of England – naked. The upshot is this has been going on for 6 years. That’s right – 6 years in prison, in virtual solitary confinement, for living his belief that the human body is not offensive and to believe it is isn’t rational. This truth means he walks up and down the country naked.
The prison management and police came to some agreement and a few days ago he managed to walk from Perth to Dunfermline, where someone complained and he was arrested again, 3 days after leaving prison. Currently he’s waiting for his court date. It appears if he can make it to the English border he’ll be ok because the interpretation of the law is more liberal. In Scotland it’s a theoretical idea that he might cause offense, in England you don’t get arrested unless it actually causes offense to sombody.
There’s something philosophically pure about this that the legal system, even ones that use actual offense as the criteria for arrest, can’t handle.
But if he was rambling in Europe it’s likely he wouldn’t even get a mention. Not sure how he’d do in New Zealand.
I can admire the sentiment on living a conscious and considered life, looking critically at society. However, I don’t really understand the desire to walk around naked, especially somewhere like Scotland, the north of England, or anywhere in Scotland or England in winter.
The conscious mind is always clothed in language, and the Naked Rambler. needs to explain why he is walking naked to make his point.
Going naked is reactive against society’s norms, and is not proactively living as you want.
James Lovelock may have backed off that Climate Change is affecting us hard and rapidly, but it’s still advancing worrisomely:
Greenland ice sheet melted at unprecedented rate during July
Scientists at Nasa admitted they thought satellite readings were a mistake after images showed 97% surface melt over four days
Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/jul/24/greenland-ice-sheet-thaw-nasa#
The RNZ Morning Report item on the progress of Sue Moroney’s paid parental leave bill yesterday, shows yet again how National is truly the nasty party. it’s the first bill reported on in the Parliament sends three members’ bills to select committee @8.13am.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/20120726
Sue Goodhew had the gall to criticise Labour for spending recklessly and wanting to spend on something because it was a good idea, whether or not it was affordable! Jacinda Ardern sounds like she delivered a great speech, in spite of the Nat MPs shouting out that she wasn’t qualified to comment because she doesn’t have children….. “children or coal”.
NAct continue to criticise the opposition for things they are guilty of….. they have become frighteningly Orwellian.
And the Herald has an article on Maggie Barry’s “childless” snipe at Ardern & a poll about it:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10822282
I would have thought an MP getting their information from comprehensive research, reports etc on such issues, is better than taking just one woman’s experience. Furthermore, Barry shows why it is a relevant issue to Ardern personally, because, at any time, she can/could be making a decision as to if/when to have children.
Barry…. a light weight intellectually, and, just plain nasty.
Maggie & National just loses the vote of many swinging female voters who are not mothers yet. I can but hope.
The Herald on this (and they have a poll on it):
Barry is right, Labour can do it dirty too, but that doesn’t excuse her for unnecessary nastiness like this. Nothing is gained and respect is lost for the taunter.
I agree with Mallard’s statement on it.
🙄
+1…
The Speaker has released the names of Lobbyists with security access cards to Parliament. And interesting list, with those representing interests in representing financial institutions or (largely unsustainable kinds of) energy companies/interests, or backgrounds supporting business and the National Party in the majority:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10822271
I had to look up some of these entities:
Saunders & Unsworth (right leaning Lobbyist organisation)
http://www.sul.co.nz/page/home.aspx
(Commercial & Public Law)
http://www.franksogilvie.co.nz/
(foregrounds finance company cases)
http://www.minterellison.co.nz/
(represents “New Zealand’s leading corporations and financial institutions.”)
http://www.russellmcveagh.com/
Then there’s Sky TV & Vector.
There are 2 people from the CTU with access cards, but it doesn’t really provide much balance to the other corporate/business entities that dominate.
Why would Philippa Falloon and Jane Kidd still want access to Parliament ?
Sky TV sticks out a mile here. Why does our monopoly pay broadcaster have free access to Parliament?
Lady Jane Kidd? As in married to Doug Kidd? Is she the one who he left his first wife for?
For some insight into Russell McVeagh, (McLeech), Thirty Pieces of Silver By Anthony Molloy QC, is great reading.
Also McLeech just happen to be representing King Salmon who are applying through the EPA to expand their Dirty, Disease ridden salmon farms in the Marlborough Sounds.
Derogatory comment about female opposition party members “not having children” is nothing new from the National Party.
Weren’t they always making snide remarks about Helen Clark along the same lines ?
Yes, the Nats like to keep gender stereotypes in place, and for women to keep their (in Nat eyes) subordinate position as mothers. And they tend to use women to police other women in doing this (see Paula Benefit’s track record)…… unless they are a woman with a Taser, who is prepared to crush cars (preferably by making themselves a spectacle in fetishist high heels).
And they do not have a good record in supporting women with children, especially if they are on low incomes.
Also in parliament yesterday:
Also unnecessary and nasty.
🙄
Not exactly parallel. The swipe at Ardern (as a working woman) was personal and targeting supporting women (of child-bearing age) who are the least powerful sex in the Nat scheme of things. Cosgrove was attacking a triumphalist party who have a strong record in government of anti-democratic policies and legislation.
Although, I’m not that keen on such hyperbolism or use of that extreme metaphor, which will probably launch me into mod if I name it.
I agree that the swipe at Ardern was quote a bit worse because it was personal.
Mallard’s tweet was a tad ironic:
“…parliamentarians should know better than to criticise each other…”
– but correct when read in full.
Do Not Feed The Tory.
Plus 1…
Seen! Don’t usually, won’t again.
$:)
Or the bully.
…unnecessary and nasty.
Perhaps it has escaped your notice, but the Key regime and its key hatchet men (Joyce, Collins, Carter) are nasty in extremis.
I don’t like it whoever does it. And despite some opposition to criticising Barry on KB it’s not all one way there:
“This is a brainfart by Maggie Barrie.”
“These stupid remarks reflect on the party reputation, as has been the case with liebour, and rightly so.”
“maggies comments were a bit crap”
I do agree with you that they (and we) should keep their exchanges civil and polite. Otherwise it descends into a rabble very quickly.
Where you been M? PG got banned and most of us decided the best way to deal to his return was to ignore him.
Suits me. Except they can’t even keep their word on that.
Sort of proves where the real thread disruption comes from.
– 🙄 –
🙄
😮
– 🙄
That seems to work quite well, and, is far more entertaining than was occurring befor…
+5
Maggie Barry is a nasty little common gardener. It seems that many people resort to just this sort of personal attack because they do not have the intellectual capability to argue the actual policy under debate.She is a nasty vindictive piece of work. The women of the National Party are all the same.A gaggle of shrews all vying to be Apha female in order to impress the little man.Wonder what he has been promising them?
And women keep voting National. And I know lots of younger women who do too. Go figure what the hell they are all thinking.
If my former flatmate is anything to go by, they simply buy all of National’s brighter future tripe and don’t know anything about any of the people involved or any of the policies and what they mean.
She works in ECE and was very angry about the 2010 budget. I suggested to her not to vote National next time; not sure how (or if) she voted in 2011.
Could be that they identify with the hetero women in National rather than Street, Wall etc?
You are so right about the Alpha females of National, trying to out macho one another. Whilst driving in the last few days (a rare event for me) Paula (lard arse) Bennett came on the radio and said words to the effect “We are going to take the benefit away from those people on the run from the police”….the shrill refrain followed by a giggle Dr Evil would have been proud of.
My heart sank, is this the type of glib nonsense our leaders are reduced to I thought. Such a stupid statement by such an ill educated and pig ignorant bully. So lets break it down a little:
* on the run from the Police….who decides who is on the run, or just not around etc?
* on the run…does that mean guilty prior to charge or court? Or is that just assumed?
* does guilty of an offense mean you should be kicked off of a benefit? Is Social Development now an arm of Corrections / Justice?
* does Paula think that some cop stating you are on the run from the law means that you must be guilty and therefore to be stripped of your rights as a citizen at her whim?
* benefit stopped as above…what happens to dependents? Or are they guilty by association?
In short this bitch is playing fast and loose with the rights of the citizen, she is well out of order. Where are Shearer and Parker when you really need them to stand up?
the twitter hashtag #maggiebarrystandingorders is providing some real gems! My favourite so far: “You can only talk about asset sales if you have three TradeMe stars or more. #maggiebarrystandingorders”
My favourite
#maggiebarrystandingorders
Maggie Barry seems quite happy to talk about euthanasia. Maybe it’s a cry for help
Only MPs named Sarah can talk about CERA
MPs wanting to talk about taser will have to have been tased.
Maggie, I have 2 children so can talk about Paid Parental Leave twice as much.
Maggie the boys lusted after, the middle aged men swooned, she of the fabulous red hair, such a flower, a blossom. We wise gardeners know that such beauties as anenome, clematis, daffodil, wisteria, lily etc are all poisonous. To quote the Bard “This potent poison quite o’ercrows my spirit”:
Then muck raking would be her strong suit.
For some reason too many women appear to be lovingly obsessed with Key – many outwardly attractive people are sinister behind the facade.
So Banks is in the clear.
Short-term win but medium-term loss for National. They want Colin Craig, not the walking corpse of ACT.
Paul Goldsmith won’t be happy!
Not so much cleared as not proven. Insufficient evidence.
John Banks cleared! Whod a thunk it!
Looks like Banks got off on a technicality:
How fucked is that?
Didn’t Banks also sign the Hullich dodgy prospectus too?
“Police said they had established Mr Banks personally solicited donations which were subsequently recorded as anonymous” (Herald)
The opposition should be able to use that. “Acceptable to personally solicit, Prime Minister? Are these the standards now?”
Should be able, but probably won’t.
Well, the government’s good news lasted about ten minutes …
From Red Alert, here are the new private members’ bills, drawn from the ballot today:
State-Owned Enterprises and Crown Entities (Protecting New Zealand’s Strategic Assets) Amendment Bill (Clayton Cosgrove)
Resource Management (Restricted Duration of Certain Discharge and Coastal Permits) Amendment Bill (Catherine Delahunty)
Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill
Ombudsmen (Cost Recovery) Amendment Bill (Shane Jones)
Minimum Wage Amendment Bill (David Clark)
No Right Turn says “It’s all on.” See italics!
i.e. Key (and yes, Shearer) now have to stop mucking around and vote Yes or No to marriage equality. Stand by for more squirming …
And now the media have picked this up.
Banks’ “win” will get a headline for a few hours. Louisa Wall’s win will make headlines for months.
Now all we need is for MPs who favour marriage equality to say so – without waffle and weasel-words. Plus, the inevitable bonus of Craig and Tamaki and co ranting against this. Bigots being exposed, and ultimately, losing. With Key pandering to both sides.
It’s a very good day!
The problem is that although Labour think this Bill is the most important thing to happen bloody near forever, nobody else really gives a stuff. That is the answer to previous questions as to why women identify with Key and why young women identify with National, they simply have more important things in common to worry about (like children).
Labour have isolated themselves into an “identity politics” party at the expense of wider support.
It’s not a question of “the most important thing”.
It’s a private members’ bill, and a conscience vote. Opposition MPs don’t get to write the budget, decide policy direction, or do much at all. This is one of the few things they can do. Yesterday’s double win was a good example.
If there are easy votes in opposing this, National (i.e. Key) will oppose it. But there aren’t any more. So the law will pass, because it is now on the right side of public opinion. That’s good, right?
Human rights used to be considered fairly important but then we got a serious case of neo-liberalism and now everyone seems to have more important things to worry about like feeding themselves.
Wonder why that is…
Labour can’t seem to see that though grumpy. Identity politics seems to be all they have left.
Already answered at 1.35. Keep up.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/7354142/Parliament-to-vote-on-gay-marriage-bill
That Stuff link (now updated) shows why this bill is not just morally right … it’s also good politics:
Watch the Nats run for cover …
Environment minister Amy Adams said she would ”give it some thought.”
”My initial view is that what we have seems to be working pretty well, but I’m not taking a position at this stage,” Adams said.
Health minister Tony Ryall said he wanted to look ”at exactly what it is before we make a decision on that.” He refused to say if he supported gay marriage.
New Plymouth MP Jonathan Young said he had no comment – other than he would canvas the views of his constituents.
Defence minister Jonathan Coleman said he wanted to read the bill before forming a view.
Translation – As soon as Key gives them the nod, they will (miraculously) make up their minds.
Get a bulk order of popcorn, this is gonna be fun.
In Maggie Barry world will they only be able to discuss Gay Marriage if they have a same sex partner. I get so confused about the rules coming from the Nasties.
Good, this obviously means I am allowed an opinion again on education, even though I am not a teacher. Yay.
When were you not allowed an opinion?
Every bloody five minutes on here……
If his, or anyone’s, opinion gets shot to pieces by logic and fact then they should probably change their opinion – not complain that they can’t have an opinion.
Looking forward to taking on the god-botherers over gay marriage. Its going to be a big scrap, like smacking was 5 years ago..
http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/the-anti-semitism-that-goes-unreported-1.452594
The anti-Semitism that goes unreported
The daily dose of terror inflicted on these Semites isn’t noticed by most Jews – even though the incidents resemble stories told by our grandparents.
by Amira Hass, Haaretz, July 18, 2012
Here’s a statistic that you won’t see in research on anti-Semitism, no matter how meticulous the study is. In the first six months of the year, 154 anti-Semitic assaults have been recorded, 45 of them around one village alone. Some fear that last year’s record high of 411 attacks – significantly more than the 312 attacks in 2010 and 168 in 2009 – could be broken this year.
Fifty-eight incidents were recorded in June alone, including stone-throwing targeting farmers and shepherds, shattered windows, arson, damaged water pipes and water-storage facilities, uprooted fruit trees and one damaged house of worship. The assailants are sometimes masked, sometimes not; sometimes they attack surreptitiously, sometimes in the light of day.
There were two violent attacks a day, in separate venues, on July 13, 14 and 15. The words “death” and “revenge” have been scrawled in various areas; a more original message promises that “We will yet slaughter.”
It’s no accident that the diligent anti-Semitism researchers have left out this data. That’s because they don’t see it as relevant, since the Semites who were attacked live in villages with names like Jalud, Mughayer and At-Tuwani, Yanun and Beitilu. The daily dose of terrorizing (otherwise known as terrorism) that is inflicted on these Semites isn’t compiled into a neat statistical report, nor is it noticed by most of the Jewish population in Israel and around the world – even though the incidents resemble the stories told by our grandparents.
The day our grandparents feared was Sunday, the Christian Sabbath; the Semites, who are not of interest to the researchers monitoring anti-Semitism, fear Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath. Our grandparents knew that the order-enforcement authorities wouldn’t intervene to help a Jewish family under attack; we know that the Israel Defense Forces, the Israel Police, the Civil Administration, the Border Police and the courts all stand on the sidelines, closing their eyes, ….
Read more….
http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/the-anti-semitism-that-goes-unreported-1.452594
so for a bit of light relief who is going to support the WWF in their call for China, Vietnam and Thailand to do something about their contribution to Elephant and Rhinoceros extinction threats.
http://members5.boardhost.com/medialens/msg/1341612018.html
The smearing of Julian Assange by the Guardian
So I’ve read it all again, again. This time in English. Before I’d stuck to the Swedish versions of the leaked police interviews to make sure I was going to the closest source. The translation into English is good and accurate, in my opinion. Here’s the link…
http://rixstep.com/1/20110204,04.shtml
It’s all here, virtually everything I tried to get the Guardian, the Independent, the Observer, the New Statesman interestsed in examining.
One’s struck by lots of things in the police interveiws. Firstly the Swedish police can conduct telephone interviews in the case, as they’ve done with several of the ‘witnesses’, without the need to arrest anyone, so why not Assange?
The almost total lack of any witnesses or evidence to confirm that any crime actually took place, apart from the statements of the two women involved, and they are ‘tainted’ and arguably wouldn’t stand up in court to cross-examination, even in Sweden, which is why the first prosecutor in Stockholm dropped the case like a hot stone.
The two women did not go to the police and claim that Assange attacked, asssaulted, used violence, or raped them. And they should know. ….
Learn more by clicking on the following….
http://members5.boardhost.com/medialens/msg/1341612018.html
Another cut&paste I see.
By the way, what’s the provenance of the transcripts? I’ve not seen it mentioned that they’d been leaked before. I’d hate for someone to think that I just took random internet websites at face value.
You’ll notice that at the end of the post, I wrote that one could learn more by clicking onto the Media Lens site, and I helpfully provided a hyperlink.
Maybe you missed it.
I did click on it.
And the rixstep link.
No evidence whatsoever that transcripts had been leaked. How do you know that this isn’t just Assange fanfic?
No evidence whatsoever that transcripts had been leaked.
They were leaked, all right. That’s an English translation.
How do you know that this isn’t just Assange fanfic?
It’s not. Unlike the fictional “case” against Assange, this leaked evidence stands on its merits: it has not been refuted.
But what a neat and nasty little propaganda coinage: “Assange fanfic”.
It’s demeaning to his defenders on two levels:
1.) The FAN part of “fanfic” implies that, as well as being “celebrities like Jemima Khan”, Assange’s principled defenders (Chomsky, Pilger, Maguire, Ellsberg, and millions more) are merely “fans”;
2.) The FIC part of “fanfic” implies that Assange’s defence is fictional, and fraudulent.
Neat propaganda, but shallow, and utterly without merit—just like the fictional “case” against Assange.
So your evidence of the authenticity of these transcripts is that the Swedish government hasn’t commented on the accuracy of internet documents that claim to be leaked evidence in ongoing investigations?
And I wasn’t suggesting Chomsky or Pilger invented the transcripts. Just that some little internet groupie who bought a “team assange” tshirt might have wanted to write their own Shades of Grey.
Do you have any evidence whatsoever that any or all witness interviews have been leaked? And that this “transcript” is accurate?
And even if the link IS true and accurate (doubtful), do you seriously have no qualms at all about publicly distributing the evidence gathered in ongoing police investigations into sexual assault? IMO, a group prepared to do that would be just as willing to fabricate “transcripts” to help defend their cause. The ends justify the means, and all that.
“… millions more …”
I imagine Assange’s supporters would number in the dozens nowadays. For some reason people tend to go off cowards who run away rather than face the consequences of their own sleazy actions. Those who have gone off him recently include most of the people that you list as being his supporters. They were helping him and showing a remarkeable degree of trust right up until he did a runner and blew the money they’d put up as security against him bottling out.
On the up side, if he ever needs a bed for the night in NZ, I’m sure he’ll find you most obliging, Mozza. If you know what I mean 😉
I imagine Assange’s supporters would number in the dozens nowadays.
His supporters include the most admired and principled political dissidents in the world. And millions more, of course. But feel free to go ahead and pretend otherwise.
For some reason people tend to go off cowards who run away rather than face the consequences of their own sleazy actions.
His “sleazy actions” were to sleep with groupies. I’ll bet you would do the same if you ever did anything brave enough to give you the heroic status that Assange has earned. There is no evidence that he did anything illegal—but you would know that if you did any serious reading on the subject.
Those who have gone off him recently include most of the people that you list as being his supporters.
Oh really? And your evidence for this is…. what, exactly?
Just so everyone is clear on the new convention here:
Documents or links stating anything helpful to Assange’s defence shall be referred to as dubious or as fiction.
Documents or links supporting the sexual allegations made against Assange shall be considered serious or factual.
Anyone whose behaviour does not conform to this new protocol should be considered a rape apologist.
Clear, everyone?
Seriously, CV? Morrissey has been spamming the Open Mikes for days now with copypasted Assange defence crap. When asked to actually establish provenance for his sources, he cannot.
Meanwhile, we’ve already had an epic thread wherein plenty of explanatory articles have been linked to and generally brushed away by Morrissey, yourself, et al because … well … Sweden should just cede its legal sovereignty, and Zionism, and also “sex makes fools of us all.”
Yeah, but it’s the people who want Assange held accountable for his actions who are just meanies.
Ever considered that maybe the way rape culture oppresses and victimizes women might be a little bit more important than how much it ~hurts your feelings~ to be called a rape apologist when you’re indulging in rape apologism?
So all you are interested in is Assange being held accountable, yeah? Hey I go with that 100%.
If Sweden can give an assurance that they aren’t going to ship Assange off to Guantanamo Bay asap – a pretty easy statement to make I would have thought – than I agree Assange should be shipped off to Sweden asap to face the legal music.
If Sweden made such a statement, Ecuador would have no more grounds to protect Assange in their embassy either.
But yeah, why don’t you keep focussing on protecting Sweden’s ‘legal sovereignty to ship Assange to a US military prison anytime they want to’.
Why didn’t the US extradite him from the UK?
Not sure. Factors might include:
– Level of media attention
– Lack of UK political agreement
– Strength of public support for Assange
– Complications from UK judicial oversight
Regardless, Sweden should give Assange (and the rest of the w/orld) an assurance that he will not be shipped off to Guantanamo Bay asap.
Not sure. Factors might include:
– Level of media attention
– Lack of UK political agreement
– Strength of public support for Assange
– Complications from UK judicial oversight
– becue Sweden doesn’t have any media?
– doesn’t do shit against a red notice
– damned Assande-hating swedes
– because the one and only time Swedish inteligence services broke the rules (just after 9/11) the courts didn’t get involved?
And face it – the Swedes haven’t shot any electricians since 9/11, have they?
So getting an assurance should be a walk in the park right, McFlock? One little assurance and the Ecuador embassy has no more grounds to protect Assange.
You get what you want: Assange with no where else to run to.
Did the UK provide the same assurance?
A fair legal system means favours aren’t made just because you’re famous.
An assurance not to be shipped to Guanatano Bay under the pretext of routine investigative questioning on something completely irrelevant is not that big a “favour” now, is it.
And you would get what you want: Assange kicked out of Ecuador embassy protection and on a plane to Sweden.
Did the UK give the same assurance?
Still: the US’s extradition treaty with the UK gives them pretty much carte blanche (thanks TB…), Sweden’s less so. Why would the US want him in a country it will be harder to extradite him from?
But I’m not getting into this, I’ve seen the epic threads…
Run awaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!
Morrissey has been spamming the Open Mikes for days now with copypasted Assange defence crap.
The examples of “spam” I posted were: (1) an official release by Women Against Rape, expressing the gravest concern about the sincerity and the truthfulness of the “allegations” against Assange; (2) a meticulously detailed Media Lens exposé of the (so-called) liberal media’s parroting of official lies about Assange; and (3) Nobel Peace laureate Mairead Maguire’s plea to the Ecuadorean government to grant Assange political asylum.
If that’s “spam” then Garth George is a brilliant journalist, Christine (Spankin’) Rankin is a child advocate, and Peter “Possum” Dunne is a profile in courage.
When asked to actually establish provenance for his sources, he cannot.
I can, and I did. It’s interesting, on the other hand, that the persecutors of Assange have provided not a scintilla of evidence.
….generally brushed away by Morrissey, yourself, et al because … well … Sweden should just cede its legal sovereignty, and Zionism, and also “sex makes fools of us all.”
I’ve never said or written any of those things. You’re just making it up as you go. Have you considered a job with the Key administration?
Yeah, but it’s the people who want Assange held accountable for his actions who are just meanies.
There is no evidence against him at all, as you would know if you read up on this travesty with any seriousness at all. However, there is of course evidence that he did what a journalist should do, and exposed massive state crimes being perpetrated by (among others) the United States and its satellite regimes. Those are the actions that they want to punish him for; but they were not illegal, of course. Hence the invention of these sex allegations.
The prosecutors of Assange seem to think there is probable cause. Contrary to what teamassange groupies might think, the interwebz are not the judiciary.
What “provenance” did you provide? A link to some random web page? No other sources to suggest that the swedes were investigating a massive leak of documents relating to sexual assault investigations? None of the witnesses confirming the contents of the transcript? No swedish “bradass87”?
The faithful have been fabricating icons and supporting evidence for millenia. And not everything on the internet is true. All I want is some corroborating evidence.
Sweden should give Assange an assurance that he will not be shipped out to Guantanamo, the Ecuadorians will have no grounds to keep him in their embassy, and then you will get exactly what you want – Assange in front of Swedish criminal investigators.
So an entire Swedish legal system should compromise because some guy jumped bail in the UK?
I much prefer the option of patient justice – if he ever wants to go anywhere in the developed world, he has Swedish and British fugitive notices to worry about, as well as US. And if Ecuador wants to build international links, well they’ve got him on tap, haven’t they. A cross between Carlos the Jackal and Paul Gadd.
Promising to not ship someone to military internment in Guantanamo Bay on completely unrelated matters can compromise a so-called justice system?
So you don’t want to get Assange in front of Swedish criminal investigators asap? You prefer to keep the Swedish women complainants waiting while some kind of international espionage intrigue gets played out?
Nope.
A promise not to extradite someone to country B is a compromise of the justice system:
A promise not to deport straight to guantanamo means a promise not to extradite to the US, period.
A promise not to extradite to the US means a promise not to extradite to the US even on charges that are legitimate, such as if he raped someone in the US (if he’s ever been there).
A banket promise not to extradite to the US means a promise not to extradite to any nation that might give him to the US. Even if they, too, have 100% legitimate charges.
Basically, you’re asking the Swedes to guarantee that he’ll never be deported to damned near anywhere on the panet, no matter what he’s accused of and no matter how much evidence and no matter what international obligations.
But there’s no compromise if they look at requests on a case by case basis. Just like the UK did.
But I’d actually prefer it if Assange decided to take responsibility for what he did, and front up to face the charges. The dangers of plane flight back to Sweden would be a bigger threat to his life and freedom than the danger of rendition to the states.
Hey McFlock – where did you put your concern that the women complainants in Sweden get justice quickly, on that priority list of international law, intrigue and espionage?
Oh yeah I see now, you added it as a footnote: Assange should just man up and take the risk of being shipped out to Guantanamo Bay held under military arrest on the chin, as a matter of course.
I’m sure he’ll take that candid suggestion under advisement.
Don’t be dumb.
The choice between waiting for justice and compromising it permanently should be no choice at all.
Why didn’t the UK send him to the states again? Why are the swedes more likely to?
Yeah McFlock, you’re all for justice eh?
You want to protect Sweden’s justice system and you want to protect Sweden’s sovereign right to extradite persons anywhere in the world that they are empowered to, for any reasons their justice system and various international treaties allow.
You want to protect the integrity of both the Swedish justice systems and international law. Is that right, eh? Are you sure that’s all?
I want justice systems to work with integrity. Extradition is part of that. That way they can hold all criminals accountable for their actions, and ensure that the innocent aren’t convicted unjustly.
That will improve public confidence in the justice system, so the public would be more likely to report crme of all types – especially sexual crimes, which have a microscopic reporting nature.
That wil reduce crime.
Is there anything inconsistent in all that? What more do you think I want?
oh, by the way:
Why didn’t the UK send him to the states again?
Why are the swedes more likely to?
Are you truly genuine about that?
Specifically, do you believe that in addition to extradition, asylum from politically motivated prosecution is another legitimate part of the system of international law?
And if so, do you then accept that Ecuador has the full right (under established international law) to provide Assange with temporary refuge while its government assesses his individual case on its individual merits?
So why didn’t he ask for political asylum in the UK? They take asylum-seekers, too. Like Sweden does, interestingly enough.
I’m not sure I’ve ever criticised Ecuador’s right to consider and grant asylum. I’m criticising Assange for hiding behind conspiracy theories to avoid a sexual assault investigation.
oh, by the way:
Why didn’t the UK send him to the states again?
Why are the swedes more likely to?
To be clear then McFlock:
You accept that seeking asylum from politically motivated prosecution is a legitimate part of established international law. Just like extradition is.
You further accept that Ecuador has the right to give Assange temporary refuge while it assesses the merits of his case on its individual merits.
And since you said that you would be very patient with the necessarily slow movement of complex legal processes (in order to protect the integrity of the international justice system was your rationale), you will no doubt accept Assange exercising his rights under international law to request asylum, and for Ecuador to exercise its sovereign rights to assess that request thoroughly and with due process.
Am I correct, or have I misread your stance of principal on international law as being more genuine than it really is?
Nah, you’ve got a slide in there.
I believe in asylum, I even believe in Assange’s right to claim asylum for protection against political prosecution.
So why didn’t he ask for asylum from the UK? What was the ruling when his lawyers brought up political oppression in the extradition hearing. Did they? The UK can grant asylum too.
He’s claiming asylum from country C because country B decided to extradite him to country A on probable cause for investigation into sexual assault and rape.
I believe in Assange’s right to claim asylum as protection from political persecution. I don’t believe in his right to pervert the principle of asylum by using it to avoid answering questions about sexual assaults. To me, it looks suspiciously like the latter.
So:
Why didn’t the UK send him to the states again?
Why are the swedes more likely to?
and I’ll add:
why didn’t he ask for asylum in the UK?
So you are willing to wait for Ecuador to do what it needs to, in order for them to properly and legally assess Assange’s request for political asylum using thorough due process?
Lets wait and see what happens then. You won’t try and rush or prejudge the issues will you?
Ah fuck it, I’m off to bed.
I have no choice but to wait for Ecuador’s decision. Interwebz arguments do not substitute for a justice system in any nation.
I do find your hierarchy of competent legal systems intriguing, though:
Sweden is a corrupt politicised pawn of the US satan;
The UK is better than Sweden, but not good enough to be asked for asylum or indeed not extradite to Sweden;
Ecuador is an enlightened nation that will deliver the judgement of Solomon.
Bear in mind that so far Assange has struck out with 2 out of 3 seperate judicial systems. And I get the impression that if Ecuador refuses asylum you’ll be saying “let’s try the next one”. And if he camps further and further down Embassy Row you’ll end up praising the wisdom and justice of the Iranian government.
Why didn’t the UK send him to the states again?
Why are the swedes more likely to?
why didn’t he ask for asylum in the UK?
The justice system by its nature presents individuals with more than one opportunity for their case to be heard. That is what the system of appeals is all about.
I thought you would understand that.
I do.
My point was that it’s all very well for you to ask me to keep an open mind, but the fact is that your mind is closed to the possibility that he did it, knows there is no real risk of being deported to the US by sweden, but is using fear of TPTB as an excuse to avoid accountability for his actions.
Seriously, if that were the true state of affairs, how could someone convince you of it? All courts that rule against him are stooges of US imperialist hegemony. All accusers are ignorantly spreading black propaganda. The most flimsy uncorroborated internet link in his favour proves his innocence. Is there any theoretical way that the logical possibility of his guilt and abuse of asylum could be demonstrated to you, if it were true?
Why didn’t the UK send him to the states?
Why are the swedes more likely to?why didn’t he ask for asylum in the UK?
Yeah they are only silly women making a silly rape complaint. Some things are more important than that when you are taking on the US. Take that Obama.
Yeah they are only silly women making a silly rape complaint.
No, they did no such thing. There have been no rape complaints made against Assange.
I’m interested to know something, my friend: why are you commenting on this topic when you have no idea what you are writing about?
dogma, what you find when solutions never materialize, welcome
to the under perfrorming NZ economy, for decades and decades.
The same trite arguments that miss the essential point about the NZ
economy, that we reward investment in housing over productive endeavors.
But wait its worse.
Values. Glen Owen charity is a role model hang over from the
class system because it reinforces the view that we must be all
wealth to be generous to our lesser citizens. That merit be damned,
wealth is all that matters. Surely to be successful like Nordic nations
we need also to look up to successful people who are fabulously wealth.
In fact its because we speak the same language as Americans, and
their culture dominates ours, and we don’t have Nobel prizes (or wealthy
people who reward intellectualism), that we continue to pick the worse
economic policies for NZ, because some trite US twit says charter schools,
or whatever, is the next cool economic fad.
National and Labour are hollow idiots pandering to poor policy prescriptions
because they can’t beat out the nonsense imported from the US.
+1
The biggest problem for NZs economy (and that of the rest of the world) is that we’ve been rewarding the rich for being rich and not only letting them get away with corruption but giving them multi-million dollar golden handshakes when their hands are caught in the till.
How have we been rewarding the rich for being rich in NZ ?
Massive tax cuts and giving them a wonderful opportunity to buy our infrastructure at basement prices, to name two ways.
Not to mention tax cuts that have to be financed from debt paid for by the rank and file taxpayer….dont give me any crap about the rich paying the most tax.
Actually that’s a good point – where is that dataset that used to be regularly published of the tax take by tax type and income bracket ?
Its now a very real fact, that the artificial construct of a business entity is consider equivalent to a person (SCOTUS), but the greatest burden, tax if you will, upon Mother Earth has not yet been provided with even basic rights. Sue God? NO! Mother Earth should sue the USA.
I’m assuming that most still pay significant tax under the progressive tax system and have also been subject to the same GST rises as everyone else ?
As for the SOE sell down if you’re bemoaning the fact that people can purchase a few thousand dollars worth of shares as a reward for the rich being rich I think you’re being overly bombastic.
1: they pay less tax than they did 5 years ago. That is a “reward”. The poor pay more.
2: Subject to the same GST rises… depending on how they structured their finances, how much goes through companies or trusts, and how much is invested. Unlike the poor, who spend all their money on personal goods and services therefore probably pay 15% of their entire “after tax” income on GST.
3: You might sniff at a few thousand bucks returning 18% not being much of a reward. Alternatively, the other 95% of the country would gratefully appreciate it.
1. How do you know they pay less tax than they did five years ago, they might then again they might not with GST changes and other tweaks in the tax system? As I said there used to be an interesting dataset published by treasury I think on tax by type and income bracket.
2. Again you make assumptions – this may or may not be the case.
3. Are you suggesting that the shares in SOEs being offered are going to return 18% ….fantastic i’ll make sure to invest and if that’s the case you should invest as mush as possible yourself.
1: tax rates are lower in higher brackets
2: indeed. Just as if my lotto numbers come up, I don’t have to collect the winnings.
3: yeah good call – fubared those math alright 🙂 But it’s still an investment that poor people can’t make in infrastructure that everybody already equally owns.
1.Tax rates are lower than they used to be in higher tax brackets, they are still higher in the higher tax brackets and those in the higher brackets still pay the majority of income tax in NZ. I still believe that there is room for a high earners tax bracket in NZ in line with the highest level across the Tasman.
2. Not sure what you’re trying to say here.
3. I’ll bet you that even someone of very very modest means could lend money if they could ensure an 18% return.
1: So because higher earners have a slightly higher tax proportion, the tax cuts they received (coincidentally just before we nosedived into massive deficit) is in no way a reward?
2: they might or might not funnel their spare cash through trusts or companies. Therefore they might ot might not be subject to the same proportion of GST payment. Just as I might or might not choose to pick up my winnings, the prize is still there for me.
3: aye, that’s why I said I fubared the math. But they’re solid investments (barring ToW claims or a leftwing govt getting balls and renationalising at punitive rates). And rich people are the ones with the opportunity to invest – poor people have no assets against which they can borrow to play stockmarket trader.
1. Higher earners pay more tax always have and always should, as I’ve said in the present conditions I think there should be a high earners tax bracket in NZ in line with the highest level across the Tasman.
2. It is illegal to charge non-business expenses to a business
3. I think we’re getting into the argument about what is rich, there are certainly people who wouldn’t have the funds or be able to get the funds to invest, there are also likely to be many who couldn’t be classed as rich who could if they so chose. For those people i wonder if they should be offered to cash in the government’s contribution to their Kiwisaver funds to invest if they so chose ?
1: The question is, if they receive a tax break on what they previously paid – isn’t that a reward? Even if they still pay a higher proportion of tax?
2: Yes. But it’s amazing what counts as a “business expense”.
3: allowing people to use government retirement contributions to help them purchase part of a company they already own via the government? See, “rich” people don’t need to risk their retirement savings in order to buy something that they already owned.
2. anyone who has run a business or worked as a contractor knows to claim back GST and minimize tax as much as possible. It’s prudent business sense to do so.
So the only assumption is that you are assuming that NZ’s middle and upper class are not prudent in business.
There is really no arguing that a high income tax break and a rise in GST hit’s PAYE earners whilst limiting the impact on high income earners.
I’ll think you’ll find that if people are rorting GST they’ll receive a major rodgering from IRD sooner or later. Similarly you’re assuming that the majority of those on more than an average or those on high incomes a making that income through their own business i’m not sure that is the case and even if it is whether you could assume that they are all not paying their fair share of tax.
You’ll need to give me an example on the second point so I can understand what you’re meaning.
The company doesn’t need to be their primary source of income.
Just the mechanism through which they funnel their income, or hold assets in (e.g. Double Dipton and his trust). And it doesn’t need to be illegal rorting, just “minimisation” (as CV sorry, UR, said).
pah, in editing completely stuffed strikethrough tag. 🙄 need coffee……
It’s not hard to rort GST on things that a low income earner couldn’t.
Transport, entertainment costs, furniture. It’s as easy as a couple becoming joint shareholders in your own company, suddenly dinners out are share meetings and offset tax.
Sure not all high income earners run their own trusts or companies (The majority i’ve met do).
But they still did get a tax break anyway while everyone below gets a GST hike. And the people below don’t have the opportunity/means to offset their GST.
No matter whether your rorting the system legally (which isn’t hard to do) or not, it doesn’t change the fact that this is an option generally only available to the wealthier.
holidays are conferences
Come on HS mate, you can’t seriously be trying to insinuate that the higher earners have had equal breaks to those on the lower rates under National.
You really believe that National’s policies are bringing a brighter future for the poor?
270,000 children in poverty, the great exodus of our talented and poor job prospects (unless you are high skilled and white apparently).
Surely a GST rise and a tax break for top earners wouldn’t be considered as rewarding the rich for being rich, would it?
It wouldn’t be a priority if I was in Government with the above environment.
Their policies risk a further exodus of our young and talented. The very young, talented youth who for 20 years our taxes have invested in through one of the OECD’s best education systems. This would be my priority, minimizing a massive loss on investment.
That’s not an assumption any more. We know for a fact that the bludgers are stealing from the rest of us.
How is that relevant to the majority of the ‘rich’ in NZ ?
And for that matter you should probably define rich – McF seems to be implying it’s anyone who used to be on the top tax rate ?
Because we can assume that the majority of the rich in NZ are using similar wealth hiding schemes to minimise taxes.
Aero Noble sentiments indeed
But a lot of the dynamite used in the world today is used to kill other people and dig up vast quantities of minerals for big corporations.
Sweden has its first right wing government in a log time.
so would you trust them .
http://rixstep.com/1/20110130,02.shtml
The Assange Police Protocol: Translator’s Note
30,000 words in five days. Translators normally manage about 2,000 words per day. This feat was by no means a world record but it was difficult and a lot of hard work.
The roughest parts were the transcripts. Transcripts are the next best thing to being there – to having a video recording. The task of the transcriber is to record every non-word, sound, and pause in addition to the actual content, this to as accurately as possible convey the attitude and reactions of the interviewee.
Good translations normally never attempt a ‘word for word’ approach. It’s not only words that differ in different languages – it’s the ideas and concepts as well. The goal of a translator is otherwise to get the idea across rather than produce stilted language no one really grasps. But the translations of the transcripts necessarily took another approach: reproduce all the commas, full stops, ellipses, and even the strange constructs as found in the originals.
There’s only one way to study these documents: as a whole and with the working assumption everyone is telling the truth. Save for several deliberate attempts by Anna Ardin to obfuscate the truth, this approach seems to work.
The ‘case’ (if one dare call it that) hovers on two incidents. One takes place in Enköping in the morning. The two people involved have a simple exchange of two lines each before going at it again for what likely is the fifth time in a long sleepless night. The girl’s just come back to bed after being out early and shopping, the two of them make love again, and start dozing off to sleep.
Suddenly the one starts all over again. The girl senses the man is about to penetrate her. ….
Read more. . . .
http://rixstep.com/1/20110130,02.shtml
Yeah. Read that. Do you have any evidence it’s genuine?
It’s pro-Assange, ergo factual.
If it were anti-Assange, it would obviously be lies, and probably Zionist. (That link may mark the point at which I chose to stop engaging people obviously willing to spin anything they can in order to avoid stating simple facts: “Assange should face the allegations made against him because they are serious allegations, and if the US wanted his ass David Cameron would have served it up to them already.”)
… it would obviously be lies, and probably Zionist.
That’s twice today you’ve tried to trivialize my case by mentioning the word “Zionist”. The fact that I have never said anything like that probably won’t make any difference to you, but I’d like to point it out to serious readers.
I linked to exactly who did say it, Morrissey. Sorry for not actually tarring all you “shut up, all evidence against Assange is lies and if you aren’t pro-Assange you haven’t read anything about the case, except you might have read a lot but it’s all lies if it’s not pro-Assange” fanpeeps with the same brush.
I linked to exactly who did say it, Morrissey.
Yes, it was Vicky, not me. And probably not most of the other supporters of Assange. I’m interested to see that you still chose to include it as one of the arguments you allege his supporters make, in spite of the fact they do not.
Sorry for not actually tarring all you “shut up, all evidence against Assange is lies and if you aren’t pro-Assange you haven’t read anything about the case, except you might have read a lot but it’s all lies if it’s not pro-Assange” fanpeeps with the same brush.
You don’t have to be pro-Assange, but if you are foolish enough to parrot the black propaganda of the U.S. and U.K. governments, then you either have NOT read a lot on this travesty of a case, or you are profoundly corrupt.
The whole issue has become too bound up in absolutes. Of course Assange should comply with the laws of the countries he parades through. Of course he shouldn’t treat women (or anyone else) as though they are disposable. Of course an interview can be carried out by phone. Of course Assange should go to America and martyr himself, and of course the Yankees should stop pretending to occupy the moral high ground.
Of course Ecuador should not let itself be used as a straight man to this clown’s antics. Of course Wikileaks should have properly protected its data from external access and/or betrayal.
Of course Wikileaks can be a force for “good”.
Of course we sound like economists discussing rational actors.
The whole issue has become too bound up in absolutes.
So everything’s relative, is it? The lies told by the authorities and their media vassals like the Guardian, the Murdoch gang and the BBC somehow balance up the exposure of those absolute lies by truth-tellers like Assange and Bradley Manning? It seems that the fact that the U.S. military was absolutely caught out by an absolutely dedicated, absolutely determined journalist is just too much for you to take in, my friend. The only cure for that is more reading. Serious reading, that is.
Of course Assange should comply with the laws of the countries he parades through.
He does comply with the law. There is no evidence he has committed any criminal act. And… he “parades through” countries? Maybe you’ve mixed him up with that fraudster Barack Obama.
Of course he shouldn’t treat women (or anyone else) as though they are disposable.
Who says he does? Take care, my friend, not to automatically believe what government apparatchiks tell you.
Of course Ecuador should not let itself be used as a straight man to this clown’s antics.
So Assange is a “clown” now? A “clown” who “parades” through countries. Now that is a clown with gravitas.
Of course Wikileaks should…
How about dropping the sarcasm? There are enough bewildered people on this forum as it is.
Someone forgot to drink their kool-aid…
”Now the private sector needs to do the sort of things that the private sector claims it can do so particularly well.”
Dunno if this has been posted before, but its worth a second look anyway. I can’t eat your ghost jobs, John.
Speaking of dodgy men doing a runner, Sea Shepherd skipper Paul Watson joins the club.
Serious workplace accidents seem to be running at the pace of about one a day at the moment – I’m sure the market will sort it out.