As bad as it gets

48 comments on “As bad as it gets ”

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1. vto 1

   29 April 2009 at 8:50 am

   Calm down Mr Eddie, that article appears to be in fact about politicians games in the house and not about much else. There have been absolutely countless pieces about Clark and Cullen’s similar tactics and games and congrats over their own cleverality over the last too long.

   You get out of the wrong side of bed this morning?
   • sean 1.1

     29 April 2009 at 9:49 am

     what do you expect from Clare Trevett? she was a national party researcher after all.
2. Eddie 2

   29 April 2009 at 8:54 am

   Point me to another article (not an opinion piece) that congratulates a minister for avoiding questions

   Do you think it’s good enough even if it’s something that cuts both ways? Because I sure don’t
3. vto 3

   29 April 2009 at 9:05 am

   I can’t point like that as it would take too long, but maybe someone else can.

   I think most people would see the article for what it is – a piece of poop for pollie proponents. Most would be too busy to waste time on it. Whether it is worthy or not is immaterial provided it is recognised for what it is.

   Mind you, it’s refreshing to see the nats get some points over labour in the squabblehouse..
4. BLiP 4

   29 April 2009 at 9:06 am

   Ironic. The great defender of democracy at a time when its advertising revenue was threatened now sets up cheap chuckles about how clever the Prime Minister is at avoiding answering important questions.

   Still – when it comes to the “cut and thrust” of debate, Goff hardly did Auckland’s cause any favours. Failing to ask the real questions and bumbling around with procedure is something we’ve come to expect from National.
5. Tane 5

   29 April 2009 at 9:21 am

   To be fair Claire Trevett is one of the best journalists out there. I was surprised to read the tone of the article too but I’d give her the benefit of the doubt on this one.
6. felix 6

   29 April 2009 at 9:28 am

   vto,

   Countless? Really?

   But you can’t find one in the time it took you to write those two comments?
   • vto 6.1

     29 April 2009 at 9:34 am

     Yes really. But I may be wrong – it may be that articles have never been penned praising the skills in the house of Clark and Cullen and highlighting the flailing around of say Brash and Key…
     • felix 6.1.1

       29 April 2009 at 9:44 am

       Well if you’re so sure you should be able to show at least one article praising Labour ministers for not answering questions. I mean you bought it up. And you’ve clearly got a bit of time on your hands as you’re still here.

       Maybe it’s in the same article which quotes Helen Clark calling west coasters “feral inbreds”.
       • vto 6.1.1.1

         29 April 2009 at 9:55 am

         ha ha. what?

         How on earth would I find old articles from old newspapers? It’s not as if I keep them all stacked away in the shed, filed and numbered and ready to go for just such a showing at the standard standard.

         And what’s “feral inbreds” got to do with it. Baiting? Like abuse like “Hit.er”, “childless he-woman”, “Klarc”, etc…

         The double standards have been flying thick and fast for as long as a long thing here and most other places. This thread is just another example. (Please don’t ask me to find another one..)

         In fact, there have been a few threads here lately re hypocrisy of Farrar etc. The standard is hypocritical over its hypocrisy.. and that doesn’t square itself out to even either..
         • felix 6.1.1.1.1

           29 April 2009 at 10:01 am

           Gee I don’t know. If only there were some way of searching for information on the internet…

           And what’s “feral inbreds’ got to do with it

           Well it’s another example of something you guys like to bring up as historical fact but have never been able to substantiate.
         • vto 6.1.1.1.2

           29 April 2009 at 10:04 am

           like the “secwet agenda”… wooooooh spooky
         • felix 6.1.1.1.3

           29 April 2009 at 10:09 am

           I don’t follow. But here you go: this might be what you’re looking for.
         • vto 6.1.1.1.4

           29 April 2009 at 10:12 am

           Google? Who on earth would have a business called google?
         • felix 6.1.1.1.5

           29 April 2009 at 10:17 am

           I know, it’s crazy! If there was a shop called google I wouldn’t go there. Sounds sticky.
7. Andrew 7

   29 April 2009 at 9:40 am

   Oh come on … really! Dr Cullen pulled out one liners like that every other day and i didnt see you screaming at the MSN over those.
   • felix 7.1

     29 April 2009 at 9:46 am

     Why would anyone scream at the media over something Cullen said?

     I think you’re confused as to what this post is about.
     • Andrew 7.1.1

       29 April 2009 at 9:51 am

       Well basically Key has a laugh at other MP’s expence and “Eddie” gets all upset about the MSN reporting of it. Cullen used to do that all the time and we didnt hear great howlings of anguish over those … thats all i was getting at.
       • felix 7.1.1.1

         29 April 2009 at 9:57 am

         Are you a bit slow Andrew?

         This article is about the journalism, not Key’s answers.
         • Andrew 7.1.1.1.1

           29 April 2009 at 10:08 am

           I said … “Eddie gets all upset about the MSN reporting of it”

           can’t you read?!? … anyway, not slow not at all … as vto said, im sure i could find examples of the media laughing along and holding hands with ‘Dr Cullen’, but to be fair i can’t be bothered. it was the ferocity of the post that got my attention. someone seriousy needs to take a chill pill.
         • felix 7.1.1.1.2

           29 April 2009 at 10:15 am

           Don’t sink to vto’s level, Andrew – he does this quite regularly (states opinion as provable fact and then spends all day refusing to show proof) but you don’t need to. You’re better than that, aren’t you?

           Oh no hang on, you didn’t even really understand the post. Maybe you’re not.

           So go on, show a comparable article directly praising Cullen for avoiding answering questions in the house. Should take you about as long as it took you to write that last comment.
         • vto 7.1.1.1.3

           29 April 2009 at 10:19 am

           Bit sensitive there Felix. Are you also Eddie?

           But really, why would anyone waste time answering someone’s call to prove that the grass is in fact green?
         • Andrew 7.1.1.1.4

           29 April 2009 at 10:23 am

           you are a smart ass little prick arn’t you felix … anyway, im done playing, go home and cuddle up to your mommy, she will make the darkness go away.
         • felix 7.1.1.1.5

           29 April 2009 at 10:42 am

           Why vto? Because you can.
         • vto 7.1.1.1.6

           29 April 2009 at 11:08 am

           Ok then smarty pants, how about some proof that this article actually congratulates Key as claimed. Eddie is clearly stating an opinion as provable fact which is not in fact proved. At all. Which words in the article actually show congratulations by Trevett for Key?

           They don’t exist.

           This thread is predicated on exactly what you berate me for.

           Now, back to that post about hypocrisy…
         • felix 7.1.1.1.7

           29 April 2009 at 12:42 pm

           Which words? All of them, taken as a whole. It’s the constitution, it’s Marbo, it’s the vibe.

           As I mention below though, I suspect the whole article may be parody.
         • vto 7.1.1.1.8

           29 April 2009 at 2:04 pm

           ha ha you win prize for best answer. Great movie that.

           But I am correct am I not that this article does not in fact congratulate Key…
8. Andy 8

   29 April 2009 at 9:41 am

   Claire Trevett used to be a National Party researcher. Just saying.
   • Tane 8.1

     29 April 2009 at 9:45 am

     So what? Claire Trevett’s a professional and I’ve never seen any evidence that she gives National a free ride. This article strikes me more as an example of the current malaise in journalism, not of Trevett showing any particular bias.
9. Graeme 9

   29 April 2009 at 9:45 am

   Quite right, rather than a story about how question time went, the contempt of Parliament almost certainly to be committed by Phil Goff should have been front and centre.
   • sean 9.1

     29 April 2009 at 9:52 am

     Graeme. you think whether or not Goff can get some front pages of newspapers is the most important story? Not the Government’s policy on the supercity? Sometimes it’s like you can’t see the forest because you’re too obsessed with the detail of the trees.
     • Graeme 9.1.1

       29 April 2009 at 10:08 am

       you think whether or not Goff can get some front pages of newspapers is the most important story?

       No, I don’t.
10. felix 10

    29 April 2009 at 9:50 am

    At best, Trevett’s piece could be interpreted as satire. Sort of a parody of a politically naive NZ journo writing about politics as sport.

    That’s being fairly charitable though.
    • Tane 10.1

      29 April 2009 at 9:53 am

      Yeah, it reads to me like a parody of a Jane Clifton piece. Only I’ve given up on ever getting anything substantive out of Jane Clifton.
11. gobsmacked 11

    29 April 2009 at 10:49 am

    A primary school classroom, yesterday:

    Teacher: “So have you done your homework, John? What’s the answer to question 2?”

    John: “Er … pee poo piddle bum poo!”

    Claire: “Ooh, good one, John!” (passes him a note with little hearts on)
12. edoze 12

    29 April 2009 at 10:59 am

    Ah hahaha,

    We won, you lost, eat that.

    God i love how labour are sunk. Roll on the By election. Melissa will win by a landslide and a resolution to shut this site down will be passed with an overwhelming majority in the house soon after.

    It will be called the stop utter internet bollix act and will be confined to lefty toff writers. Roll on the rewrite of democracy.
    
    [lprent: Another supporter of democratic participation. I’ve been asking the question at Kiwiblog about why exactly DPF wants to know the jobs of posters on this site. This ‘person’ has articulated what I suspect is the reason. To discriminate against the authors and shut the site.]
    • edoze 12.1

      29 April 2009 at 11:30 am

      Oh come now lynny pinny, i jest. My love of your site is one of fatal attraction, i took the time to post didnt i?

      I own a coal factory in Laos, i employ only the sweetest of virgins and nimblest of hands to work in my slave factories.

      I only want to slow down blog sites such as yours, as i know they will reach my country in due course and then it will be me and my profits that will be strip mined.

      I fear the reaper, union officials, and lefty busybodies all the same.

      Love always,

      Edoze
      • Chris G 12.1.1

        29 April 2009 at 2:58 pm

        *cue violins*
        yawn
        • edoze 12.1.1.1

          29 April 2009 at 3:31 pm

          Shudda up your mouth.

          I lost my violin concerto to the ruling junta late last year, damn commies. It still hurts to think about it.
13. BLiP 13

    29 April 2009 at 11:41 am

    Really – I wonder why? Of course, it wouldn’t do to have only her input into forming one’s opinions, but I rate Jane as one of the top MSM political commentators, even if its just to get a handle on what “they” are thinking. The secret to Jane’s pieces, I find, is to read between the lines. That, and to not be put off by prima facia suggestions she is personally compromised.
    • BLiP 13.1

      29 April 2009 at 12:30 pm

      Ooops – supposed to be a reply to Tane
14. Tim Ellis 14

    29 April 2009 at 11:42 am

    It sounds like Goff got hammered in the House yesterday, and Trevett’s piece accurately reflects that. Even when he does try to land a hit, the chaos that seems to be his own party and the internal machinations over Mt Albert seem to be getting in the way.

    It would be nice to see Ministers answer questions, but Labour hardly have a perfect record in that regard.

    If Labour had their house in order then Key wouldn’t have been able to pursue such diversionary tactics.

    Whoever said the House had lost its energy and excitement without Winston?
    • sean 14.1

      29 April 2009 at 12:21 pm

      totally agreed, why couldn’t Goff just ask a straight question and give Key shit for not giving a straight answer?

      Trevett’s piece is awful and it’s a disgrace that our media is so bad but that’s the playing field Goff has to play on. Key gets that grin on his face as the media jump through his hoops, Goff must do better.
    • r0b 14.2

      29 April 2009 at 12:28 pm

      Even when he does try to land a hit, the chaos that seems to be his own party and the internal machinations over Mt Albert seem to be getting in the way.

      Gotta hand it to you Tim, you’re like the energiser bunny pushing these Nat party lines!

      What you’re seeing for Labour in Mt ALbert is a seat vigourously contested by several excellent candidates, and grassroots democracy at work.

      Compare with National in Mt Albert, where a centrally chosen candidate is being imposed, and the wheels are falling off because the true local candidate refuses to fall on his sword. Internal machinations indeed!
      • jerry 14.2.1

        29 April 2009 at 12:59 pm

        Come on r0b the best candidate for the job IMO (Phil Twyford) was quietly told to stand aside because of paranoia about Judith – this was silly as he would’ve been voted in by the locals in a canter and would’ve made a good MP for Mt Albert, luckily there seems to be an excellent replacement in the form of Dave Shearer let’s just hope that the party doesn’t get the jitters over what was a pretty sensible comment he made a couple of decades ago.
        • r0b 14.2.1.1

          29 April 2009 at 1:20 pm

          Come on r0b the best candidate for the job IMO (Phil Twyford) was quietly told to stand aside because of paranoia about Judith

          That’s one version of history Jerry, but both Clark and Goff expressed support for Judith if she returned on the list.

          The other version of history is that Labour are taking the opportunity to bring another fresh new face in to the party.
    • felix 14.3

      29 April 2009 at 12:40 pm

      I don’t often agree with you, Tim, but I agree entirely with this comment.

      Goff has been lackluster in the house at best. So slow that even Key’s fumbling around the edges of competence and literacy seems almost stellar by comparison.

Links to post

1. On that Trevett piece at The Standard: posted on 29 April 2009 at 12:37 pm

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