Clinton off the hook

Written By: - Date published: 12:42 pm, July 6th, 2016 - 99 comments
Categories: us politics - Tags: ,

No doubt there will be a range of reaction to this news:

FBI rebukes Clinton but recommends ‘no charges’ in email investigation

The threat of criminal charges hanging over Hillary Clinton was finally lifted by the FBI on Tuesday – just hours before the presumptive Democratic nominee for president was due to begin campaigning with Barack Obama for the first time this election cycle.

At a press conference in Washington, FBI director James Comey announced the end of the year-long investigation into whether Clinton’s use of a private email server while secretary of state warranted prosecution under laws designed to protect classified government data.

Though highly critical of the “extremely careless” way in which emails were handled, Comey said the FBI would not be recommending that prosecutors seek charges in the case. …

This was a major obstacle that could have derailed her. Clinton’s pre-ordained path to the Whitehouse just got a lot smoother.

99 comments on “Clinton off the hook ”

  1. Kevin 1

    If anyone was in any doubt about how the rule of law is applied to those with wealth and power and those who do not, then here is your confirmation.

  2. whispering kate 2

    Anybody else in the US would be tried for treason and never see the light of day again. Why are we surprised, I am not. The FBI have been leaned on, obviously.

    • joe90 2.1

      Anybody else in the US would be tried for treason

      Yet Petraeus got the wet bus ticket for sharing not only classified but top secret information with his squeeze.
      /

      http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/282639-fbi-says-petraeus-shared-top-secret-information-with-reporters

      • dukeofurl 2.1.1

        False. He was convicted of keeping classified information at home , after he should have returned it all.
        His ‘squeeze’ was a army reserve Lt Colonel, intelligence specialist, so she had a top secret classification herself.

        • joe90 2.1.1.1

          Petraeus arranged to plead guilty to a lesser charge – unauthorized removal and retention of classified material following his admitting to providing his highly classified journals to a mistress, Paula Broadwell.

          http://swampland.time.com/2012/11/15/spyfall/

          (edited)

          • dukeofurl 2.1.1.1.1

            It would be helpful if you read your link first- as it doesnt have him admitting providing his journals to Broadwell.
            As she too has a top secret clearance- what was your point again.

        • Colonial Viper 2.1.1.2

          His ‘squeeze’ was a army reserve Lt Colonel, intelligence specialist, so she had a top secret classification herself.

          Not quite that simple.

          You may have the security clearance needed to be given official authority to access secret documents, but it is still a crime to access documents (or provide access) if you have no official authority to do so.

          TL/DR just because you have a security clearance doesn’t mean that you are automatically cleared for all projects and all documents.

          Basically, Patreaus had become a management problem for the White House, and they got him to pull his head in by charging him.

          And, they would have used the surveillance systems detailed by Snowden to retrospectively fish through his emails to find something that they could charge him with.

      • whispering kate 2.1.2

        You are correct Joe90 about Petraeus getting the wet bus ticket treatment, what I meant by “anybody else” is the ordinary people who have a conscience and whistle blow and commit other deeds which piss off the establishment, no difference really just one law for some and another law for others. Clinton being slack with her correspondence was enabling the disclosure of information to the “enemy”, just like a whistle blower discloses corruption about people in high places. Both serious but at opposite ends of the spectrum.

    • Phil 2.2

      Comey’s speech in the press conference very clearly laid out the case and pinned significant blame on lackadaisical culture within the State Department.

      If you want to treat this like a Rorschach inkblot and see what you want to see, that’s on you – not Clinton.

    • The Lone Haranguer 2.3

      And the FBI will lean back at the right and appropriate time. Well the right and appropriate time for them at least

      Do you really think that not derailing the future POTUS will come at no cost to Mrs President Clinton?

      For the next 4 years at least, the FBI can operate as they see best with budget increases as a matter of right, and immunity from any possible prosecution when they “push the boundaries”

      Its sad to say, but this is possibly the FBIs finest moment

      • dukeofurl 2.3.1

        Absurd. Clinton would appoint her own people to top FBI roles, so those currently there wont have any favours to call in.
        This is not like the Hoover era when he was untouchable. -45 years ago !

        • Crashcart 2.3.1.1

          Or… did a bunch of senior FBI personnel just secure their futures under the new President Clinton?

  3. Greg 3

    Its now a U.S precedented justifiable defense of any crime committed,
    jee wizz officer, i didnt mean to do it, you have to let me go now,

    the elite and rich in the U.S, dont do jail time for drugs,
    they do rehab,

    and who owns the rehab clinics??

    • Lanthanide 3.1

      For the vast majority of crimes, intent has always been required.

      There was a case where a porn director was charged with making and distributing child porn because an actress was underage. Turns out she purposefully lied about her age. Porn director was cleared of charges, because they had no intent of making child porn.

      Now, I think it can sometimes be murky in many cases to judge intent, and I’m sure there are people who didn’t have intent to commit a crime but were charged and convicted anyway. But that doesn’t mean that the principal is wrong.

      • Greg 3.1.1

        i was just making a quip about British law, which is based on precedent of previous similar cases,
        American law isnt 🙂

        i didnt mean to drive drunk wont get you off it, would it,

  4. dukeofurl 4

    FBI directors quote

    “Separately, it is important to say something about the marking of classified information. Only a very small number of the e-mails containing classified information bore markings indicating the presence of classified information.’

    Bore markings !! Doesnt even say contained the words TOP SECRET, just ‘markings’ which could be anything.
    This correlates that most of the secrets came form public sources, Al jazerra , NY Times, etc

    http://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/statement-by-fbi-director-james-b.-comey-on-the-investigation-of-secretary-hillary-clintons-use-of-a-personal-e-mail-system

    • One Two 4.1

      Quite the vociferous defender of the clan

      This matter is small beer when considered against the decades of Clinton Crime

      Imagine just how dirty it is behind the curtain if the puppets the public believe are in charge are any measure

      The stench is overwhelming from Bill and Hillary

    • Crashcart 4.2

      Markings is a technical term for the fact a document has a specific classification marked on them. So he is saying a very small percentage were actually clearly marked as classified information. The opposite of what you imply.

      You are correct that it could be that someone stamped “Secret” on an Al Jazerra report. That doesn’t change the requirement for handling it correctly once it is marked.

      • dukeofurl 4.2.1

        Just the opposite.

        The markings are just as likely to NOT say top Secret, otherwise they would say so.

        Heres an example, both of information that is widely known and is Top secret and people say was one of Clintons ‘secrets’

        http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/top-pakistani-leaders-secretly-backed-cia-drone-campaign-secret-documents-show/2013/10/23/15e6b0d8-3beb-11e3-b6a9-da62c264f40e_story.html

        “Markings on the documents indicate that many of them were prepared by the CIA’s Counterterrorism Center specifically to be shared with Pakistan’s government..”

        ‘markings’ in this case could be who created the information, could be the people who its sent to in email chain. Who knows, but they definitely dont say ‘marked top secret’

        • Crashacart 4.2.1.1

          Sorry do you have experience dealing with classifications? I do. When you are talking about documents classification and markings, you are specifically talking about a marking on the document that would say what the classification is. Often this includes what organisation has classified it.

          Nothing in your link disagree with that. The origins of the document do not change the way in which it is to be handled once it is classified. As I have said previously, if an organisation accidentally stamped your mums cake recipe top secret it has to be logged and then if they want to destroy it they have to go through a proper process. They also have to track its location.

          If any normal member of one of these organisation was carless with the handling of a marked classified document (irrespective of it contents) they would lose their security clearance and this more often than not is a death sentence for their career.

          • dukeofurl 4.2.1.1.1

            Clinton has said that none of her emails were marked top secret at the time.
            FBI statement corroborated that by using vague term ‘markings’ , if they were “marked top secret” ( or higher) they would have said so

  5. Chooky 5

    The FBI may have let her off the hook …but will Americans vote for her?…She is considered to be “Extremely Careless” if not “Supremely Reckless”…Is this to be recommended in a President of USA?

    …the comments and tweets would suggest NOT!…some want Comey to resign…and others have been critical of Attorney General Loretta Lynch

    ‘Clinton hid thousands of emails, put classified data on her server, but shouldn’t be charged – FBI’

    https://www.rt.com/usa/349560-fbi-director-clinton-probe/

    …”The FBI also found “several thousand” work-related emails that had been deleted over the years. Three of those were classified at the time. However, the bureau concluded that none of them were intentionally deleted to hide information, Comey said.

    Though he said that Clinton’s lawyers “cleaned” the devices used to host the email servers in a way that precluded further forensic discovery before turning them over to the bureau, the FBI is confident “there was no intentional misconduct,” according to Comey…

    ‘Bill Clinton’s secret meeting with Loretta Lynch sparks suspicions over Hillary email scandal’

    https://www.rt.com/usa/349029-clinton-lynch-airplane-meeting/

    …”Lynch was appointed US attorney for New York’s Eastern District by Bill Clinton in 1999, and was made attorney general under Barack Obama in 2014…

    • Compared to the alternative, Clinton is a safe pair of hands. She is going to win the Presidency.

      • Colonial Viper 5.1.1

        Love it. Using National Party memes. “Safe pair of hands” indeed. As long as you’re not a civilian in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Ukraine, Venezuela etc. that is.

        I’m still predicting an easy win for Trump despite the help that Clinton has got from the FBI going easy on her national security felonies.

        Her mishandling of classified documents have allowed foreign hackers access to documents which concern national security.

        • Chooky 5.1.1.1

          hopefully people will vote on the content of those emails…

        • te reo putake 5.1.1.2

          That tenner’s still up for grabs if you want to put your money where your mouth is CV 😉

          Shall we make it really interesting? $10 in the Clare Curren re-election fund when Trump loses?

          • One Anonymous Bloke 5.1.1.2.1

            Nah, if you really want it to be interesting you’ll have to agree to donate to a suitable anti-vax/truther/mens’ rights group in the event that the ridiculous loser wins.

            • te reo putake 5.1.1.2.1.1

              I’m happy to take the minor risk of making a donation to any worthy cause CV puts up, OAB. Even in a year where the pollsters have been wrong on just about everything, I don’t see any hope for Trump when he can’t even get traction amongst the Republicans and there is a libertarian candidate creaming 5-10% of his potential vote as well. It’s over.

        • dukeofurl 5.1.1.3

          national security, top secret…. you rattle that off like you work for Dick Cheney!

          the truth is different.

          “At the center of that argument, the officials said, is a “top secret” program of the Central Intelligence Agency that is anything but secret. It is the agency’s long effort to track and kill suspected terrorists overseas with armed drones, which has been the subject of international debates, numerous newspaper articles, television programs and entire books.

          The Obama administration’s decision to keep most internal discussions about that program — including all information about C.I.A. drone strikes in Pakistan — classified at the “top secret” level has now become a political liability for Mrs. Clinton’s presidential campaign.
          “emails are included in seven distinct chains that comprise forwarded messages and replies, and in most cases involved discussions of the C.I.A. drone program, government officials said”

          http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/06/us/politics/agencies-battle-over-what-is-top-secret-in-hillary-clintons-emails.html

        • One Anonymous Bloke 5.1.1.4

          Oh noes, national security!

          What a good thing none of her emails reveal the truthiness about chemtrails. That would have been embarrassing for the deep state.

          Luckily, truther fuckwits can console themselves that she’s playing a cunning double game.

          Eh CV.

          • One Two 5.1.1.4.1

            Labeling others is a fuckwit move

            Fear is a powerful emotion

            • One Anonymous Bloke 5.1.1.4.1.1

              Leaving aside the Stalinist tactic of pretending I can’t handle the truth because I’m afraid, how do you account for the lack of corroborating evidence for truther dogma in all these secret emails that we are now privy to?

              Surely the only explanation must be that the material released by Wikileaks, Clinton’s emails, etc, are smokescreens, and there is a layer of secrecy underneath that where all the real truthiness is kept.

              That must be it, eh.

      • Chooky 5.1.2

        “safe pair of hands”!? ( you have to be joking!)

        …it is what the emails say that is most damning of Clinton..ie how she operates immorally outside the ‘democratic’ government……not the fact that she tried to amateurishly hide them …

        https://news.vice.com/article/libyan-oil-gold-and-qaddafi-the-strange-email-sidney-blumenthal-sent-hillary-clinton-in-2011

        http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dan-kovalik/clinton-emails-on-libya-e_b_9054182.html

        http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/03/14/exposing-the-libyan-agenda-a-closer-look-at-hillarys-emails/

        • te reo putake 5.1.2.1

          It’s already yesterday’s news, chooky. The Republicans have lost the Presidency. The only question left unanswered is how much damage Trump does them in the Senate, House of Reps and whatever State elections are up at the same time. A Democrat President and a majority in both houses would be good news for the majority of Americans and, by extension, the rest of the world.

          • Lanthanide 5.1.2.1.1

            It’s highly unlikely the democrats will get the house back, unless Clinton wins by a landslide (double digits).

      • Peter Swift 5.1.3

        Of course she’ll win over Trump. A poll today giving her an 11% lead. I can’t see how being cleared by the FBI will damage her numbers down the line.

        What also is clear is how CV has been pushed into a marginalised position by his idealogical perseverance to Rasputin, head thunder cat.
        How any supposed left winger can bat for Trump, a racist, misogynist, billionaire 1 percenter is beyond me.
        Good job he’s out of labour politics. Can you imagine the negative headlines – Labour ppc supports trumps wall etc.

        • te reo putake 5.1.3.1

          CV’s not a left winger, by his own admission. He seems pretty confused about what he actually believes in, but we know from other admissions it’s not women, workers, the aged or anyone who asks him for practical alternatives.

          The irony of it is that he was almost the archetypal modern Labour candidate, ticking most of the minority representation boxes in one handy package. It’s just that he was no bloody good. Which happens of course. Many are called, few are chosen.

          Having said that, kudos to CV for having given it a go. It takes a lot of guts and hard work to stand in any seat, let alone a blue ribbon Tory electorate. So that can never be taken away from him and it’s to his credit that he tried his best.

          And, as I’ve suggested in earlier posts, this may not be his last crack at a political seat. ACT and other right wing minority parties would welcome someone with his experience and misanthropic ideas with open arms. It’s just a matter of time and timing, I expect.

          • Peter Swift 5.1.3.1.1

            If I run and lost a 100m race against Usain Bolt, that wouldn’t make me a brave loser, just a loser with a bit of name recognition for a while at least, so let’s not get too romantic over having a go.

            I don’t know what politics, from a NZ viewpoint, would champion Trump and Farage, like CV has.
            Who or what ever they are, they certainly can’t be left of centre.

            • Colonial Viper 5.1.3.1.1.1

              What does it matter to a political astroturfer like you? Come up with your clever lines and repeat them as often as you like.

              • Peter Swift

                Cat calls from CV. Now there’s a surprise. lol
                Doesn’t change a thing though, you’re still an affront to left wing politics if you advocate for Trump.

                • Colonial Viper

                  Hi Peter Swift,

                  The Left/Right divide belongs in the 20th century, like you.

            • marty mars 5.1.3.1.1.2

              yes peter but you haven’t run any race have you? so you don’t really have a clue do you?

              cv has said he is not left – ho hum back to the events of the day

              • Peter Swift

                How would you know? I’m guaranteed anonymity as a poster.

                Anyway, events of the day, go for it.

                • question marks denote questions

                  and I’m not really interested anyway – you could say the same for cv if you weren’t interested couldn’t you? if you weren’t interested that is…

                  • Peter Swift

                    But I am interested in CV and his backing of a racist, misogynist one percenter billionaire.

                    You shooting from the cover of “question marks denote questions”, not so much.

                    • You’ve had the answer – he isn’t left. Somehow you still seem a little fixated – wonder why – I hope it isn’t because you are a bully peter – that wouldn’t be nice.

                    • Colonial Viper

                      I hope it isn’t because you are a bully peter – that wouldn’t be nice.

                      Both Peter Swift and TRP have this in common at their core.

                    • yeah they may indeed be bullies – I don’t mind their criticism of you cv because not very many, if any, of your views align with mine and I do think you go on a lot about shit you really have just seen on youtube (for example) – but that is par for the course and who really cares and that is no reason for others to bully you imo

                      so I defend your right to post shit here, there and everywhere and I fight against bullies whoever they are

                    • Colonial Viper

                      Chris Hedges, Dmitry Orlov, James Michael Greer, James Hansen and Abby Martin are all on YouTube.

                      I encourage everyone here to go check out some of their work there.

                    • what JMG youtubes have you seen? Wouldn’t mind watching some of them.

                    • Peter Swift

                      I’m laughing at being called a bully. Seriously, if that’s the best defence you have, then it’s a sad day for the hard done by put upon. lol
                      You have read some of the insults cv has sent my way for daring to raise issues with his doctrine?

                      Attempts at framing are one thing, but surely it’s got to be backed up with more than just being hurt over being disagreed with or having your opinions and motives come under scrutiny. It’s a little bit wimpy, tell the truth.

                      Anyway, as it’s a deliberate smoke screen and diversionary tactic, let’s regain some focus and prepare for next time.

                    • Colonial Viper

                      Hi MM,

                      I’m a fan of Chris Martenson’s Peak Prosperity website and podcasts. And one of the best interviews that he has done in the last year is with JMG:

                    • thanks cv

                      and thanks to you too Peter – I’ve enjoyed your wordplay and comments – and no I haven’t read all of the lines cv has used against you – you do seem well able to combat that methinks 🙂

              • Sanctary

                I have never lost an election, and I have had several right from a local committee to a union rep. I tell you that based on his online presence, IMHO CV is completely unsuitable for any elected role. Being elected to lead working people is a deeply humbling privilege, yet all I see is a self absorbed ego.

                • Colonial Viper

                  You’ve never lost an election? Well done you. Having said that, your vote counts the same as any one elses.

                  • Greg

                    thats all we have really, isnt it, and the elite spend a lot of money trying to get it,

                    lifes about moving forward,
                    why do so many National politicians just dig holes for us,

            • One Anonymous Bloke 5.1.3.1.1.3

              As a Green voter of no more political affiliation that that, I think it is to the NZLP’s everlasting shame that they would select a petty-bourgeois truther to contest any electorate, no matter how unwinnable.

              • Peter Swift

                Like someone didn’t do their homework or were totally misled pre selection.
                Bet they don’t do that again.

                • Or he was a different person back then. As I said earlier, it’s to CV’s credit that he gave it a shot. His current anti-left position is sad and entirely indefensible for someone writing on a labour movement blog, but it’s where he’s at right now. I’ve seen similar conversions from left to right before and from far nastier people than CV. At some point the penny will drop for him and he will embrace a party that better suits his attitudes. That doesn’t make him a bad person IMHO.

                  But at the moment he’s focussed on doing as much damage as possible to the left using the platform afforded to him, which is not so much his problem as an indictment on those in control of the Standard. As I pointed out on the Broken post, TS is not democratic, nor particularly focussed on left wing thought. It should be both and the lack of diversity in the commenters suggests that TS is the weaker for not getting a grip on the problem.

                  • and quite a few say if you went the place would be better off because your style puts people off (too many links to put here for the evidence) and is an affront for some too, even hard core lefties – hell even your name is an affront to me voicey 🙂

                  • Colonial Viper

                    TRP, a pro-establishment loyalist to the last. Sorry mate, but I’m not going to be yet another one of The Standard’s long time commentators that you get rid of. Despite your two or three attempts so far.

                    As for the left, you may have been, a long time ago. But you got grey, comfortable and middle class, and now all you do is support pro-status quo establishment loyalists like yourself.

                    • Nah, sorry mate, but you know nothing about me and you are very, very wrong. Which is not unusual for you, of course.

                      I’m very much of the left, and live my life on socialist principles. My political and economic viewpoint is Marxist, but I work within this system because I recognise we are not in revolutionary times. So, my working days are spent doing my best to see that working people get a fair crack. You’ve never lifted a finger to help anyone other than yourself, apparently, and you make your money scamming the foolish. We’re world’s apart, CV.

                      And I know I can walk into any smoko room in the country and feel at ease, at home and with my equals. You’ll never know that feeling.

                    • Colonial Viper

                      Don’t get defensive TRP. I don’t mind you sailing in and out of work places while acting like you care.

                      And although you do have a strong sense of arrogance, apparently you don’t have telepathy.

                    • Weak. Get back to me when you make a difference, poseur. Some of us have work to do.

                    • Colonial Viper

                      TRP – and the fact that you cannot see that this is exactly a revolutionary time marks you as a blind, complacent, over watered Marxist.

                      But in honesty I cannot expect more from you – you are a loyal backer of the status quo.

                    • LOL. They’re ain’t no revolution going on, pal. Just a tightening of capital’s grip. You should try reading some Marx, you’d be less likely to make mistakes like that.

                      This is a pretty good primer:

                    • Chooky

                      Go CV!!!…this site would be the lesser without you…you are more intelligent than all your detractors put together

                      i don’t always agree with you but you always have something worthwhile to say and worth thinking about

                      ….and the Labour Party imo is not a real Left party…it is a neolib party ..so criticisms from those wedded to that party are sus imo

                      Mana/internet is a real Left party…and Labour by standing Kelvin Davis shot the Left in the foot and lost the Election to jonkey nact

                    • Colonial Viper

                      Chooky – much obliged. It’s high time to move on from the Left vs Right ideas of the early 20th century.

                  • left for dead

                    I’ll play mother/father. If you don’t like it here, trp.FUCK OFF. 👿

                    as you are aware, people are sick of your self appointed bile.

                    read; the policy and about would you.

                    • Nice try, though a little passive/aggressive 😉

                    • left for dead

                      get it right, it’s micro aggression son.

                      edit: no reply button for trp.

                    • Colonial Viper

                      TRP acts as if people cannot see him for who he is. Honestly, he is a Marxist deep inside who truly prefers Corbyn and Sanders in his heart of hearts. LOL!

                      I hope he gets the high place on the Labour list that he wants.

          • Colonial Viper 5.1.3.1.2

            Gawd TRP, a jug full of back handed insults and back handed compliments all in one go.

            Anyways, time to go back to watching UK Labour self destruct and all its over privileged white collar MPs try and knife their socialist Leader Jeremy Corbyn in the back.(Yes, TRP cry your croc tears from him, that would be appropriate now).

        • Colonial Viper 5.1.3.2

          Easy Trump victory over Clinton. Just saying. The US public can see once more that the FBI is a compromised, political organisation.

          Use all the usual left wing bleeding heart liberal lines against Trump, but he’s against free trade deals, he’s against the TPP and he’s against Clinton’s neocon foreign military adventures.

          • Peter Swift 5.1.3.2.1

            Sure, puss puss, sure. lol

          • dukeofurl 5.1.3.2.2

            Say what ?
            “CLINTON: I voted for a multinational trade agreement, but I opposed CAFTA because I did not believe it was in the best interests of the workers of America. I did hope that the TPP, negotiated by this administration, I was holding out hope that it would be the kind of trade agreement that I was looking for. Once I saw the outcome, I opposed it. I have a very clear view. We have to trade with the rest of the world. We are 5 percent of the world’s population. We have to trade with the other 95 percent. And trade has to be reciprocal. That’s the way the global economy works. But we have failed to provide the basic safety net support that American workers need in order to be able to compete and win in the global economy.”

            ” Take the trade deal. I did say, when I was secretary of state, three years ago, that I hoped it would be the gold standard. It was just finally negotiated last week, and in looking at it, it didn’t meet my standards. My standards for more new, good jobs for Americans, for raising wages for Americans. ”

            Lets just say in Mae Wests words – She drifted.

            • Colonial Viper 5.1.3.2.2.1

              Young Republican Killary never drifted anywhere except further and further into the arms of the bankster establishment and military industrial surveillance complex.

              • DS

                Yeah, that would be why she actively campaigned for George McGovern in 1972.

                (If we’re going after Hillary for her Republican family, where does that leave Helen Clark, daughter of National-voting Waikato farmers?).

                • Colonial Viper

                  Firstly Helen Clark was a centrist PM through and through. Tough on beneficiaries, greenlit prisons, closed down schools.

                  Those people who think that the rot set into the country only from 2009 onwards are kidding themselves.

                  If you were earning $60K pa in 2008 there was already no way you could afford to buy a house in Auckland.

                  As for Killary. Her track record in power speaks for itself.

  6. adam 6

    Funny, I think Clinton may have won the battle – but she how many self hits did she get in with it. It was quite sad really.

    Some interesting stuff in this dump from wikileaks but nothing damning. It appears there will be more dumps at a later date.

    https://wikileaks.org/clinton-emails/?q=iraq%7Cbaghdad%7Cbasra%7Cmosoul&mfrom&mto&title&notitle&date_from&date_to&nofrom&noto&count=50&sort=0

  7. Chooky 7

    Democracy or Oligarchy?

    Glenn Greenwald on the issue:

    ‘Washington Has Been Obsessed With Punishing Secrecy Violations – until Hillary ‘Clinton

    https://theintercept.com/2016/07/05/washington-has-been-obsessed-with-punishing-secrecy-violations-until-hillary-clinton/

  8. Andre 8

    Wonder if this explains the enthusiasm some people here have for the crude approximation of an orange howler monkey with an unkempt roadkill hamster on its head?

    http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/cover_story/2016/07/vladimir_putin_has_a_plan_for_destroying_the_west_and_it_looks_a_lot_like.html

  9. Andre 9

    Well, the Republican call for new investigations took several hours longer to come out than I thought it would.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/republicans-fbi-investigation-hillary-clinton_us_577c6466e4b09b4c43c18c22?section=

    • Colonial Viper 9.1

      “Well, the Republican call for new investigations took several hours longer to come out than I thought it would.”

      I suspect they were trying to find out through their own network what was actually behind the decision to give Hillary the equivalent of diversion for a national security crime.

  10. Colonial Viper 10

    Here are a partial list of felonies that Obama has just helped nullify for the war criminal Hillary Clinton:

    http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-07-05/clinton-case-obama-administration-nullifies-6-criminal-laws

    18 U.S. Code § 2232 — Destruction or removal of property to prevent seizure

    18 U.S. Code § 1512 — Tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant

    18 U.S. Code § 1519 — Destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in Federal investigations and bankruptcy

    18 U.S. Code § 2071 — Concealment, removal, or mutilation generally

    18 U.S. Code § 641 — Public money, property or records

    18 U.S. Code § 793 — Gathering, transmitting or losing defense information …
    (f) Whoe

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Recent Posts

  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 27

    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 27 were:1. The Minister for Ford Rangers strikes againTransport Minister Simeon Brown was again the busiest of the Cabinet ministers this week, announcing an ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    27 mins ago
  • Ticket To Anywhere

    You got a fast carAnd I want a ticket to anywhereMaybe we make a dealMaybe together we can get somewhereAny place is betterYesterday’s newsletter, Trust In Me, on the report of abuse in state care, and by religious organisations, between 1950 and 2019, coupled with the hypocrisy of Christopher Luxon ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 hour ago
  • Stories of varying weight

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 hours ago
  • Balancing External Security and the Economy

    New Zealand is again having to reconcile conflicting pressures from its military and its trade interests. Should we join Pillar Two of AUKUS and risk compromising our markets in China? For a century after New Zealand was founded in 1840, its external security arrangements and external economics arrangements were aligned. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    18 hours ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: The unravelling of the offsets

    The ‘50 Shades of Green’ farmers’ protest in 2019 was heavy on climate change denial, but five years on, scepticism and criticism about the idea that pine forests can save us is growing across the board. File photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    23 hours ago
  • What makes us tick

    This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 day ago
  • Foreshore and seabed 2.0

    In 2003, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General, ruling that Māori customary title over the foreshore and seabed had not been universally extinguished, and that the Māori Land Court could determine claims and confirm title if the facts supported it. This kicked off the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the Royal Commission report into abuse in care

    Earlier this week at Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was applauded for saying that the response to the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had to be “bigger than politics.” True, but the fine words, apologies and “we hear you” messages will soon ring ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 26-July-2024

    Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago
  • God what a relief

    1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Trust In Me

    Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 26

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care report released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
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  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

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  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

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  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

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  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

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  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

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  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

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    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

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  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
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  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
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  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
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  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan.  “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
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  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
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    7 days ago
  • Government launches Military Style Academy Pilot

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    1 week ago
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  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
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  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

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  • 'Pacific Futures'

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