Asset aquisition by the speculative economy is not the same as wealth generation by the non-speculative.
But which by and large issues the economic prognotions and the methodology of such behind the business confidences from the tallest shiny buildings in the cities?
Is being confident all the time then, in the interests of innovation and dynanism to market value systems??
Asset aquisition by the speculative economy is not the same as wealth generation by the non-speculative.
Correct. It is simply theft by the speculators from the rest of us which seems to be the reason why they used to be hung.
Quoting “Why we can’t afford the rich” by Andrew Sayer, Richard Wilkinson:
Deregulation allowed the buyers of the securities to use them as collateral for borrowing, so streams of interest payments on loans supposedly backed by collateral in the shape of houses were themselves used as collateral by holders of these asset-backed securities for borrowing. In turn, with the money they borrowed they could buy still more securities – further sources of unearned income – and generally engage in more speculation on their changing market values. In such ways finance built its infamous house of cards. As Marx put it, ‘interest-bearing capital generally is the mother of all crazy forms’.
Workers always have to produce not only enough to provide for their own pay and all the other costs of production and distribution, they also have to produce enough to provide for owners of businesses, shareholders, landowners, money-lenders, speculators and value-skimmers.
As American economist William J. Baumol noted, enterprise may be used in devising new forms of rent-seeking that damage rather than benefit the economy (‘unproductive entrepreneurship’, as he called it).147 Rentiers may find new ways of extracting rent or interest, but while they might like to think of themselves as enterprising in this respect, they are unproductive – worse, a drain on the productive economy. All sorts of ingenious financial instruments have been designed, often by ‘quants’ – first-rate mathematicians employed by financial institutions – for value-skimming and speculation. While the quality of enterprise involves being willing to take risks, a lot of risk taking is not entrepreneurial: all sheep are animals, but not all animals are sheep. As we saw earlier, when speculators claim to be entrepreneurs because they take risks, they flatter themselves.
All these kinds of wealth extraction that we’ve looked at – rent, interest, profit, shareholding, value-skimming and speculation – primarily benefit the rich, those who can afford to use assets to extract unearned income from the 99%. It’s true that many of the better-off within the 99% have pensions that depend on the generation of unearned income from shareholding and speculation, and a few may own shares too. Many have derived unearned income from house-price inflation, so a larger number of people are at least small-time rentiers as well as being employees. Although they are only bit-players in the rentier game, their largely passive involvement is ideologically significant in that it habituates ‘ordinary’ people to rent-seeking as a source of income, helps to legitimise what principally benefits the rich and allows people to imagine that the rich rentiers are working for them. The money pages of newspapers encourage them to think of this as merely being prudent and smart, as if these qualities alone legitimised their unearned income.140 It also makes the fortunes of many people dependent on self-interested financial institutions, that use their savings, cream off commission and fees and fail to safeguard their pensions.
The enormous amount of energy that has gone into speculation is symptomatic of an economy that struggles to make profit from production and seeks to make it instead by betting on prices.
It’s not like banking, which helps facilitate both risk and opportunity in a market value system as result of the ‘medium of exchange’ arbitrating representative real and dynamic demand and supply in service of the DIRECT (non bubble) value to be determined for a given particular end.
Of course finance has a vital role to play as a servant to the economy, in oiling the wheels of business, in arranging credit and dealing with risk, but it can easily become the master and make the rest of the economy its servant. The occupational hazard of finance is that in seeking to make money out of money through lending, value-skimming and speculating, it focuses on wealth extraction and loses sight of the necessity of wealth creation in goods and services. In the bubble that preceded the crisis, bank lending to productive businesses declined from 30% to 10% as lending to other financial institutions and the property market grew.146 The financial sector’s control of financial assets – ultimately, claims on the labour and products of others – means that, unless it is strongly regulated it can dominate governments to serve its interests. Mainstream economics, with its obsession with idealised models of markets and its evasion of the difference between earned and unearned income, is complicit in this.
As regards employment, the financial sector accounts for only 6.5% of UK employment and has remained static since the 1990s. It provided 6.8% of government tax receipts, while manufacturing, widely dismissed as of marginal importance in the new economy, provided 13.4%. The financial sector has been highly active in helping clients to avoid tax; in so doing it has taken fat commissions for reducing the state’s income. And junk products such as payment protection insurance are examples of activities with negative value. The sector has also drawn many of the most able members of the workforce away from more productive activities. More generally, the sector has damaged economies by encouraging the switch from investment in productive uses to speculative, rent-seeking outlets. If the sector is supposed to be so important for growth, isn’t it interesting that the sector was much smaller in the post-war boom?
Steve Keen has estimated that the banking sector should, IIRC, never be more than ~2% of the economy for it to be sustainable.
yes to some extent, in trying to wall itself off from one sort of perceived rabble, it ends up overrun, often to it’s own detriment, by another type of rabble.
The banking system is part of the problem as it’s for profit and creates money without limit.
The only way the banking system could work is if it’s a state institute that doesn’t charge either fees or interest. In other words, an institute that runs at cost and is paid for through taxes.
With banking, the money is created without limit due to the profit motive being subverted by asset acquisition replacing wealth creation as the economic driver, which goes back to the original (slightly sloppily spelt) original post’s point about the benefit of speculation to the functioning of market economic value systems.
State institution of banking as is often thought of as the solution without due respect to the political processes and the shifting of the goal posts that such undertakings would and have, resulted in – the Nazi state was essentially a state banker after all (as some modern day similarly growing propositions may be to some extents also).
Many of your above excerpts as relates to speculation’s role to the functioning of economic value in a market i found valid all the same.
Speculation futures trading will never be usurped because its profitable.
And those who have profited have way more power than those who want to ban capitalism.
Your pissing into a category 5 hurricane DTB.
Meanwhile across the ditch the Tory idiots prove themselves useful idiots to the fascist christians in the US by saying they will move embassy. These hard right loony pentecostal types are going to drag us into a war, if we want one or not.
Will actually from Singers is where Australia gets about 70% POL from as it’s cheaper to refine MER oil to POL products than in Australia.
If I can found the breakdowns of total oil to POL’s to Australia out of the MER, I think the all up total from the house Saudi would quite small compared to the US and European Countries.
Anyway I wouldn’t read to much into the Australian Embassy move, it’s more to the shenanigans of the Wentworth by-election as that electorate has 12-13% of the Jewish vote. Atm the Libs are in the shit house and I believe their internal polling suggests the are going to lose the seat to Phelps, so they pull this one out of the hat in hope they can get over the line. This stunt has surprised and shocked an awful lot of people across broad and I have a gut feeling it may back fire on them regardless of Saturday’s result.
Ex kiwi forces the US gets nearly all of its own oil since fracking and conservation land were opened up.
The Timor Sea could be a problem if Indonesia flexes its muscle and the fact Australia news planes the jsf35s are another expensive dud, a plane that is supposed to do everything but can’t even fly.
Indonesia has a massive production capability Australia has closed all its mass production factories and sent them overseas sold off it’s F18 super hornets to Canada which wasn’t stupid enough to buy into the Jsf 35 over priced underdelivered lightning 11.
The Syrian conflict showed up the limitations of high tech planes.
They are superior when in the Air getting them into the Air is the problem small run high tech computers that have complicated software designed only to run in a few hundred planes is extremely unreliable and needs lots of very highly trained software specialists who are not going to work on Airforce pay when they can get 20× more in the private sector.
Russian Planes in Syria were doing 10 sorters for every one sortee US planes were doing.
The Jsf35 is a way more complicated plane than the F18 with an even smaller number manufactured needing much more software and electronics maintenance.
Drones are the future and much cheaper but delivery times 5 years so their electronics and software will be redundant by delivery dates.
China Indonesia have massive mass production facilities.
Australia/NZ minute or none.
The Yanks can’t get the frack oil out ground fast a enough, both the IMF and IEA actually forecasting an oil deficit of 300k barrels from the IMF and about 1m barrels+ from the IAE if OPEC screws down oil production.
The Indonesian Military from my experience is not well trained to the high standards of the ADF or other regional forces such as Singapore, Malaysia and India. The TNI is still riddle with corruption, politics etc and alack of funding to maintain equipment let alone a high state of readiness to be a real threat. They have enough problems atm with trying to keep a lid on West Papua and the TNI response to the recent disaster has been quite poor from what I’ve heard of late.
The Super Hornets haven’t been sold to Canada for starters and it’s highly unlikely the Super Hornets they would be off loaded to Canada or even to NZ as they have now filled niche within Airforce, ADF and Government capabilities IRT since enter service and their overall performance on Op Okra. A number Classic Hornets are earmarked for the RCAF, but this won’t happen until the following RAAF units are stood and they are 2OCU and 3SQN which is followed by 77SQN and the is 75SQN at this stage. The Australian order is a firm 72 F35’s with another 28 as an option. There is still some debate at weather the 28 will be taken up and when the mad monk was PM the inside talk/ rumour at the time was buying the 28 V/STOL version for the RAN, but that meant modifiing the two LPH’s again as they are now set up to be Helicopter Carriers not a Fix Wing Carrier is used by the Spanish Navy.
Like you, I have my doubts about F35 JSF and actually the F22 is the better Aircraft by miles, but it is no longer in production.
I can’t discuss the current Air Operations in MER which I was a part of on my last trip to MER before my past Operations caught up with me amongst all the other shit that was happening to me on that last trip and prior to that deployment. The Coalition air sorties was generating a far higher rate than the Russians across the broad according to Flight Magazine, AirForce World, Flight International and Janes Defence.
This UAV’s especially some of the UAV’s that BAe and Germany are developing atm is the way to go atm and when you include the advances in IA technology IRT UAV use. But at the end of the day you still need a humans to oversee, control and conduct UAV operations.
In the esteemed words from the sandpit, “No surprises there eh?” Hope the Jewish voters have more sense than the Zionists and tell the grovelling PM where to stick his candidate.
Just to add to Adam’s post, that SocMo is also looking at reviewing the Iran Nuclear Deal which was buried among the move of the embassy to Jerusalem which is going to upset Australia Foreign Policy in MER over the last 50yrs. This move is clearly aimed at the Jewish vote in the Wentworth by-election which make 13% of the vote.
Aye Marty, that is funny. Often happens when monoglots think they can dabble with other tongues.
Earlier on, a deodorant called ‘Morning Mist’ sold well in the UK. So they tried a shipment to West Germany. Apparently none of them knew that ‘Mist’ in German means dung or shit.
Strangely enough, it failed to sell well…
“What was put to him was inappropriate behaviour that is unacceptable from a married Member of Parliament.”
Good God, that’s been going on behind the parliamentary scene since his omnipotent Nibs made little apples. In fact it was regarded as a rite of passage for every parliamentarian bearing in mind all pollies – with a couple of exceptions – were male up until more recent decades.
This doesn’t add up, unless JLR is a total fantasist.
There’s too big a gap between being accused of (sexual) harassment by 4 women, while not being given any details – and an affair.
I wonder if this is an arse covering attempt by Bennett. If they had accused JLR of harassment, without giving him any details, and used it as a threat, that is the totally wrong way to deal with it. It should have been reported and investigated. And JLR should have been supplied with details of what he’s been accused of.
It’s totally off the wall to accuse an MP of sexual infidelity as a cause for discipline, or as some kind of threat.
It’s normal for a politician to remain resolute in adhering to their pre-determined narrative, so he’s trying to get away with that normal strategy. He stonewalls her, probably believing she’s a Nat-leaning journo who will get his narrative if he keeps repeating it at her enough times.
She makes it clear she just wants a straight answer to her questions – a media pro trained as a journalist has to be seen to be going for the truth. Since the truth will damage him, he remains resolute.
Think about the effect of this in voterland. All ZB listeners hearing this will know he’s evading the need to inform them what actually happened. Kiwis hate that kind of bullshit. Even those who normally vote National would feel he’s insulting them.
That’s right. Nats are relying on their friends in media including the top exec level to craft the responses in their favour.
They want to spend 5 days with their version of events with non denial denials, after conceding this day is all Ross’s.
So far we have the party president, but not the party GM saying no record of the claims can be found. As if they would have a little black book with the true accounts.
McClay is also saying baseless which just means unproven, rather than he dint ‘sight’ the dodgy donation.
Every national friendly columnist will get a dinner invite in the next few days for some ‘bacgrounding’
I’m sure Key will even be roped in somehow
The other thing is that meeting where JLR was called by Paula to her office, then she took him to meet with Simon – seems a pre-determined setup. He gets told about four women complaining of harassment, asks for details, Simon refuses to give those. JLR says he referred to natural justice (accused supposed to be told who’s accusing them, and precisely what circumstances, where/when).
Simon says if he keeps hewing to that line the four will become 15. Sounds like bullshit, made-up stuff, eh? JLR didn’t say Paula had left the meeting, so she’s complicit in the fake allegations. How do we know they’re fake? None were reported to their employer, PS. Also, a media report said none want to continue with their complaints. JLR says this was a blackmail attempt. How could anyone reasonably disagree??
He didn’t say he taped this meeting though. If not, just hearsay. Even so, it was the blackmail on top of the donation setup that pushed him into a mental breakdown. Totally understandable. No wonder Paula looked so grim. Loyalty has got her sucked into a moral quagmire and there’s no escape she can see.
Bridges claims to be decisive about establishing who the leaker of his expenses are.
When it comes to allegations of harassment Bridges is not decisive. The reason for JLR’s medical leave is now known, being accused of harassment which impacted mentally and not liking how donations are received.
I am left wondering if Bridges is going to take the alleged harassment further. I think this would back fire due to Bridges not going through proper processes. Also the stench of the Barclay harassment which was dealt with by making a payment to the electoral worker with a confidentiality clause.
A transcript of the interview between English and the police did get released. As for a copy of the tape recording no contents of the tape recording ever surfaced. Nor did the electoral worker make a complaint to police.
Another ironic thought.
JLR denies that he was the Leaker.
The Police knew straight away who the Leaker was but wouldn’t say.
JLR is going to the Police with his accusation on Bridges.
Wouldn’t it be amazing if the same police who will be dealing with him, were the same ones who know that he was/wasn’t The Leaker.
Interesting,… that they knew,… and stayed silent all through the inquiry processes…
And if JLR has evidence it will force them to act or….not.
I think we will soon be getting a very vivid picture of just what goes on in this country in the corridors of power. We will soon see if the Police actually do adhere to the law with impartiality. And if not,…
Rhetorical question surely given their behaviour over teapot tapes and the hager raid.
They showed NZ how willing a tool of the national govt they were rather than due process….and got pinged for it in court. Then there’s slaters diversion etc etc
The shit we went through getting knifed by our own party over 3 years gives me a bad case of the schadenfreudes. Possibly enough to encourage comrades to an attempt at draining the Inch Bar.
National party perfect storm with Jenny Shipley in the court dock in Auckland and Simon Bridges facing a possible court date in Wellington. That leaves only one name missing……
I’ve actually got two names, the you are thinking off and the other…. ,mind you I’ve seen a couple of articles on the cuts to land transport safety dating back to when the “No Mate’s Party” was run the country.
From the no shit Sherlock file, and why I give books as presents.
Growing up in a home packed with books has a large effect on literacy in later life – but a home library needs to contain at least 80 books to be effective, according to new research.
Led by Dr Joanna Sikora of Australian National University, academics analysed data from more than 160,000 adults, from 31 different countries, who took part in the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies between 2011 and 2015. All participants were asked how many books there were in their homes when they were 16 – they were told that one metre of shelving was equivalent to around 40 books – and went through literacy, numeracy and information communication technology (ICT) tests to gauge their abilities.
[…]
According to the paper, teenagers with only lower levels of secondary education, but who came from a home filled with books, “become as literate, numerate and technologically apt in adulthood as university graduates who grew up with only a few books”. The university graduates who grew up with hardly any books around them had roughly average literacy levels, said the researchers. So did those whose schooling ended in the equivalent of year nine (13-14 years old), but who grew up surrounded by books. “So, literacy-wise, bookish adolescence makes for a good deal of educational advantage,” the authors claim.
“I don’t think it’s acceptable to use shaming words around mental distress and mental health issues,” said Mr Robinson. “We’re looking to our political leaders to set an example.”
Did you see the ominously white space besides Paul Goldsmith? They removed JLR ranked at #7, shifted Goldsmith to the left and left a hole. National has got more holes than a Swiss cheese; Joyce’s was just one hole.
Ouch! She’s 12 years her senior. Yes, I think that’s a fairly recent photo of JC; I believe those photos get updated on a regular basis. What group photo are you referring to?
I didn’t scroll down that far but I’ll take your word for it.
They still haven’t fixed up that rather large white space; it really ought to be at the top, to the left of SB. Maybe it’s there as a warning to other National MPs …
Yes his online association with National is being quickly erased. For god’s sake freedom of speech and all that lets hope twitter doesn’t get any bright ideas, that man has a democratic right to freedom of speech!
All true but is anybody trying to curb JLR’s freedom of speech? It seems he has been saying a little too much for his own good though so maybe somebody should tell him to shut it. Bennett should tell him “zip it, sweetie”. He doesn’t want to ruin his chances of winning the by-election. Any dates yet?
We all know why @realDonaldTrump makes creepy physical threats about me, right? He’s scared. He’s trying to do what he always does to women who scare him: call us names, attack us personally, shrink us down to feel better about himself. It may soothe his ego – but it won’t work. pic.twitter.com/2rfPSlvlQA— Elizabeth Warren (@elizabethforma) October 15, 2018
Bottom line: My heritage played no role in my hiring – ever. The @BostonGlobe reviewed all the evidence. Their verdict? "At every step of her remarkable rise in the legal profession, the people responsible for hiring her saw her as a white woman." https://t.co/LTQ6d1sMwM— Elizabeth Warren (@elizabethforma) October 15, 2018
I won't sit quietly for @realDonaldTrump's racism, so I took a test. But DNA & family history has nothing to do with tribal affiliation or citizenship, which is determined only – only – by Tribal Nations. I respect the distinction, & don't list myself as Native in the Senate.— Elizabeth Warren (@elizabethforma) October 15, 2018
Speaking of family stories, @realDonaldTrump has one, too. It's the story of a second-generation tax cheat who was handed a $413 million inheritance through rich-guy loopholes and outright criminal fraud. https://t.co/ZHJIm4GQG3— Elizabeth Warren (@elizabethforma) October 15, 2018
Well, well, well – Aaron Bhatnagar and Dirty Politics is back inside the National Party
By Martyn Bradbury / October 17, 2018 / 2 Comments
TDB recommends Voyager – Unlimited internet @home as fast as you can get
This is getting dirtier and nastier but this time around the sleepy hobbits of muddle Nu Zilind don’t have the laid back anti-intellectualism of John Key to absolve their conscience and ignore corruption, they have bumbling Simon Bridges. Key could look down the barrel of the camera and lie to our faces and the sleepy hobbits loved him for it, Simon can’t lie convincingly and they will turn on him.
National Party voters love a good liar, they detest a weak one.
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Well, well, well the person behind the Cathedral Club donation is the old Dirty Politics agent, Aaron Bhatnagar…
Jami-Lee Ross saga: Identity of ‘Cathedral Club’ donor revealed
The identity of the secret $10,000 ‘Cathedral Club’ donor has been revealed as Auckland millionaire and investor Aaron Bhatnagar, as details emerge linking National Party leader Simon Bridges to a group with that name.
Bhatnagar came forward this morning after NZ Herald inquiries tied the donation to a house in Upland Rd in Remuera.
The address was listed on the original donation declaration form which had been signed by Bridges, withdrawn and then submitted again without the Cathedral Club donation.
At the time the donation was made, the Upland Rd house was lived in and owned by millionaire investor Aaron Bhatnagar.
As TDB Blogger, Frank Macskasy pointed out in a TDB blog in 2014…
One of the many sordid “bit”-players in Nicky Hager’s book, “Dirty Politics“, and one of Cameron Slater’s inner-cabal, is businessman, National Party card-carrying cadre, and former city councillor, Aaron Bhatnagar;
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aaron bhatnagar
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In 2008, Bhatnagar was caught by journalist, blogger, and IT commentator, Russell Brown, posting derogatory comments on Wikipedia to smear political opponants;
Auckland City councillor Aaron Bhatnagar has been caught doctoring the online encyclopedia Wikipedia to paint his opponents in a bad light at last year’s local body elections.
Using the alias of Barzini _ a power-hungry psychopath from Mario Puzo’s novel The Godfather _ Mr Bhatnagar created entries for his Action Hobson opponents in the Hobson ward and made unflattering changes to the entry for Mayor Dick Hubbard.
After winning a council seat and watching Action Hobson councillors Christine Caughey and Richard Simpson go down to a C&R rout in Hobson, Mr Bhatnagar tried to remove the Wikipedia entries for his opponents at 3am the following morning.
Bhatnagar was also John Banks’ campaign manager in Banks’ unsuccessful 2010 mayoralty bid, and later himself stood National’s candidate selection process for Epsom for the 2011 general election. (He subsequently lost out to John Banks.)
But more than being a paid-up, card-carrying party apparatchik for National, Bhatnagar was part of far-right blogger, Cameron Slater’s inner sanctum.
In Nicky Hager’s expose, Bhatnagar’s dirty tricks – a re-hash of his 2008 Wiki exploits – is carefully laid out;
“Slater was in regular contact with his blogger friends Cathy Odgers, blog name Cactus Kate, Peter Smith (not his real name) and Aaron Bhatnagar, with whom he often talked over his attack plans…” – “Dirty Politics”, pg 20
“Slater got the tip-off for his biggest 2011 attack from his blogger friend Aaron Bhatnagar, a former Auckland city councillor and business investor who had written a guest post as ‘Whale Oil Business Correspondent Winslow Taggart‘, promoting ‘one of New Zealand’s best run’ retirement companies, Ryman Healthcare, in which he was a shareholder. Bhatnagar’s approach to politics is summed up by his own words to Slater: ‘I’m getting bored. I need mischief to keep me busy…’ ” – “Dirty Politics”, pg 29
“On another occassion he [Bhatnagar] asked Slater to help him find a ‘paparazzi photographer’ to ‘spook’ a lawyer outside his legal chambers.” – “Dirty Politics”, pg 29
“This time Bhatnagar had been sniffing around the Labour Party’s websites and stumbled across an insecure location containing gigabytes of sensitive party information, including lists of donors and supporters. In the middle of election year, this was embarrassing and potentially very harmful to the Labour Party. Bhatnagar passed the find on to his friend.” – “Dirty Politics”, pg 29
The following Facebook conversation between Cameron Slater and Bhatnagar showed the cavalier and unethical attitude both men had to Labour’s computer vulnerability;
Slater: That website info will hit soon. Watch the damage that ensues.
Bhatnagar: “I’ve been meaning to ask you! LOL [laugh out loud], when do you run it?
Slater: been working thru it all… was going to do it this week but Goff is away. Far better to do it when the putz is back
Slater: the most damaging is the 18000 emails, and the Credit card transactions
Bhatnagar: fuck me, I hadn’t been that forensic myself. This will be huge
Slater: got the whole of their email database
Bhatnagar: oh no, LOL…. this is violence writ large
Slater: I think some teaser videos of screenshots and stuff drip fed over a few days , then drop the bomb say wed morning so [Parliament’s Wednesday afternoon] general debate is awesome
… The media are far too lazy to do what i have already done… so prob best to package it into bite size pieces.
Bhatnagar: unreal. I knew there was heaps there, but I hadn’t actually leached it all. Credit card info? That’s insane. Labour will be ruined…
I’m sure Chaos and Mayhem Ltd [Slater and his friends] will find a way to use all this left wing online data
Slater: got First name, Last Name and email, in 3 files, main labour mail list
Bhatnagar: could set back the online left wing community for three years…. I’ve told no one
Slater: and don’t
Bhatnagar: I wouldn’t wreck what might potentially be your greatest story…. – “Dirty Politics”, pg 30, 31
At no point during that conversation does Bhatnagar even raise a question of ethics regarding Slater’s intentions to public data from the Labour Party computer. On the contrary, he is clearly supportive.
On 12 June 2011, Slater began publishing details from the Labour Party computer. As Nicky Hager related;
“The attack began on Sunday 12 June with an article Slater had arrangedin a Sunday newspaper. He simultaneously began publishing a series of posts on his blog with the tag line ‘Labour Leaks’, announcing a long list of ‘rorts’ that would be progressively ‘outed’ on his site over the following days…
[…]
… Early on that Sunday morning Bhartnagar contacted Slater again. Their conversation is very revealing. ‘And so it begins…,’ Bhatnagar wrote. ‘Yep and it is going to hurt,” Slater replied, ‘that document is devastating… this is going to be a feeding frenzy, especially when I publish all the credit card transactions, then the membership lists, then the 18000 emails’. Thinking of the media reaction, Bhatnagar advised Slater to ‘keep your phone charged then – you will need the battery life!’
Slater then set out in writing the motivations underlying the leaks. It would be, he said, ‘death by a 1000 leaks’.
I have… cross referenced names with letter writers. I will have the definitive list of labour activists.
it will shut down their donors, shut down their IT systems
shut down their membership flow
and shut down their online campaigns
Bhatnager joked back: ‘Join the Labour Party and the Whaleoil email loop at the same time. Not a compelling message for left wing voters.’ “Dirty Politics”, pg 33
As Nicky Hager pointed out, “the aim was not to expose poor Internet security or some wrong-doing or to prove a political point, but to do as much damage as possible to the Labour Party“. Clearly, Bhatnagar was revelling in Slater’s damaging attack on the Labour Party;
“Later that evening Bhatnagar got in touch as well, suggesting a celebration lunc: ‘yum char thursday midday”. Slater said he’d be there. Bhatnagar asked, ‘What’s next in the death by 1000 cuts?’ ‘I haven’t decided yet,’ Slater replied. “- “Dirty Politics”, pg 36
In fact, on one occassion, he positively gloated over it, as this exchange showed on 26 November 2011;
“… The anti-MMP campaign failed, but Slater felt empowered by his successes. ‘I feel like this election campaign has been mine, plus my loyal tipline submitters,’ he told Bhatnagar. ‘Well, I am tempted to say that ripping open Labour’s website was a big part of it,’ Bhatnagar replied.“- “Dirty Politics”, pg 75
…so on the day we find out that the Chinese business man who is claimed to have donated to Simon Bridges was nominated for a Queens Honour by National…
National put Chinese businessman up for Queen’s Birthday honour
…we also learn the other donor was a Dirty Politics agent.
This is getting dirtier and nastier but this time around the sleepy hobbits of muddle Nu Zilind don’t have the laid back anti-intellectualism of John Key to absolve their conscience and ignore corruption, they have bumbling Simon Bridges. Key could look down the barrel of the camera and lie to our faces and the sleepy hobbits loved him for it, Simon can’t lie convincingly and they will turn on him.
National Party voters love a good liar, they detest a weak one.
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Published: 45 mins ago on October 17, 2018
By: Martyn Bradbury
Last Modified: October 17, 2018 @ 12:23 pm
Filed Under: Deconstructing Headlines, Martyn Bradbury, Most Recent Blogs
Tagged With: New Zealand Politics
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2 COMMENTS
BERT says:
OCTOBER 17, 2018 AT 12:53 PM
Corrupt doesn’t go far enough!
Reply
STEVE KING says:
OCTOBER 17, 2018 AT 1:02 PM
Anybody heard from Jason Ede lately?
Reply
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“inappropriate behaviour that is unacceptable from a married Member of Parliament.” – I’m sorry what?
By Martyn Bradbury / October 17, 2018 / 3 Comments
TDB recommends Voyager – Unlimited internet @home as fast as you can get
If National are going to stand by that new ethical line in the sand, then should we start applying it to other National Party MPs?
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Jami-Lee Ross accused of inappropriate behaviour for a married MP: Paula Bennett
National Party deputy leader Paula Bennett says the issues raised with Jami-Lee Ross had nothing to do with harassment, but were about inappropriate behaviour from Ross as a “married Member of Parliament”.
“Inappropriate behaviour that is unacceptable from a married Member of Parliament.” – I’m sorry what?
Is that the game we are playing now?
Does National REALLY want to go down that path?
REALLY?
R-E-A-L-L-Y?
This is becoming so nasty and bitter. The National Party are the Marriage Police now?
If National are going to stand by that new ethical line in the sand, then should we start applying it to other National Party MPs?
Paula Bennett’s interview on Breakfast this morning was a train wreck.
We’ve seen Paula use personal information to damage enemies in the past when she published personal details of beneficiaries who complained about her. This is getting to a level where people are going to be seriously damaged from this.
Who does this all benefit ultimately? Why Judith Collins of course, who is watching her puppets dance and the implosion of chaos play out.
If Simon Bridges has to stand down due to the audio evidence Jami-Lee Ross has, the Party will turn in desperation to Judith.
And then we will have real cause to be frightened.
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Published: 46 mins ago on October 17, 2018
By: Martyn Bradbury
Last Modified: October 17, 2018 @ 12:30 pm
Filed Under: Deconstructing Headlines, Martyn Bradbury, Most Recent Blogs
Tagged With: New Zealand Politics
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The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union. “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says. “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
Good morning, it’s great to be here. First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning. I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed. “Northland has faced a number ...
New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
Analysis by Keith Rankin. Keith Rankin, trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand. My earlier article – Can ‘Good’ be the Greater Evil? – looked at the issue of how wars should end, and how Good versus Evil ...
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 AMMA by Saraid de Silva (Moa Press, $38)A stunning debut novel reviewed by Brannavan ...
From Steve Martin to Ricky Stanicky, a pick’n’mix of things worth watching and listening to this long weekend. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. If you’re at a loss for something to occupy yourself with this Easter, don’t panic: The Spinoff’s got ...
Jesus had dinner with his 12 disciples right before he died. Noted historian Madeleine Chapman finds out who really deserved to be there.First published in 2018 but let’s be honest, the subject is timeless. As you sit on your couch this Easter Sunday, eating a chocolate egg you know ...
The newly-promoted Northern League club is on a mission to return to the National League for the first time in two decades. Plenty about domestic football in New Zealand has changed in that time – but the sense that this amateur competition is not an entirely level playing field remains. ...
Comment: Every year on February 2, a dozen men in tuxedos and top hats approach the burrow of a groundhog in Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania and entice the beaver-like rodent to emerge and predict the weather. If the groundhog, named Punxsutawney Phil, sees its own shadow when it is summoned, legend ...
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Auckland Council has put a deadline on new weather-impacted property owners applying for categorisation as government funding looks set to run out. Councillors have voted to support a deadline of September 30 for property owners who haven’t accessed support to come forward and engage with the council’s recovery office. It ...
NONFICTION 1 BBQ Economics by Liam Dann (Penguin Random House, $40) “It’s official,” wrote Dann nine days ago in the Herald, where he works as business editor at large, “we’re in recession.” Yeah, great. He delivered the bad stats: “GDP fell 0.1 percent in the December 2023 quarter, compared with ...
By Anneke Smith, RNZ News political reporter A petition urging the New Zealand government to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people has been tabled in the House. More than 200 people gathered on Parliament’s forecourt today and they were met by MPs from Labour, the Greens and Te ...
Pacific Media Watch The Paris-based global media freedom watchdog RSF (Reporters Without Borders) has appealed for information about the “disappearance” of Palestinian journalist Bayan Abusultan. She was reportedly last seen on March 19 among people “sequestered” in this week’s raid and siege of Al Shifa hospital by Israeli troops in ...
EDITORIAL:The Jakarta Post It happens again and again; indigenous Papuans fall victim to Indonesian soldiers. This time, we have photographic evidence for the brutality, with videos on social media showing a Papuan man being tortured by a group of plainclothes men alleged to be the Indonesian Military (TNI) members. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robyn J. Whitaker, Director of the Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Policy & Associate Professor, New Testament, Pilgrim Theological College, University of Divinity A strange and eclectic range of activities takes place across these few weeks of the year. Some ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Panizza Allmark, Professor Visual & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University It’s Easter weekend, which means many of us will be kicking back with the greatest hits on repeat. But whether you’re a boomer, or an ‘80s or ’90s kid, you might be ...
RNZ Pacific Fiji’s Acting Public Prosecutor has filed an appeal against the sentences of former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended police chief Sitiveni Qiliho in their corruption case. Bainimarama was granted an absolute discharge for attempting to pervert the course of justice while Qiliho received a conditional discharge with ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Arosha Weerakoon, Senior Lecturer and General Dentist, School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland Casezy idea/Shutterstock How does toothpaste work? What did people use before toothpaste was invented? – Amelia, age 7, Meanjin (Brisbane) Thanks for your ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brett Hallam, Associate professor, UNSW Sydney IM Imagery/Shutterstock Solar SunShot is well named. The Australian government announced today it would plough A$1 billion into bringing back solar manufacturing to Australia, boosting energy security, swapping coal and gas jobs for those ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Dix, Research Fellow in Nutrition & Dietetics, The University of Queensland Easter is the time for chocolate. The shops are full of fantastically packaged and shiny chocolates in all shapes and sizes, making trips to the supermarket with children more challenging ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Felton, Adjunct Senior Researcher, University of South Australia Even in a stubborn cost-of-living crisis, it seems there’s one luxury most Australians won’t sacrifice – their daily cup of coffee. Coffee sales have largely remained stable, even as financial pressures have ...
Mining company Trans-Tasman Resources has unexpectedly withdrawn its application for a consent to suck the valuable metals vanadium and titanium from the Taranaki seafloor, as it apparently wagers on the Government’s new fast-track process. It had spent two-and-a-half days putting its case to the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision-making committee, at ...
Contrary to the Associate Minister of Education’s claims, analysis of Healthy School Lunches Programme - Ka Ora, Ka Ako assessments has revealed it provides excellent value for the taxpayer dollar, as a groundswell of public opposition to Government ...
Greenpeace says wannabe Taranaki seabed miner Trans-Tasman Resources is likely banking on Christopher Luxon’s fast-track process to side-step proper scrutiny of its Taranaki seabed mining proposal by bailing out of the Environmental Protection Agency hearing ...
Kiwis Against Seabed mining today slammed Australian owned would-be seabed miner Trans Tasman Resources (TTR) for abandoning its application to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to mine the seabed of the South Taranaki Bight. The company ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katie Attwell, Associate Professor, School of Social Sciences, The University of Western Australia Ground Picture/Shutterstock Months after COVID vaccines were introduced in 2021, governments and private organisations mandated them for various groups. Health and aged care workers were among the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Dzurak, Scientia Professor Andrew Dzurak, CEO and Founder of Diraq, UNSW Sydney Diraq For decades, the pursuit of quantum computing has struggled with the need for extremely low temperatures, mere fractions of a degree above absolute zero (0 Kelvin or ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne A national Essential poll, conducted March 20–24 from a sample of 1,150, gave the Coalition a 50–44 lead including undecided, a reversal ...
The Taxpayers’ Union has today made a formal request under the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Open Government Information () for information held about how New Zealand Members of Parliament are spending taxpayer ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Nelson, Honorary Principal Fellow, The University of Melbourne A Byzantine depiction of the Eucharist in Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv.Jacek555/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA A nasty quarrel arose in the 11th century over what kind of bread should be used in holy ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Patrick Hesp, Professor, Flinders University Patrick Hesp In some parts of Australia, coastal dunes are retreating from the ocean at an alarming rate, as waves carve up the beach and wind blows the sand inland. But coastal communities are largely ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luke Heemsbergen, Senior Lecturer, Digital, Political, Media, Deakin University With an impressive 60% of the US smartphone market, Apple is undeniably big, but not a clear monopoly. Yet, years of innovation by Apple have effectively given the company its own exclusive ...
Whether you’re facing layoffs or are just an emotional junior staffer, it’s always a good idea to scout out a good crying place before you need it. It’s an incredibly hard time for Wellington. Across the city, thousands of public servants are hearing tough news about redundancies and layoffs. Government ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Miller-Jones, Professor, Curtin University Nuclear explosions on a neutron star feed its jets. Danielle Futselaar and Nathalie Degenaar, Anton Pannekoek Institute, University of Amsterdam, CC BY-SA How fast can a neutron star drive powerful jets into space? The answer, it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daryl Adair, Associate Professor of Sport Management, University of Technology Sydney Earlier this week, independent MP Andrew Wilkie accused the AFL of conducting “off the books” illicit drug testing to identify players using substances of abuse, then inappropriately withdrawing them from matches ...
The Government’s announcement that it will scrap plans for a vast marine sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands is ‘shameful’ and will make it impossible for Aotearoa New Zealand to meet its international commitments, says the World Wide Fund for Nature ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Shutterstock The federal government has bowed to pressure from the car industry, announcing it will relax proposed emissions rules for utes and vans and delay enforcement of the new standards ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Suzanne Rutland, Professor Emerita, University of Sydney In his latest book, Jewish Life in Medieval Spain, Jonathan Ray focuses on the tumult of the 14th century in Spain – a time of the plague, civil strife and war between the two largest ...
While creating a slate of world-class shows, Whakaata Māori also developed a generation of world-class creatives. Television is an odd word. It mixes the Ancient Greek and Latin languages, and its most literal meaning is “far-off sight”. In the contemporary and living language of te reo Māori, “whakaata” as a ...
Yesterday the UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza. This significant step and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza prompted an urgent debate in the New Zealand Parliament. Leader ...
The Government’s decision to reduce access to continuous glucose monitors (CGM) not only threatens the lives of children with type 1 diabetes and increases the potential for ‘Dead in Bed’ syndrome, but also threatens the health of their parents an ...
Apples are available year-round, but the wide variety on offer involves intensive scientific research – and large-scale commercialisation. What’s beautiful, red, sweet and crunchy? Tony Martin’s favourite kind of apple: Sassy. The CEO of apple and pear breeding organisation Prevar, Martin’s fondness for Sassy represents professional success as well as ...
Family violence specialist service Shine is calling on employers to stop asking for proof of domestic violence in order for employees to access domestic violence leave. The call comes five years after the introduction of the Domestic Violence ...
The Deputy Chairperson of the Finance and Expenditure Committee is calling for public submissions on the Budget Policy Statement 2024. The Budget Policy Statement 2024 (BPS) sets out the Government's priorities for the 2024 Budget. It explains the approach ...
Brutal government spending cuts that will see the size of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples slashed by 40% will hit Pasifika communities hard, the PSA says. The Ministry has told staff that it is seeking voluntary redundancies, and to redeploy and reassign ...
I live with five people I mostly love, but our different ideas about generosity are starting to really irk me.Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera,This is a bit of a random one but here goes. I’m 22 and work an OK job (OK meaning I get paid ...
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While Nicola Willis wouldn’t give any details on its size, she said a package of tax cuts is definitely still coming in this year’s budget, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming the investigation into the Department of Internal Affairs after it was revealed that the Department’s Chief Executive personally reached out to expedite a DJs passport application. Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns ...
Finance minister Nicola Willis delivers her first budget statement, and unwittingly helps Joel MacManus save his relationship. Nicola Willis strode into the Beehive Theatrette. Around me, on the green foldout seats, were the country’s top business and political journalists. They were all here to see her announce the Budget Policy ...
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A lengthy response to the recently released draft Government policy statement on transport will soon be delivered from Auckland Council to Minister of Transport Simeon Brown. A submission raising concerns about funding distribution and the plan’s treatment of Auckland passed through the council’s transport committee on Wednesday, despite some councillors ...
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Asset aquisition by the speculative economy is not the same as wealth generation by the non-speculative.
But which by and large issues the economic prognotions and the methodology of such behind the business confidences from the tallest shiny buildings in the cities?
Is being confident all the time then, in the interests of innovation and dynanism to market value systems??
NZ1st!
Correct. It is simply theft by the speculators from the rest of us which seems to be the reason why they used to be hung.
Quoting “Why we can’t afford the rich” by Andrew Sayer, Richard Wilkinson:
It’s not like banking, which helps facilitate both risk and opportunity in a market value system as result of the ‘medium of exchange’ arbitrating representative real and dynamic demand and supply in service of the DIRECT (non bubble) value to be determined for a given particular end.
The banking system helps the speculators:
Steve Keen has estimated that the banking sector should, IIRC, never be more than ~2% of the economy for it to be sustainable.
yes to some extent, in trying to wall itself off from one sort of perceived rabble, it ends up overrun, often to it’s own detriment, by another type of rabble.
The banking system is part of the problem as it’s for profit and creates money without limit.
The only way the banking system could work is if it’s a state institute that doesn’t charge either fees or interest. In other words, an institute that runs at cost and is paid for through taxes.
With banking, the money is created without limit due to the profit motive being subverted by asset acquisition replacing wealth creation as the economic driver, which goes back to the original (slightly sloppily spelt) original post’s point about the benefit of speculation to the functioning of market economic value systems.
State institution of banking as is often thought of as the solution without due respect to the political processes and the shifting of the goal posts that such undertakings would and have, resulted in – the Nazi state was essentially a state banker after all (as some modern day similarly growing propositions may be to some extents also).
Many of your above excerpts as relates to speculation’s role to the functioning of economic value in a market i found valid all the same.
Speculation futures trading will never be usurped because its profitable.
And those who have profited have way more power than those who want to ban capitalism.
Your pissing into a category 5 hurricane DTB.
We have a choice – ban capitalism or destroy almost all life through our stupidity and greed.
Meanwhile across the ditch the Tory idiots prove themselves useful idiots to the fascist christians in the US by saying they will move embassy. These hard right loony pentecostal types are going to drag us into a war, if we want one or not.
https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/australia-considers-moving-embassy-jerusalem-58517425
At least the other devotion of the these idiots the free market will suffer over this decision.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-16/indonesia-considering-putting-trade-deal-on-hold-israel-embassy/10383190
Yes, this did come out of blue all of sudden or as my dad would never drop a cracker down a outback thunder box with the lid close.
Anyway it’s to do with this atm, https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-16-10-2018/#comment-1536686 and from all reports atm the Lib’s are in the shithouse instead of the penthouse
Where do the ockies get their petrol? Indonesia? Wahabbi Arabia, land of murder?
Will actually from Singers is where Australia gets about 70% POL from as it’s cheaper to refine MER oil to POL products than in Australia.
If I can found the breakdowns of total oil to POL’s to Australia out of the MER, I think the all up total from the house Saudi would quite small compared to the US and European Countries.
Anyway I wouldn’t read to much into the Australian Embassy move, it’s more to the shenanigans of the Wentworth by-election as that electorate has 12-13% of the Jewish vote. Atm the Libs are in the shit house and I believe their internal polling suggests the are going to lose the seat to Phelps, so they pull this one out of the hat in hope they can get over the line. This stunt has surprised and shocked an awful lot of people across broad and I have a gut feeling it may back fire on them regardless of Saturday’s result.
Ex kiwi forces the US gets nearly all of its own oil since fracking and conservation land were opened up.
The Timor Sea could be a problem if Indonesia flexes its muscle and the fact Australia news planes the jsf35s are another expensive dud, a plane that is supposed to do everything but can’t even fly.
Indonesia has a massive production capability Australia has closed all its mass production factories and sent them overseas sold off it’s F18 super hornets to Canada which wasn’t stupid enough to buy into the Jsf 35 over priced underdelivered lightning 11.
The Syrian conflict showed up the limitations of high tech planes.
They are superior when in the Air getting them into the Air is the problem small run high tech computers that have complicated software designed only to run in a few hundred planes is extremely unreliable and needs lots of very highly trained software specialists who are not going to work on Airforce pay when they can get 20× more in the private sector.
Russian Planes in Syria were doing 10 sorters for every one sortee US planes were doing.
The Jsf35 is a way more complicated plane than the F18 with an even smaller number manufactured needing much more software and electronics maintenance.
Drones are the future and much cheaper but delivery times 5 years so their electronics and software will be redundant by delivery dates.
China Indonesia have massive mass production facilities.
Australia/NZ minute or none.
The Yanks can’t get the frack oil out ground fast a enough, both the IMF and IEA actually forecasting an oil deficit of 300k barrels from the IMF and about 1m barrels+ from the IAE if OPEC screws down oil production.
The Indonesian Military from my experience is not well trained to the high standards of the ADF or other regional forces such as Singapore, Malaysia and India. The TNI is still riddle with corruption, politics etc and alack of funding to maintain equipment let alone a high state of readiness to be a real threat. They have enough problems atm with trying to keep a lid on West Papua and the TNI response to the recent disaster has been quite poor from what I’ve heard of late.
The Super Hornets haven’t been sold to Canada for starters and it’s highly unlikely the Super Hornets they would be off loaded to Canada or even to NZ as they have now filled niche within Airforce, ADF and Government capabilities IRT since enter service and their overall performance on Op Okra. A number Classic Hornets are earmarked for the RCAF, but this won’t happen until the following RAAF units are stood and they are 2OCU and 3SQN which is followed by 77SQN and the is 75SQN at this stage. The Australian order is a firm 72 F35’s with another 28 as an option. There is still some debate at weather the 28 will be taken up and when the mad monk was PM the inside talk/ rumour at the time was buying the 28 V/STOL version for the RAN, but that meant modifiing the two LPH’s again as they are now set up to be Helicopter Carriers not a Fix Wing Carrier is used by the Spanish Navy.
Like you, I have my doubts about F35 JSF and actually the F22 is the better Aircraft by miles, but it is no longer in production.
I can’t discuss the current Air Operations in MER which I was a part of on my last trip to MER before my past Operations caught up with me amongst all the other shit that was happening to me on that last trip and prior to that deployment. The Coalition air sorties was generating a far higher rate than the Russians across the broad according to Flight Magazine, AirForce World, Flight International and Janes Defence.
This UAV’s especially some of the UAV’s that BAe and Germany are developing atm is the way to go atm and when you include the advances in IA technology IRT UAV use. But at the end of the day you still need a humans to oversee, control and conduct UAV operations.
In the esteemed words from the sandpit, “No surprises there eh?” Hope the Jewish voters have more sense than the Zionists and tell the grovelling PM where to stick his candidate.
Just to add to Adam’s post, that SocMo is also looking at reviewing the Iran Nuclear Deal which was buried among the move of the embassy to Jerusalem which is going to upset Australia Foreign Policy in MER over the last 50yrs. This move is clearly aimed at the Jewish vote in the Wentworth by-election which make 13% of the vote.
Ha that photo up top deserves a caption post.
Sleepy, Grumpy and Happy
See no evil, hear no evil, do much evil
I know nuttin, I saw nuttin, I think nuttin.
They look such a happy bunch!
Their looks sum up their public personas I think.
“What a stupid proposition to rename ‘my caucus’ as ‘my sieve’. Next question please”
Does anyone smell another leak?
Funny that, I can only smell swamp.
Simon: if I close my eyes I can hear that pesky fly on the wall.
Paula: yes, I can hear it buzzing.
Judith: when I see that little bastard I’ll shoot and crush it!
Funny balls up this one
“What Coca-Cola might have thought was a harmless Kiwi greeting has turned into an embarrassing PR blunder.
The beverage manufacturer has run signage around the country that reads: “Kia ora, mate.”
But mate is the te reo Maori word for death or dead.”
https://i.stuff.co.nz/business/107881064/cokes-hello-death-blunder-goes-viral
lol that’s not how I want to greet the grim reaper.
https://i.pinimg.com/474x/16/ed/20/16ed209311a00b2dd716d8e5f978c51c–grim-reaper-status.jpg
Aye Marty, that is funny. Often happens when monoglots think they can dabble with other tongues.
Earlier on, a deodorant called ‘Morning Mist’ sold well in the UK. So they tried a shipment to West Germany. Apparently none of them knew that ‘Mist’ in German means dung or shit.
Strangely enough, it failed to sell well…
Now Paula Bennett has accused Ross of playing around.
Man these guys don’t do things by half …
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12143446
Oh. I thought he’d refused to change some nappies, or failed to put out the rubbish bins.
What exactly is behaviour unbecoming of a married man? What century are they speaking in?
They had that ad where the hubby never helped out or did the dishes and his mate told him off – maybe that’s it. 😊
But seriously I can’t see why he’d lie about that but I’m not an gnat.
He must have shared the tele remote.
Yeah it’s a bit quaint when we hear what sort of things Weiner and Weinstein we’re capable of doing
He might have claimed a benefit he wasn’t entitled to. Pullya would be upset about that.
Ross indicated bennett was in the sights – now she has started retaliating he’ll drop one on her I think.
From the link:
Good God, that’s been going on behind the parliamentary scene since his omnipotent Nibs made little apples. In fact it was regarded as a rite of passage for every parliamentarian bearing in mind all pollies – with a couple of exceptions – were male up until more recent decades.
Finally I get it! MMP stands for married Member of Parliament and they are dutifully elected guardians of our mores; Bennett would know.
Lots of heat and little light.
From what I have read and heard, the leaker has not been identified.
Ross has adamantly denied being the leaker.
Ross has nothing to lose in admitting he was the leaker, if, in fact, he was.
Bridges has come across all vague, dodgy, answering questions that aren’t asked of him and just slippery.
The knighthood is in the mail.
This is going to fester away in the tory caucus.
.
So JLR is mentally unwell and is a sex maniac, reading between the lines ?
This doesn’t add up, unless JLR is a total fantasist.
There’s too big a gap between being accused of (sexual) harassment by 4 women, while not being given any details – and an affair.
I wonder if this is an arse covering attempt by Bennett. If they had accused JLR of harassment, without giving him any details, and used it as a threat, that is the totally wrong way to deal with it. It should have been reported and investigated. And JLR should have been supplied with details of what he’s been accused of.
It’s totally off the wall to accuse an MP of sexual infidelity as a cause for discipline, or as some kind of threat.
Interesting to hear from spokes people from Organise Aotearoa. here James Roberts from OA speak s about the NZDF investigation by Hager.
Also Valerie Morse from Auckland peace Action speaking.
http://95bfm.com/bcast/nzdf-investigation-october-16-2018
Boyo! Listen to this fiendish denial from non answering Bridges!
Specially from about halfway.
https://soundcloud.com/nzherald/simon-bridges-on-newstalk-zb
It’s normal for a politician to remain resolute in adhering to their pre-determined narrative, so he’s trying to get away with that normal strategy. He stonewalls her, probably believing she’s a Nat-leaning journo who will get his narrative if he keeps repeating it at her enough times.
She makes it clear she just wants a straight answer to her questions – a media pro trained as a journalist has to be seen to be going for the truth. Since the truth will damage him, he remains resolute.
Think about the effect of this in voterland. All ZB listeners hearing this will know he’s evading the need to inform them what actually happened. Kiwis hate that kind of bullshit. Even those who normally vote National would feel he’s insulting them.
That’s right. Nats are relying on their friends in media including the top exec level to craft the responses in their favour.
They want to spend 5 days with their version of events with non denial denials, after conceding this day is all Ross’s.
So far we have the party president, but not the party GM saying no record of the claims can be found. As if they would have a little black book with the true accounts.
McClay is also saying baseless which just means unproven, rather than he dint ‘sight’ the dodgy donation.
Every national friendly columnist will get a dinner invite in the next few days for some ‘bacgrounding’
I’m sure Key will even be roped in somehow
The other thing is that meeting where JLR was called by Paula to her office, then she took him to meet with Simon – seems a pre-determined setup. He gets told about four women complaining of harassment, asks for details, Simon refuses to give those. JLR says he referred to natural justice (accused supposed to be told who’s accusing them, and precisely what circumstances, where/when).
Simon says if he keeps hewing to that line the four will become 15. Sounds like bullshit, made-up stuff, eh? JLR didn’t say Paula had left the meeting, so she’s complicit in the fake allegations. How do we know they’re fake? None were reported to their employer, PS. Also, a media report said none want to continue with their complaints. JLR says this was a blackmail attempt. How could anyone reasonably disagree??
He didn’t say he taped this meeting though. If not, just hearsay. Even so, it was the blackmail on top of the donation setup that pushed him into a mental breakdown. Totally understandable. No wonder Paula looked so grim. Loyalty has got her sucked into a moral quagmire and there’s no escape she can see.
Reminds of the Aussie banks enquirey….. They were so used to getting away with everything…that no one was saying . We have to do the right thing..
But NZ isn’t Australia…watch Bridges wriggle free from this…with the media…the police all making the facts disappear and replaced by bullshit.
Bridges claims to be decisive about establishing who the leaker of his expenses are.
When it comes to allegations of harassment Bridges is not decisive. The reason for JLR’s medical leave is now known, being accused of harassment which impacted mentally and not liking how donations are received.
I am left wondering if Bridges is going to take the alleged harassment further. I think this would back fire due to Bridges not going through proper processes. Also the stench of the Barclay harassment which was dealt with by making a payment to the electoral worker with a confidentiality clause.
Bennett now isnt saying harrasment, she seems to talk about inappropriate for a married man
Yep. The really want a police investigation so they then can refuse to comment……just like they did with Todd Barclay……not
A transcript of the interview between English and the police did get released. As for a copy of the tape recording no contents of the tape recording ever surfaced. Nor did the electoral worker make a complaint to police.
Dickson did make official complaint- the police wouldnt have done an investigation otherwise
Always projecting.
https://twitter.com/intrstngtimes/status/1051830801501835266
http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-na-pol-mccarthy-contracts-20181014-story.html
Another ironic thought.
JLR denies that he was the Leaker.
The Police knew straight away who the Leaker was but wouldn’t say.
JLR is going to the Police with his accusation on Bridges.
Wouldn’t it be amazing if the same police who will be dealing with him, were the same ones who know that he was/wasn’t The Leaker.
Interesting,… that they knew,… and stayed silent all through the inquiry processes…
And if JLR has evidence it will force them to act or….not.
I think we will soon be getting a very vivid picture of just what goes on in this country in the corridors of power. We will soon see if the Police actually do adhere to the law with impartiality. And if not,…
Rhetorical question surely given their behaviour over teapot tapes and the hager raid.
They showed NZ how willing a tool of the national govt they were rather than due process….and got pinged for it in court. Then there’s slaters diversion etc etc
heh
Love it
😂
LOL !
Echoes of your favorite American politician .
Just a thought at the end of the day (nearly).
Wouldn’t it be dreadful, now that the ‘leaker’ has been expelled from the Gnats, if the leaks continued?
Oh, if wishes could come true!
It would be vindication of JLR.
This will definitely be a Labour Party conference worth going to.
In the foyer will be one of those national style rowing skulls from the election ads
The shit we went through getting knifed by our own party over 3 years gives me a bad case of the schadenfreudes. Possibly enough to encourage comrades to an attempt at draining the Inch Bar.
I’m almost gutted I can’t attend (sister-in-law’s 50th birthday), but I look forward to quotes and stories!
National party perfect storm with Jenny Shipley in the court dock in Auckland and Simon Bridges facing a possible court date in Wellington. That leaves only one name missing……
A missing name, you say…
I’ve actually got two names, the you are thinking off and the other…. ,mind you I’ve seen a couple of articles on the cuts to land transport safety dating back to when the “No Mate’s Party” was run the country.
Now if you want someone who can be 100% certain about matters of which she knows nothing, Shiphouse is your huckleberry.
They’ll probably catch the leaker now. (How could they contain their hysterical laughter?)
From the no shit Sherlock file, and why I give books as presents.
Growing up in a home packed with books has a large effect on literacy in later life – but a home library needs to contain at least 80 books to be effective, according to new research.
Led by Dr Joanna Sikora of Australian National University, academics analysed data from more than 160,000 adults, from 31 different countries, who took part in the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies between 2011 and 2015. All participants were asked how many books there were in their homes when they were 16 – they were told that one metre of shelving was equivalent to around 40 books – and went through literacy, numeracy and information communication technology (ICT) tests to gauge their abilities.
[…]
According to the paper, teenagers with only lower levels of secondary education, but who came from a home filled with books, “become as literate, numerate and technologically apt in adulthood as university graduates who grew up with only a few books”. The university graduates who grew up with hardly any books around them had roughly average literacy levels, said the researchers. So did those whose schooling ended in the equivalent of year nine (13-14 years old), but who grew up surrounded by books. “So, literacy-wise, bookish adolescence makes for a good deal of educational advantage,” the authors claim.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/oct/10/growing-up-in-a-house-full-of-books-is-major-boost-to-literacy-and-numeracy-study-finds?
Mental Health Foundation slams National MPs for insensitive language.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/10/mental-health-foundation-slams-national-mps-for-insensitive-language.html
Yep so true.
LOL, check out the ordering of the mugshots https://www.national.org.nz/team
Scary.
Holding this government to account…. pfffttt
Did you see the ominously white space besides Paul Goldsmith? They removed JLR ranked at #7, shifted Goldsmith to the left and left a hole. National has got more holes than a Swiss cheese; Joyce’s was just one hole.
I noticed. And is that a recent photo of JC? She looks younger than Amy Adams. And JC looks on the outer in the group photo.
Ouch! She’s 12 years her senior. Yes, I think that’s a fairly recent photo of JC; I believe those photos get updated on a regular basis. What group photo are you referring to?
Gerry’s photo looks from 10 years ago – no point updating I spose he’ll never see power again.
I didn’t scroll down that far but I’ll take your word for it.
They still haven’t fixed up that rather large white space; it really ought to be at the top, to the left of SB. Maybe it’s there as a warning to other National MPs …
Yes his online association with National is being quickly erased. For god’s sake freedom of speech and all that lets hope twitter doesn’t get any bright ideas, that man has a democratic right to freedom of speech!
All true but is anybody trying to curb JLR’s freedom of speech? It seems he has been saying a little too much for his own good though so maybe somebody should tell him to shut it. Bennett should tell him “zip it, sweetie”. He doesn’t want to ruin his chances of winning the by-election. Any dates yet?
Simon Bridges – The Boy Who Cried Wolf.
Elizabeth Warren has had enough
[thread]
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1051955849927712768.html
Well, well, well – Aaron Bhatnagar and Dirty Politics is back inside the National Party
By Martyn Bradbury / October 17, 2018 / 2 Comments
TDB recommends Voyager – Unlimited internet @home as fast as you can get
This is getting dirtier and nastier but this time around the sleepy hobbits of muddle Nu Zilind don’t have the laid back anti-intellectualism of John Key to absolve their conscience and ignore corruption, they have bumbling Simon Bridges. Key could look down the barrel of the camera and lie to our faces and the sleepy hobbits loved him for it, Simon can’t lie convincingly and they will turn on him.
National Party voters love a good liar, they detest a weak one.
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Well, well, well the person behind the Cathedral Club donation is the old Dirty Politics agent, Aaron Bhatnagar…
Jami-Lee Ross saga: Identity of ‘Cathedral Club’ donor revealed
The identity of the secret $10,000 ‘Cathedral Club’ donor has been revealed as Auckland millionaire and investor Aaron Bhatnagar, as details emerge linking National Party leader Simon Bridges to a group with that name.
Bhatnagar came forward this morning after NZ Herald inquiries tied the donation to a house in Upland Rd in Remuera.
The address was listed on the original donation declaration form which had been signed by Bridges, withdrawn and then submitted again without the Cathedral Club donation.
At the time the donation was made, the Upland Rd house was lived in and owned by millionaire investor Aaron Bhatnagar.
As TDB Blogger, Frank Macskasy pointed out in a TDB blog in 2014…
One of the many sordid “bit”-players in Nicky Hager’s book, “Dirty Politics“, and one of Cameron Slater’s inner-cabal, is businessman, National Party card-carrying cadre, and former city councillor, Aaron Bhatnagar;
.
aaron bhatnagar
.
In 2008, Bhatnagar was caught by journalist, blogger, and IT commentator, Russell Brown, posting derogatory comments on Wikipedia to smear political opponants;
Auckland City councillor Aaron Bhatnagar has been caught doctoring the online encyclopedia Wikipedia to paint his opponents in a bad light at last year’s local body elections.
Using the alias of Barzini _ a power-hungry psychopath from Mario Puzo’s novel The Godfather _ Mr Bhatnagar created entries for his Action Hobson opponents in the Hobson ward and made unflattering changes to the entry for Mayor Dick Hubbard.
After winning a council seat and watching Action Hobson councillors Christine Caughey and Richard Simpson go down to a C&R rout in Hobson, Mr Bhatnagar tried to remove the Wikipedia entries for his opponents at 3am the following morning.
Bhatnagar was also John Banks’ campaign manager in Banks’ unsuccessful 2010 mayoralty bid, and later himself stood National’s candidate selection process for Epsom for the 2011 general election. (He subsequently lost out to John Banks.)
But more than being a paid-up, card-carrying party apparatchik for National, Bhatnagar was part of far-right blogger, Cameron Slater’s inner sanctum.
In Nicky Hager’s expose, Bhatnagar’s dirty tricks – a re-hash of his 2008 Wiki exploits – is carefully laid out;
“Slater was in regular contact with his blogger friends Cathy Odgers, blog name Cactus Kate, Peter Smith (not his real name) and Aaron Bhatnagar, with whom he often talked over his attack plans…” – “Dirty Politics”, pg 20
“Slater got the tip-off for his biggest 2011 attack from his blogger friend Aaron Bhatnagar, a former Auckland city councillor and business investor who had written a guest post as ‘Whale Oil Business Correspondent Winslow Taggart‘, promoting ‘one of New Zealand’s best run’ retirement companies, Ryman Healthcare, in which he was a shareholder. Bhatnagar’s approach to politics is summed up by his own words to Slater: ‘I’m getting bored. I need mischief to keep me busy…’ ” – “Dirty Politics”, pg 29
“On another occassion he [Bhatnagar] asked Slater to help him find a ‘paparazzi photographer’ to ‘spook’ a lawyer outside his legal chambers.” – “Dirty Politics”, pg 29
“This time Bhatnagar had been sniffing around the Labour Party’s websites and stumbled across an insecure location containing gigabytes of sensitive party information, including lists of donors and supporters. In the middle of election year, this was embarrassing and potentially very harmful to the Labour Party. Bhatnagar passed the find on to his friend.” – “Dirty Politics”, pg 29
The following Facebook conversation between Cameron Slater and Bhatnagar showed the cavalier and unethical attitude both men had to Labour’s computer vulnerability;
Slater: That website info will hit soon. Watch the damage that ensues.
Bhatnagar: “I’ve been meaning to ask you! LOL [laugh out loud], when do you run it?
Slater: been working thru it all… was going to do it this week but Goff is away. Far better to do it when the putz is back
Slater: the most damaging is the 18000 emails, and the Credit card transactions
Bhatnagar: fuck me, I hadn’t been that forensic myself. This will be huge
Slater: got the whole of their email database
Bhatnagar: oh no, LOL…. this is violence writ large
Slater: I think some teaser videos of screenshots and stuff drip fed over a few days , then drop the bomb say wed morning so [Parliament’s Wednesday afternoon] general debate is awesome
… The media are far too lazy to do what i have already done… so prob best to package it into bite size pieces.
Bhatnagar: unreal. I knew there was heaps there, but I hadn’t actually leached it all. Credit card info? That’s insane. Labour will be ruined…
I’m sure Chaos and Mayhem Ltd [Slater and his friends] will find a way to use all this left wing online data
Slater: got First name, Last Name and email, in 3 files, main labour mail list
Bhatnagar: could set back the online left wing community for three years…. I’ve told no one
Slater: and don’t
Bhatnagar: I wouldn’t wreck what might potentially be your greatest story…. – “Dirty Politics”, pg 30, 31
At no point during that conversation does Bhatnagar even raise a question of ethics regarding Slater’s intentions to public data from the Labour Party computer. On the contrary, he is clearly supportive.
On 12 June 2011, Slater began publishing details from the Labour Party computer. As Nicky Hager related;
“The attack began on Sunday 12 June with an article Slater had arrangedin a Sunday newspaper. He simultaneously began publishing a series of posts on his blog with the tag line ‘Labour Leaks’, announcing a long list of ‘rorts’ that would be progressively ‘outed’ on his site over the following days…
[…]
… Early on that Sunday morning Bhartnagar contacted Slater again. Their conversation is very revealing. ‘And so it begins…,’ Bhatnagar wrote. ‘Yep and it is going to hurt,” Slater replied, ‘that document is devastating… this is going to be a feeding frenzy, especially when I publish all the credit card transactions, then the membership lists, then the 18000 emails’. Thinking of the media reaction, Bhatnagar advised Slater to ‘keep your phone charged then – you will need the battery life!’
Slater then set out in writing the motivations underlying the leaks. It would be, he said, ‘death by a 1000 leaks’.
I have… cross referenced names with letter writers. I will have the definitive list of labour activists.
it will shut down their donors, shut down their IT systems
shut down their membership flow
and shut down their online campaigns
Bhatnager joked back: ‘Join the Labour Party and the Whaleoil email loop at the same time. Not a compelling message for left wing voters.’ “Dirty Politics”, pg 33
As Nicky Hager pointed out, “the aim was not to expose poor Internet security or some wrong-doing or to prove a political point, but to do as much damage as possible to the Labour Party“. Clearly, Bhatnagar was revelling in Slater’s damaging attack on the Labour Party;
“Later that evening Bhatnagar got in touch as well, suggesting a celebration lunc: ‘yum char thursday midday”. Slater said he’d be there. Bhatnagar asked, ‘What’s next in the death by 1000 cuts?’ ‘I haven’t decided yet,’ Slater replied. “- “Dirty Politics”, pg 36
In fact, on one occassion, he positively gloated over it, as this exchange showed on 26 November 2011;
“… The anti-MMP campaign failed, but Slater felt empowered by his successes. ‘I feel like this election campaign has been mine, plus my loyal tipline submitters,’ he told Bhatnagar. ‘Well, I am tempted to say that ripping open Labour’s website was a big part of it,’ Bhatnagar replied.“- “Dirty Politics”, pg 75
…so on the day we find out that the Chinese business man who is claimed to have donated to Simon Bridges was nominated for a Queens Honour by National…
National put Chinese businessman up for Queen’s Birthday honour
…we also learn the other donor was a Dirty Politics agent.
This is getting dirtier and nastier but this time around the sleepy hobbits of muddle Nu Zilind don’t have the laid back anti-intellectualism of John Key to absolve their conscience and ignore corruption, they have bumbling Simon Bridges. Key could look down the barrel of the camera and lie to our faces and the sleepy hobbits loved him for it, Simon can’t lie convincingly and they will turn on him.
National Party voters love a good liar, they detest a weak one.
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Published: 45 mins ago on October 17, 2018
By: Martyn Bradbury
Last Modified: October 17, 2018 @ 12:23 pm
Filed Under: Deconstructing Headlines, Martyn Bradbury, Most Recent Blogs
Tagged With: New Zealand Politics
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“inappropriate behaviour that is unacceptable from a married Member of Parliament.” – I’m sorry what?
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2 COMMENTS
BERT says:
OCTOBER 17, 2018 AT 12:53 PM
Corrupt doesn’t go far enough!
Reply
STEVE KING says:
OCTOBER 17, 2018 AT 1:02 PM
Anybody heard from Jason Ede lately?
Reply
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“inappropriate behaviour that is unacceptable from a married Member of Parliament.” – I’m sorry what?
By Martyn Bradbury / October 17, 2018 / 3 Comments
TDB recommends Voyager – Unlimited internet @home as fast as you can get
If National are going to stand by that new ethical line in the sand, then should we start applying it to other National Party MPs?
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Jami-Lee Ross accused of inappropriate behaviour for a married MP: Paula Bennett
National Party deputy leader Paula Bennett says the issues raised with Jami-Lee Ross had nothing to do with harassment, but were about inappropriate behaviour from Ross as a “married Member of Parliament”.
“Inappropriate behaviour that is unacceptable from a married Member of Parliament.” – I’m sorry what?
Is that the game we are playing now?
Does National REALLY want to go down that path?
REALLY?
R-E-A-L-L-Y?
This is becoming so nasty and bitter. The National Party are the Marriage Police now?
If National are going to stand by that new ethical line in the sand, then should we start applying it to other National Party MPs?
Paula Bennett’s interview on Breakfast this morning was a train wreck.
We’ve seen Paula use personal information to damage enemies in the past when she published personal details of beneficiaries who complained about her. This is getting to a level where people are going to be seriously damaged from this.
Who does this all benefit ultimately? Why Judith Collins of course, who is watching her puppets dance and the implosion of chaos play out.
If Simon Bridges has to stand down due to the audio evidence Jami-Lee Ross has, the Party will turn in desperation to Judith.
And then we will have real cause to be frightened.
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Published: 46 mins ago on October 17, 2018
By: Martyn Bradbury
Last Modified: October 17, 2018 @ 12:30 pm
Filed Under: Deconstructing Headlines, Martyn Bradbury, Most Recent Blogs
Tagged With: New Zealand Politics
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Dr Liz Gordon – Ructions in the national caucus
Love it for sure, im getting there!