In his meeting with Mr Lavrov, Mr Trump was said to have boasted about his inside knowledge of the looming threat. “I get great intel. I have people brief me on great intel every day,” Mr Trump reportedly said.
Like he’s talking about the women he meets:
“I meet great women in this job. Some of them have great legs”.
According to Assistant Editor of Washington Post, Trump’s security adviser is denying “Trump revealed intel methods” which is not what Post is claiming.
Tried putting it in a direct link, but that seems to have triggered the system to send it down the memory hole. Or maybe it was something in my comment with it.
I ducked in and out of Fox today – wall to wall look, squirrel!.
Carlson, wearing his ‘did I shit myself’ look, went from Hilary is a national security risk to bagging Michelle Obama because school lunches to libruls is violence etc etc and Hannity did the seth Rich thing.
The wing nuts will be lining up their ducks as we speak and F&F will kick off in a few hours with assembled talking points claiming that either the story is fabricated or sources are lying, or something.
But if he did resign, would he go meekly with some excuse like “medical reasons” or would he try for a blaze of glory with a line like “The only people willing to waste their time working for me in government are idiots and losers so I can’t be bothered anymore. Your loss, suckers”
There’s millions and millions of Trump believers out there who categorically believe there are forces in play desperately trying to take down Trump, he’s their man and they’ll fight for him if required.
Yep. I’m surprised the Vox piece didn’t talk about that aspect. But if Republicans vote to impeach Trump, they will wear the rage of Trumpkins forever. Which I’m sure they’re keenly aware of.
It’s actually quite disturbing to see intelligent thinking people switch off the logical part of their brain when there’s anything remotely negative about Trump.
it’s like Christians having their faith in God questioned, the shutters go down and that’s it all information is blocked.
If that happens, and I agree it is a possibility the democrats should apologise for their timidity and their careerism and the republicans should apologise for their stupidity and their attempt to garner the support of fundamentalist christians for their plans of neoliberalism dominance.
There’s millions and millions of Trump believers out there who categorically believe there are forces in play desperately trying to take down Trump, he’s their man and they’ll fight for him if required.
Yes, it’s well known that authoritarian followers always defend their leaders no matter what the leader does. We see it so much from the RWNJs on this sight as well.
“We have no way to know what was said, but protecting our nation’s secrets is paramount,” House Speaker Paul Ryan’s spokesperson said in a statement. “The speaker hopes for a full explanation of the facts from the administration.”
Such meetings should be fully recorded for both sight and sound.
He acknowledged that it was in the president’s right to declassify classified information — however “disturbing.”
but surely there should be some sort of process to it rather than just having the president blurt whatever whenever?
And, of course, Republicans are the majority party in the House and Senate.
Which means that neither house will hold the other accountable until the brown stuff hits the whirly thing.
So much for the power of multicameral houses to bring about better decisions.
But the matter is in Ryan and McConnell’s hands, and no one else’s. As long as they remain on Trump’s side, the president is going nowhere.
Which tells us that there’s a major problem with bringing political criminals to court.
I’ve long thought there might be merit in having two equal versions of things like the Oversight Committee, one controlled by the majority party and one controlled by the minority or opposition party. Both versions with equal tools and powers like subpoena power.
The Democrats in government are so crap and hated, Trump needs to stay in power for at least a full term for any meaningful opposition to the Republicans to arise.
Well, there’s still the paradox of how almost everyone hates Congress, but almost always re-elect their incumbent.
I reckon the best scenario for Dems is Trump stays in past the 2018 midterms, which spook the Repugs enough that they evict Trump in 2019 thereby earning the eternal wrath of the Trumpkins. But I’m not sure that’s the best scenario for America’s long term future.
Unless the Democrats really gain some ground in the mid-terms – which is pretty unlikely given the seats in play – I see good ground for a strong Independent presidential candidate rising. Enter ……………. The Rock
Merkel: "What did I tell you about the Russians?"Trump: "Don't tell them secrets."Merkel: "What did you tell them?"Trump: "Everything." pic.twitter.com/qLJJbxulZF— Alex Cavendish (@PrisonUK) May 15, 2017
If there is one word that I think denotes how screwed up people are about things that are important and should be respected it is the word “Motherfucker”. It seems that it’s regarded as a brave, forthright word that puts somebody in their place who deserves a big kick. But actually the kick rebounds onto women especially mothers who are shown to be just pawns in men’s competitive, brawling games.
Can this disgusting, demeaning heading be removed. Or can someone who has the technical ability to replace it with some other word with dirty connotations like ‘Resign Chief Turd’.?
Rosemary Mc
You know what things are important, such as on a left-wing blog one of the main writers and a person of standing choosing to endorse that disgraceful term, just because the common people use it. It’s not that it is commonly used, it is more something that those with no boundaries or respect for others use.
To me it is worse than many of the things hotly argued here, on the basis that they demonstrated a rape culture mentality. Just a trio of us have commented about this blog on the Standard.
Thanks Incognito and Rosemary
Can we have some acknowledgement that the above slogan is not acceptable.
Or be equally derogatory and have Resign Fatherfucker.
I know it is encouraging violence (which the bent would probably consider worse than defrocking mothers) but Thump Trump could come next, or Resign Poxy POTUS.
[I chose the graphic. The phrase is part of the vernacular. I’m happy to use the alternative. My view is that it does not encourage violence but expresses extreme disgust – MS]
MS
‘vernacular’
noun: vernacular; noun: the vernacular
1.
the language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people of a country or region.
I think some people are more ordinary than others.
You demonstrate how far we have all gone from having respect for others, and particularly people who are generally good people but not feted much, and rather vulnerable to the vagaries of the fickle, materialistic and unempathetic in society, mothers.
Mothers aren’t just objects to adopt sentimental attitudes to on ‘their Day’. Mothers may be seen as pathetic to some, often objects of scorn or blame to the psychopath but don’t bite the hand that made you and feeds you should be the attitude widely held in a practical, if not principled, society.
I spent 6 weeks in Thailand recently for work and 2 days in Hokianga this last Sunday and Monday, also for work.
While I didn’t get to many very remote places in Thailand apart from an area North of Chiang Mai near the Myanmar border, I saw that a similar amount of material poverty exists in both countries and I’d say that because of the climate in Thailand, the disadvantaged there are better off than the disadvantaged in NZ with respect to what is considered ‘housing’ in Northland.
I saw a good effort with schooling in both countries, kids laughing on an open topped bus in the highlands of North Thailand, and a good bus (better than my own kid’s school bus at one of the highest achieving decile 8 schools in Auckland) picking up individual children on metal roads at Mangungu on the Hokianga Harbour.
NZ’s GDP per capita is USD37K and Thailand’s just USD5K yet their somewhat remote villages in my view have a better quality of life that do those forgotten people of Northland.
If you want to know what really gets me mad it’s soft, journalism school reporting like this from the oily one, well known National Party supporting RWNJ, Claire Trevett.
This thing is relevant to the current discussion around corruption in the current government with respect to NGOs being cut off if they step out of line with National Party policy, no matter how ham-fisted and ill-directed it might be.
Nowhere in the article does Trivet nail Tolley to the mast on this screw up. To Trevit, Tolley is an innocent and exasperated bystander (rather than the architect of the whole shebang) even though we hear that National Party ministers breathe over their ministries like Darth fucking Vader.
Nowhere does Treveeit ask Tolley or the government why their ministries are struggling to implement this weird ‘social investment’ approach in actual management realities, or what it’s even meant to achieve apart from ‘doing some stuff for poor people on the cheap’. Rather she just goes with the line that ‘it’s all one person at the the ministry’s fault, and Datacom.’
The only time this National Party suck up Claire trevitt addressed the screw up that is Bill Englishes stupid and rushed think-a-thon on what to do with poor people is a pathetic and robotic paragraph at the end.
Even thought there’s no credit line, this cut and paste job must be the ‘work’ of Bryce Edwards because it’s his sit-on-the-fence, come to no conclusions style of opinion.
.
Other than the usual over promise under deliver on jobs and regional benefits bullshit, the despoiling of another pristine place, and discharged, and likely tropical, ballast water swimming with invasive exotic marine organisms, what could possibly go wrong?.
//
The consents are renewals of permits first given 25 years ago during the first Gulf War, and were granted without public notification.
Greens environment spokesperson Eugenie Sage said it was outrageous that an area many New Zealanders cared about would be affected in this way without anyone getting a say.
Ms Sage said the area included sensitive habitats for Hector’s dolphin, penguins and Haast kiwi, and the council had not properly considered the risks.
The regional council said it was confident it had given thorough regard to the risks.
Eugenie Sage.
The company wants to set up the water exporting facility to take water from two alpine lakes and pipe it to tankers for export.
The project involves redirecting up to 800 litres a second from Tuning Fork Creek to an export facility at Neils Beach.
This is appalling – given all the information that has been made public about the despoiling of NZ’s waterways in recent years. And here it comes again – whatever they do, however careful they say they will be – this will ruin these beautiful waterways and the creatures which abide within them. We have lousy laws which makes this sort of thing so easily available to exploiters.
I see the image of the briefcase is still at the head of this post. I see the same words remain. Please remove it asap. When you get time that is. When it suits, if it suits.
My apologies…to you and the others who were offended. I saw it and thought wtf, but just couldn’t be bothered going through the whole rigmarole of laying out all that was wrong with the phrase or doing anything about it….hoped it would just slip oon by and disappear. Sorry MS – hope you don’t take it personally (if you even notice) . Just doing it and a wee bit pissed off with myself for not speaking up or doing something about it at the time.
Thanks Bill
I was a bit sick at seeing it and it is good to know you saw the fault. I am not sympathetic to finding fault with some present feminist complaints but acknowledging and respecting each other’s natural and good persona is important.
Also r0b
Your headline on the budget is carefully worded, sensitivity shown there.
I haven’t read it yet, so hope that it does do something for all mothers (and women who need support too, also the men who are also in the line needing support.)
Donald Trump is impeached, found guilty, resigns and we get….President Mike Pence, devout adherence to the church of neo-liberalism and hard right Christian Dominionism.
Nice work guys, great effort. Also coming up, we have Paul Ryan, who wants to party like it’s 1799 with the size of government to match – a small army, a small navy, a couple of post offices, a few tax collectors and a weather station or two. And next up, Orrin Hatch, who wants to remotely fry your computer for downloading music from torrent site.
@millsy, exactly right, do people understand that when they get rid of Trump, then they bring in some one smarter ,some one who will be just as bad if not worse, just a better salesman….
And all the while the Democrats take no responsibility for losing the most winnable election in modern US history ..
Still have not got rid of the corrupt Donna Brazile
Hillary still blaming the Russians
Obama taking $400, 000 from Wall St
This is where progressives should be focused, reforming their sick and diseased party which has absolutely zero credibility, then start on bring down The Republicans.
Inspirational: The Family of Man is a glorious hymn to human equality, but, more than that, it is a clarion call to human freedom. Because equality, unleavened by liberty, is a broken piano, an unstrung harp; upon which the songs of fraternity will never be played.“Somebody must have been telling lies about ...
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TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
The New Zealand public voted for a change in direction at the 2023 general election and that is exactly what this coalition government has been delivering in its first 100 days. There was an immediate focus on the economy, easing the cost of living, cracking down on law and order ...
The Government has left the health system as an afterthought, announcing half-baked targets at the last minute of their 100-day plan, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
Kiwis are still waiting for their promised cost of living support after 100 days of a National Government that is taking us backwards, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
100 days of National taking NZ backwardsThe National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
The Government must commit to funding free and healthy school lunches, as thousands of people sign the petition to keep them, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti says. ...
If the Government was serious about moving families into public housing, they would build more houses so there is actually somewhere for people to go. ...
The free and healthy school lunches programme feeds our kids, helps them to learn, and saves families money – but it is at risk under this Government, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
The Government’s proposed changes to Firearms Prohibition Orders (FPO) add almost nothing new and are merely an attempt to distract from its plans to loosen gun laws, police spokesperson Ginny Andersen and justice spokesperson Dr Duncan Webb said. ...
The great Victorian era English politician Lord Macauley stood in the British House of Parliament and said, "The gallery in which the reporters sit has become a fourth estate of the realm".He understood and outlined even way back then, the significant role and influence media have in a democracy. ...
The government’s attack on Māori health this week is committing tangata-whenua to a premature death, says Te Pāti Māori. “The government have begun their onslaught on Māori health with the abolishment of the Māori Health Authority and smokefree laws in the same day” said health spokesperson and co-leader, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. ...
Today marks a tragic milestone for New Zealanders as the Coalition Government side with big tobacco to repeal the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Act 2022, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins and Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April. ...
Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand. Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships. “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland Acknowledgements and opening Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says. “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024 Acknowledgements and opening Morena, Nga Mihi Nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country. “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week. “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee. “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today. “The Amendment Paper represents ...
Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level. “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024. “Lower fruit and vege ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction. Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness. It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology. It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
This year’s Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity and the contribution of Pacific communities to New Zealand culture, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti. Dr Reti announced dates for the 2024 Pacific Language Weeks during a visit to the Pasifika festival in Auckland today and says there’s so ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Tod Wright and Hien Nguyen, Fiscal incidence in New Zealand: The effects of taxes and benefits on household incomes in tax year 2018/19 . Analyses of the distributional impact of taxation and government ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Cory Davis, Boston Hart and Benjamin Stubbing, Household cost-of-living impacts from the Emissions Trading Scheme and using transfers to mitigate regressive outcomes . This Analytical Note ...
A coalition of public transport and climate organisations, united as ‘Transport for All’, is actively opposing the government’s transport proposals. The draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) includes plans for higher fares for public transport, ...
Greater Wellington is inviting feedback on proposed changes to its Revenue and Financing Policy. The Revenue and Financing Policy covers the Council’s various sources of funding, and how the cost of services is shared across the region. This includes ...
Labour has conceded it could have done more to deal with disruptive state housing tenants while in government but says the current coalition is going too far. ...
The band has asked their record label to issue a cease and desist to stop the NZ First leader using their 1997 hit to support his ‘misguided political views’. “I get knocked down, but I get up again,” blared through the speakers on Sunday as Winston Peters took the stage ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Food rationing is underway in remote areas in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands following torrential rain and flash flooding. More than 20 people have been reported dead in Chimbu Province. In nearby Enga Province, the centre of last month’s massacre, a 15-year-old boy has been ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Hughes, Lecturer, Research School of Management, Australian National University After months of debate and intrigue, the AFL’s 19th and newest team, the Tasmania Devils, finally launched its jumper, logo and colours in Devonport this week. The Devils will wear green, ...
Brannavan Gnanalingam reviews the debut novel by Saraid de Silva.One of the most baffling things for children who move to a new country is what their parents’ (or grandparents’) lives were like prior to moving – for kids in particular, they’re too busy trying to fit in in their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Gaunson, Associate Professor in Cinema Studies, RMIT University Narelle Portanier/Binge “If you don’t know who your mob are, you don’t know who you are,” Detective Andrea “Andie” Whitford (played by Leah Purcell) is told early into the new crime ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elise Klein, Associate professor, Australian National University It’s commonly accepted that women do the vast majority of caregiving in Australian society. But less appreciated is that Indigenous women do larger amounts of unpaid care than any other group. Working with the Aboriginal ...
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 Joe Biden and Donald Trump have both secured their parties’ nominations for the November 5 United States general election by winning a ...
Comment: There has been a striking contrast in trans-Tasman interest about Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Zealand and Australia. While the Australian press has been full of articles about the visit – including his curious decision to meet with former prime minister and China booster Paul Keating ...
After years of pressuring banks and other institutions to stop investing in fossil fuels, climate campaigners are making some progress. So how does divestment work?For years, climate activists have been pushing banks and other big institutions to divest from fossil fuels. New research from climate advocacy group 350 Aotearoa ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. The three young Polynesians are part of a K-pop fan community in Tāmaki Makaurau. It’s one of many that have sprung up worldwide as K-pop has gone ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. This one-off documentary presents three intimate portraits of young Polynesians who are pulled into a Korean cultural phenomenon. K-POLYS is directed by Litia Tuiburelevu, Produced by Hex ...
There’s ample evidence demonstrating free school lunch programmes provide wide benefits across schools, households and communities according to public health researchers. ACT Minister David Seymour wants to reduce the spending on Aotearoa New Zealand’s ...
By Wata Shaw in Suva Fiji is facing an exodus of Fijians as many are leaving for overseas seeking employment and education and others are migrating, says Opposition MP Viliame Naupoto. Speaking in Parliament, he said: “His Excellency’s speech (Ratu Wiliame Katonivere) comes after a little over one year of ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming comments from Christopher Luxon this morning recommitting to ‘no new taxes’ as part of Budget 2024. “Mr Luxon’s refusal at the Post-Cabinet press conference yesterday to repeat the ‘no new taxes’ promise ...
SAFE is urgently calling on the Environment Committee to reject the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill, and is urging New Zealanders to rally behind the call. The proposed Bill, currently under consideration with the Environment select committee, ...
Teammates who spend all their time picking fights with spectators are only helpful for the other team, writes Madeleine Chapman. Anyone who has ever played a team sport competitively, particularly as a child and particularly, for some reason, basketball, will know that there’s a lot of politics involved. While there ...
The long-running Wellington music festival is too focused on the Jim Beam-ness and not enough on the Homegrown-ness.There is something about Homegrown that’s difficult to place. A barely perceptible-ness. Like feeling a ghost is watching you from the corner of the room but when you look, there’s nothing there. ...
The latest Ipsos New Zealand Issues Monitor reveals that fewer New Zealanders believe crime / law and order is one of the top issues facing our country. In 2018, Ipsos New Zealand started tracking the key issues facing New Zealand. In this wave ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Griffiths, Deputy Program Director, Budgets and Government, Grattan Institute Australia’s political donations rules are woefully inadequate, but donations reform is finally on the agenda. The federal government has signalled its interest in reform and will soon begin briefing MPs on its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Patrick Taylor, Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Naiyana Somchitkaeo/Shutterstock A recent study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine has linked microplastics with risk to human health. The study ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Global climate records were shattered in 2023, from air and sea temperatures to sea-level rise and sea-ice extent. Scores of countries recorded their hottest year ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a teacher explains why he and his partner are in frugal mode – and how they’re making it work. Gender: Male Age: 35Ethnicity: Pākehā Role: I am an intermediate school teacher and my partner is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Bendall, Senior Lecturer, Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, Australian Catholic University Binge Mary & George, the new British television drama series, depicts the real-life story of Mary Villiers and her son George, and their social climbing at the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jason Nassios, Associate Professor, Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria University This article is part of The Conversation’s series examining the housing crisis. Read the other articles in the series here. Australian state and federal governments spend money in many ways to ...
The finance minister is denying that there’s a $5.6b shortfall in paying for the government’s campaign promises, including tax cuts. At his post-cabinet press conference yesterday, the PM refused to rule out new taxes to pay for the cuts, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s ...
Kāinga Ora tenants abused by their neighbours are doubting the government's crackdown on disruptive tenants will make a difference on their behaviour. ...
Kāinga Ora is New Zealand’s biggest residential landlord, housing more than 180,000 vulnerable people in more than 67,000 properties. Yesterday the government announced a crackdown on its tenants who fall behind on rent. One longtime Kāinga Ora tenant shares her experience.For 18 years I lived in a 1960s standalone ...
Why does this myth persist, and what’s the real reason our skin is suffering?It’s one of the biggest international grievances New Zealanders hold, up there with the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior and 1981’s underarm incident. We’re quick to tell international travellers that the world’s pollution led to the ...
Auckland Council is opposing a fast-track development backed by Sir John Kirwan and Spark NZ, because it doesn’t meet stringent new climate adaptation requirements The post Surf-data centre faces new 3.8C climate warming rules appeared first on Newsroom. ...
When the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act was introduced in 2009 it was firmly targeted at gangs and drugs. The legislation means police no longer need a conviction to seize assets that criminals can’t prove were paid for legitimately, as long as their alleged offences are punishable by more than a ...
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Bob’s relationship with certain members of Lincoln’s academic staff continued to deteriorate in the 1990s. Others supported him publicly, though articles such as Roland Clark’s 1993 piece in Growing Today cannot have pleased the university management. Clark wrote that Bob was selling onions from the Biological Husbandry Unit to a ...
SailGP’s races feature in-your-face action, with agile, hydro-foiling catamarans tacking and jibing for the title over several days. However, public comments ahead of the global series’ return to New Zealand have left this past year’s controversy in the shadows, as a key appointment attracts criticism from dolphin advocates. A year ...
Opinion: We are fast approaching a fundamental change in prisons. As the number of people on custodial remand looks set to overtake the number of sentenced prisoners, the main function of prisons in New Zealand may become incarcerating un-sentenced people who may not be guilty of offending. We have already ...
A huge seven months lies in store for the White Ferns, beginning this week with the visit of England and culminating with the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in September and October. Starting on Tuesday in Dunedin, the world ranked No. 2 visitors will play five T20s and three ODIs, ...
Opinion: In a move that has shocked road safety advocates across the country, the new Minister of Transport, Simeon Brown, is poised to abandon the previous government’s speed limit reduction policy, particularly around schools. Even more alarmingly, he wants school speed limits to be variable rather than full-time, arguing ...
The letters, which were published last week, were addressed to Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chairperson Megawati Sukarnoputri, National Democrat Party (NasDem) Chairperson Surya Paloh, National Awakening Party (PKB) Chairperson Muhaimin Iskandar, Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS) President Ahmad Syaikhu and United Development Party (PPP) Chairperson Muhammad Mardiono. In ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
The government says it still intends to deliver tax cuts by July, but will not lock them in until they have got them past their coalition partners. ...
Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII has hosted members of the Green Party Caucus at Tuurangawaewae Marae in Ngaaruawahia. The audience follows the King’s Hui-aa-Motu on 20 January, where more than 10,000 people gathered to discuss national ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dr Rachael Potter, Research Associate and Lecturer in Work and Organisational Psychology, University of South Australia Ground Picture/Shutterstock Pregnant women and workers with children are often unfairly treated by their bosses and colleagues, despite laws to protect against workplace discrimination ...
Reacting to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s refusal to rule out introducing new taxes at the budget, Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said: “Today’s refusal to rule out new taxes suggests the Government is nothing more ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne Aila Images/Shutterstock Aged-care workers will receive a significant pay increase after the Fair Work Commission ruled they ...
He’s bringing ‘Sophie’ back, yeah. Goodshirt’s ‘Sophie’ music video is one of the most instantly recognisable New Zealand music videos of all time. Featuring a woman listening to the song on headphones while her entire house is burgled behind her, the video won the New Zealand music award for Best ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Blaxland, Professor, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University A year ago, the AUKUS agreement was formally announced between Australian and UK Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese and Rishi Sunak and US President Joe Biden. The agreement mapped out the “optimal ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andreas Helwig, Associate Professor, Electro-Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern Queensland SmartS/Shutterstock Steam locomotives clattering along railway tracks. Paddle steamers churning down the Murray. Dreadnought battleships powered by steam engines. Many of us think the age of steam has ended. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carrie Leonetti, Associate Professor of Law, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Victims who experience family violence in Aotearoa New Zealand are treated differently, depending on which part of the justice system they turn to for help. But a new member’s bill ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Tesch, Visiting Fellow at the ANU Centre for European Studies, Australian National University In perhaps the least surprising news of the year, Vladimir Putin has triumphed at the Russian ballot box and been enthroned for the fifth time as president. He ...
The Papua New Guinea Supreme Court has stopped a byelection for the Madang Open seat being held until an appeal filed by former MP Bryan Kramer is concluded. Kramer had appealed to the Supreme Court over a National Court decision not to review his application of the Leadership Tribunal decision ...
By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby Despite a “historic” ceasefire agreement in Papua New Guinea between Enga authorities and tribal leaders after months of bitter warfare, a young woman has been found brutally killed near Kaekin village, Wapenamanda. Despite the peace agreement and signing concluded in Port Moresby last Thursday ...
The second season of Ryan Murphy’s Feud is a sadder and slower entry into his canon of true story-telling, leaning heavily on a verdict about the cost of a single work of art. Hollywood heavyweight Ryan Murphy has had a bit of “ick” about him in the last few years. ...
Yet again!
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-classified-information-russia-intel-white-house-minister-ambassador-lavrov-kislyak-isis-a7737706.html
Like he’s talking about the women he meets:
“I meet great women in this job. Some of them have great legs”.
Shishhhh
All good by me. So much good video of militants getting BTFO by Russia and Syria, long may it continue.
The internets are pdq.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otIELg_BkKY&feature=youtu.be
According to Assistant Editor of Washington Post, Trump’s security adviser is denying “Trump revealed intel methods” which is not what Post is claiming.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/201844032/trump-gave-crucial-info-to-russia-washington-post-reports
Campbell reported the rumour… it is believed it was one of the Five Eye countries who passed on the info.
Some conservative “news” outlets were mentioned. The headline of one in particular is a thing of beauty.
http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/05/15/breitbart_is_covering_trump_s_classified_leak_to_the_russians_exactly_like.html
Tried putting it in a direct link, but that seems to have triggered the system to send it down the memory hole. Or maybe it was something in my comment with it.
I ducked in and out of Fox today – wall to wall look, squirrel!.
Carlson, wearing his ‘did I shit myself’ look, went from Hilary is a national security risk to bagging Michelle Obama because school lunches to libruls is violence etc etc and Hannity did the seth Rich thing.
The wing nuts will be lining up their ducks as we speak and F&F will kick off in a few hours with assembled talking points claiming that either the story is fabricated or sources are lying, or something.
Reaction within the Trumposphere.
http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/05/16/trumps-fans-shrug-off-oval-office-leak-215140
Why the motherfucker resigning really is our best hope to be rid of him.
https://www.vox.com/2017/5/15/15644826/trump-ryan-mcconnell-congress-impeach-end-presidency
But if he did resign, would he go meekly with some excuse like “medical reasons” or would he try for a blaze of glory with a line like “The only people willing to waste their time working for me in government are idiots and losers so I can’t be bothered anymore. Your loss, suckers”
Lawyers pick over the bones.
https://lawfareblog.com/bombshell-initial-thoughts-washington-posts-game-changing-story
There’s millions and millions of Trump believers out there who categorically believe there are forces in play desperately trying to take down Trump, he’s their man and they’ll fight for him if required.
If Trump is forced out the US could fall apart.
Yep. I’m surprised the Vox piece didn’t talk about that aspect. But if Republicans vote to impeach Trump, they will wear the rage of Trumpkins forever. Which I’m sure they’re keenly aware of.
The Trumpkins are really unhinged.
It’s actually quite disturbing to see intelligent thinking people switch off the logical part of their brain when there’s anything remotely negative about Trump.
it’s like Christians having their faith in God questioned, the shutters go down and that’s it all information is blocked.
If that happens, and I agree it is a possibility the democrats should apologise for their timidity and their careerism and the republicans should apologise for their stupidity and their attempt to garner the support of fundamentalist christians for their plans of neoliberalism dominance.
Yes, it’s well known that authoritarian followers always defend their leaders no matter what the leader does. We see it so much from the RWNJs on this sight as well.
That could do the world a whole lot of good.
A bit melodramatic isn’t it? You’ve been watching too many hollywood movies.
Such meetings should be fully recorded for both sight and sound.
but surely there should be some sort of process to it rather than just having the president blurt whatever whenever?
Which means that neither house will hold the other accountable until the brown stuff hits the whirly thing.
So much for the power of multicameral houses to bring about better decisions.
Which tells us that there’s a major problem with bringing political criminals to court.
I’ve long thought there might be merit in having two equal versions of things like the Oversight Committee, one controlled by the majority party and one controlled by the minority or opposition party. Both versions with equal tools and powers like subpoena power.
And what happens when they come up with contradictory answers?
At least some light has been shone into murky corners for the voters to see what’s there and help them make up their minds.
With the present system the majority party has the power to turn off the lights when they start getting near something nasty.
The Democrats in government are so crap and hated, Trump needs to stay in power for at least a full term for any meaningful opposition to the Republicans to arise.
Well, there’s still the paradox of how almost everyone hates Congress, but almost always re-elect their incumbent.
I reckon the best scenario for Dems is Trump stays in past the 2018 midterms, which spook the Repugs enough that they evict Trump in 2019 thereby earning the eternal wrath of the Trumpkins. But I’m not sure that’s the best scenario for America’s long term future.
Unless the Democrats really gain some ground in the mid-terms – which is pretty unlikely given the seats in play – I see good ground for a strong Independent presidential candidate rising. Enter ……………. The Rock
Mutti has a word with the Donald.
If there is one word that I think denotes how screwed up people are about things that are important and should be respected it is the word “Motherfucker”. It seems that it’s regarded as a brave, forthright word that puts somebody in their place who deserves a big kick. But actually the kick rebounds onto women especially mothers who are shown to be just pawns in men’s competitive, brawling games.
Can this disgusting, demeaning heading be removed. Or can someone who has the technical ability to replace it with some other word with dirty connotations like ‘Resign Chief Turd’.?
I second that.
Thanks greywarshark.
Rosemary Mc
You know what things are important, such as on a left-wing blog one of the main writers and a person of standing choosing to endorse that disgraceful term, just because the common people use it. It’s not that it is commonly used, it is more something that those with no boundaries or respect for others use.
To me it is worse than many of the things hotly argued here, on the basis that they demonstrated a rape culture mentality. Just a trio of us have commented about this blog on the Standard.
Resign Pompous POTUS
Resign Preposterous POTUS
Don Begone
Dump Trump
Bump Trump
Jump Trump
Thanks Incognito and Rosemary
Can we have some acknowledgement that the above slogan is not acceptable.
Or be equally derogatory and have Resign Fatherfucker.
I know it is encouraging violence (which the bent would probably consider worse than defrocking mothers) but Thump Trump could come next, or Resign Poxy POTUS.
[I chose the graphic. The phrase is part of the vernacular. I’m happy to use the alternative. My view is that it does not encourage violence but expresses extreme disgust – MS]
@ MS, it is not as if it is Mother’s Day today, is it?
I personally dislike the (American) slang and the crass vulgarity but Hey, that’s just my opinion.
MS
‘vernacular’
noun: vernacular; noun: the vernacular
1.
the language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people of a country or region.
I think some people are more ordinary than others.
You demonstrate how far we have all gone from having respect for others, and particularly people who are generally good people but not feted much, and rather vulnerable to the vagaries of the fickle, materialistic and unempathetic in society, mothers.
Mothers aren’t just objects to adopt sentimental attitudes to on ‘their Day’. Mothers may be seen as pathetic to some, often objects of scorn or blame to the psychopath but don’t bite the hand that made you and feeds you should be the attitude widely held in a practical, if not principled, society.
It’s almost as if the Nats deliberately got Ngaro to throw the dead cat in order to distract from the Labour Party congress…
Nothing would surprise me.
Oh dear.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11857119
I spent 6 weeks in Thailand recently for work and 2 days in Hokianga this last Sunday and Monday, also for work.
While I didn’t get to many very remote places in Thailand apart from an area North of Chiang Mai near the Myanmar border, I saw that a similar amount of material poverty exists in both countries and I’d say that because of the climate in Thailand, the disadvantaged there are better off than the disadvantaged in NZ with respect to what is considered ‘housing’ in Northland.
I saw a good effort with schooling in both countries, kids laughing on an open topped bus in the highlands of North Thailand, and a good bus (better than my own kid’s school bus at one of the highest achieving decile 8 schools in Auckland) picking up individual children on metal roads at Mangungu on the Hokianga Harbour.
NZ’s GDP per capita is USD37K and Thailand’s just USD5K yet their somewhat remote villages in my view have a better quality of life that do those forgotten people of Northland.
If you want to know what really gets me mad it’s soft, journalism school reporting like this from the oily one, well known National Party supporting RWNJ, Claire Trevett.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11857144
This thing is relevant to the current discussion around corruption in the current government with respect to NGOs being cut off if they step out of line with National Party policy, no matter how ham-fisted and ill-directed it might be.
Nowhere in the article does Trivet nail Tolley to the mast on this screw up. To Trevit, Tolley is an innocent and exasperated bystander (rather than the architect of the whole shebang) even though we hear that National Party ministers breathe over their ministries like Darth fucking Vader.
Nowhere does Treveeit ask Tolley or the government why their ministries are struggling to implement this weird ‘social investment’ approach in actual management realities, or what it’s even meant to achieve apart from ‘doing some stuff for poor people on the cheap’. Rather she just goes with the line that ‘it’s all one person at the the ministry’s fault, and Datacom.’
The only time this National Party suck up Claire trevitt addressed the screw up that is Bill Englishes stupid and rushed think-a-thon on what to do with poor people is a pathetic and robotic paragraph at the end.
You only get Trevett’s position if you toe the neoliberal establishment’s line.
Even thought there’s no credit line, this cut and paste job must be the ‘work’ of Bryce Edwards because it’s his sit-on-the-fence, come to no conclusions style of opinion.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11856955
I wonder how much he gets paid for this shit.
.
Other than the usual over promise under deliver on jobs and regional benefits bullshit, the despoiling of another pristine place, and discharged, and likely tropical, ballast water swimming with invasive exotic marine organisms, what could possibly go wrong?.
//
The consents are renewals of permits first given 25 years ago during the first Gulf War, and were granted without public notification.
Greens environment spokesperson Eugenie Sage said it was outrageous that an area many New Zealanders cared about would be affected in this way without anyone getting a say.
Ms Sage said the area included sensitive habitats for Hector’s dolphin, penguins and Haast kiwi, and the council had not properly considered the risks.
The regional council said it was confident it had given thorough regard to the risks.
Eugenie Sage.
The company wants to set up the water exporting facility to take water from two alpine lakes and pipe it to tankers for export.
The project involves redirecting up to 800 litres a second from Tuning Fork Creek to an export facility at Neils Beach.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/330920/west-coast-water-export-project-approved
This is appalling – given all the information that has been made public about the despoiling of NZ’s waterways in recent years. And here it comes again – whatever they do, however careful they say they will be – this will ruin these beautiful waterways and the creatures which abide within them. We have lousy laws which makes this sort of thing so easily available to exploiters.
imagine what it could do for the west coast if they got 10 cents a litre, better than mining coal.
No royalties payable on water so the only ones benefiting would be those directly involved.
i know , but a government with balls would stick it on export water tomorrow.
I see the image of the briefcase is still at the head of this post. I see the same words remain. Please remove it asap. When you get time that is. When it suits, if it suits.
Look here….
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/kUX-vlP1491KHTqwMWyDIDoyMjvaek_hXO5vsMxp_gI1M_szgy8zkDSt-88jxtNuPWY=w300
I’d like to thump people who put up slick sexist phrases because everyone else is doing it. Just no respect, and I expected better from Micky Savage.
It’s gone greywarshark.
My apologies…to you and the others who were offended. I saw it and thought wtf, but just couldn’t be bothered going through the whole rigmarole of laying out all that was wrong with the phrase or doing anything about it….hoped it would just slip oon by and disappear. Sorry MS – hope you don’t take it personally (if you even notice) . Just doing it and a wee bit pissed off with myself for not speaking up or doing something about it at the time.
Thanks Bill
I was a bit sick at seeing it and it is good to know you saw the fault. I am not sympathetic to finding fault with some present feminist complaints but acknowledging and respecting each other’s natural and good persona is important.
Also r0b
Your headline on the budget is carefully worded, sensitivity shown there.
I haven’t read it yet, so hope that it does do something for all mothers (and women who need support too, also the men who are also in the line needing support.)
Donald Trump is impeached, found guilty, resigns and we get….President Mike Pence, devout adherence to the church of neo-liberalism and hard right Christian Dominionism.
Nice work guys, great effort. Also coming up, we have Paul Ryan, who wants to party like it’s 1799 with the size of government to match – a small army, a small navy, a couple of post offices, a few tax collectors and a weather station or two. And next up, Orrin Hatch, who wants to remotely fry your computer for downloading music from torrent site.
@millsy, exactly right, do people understand that when they get rid of Trump, then they bring in some one smarter ,some one who will be just as bad if not worse, just a better salesman….
And all the while the Democrats take no responsibility for losing the most winnable election in modern US history ..
Still have not got rid of the corrupt Donna Brazile
Hillary still blaming the Russians
Obama taking $400, 000 from Wall St
This is where progressives should be focused, reforming their sick and diseased party which has absolutely zero credibility, then start on bring down The Republicans.