Daily Review 17/12/2018

Written By: - Date published: 5:30 pm, December 17th, 2018 - 38 comments
Categories: Daily review - Tags:

Daily review is also your post.

This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Don’t forget to be kind to each other …

38 comments on “Daily Review 17/12/2018 ”

  1. NZJester 1

    So it appears Trump and his siblings dodged taxes and received gifts of money from their father through a scheme that padded invoices on costs to maintain rent-controlled apartments. Those padded invoices are still costing tenants money today in higher rents due to the fraud committed by the Trumps even though they no longer own the buildings in question.
    https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/world/as-the-trumps-dodged-taxes-their-tenants-paid-a-price/ar-BBR1znI?li=BBqdg4K

    • Draco T Bastard 1.1

      Are we supposed to be surprised by the fact that more capitalists have been proven corrupt when capitalism itself is a corrupt ideology based solely upon scamming others?

      • SpaceMonkey 1.1.1

        Yep… scratch the surface of any number of Congress persons, Senators, etc and you’ll find similar stuff. The only reason this is news is because it’s Trump.

    • Sabine 1.2

      drain the swamp.

      • soddenleaf 1.2.1

        US is run by a private politburo, a few extremely wealthy people control the conversation, it’s like the Ussr won.

  2. ianmac 2

    Did you see this?
    “David Cormack: The progressive justice reforms of Mark Mitchell”
    In which the lock ’em up regardless is the way for Mitchell and Bridges. They intend to undo any changes to the Law that this Govt. should make.
    Read how this hard headed approach is enacted regarding the tragic murder of Murphy.
    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12178346

    • Muttonbird 2.1

      I reckon Mitchell has been in the ear of the the mother off the Skraatskow boy too. He’s in the ear of anyone and everyone who might be willing and able to provide a quote against the government.

      Mitchell is bringing his past police, private investigatory, and mercenary practices into parliament. There is no doubt about this. These practices don’t belong in parliament. The best place for Mitchell to find employment is as a two-bit private investigator because that seems to be the only skills he has.

      • Chris 2.1.1

        He is a very dangerous motherfucker, that’s for sure.

      • mary_a 2.1.2

        Agree 100% Muttonbird (2.1) … Mitchell is a bully who wouldn’t hesitate to put his past strong arm employment/job tactics into action to crush anyone or anything that gets in his or Natz’s way.

        And wasn’t it Mitchell who “sorted” out JLR, during the latter MP’s time of crisis, proving a threat to Natz?

        Mark Mitchell, Natz’s heavy. Ready and willing to let the snapping attack dogs off the leash when considered necessary to protect Natz!

    • greywarshark 2.2

      There is talk about Mitchell showing how restorative justice works in that NZHerald article. BS. This is an ex-cop showing the variable ways that some police act to crimes and injustice. It’s a cop-out. It isn’t his decision anyway and if he doesn’t take the matter to the police and let them deal with it he is an accessory.

      Anyone who can strike the right matey or pocket approach can be found to have extenuating circumstances! The fish was vulnerable and to the empty brain of the young man, it was just asking to be speared. Now what would be his reaction if instead of a kingfish, there was a drunken, near-naked young woman on the dock? I wouldn’t be surprised to find that this man has a default response any time there is something to be easily had. And it has been found that those inclined to animal cruelty will behave the same way to people. So this young feller is a bad sort, and fancy that Mr Mitchell would decide he shouldn’t be chastised in public and had the book thrown at him.

      https://www.nzherald.co.nz//nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12178271&ref=clavis
      What will be done to make things right for the 95 year old man’s loss of his dog through an attack by a man’s dogs; he was exercising six dogs from a quad bike, lazy modern man. It has now died. It was the pet and friend of the old man.

      I wonder what sob story the 6-dog owner will give. Possibly they are pig dogs and he will claim they were just acting naturally. And of course he is acting naturally – the way that all unreliable curs of men and women who can’t stand to restrain themselves and certainly can’t be bothered to take preventative care when taking their unrestrainable dogs for a run. And who gets hurt, not him, even if other people or animals are hurt, children with bites to their faces, aduts mauled. The dog owners could be thrashed, as a reasonable eye for an eye punishment. Do i sound angry Observer? I think that this matter should be handled seriously by the police and the justice system though I would love to see stocks brought back for certain crimes. The perps couldn’t hide behind big sunglasses then.

      Wild West we are, so let’s bring in thrashing for law breakers who cause injury themselves or when they have a biddable pet in their care. Is Labour strong enough to stand against these hedonistic, swaggering, uncivilised and amoral men and women that have such a lean to the Right that they need remedial chiropracty?

  3. joe90 3

    This is going down well with the Berns.

    A new rule adopted by the Democratic National Committee may block Bernie Sanders and other political outsiders from seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination in the 2020 presidential election.

    […]

    In order to seek the party’s nomination, a candidate must publicly announce that they are a registered Democrat, will accept the Democratic nomination, and will “run and serve” as a member of the Democratic Party.

    This rule seems to be in direct response to Bernie Sanders, the independent Senator from Vermont who fiercely battled Hillary Clinton in a surprisingly close primary race in 2016. Running on a platform of universal health care and free college for all Americans, Sanders gained popularity, especially among young voters.

    https://www.newsweek.com/bernie-sanders-democratic-party-2020-election-new-rule-967928

  4. ScottGN 4

    ScoMo and his government have sunk so low they’re getting sideswiped by scoops from New Idea now…
    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-17/andrew-broad-resigns-new-idea-allegations-woman-website/10626592

  5. Muttonbird 5

    The photo is of Republican activist Paul Erickson and Russian gun-nut/spy Maria Butina. These are two players in the drama that is the demise of the Trump administration.

    It’s a real shame Hunter S. Thompson is no longer with us. He would have drawn these characters large in essays on the fall of Trump. Although a gun-nut himself, Thompson’s gonzo take on proceedings would make for great reading.

  6. Chris 6

    The significance of this news is that we’re finally rid of Sian “one of the boys” Elias.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/109416961/justice-helen-winkelmann-appointed-chief-justice

    • Chris T 6.1

      Did crack me up when I heard on the radio she demands to be called “Wink” ….”Kell” “man” rather than “Winkle”..”man”.

      Each to there own and that, but first world problems.

      • Chris 6.1.1

        Nothing else to say? How Elias during her time as CJ never showed she’s had an original thought in her life? Her bland and lifeless approach to the law? Her apparent belief that the Crown can do no wrong (unless it’s blindingly obvious it has and she’s backed up by all four of her contemporaries)? Her love of cows shitting in rivers, especially when they’re her cows?

        • Chris T 6.1.1.1

          Take a chill pill

          It was only something I thought funny.

          Seems like a cool lady

        • Wayne 6.1.1.2

          Chris,

          Where on earth are you coming from?

          Sian Elias has been one of the most original thinkers in the law that New Zealand has had. Though she might have been in the minority too often, it is frequently those very same judicial opinions that will be seen to shape the future of the law more substantially than the majority. Her writing has a clarity and lucidity often lacking in the law.

          • lprent 6.1.1.2.1

            Certainly is. And you can see where the judicial positions shifted in the years after one of those minority decisions when you read judgments in those areas of law.

            But I think that Chris isn’t too aware of the stability anchor position that the legal system has to maintain inside society. So he misses the nuances of non-revolutionary change.

            Helen W is much the same. I wasn’t all that impressed until she became head of the high court, probably because most of the decisions up to then had been civil and I’m really not that interested in those as social change in those areas tends to be glacial. But her actions defending the independence and process of the high and district court has been pretty evident.

            Pity about the last name that I can’t remember how to spell or pronounce without assistance.

            • Chris 6.1.1.2.1.1

              I understand your stability anchor description as being part of the role of the judiciary. But there’s nothing special about that. That’s in fact quite simply how the common law works.

              What’s important are the outcomes, which are invariably values-laden. Stability can be maintained, the ‘evils’ of a particular view can be staved off, the basis for the creation of new law can be created via minority judgments. Whether that’s a good thing in any particular case will always depend on your view of the world and what you think is right.

              So whether someone thinks Sian Elias has done a good job or not will always depend on that person’s values. Wayne thinks she’s done a good job, and you agree with Wayne that she has. I’m comfortable with that.

          • veutoviper 6.1.1.2.2

            I agree re Sian Elias, Wayne. I have been very impressed over the years, and also believe that her often minority views will shape the future more than many of the majority ‘status quo’ ones.

            I am also really pleased to see Helen Winkelmann being appointed as she impresses me as of a similar mold to Sian Elias – and as lprent mentions see the independence and process of the judicial application of the law as paramount.

            It also crossed my mind that Kim Dot Com may well be pleased with the appointment. I may be wrong, but IIRC Winkelmann was involved in some of his earliest court processes/decisions and her decisions were very much based on the due process of the law, and not the hype etc, personalities, politics etc.

            By the way, I did ask genuinely last week if you had any views on Graeme Edgeler’s proposals re name suppression as posted on Public Address. Would be interested in your views as some stage down the line, but obviously not urgent with time of year, other priorities etc.

            • veutoviper 6.1.1.2.2.1

              And yes, KDC is pleased with Winkelmann’s appointment–

              https://twitter.com/KimDotcom/status/1074591165888946177

              “I’ve been before her honor Judge Helen Winkelmann. She’s sharp, fair and fearless. A great Christmas gift for all New Zealanders and a worthy replacement for Chief Justice Elias. I know a few crooked jurists who won’t be celebrating this appointment. Well done @jacindaardern” 🙏🏻

          • Chris 6.1.1.2.3

            The fact her analyses align with yours says it all, really.

      • Blazer 6.1.2

        I think it is a good appointment..she seems quite apolitical and a very smart woman.Imagine if Goddard got the job.

  7. Muttonbird 7

    Who are these people?

    (A) South Island a DOC worker’s details were published online, with comments about filling him with lead, and needing good snipers in New Zealand.

    https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/378488/doc-spent-more-than-1m-to-protect-staff-from-protesters

    On the face of it they seem to be militant hunters the like of which the now famous MP for Invercargill, Sarah Dowie supports. I can’t see bird lovers threatening DOC staff in such a way, but I can see pig hunters threatening DOC staff in such a way.

    Just who are the 1080 protestors? Perhaps Mark Mitchell could pull finger and investigate something of importance for once.

    • Blazer 7.1

      Mark Mitchell a Lusk/Slater prodigy…Mark ‘porridge’ Mitchell…mercenary.

    • greywarshark 7.2

      Is it marijuana growing that the extremist 1080 antis are anxious about? I just don’t believe that they are that concerned about drinking water and native birds. Is it that they make a good living from possum fur, and see that as more important than the ongoing loss of foliage?

    • Chris 7.3

      What’s Sarah Dowie famous for?

  8. shadrach 8

    https://i.stuff.co.nz/business/109409566/economist-maybe-its-the-way-tenants-live-in-them-that-makes-houses-cold

    “Only 2.7 per cent of tenants claimed cold and dampness was an issue in their homes in a 2017 Branz report. “Most houses will be cold and damp if the tenant does not adequately heat and ventilate the property,” Harrison said.”

    And this:

    “All up, he said imposing the Healthy Homes Guarantee proposals could leave New Zealanders out of pocket by between $1 billion and $2b.”

  9. Draco T Bastard 9

    This is a good move from AT:

    Auckland Transport and NZ Police are working together over the Christmas 2018 and New Year holiday period to reduce the number of instances of drink-driving on Auckland roads.

    A key initiative will be free travel on all buses and trains from 4pm to end-of-service on Friday 21 December 2018.

    So leave the car at home and let us get you home safely.

    I do hope that working with police means that there’s going to be police on the trains else I can see it going horribly wrong.

  10. Draco T Bastard 10

    BTW, what happened to today’s Open Mike?