Daily Review 29/02/2016
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6:00 pm, February 29th, 2016 - 28 comments
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- Wouldn’t really go that far
We are all suckers for hope.He’s just being provocative, people will say, he wouldn’t really go that far. They wouldn’t really go that far.Germany in the 1920s and 30s was one of the world’s most educated, culturally sophisticated, and scientifically advanced societies.It had a strong democratic constitution with extensive civil ...10 hours ago - Fact brief – Is Mars warming?
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is Mars warming? Mars’ climate varies due to completely different reasons than Earth’s, and available data indicates no temperature trends comparable to Earth’s ...21 hours ago - Maxing out – next steps for progressives
Max Harris and Max Rashbrooke discuss how we turn around the right wing slogans like nanny state, woke identity politics, and the inefficiency of the public sector – and how we build a progressive agenda. From Donald Trump to David Seymour, from Peter Dutton to Christopher Luxon, we are subject to a ...1 day ago - Maxing out – next steps for progressives
Max Harris and Max Rashbrooke discuss how we turn around the right wing slogans like nanny state, woke identity politics, and the inefficiency of the public sector – and how we build a progressive agenda. From Donald Trump to David Seymour, from Peter Dutton to Christopher Luxon, we are subject to a ...1 day ago
- FACT CHECKING DAVID SEYMOUR
I was interested in David Seymour's public presentation of the Justice Select Committee's report after the submissions to the Treaty Principles Bill.I noted the arguments he presented and fact checked him. I welcome corrections and additions to what I have written but want to keep the responses concise.The Treaty of ...1 day ago - It’s All Over Now
Well, he runs around with every racist in townHe spent all our money playing his pointless gameHe put us out; it was awful how he triedTables turn, and now his turn to cryWith apologies to writers Bobby Womack and Shirley Womack.Eight per cent, asshole, that’s all you got.Smiling?Let me re-phrase…Eight ...1 day ago - Bernard’s Pick ‘n’ Mix on Saturday, April 5
In short this morning in our political economy:The S&P 500 fell another 5.6% this morning after China retaliated with tariffs of 34% on all US imports, and the Fed warned of stagflation without rate cut relief.Delays for heart surgeries and scans are costing lives, specialists have told Stuff’s Nicholas Jones.Meanwhile, ...1 day ago - Unlike China’s flotilla, the Great White Fleet came in friendship
When the US Navy’s Great White Fleet sailed into Sydney Harbour in 1908, it was an unmistakeable signal of imperial might, a flexing of America’s newfound naval muscle. More than a century later, the Chinese ...1 day ago - Resource Management and Property Rights
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- Parliament’s secret “transparency” regime
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- Presidency of doom
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- $6m later, 90% against, 8% for, Treaty Principles Bill Committee recommends Bill be shelved
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2 days ago - The people have spoken
The Justice Committee has reported back on National's racist Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill, and recommended by majority that it not proceed. So hopefully it will now rapidly go to second reading and be voted down. As for submissions, it turns out that around 380,000 people submitted on ...2 days ago
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- The surprise of the Independent Intelligence Review: economic security
After copping criticism for not releasing the report for nearly eight months, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese released the Independent Intelligence Review on 28 March. It makes for a heck of a read. The review makes ...2 days ago
- The surprise of the Independent Intelligence Review: economic security
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- Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Friday, April 4
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- Weekly Roundup 04-April-2025
On a very wet Friday, we hope you have somewhere nice and warm and dry to sit and catch up on our roundup of some of this week’s top stories in transport and urbanism. The header image shows Northcote Intermediate Students strolling across the Te Ara Awataha Greenway Bridge in ...2 days ago - Weekly Roundup 04-April-2025
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- The Hoon around the week to April 4
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- Stranger Days
I'm gonna try real goodSwear that I'm gonna try from now on and for the rest of my lifeI'm gonna power on, I'm gonna enjoy the highsAnd the lows will come and goAnd may your dreamsAnd may your dreamsAnd may your dreams never dieSongwriters: Ben Reed.These are Stranger Days than ...2 days ago - Skeptical Science New Research for Week #14 2025
Open access notables A pronounced decline in northern vegetation resistance to flash droughts from 2001 to 2022, Zhang et al., Nature Communications: Here we show that vegetation resistance to flash droughts declines by up to 27% (±5%) over the Northern Hemisphere hotspots during 2001-2022, including eastern Asia, western North America, ...3 days ago
- Trump’s tariffs: Australia’s worry is the effect on its trading partners
With the execution of global reciprocal tariffs, US President Donald Trump has issued his ‘declaration of economic independence for America’. The immediate direct effect on the Australian economy will likely be small, with more risk ...3 days ago
- In national security, governments still struggle to work with startups
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- What I saw at liberation day
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- The fix is in
So, having broken its promise to the nation, and dumped 85% of submissions on the Treaty Principles Bill in the trash, National's stooges on the Justice Committee have decided to end their "consideration" of the bill, and report back a full month early: Labour says the Justice Select Committee ...3 days ago
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- Technology can make Team Australia fit for strategic competition
In the late 1970s Australian sport underwent institutional innovation propelling it to new heights. Today, Australia must urgently adapt to a contested and confronting strategic environment. Contributing to this, a new ASPI research project will ...3 days ago
- Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Thursday, April 3
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- Too complacent, too greedy
The Pike River Coal mine was a ticking time bomb.Ventilation systems designed to prevent methane buildup were incomplete or neglected.Gas detectors that might warn of danger were absent or broken.Rock bolting was skipped, old tunnels left unsealed, communication systems failed during emergencies.Employees and engineers kept warning management about the … ...4 days ago - It’s time to imagine how China would act as regional hegemon
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RNZ has a story this morning about the expansion of solar farms in Aotearoa, driven by today's ground-breaking ceremony at the Tauhei solar farm in Te Aroha: From starting out as a tiny player in the electricity system, solar power generated more electricity than coal and gas combined for ...4 days ago
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- Social Contracts Are Breaking
Warning: Some images may be distressing. Thank you for those who support my work. It means a lot.A shopfront in Australia shows Liberal leader Peter Dutton and mining magnate Gina Rinehart depicted with Nazi imageryUS Government Seeks Death Penalty for Luigi MangioneMangione was publicly walked in front of media in ...4 days ago - Wednesday 2 April
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- Reserve Bank, bank capital etc
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Long story short: PM Christopher Luxon said in January his Government was ‘going for growth’ and he wanted New Zealanders to develop a ‘culture of yes.’ Yet his own Government is constantly saying no, or not yet, to anchor investments that would unleash real private business investment and GDP growth. ...4 days ago
- Life after D-notices: Australia can learn from Britain’s updated system
For decades, Britain and Australia had much the same process for regulating media handling of defence secrets. It was the D-notice system, under which media would be asked not to publish. The two countries diverged ...4 days ago
- Life after D-notices: Australia can learn from Britain’s updated system
For decades, Britain and Australia had much the same process for regulating media handling of defence secrets. It was the D-notice system, under which media would be asked not to publish. The two countries diverged ...4 days ago
- Should Auckland demolish Spaghetti Junction?
This post by Nicolas Reid was originally published on Linked in. It is republished here with permission. In this article, I make a not-entirely-serious case for ripping out Spaghetti Junction in Auckland, replacing it with a motorway tunnel, and redeveloping new city streets and neighbourhoods above it instead. What’s ...4 days ago
- Should Auckland demolish Spaghetti Junction?
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In short this morning in our political economy:The Nelson Hospital crisis revealed by 1News’ Jessica Roden dominates the political agenda today. Yet again, population growth wasn’t planned for, or funded.Kāinga Ora is planning up to 900 house sales, including new ones, Jonathan Milne reports for Newsroom.One of New Zealand’s biggest ...4 days ago - Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Wednesday, April 2
In short this morning in our political economy:The Nelson Hospital crisis revealed by 1News’ Jessica Roden dominates the political agenda today. Yet again, population growth wasn’t planned for, or funded.Kāinga Ora is planning up to 900 house sales, including new ones, Jonathan Milne reports for Newsroom.One of New Zealand’s biggest ...4 days ago
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The National Government’s choices have contributed to a slow-down in the building sector, as thousands of people have lost their jobs in construction. ...4 days ago
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- Te Pāti Māori MPs Denied Fundamental Rights in Privileges Committee Hearing
The Privileges Committee has denied fundamental rights to Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, Rawiri Waititi and Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, breaching their own standing orders, breaching principles of natural justice, and highlighting systemic prejudice and discrimination within our parliamentary processes. The three MPs were summoned to the privileges committee following their performance of a haka ...5 days ago
- Release: Govt health and safety changes put workers at risk
Changes to New Zealand’s health and safety laws will strip back key protections for small businesses and put working Kiwis at greater risk. ...6 days ago
- Release: Kiwis worse off this April thanks to Govt choices
April 1 used to be a day when workers could count on a pay rise with stronger support for those doing it tough, but that’s not the case under this Government. ...6 days ago
- Release: Three more years for Interislander ferries
Winston Peters is shopping for smaller ferries after Nicola Willis torpedoed the original deal, which would have delivered new rail enabled ferries next year. ...6 days ago
- Release: Myanmar junta must stop the airstrikes
The Government should work with other countries to press the Myanmar military regime to stop its bombing campaign especially while the country recovers from the devastating earthquake. ...6 days ago
- Release: National failing to deliver on supermarkets
National is paying lip service to its promises to bring down the cost of living, failing to make any meaningful change in the grocery sector. ...6 days ago
- Release: Labour backs farmers’ call for better process on GE
Labour shares farmers’ concerns that the Gene Technology Bill is moving too fast. ...1 week ago
- Release: Bar still too high for small mental health providers
Small mental health providers will still be locked out of co-funding from the Mental Health Innovation Fund despite a lower threshold. ...1 week ago
- Greens call for Govt to scrap proposed ECE changes
The Green Party is calling for the Government to scrap proposed changes to Early Childhood Care, after attending a petition calling for the Government to ‘Put tamariki at the heart of decisions about ECE’. ...1 week ago - NZ First Introduces Bill That Gives Democracy Back To The People
New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill today that will remove the power of MPs conscience votes and ensure mandatory national referendums are held before any conscience issues are passed into law. “We are giving democracy and power back to the people”, says New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters. ...1 week ago - Speech: Navigating the New World (Dis)order in Turbulent Times
Welcome to members of the diplomatic corp, fellow members of parliament, the fourth estate, foreign affairs experts, trade tragics, ladies and gentlemen. ...1 week ago
- Te Pāti Māori Call for Mandatory Police Body Cameras
In recent weeks, disturbing instances of state-sanctioned violence against Māori have shed light on the systemic racism permeating our institutions. An 11-year-old autistic Māori child was forcibly medicated at the Henry Bennett Centre, a 15-year-old had his jaw broken by police in Napier, kaumātua Dean Wickliffe went on a hunger ...1 week ago
- Release: Kiwis lose faith in job market
Confidence in the job market has continued to drop to its lowest level in five years as more New Zealanders feel uncertain about finding work, keeping their jobs, and getting decent pay, according to the latest Westpac-McDermott Miller Employment Confidence Index. ...2 weeks ago
- Greens question Govt commitment to environmental protection with RMA reform
The Greens are calling on the Government to follow through on their vague promises of environmental protection in their Resource Management Act (RMA) reform. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Govt must tackle meth use crisis
New data shows methamphetamine use is spiralling out of control while the Government sits on its hands. ...2 weeks ago
- “Make New Zealand First Again”
“Make New Zealand First Again” Ladies and gentlemen, First of all, thank you for being here today. We know your lives are busy and you are working harder and longer than you ever have, and there are many calls on your time, so thank you for the chance to speak ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Govt’s continued lack of action on Gaza condemned
Hundreds more Palestinians have died in recent days as Israel’s assault on Gaza continues and humanitarian aid, including food and medicine, is blocked. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: National at sea over Defence jobs
National is looking to cut hundreds of jobs at New Zealand’s Defence Force, while at the same time it talks up plans to increase focus and spending in Defence. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: National standards returning by stealth
It’s been revealed that the Government is secretly trying to bring back a ‘one-size fits all’ standardised test – a decision that has shocked school principals. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Kiwis still struggling as economy stumbles along
Kiwis aren’t feeling any better off despite figures showing a very slight growth in GDP in the December quarter. ...2 weeks ago
- Greens call for compassionate release of Dean Wickliffe
The Green Party is calling for the compassionate release of Dean Wickliffe, a 77-year-old kaumātua on hunger strike at the Spring Hill Corrections Facility, after visiting him at the prison. ...3 weeks ago
- Another failed ETS auction, another indictment on the Govt’s climate credibility
The ETS auction’s failure today is yet another clear sign that the Government is failing us all on climate action. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Luxon quick to give away principled position on nukes
Christopher Luxon seems to have thrown New Zealand’s principled anti-nuclear advocacy under a bus. ...3 weeks ago
- NZ must act on Israel’s slaughter of children
The Green Party is calling on Government MPs to support Chlöe Swarbrick’s Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence and illegal actions in Palestine, following another day of appalling violence against civilians in Gaza. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Still no certainty for disability communities
One year on from the Government’s abrupt and callous changes to disability funding, the community still has no idea what the future holds. ...3 weeks ago
- Green Party backs volunteer firefighters in their call for ACC recognition
The Green Party stands in support of volunteer firefighters petitioning the Government to step up and change legislation to provide volunteers the same ACC coverage and benefits as their paid counterparts. ...3 weeks ago
- Stand Up for Palestine: A Call to Action Against Israels Treacherous Attack
At 2.30am local time, Israel launched a treacherous attack on Gaza killing more than 300 defenceless civilians while they slept. Many of them were children. This followed a more than 2 week-long blockade by Israel on the entry of all goods and aid into Gaza. Israel deliberately targeted densely populated ...3 weeks ago
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Living Strong, Aging Well There is much discussion around the health of our older New Zealanders and how we can age well. In reality, the delivery of health services accounts for only a relatively small percentage of health outcomes as we age. Significantly, dry warm housing, nutrition, exercise, social connection, ...3 weeks ago
- New planning laws to end the culture of ‘no’
The Government’s new planning legislation to replace the Resource Management Act will make it easier to get things done while protecting the environment, say Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop and Under-Secretary Simon Court. “The RMA is broken and everyone knows it. It makes it too hard to build ...2 weeks ago - New Zealand & India Comprehensive FTA consultation begins
Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay has today launched a public consultation on New Zealand and India’s negotiations of a formal comprehensive Free Trade Agreement. “Negotiations are getting underway, and the Public’s views will better inform us in the early parts of this important negotiation,” Mr McClay says. We are ...2 weeks ago
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Minimum wage hourly rate is up .50c to $15.25. Living wage is up .55c to $19.80. The gap is getting larger.
Our rock star leader will have another opinion on that inconvenient stat.
Grant Robertson’s comment: “”I think that’s wholly inadequate, you know for families who are trying to bring up kids, who are trying to pay the bills, $15.25 an hour is just nowhere near enough, you know that doesn’t even cover the cost of increase in rent over the last year in places like Auckland, or even Wellington.”
Poorly written. Rambling. Try this Grant:
“National MPs, I dare you to have one of your kids support a family on that for a week.”
Early days and all that….
In primary after primary this cycle, Democratic voters just aren’t showing up. Only 367,491 people cast a ballot for either Clinton or Sanders on Saturday. That’s down 16 percent from the 436,219 people who came out in 2008 for Clinton and Obama. Factor in the 93,522 people who voted for John Edwards back in the day, and you can see the scope of the problem. Democrats in 2016 are only getting about two-thirds of the primary votes that they received eight years ago.
Republican turnout in the South Carolina primary, by contrast, was up more than 70 percent from 2008.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/democrat-turnout-south-carolina_us_56d2e392e4b03260bf77247f
I guess the Clinton/Obama race was more exciting because nobody could be sure who would win. That’s not the case this time around. I really hope Hillary recognises the good Bernie Sanders has done the Democrat party and gives him a senior post after the Presidential election. Health, welfare, jobs?
According to this bloke 2008 was an exception, turnout is up on other years and in South Carolina Clinton received around 20k fewer votes than the entire 2004 turnout.
https://twitter.com/frodofied/status/704087065441357824
https://twitter.com/frodofied/status/704087434770841600
https://twitter.com/frodofied/status/704089152745136128
+100
My fear is that she wraps the nomination fast and dawdles back to the centre.
My hope is that Sanders continues to pull her left.
Explosive stuff on the Clintons – a newly published book, “Clinton’s War on Women”
Featured on The Daily Blog today.
https://www.rt.com/shows/sophieco/332460-hillary-husband-nixon-adviser/
Roger Stone: Well, Hillary Clinton’s running for president of the U.S., claiming to be an advocate for women and that’s true – unless you’re one of those women unlucky enough to have been sexually assaulted by her husband. Eileen Wellstone, Juanita Broaddrick, Carolyn Moffet, Liz Ward, Becky Brown, Helen Dowdy, Polly Jones, Cathy Ferguson, Christy Zercher, Kathy Willey – I could go on, because they are in the hundreds.
RS: In my book, I establish the actual names and, in many cases, the reports by other journalists that Jack Palladino, private detective, Anthony Pellicano, private detective, now in prison for illegal wiretapping, Ivan Duda, private detective – these men all said the same thing, they were retained by Hillary Clinton to keep tabs on and conduct a terror campaign to silence Bill’s sexual assault victims.
He loses some credibility because he supports Donald Trump.
RS: Look, I am not still working for Donald Trump, but I am still supporting him. He has been a friend of mine for 40 years, he attended my wedding, I attended to of his, I went to the funerals of both of his parents, I helped his sister become a very respected federal judge. Donald Trump is the greatest entrepreneur and businessman in the U.S.
He does redeam himself a little:
RS: I have a general dislike of dynasties and families for whom the rule of law means nothing. Yes, when an American politician, regardless of the party, can break the law, can traffic drugs, can hide evidence from the American people, can tamper with witnesses, can threaten people, in some cases, maybe, even be involved with assassination – yes, I am most definitely opposed.
Could this be the beginning of the end for Hillary?
RS: Bernie Sanders isn’t taking special interest money, he’s not taking PAC money. God bless him! I don’t agree with him, he says he’s a Democratic Socialist, that’s like a “meat-eating vegetarian”; but, nonetheless, at least he has a courage in his convictions and he isn’t bought and paid for.
“Could this be the beginning of the end for Hillary?”
Doubtful. America has the best government money can buy.
So does NZ.
Making a point of watching”The Daily Blog” tonight. 7-7:30.
Tonight “What has gone wrong in public broadcasting and are TVNZ and Radio NZ doing enough to live up to their 4th estate and treaty obligations.”
Worth the trouble.
At least they have 30 minutes of indepth discussion. No one from RNZ or Government of course.
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/
Defence Force Cover Up – David Fisher
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11597130
I’m reminded of Nicky Hager’s book “Other People’s Wars”. The DF denied any of the claims were true and Nicky was discredited by the PM among others. The worst aspect was that it happened under Helen Clark’s watch and she never knew what was going on. A shocking indictment on the DF personnel in Afghanistan who were involved.
Why are you deleting my comment voice? You say I don’t want to debate the issue and I agree I don’t, not with you. Does that mean my comments are going to continue to be banned and if so why? It seems that for some reason the voice wants to be the only one heard. And we both know why, don’t we – ego. So why don’t YOU grow up and allow the comments through or are they too much of a threat to you or your persona?.
Put together a rational argument and I’ll let it stay up. Make sure there’s no abuse and a few facts, cites and some adult reasoning and you’re good to go.
no abuse? what? does that mean using the word liar, that you so beloved yesterday or is that too much for your sensibilities voice
Ok, you’re not up to it. That’s fine.
fuck it and fuck you, you brownwashedlyingbogusnamedwanker – I’m gone.
marty mars
I take it that this is related to subthread 9 on TRP’s post? http://thestandard.org.nz/the-butchers-apron-or-the-tea-towel/
The Standard isn’t an entirely fair forum, and the moderators have the ability to quash debate. It’s still better than most of the alternative venues, though not as good as action in the offline world. I’d miss your contributions if you were to decide to permanently abandon the site like felix.
Perhaps taking some time to craft your point into a guest post might be the way to go?
Pasupial, I think the point is that it’s not better than most venues for Māori (see Adele’s comment below). I can hear what marty is saying, his message is coherent and reasonable alongside his anger. The question isn’t how should marty behave better, but why can some people here not understand what he is saying as a Māori man?
As for putting up guest posts, there are very good reasons why there are virtually no feminist and Māori authors on ts at the moment (as well as other people speaking from non-white male perspectives).
I have other things to say on this matter and am waiting until I have enough time to do that justice.
Dang it marty mars …..
for handy hints on how to push to the max banning limit, see previous …..
The only difference between your behaviour yesterday towards Penny and marty’s towards you is that you’re a moderator. I can see marty’s argument, why can’t you?
Because he hasn’t made an argument. He’s welcome to articulate a reasoned position if he can, but as you can see from the above, that’s currently beyond his abilities. He’s getting frustrated because his faux outrage can’t be turned into something coherent.
All he’s left with is abuse.
Te Koretake
Who the fuck are you to argue “reasoned debate”. That thuggish rant towards Penny Bright the other day was hardly reasonable.
That other “debate” where you took on the mantle of white overlord to decide the relevant merits of an indigenous perspective was just stupid.
Maori choose not to participate in pakeha forums because they would rather not deal with the cretinous behaviour of white people like yourself. Changing a worldview one stupid pakeha at a time is no longer an aspirational goal for indigenous communities.
Marty has been a stalwart for Maori opinion in the mainstream and while I don’t always agree with him I absolutely admire his tenacity and perseverance. I am out with him.
“Because he hasn’t made an argument.”
I’ve just told you I can see his argument. Are you saying I am lying?
No, mistaken.
Ok, Guys you have to understand that in my opinion te Reo Putake is a shill. Doing untold damage to the Standard and abusing his position to silence people like Marty Mars.
Drumpf!
Brilliant – sums Trump up. Bullshitter. Should be compulsory viewing for everybody who’s ever heard of him.
+ Drumpf 1 !