Every day New Zealanders

Written By: - Date published: 12:37 pm, September 18th, 2019 - 20 comments
Categories: facebook, jacinda ardern, Media, Simon Bridges, social media lolz, spin, the praiseworthy and the pitiful, uncategorized, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags:

Simon Bridges is struggling.

The latest evidence is his attacking Jacinda Ardern over the Christchurch Call, designed to address hate speech on social media.

Last week the Herald reported him as saying this:

“Somehow by having a talkfest with Twitter and Facebook and coming up with some pretty nebulous feel-good proposal at the UN, that is going to change the face of terrorism and the abhorrent things that happened in Christchurch. I don’t believe that,” Bridges told reporters this morning.

“Dealing with Twitter and Facebook and all of these companies and making it a main focus of the Prime Minister and the Government is not a priority for New Zealanders. No ifs, no buts.”

He said he was against violent content being posted online, but called the Christchurch Call “a big talkfest in Paris that has achieved nothing” and that was unlikely to prevent another March 15 happening.

“I don’t think it’s something that matters particularly strongly to a whole bunch of New Zealanders who want to see a Government … focused on health, on education, on infrastructure.

“Some guy or girl out in West Auckland or south Auckland or Invercargill, who is struggling to pay their bills, they want to see a Government focused on the stuff that matters to them.”

I almost feel sorry for Simon because this morning Facebook announced major changes, some directly as a result of Ardern’s actions.  From Radio New Zealand:

Anyone in New Zealand who looks at extremist content on Facebook will in the future be directed to websites helping people to leave hate groups.

This is one of a raft of changes announced by Facebook, some of which were prompted by the Christchurch Call – a commitment by countries and tech companies to eliminate violent extremist content online – following the mosque attacks.

In May Facebook signed up to the Christchurch Call to Action in Paris, co-chaired by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and French President Emmanuel Macron, and announced restrictions on who can use Facebook Live.

The live tool was what was used by the accused Christchurch gunman at the mosque shootings, which killed 51 people.

Facebook today announced it’s expanding a programme that redirects people to extremism intervention sites in Australia and Indonesia.

“We plan to continue expanding this initiative and we’re consulting partners to further build this program in Australia and explore potential collaborations in New Zealand,” Facebook said in a statement.

“In Australia and Indonesia, when people search for terms associated with hate and extremism, they will be directed to EXIT Australia and ruangngobrol.id respectively. These are local organisations focused on helping individuals leave the direction of violent extremism and terrorism.”

How did Simon Bridges handle this most egregious of self burns?  Have a listen.  I think that even Hamish Price would have to agree this was one of his worst interviews, and there is a lot of competition.

He seemed to think that Ardern had to get Donald Trump on board to achieve anything.  Facebook’s announcement would suggest that this is not true.  Bridges’ consistent negativity over everything is not going to persuade people to change allegiances.

Good on Ardern for achieving something of international importance.  Shame of Bridges for trying to divide us and suggesting that ordinary New Zealanders are not interested in addressing something that was directly related to the brutal murder of 51 ordinary New Zealanders.

20 comments on “Every day New Zealanders ”

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  1. Sanctuary 1
    18 September 2019 at 1:16 pm

    NRT has a post today on National's duplicity over climate change – when in power they talk out of both sides of their mouth, setting grandiose targets to reduce emissions then doing nothing to achieve them, actively gutting any constructive attempt to achieve emissions reductions and justifying it all with spineless defeatism, then when in opposition simply adopting flat out denialism to pander to a narrow base of agri-business whilst blaming the new government for trying to solve the multiple crises their inaction has guaranteed.

    They are adopting the same now when it comes to doing anything about white supremacist terror – straight out denialism justified with spineless defeatism to pander to a narrow base of gun nuts and a perception there might be votes by dog whistling to white racism whilst blaming the new government for trying to solve the problem.

  2. Nick 2
    18 September 2019 at 1:24 pm

    Bridges has simply lost the plot and is a verbal disaster. His supposed advisor wife must suffer permanently from eye-roll-itis. His mind must be just mash potato at this stage….sad for NZ considering the power seat he squats on (although I guess it will pulled from under him in due course). Talkback interviewed the wife and comments supposedly from the Natz conference where she spoke were that SHE should be Natz leader lol (doesnt say much about Soimin does it).

  3. JohnP 3
    18 September 2019 at 1:31 pm

    He's trying to unite the white Kiwi vote behind him by painting Labour as only interested in minority groups. It's not exactly a subtle strategy, is it? It's Don Brash but instead of bashing Māori, he's going after all the non-white New Zealanders and immigrants.

  4. Stuart Munro. 4
    18 September 2019 at 1:32 pm

    Bridges is certainly incoherent – but the point he's failing to make is that US involvement is required to shut down the likes of 8Chan, which they have done now, though there are presumably other sites of similar content in the outer darkness.

    He could have made a point that these modest social media changes are unlikely to revert people already radicalized by the horrors of neoliberal globalisation, but of course that strikes too close to his Asian funding base.

    His real problem is that he attacks everything the government does on reflex, neither thinking through adequately to form cogent critiques nor choosing issues that reflect either actual failures or points of policy difference. Like the ill-trained dog that barks at all comers or the boy who cries "wolf" he is unintentionally training listeners and the unbought media to ignore him.

    • roblogic 4.1
      18 September 2019 at 5:16 pm

      Bridges dog-whistles don't need to make sense, he's not appealing to people's hearts/ minds but to their guts and worst instincts, rationalising greed and selfishness, and scapegoating anyone who gets in his way (the working poor, beneficiaries, tangata whenua, the environment)

      • Stuart Munro. 4.1.1
        18 September 2019 at 5:45 pm

        I don't think it's voluntary in his case, but some politicians have been known to be deliberately incoherent so that people of quite different views might read their preferences into the speech.

        I prefer him to Key in fact – less talent for dishonesty – but still unfit to democratically represent anyone, much less lead an educated nation.

  5. Incognito 5
    18 September 2019 at 1:52 pm

    IMO, one of the best antidotes to hate speech and extremism that could lead to violent acts is a cohesive and inclusive society that actively practices tolerance. Rather than using wedge politics to try (re)gain political advantage this requires a genuinely non-partisan approach for the benefit of all New Zealanders and people who live in this country. Same thing applies to other major and/or global issues that are beyond the control of individual countries let alone single political parties, such as Climate Change.

  6. Tony Veitch (not etc.) 6
    18 September 2019 at 1:53 pm

    Katherine: Now Mr. Bridges, you’ve said the Christchurch Call . . .

    Soimun: Let me say, and I’ve made myself quite clear on this, everyday New Zealanders don’t care about the Christchurch Call. Yes, 51 people were killed and that’s tragic, but most of them were not everyday New Zealanders. Some were not New Zealanders at all. No, everyday New Zealanders care about health and education and infer-structure. They care that Jacinda Ardern is not fixing the mess we left behind in the health area fast enough. They’ve had two years and still they’ve not fixed our nine years of underfunding! And let me be quite clear, everyday New Zealanders care about roads. They want to see more roads built, and only National can build roads. Everyday New Zealanders care that the mental health system is still a mess, what has the Coalition done in two years? What everyday New Zealanders care about is tax cuts, and only my party can deliver them.

    The reality is, everyday New Zealanders are still angry with Winston for choosing the wrong party to go into government with. Everyday New Zealanders love the National Party, we’re the biggest party in the House. We have the right to be government, and everyday New Zealanders know this.

    And what is more, the reality is . . . [faded out]

    • ianmac 6.1
      18 September 2019 at 4:30 pm

      Well said Simon. The first honest/frank disclosure. I might warm to you after all.

      Oh? Not Simon? Too good to be true. Thanks Tony.

  7. tc 7
    18 September 2019 at 2:09 pm

    JA is universally admired for doing what Bridges is totally incapable of and National knows it.
    Thus the mud slinging and barking at every passing car to create white noise.

  8. Netman 8
    18 September 2019 at 3:41 pm

    Bridges, Bennett and National must think kiwis are dumb and stupid.

    Bring on Election 2020. We will show them who's dumb and stupid

    • michelle 8.1
      19 September 2019 at 10:51 am

      plus 100 netman your right they think we are stupid some of us might be but we ain't deaf and blind and we can see and hear things that we don't like

  9. MickeyBoyle 9
    18 September 2019 at 4:07 pm

    Agree or disagree, Bridges will have a lot of support for those comments. The left didnt think Donald Trumps rhetoric would win him the White house. Bill Shorten didnt think Scott Morrisons divisive policies and pro coal, anti asylum seeker views would lead to election night victory, but both happened. It would be naive to dismiss his comments as wacky and not a representation of kiwis views. But I promise you, many kiwis sitting on their couch at home feel the same way. These people only display how they truly feel on election day.

  10. greywarshark 10
    18 September 2019 at 4:42 pm

    I think this hard-hitting piece from Chris Trotter fits in here. Jacinda appears to be our best hope, and a woman who has achieved greatness and seems to understand the job, but the extent of negativism and just plain maliciousness as well as unprincipled behaviour could spoil her progress.

    https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/2019/09/behind-every-good-woman-should-stand.html

    Who amongst the informed lefties could be her right-hand woman? I think Chris makes a case for her getting another clued-up, close-mouthed PA as Heather Simpson was to Helen Clark. Any ideas perhaps to be kept private though. But could there be a choice of say four who would have the nous and the maturity and the balanced zeitgeist wariness and diplomacy to fill the role.

    • Ad 10.1
      18 September 2019 at 5:31 pm

      Heather Simpson continues to do a good job in there already.

      Ardern is gravitating towards the UN even faster than Helen Clark did.

      With the Facebook announcement, she shows that she has global heft far larger than is warranted from the importance of the country she leads.

      Ardern elevating Ardern away from the national fray of national politics is the smart move.

  11. Sacha 11
    18 September 2019 at 5:21 pm

    And now the Nats will not back further gun regulation either – what will these numpties actually do to prevent another massacre? https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/115888406/national-oppose-new-gun-law-auditorgeneral-probe-into-buyback-scheme

  12. Ad 12
    18 September 2019 at 5:28 pm

    Fully agree Mickey. For Facebook to alter to this degree from the later of this tiny and insignificant little country, when its leadership won't even front up to the EU or UK parliaments, shows Ardern has played her leverage with quite remarkable skill.

    Excellent work Prime Minister.

    Now Mickey, eff off from The Standard and go and get some more votes.

  13. ianmac 13
    18 September 2019 at 6:48 pm

    My mistake. Listened to Leighten Smith quoting an appalling tirade from John Armstrong.

    A vicious error ridden demolition of Jacinda, and the Labour Party. Talk about fake news Paula will get a Gold Star from that nasty old Armstrong reprobate.

  14. mary_a 14
    19 September 2019 at 3:58 pm

    Yawn! Zzzzz! Yet another pathetic case of Simon says …