Key apology not genuine

Written By: - Date published: 7:39 am, November 12th, 2014 - 219 comments
Categories: john key, Minister for International Embarrassment - Tags: ,

Ladies and gentlemen – our PM:

PM JOHN KEY LAUGHS AND CRACKS JOKE ABOUT KILLER PHILLIP JOHN SMITH’S ESCAPE TO SOUTH AMERICA

Unsurprisingly:

John Key’s killer paedophile joke disgusts victims’ family

The family of the man escaped prisoner Phillip John Smith killed, and the boy he abused, is revolted by Prime Minister John Key’s joke about his unauthorised disappearance.

Smith, 40, was imprisoned in 1996 for stabbing to death the father of a boy he molested. He was also convicted of molesting the boy over a three-year period.

Key has apologised:

Prime Minister apologises for Smith comments

Prime Minister John Key has apologised unreservedly to the family of Phillip Smith’s victims for his flippant comments yesterday.

As he should.

“I just misinterpreted the question,” he said

But the apology isn’t genuine, Key is still playing the political weasel. Misinterpreted the question? The question was – what would he be telling the Chilean president about Phillip Smith. How does that get interpreted as – please giggle like a buffoon and tell the worst taste joke you can think of?

Key didn’t misinterpret the question, he was just displaying the same level of empathy as his favourite blogger.

219 comments on “Key apology not genuine ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. marty mars 1
    12 November 2014 at 7:53 am

    “Key didn’t misinterpret the question, he was just displaying the same level of empathy as his favourite blogger.”

    Exactly correct – and the keyoil stains and pollutes all his supporters.

    • Maz 1.1
      12 November 2014 at 3:44 pm

      Aren’t there codes of conduct Prime Ministers must abide by. Where’s the Governor General in all of this. Are there no honourable Ministers in this government who will come forward and denounce Key’s constant denigrations of victims of crimes?

  2. CnrJoe 2
    12 November 2014 at 7:57 am

    “I’ll just let her know that you know, there’s someone that could be out there from New Zealand she might not want to invite around for lunch.”

    So Keys Chilean Pres gag-punchline is?

    after lunch he’ll sodomise yr son, stab your husband to death and make you watch? chik boom’
    or did i misinterpret Cameron Slaters mates ‘joke’ made while at APEC ffs.

    • marty mars 2.1
      12 November 2014 at 8:10 am

      No misinterpretation, key is a pus-bucket as you have correctly ascertained.

      Fuck this country used to have some morals and gumption – how fucken low we have fallen with this bastard in the top job and we just take it – how long are we going to put up with this shit, how fucken long?????

      • Naki man 2.1.1
        12 November 2014 at 11:22 am

        “Fuck this country used to have some morals and gumption – how fucken low we have fallen with this bastard in the top job and we just take it – how long are we going to put up with this shit, how fucken long?????”

        Well I would think it would be another six years Marty maybe more.

    • Sabine 2.2
      12 November 2014 at 11:22 am

      rape jokes, the pm has them.

  3. goodsweat 3
    12 November 2014 at 7:58 am

    If I was to spend days offended by a one line joke somebody I don’t know said about someone I don’t know that offended someone I don’t know I reckon I must have things pretty sweet.

    Is this offended woman a platform issue for the Left?

    People have been getting slaughtered on our roads over the last few days and half of the political spectrum is in mourning because someone has hurt feelings over a joke.

    Come on the Left, cry babies come last.

    • felix 3.1
      12 November 2014 at 8:04 am

      That’s nice, goodsweat.

      Meanwhile, our PM thinks raping children and murdering their parents is totes lolz.

      • fisiani 3.1.1
        12 November 2014 at 1:59 pm

        Felix how can you go from a flippant one liner to that bizarre conclusion? Which part of any comment by the PM justifies your conclusion of “totes lolz”? Why not just say that you hate John Key, You have no idea why he is so popular and why Labour have lost vote at each and every of the last three elections. There is every chance that the Labour limbo how low can you go will continue. I keep giving you advice, read my words. Stop the hyperbole. Stop banging on about trivia. Stop denigrating the most loved politician in NZ. It vents your spleen but makes you look childish.

        • minarch 3.1.1.1
          12 November 2014 at 2:01 pm

          but thats what the interwebs is for fizz

        • Tracey 3.1.1.2
          12 November 2014 at 2:11 pm

          reading comprehension isnt your strong point.

          the prime minister chose to make light of an escaped murderer and child molester, knowing it would get to the victims (those not murdered of course). felix made the connection because the PM did.

          • fisiani 3.1.1.2.1
            12 November 2014 at 2:19 pm

            Care to explain totes lolz?

            • One Anonymous Bloke 3.1.1.2.1.1
              12 November 2014 at 2:23 pm

              ‘Something that is a suitable subject for giggling and making jokes about’.

            • Tracey 3.1.1.2.1.2
              12 November 2014 at 2:23 pm

              key was laughing from the beginning of his answer til the end…

              totally laughing out loud about a murderer and child abuser having escaped under his watch having ignored a specific recommendation in 2012 to close the loophole this guy used to escape.

              totes lolz

              carry on defending him fizzi, its your right to be foolish…

        • Sabine 3.1.1.3
          12 November 2014 at 2:28 pm

          don’t forget to wipe of the sperm from your keyboard Fisiani, because that must have been a major ejaculation just there.

    • framu 3.2
      12 November 2014 at 8:11 am

      “Is this offended woman a platform issue for the Left?”

      no – the fact that our top govt official, who is representing us on the world stage, at a meeting of international leaders and he goes and tells a joke about how his own govt let a convicted violent sexual offender slip through their fingers, using his real name

      would you be OK with Richie McCaw telling child sex jokes at a press conference?
      Do you go to your grans house and make jokes about pensioners being raped and murdered?

      The disrespect shown to the victims is part of the problem, its really about our PMs utter inability to show any sense of decorum, compassion, empathy or to understand the standard of behaviour required for the event he is representing NZ at.

      hes not at the local rugby club annual piss up is he

      • goodsweat 3.2.1
        12 November 2014 at 8:20 am

        Do you think Cunliffe was really apologising for being a man? I don’t, the concept is absurd. I think he was saying ‘Men own this problem and it’s time we stepped up to the plate.” I think this is what most people thought. Most of us, most of the time get the chance to backpedal when we make a gaff. “Oh hang on..please don’t misunderstand me….” etc.

        I think most people see these off the cuff feet in mouth as just that. We have all embarrassed ourselves. I’m so pleased I don’t have cameras following me around and journalists sticking mics in my face, I’d make a complete and bona fide Wally of myself.

        Most people see this for what it is…SFA.

        • weka 3.2.1.1
          12 November 2014 at 8:36 am

          DC didn’t make an off the cuff mistake. He said something in a prepared speech that the MSM reported out of context and used as another stick in the long line of beatings that the left wing leader was subjected to.

          I notice you have addressed the issue that Key lacks empathy.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 3.2.1.2
          12 November 2014 at 8:38 am

          You have no idea how “most people see this…”

          It’s called projection, and you do it a lot.

        • felix 3.2.1.3
          12 November 2014 at 8:40 am

          “Most of us, most of the time get the chance to backpedal when we make a gaff”

          Yes that’s true, and if you can define Key’s behaviour as some sort of “gaffe” then you can probably minimise its importance by comparing it to any number of things.

          After all, a “gaffe”can happen to anyone. A simple mistake, like forgetting to wash your hands or pay a parking ticket. Using the wrong word in conversation or the wrong fork at dinner.

          Refresh my memory; what was Key’s “gaffe”?

          Oh that’s right, his “gaffe” was to piss himself laughing, in front of the world, about raping children and murdering their parents.

          • goodsweat 3.2.1.3.1
            12 November 2014 at 9:17 am

            Maybe you’re right. I’m an insensitive sod that is ignoring the gravity and far reaching effect this issue is going to have on NZ.

            First things first. How is everyone? Does anyone feel they could benefit from some sessions of counselling with regard the damage they have suffered as a result of Mr Key’s comment?

            We need bigger problems.

            • One Anonymous Bloke 3.2.1.3.1.1
              12 November 2014 at 9:37 am

              I’m fine, thanks for asking. The family in question, not so much, and as for you, you’re beneath contempt.

              • goodsweat …
                12 November 2014 at 9:45 am

                I’m sorry to hear you feel that way OAB because you seem like a sensitive and loving guy to me.

                • One Anonymous Bloke …
                  12 November 2014 at 9:48 am

                  Yes, it was harsh: I’ll rephrase: your attitude is beneath contempt.

                  • goodsweat …
                    12 November 2014 at 10:15 am

                    Drunk Best man Syndrome. I’m guessing most have been at a wedding when in an impromptu moment in his speech a bestman with one 2 many ‘Welcome Fruity Cocktails’ under his belt tells a story that turns the bride’s mother’s eyes into flesh cutting laser beams.

                    Let he that has not slipped up with an inappropriate story cast the first stone. Dumb thing for Key to say but there is little gallantry in smacking his extended jaw.

                    New Zealand is so beautiful and unspoilt where I am. It’s something we should all get to enjoy. I think finding ways that we can get a comprehensive camping kit into the boots of a whole lot more Kiwi family cars is a far superior dialogue to be having.

                    • One Anonymous Bloke …
                      12 November 2014 at 10:26 am

                      How can it be unspoilt with that stream of drivel flowing from it?

                      I expect there’s a camping thread you can join somewhere.

                    • meconism …
                      12 November 2014 at 12:12 pm

                      Key’s comment is indefensible. You are wasting your time trying.

                    • felix …
                      12 November 2014 at 12:37 pm

                      “Drunk Best man Syndrome. I’m guessing most have been at a wedding when in an impromptu moment in his speech a bestman with one 2 many ‘Welcome Fruity Cocktails’ under his belt tells a story that turns the bride’s mother’s eyes into flesh cutting laser beams.”

                      Yeah I can relate to that. This one time I was best man, I had a few too many and told a joke that totally offended the bride’s mum.

                      It was the one about raping her children for three years then murdering her husband in front of her.

                      And the best part? It was funny because it was true.

                    • Tracey …
                      12 November 2014 at 12:44 pm

                      shit felix. that was probably the best response to the likes of sweaty, naki, slylands et al…

                    • Puddleglum …
                      12 November 2014 at 8:20 pm

                      “Drunk Best man Syndrome.”

                      No. It runs much deeper. It is not an aberration or ‘slip up’.

                      This is part of a pattern in Key’s responses to events.

                      That pattern betrays the fact that he orients to almost everything from a purely self-centred viewpoint. That viewpoint has as its aim the opportunistic goal of making himself ‘popular’ – the ‘cool dude’ – with those he’s with (including, particularly, members of the media).

                      The need to be ‘the biggest man in the room’, as one National Party insider put it, causes him to make these kinds of flippant, even aggressive, ‘jokes’ frequently.

                      That self-centred viewpoint means that Key is almost incapable of experiencing the reality of an issue from the viewpoint of someone else.

                      It’s engrained in his personality not to see the world as it is but simply as a series of opportunities to be exploited to meet his own needs.

                      That also means he fails to notice the difference between truly trivial issues about which humour is fine, even desirable, and matters that are deeply serious (and not just in some ‘politically correct’ sense). He can’t resist a ‘crack’ that he thinks will make him be admired for his ‘jokeyness’.

                      Increasingly, he’s not alone in that attitude of course.

                      Narcissism, for want of a better word, is quite the fashion these days – at least in the kinds of competitive discourse and humour popular with some males.

                      For me the worst thing is that I think Key’s attitude is indicative of a broader insensitivity to experiences other than one’s own.

                      It’s as if some people think it’s ‘wet’ – or even ‘inauthentic’ – to be concerned about others, especially those whose lives we only hear about.

                      Through observing a kind of projection that some people seem to practice, I’ve noticed that empathy can come to be judged as nothing but posing.

                      As if the very notion of genuine empathy is a delusion and therefore something to be mocked – ‘humorously’, of course – whenever it is claimed.

                    • Murray Rawshark …
                      12 November 2014 at 10:54 pm

                      @ Puddleglum because of the layering. I wouldn’t bother replying to goodsweat in this thread.

                      I think that’s an excellent description of Key. He wants to be popular but has no idea what’s appropriate because he cannot understand how anyone else thinks. I wonder about where he is on the Aspergers spectrum.

                      As far as this issue of the idiotic attempt at humour goes, it’s not the biggest issue around. But it also shouldn’t be ignored. The more he does this sort of stuff, the more people will start questioning his fitness for the position. He’s not going to gain any fans with this behaviour, and he can’t afford to lose too many.

            • ghostwhowalksnz 3.2.1.3.1.2
              12 November 2014 at 10:09 am

              We dont need bigger problems we need a PM who can be seen and heard to have a constructive attitude on the international stage.

              Like it or not this ‘perception issue’ is a really big deal. After all this is why they are having big international meetings like this, so people can meet face to face and see whether so and so is just a dickhead.

            • Rosie 3.2.1.3.1.3
              12 November 2014 at 12:02 pm

              “Maybe you’re right. I’m an insensitive sod……………….”

              Yep, that you are. And you don’t need a camera and mic following you around all day, not when you embarrass yourself here by being an apologist for our unbelievably insensitive and village idiot of a PM

              Just try for as moment to put yourself in the shoes of the victims of Phillip Smith – then you may not have such a flippant attitude towards this highly personally offensive and internationally embarrassing remark.

            • ankerawshark 3.2.1.3.1.4
              12 November 2014 at 9:03 pm

              Good sweat @ 3.2.1.31.

              Yes probably the victims need extra counselling thanks to Mr Key’s comments. Can’t you try to imagine how painful it must be for them having the PM making a joke of the man who has robbed them of the possibility of a normal life.

            • ankerawshark 3.2.1.3.1.5
              12 November 2014 at 9:03 pm

              Good sweat @ 3.2.1.31.

              Yes probably the victims need extra counselling thanks to Mr Key’s comments. Can’t you try to imagine how painful it must be for them having the PM making a joke of the man who has robbed them of the possibility of a normal life.

        • framu 3.2.1.4
          12 November 2014 at 12:22 pm

          yeah thats nothing like not being able to figure out appropriate language for an occasion

          the thing your forgetting is that key pulls these brain dead stunts all the damn time, and on this occasion he could barely get the “joke” out because he thought it was hilarious

          Its not a gaffe – he knew he was going to say it

      • Maz 3.2.2
        12 November 2014 at 4:57 pm

        So relevantly framed Framu. I certainly wouldn’t want John Key in my circle of friends, Prime Minister or not.

        • srylands 3.2.2.1
          12 November 2014 at 5:00 pm

          I would. He would be a scream to get on the piss with. He is obviously a very funny person.

          • Tracey 3.2.2.1.1
            12 November 2014 at 6:03 pm

            “a scream” … what an interesting choice of phrase for a man.

            note: only ever heard it used by women of my mums generation.

            if you are lucky he might drive into your carpark building one day… mind you he will probably run over your tongue

    • TE 3.3
      12 November 2014 at 1:02 pm

      from 12-11-2013 to 12-11-2014
      271 road deaths,
      Drivers 128
      Passengers 58
      Motor Cycle Pillions 40
      Motor Cycle Riders 1
      Pedal Cyclists 10
      Pedestrian 30
      Others 4
      what about the 8 thousand that die each year from cancer in NZ
      51 a day diagnosed in NZ
      22 each day die from cancer in NZ
      nothing you john key or the propoganda bloggers say,
      can offend me more than those statistics

      • goodsweat 3.3.1
        12 November 2014 at 1:18 pm

        Yes TE and I fear for each death there will be 5 very seriously injured people.

        Someone dying on the road brings such heart breaking devastation for so many. Little kids losing Mummy or Daddy. It hammers a close family to the core financially, emotionally and spiritually for years.

        This is the stuff we should be concerned with, this is what matters.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 3.3.1.1
          12 November 2014 at 1:34 pm

          It must suck to have such a feeble mind. Some of us are capable of lobbying for better public transport and against unregulated trucking companies and for the Prime Minister to think before he runs his gobshite in public.

          As for the cancer stats, better get used to them. The older you get the closer your chance of cancer approaches 1, and life expectancy is increasing.

          Gosh, I even managed to consider that too.

          • Tracey 3.3.1.1.1
            12 November 2014 at 1:40 pm

            “.brings such heart breaking devastation for so many. Little kids losing Mummy or Daddy. It hammers a close family to the core financially, emotionally and spiritually for years …”

            unlike sexual assault and murder… oh wait

      • Tracey 3.3.2
        12 November 2014 at 1:37 pm

        i notice you have no concern for the serious maimings and deaths from preventable work accidents… comfy at your desk are you?

        how are you challenging those statistics, what actions do you take to bring your affront to the govt attention?

        or do you just sit at your keyboard worried about things that directly affect you, or could, while ignoring the stuff that doesnt.

        bah

        • TE 3.3.2.1
          12 November 2014 at 3:45 pm

          Are you replying to me Tracey, hard to see with the log in my eye, but if you are here’s a little revelation for you I was replying to goodsweat @3 who said,
          “People have been getting slaughtered on our roads over the last few days and half of the political spectrum is in mourning because someone has hurt feelings over a joke.”
          it kind of got lost in the great replying machine here and as for doing my bit on cancer, to which i am dying of I have fought the good fight on a great many things that do not affect me personally, but to you I say no I am not comfortable at my desk at all, and fuck you.

          • Tracey 3.3.2.1.1
            12 November 2014 at 4:28 pm

            sorry to hear of your cancer. but fuck you too for dismissing the pain and suffering of the victims of murder and sexual abuse which collectively number in the thousands.

        • Murray Rawshark 3.3.2.2
          12 November 2014 at 11:02 pm

          “i notice you have no concern for the serious maimings and deaths from preventable work accidents”

          You cannot assume that from what was not said in a short blog comment. It would be as stupid as my saying you aren’t worried about the sale of state houses because you haven’t mentioned it in the above comment.

          • Tracey 3.3.2.2.1
            13 November 2014 at 9:35 am

            Indeed you are right. I was at the end of my tether with “new” commenters deflecting, distracting and brushing aside a serious issue.

            • Murray Rawshark 3.3.2.2.1.1
              13 November 2014 at 7:43 pm

              I think sometimes we need to get used to the way new people express themselves. I’ve felt the same way quite often.

    • ankerawshark 3.4
      12 November 2014 at 9:29 pm

      Its not either or. Compassion isn’t rationed out.

      Maybe uncaring right wing people think it is.

  4. Dialey 4
    12 November 2014 at 7:59 am

    John Key apologises for being a dick – shock horror, I guess all the other dicks in the country will be insensed and be outraged at such a betrayal of dickdom

  5. srylands 5
    12 November 2014 at 8:22 am

    “how long are we going to put up with this shit, how fucken long?????”

    About another 8.85 years I think.

    • minarch 5.1
      12 November 2014 at 1:00 pm

      “About another 8.85 years I think.”

      cmon Sly you really wanted to say

      FOR THE NEXT GLORIOUS 1000 YEARS

      didnt you ?

  6. weka 6
    12 November 2014 at 8:31 am

    “Obviously it was a very poorly placed attempt at humour and I regret that and I unreservedly apologise. I just misinterpreted the question.”

    “Obviously it was a very poorly placed attempt at humour and I regret that and I unreservedly apologise. Well, kind of unreservedly because now I need to qualify that by saying that I just misinterpreted the question so that you know that nothing is ever really my fault”

    Fify John.

    btw, was Textor Cosby busy yesterday? Because you’re probably paying them too much if all they can give you is a sound bite from the Bart “I didn’t do it” Simpson school of PR.

  7. Melanie Scott 7
    12 November 2014 at 8:37 am

    Damage mode is at full throttle… look over there says Kim Jong Kee. I had dins with Mr Obama and he might come down and see y’all … sometime.

    Are we distracted by this breathless piece of exciting news? I don’t think so.

  8. TheContrarian 8
    12 November 2014 at 9:01 am

    I’m not sure how anyone could ‘misinterpret’ the question.

    I think maybe he’d had a couple of drinks.

    • Tracey 8.1
      12 November 2014 at 9:22 am

      and?

      • TheContrarian 8.1.1
        12 November 2014 at 9:33 am

        And it was a fucking dumb and stupid thing to say.

        • Tracey 8.1.1.1
          12 November 2014 at 9:35 am

          😉

          this is the REAL John Key, when he is unchoreographed. lets not dilute that.

          • Rosie 8.1.1.1.1
            12 November 2014 at 12:06 pm

            Thats true Tracey but then again he did seem a bit squiffy, flushed and giggly. He also behaved that way when he talked about Himself and Abbot racing their planes to APEC and him winning.

            A drunk yob with the emotional intelligence of his peers such as Slater or his true and real personality. Could easily be either or both.

  9. Tracey 9
    12 November 2014 at 9:17 am

    kind of contrasts with the rights outrage over a two year old song called kill the pm, and in which someone stated they wanted to rape his daughter…

    didnt farrars taxpayers union get onto the press immediately about it being funded by nz air? turns out it wasnt, but the outrage, oh the outrage.

    this is a situation where real children were molested and a real father murdered for trying to protect his son… and mr key’s watch, let him escape. hilarious, right farrar, hooton, slater?

    but wait, all three were outraged and raced to the press to express it

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/on-the-inside/253131/blogwatch-anatomy-of-misinformation

    read it…

    slater claims left wing conspiracy

    hooton says its mana ip and calls them creeps…

    HYPOCRITES

    • Tom Jackson 9.1
      12 November 2014 at 9:24 am

      They didn’t state that they wanted to rape his daughter. They said they wanted to sleep with her to annoy him (poor guy sleeps with the rich guys daughter). One is a crime, the other is kind of dumb, but not a crime.

      • Tracey 9.1.1
        12 November 2014 at 9:30 am

        thanks, so even more reason for them to be more outraged at tge PM making a joke of murder, rape,sexual assault of children… no breath holding.

        • Tom Jackson 9.1.1.1
          12 November 2014 at 9:47 am

          It’s not that he made a joke about it, but that he did so poorly. A skilled comedian can make pretty much anything funny – it’s a matter of timing, context and audience – but JK is obviously not a skilled comedian.

          I guess I just resist the view that there are things that people shouldn’t joke about (I’ve heard Jews tell wildly funny holocaust jokes) or that victimhood entails a right to censor other people at all times and in all places. After all, it’s deeply human to joke about the violent and the macabre.

          • tracey 9.1.1.1.1
            12 November 2014 at 10:21 am

            The Prime Minister isn’t “people”. he can tell tasteless jokes that blokes like you find funny in his backyard during his barbie when he is not representing me on the world stage, and not making light of someones tragedy who will hear about it on the next news bulletin.

            • Rosie 9.1.1.1.1.1
              12 November 2014 at 12:08 pm

              +1 tracey

            • felix 9.1.1.1.1.2
              12 November 2014 at 12:44 pm

              +1

              The thing his defenders are either too dumb or too dishonest to address is that Key, as PM, represents us.

              That was you and me and all the rest of NZ laughing at the victims of those horrible crimes.

              It’s actually nothing to do with Key and his comedy career.

              • swordfish …
                12 November 2014 at 3:36 pm

                Whoaaa there !!!, hang on a minute !!! Spare a thought for his Tory Tr*ll defenders on this site. All of their strenuous efforts to defend and minimise Key’s extraordinary utterance yesterday have now been undercut by Key himself (as insincere as his apology may be).

                Let’s take a little stroll down Memory-Lane, here. All the way back to yesterday….

                fisiani
                “Just goes to show that the extreme Left Key haters have no sense of humour.”

                srylands
                “You folk have no sense of humour whatsoever” and “I think you should lighten up” and “The PM saw the funny side” and that the whole controversy is down to “an anti John Key, Left biased media” (I mean, you couldn’t make this shit up, could you !!!)

                Naki man
                <“I pissed myself laughing when Key said that, it was worth hearing twice.”

                Grantoc
                “How many people…..had a quiet chuckle when they heard him say it. Although dark, it was actually quite amusing.”

                • swordfish …
                  12 November 2014 at 3:44 pm

                  Dang !!! My comment above has gone into that hellish limbo-land known asmoderation. I mentioned a certain word beginning with T, preceded by the word Tory, but assumed using an asterix would prevent a slide into moderation purgatory. How wrong I was. Still, they say life’s a veil of tears, don’t they.

                  [lprent: Nope, I didn’t put any word filters in and a few of the more common variants. If you wind up with the “troll” or “tr*ll” (ie a wildcard) anywhere as a sequence of characters, then it traps you. The reason for this is to discourage newbies starting to use it arbitrarily. It brings them to moderator attention for a closer examination. Hi newbie 😈 ]

                  • weka …
                    12 November 2014 at 4:21 pm

                    That spelling of the word (with asterisk) trips the moderation filter I think. ‘Trole’ still seems to be ok though.

                    • swordfish …
                      12 November 2014 at 4:30 pm

                      Cheers, weka. And on top of all that, I had the temerity to spell asterisk with an x. (As a kid I was always in the Asterix, rather than Tintin, camp).

                    • alwyn …
                      12 November 2014 at 4:33 pm

                      I wondered why I hadn’t seen you withdrawing your b*s claim that I was lying when I said that Hughes was the Star Trek groupie.
                      You did apologise but it went into moderation did it? Is that why it doesn’t show up. After all you would surely want to withdraw any false claim you made, wouldn’t you?
                      Anyway have another try after you read this again.
                      http://thestandard.org.nz/not-a-great-headline-for-key/#comment-924385

                    • Tracey …
                      12 November 2014 at 4:40 pm

                      alwyn

                      i wonder, could you point me to your post condemning the PM for making light of murder and child molestation?

                    • weka …
                      12 November 2014 at 4:45 pm

                      Asterix made me smile.

                      Alwyn, I hadn’t seen your reply because I don’t read every comment on ts. Thanks for answering my question though, it does appear you were lying.

                    • McFlock …
                      12 November 2014 at 4:51 pm

                      lol

                      speaking of trools…

                      question from other thread:
                      “are you lying again alwyn?”

                      shifts to new thread
                      “I wondered why I hadn’t seen you withdrawing your b*s claim that I was lying when I said that Hughes was the Star Trek groupie.”

                      Alwyn’s original statement that Weka replied to:
                      “It is Gareth Hughes from the Green Party who dresses up and goes to Star-Trek conventions. The tax-payer has to pay the costs of his jaunts when he does so.”

                      A provides evidence for the assertion that hughes attended a public event in cos, so demands a retraction.
                      No evidence is provided for A’s assertion that GH attended at the taxpayer’s expense, and yet A continues the argument in another post’s thread, demanding a retraction.

                    • Tracey …
                      12 November 2014 at 6:06 pm

                      alwyns quiet… nakiboy and fisiani are avoiding posting proof of their claims or answering simple questions…slylands cant find any links to msm media quoting farrar or hooton or slaters outrage at the prying ministers behaviour

                      the good news is the rw fuckwits have resorted to posting to each other, presumably to shore up their mutual delusions and callousness.

                    • weka …
                      12 November 2014 at 6:10 pm

                      “No evidence is provided for A’s assertion that GH attended at the taxpayer’s expense,”

                      Yep. I thought the article could be read either way: that Hughes went on his own accord or he was there as an MP to speak about the Internet RIghts Bill, but it doesn’t say that he used taxpayer money. Alwyn’s clear implication was that he used taxpayer money to go to something personal, there is no evidence of that, ergo alwyn is lying (again I think).

                  • swordfish …
                    12 November 2014 at 5:09 pm

                    Cheers, 1prent. And I do realise some of us use the term far too loosely for anyone who happens to be Tory. I’ve been guilty of that imprecision myself.

            • travellerev 9.1.1.1.1.3
              12 November 2014 at 2:27 pm

              Yeah, like when he is not his office or wearing his Prime Minister hat

    • srylands 9.2
      12 November 2014 at 9:52 am

      You left out “Farrar calls it a clusterf*** and calls the PM out over bad joke.”

      http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2014/11/a_clusterfk.html

      • tracey 9.2.1
        12 November 2014 at 10:23 am

        Can you link to the mainstream media website where his disgust has been reported and he calls for the PM to step down for using our taxes to work as a poor stand up comedian? His press releases issued within 12 hours, such as the Kill the Pm song?

        Thanks in advance

      • Murray Rawshark 9.2.2
        12 November 2014 at 11:50 pm

        Fuck you’re a dishonest wanker, SSlands. The fancy dress boy called the whole episode a clusterfuck, mostly focussing on everything except FJK.
        On the “joke”
        “An insensitive joke.

        The family of the man the escaped killer had killed and the boy he had abused said they were revolted by Key’s joke and disgusted that he laughed about it.

        Speaking to reporters at the Apec summit in Beijing, Key said he was sorry.

        “Obviously it was a very poorly placed attempt at humour and I regret that and I unreservedly apologise.”

        “I just misinterpreted the question,” he said.

        He said he “absolutely” apologised to the family. They deserved a personal apology from him, and if they wanted one, “I am more than happy to give that to them.”

        When you stuff up, apologise.”

        In other words, the princess party guy takes the opportunity to say “What a man is John Key. What a noble work is he.”

  10. Tiger Mountain 10
    12 November 2014 at 9:24 am

    ShonKey is Prime Minister of gaffes aka offensive remarks and inappropriate actions. From Letterman, Prime Mincing on the catwalk, the RWC ‘three shake”, the throat slitting gesture in parliament, stringing Pike River families along, “kick in the pants” for beneficiaries, no apology for Tania Billingsley, denigrating Glen Greenwald and so on.

    One would like to think Key upon–brief–reflection would have realised his latest idiocy was unbecoming a PM and apologised.

    When actually it was certainly a media and twitter mini shitstorm and even the affected family weighing in that pushed him to retract. The thing is with “mis-interpretations” and inappropriate words that just “pop out” they were likely to have been carried around in his scone for some time. So his apologies are not genuine because he truly believes some of what he says.

    • Tracey 10.1
      12 November 2014 at 9:31 am

      i disagree, many on your list i believed were planned, not gaffes, not all but many.his gaffes are when he genuinelis off the cuff, when there was no advance warning

  11. Weepus beard 11
    12 November 2014 at 10:19 am

    I notice the victims’ family must ask for a personal apology before receiving one.

    He said he “absolutely” apologised to the family. They deserved a personal apology from him, and if they wanted one, “I am more than happy to give that to them.”

    • tracey 11.1
      12 November 2014 at 10:26 am

      it’s a bit like this one though, isn’t it…

      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11297168

      Key really DOES seem to have problems around sexual offences and a total lack of understanding of what victims go through at the time and for the rest of their lives…

      “”I don’t know her name. Obviously it’s a matter of privacy, but I think there’s been plenty of public comments that would echo what I’ve just said,” he said.

      Asked whether he would apologise if he did know her name, Mr Key said: “Yes, in so much that I believe that she shouldn’t have had to go through what she went through.”

      But on Monday, Mr Key refused to apologise to Ms Billingsley, who by then had made her name public, because he said he only made apologies if there was a serious reason for him to do so.”

      • weka 11.1.1
        12 November 2014 at 1:11 pm

        Good spotting Tracey. So in addition to Key being inept at his job, there may be some attitudinal issues around sexual violence beyond the indifference that some people have. That makes more sense than him just being a blokey joker.

        • Tracey 11.1.1.1
          12 November 2014 at 1:57 pm

          it is at worst an emerging pattern, at best a man totally unable to empathise with anything he hasnt experienced…

          neither are great characteristics in a Leader

      • miravox 11.1.2
        12 November 2014 at 8:49 pm

        Similarly, he reckoned the ‘roastbusters’ should just grow up

  12. Naki man 12
    12 November 2014 at 11:43 am

    The issues here are corrections made a massive cockup and this pedo scum was about to be unleashed on the community, not that a few lefties get all bent out of shape over our leader cracking a joke.

    • Potato 12.1
      12 November 2014 at 12:25 pm

      The real issues here is that our ‘leader’ should have been apologizing to Smith’s past and future victims for the massive cockup NOT cracking jokes about it.

      • srylands 12.1.1
        12 November 2014 at 1:08 pm

        How is it John Key’s fault for gods sake? Anyway the guy is GONE. The victims should be happy as can be.

        Stop being a drama queen.

        • framu 12.1.1.1
          12 November 2014 at 3:10 pm

          “im all right jack – fuck brazil”

          the guy isnt gone – WE let him escape, now hes loose in the world and supposedly hooked up with an international sex ring.

          If he goes and rapes some children it is partly OUR fault – because who let him escape again?

          he didnt disappear in a puff of smoke!

          its also partly john keys fault because hes the PM. He is the head of govt, and its the govt who let him escape – its not all prancing about like a rent boy you know

        • weka 12.1.1.2
          12 November 2014 at 4:23 pm

          “The victims should be happy as can be.”

          You dumb fuck, one of his victims lives overseas. His next victims almost certainly do too.

          As if you give a shit about who he harms anyway 🙄

          • Tracey 12.1.1.2.1
            12 November 2014 at 4:43 pm

            the man or woman known as srylnds votes for the party of personal responsibility and accountability but demands none of this PM

    • Tracey 12.2
      12 November 2014 at 12:27 pm

      and keys government ignored a recommendation made in 2012 that would have prevented this from happening… and the buck stops where nakiboy

      • Naki man 12.2.1
        12 November 2014 at 12:43 pm

        From what I have heard so far the parole board and the police seem to have the measure of this peado scumbag, at appears that corrections had him on far to longer leash.

    • ankerawshark 12.3
      12 November 2014 at 9:22 pm

      F..k off Naki Man. Your not even worth replying to

      • Paul 12.3.1
        12 November 2014 at 9:33 pm

        It would be soooooo good if we did not have to read through their garbage that pollutes this site.
        Too much energy is wasted on this bs.

  13. wonderpup 13
    12 November 2014 at 12:13 pm

    Maybe, just maybe, the Dirty Politics effect is that we are realising that we want to be a nicer, kinder society, and things like this are hitting the headlines because they are becoming increasingly unacceptable. The nasty nats have had their day, and its time for a bit of compassion.

    I also can’t wait for John Oliver to pick up on this.

  14. The lost sheep 14
    12 November 2014 at 12:30 pm

    O.K. so you all hate JK. Vent noted.
    But didn’t you learn anything from dirty politics?
    A strategy of personal attacks on JK is more likely to be counter productive than effective.

    Play the ball not the man.
    The Left would be far better served by spending less time obsessing about JK (and Cam), and more time thinking about how to create a credible alternative leader.

    • Tracey 14.1
      12 November 2014 at 12:36 pm

      who on the left has published this? it was the media who reported it, interviewed victims and family. people here are commenting on it. in case you missed it nz doesnt know who i am let alone are influenced on how to vote by me

      your name is ever so apt.

      🙄

      • srylands 14.1.1
        12 November 2014 at 12:46 pm

        “who on the left has published this? it was the media who reported it..”

        The media is heavily biased towards left wing views, is dominated by left wing journalists, and has a strong slant against the present Government.

        So left/media – same thing. You are splitting hairs here.

        • McFlock 14.1.1.1
          12 November 2014 at 1:03 pm

          Newsflash: rabid tory fuck thinks everyone else on the planet is “left wing”.

          • Phil 14.1.1.1.1
            12 November 2014 at 1:23 pm

            Newsflash; Non-partisan political data-analysis firm shows journalists overwhelmingly left wing.

            http://www.businessinsider.com/charts-show-the-political-bias-of-each-profession-2014-11

            • Tracey 14.1.1.1.1.1
              12 November 2014 at 1:26 pm

              makes you wonder how hosking, henry, slater, farrar and hooton ever get coverage

              🙄

              please post the link which shows left wing ventriloquist putting words in PMs mouth, and left wing made govt ignore recommendations in 2012 to close the very loophole this murdering paedophile used to escape.

              TIA

            • McFlock 14.1.1.1.1.2
              12 November 2014 at 1:37 pm

              lol businessinsider “non-partisan”.

              Eye of the beholder, and all that.

            • Psycho Milt 14.1.1.1.1.3
              12 November 2014 at 3:08 pm

              …journalists overwhelmingly left wing.

              Gosh, that’s terrible – if only media companies had owners and editorial staff who could set the editorial direction of their media outlets and see to it that the journalists were made to toe that editorial line…

            • framu 14.1.1.1.1.4
              12 November 2014 at 3:16 pm

              news journos or political journos/commnetators?

              theres a difference both in subject and slant

            • swordfish 14.1.1.1.1.5
              12 November 2014 at 4:17 pm

              Newsflash

              (1) The article is Australian

              (2) There’s some ambiguity as to whether it relates to the US or Aussie media industry (one page, for instance, talks about Congressional voting records). But it certainly has nothing whatsoever to do with New Zealand journalists

              (3) The methodology is highly suspect (campaign contributions to individual candidates from US (or Aussie) media individuals and organisations)

              (4) The scale it uses is not Left-Right, but something quite different – morally/socially Liberal vs Conservative. As in: the voting record on liberal/conservative moral issues of the specific candidate/politician being denoted to (which sounds more like the US than Oz).

              (5) In other words, you’re talking not only bollocks, but, indeed, Complete and Utter Bollocks.

          • Tracey 14.1.1.1.2
            12 November 2014 at 1:23 pm

            tory fuck avoids answering questions which prove their ravings are unfounded.

            slylands is very protective toward Farrar. it gets him all “how very dare you!”

            • srylands 14.1.1.1.2.1
              12 November 2014 at 1:31 pm

              It is “srylands”. I object to you mangling my pseudonym. I don’t know Farrar. I simply point out some of your more absurd attacks on one of the few rational and balanced political commentators in the country.

              The thing with this esacped bad guy is that it gets you all riled up. You then inflame your comrades and it goes on and on.

              I suggest you get a grip.

              • McFlock …
                12 November 2014 at 3:06 pm

                I object to your mangled philosophy and your warped perspective of reality. Farrar’s a tory salesman, bought and paid for. To call him “balanced” is fucking moronic.

                The “thing with this escaped bad guy” (as you so eloquently put it) is that he escaped using a systemic flaw that the government was aware of years ago. And because of that a murderer and sexual predator has escaped.

                The fact that you see nothing in the above paragraph to get “all riled up” about is sweet, but please stop commenting about issues that involve empathy, ethics, justice, leadership, or integrity. You, like BM, are patently out of your depth.

              • framu …
                12 November 2014 at 3:15 pm

                poor slyhands – such a persecuted minority. If only his arguments were so strong they didnt need debating

              • Psycho Milt …
                12 November 2014 at 3:18 pm

                The thing with this esacped bad guy is that it gets you all riled up.

                Er, yes. There’s something about the authorities letting a manipulative, murderous pedophile out on leave, and letting him get a passport, and letting him leave the country, that people find somewhat annoying. It’s your lack of concern that bucks the trend.

                That said, getting riled up about the escaped bad guy is irrelevant. What’s getting people here riled up is the chap responsible for all these fuck-up authorities considers said bad guy’s escape a great joke – until he sees people’s reactions, at which point he issues a faux apology while (presumably) privately annoyed at their lack of a sense of humour.

              • Tracey …
                12 November 2014 at 4:34 pm

                object to an anonymous handle but cant see how the PM laughing and joking about an escaped child molester and murder could be a problem.

                slylands… dont sell yourself short you worship at the feet of farrar. lest anyone mentions him here, there you are defending him…

                i suggest you grip yourself less

              • minarch …
                12 November 2014 at 4:36 pm

                “It is “srylands”. I object to you mangling my pseudonym”

                I dont think anybody cares slick…

        • Tracey 14.1.1.2
          12 November 2014 at 1:22 pm

          thats none then. how are you going finding the link to where farrars outrage at the PM has been reported in the msm?

          thanks for spending your lunch break here, slow day at the carpark.

        • ankerawshark 14.1.1.3
          12 November 2014 at 9:24 pm

          Srylands @ 14.1.1. Ha, ha, ha, ha ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha

          I know you are joking of course. At least it is a better joke than that disgraceful effort from JK

  15. Tel 15
    12 November 2014 at 1:19 pm

    John Phillip Key or is that John Phillip Smith? The only thing genuine about both of them is they rape and plunder and skip the country.

  16. Neil 16
    12 November 2014 at 1:22 pm

    Key should be made to resign over this. You all must remember this is not the first time he has made offensive comments of this nature. Remember Key Referring to Tuhoi as cannibals & Calling that west coast woman a fucking feral.
    I makes me ashamed to call myself a kiwi.

    • Tracey 16.1
      12 November 2014 at 1:27 pm

      slater called the dead man from the west coast feral, not john key.

      • amirite rawshark 16.1.1
        12 November 2014 at 2:10 pm

        WhaleOil was quoting John Key on Jo Hall, the dead man’s mother, as: “same feral fucking bitch that screams at him when he goes to Pike River meetings”

        • Tracey 16.1.1.1
          12 November 2014 at 2:13 pm

          slater says he was quoting john key… slater is not known for his honesty so until there is proof i will defend attributing this to the prying minister

    • North 16.2
      13 November 2014 at 8:22 am

      Neill @ 16 – “Key should be made to resign over this.”

      Never fear, that straight down the middle, impartial, award winning joke of a journalist John Armstrong is working on it. Nothing out yet ? No……well, a touch of writers’ block at the moment, that’s all.

  17. TeWhareWhero 17
    12 November 2014 at 2:13 pm

    I think Key gets a bit star-struck and over-excited when he’s on the world stage and he reverts to type – shallow and insouciant.

    His loyal followers will continue to excuse his gaffes and a lot in middle NZ will find all manner of reasons why they don’t need to care.

    It’ll all be over and forgotten by the media in a week or so because there’s enough of the Teflon intact for the shit to slide off leaving little trace except for those of us with eagle eyes and keen noses.

  18. Bea Brown 18
    12 November 2014 at 2:55 pm

    John Key is mentioned here more often than on any other site.
    You are unhealthily obsessed.
    Or jealous?
    Is it perhaps because all you have are those four boring numpties as your possible leaders?
    And you know that not one of them is likely to last as leader until the next election. Partly because they are boring, partly because the Labour knives are already being sharpened.

    • TeWhareWhero 18.1
      12 November 2014 at 3:44 pm

      Bea Brown – if a Leftwing politician had made a similar remark it would have resulted in a hue and a cry from the Right that would drown out all debate.

      You and others like you need to grow up and accept that Captain Teflon made a boo-boo. He blundered. He dropped a whopping great clanger on the world stage. He opened his mouth without engaging his brain and he made light of something very serious.

      It wasn’t just the offence he caused to the family and all people of common sense and decency, he failed to respond appropriately to what was a monumental failure of a prison system which he and his government are in charge of.

      And you have the gall to call the Labour leadership contenders ‘numpties’.

    • Tracey 18.2
      12 November 2014 at 4:18 pm

      it seems odd that right wingers dont realise john key is the prime minister. mind you he has told them he has several identities so their confusion is understandable

  19. Bea Brown 19
    12 November 2014 at 2:58 pm

    Wasn’t it Helen Clark who first referred to West Coasters as feral?
    And wasn’t it that delicate flower Jacinda who first tweeted in excited outrage at John Key’s light-hearted comment?

    [lprent: And if you ask questions into the ether on this site, you often get me answering. And if you’d read the policy, you’d know that I hate having my time being wasted.

    I often get ‘unkind’ about fools who use rhetoric rather than actually arguing a point. They are such a complete waste of bandwidth with their unsaid points. It usually indicates someone who is a limp dick at constructing and arguing a point. They have the stamina and mental capacities of a drunk.

    On this site, always make sure that you have a point to your comment and always address your points to someone. No-one is even remotely interested in developing the telepathy required to read your mind. Apart from any other reason, because we have already had our laughs at your teeny intellect already. Since I am the default listener, I will educate you about how much I really don’t like having to answer.

    Anyway, banned for a week for wasting my time with a comment that didn’t state anything and was implicitly addressed to me. Anyway care to take a bet on the whining pattern we get from this one. ]

    • framu 19.1
      12 November 2014 at 3:23 pm

      “light-hearted comment?”

      What is wrong with you people?

      Since when has child rape EVER been considered a light hearted comment anywhere?

      and then can you enlighten us when child rape has become a light hearted topic at a meeting of world leaders?

      cmon Bea Brown – if its such a small deal surely you can point to some level of societal acceptance of the practice

    • Tracey 19.2
      12 November 2014 at 4:37 pm

      no, she referred to a pro logging group as behaving in a feral manner, and you such a stickler for what is actually said.

      you wrote

      “..Go back and see what he actually said. And don’t exaggerate or extrapolate or just plain tell lies. …”

  20. Sabine 20
    12 November 2014 at 3:31 pm

    Dear National Party
    Please send us better trolls. The current crop is boring, stale and well just not really there. I feel that the effort they put into upsetting punters on this page is halfhearted and lacking of gusto.

    It might be that you need to adjust their meds, or maybe increase their pay, or maybe they need more weetbix for breakfast, but please do something.

    They used to be entertaining. So please, can we have a better, newer, and more hungry set of trolls for our amusement.

    thank you kindly
    a citizen of NZ

    [Hey Sabine use of the T* word always makes the computer put your comment in moderation. Regards MS]

  21. Bea Brown 21
    12 November 2014 at 3:36 pm

    framu
    Go back and see what he actually said. And don’t exaggerate or extrapolate or just plain tell lies.
    Your hatred of John Key is making you all a bit mad.
    More reason not to vote Labour if you lose all sense of proportion and even your grasp on reality.

    • framu 21.1
      12 November 2014 at 4:03 pm

      Oh boo fricken hoo – your going to be all semantic on whether the joke was about a child rapist or child rape?

      Does it make any difference?

      did or did not key make a joke about a violent child rapist who we let slip through our fingers?

      do you think it is acceptable for the PM, who is our top representative, to make such jokes on the world stage?

  22. srylands 22
    12 November 2014 at 3:42 pm

    JK did not make a ligt hearted comment about child rape. He made a light hearted comment about a New Zealand fugitive in Chile (where he was thought to intially be). This same bad guy has served 18 years for his crime. If he is smart enough to get away and be Brazil’s problem for the next couple of decades, good luck to him.

    Given the views of most of the comrades on this site to international trade policy, I am surprised at the outrage (which I think is fake). You are frequently lecturing that in trade and investment policy, we should be concerned about the welfare of New Zealanders rather than the welfare of workers in other countries. This guy escaping has made everyone in New Zealand better off. The taxpayers, and his victims. No wonder the PM was making light hearted jokes. I am amazed he apologised. His response to the “left” (also known as the “media”) should have been “get a grip”.

    • framu 22.1
      12 November 2014 at 4:05 pm

      further displays of your sociopathic morality isnt required slyhands

    • McFlock 22.2
      12 November 2014 at 4:11 pm

      😯

      You had me at “good luck to him”.

      The rest was just gobsmacking.

      I suspect that even the escaped murderer and child abuser has greater comprehension than you of why people are rightfully fucked off at the government making this fuckup and then joking about it.

      • Psycho Milt 22.2.1
        12 November 2014 at 4:32 pm

        To be fair, for someone of Srylands’ ideology, Smith is an enterprising, entrepreneurial type who doesn’t take shit from the government. He’s pretty much a true Randian hero, so surely we can overlook minor defects like being a devious, manipulative, child-molesting, murdering psychopath? Good luck to him indeed!

        • McFlock 22.2.1.1
          12 November 2014 at 4:39 pm

          Come to think of it, Rand’s main characters weren’t too worried about the difference between “sex” and “rape”, either. The characteristics you list aren’t “minor defects”, apparently they symbolise just how much of an awesome, creative, refuse-to-be-ruled-by-the-herd, giant-among-shrimps Smith really is.

        • Tracey 22.2.1.2
          12 November 2014 at 4:45 pm

          yet he votes for the three strikes and we burn you outside the townhall party…

    • cardassian 22.3
      12 November 2014 at 5:03 pm

      ITT: srylands wishes a paedophile good luck for his future of molesting children.
      Think we all know the kind of person you are now.

    • fisiani 22.4
      12 November 2014 at 5:10 pm

      Quite right sir. All the commentary above is fake outrage. I cannot believe that any sane person thinks that murder and rape are approved or condoned by the PM. The posters who postulate this are actually sane but misguided. Sadly they just want to criticise John Key. They have been trying this tactic with National leaders for more than a decade and all the evidence shows that there is absolutely no impact on the popularity of the PM. In fact I suspect the unwarranted abuse he gets causes even more people to like him. All the evidence so far suggests that the nutters above will keep banging this drum for the next three years. I really hope they do.

      • McFlock 22.4.1
        12 November 2014 at 5:20 pm

        I cannot believe that any sane person thinks that murder and rape are approved or condoned by the PM. The posters who postulate this are actually sane but misguided.

        Who has postulated that our prime minister has approved or condoned rape?

        All I’ve seen are people pissed that he makes jokes about murderers escaping by fiendishly leaving the country using their real name.

        Feel free to link to support your claim.

        As opposed to the dickhead you’ve replied to, who just wished good luck to an escaped murderer and rapist.

        • Tracey 22.4.1.1
          12 November 2014 at 5:59 pm

          felix referenced rape, i think, he is a murder AND child molester, thats sexual assault at a minimum.

          fizzi is displaying faux outrage at the outrage

          • felix 22.4.1.1.1
            12 November 2014 at 7:06 pm

            Oops sorry I meant to say “the PM thinks it’s totes lolz to sexually assault a child for three years and then murder one of the parents in front of the other”.

            fizzy’s right, that’s much funnier.

            • McFlock 22.4.1.1.1.1
              12 November 2014 at 10:40 pm

              so at best, when fisi refers to “all the commentary above”, he means you?

              You rotter, felix. John Key is obviously the real victim here.

              • felix …
                12 November 2014 at 11:24 pm

                I reckon fizzy thinks all the comments here are written by 2 or 3 people.

                That’s how he usually does it at his place.

    • Murray Rawshark 22.5
      13 November 2014 at 12:16 am

      Vai se foder SSlands, direitista de merda. O Brasil não precisa dos problemas causados pelo governo estúpido do FJK, o seu deus na terra.

  23. TeWhareWhero 23
    12 November 2014 at 4:09 pm

    I missed this gem earlier from srylands:

    “The media is heavily biased towards left wing views, is dominated by left wing journalists, and has a strong slant against the present Government. So left/media – same thing.
    You are splitting hairs here.”

    And srylands and his ilk don’t just manufacture hairs, they dye them bright red, fashion them into a wig, place it on an effigy, label it ‘The Left Elite” and expect the world to believe it’s a real person.

    The assertion that there is a Left Elite which controls the media is a pathetic LIE rendered even more pitiable by more FACTS than I have time or energy to list.

    There are some journalists who are leftish – most of them way more Ish than Left; and there are some rightish journalists who have sufficient intelligence and integrity to want to be as impartial, accurate and unbiassed as their professional code tells them they should be.

    But, overall, the bias in the media is to the Right – and only a prat or an ideologue (or a wind up merchant) would argue otherwise.

  24. TeWhareWhero 24
    12 November 2014 at 4:20 pm

    “JK did not make a ligt hearted comment about child rape. He made a light hearted comment about a New Zealand fugitive in Chile (where he was thought to intially be). This same bad guy has served 18 years for his crime. If he is smart enough to get away and be Brazil’s problem for the next couple of decades, good luck to him.”

    Who’s splitting hairs now in an attempt to let the Beloved Leader off the hook?

    Note comment 18.1 above. The insensitivity of the remarks aside, Key joked about the escape of a serious offender that was occasioned by a failure of government departments to communicate and manage properly. His government, his responsibility.

    We know he lacks gravitas and judgement – unless he’s been coached in the right response he’ll revert to type – flip, superficial, glib. Great if you’re schmoozing banksters, not so great when you’re a PM.

    • Tracey 24.1
      12 November 2014 at 4:48 pm

      slylans is a carpark attendant in wellington who pretends to be married to a woman who votes green, and that he lives in australia. he admires farrar and has become farrars self appointed apologist and defender on this site. He thinks laughing at child molestation and murder are great leadership qualities, and voted for the david garrett party to prove it.

  25. Paul 25
    12 November 2014 at 6:19 pm

    We are feeding these boorish tr****
    I don’t understand how their deliberately incendiary comments keep getting allowed, as they are only made to derail threads. But we have to accept that.
    However what we can do is ignore them.
    Then conversations can be constructive, intelligent and left wing.

    • BM 25.1
      12 November 2014 at 6:20 pm

      You’re such a bore, Paul.

    • Tracey 25.2
      12 November 2014 at 6:24 pm

      theyve started posting to each other, to keep morale up and allow them to continue with their delusions. being callous for a hobby must be draining and at times you need the other rw fuckwits approval to stop you questioning your lack of moral compass.

      these are people who frothed at the mouth over a painting for charity and went apoplectic over a car speeding to an ab match… you can only imagine how hard it is to defend this pm over and over day after day

    • greywarshark 25.3
      12 November 2014 at 8:16 pm

      Keep a certain number of RW trills for pets Paul is what i think. BM says you are a bore, which reflects our opinions about him.

      lprent Perhaps we can spell these guys and rotate them? What about the idea of having breaks from the acid rain for a while? No more than two RW regulars at a time, and they would have about two months on and then time off and rotate them.

      • Paul 25.3.1
        12 November 2014 at 9:05 pm

        Please lprent
        Give us a break!
        🙂

        • lprent 25.3.1.1
          12 November 2014 at 9:12 pm

          Sure I could do that. But what you are seeing at present is just a level of inattention due to a lack of work. Eventually I find more time and start doing more attentive watching of comments often with the inevitable results.

          But you have to remember that right now you are watching a few posts coming through that dare to criticize these arselickers personal deity….

          Just thank your lucky stars that you are an individual who doesn’t prop your existence up by getting terrified whenever anyone lands a effective criticism on your personal religious totem

  26. Anne 26
    12 November 2014 at 6:25 pm

    lols Tracey @ 24.1 🙂

    Having come here at the end of the day, I’m sure everything that needs to be said has been said… but have just seen the apology clip on TV. He was wearing his sulky, spoilt kid look:

    I’ve been forced to apologise and I don’t do apologies. F—k the lot of you.

    • Tracey 26.1
      12 November 2014 at 6:27 pm

      the rw fuckwits here dont know what key did wrong which makes explaining keys apology problematic…

      • fisiani 26.1.1
        12 November 2014 at 8:23 pm

        The delusion of the Left that people care enough about a one liner that they will change their vote in three years seems to run deeply through this thread. Has it been the talk over the water cooler today? Nup. Will a 1000 day drip drip drip of faux outrage create a tsunami of disgust? Nup. Gotta try harder guys.

        • emergency mike 26.1.1.1
          12 November 2014 at 10:06 pm

          The only delusion is the one where you think that this thread is about trying to score points against Key 4 votes.

          • fisiani 26.1.1.1.1
            12 November 2014 at 10:19 pm

            Trying to score points against Honest John seems to make up a large number of the posts let alone this thread. Utterly pointless. Probably makes most readers feel righteous but reads like comedy. Negative politics seldom works in NZ. Come on. Vote Positive. Be Positive.

            • emergency mike 26.1.1.1.1.1
              12 November 2014 at 10:39 pm

              “Negative politics seldom works in NZ.”

              So you didn’t read Dirty Politics yet? It’s been working quite nicely for National for some years now.

              Again, what makes you think that this blog’s raison d’etre is drumming up votes for the left? This is an open discussion blog for lefties. People here are either split between which left party they will vote for, or RW tr0lls having a tr0ll.

              • fisiani …
                13 November 2014 at 12:05 am

                Which part of the Lauranora post “The Philip Smith story is going to hurt Nationa” is not about votes moving from National. l

                • McFlock …
                  13 November 2014 at 12:28 am

                  I see why you said “Trying to score points against Honest John seems to make up a large number of the posts let alone this thread. ” (my italics).
                  You had to cite one out-of-context sentence from a post by another author. You had to let alone “this thread” as soon as you were challenged on your previous line “The delusion of the Left that people care enough about a one liner that they will change their vote in three years seems to run deeply through this thread.”

                  You’re a fucking numpty.

                • emergency mike …
                  13 November 2014 at 1:05 am

                  The title expresses an opinion that the Philip Smith story is going to hurt National. The content of the post gives an argument in support of that opinion.

                  Maybe you could show me that part where the author claims that writing that post on The Standard is going to hurt National.

                  This isn’t a very high level distiction.

                • emergency mike …
                  13 November 2014 at 1:14 am

                  Plus what McFlock said. You’ve shifted the goalposts around like a champion numpty.

            • Tracey 26.1.1.1.1.2
              13 November 2014 at 9:46 am

              Touched quite the nerve today havent we fizzi… Otherwise why spend o much of your time here fighting for th indefensible. Your mum must be so proud

              • greywarshark …
                13 November 2014 at 10:53 am

                I wonder if there is a list of criticisms and put downs that RW trills can dip into and use for their incessant usually trivial communications?

                It would be so unfair if they were just firing comments at us that were pre-prepared, while we sit down and apply our time, our minds and intellect in good faith in an effort to explain and refute.

                Picture a tennis player practising racket technique,hitting at automated tennis balls being fired at frequent intervals. Do we choose to be the equivalent? I rarely bother to hit at the dross getting fired. It’s only occasionally that something is worth troubling one’s mind and using one’s fingers for.

  27. Whateva next? 27
    12 November 2014 at 7:34 pm

    Cover blown, would Mr.Key enlighten us on “what is required of a Prime Minister with respect to non- financial issues? Has he the faintest idea of what being a statesmen is???? As with parents of west coast boys hearing about Key’s response to Whaleoil, hard to imagine how much worse Key has made the victim’s of Smith’s crime feel.whataguy.

  28. Wendigo Jane 28
    12 November 2014 at 8:58 pm

    The intention behind the joke was to signal to the senior public servants involved that he is “not too concerned, not too worried etc”. Enough time has passed and there have been enough retirements and restructurings etc for National to feel that the public service is essentially theirs and refreshed – the change and churn of CEs and senior managers. Ray Smith the Corrections CE and Jeremy Lightfoot the “Commissioner” in his unearned epaulettes (the uniforms for National Office managers was Crusher’s idea) are career bureaucrats, not from a prisons or policing background like Corrections managers used to be – Wellington “shiny-bums” and managerialist types.

    Th apparent lack of serious incidents under Ray Smith’s watch lead to people braying around the traps about how great Corrections is being managed under Ray Smith and National Ministers etc. These people believe their own spin, they don’t need reality, they have their “messaging”. Wellington is full of stale unimaginative plonkers with no vision and no imagination, their response seems to be the systems are running smoothly, it’s reality that’s broken, also this has never happened before, so how can we be expected to predict it. Why wasn’t a simple data match in place between Corrections and DIA – no Minister ordered it or no one further up the food chain asked for it.

    So, don’t expect a serious independent inquiry into this, it would challenge the current culture of the public service, and Shonkey is “comfortable” thank you, nothing to see here.

    • Anne 28.1
      12 November 2014 at 9:18 pm

      Oh well said Wendigo Jane.

      I watched the same culture develop in the late 1980s and part of the 1990s inside a public service agency. Managers brought in from outside… didn’t have a clue about the specific subject matter involved… changed everything for changes sake… employed a few psychopaths who proceeded to cause havoc. The agency all but sank beneath it’s own weight of incompetent management (with a bit of corruption thrown in) and believe it or not, was finally saved from extinction by a National Party minister, Rob Storey.

      All covered up of course!

  29. emergency mike 29
    12 November 2014 at 10:13 pm

    “He said he “absolutely” apologised to the family. They deserved a personal apology from him, and if they wanted one, “I am more than happy to give that to them.””

    Such a classic Keyism, ‘absolutely’, you mean like it’s a real, actual apology? Not just a phony whatever one? Does it come with a certificate?

    They ‘deserve a personal apology’. But he’s not going to call them – they have ask if they actually want to get one.

    John Key: empathy free zone.

    • McFlock 29.1
      12 November 2014 at 10:50 pm

      like the apology he was absolutely willing to give the last time someone skipped the country under his watch

      • emergency mike 29.1.1
        13 November 2014 at 2:31 am

        Ah yes, that one. ‘Absolutely willing’ there somehow turned into ‘don’t see why I should’ in the blink of an eye.

        I think when Key says things like ‘absolutely’ and ‘promise’ and ‘guarantee’ and ‘commitment’ and ‘transparency’ and ‘higher standards’, ‘100% Pure NZ’, he understands that these are just words. Not real things. Just nice words that people want to hear at a given, convenient moment.

        Words that make certain people STFU, and make bad situations go away. They don’t cost anything, and they’re quite effective.

  30. Brian 30
    13 November 2014 at 1:51 am

    He is too much of a coward to own it. Gutless twat.

  31. Trisha 31
    13 November 2014 at 6:27 am

    Key is not ‘playing at being a political weasel’ – he IS a weasel. He is street smart in terms of making a buck or five as demonstrated during his derivatives trading period. He continues to be a waste-of-space politician and embarrassing representative of New Zealand.

    His complete lack of integrity, decent values, humanity and any statesmanlike qualities has always been evident. It is no surprise he produces yet another ‘gaffe’ and pseudopology.

    He is going to be around for as long as he wants, so it seems. I don’t espouse theories that suggest he stole the election as did Bush in the US, but I suspect he owns the media – literally – and it was a media driven campaign which was determined to undermine Cunliffe every step of the way. Who was at the helm……..

  32. Dont worry. Be happy 32
    13 November 2014 at 7:03 am

    Key must be cross. So much coverage of a killer and rapist walking out of prison and the country….not enough of Key looking real cool hanging out with important people cracking them up with his awesome sense of humour. Sulky faced John time.

  33. JanMeyer 33
    13 November 2014 at 7:32 am

    203 comments on the assertion that an apology is not “genuine”. Jeez, must have been a big news day!

  34. The lost sheep 34
    13 November 2014 at 10:06 am

    207 comments and still going strong on ‘John Key apology not genuine’ thread, while the latest threads regarding the Labour Leadership contest have attracted 10, 30, 81, 103 comments….

    Far too much effort obsessing about the opposition, and not nearly enough focus on our own game IMO.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 34.1
      13 November 2014 at 10:11 am

      This is not a Labour Party blog, so that might have something to do with it.

      • weka 34.1.1
        13 November 2014 at 10:27 am

        might also be something to do with the issue having been discussed ad nauseum over the past 18 months.

        10+ 30+ 81+ 103 = how many comments?

    • karol 34.2
      13 November 2014 at 10:50 am

      As well as this not being a Labour Party blog, the numbers of comments do not necessarily reflect the interest in a post.

      Some posts get a high number of views, but very few comments. Often the number of comments increase when right wingers keep trying to contest the post and/or comments about it.

      As far as I am aware, Labour Party members don’t always discuss party business in public. Also, I think probably LP members have other avenues through which to discuss the leadership contenders.

    • lprent 34.3
      13 November 2014 at 1:21 pm

      207 comments and still going strong on ‘John Key apology not genuine’ thread, while the latest threads regarding the Labour Leadership contest have attracted 10, 30, 81, 103 comments….

      Another unthinking idiot. Think about it for a few minutes….

      A post on John Key attracts the nutter fringes of the right who come over here to metaphorically drop their trousers and have a quick brainless crap. It also gets the right religionists like fis who object to anyone condemning his personal deity. So there is a bit of a stoush that happens and we get lots of rather boring comments. However it is didn’t have a particularly high readership. We have had posts with less than quarter of the comments and more than quadruple the numbers of readers. For instance Rocky’s post on the food industry pushing against breast feeding using arseholes like Cameron Slater.

      So only an dick waving idiot like yourself would consider that a lot of smoke means that there is a hell of a fire.

      With the Labour leadership, there are avenues outside the online media to talk about it. I’ve been to about 7 over the past weeks to see candidates and had a whole lot more quiet conversations in person and via email.

      For some reason we don’t really feel the need to invite ignorant dick wavers like yourself to these. This is a matter for Labour party members.

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