Left wing twitter is the worst *

Written By: - Date published: 7:42 am, September 1st, 2020 - 69 comments
Categories: facebook, internet, Judith Collins, Media, national, same old national, the praiseworthy and the pitiful, twitter - Tags:

I am surprised that National leader Judith Collins’ husband David Wong Tung has not had his social media thoroughly scrubbed and cleaned.  Because it looks like it could have used a good cleaning.

This appeared yesterday.

https://twitter.com/BobbyMiller202/status/1300231360926236677

And a dive into his social media, which was open to the world, showed some pretty unsavoury items.  Like one reposted item accusing Ardern of “making it easier for unemployed ferals to continue getting the benefit without any sanctions on those who don’t seek work” and describing Māori as “Natives”.

Judith’s response?  Boys will be boys.  From Thomas Coughlan at Stuff:

Collins said the posts were not something she would do herself.

“We have been together for 41 years; I have never been able to get him to do anything I tell him to do,” she said.

“It is not something I would do but he is an adult, he makes his own decisions; I think he gets sick of people having a go at him and me.”

Collins said she did not think the posts were sexist.

“He is one of the least sexist men I know, he is married to me, how could he be sexist?” Collins said.

“He is an adult, he will make his own decisions and let’s put it this way, I don’t have to answer for him because I have not been able to control him in 41 years.

“If you have got the secret to how you control a man who is 64 years old, used to play a lot of rugby and was a policeman, good luck and let me know,” she said.

As much as possible leaders’ spouses should be left out of the media gaze.  But regularly and publicly attacking the opponent with racist misogynist material makes them fair game.  And the response of their spouse will show how ready they are to be leader of the country.

69 comments on “Left wing twitter is the worst * ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Stuart Munro 1
    1 September 2020 at 7:51 am

    I have a feeling Judith is being disingenuous. She enjoyed a long and influential relationship with Slater, and it does not seem that her influence was employed in moderating his baser instincts.

    Disraeli once described the manner of Bishop Wilberforce as “unctuous, oleaginous, saponaceous.” And the good prelate was ever afterward known as Soapy Sam. For every man there is something in the vocabulary that would stick to him like a second skin. His enemies have only to find it. Bierce The Devil's Dictionary

    David Wong Tung seems to be struggling to find that apt putdown.

  2. PsyclingLeft.Always 2
    1 September 2020 at 7:52 am

    Well what else could be expected of "Swamp Kauri" Wong-Tung ?

    ( I did link this from ODT elsewhere, but what a True Image…)

    https://www.odt.co.nz/news/decision-2020/collins-husband-criticised-sharing-anti-ardern-memes

  3. Pierre 3
    1 September 2020 at 7:57 am

    not enough maoists on the timeline for left-wing twitter

  4. Ad 4
    1 September 2020 at 8:20 am

    C'mon team we're just lucky we've had the Partner media thing locked up for three years. Gayford had his own tv show ffs. Plus they are both pretty and have a young baby.

    Ardern has the most massive Facebook and Twitter advantage that this is joust not worrying about.

    Labour have media assets by the truckload.

    And Collin's team will get around him and train him up.

    This isnot a campaign area we need to worry about.

  5. tc 5
    1 September 2020 at 8:31 am

    All part of their strategy. Collins doesn't give a F and has the morals to accompany that approach.

    She'll fill the gap Cammy left no worries.

    • Gabby 5.1
      1 September 2020 at 11:06 am

      What kind of gap does a moral vacuum leave?

      • Wensleydale 5.1.1
        1 September 2020 at 1:31 pm

        She's the political equivalent of a quantum singularity — sucking in all light, truth and goodness, and leaving only frigid desolation in its wake. #StrongTeam

  6. Dennis Frank 6
    1 September 2020 at 8:34 am

    Mimetics in political theory & application is a topic worthy of theses. When universities catch on (next century) useful elucidation may ensue. Until then:

    Memes can’t be tamed.

    https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/24-08-2020/the-meme-election-a-qa-with-the-minds-behind-two-political-meme-groups/

    So rogue memes and wild memes are different beasts.

    at the end of the day, meme pages like BKM are just for some lols at New Zealand’s little political goings-on. While we aspire to have the cred of influential pages like Shit Towns of New Zealand or Vicdeals, we do not.

    At the start of the day at the end of the day seems rather tired and the contagion may be a spent force. Shit towns, on the other hand…

    Sometimes politics is hard to understand

    Only because it isn't taught in schools, eh? C'mon you kids, there's more to life than social media banality, nudge that penny & it may drop! Syllabus reform!! Get it??

    the meme scene in 2020 is a dog-eat-dog world

    Gah! Stuffed by traditionalism already when it's hardly even born!

    It’s hard to balance the reality that we just set up this stupid meme page for fun with the responsibility of preventing this kind of platform from being used for rumours or slander.

    Ah, moral responsibility, not part of the syllabus. Learn via social darwinism.

    The prime minister won’t change. Ever.

    Quite a negative view for Labour youngsters to have. Still, mindless recycling of conservatism is indeed how the establishment operates, so they've learnt something!

    Just in case it isn’t apparent to readers, the husband was reproducing the artistry of the young Nat meme support group. Spinoff interviewed them plus the Labour same…

  7. Patricia Bremner 7
    1 September 2020 at 8:38 am

    We need to know what role Judith Collins sees for her husband in the future.

    He would have to be the most obnoxious partner of any leader, with scant respect for many aspects of New Zealand life apparently. Intent on breaking trust in the covid fight. A very Trumpish attitude.

    I think that is a truly toxic group, David Wong Tung Judith Collins Gerry and Slater???!!!

    Not just National Policies are "Back to the Future" it is Dirty Politics all over again.

    Why am I not surprised??

    Someone said Jacinda Ardern is tough and will weather this, but this is personal and nasty, it is aimed at her not the Labour Party.

    I hope people pour scorn on Judith Collins' silly rejoinder.

  8. Anker 8
    1 September 2020 at 9:03 am
    • I think it will back fire on Collins.
    • Gabby 8.1
      1 September 2020 at 11:08 am

      Her farmer constituency will think he's a great bloke to have a beer with and then go bash some scarfies.

  9. Reality 9
    1 September 2020 at 9:42 am

    Surely there are decent, upright normal National supporters who cringe at Judith and her husband and their behaviour over a good many years. At 64 he should be mature enough not to engage in childish pathetic behaviour. He is not 16.

  10. AB 10
    1 September 2020 at 10:00 am

    If you regard the world and other people as a set of resources to be utilised to your advantage – all this ' kindness' stuff from the PM must drive you up the wall with rage and frustration. It might even lead you to do silly things – so silly that even if you are a supposedly uncontrollable 64-year old, rugby playing bloke, your powerful wife is going to give you a total bollocking.

    There is only one question worth asking of Collins before swiftly moving on – "are you and your husband ideological soul-mates?" However she answers it, the question itself does the damage.

  11. Anne 11
    1 September 2020 at 10:15 am

    Well, Barry Soper thinks its all Much Ado About Nothing.

    And anyway, says Barry, Labour do it too – referring to Clarke G once calling a journo a bottom feeder. How that is supposed to equate to the sexist and demeaning comments about the prime minister I don't know.

    We haven't got a sense of humour says dear Barry. We're supposed to laugh at the man’s wittery. (my word) 🙄

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12361092

    • PsyclingLeft.Always 11.1
      1 September 2020 at 10:18 am

      Barry and Heather are the print medias Hosking and Hawkseby…bluuurgh

    • Gabby 11.2
      1 September 2020 at 11:09 am

      Got to wonder what rumours Soapy Baz has been responsible for generating over the years.

    • woodart 11.3
      1 September 2020 at 12:53 pm

      so is soper giving us the greenlight to gaslight his partner?

    • Wensleydale 11.4
      1 September 2020 at 1:34 pm

      Clarke wasn't talking about Soper, was he? If so, I didn't know Barry was such a sensitive soul.

      • anker 11.4.1
        1 September 2020 at 5:13 pm

        Clarke was referring to a "Journo" whose name escapes me now who said Clarke's name with an E really bothered her. What an absolute irrelevance that article was. She later apologized. I am sorry I can't remember her name, well maybe I am not. Hopefully she has faded into the oblivion

    • georgecom 11.5
      1 September 2020 at 8:22 pm

      I will laugh Barry, if something is funny. The stuff Mr Collins shared was political in nature and political in timing (during an election campaign). It is not simply a joke or a bit of 'tomfoolery'.

      Question, are such cartoons/memes covered under electoral law and requiring some form of political authorisation or attribution toward someones electoral spending?

  12. Byd0nz 12
    1 September 2020 at 10:47 am

    The Nats are in a tragic state. They have never been above a low blow, but to show how desperate they are, they released the beast that is Judith Collins, for years and years they kept her well away from leader, but to their demise they let her off the chain and that must surely be the last straw for any decent support within or out of the National fold.

  13. Reality 13
    1 September 2020 at 10:48 am

    Barry Soper thinks we all need a sense of humour. Fair enough, but given the nasty attacks Jacinda has had over the years I wonder if thinks they were funny and we should all laugh. Can't recall him springing to her defence.

    I can vouch that he was in a state of extreme apoplexy when his 'entitled' presence in a particular spot was questioned by a junior security officer at parliament. No sense of humour to be seen.

  14. JohnSelway 14
    1 September 2020 at 10:49 am

    Wait – how is it racist and misogynistic?

    • JohnSelway 14.1
      1 September 2020 at 11:16 am

      Edit to the above^
      Wait – how are the three tweets racist or misogynistic?

      (I don't know what he may have tweeted in the past so only referring to 3 tweets here)

  15. Anne 15
    1 September 2020 at 10:56 am

    Collins in her stand-up just now referred to Taiwan's fantastic response to Covid 19 and how they did it without the help of the WHO.

    Seeding the meme that NZ's response has been very poor in comparison, and that the Ardern government was too incompetent (that word again) to handle the crisis without the WHO holding their hands?

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/424934/judith-collins-conducts-post-caucus-briefing

    (starts @ 7:28 mins – Covid response 14 mins)

    • Gabby 15.1
      1 September 2020 at 11:55 am

      Praising Taiwan? Codger's business associates will love that.

    • Sacha 15.2
      1 September 2020 at 1:19 pm

      without the WHO

      Really can't stop themselves borrowing lines from the Chump.

    • Leighton 15.3
      1 September 2020 at 2:34 pm

      Perhaps Taiwan's fantastic response was helped by the fact that they already had an specific public agency whose sole task was to address infection disease outbreaks and/or their health system hadn't spent the last 30 years being ground back to the bone by neoliberal ideology?

      • Anne 15.3.1
        1 September 2020 at 4:42 pm

        Excellent points.

        If I have it correct, Taiwan was seriously affected by the SARs virus and they learnt from the experience. Much of the rest of the world has a lot of catching up to do.

        And anyone not blinded by ideology knows now that neoliberalism and its attendant memes are cloud cuckoo land stuff.

  16. Red 16
    1 September 2020 at 10:57 am

    Agree, the I need to be offend on behalf of tribe need to get a grip, they are actually quite funny, cartoonist are taking the piss out of politicians every day, You live with it being a politician. I am sure the PM doesn’t give a monkeys The need to rabidly defend any attack on the PM only plays to what you are arguing against, ie poor Jacinda she can’t handle it like a normal politician, I suggest she can and does not need people to be offended on her part

    • JohnSelway 16.1
      1 September 2020 at 11:12 am

      The 3 tweets at the top of the page are incredibly tame. I'm not sure what the problem is…?

    • Patricia Bremner 16.2
      1 September 2020 at 4:06 pm

      Is that right!! David "Wrong Tongue" has been asked to stop using the covid response sign. I am sure he will find my name for him funny. Not!!

  17. Robert Guyton 17
    1 September 2020 at 11:09 am

    The un-holy trinity: Collins, Wong Tung and Slater.

  18. Bob – [a different Bob] 18
    1 September 2020 at 11:10 am

    Dirty politics is the default for the Nat Rats – evidenced again!

    [This user handle is already in use here. Could you please use a different one to help distinguishing between different commenters? This is the second time I’ve asked you this question – Incognito]

  19. satty 19
    1 September 2020 at 11:41 am

    Once into dirty politics… always into dirty politics.

    So predictable. She doesn’t have many “friends” anymore, so husband has to help with the dirty work nowadays.

  20. Muttonbird 20
    1 September 2020 at 11:49 am

    I think David Wong-Scum has been forced to take down the "Unite against CINDY-20" meme. Presumably for using Covid related material.

    See, he can be controlled.

  21. RRM 21
    1 September 2020 at 12:38 pm

    David Wong-[deleted]

    Nice! I can always count on The Standard to remind me that John Key and his Tory voters are the real awful people in NZ society.

    Just for the avoidance of doubt, how many of the following gems of left wing kindness do you think apply to the leader of the opposition's husband?

    [Deleted. You don’t need to repeat the vitriol from others; your own is good enough for us here – Incognito]

  22. woodart 22
    1 September 2020 at 12:49 pm

    collins wants to run-control the country, but cant run-control her household. cant tell her 64 yr old ex cop rugby player what to do, but expects all others to obey.

  23. EE 23
    1 September 2020 at 12:57 pm

    Collins: “If you have got the secret to how you control a man who is 64 years old, used to play a lot of rugby and was a policeman, good luck and let me know.”
    Translation: “He’s a chauvinistic a-hole.”

    • Shanreagh 23.1
      1 September 2020 at 1:25 pm

      Collins explanation is a glorious example of a non sequitur/logical fallacy 'a conclusion or statement that does not logically follow from the previous argument or statement'.

      So her husband puts up an offensive meme. How is this explained by

      his age – 64

      his former occupation – policeman

      the sport he played when younger – rugby

      If you answered 'it is not' to all three statements then you are correct. The fact of putting some thing offensive in the public sphere is neither explained, justified nor excused by his age, his former occupation or the sport he played when younger.

      He is just plain stupid, pig ignorant……..

      As to the ones saying we have no sense of humour, this phrase is well remembered by feminists in the 1970s/80 wave of feminism. It was a commonly used tactic then to justify the unjustifiable.

      • Shanreagh 23.1.1
        1 September 2020 at 2:21 pm

        Actually just been thinking and wondering why JC did not reference the gun lobby and then she will have encapsulated significant parts of the Nats audience: older, lauranorder, rugby lovers and gunowners. Perhaps 'hubby' is not a shooter?

        Also the word 'pig' should not have been included as pigs are sentient animals and Wong-Tung is just ignorant.

        But isn't it amazing how much of the Nats 'humour' is based on putting heads of Labour people on different notices (Wong-Tung), heads on different bodies (text allegedly sent from Andrew Falloon to a supporter), heads on toilet seats (Woodhouse prize). I can remember being convulsed with laughter doing cut-outs as an 8 year old when someone in the class put a pic of a ballerina on rugby players legs. It did not last much longer than that one time more than half a century ago.

        Are they stuck somewhere?

        Though I guess Nats won't have puerile humour to themselves and there may be some lefties indulging.

  24. karol121 24
    1 September 2020 at 1:04 pm

    Hey, you guys and gals. Why the gripes?

    He is entitled to publicly rant on social media platforms and to publish annoying or even sickening rant or commentary if he pleases, is he not?

    We do, and we consider it to be our privilege.

    Hey. I sure ain't any sort of Jacinda groupie, but politics is dog eat dog is it not?

    There was a time when most benefiting either directly or indirectly from (current or historical) taxpayer pool funding were often quite shy in relation to public rant and attacking the many who, through the taxation system contributed to their fine clobber, their feasts and their toys.

    Is a smartphone to twit with not so often considered to be just a toy? Many would suggest that it sure beats viewing pics on it and physically masturbating.

    These days, people can virtually masturbate through such activity without losing too much energy and without being accused of sexting type offences. They don't have to go anywhere near their midriffs.

    In the 21st century, brothers sand sisters of both objective and subjective rant (taxpayer funded or otherwise) holding public office or holding on to either political or contrived foreign trade apron strings are coming out of both the woodwork and closets, and doing it for themselves by ranting it how they feel.

    Take a look at "Mr Tongues" business history and associations and you will see a clearer picture in relation to how he and others have become very successful indeed off the backs of people like you and I. Even Johnkey figured it out and stated it in so many words that, "New Zealand is open for business". This includes both monkey business and dirty business, does it not?

    Wake up. This is healthy, New Zealand. Can you not take a joke in relation to your economy and your political system, more especially the old school "Goodfellow" Party of NZ? None of you on this kumara republic farm, in your urban prisons or on your one eighth of an acre maraes are starving, are you?

    Please DO NOT leave either of them alone. If anything, true to our Kiwi heritage we should be supporting their aggression.

    Neither David Wong Tong nor JC should ever walk alone in relation to the enjoyment and fulfillment associated with cuss, insult and even demeaning commentary spuriously presented as politicking.

    For sure, I do not intend missing such opportunities myself.

    After all, as JC herself has stated in so many words, he is a 64 year old who isn't controlled by her.

    Are we not being a little sanctimonious or far too sensitive here?

    Firstly, he is a described as being a former rugby player, and it is considered that Kiwis see "AO" (NZ) and Pacifica rugby players as heroes. Can you not treat him like a word rant hero as well?

    Remember that these are the men who risk life and limb on the rugby field in times of spectator sport war that we experience perpetually, so that our national pride can be defended and preserved?

    He's a former (Counties-Manukau was it?) cop, and New Zealanders are very much aligned to the concept of worshiping various Mr or Ms "Polici" types who present as authoritative and either culturally or politically dominant.

    Many New Zealanders loved JC herself as a crusher, a no holds barred mouth wrestler with a keen lust for boxing people out and and down or encouraging others to do so, and drawing blood also, I've no doubt.

    Biff, biff, smash, smash, punch and punch any opponent DOWN and OUT must surely be the Kiwi catchphrase for the current era.

    Come on Kiwi. Live the blood sport!

    • Sacha 24.1
      1 September 2020 at 1:21 pm

      guys and gals. Why the gripes?

      yo, daddyo!

      • karol121 24.1.1
        2 September 2020 at 4:38 pm

        Whew!

        When I get going, like Lurch from the Addams Family TV series, sometimes I just don't want to stop.

        Let's dance this political dance right around and sort the real wheat out from the chaff in relation to genuine, sincere, realistic political candidates with the general well-being of new Zealanders at heart, as opposed to free loading rants and their sidekicks making big, and laughing all the way to the bank or the resort for the mayhem they cause.

    • Enough is Enough 24.2
      1 September 2020 at 2:38 pm

      Because that what politics is. Being outraged and offended by the other side for something which doesn't really matter, is what twitter and blogging was invested for.

      Heaven forbid anyone ever debate what the fuck National's policy is for the next covid outbreak, or how they intend to reduce the deficit, without austerity.

      • karol121 24.2.1
        2 September 2020 at 4:31 pm

        Well put.

        So why simply gripe when you can be assertively reactive in relation to your anger and everybody else's?

        Respond to people like "tongue"wonton with the same b*llsh*t that they are trying to ram down our throats, and try not to be diplomatic about it, nor polite.

        My view. Neither he nor JC (who is quietly referred to as a bush pig) actually represent the Chinese nor any other superpower within the region. They are simply ingratiating bottom feeders, just as Simon Bridges is, and just as so many of the other cronies are.

        Twitter, sites such as this one, or wherever, it matters not. Just as long as the message gets through to them.

        That is BOTH politics and democracy.

        So, thank you for raising the point about politics, which for many candidates is simply money for jam in relation to spewing out idealist rant and convenient narrative rhetoric.

  25. Peter 25
    1 September 2020 at 1:45 pm

    The good thing about the debate is how it shows that it is a 'no holds barred' world.

    Many want nothing to do with standards, norms, tradition, propriety, manners, convention, civility. It is the 'do what you want' age.

    To be consistent of course all children being raised from the time they are born should be raised to reflect those attitudes and values.

    Come back in 60 years and see how that worked.

    Back to the beginning. When leaders have scummy ways of acting and encourage it we are well and truly stuffed. Wong Tung and his wife think it's funny and inconsequential.

    Their smart arse attitude is just about the worst thing. There are going to be morons, lowlife thickheads who are going to explode on social media with their shit. Leaders justifying their own shit behaviour and their followers excusing it on the grounds of what moronic, lowlife thickheads are doing, is the worst leadership.

    To use the old political slogan: "New Zealand the way you want it?"

    • Draco T Bastard 25.1
      1 September 2020 at 4:13 pm

      When leaders have scummy ways of acting and encourage it we are well and truly stuffed.

      QFT

      Nations tend to follow their leaders. Germany followed Hitler, the USSR followed Stalin.

      What will NZ look like if we followed the behaviour as set out by National?

  26. Tricledrown 26
    1 September 2020 at 1:45 pm

    Crushless Collins married to Trump doppleganger

    • Shanreagh 26.1
      1 September 2020 at 2:27 pm

      Actually I think it is Collins that is the Trump doppelganger. The phrasing of JC's justification is eerily like Hillary Clinton's 'He's a hard dog to keep on the porch' I felt sad for Hillary Clinton as she said it ruefully. JC said her 'justifications' in a smarmy self satisfied 'Aren't I a smarty?' way.

  27. Brigid 27
    1 September 2020 at 3:11 pm

    I do hope these two didn't breed.

    • Anne 27.1
      1 September 2020 at 4:49 pm

      They produced a son who is now grown up and has apparently sworn he will never have anything to do with politics.

      • Dennis Frank 27.1.1
        1 September 2020 at 5:31 pm

        Oh, you mean like Justin Trudeau did? 😊 I read it in his autobiography. To Justin's credit, he maintained that view for quite a few years. And when he eventually shifted, the time was right, it felt like the right thing to do. I was impressed by his lengthy account of the shift & the reasons in relation to the political context. Authenticity can't be faked, so I developed some respect for him…

    • Westykev 27.2
      1 September 2020 at 6:47 pm

      Children of politicians get a hard enough time as it is and don't need such f@#ked up comments by yourself adding to it.

  28. Psycho Milt 28
    1 September 2020 at 5:20 pm

    … he is married to me, how could he be sexist?” Collins said.

    Does anyone have any idea what Collins might have supposed that to mean? Or is it just random noise masquerading as a sentence?

    • Dennis Frank 28.1
      1 September 2020 at 5:26 pm

      The latter. But you can imagine how it gets the tiny wee brains of journos whirring. And in politics, that's all that really matters. Think of it as a corollary of the old rule `any publicity is good publicity' (regardless of the screw-up factor).

      • Shanreagh 28.1.1
        1 September 2020 at 6:22 pm

        Yes makes as much sense as the reasons why her 'hubby' cannot be reasoned with to act as an adult: age, being a policeman and playing rugby. I think the eyes glaze over as the journos are totally mesmerised by what she says – a sort of Emperor has no clothes effect.

        There are no 'But Mummy it doesn't mean anything' in that lot…….

        But
        ‘random noise masquerading as a sentence’ is a very good description.

  29. Austringer 29
    1 September 2020 at 6:25 pm

    Hey Jude, you and yer man jump on Donald!s team sounds like a good fit.

    • karol121 29.1
      3 September 2020 at 4:31 pm

      I believe that she thought she had joined him, or that she piggy backed her way to his door using somebody else's assets, but she's such an embarrassment, I doubt that even he would want her.

      I'm beginning to think that she and others have outstayed their welcome with most of anybody who is anybody among the political and business elite within the People's Republic of China also. This, despite various whispers and assertions that she and many of her cronies are "in" with them.

      She really needs to get on her bicycle quick smart, before she causes irreversible damage to New Zealand.

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