Open mike 01/12/2014

110 comments on “Open mike 01/12/2014 ”

• Comments are now closed

1. Paul 1

   1 December 2014 at 6:54 am

   A libertarian think tank thinks that mining will solve rural NZ’s woes.
   This is reported by Fearfax Media, a company one of whose largest shareholders is a billionaire mining magnate,
   Fearfax do not mention that the NZ Institute is a libertarian organisation. They simply lead with the heading ‘Mining key to rural wealth – report’, which to the unwitting reader might suggest expert knowledge, as opposed to the fevered dreams of an extreme right think tank.
   And I doubt many Fearfax readers are aware of Julia Reinhart’s share in the company.

   Would one call this style of reporting lying by omission?

   http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/agribusiness/63694167/Mining-key-to-rural-wealth-report
   • tc 1.1

     1 December 2014 at 7:23 am

     With no mention of what and where, NZ is not known to hold any decent ore bodies or deposits of note and even if we did our cheap as chips royalty regime pretty much gives it away.

     Be concerned this may be a push to rip up the country for rare earths, a process that levels mountains looking for the materials required in high tech devices. Generally occurs in very low grams/tonne extracted, a great way to ruin our land forever so overseas entities garner a few more sheckles.

     Gina would view nz as she does fairfax board meetings which she never attends, something over there which exists and has its potential uses.
     • David H 1.1.1

       1 December 2014 at 10:45 am

       This is what they want to do to our pristine national parks

       http://www.odt.co.nz/files/story/2012/01/bhp_billiton_s_mt_whaleback_iron_ore_mine_in_the_p_4f1bd459ad.JPG

       Wankers
2. Skinny 2

   1 December 2014 at 7:10 am

   Swineheart should never have been allowed to buy a MSM company. She is on record as saying the purchase will help limit the criticism of her mining empire. It also allows pro mining propaganda. Her grubby trotters no doubt have an influence here with pro mining & gas exsploration too.
   • Draco T Bastard 2.1

     1 December 2014 at 1:02 pm

     She’s a good example of how the rich are becoming aristocrats which then seek to prevent criticism of themselves. Also a good example of why we should never allow capitalism in the first place – capitalists always turn into aristocrats and fuck up society.
3. Paul 3

   1 December 2014 at 7:19 am

   Key looking really awful in interview by Espiner.
   What a slippery person he is.
   Who would trust this guy?
4. phillip ure 4

   1 December 2014 at 7:20 am

   watchers of that grim drama on tvone..happy valley..

   ..cd watch key on tvone breakfast..

   ..and marvel at his eerily-accurate impersonation of the sweaty-accountant in that show…

   (oh..!..and he also said that all bloggers are like slater…and do as slater does..)

   ..also marvel at just how screamingly-incompetent/lacking the interviewer is..
   • Paul 4.1

     1 December 2014 at 7:29 am

     Never watch Breakfast.
     Are you saying the fanboy Christie actually asked Key some difficult questions?!
     • phillip ure 4.1.1

       1 December 2014 at 7:53 am

       no..it was his co-host…

       ..and no hard questions asked..

       ..just the usual sychophantic nod-along..

       ..key was just on automatic-‘sweaty-accountant-impersonation’…

       ..tying himself up in knots..still trying to claim black is white…

       ..hasn’t it all gone so pear-shaped for him..?..

       ..and only two months after the election..

       ..it’s been a long two months..for ‘honest-john’…eh..?

       ..he will no doubt welcome the sight of his local legal-pot-shop in hawaii hoving into view…

       ..signifying that he is ‘home’…

       .and safely tucked away from all the complaining-‘sheepies’ at his fly-in/out job in new zealand….
   • Rosie 4.2

     1 December 2014 at 9:57 am

     Give me Happy Valley over Key any day. Key’s acting skills have slipped of late, he wouldn’t be able to keep up to the standard of the acting ability of the accountant, despite their pathological similarities.
5. mickysavage 5

   1 December 2014 at 7:28 am

   Wow on Morning Report Key is attempting to back away from last week and Espiner is pointing out the holes in his position. Fascinating stuff …
   • Skinny 5.1

     1 December 2014 at 7:45 am

     Notice how the National Party spin merchants trot out English & Joyce. Brand damage control after crap happy Key’s continual muck ups. I Notice snake oil Joyce trumpeting our so called booming economy, which is particularly obvious that a diversion is in place. Expect Key to go to ground early and head to Hawaii for an early Xmas holiday.
     • Rodel 5.1.1

       1 December 2014 at 10:52 am

       Skinny says, ‘…. I Notice snake oil Joyce trumpeting our so called booming economy…’

       Like English’s & Joyce’s NZ economy, my personal economy is booming. I just borrowed a couple of million from the bank and am enjoying spending it. My kids will have to pay back the loan when I’m gone but I’m doing well thanks.
     • The Al1en 5.1.2

       1 December 2014 at 1:09 pm

       “Brand damage control”

       I read ‘brain damage control’ on first glance. Not sure which is more apt.
   • Clemgeopin 5.2

     1 December 2014 at 9:18 am

     I am eagerly awaiting the first post election political poll (whenever it is!) to see how the percentages are falling. I suspect a significant drop for Key and National…but who knows!
   • swordfish 5.3

     1 December 2014 at 7:41 pm

     Hilarious stuff.

     Espiner: When you were asked by reporters on Tuesday afternoon whether you had had contact with Cameron Slater and you said quote “He sent me a text message one time but I can’t remember when this was”, had you forgotten that you had exchanged a series of text messages the night before ?

     Key: Ahh, no I hadn’t forgotten, I knew it was very recent, um, that question came at the end of, ahhh, quite a long period, and I was running late for the House. We’d, you know, subsequently, y’know, prior to that, said sort of ‘last question’, so I was dashing out. I was just trying to be not as specific as saying exactly whether it was that night, or in the morning, or the night before, because an awful lot had happened around that time…

     Espiner: But you made it sound like it was a long time ago. You said the phone call was months and months ago and there was a text message but you can’t remember when that was. But you did actually remember.

     Key: Well, what I’m saying to you is: I was rushing. Um, you know, um, I’m prepared to accept I should have actually phrased that in a better way with, still, without being specific. I should have said it was over a, you know, very recent period, um, that it occurred…

     Espiner: In fact, 18 hours before.

     Key: Yeah, but I mean I, ahh ahh, an awful lot had happened, I was – as I say – I was racing out, I was deliberately trying not to give a specific answer because I couldn’t be absolutely 100% sure that it was the night before or last night or that morning. I knew it was in a very short window.

     A little later…

     Espiner: Okay, but when you look at this in its totality – you were in a rush, you didn’t want to be specific, and then in the House you didn’t hear the Question. I mean, in terms of excuses, isn’t this a bit like My Dog ate my Homework ? (then, after Key’s woeful reply) Yes, but isn’t the truth of this that you know Slater’s political poison, that you shouldn’t have been in contact with him, you tried to hide it and you only fessed up when it was made public ?
6. philj 6

   1 December 2014 at 7:37 am

   Why is Key now appearing on Morning Report so often? He never used to.
   • Paul 6.1

     1 December 2014 at 7:47 am

     Was he promised an easy ride by the new Head of News?
7. Grumpy 7

   1 December 2014 at 8:21 am

   Hi guys,

   Grumpy is overseas at the moment and, since my ban has expired, I was wondering if it was ok to come back….? I have heard disturbing rumours…
   • Grumpy 7.1

     1 December 2014 at 8:28 am

     Oh, should have been clearer, I meant back into the country…..? Bit rusty at this stuff….
     • miravox 7.1.1

       1 December 2014 at 9:30 am

       Nah – Key & Co haven’t left the building yet so best enjoy your time overseas… although the rumours are promising.
       • Colonial Rawshark 7.1.1.1

         1 December 2014 at 9:37 am

         Unless you are in Abbott land or Cameron land or Harper land, in which case NZ is still the far better option…
         • Grumpy 7.1.1.1.1

           1 December 2014 at 2:58 pm

           Been lots of places but currently Thailand. They seem to have a very stable government here and he trains run n time.
           Driving in last night the carbon emissions were on display, I don’t think they have heard of Global Warming yet.
           • lprent 7.1.1.1.1.1

             1 December 2014 at 4:09 pm

             Bangkok? An interesting low-lying swamp averaging 1.5m above sea level.
             • Grumpy …

               1 December 2014 at 5:27 pm

               Been up in the mountains for a few weeks, coming down to Bangkok is a thing I never look forward to. Interesting talking politics to different people over here. Most feel the military have done a good job. Celebrations starting for the kings birthday which is a really big thing.
               A friend has a house on the river here, more like a bloody big open sewer.
           • Weepus beard 7.1.1.1.1.2

             1 December 2014 at 4:10 pm

             You are a right-wing whaleoil poster, are you not?
             • Grumpy …

               1 December 2014 at 5:29 pm

               Not since before the election, too fucked up there for me.
           • Te Reo Putake 7.1.1.1.1.3

             1 December 2014 at 4:11 pm

             Read an interesting quote from the head of the Thailand police in a book today. He said, proudly, that more than half of the Thai police force were not corrupt.
             • Grumpy …

               1 December 2014 at 5:22 pm

               Yep, they have just arrested some members of the CIB and paraded them on TV with their bosses standing sternly behind them. The lesser crooks were in handcuffs.
8. cogito 8

   1 December 2014 at 9:22 am

   Key: “I am absolutely adamant of the view that I have to protect New Zealanders and I intend to do that.”

   Read more: http://www.3news.co.nz/nznews/key-govt-could-tweak-anti-terror-laws-2014120108#ixzz3KaKOQiNR

   LIAR.

   The only thing Key is intent on protecting are his LIES and concealing the truth from NZers.
   • Colonial Rawshark 8.1

     1 December 2014 at 9:40 am

     Joining the badly thought out and failing US “war on terror” is not going to protect NZ, it’s going to harm NZ.
     • Chooky 8.1.1

       1 December 2014 at 12:44 pm

       +100
     • Draco T Bastard 8.1.2

       1 December 2014 at 1:20 pm

       It’s not designed to protect NZ but to help oppress NZers.
   • Draco T Bastard 8.2

     1 December 2014 at 1:18 pm

     And doing what the US corporations want of him.
9. Ergo Robertina 9

   1 December 2014 at 9:59 am

   A couple of interesting items from Morning Report:
   – The claim the pension age has to rise to pay for other budget areas is simplistic, because of the extra assistance then required. Analysis from Sydney University’s Prof Garry Barrett presented at a labour conference in Wellington contends the saving is likely to be 20% of what would be expected from a direct calculation:

   http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/20159287/govt-urgued-to-encourage-older-workers-to-ealy-retirement

   – A breakout from yesterday’s excellent Insight programme on the state housing sell-off addressed the issue of religious groups pushing an agenda in their role as landlord, which is a retreat from the principle of the secular state with no discrimination based on belief or culture:

   http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/20159290/critics-say-housing-reforms-may-create-discrimination
10. just saying 10

    1 December 2014 at 10:46 am

    “Labour’s earlier focus on the most vulnerable, whilst important, left a big group missing out.”

    From Polity’s latest blog about Little’s work speech – see the panel at right.

    Seems like we have some bullshitters still trying to push their agendas inside the Labour Party. We have our work cut out.
11. fambo 11

    1 December 2014 at 10:47 am

    No surprise this, but New Zealanders buy bigger cars than most other places in the world, according to the MTA

    http://www.mta.org.nz/n3766,198.html

    “New Zealand’s ‘Top 10’ featured two sport utility vehicles (SUVs), four utilitys and just four standard passenger vehicles. Worldwide, it was a much different picture, with eight passenger cars and just one SUV and one utility.”

    Of course, this environmentally unfriendly fact is couched in happy language.

    “New Zealand buyers showed a strong preference for practical, multi-task type vehicles, while the rest of the world tended more towards smaller and mid-sized four cylinder vehicles. With New Zealanders regularly transporting things like pets, mountain bikes, firewood and boats, vehicles here are often required to be capable of many roles. ”

    There is hardly an SUV or Ute advert on television that doesn’t show huge cars running riot over the environment, especially beaches.
12. Morrissey 12

    1 December 2014 at 12:42 pm

    Pope calls on Jewish and Christian leaders worldwide to condemn terrorism
    by PHILIP PULLELLA

    ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (Reuters) – Speaking to reporters aboard the plane as he returned from Tel Aviv, where he condemned Israel’s oppression of Palestinians, as well as U.S. and British aggression against Iraq, Yemen, Syria and Afghanistan several times, Francis said he made the suggestion in private talks on Friday with the country’s prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu.

    “I told the prime minister that it would be beautiful if all Jewish and Christian leaders, whether they are political, religious or academic leaders, would speak out clearly and condemn this, because this would help the majority of Jewish and Christian people,” Francis said in answer to a reporter’s question.

    “But this must come from the mouths of their leaders, from religious leaders, academic leaders, intellectuals and political leaders,” he said.

    Catholic Church officials have urged Jewish leaders to speak out more forcefully against Israeli State, but the pope’s words on the plane were his most comprehensive so far.

    He called for “a global condemnation (of terrorism), including from Jews and Christians, who have their own identity and say ‘we are not that, the Bible is not that’,”.

    He said he understood how Jews and Christians were offended by the fact that their religions are equated with worldwide injustice, oppression and terrorism.

    “They say: ‘No, we are not this, the Bible is a book of peace, it is a prophetic book of peace. This is not Christianity,’” he said………

    Oh, sorry, my mistake. He actually mouthed something that could have been prepared for him by the U.S. State Department. So much for all the talk about the different style of this new Pope….

    http://news.yahoo.com/pope-calls-muslim-leaders-worldwide-condemn-terrorism-193615013.html
13. Morrissey 13

    1 December 2014 at 12:49 pm

    If drone strikes are permissible, so are suicide bombings
    by TIM HOLMES, 30 November 2014
    https://medium.com/@timbird84/if-drone-strikes-are-permissible-so-are-the-7-july-bombings-f18aa670792a

    “Clinical”, “surgical”, “targeted”, “precision”. As US massacres-by-drone continue across the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia, their ugly accomplice is the bastardisation of language. Human rights group Reprieve has just calculated the number of innocent victims each drone strike claims, posing the question: by what standards are 1,150 civilians — almost half a World Trade Centre — an acceptable price for 41 “terrorist suspects”? How is this “surgical precision”?

    That’s assuming the targets are who we are told. In almost every case, we are forced to take the US government at its word.

    The media play along. Yet if Russia or Iran bombed Western “terrorists” day in, day out, would journalists take their word for it? Would we allow such attacks to continue all but unnoticed?

    Instead, the US presents itself as a surgeon at the operating table — as do the press. A choice metaphor transforms brutal violence into humanitarian aid: if cutting someone open is gruesome, “surgery” sounds friendly — a temporary, restorative, proportionate act for the patient’s good.

    The contrast with Western discourse on “terrorism” — that is, Muslim retaliation against the West — could hardly be more blatant. “They” are barbarians; their killings wilful, bloodthirsty, indiscriminate.

    In 2001, the Guardian contrasted “the west’s commitment to do everything possible to avoid civilian casualties and the terrorists’ proven wish to cause as many civilian casualties as possible … Let them do their worst, we shall do our best, as Churchill put it. That is still a key difference.”

    In fact, US policy resembles Israel’s war crimes under brutal megalomaniac Ariel Sharon — who, in one infamous incident, dropped a one-tonne bomb on a densely-populated civilian area in Gaza, claiming to target one man.

    As Israel-Palestine scholar Norman Finkelstein points out, if Hamas bombed a bus, claiming “we meant only to target the bus, not the passengers”, people would laugh. Yet from Israel and Western governments, we take the same absurdities deadly seriously.

    In 2001, Bush’s lawless kidnapping and torture at Guantanamo Bay horrified and disturbed the world. Now, imprisonment without trial continues — and alongside it, execution without trial. Where Bush began by kidnapping, Obama assassinates.

    Drone strikes have butchered 28 innocent people for every “suspect” targeted. Is that……

    Read more…..
    https://medium.com/@timbird84/if-drone-strikes-are-permissible-so-are-the-7-july-bombings-f18aa670792a
    • wyndham 13.1

      1 December 2014 at 1:36 pm

      Thanks for that post and links, Morrissey. All part of the hypocrisy and double standards of the US war machine.
14. Draco T Bastard 14

    1 December 2014 at 1:29 pm

    Greens Press Release: Charter school roll plunge

    One of the five Charter schools lauded by the Government as a success has lost a quarter of its school roll this year, with each student now costing four times as much to teach than children in a regular public school, the Green Party said today.

    Unlike state sector schools Charters don’t lose funding when they lose students.

    So, the roll is plunging but their funding stays the same. Great for making a profit in the private sector, not so great for the schools losing out on funding because the money’s going, unjustifiably, into private pockets.
    • Weepus beard 14.1

      1 December 2014 at 2:39 pm

      I like the spin on it by the headmaster/Chief of Staff at Vanguard when, while admitting some students had gone to other schools, he said it was a job well done and they’d moved on.

      Presumably they’ve moved on to a better school after their parents found out what a load of amateur crap he was presiding over.
      • wtl 14.1.1

        1 December 2014 at 4:14 pm

        Alternatively:

        1) Sign up students to your charter school.
        2) Receive funding from government.
        3) Encourage students to find a different school and leave, bribe them with proportion of the funding if necessary.
        4) Keep remaining funding, have no students to teach = minimal costs and huge PROFIT.

        What kind of idiot in government signed up to conditions that could so easily be exploited?
        • Draco T Bastard 14.1.1.1

          1 December 2014 at 4:33 pm

          What kind of idiot in government signed up to conditions that could so easily be exploited?

          What makes you think they’re an idiot? National’s all about siphoning money from the government to the rich for little or no work and this seems to do that quite well.
15. Molly 15

    1 December 2014 at 1:32 pm

    Thought it was satire, but then realised that it was to be expected. Instead of actual progress, rebranding is the change that most National cabinet ministers will make to stamp their mark: Families Commission renamed as SuperU.

    “The Families Commission is rebranding today taking a name which almost identical to that of a French supermarket chain.

    The commission will from today be known as the Policy Evaluation and Research Unit or Superu for short.”

    Louise Upston also makes the usual bold move for women in her role:
    “Meanwhile, Minister for Women Louise Upston has announced the Ministry of Women’s Affairs would also change its name, becoming simply the Ministry for Women, in line with the name change for the portfolio announced by Prime Minister John Key when he appointed his new Cabinet several weeks ago.

    “The Ministry will begin to use the new name immediately and take the required steps to implement the formal name change processes in the most cost-effective manner,” Ms Upston said.”

    More money for their rebranding and PR consultant friends, less money for actual policy implementation. Ah, the austerity.
    • Draco T Bastard 15.1

      1 December 2014 at 2:54 pm

      Well, I suppose that when the SuperU gets sold to SuperU no one will notice which would be a plus in National’s books .
      • McFlock 15.1.1

        1 December 2014 at 6:25 pm

        Does that mean that pensions will be privatised to Aldi (exploiting the great kiwi monovowel for comedic gain, there 🙂 )?
    • phillip ure 15.2

      1 December 2014 at 3:19 pm

      i’ve said it before..

      ..i thought upston was/is the minister of/for furrowed-brows…

      ..i didn’t realise she had other duties..
16. phillip ure 16

    1 December 2014 at 2:31 pm

    while on bail..kim dotcom has made almost as much money..($40 million)..

    ..as john key has made in his whole life…

    ..who is the winner/loser there..?
    • Weepus beard 16.1

      1 December 2014 at 2:41 pm

      That’s the real reason Key doesn’t like Dotcom. He’s said many times he doesn’t like losing.
      • chris73 16.1.1

        1 December 2014 at 6:51 pm

        Thats just silly and you know it
    • ianmac 16.2

      1 December 2014 at 3:33 pm

      Kim Dot com has won his case. He is free to remain on bail.
      David Fisher:
      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11367056
      • phillip ure 16.2.1

        1 December 2014 at 3:36 pm

        excellent..!..
      • Chooky 16.2.2

        1 December 2014 at 3:42 pm

        fantastic news!
    • The Al1en 16.3

      1 December 2014 at 3:39 pm

      Obviously the answer is both of them are losers, but interesting to note how you determine success. Guess that makes you sort of like the only lefty in the village.

      I suppose those beneficiaries you bang on about, who haven’t got 40 million between them, are abject failures in your eyes. True colours and all.
      • phillip ure 16.3.1

        1 December 2014 at 3:44 pm

        there ya have it folks..!

        ..a/the walking-example of the non-lateral thinker..

        ..what he sees..is all you get…

        ..(they often specialise in ‘getting the wrong end of the stick’..)
        • The Al1en 16.3.1.1

          1 December 2014 at 3:52 pm

          There’s no way to extract anything else from what you wrote, other than earning lots of money in a shorter time frame equals a greater level success and achievement.
          If there’s more to it than that, you’ll have elucidate because it’s not clear as it stands.

          But really, if you seek lateral responses, you’d best start with better source material more suitable for alternative interpretation.
        • phillip ure 16.3.1.2

          1 December 2014 at 4:02 pm

          as an explanation for the lateral-one..

          ..i find it puzzling that most of new zealand aren’t vociforous in their support of/for dotcom..

          ..if only for selfish reasons..we should be embracing a man with such skills..

          ..it is clear of how much benefit he could be to all of us..

          ..(if only for the bloody tax he will pay here..!..)

          ..am i the only one who can see this..?

          ..and i compare what he has already given to new zealand..

          ..and what he could/will give..

          ..to the man who made his money-trader money in part by screwing with/fucking over the nz dollar/economy..during his days as a money trader..

          ..working for who have turned out to be the major corporate-villains/thieves of our age..

          ..the man who donates his salary to charity..

          ..that ‘charity’ being the national party..

          ..the man who has asset-stripped our country..

          ..since he has been in power..

          ..i ask again..

          ..who is the winner/loser there…?
          • The Al1en 16.3.1.2.1

            1 December 2014 at 4:08 pm

            Must be your borrowed writing style then if that was meant to be extrapolated from your original post, though I suspect, like most pot heads and addicts, there’s a big disconnect between the conversations you have in your head and what actually reaches freedom to the outside world.

            And still the same answer, obviously both of them 😉
          • The Al1en 16.3.1.2.2

            1 December 2014 at 4:10 pm

            “..the man who donates his salary to charity….that ‘charity’ being the national party..”

            Can you give a link for that?
            • phillip ure 16.3.1.2.2.1

              1 December 2014 at 4:25 pm

              no..do yr own fucken research..

              ..if you did..you’d know by now..
              • The Al1en …

                1 December 2014 at 4:27 pm

                “no..do yr own fucken research….if you did..you’d know by now..”

                So that no to the link means I haven’t got one because I made it up?
                Am I lateral enough for you now? lol 😆 lol

                I googled ‘john key donates his salary’

                https://www.google.co.nz/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=john%20key%20donates%20his%20salary

                2nd hit
                http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/573560/Key-pledges-PMs-salary-to-charity
                “Key wouldn’t elaborate on what charities he supported, nor how large a portion of his salary he donated. He said his “personal decision” was not something he wanted publicised.”

                If you have the link that shows the national party as a benefactor I’d really like to see it. Cheers.
                • phillip ure …

                  1 December 2014 at 4:32 pm

                  listen..attention-seeker..i was not engaging with you..

                  ..get back into yr corner..

                  ..you are fucken boring to all..

                  ..and i apologise to all..for encouraging him..

                  ..it stops here..

                  ..he is back on ignore..
                  • The Al1en …

                    1 December 2014 at 4:37 pm

                    Okay, so no link, but any time you have it, feel free to post it up, ’cause you’re getting a bit of a reputation for making shit up and then disengaging when pressed to back stuff up. I mean, if you have it, where’s the harm in a simple copy/paste?

                    And at attention seeker, I’m having to roll out the irony lol again for that nugget 😆

                    And for the fuck of it, I’m happy to test how boring I am to all. Get a vote going between you and I and the loser has to leave the standard for ever.
                    I dare you 😆
            • tricledrown 16.3.1.2.2.2

              1 December 2014 at 4:37 pm

              The Alien look up how many ponzi schemes,insider trading prosecutions and corporate fraud prosecutions that Merril Lynch have been involved in.
              Yet virtually no employee,s of this corrupt organization have ever been prosecuted for defrauding hundreds of millions even 100,s of billions as in the Irish debacle which Key claimed he set up!

              The bigger the crime yada yada!
              If you think Dotcom broke the law.
              Then the head of money trading at Merrill Lynch when Libor and insider trading was rife is just as culpable!
              Fact is he is a better liar!
              • The Al1en …

                1 December 2014 at 4:39 pm

                Cool story bro, and probably all true, but a bit irrelevant to the discussion here.
17. Weepus beard 17

    1 December 2014 at 3:33 pm

    She remains very rancid mutton masquerading as a dead, maggot infested lamb.

    -Cameron Slater on Michelle Boag

    The wheels are falling off the Nat machine. It’s good to watch this slow motion train crash.
    • Chooky 17.1

      1 December 2014 at 3:47 pm

      lol….that is a terrible thing to say about Michelle Boag.!!!…she is very attractive in an Italian Sophia Loren sort of way

      …dont listen to him Michelle !!!! …you should join the Labour Party or the Greens ..or NZF…..they would never say such ugly things (….and coming from Slater ….who is no looker himself !)
      • Weepus beard 17.1.1

        1 December 2014 at 4:04 pm

        Yes, it is terrible and that is just Slater’s and his wife’s m.o. I do not distinguish between the two now. She is just as much a part of that socially poisonous website as he.

        It has been brought up that the extension and drawing out of the txt issue is yet another ruse and merking designed by the dirty politics 9th floor to take the focus off the more serious issue which is the use of the SIS by the National party to discredit their political opponents.

        The theory goes that by using this strategy they are able to concentrate and trivialise a major issue into something seemingly petty. Later, when the incident is recalled, it is immediately boiled down to a short soundbite, or brand, or logo, call it what you will: txtgate.

        I’m not sure they are that quick-witted.
        • Chooky 17.1.1.1

          1 December 2014 at 4:17 pm

          Weepus Beard +100 ….Serious issues at stake !… yes i agree it is easy to get sidetracked…from “the more serious issue which is the use of the SIS by the National party to discredit their political opponents”

          ….and also warrantless surveillance on the table …which brings New Zealand closer to a police state and no accountability ….and privatisation of surveillance, black ops and violation of New Zealand civil law and New Zealanders human rights and democracy.

          …lets hope Labour Party stands firm on this issue along with the Greens and NZF !

          ….they should also be pushing for a Commission of Inquiry
        • Murray Rawshark 17.1.1.2

          2 December 2014 at 12:01 am

          They’re not that quick witted, but they’ll be paying people who are. And they only have to be quicker than the likes of Bradbury.
      • chris73 17.1.2

        1 December 2014 at 6:50 pm

        she is very attractive in an Italian Sophia Loren sort of way

        – just curious but are you sure you have the right Michelle Boag?
    • Rodel 17.2

      1 December 2014 at 8:40 pm

      I don’t agree with or even or respect Michelle Boag’s views but if Slater said that..he’s really sick and I would like to apologise on behalf of the human race.
      But then I hope Michelle Boag and I are not of the same species as him.
18. Weepus beard 18

    1 December 2014 at 3:52 pm

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/63711588/Homelessness-a-national-issue

    The council believes there are up to 320 homeless people in the city centre

    I walked the city for a couple of hours the other week and was stunned by the number of homeless people.

    Good on the council for continuing to alert the government because the government is riding so high upon the perceived success of the economy but the problems of housing in Auckland (especially emergency and extremely low income house), is an unfortunate and unresolved by-product of this success.
    • phillip ure 18.1

      1 December 2014 at 4:20 pm

      those with long memories will recoil that both brown and wade-brown in their first election-campaigns gave hand-on-heart promises to ‘help the homeless’..

      ..since then both have done s.f.a…

      ..and we now have more homeless than when they made those promises..

      ..promises that became lies..

      ..and yes..of course much of that homelessness is down to wellington..and their vile/uncaring/poor-bashing policies..

      ..i just think it is a tad rich for brown to be pointing the finger at them..

      ..and len hasn’t been able to afford to help the homeless of course..

      ..that million dollars a day in interest payments on the loans they have taken out in our name..

      ..and those over 300 p.r.-trouts currently employed by that council…

      ..they don’t come cheap..eh..?
    • tc 18.2

      1 December 2014 at 5:08 pm

      Goldsmith when a councillor tried to have them all removed from the CBD as a bylaw / regulation, he was defeated but shows the callousness at work.
19. happynz 19

    1 December 2014 at 4:23 pm

    This thirty-year old clip came to mind after watching and listening to the PM’s weaseling last week.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkYNBwCEeH4

    “I was in a hurry…” Yeah that’s it. 😀

    “I didn’t want to be too specific…” Yeahhhh…
20. Morrissey 20

    1 December 2014 at 4:24 pm

    Siege? What siege?
    Apparently “we cannot imagine” what a siege is like
    Radio NZ National, Monday 1 December 2014

    Simon Mercep conducted quite an interesting interview this afternoon with one Brian Moynahan, author of Leningrad: Siege and Symphony: The story of the great city terrorized by Stalin, Starved by Hitler, Immortalized by Shostakovich. There was one thing missing, however: both Moynahan and Mercep seemed determined to avoid mentioning the vicious siege that has been imposed on Gaza since 2006. Avoiding any mention of the glaringly obvious like this is nothing new; “journalists” covering the recent celebrations of the fall of the Berlin Wall almost completely avoided mentioning the annexation wall in the Occupied Territories.

    I sent the affable but absent-minded host the following e-mail…..

    Why did you not challenge Brian Moynahan’s statement that “we cannot imagine” what a siege is like?

    Dear Simon,

    In your interview with Brian Moynahan, author of Leningrad: Siege and Symphony, he stated that “we cannot imagine” what it’s like to be in a siege. Of course, there is no need to imagine such a thing; a real life, brutal, illegal, internationally condemned siege is being inflicted on millions of imprisoned civilians every day in Gaza.

    Since in an earlier book, Forgotten Soldiers, Brian Moynahan wrote about an Israeli tank-commander as if he were some sort of hero, I am not surprised that he did not even mention the siege of Gaza.

    I am concerned and disappointed that you did not see fit to challenge Brian Moynahan’s glib and careless statement.

    Yours sincerely,

    Morrissey Breen
    Northcote Point
    • North 20.1

      1 December 2014 at 9:26 pm

      Hear Hear Morrissey !

      And if they didn’t keep on sending those army surplus rockets which killed 1 Israeli civilian we wouldn’t have had to righteously slaughter more than 1,500 of them in our last ‘shooting-fish-in-a barrel’ episode.

      See what they make us do ?
    • John Shears 20.2

      1 December 2014 at 11:04 pm

      +1
21. Weepus beard 21

    1 December 2014 at 4:26 pm

    Don’t get me wrong, I am quite new here and I quite like Phil Ure’s unflappable dedication to pot and veganism, and I also like The Alien’s hard nosed attitude to authority at times but jaysus the Standard is a poorer place when the two of them are in the same room.
    • Draco T Bastard 21.1

      1 December 2014 at 4:39 pm

      I just scroll past the threads where they’re fighting each other.
      • weka 21.1.1

        1 December 2014 at 5:07 pm

        Me too, gets a bit tedious though.

        The Al1en, I thought you were going to pull your head in a bit re phil.
        • The Al1en 21.1.1.1

          1 December 2014 at 5:17 pm

          I have. There’s loads of his post I’ve let go without commenting on. I’ve almost become a bit of a saint with my turning a blind eye to bland nonsense.

          But I agree with DTB to just scroll on if it’s not your thing, though I’d dispute the word fighting.
          It’s only been six comments and I’ve been told I’m ignored, so no real harm done, however, I’ll look out for that bold text warning and be sure to take heed.
          • weka 21.1.1.1.1

            1 December 2014 at 5:37 pm

            Good on you then. And to be fair I didn’t actually look today to see if it was one of the inane fights or something more interesting.

            “It’s only been six comments”

            Is that it for today then? ;-p (I wish it were only 6 comments, but obviously it’s all of phil’s and anyone else’s who gets sucked in).
            • The Al1en 21.1.1.1.1.1

              1 December 2014 at 5:51 pm

              A bit of self moderation doesn’t hurt once in a while, so yes, good on me for trying and doing so well lol

              Only made six comments to pu, which in the big scheme of things, isn’t a lot or way too much point depending, just like inane or interesting, but the suckered, I can’t help or be responsible for. They’ll have to sort out there own sh!t.

              If pu wrote properly formatted comments it would help reduce screen real estate quite a bit, but again, I’m not responsible for them either, so you’ll have to take that up with him. Good luck.
              • weka …

                1 December 2014 at 5:55 pm

                Except I’m not a masochist.

                Ah, responsibility. See my one is PG, I do try and not, but sometimes just can’t help myself. If I engage and keep engaging do I not have some responsibility for keep the inanity alive? And for helping with the creation of messy threads?
                • The Al1en …

                  1 December 2014 at 6:03 pm

                  See with pete I don’t give a crap about his posts. I don’t even think he cares that much about them to be honest, judging by the content and all. 😉 It’s all about the reaction and attention, which thinking about it, is a common trait.

                  One day pu will write something good and I’ll agree with it, and it will be like the ww1 xmas footy match in no mans land, although he’ll have to take his german helmet off first.
                  • weka …

                    1 December 2014 at 6:42 pm

                    lol, you’re very naughty.
                    • The Al1en …

                      1 December 2014 at 7:23 pm

                      And classy with it.
22. phillip ure 22

    1 December 2014 at 4:29 pm

    two rightwing idiots on the panel on nat-rad..

    ..an old one..and a young one..

    ..and i wd nominate wikara as the most dumbarse-dumb member of that sorry-stable of cliche-riddled hacks/has-beens..

    ..(it is embarassing for all concerned..not least him..having to listen to what passes for brain output from him..)
    • tc 22.1

      1 December 2014 at 5:20 pm

      DP is about the dumbing down, RNZ wasn’t that great to begin with but is rivalling ZB in parts now just without the overt dog whistling.

      Mora adds as much value as a brick tied to a lever as the panelists just run free, more silent scorekeeper than arbitrator.
23. b waghorn 23

    1 December 2014 at 5:24 pm

    There’s a article in the farmers weekly every week buy a guy buy the name of Jamie Mackay now I’ve always had him pegged for a red necked bigot but after todays effort I’m beginning to think he might be on the pay role with slater and co.
    • weka 23.1

      1 December 2014 at 5:43 pm

      why do you think that?
      • b waghorn 23.1.1

        1 December 2014 at 6:23 pm

        Just the way its written it seems like a very well polished bit of spin . How he could turn keys last week into a negative labour story .
        • chris73 23.1.1.1

          1 December 2014 at 6:47 pm

          How he could turn keys last week into a negative labour story .

          – Because hes pro-National and anti-labour? Seriously is this how its going to be for the next 6 years, every time someone writes something anti-labour they must be in thrall to Cam Slater
          • tc 23.1.1.1.1

            1 December 2014 at 6:53 pm

            When it’s ackshulky part of the NZX magazine stable serving its masters and playing to its target audience so no surprises there.

            6 years eh chris, optimistic little sprite aren’t we.
            • chris73 23.1.1.1.1.1

              1 December 2014 at 7:11 pm

              Not really, the economy is still the most important factor in an election and Labour still needs another three years at least before its in any shape to be considered for office

              Little has started well but can he sustain it for three years and will Dirty Politics last for three years…unlikely
              • Paul …

                1 December 2014 at 9:15 pm

                Oh…..you’re back.
                • chris73 …

                  1 December 2014 at 9:33 pm

                  I know you miss me
          • b waghorn 23.1.1.1.2

            1 December 2014 at 7:24 pm

            I ‘ve always known he was so far up key’s arse you can only see the heals of his boots but that article struck me as to smart for that southern inbreed.
          • Weepus beard 23.1.1.1.3

            1 December 2014 at 7:54 pm

            I think that is a self evident truth.

            John Key himself is fond of branding anyone who criticises his government as a leftie loon, or a left wing conspirator.

            Thus Jamie MacKay, and Slater, and Key are all right wing nut jobs.

            You are the company you keep, Chris.
            • chris73 23.1.1.1.3.1

              1 December 2014 at 8:31 pm

              Hard to say, I hang out with a whole bunch of different people
              • Weepus beard …

                1 December 2014 at 8:37 pm

                That makes sense.
      • b waghorn 23.1.2

        1 December 2014 at 9:09 pm

        Weka after more thought what I was interested to find out was are other similar stories regarding Littles choice of line up and reasons for it ( which were that it was on quota instead of talent.) Are turning up else where.
24. halfcrown 24

    1 December 2014 at 7:11 pm

    Most interesting, Max Keiser on the Keiser report had an item where Prat Moron is selling off UK state assets, and guess who’s buying them? Foreign governments. Like Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore. Why are they buying them? They are buying them for the dividends to pay for their social welfare like hospitals etc.

    It just proves that this free market Neo Liberal shit is nothing but a nut case religion.
    Camoron, Key, Abbott are nothing but zealots to this religion and like all zealots they are blind deaf and dumb to the consequences of their actions.
    The sooner we get rid of this shit and get back to a bit of sanity the better.

    http://rt.com/shows/keiser-report/209859-episode-max-keiser-686/
    • chris73 24.1

      1 December 2014 at 7:13 pm

      Asset sales when done correctly (like National did and Labour certainly didn’t) can be quite useful

      http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/63695778/dalziel-looking-at-asset-sales-for-rebuild
      • Draco T Bastard 24.1.1

        1 December 2014 at 10:26 pm

        Nope, selling state assets is always a bad move no matter who does them.
25. ianmac 25

    1 December 2014 at 10:15 pm

    I wrote to TV3 re the Nation/Scott Campbell to complain re the false claim about Campbell/Helen and The Standard, and had an acknowledgement tonight- message received. Hope others did too?
26. Pat O'Dea 26

    1 December 2014 at 10:17 pm

    Ladies and Gentlmen, we have a clear winner.

    Do you support NZ’s involvement in the TPP agreement?

    45 – Yes
    1021 – No

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11363630

    Just like schedule 4 mining, and deep sea oil drilling, the TTPA is only supported by that tiny handful we call ‘vested interest’. Vested Interest are the wealthy elite of the rentier class, the big corporations and encompasses the political parties and the MPs they influence.

    Opposed to this tiny sector is everyone else.

    Over a million registered voters don’t, Why?

    Chris Trotter claims that the political divide in this country between those who serve vested interest and those who serve the majority is a line that does not run between National and Labour but down the middle of the Labour Party Caucus.

    The behaviour of the ABCs seems to confirm this analysis.

    If Labour wants to have a show of leading the next government they need to start listening to the majority.and ignoring vested interest.

• Comments are now closed

• Log in
• Donate
• Contribute post

• Articles RSS