Open Mike 02/11/2018

Written By: - Date published: 6:04 am, November 2nd, 2018 - 107 comments
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107 comments on “Open Mike 02/11/2018 ”

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  2. Ed 2
    2 November 2018 at 6:20 am

    ‘A new climate breakdown resistance movement is forming in Britain. On Wednesday 31 October in Westminster, ‘Extinction Rebellion’ – a nascent mass direct-action group, in the style of Occupy – came together to launch a rolling protest against the UK government’s failure to act to prevent climate change.’

    “We are in an ecological crisis caused by climate change, pollution and habitat destruction; a mass species extinction on a scale much larger than the one which killed the dinosaurs is underway. Our course is set to societal collapse, the killing of millions, likely billions of people – human extinction is possible. The future is bleak and our children are not safe.

    Change to avert the worst of the disaster is still technically and economically possible. The changes won’t be simple but there is nothing more important or worthwhile. It involves creating a world which is less frenetic and more beautiful; making the necessary changes will also create jobs. This is an emergency situation – action is urgent.

    Our Government isn’t acting in accordance with what science and history tells us. Therefore our Government is criminally negligent. We have a moral duty to rebel, whatever our politics. Social science shows us that peaceful civil disobedience is an effective way to bring about change. Our lives have meaning and purpose when we follow our conscience and are willing to make sacrifices to protect what we love. We ask others who feel the same way to join our peaceful Rebellion.”

    https://risingup.org.uk/XR/rebel.php

    [Thanks Ed will make this into a post – MS]

  3. Ed 3
    2 November 2018 at 6:23 am

    About time .
    Some transparency in the corporate media about Yemen.

    “It has taken three years, 14 million people on the brink of starving to death and 10,000 dead civilians before the US finally asked for the chaos in Yemen to stop.

    But it may be too late for the impoverished Arab nation, which borders Saudi Arabia, as it faces effectively being wiped off the Earth as more than half its population starve due to a sickening Saudi war tactic.

    It was already one of the world’s poorest countries before a brutal civil war began in 2015 when rebel Houthi fighters seized the presidential compound in the country’s capital Sana’a and overthrew the government.”

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=12152869

  4. Jenny 4
    2 November 2018 at 7:08 am

    Trump repeats history

    Trump Hits ‘New Low’ With Last-minute ‘Racist,’ ‘Fear-mongering’ Campaign Ad
    Haaretz, November 01, 2018

    Antisemitism/Judaeophobia/Nazi Propaganda/Anti-Jewish Racism
    The Palestine Poster Project Archives, Unesco Memory of the World Exhibition, 2016 -2017

  5. WeTheBleeple 5
    2 November 2018 at 7:14 am

    From herein the corporate newsletter aka The Herald will be known by it’s new name.

    The Truth Factory.

  6. reason 6
    2 November 2018 at 7:31 am

    To right Ed ….They are shamed by real journalists who operate with NZs best interests at heart …………

    National and dodgy donations have been known about for quite a while …. mainly thanks to international award winning investigative journalist Nicky Hager … and the latest revelations due to the JLR rat fuckers fight going on within national.

    But its worth revisiting some of what Nicky revealed … as its still going on

    “early on he ( Textor) persuaded the National campaign strategy team that ‘securing the campaign funding’ meant raising enough money not just for one election campaign, but for two.” ……

    ” I discovered that National’s billboards and TV ads came compliments of a small grouping of former Business Roundtable heads, privatisation consultants and Act Party founders; wealthy businessmen from the far right of New Zealand politics with definite views about what they wanted from a National-led government. It’s obvious why they and the National Party preferred to keep their identities secret.”

    “National has deflected attention away from the reasons why this bill ( electoral finance ) was needed and promoted in the first place…… This includes National’s secret collaboration with the Exclusive Brethren, who pumped nearly $1,500,000 into advertising to try to get National elected, and National’s subsequent untruthful denials over this collaboration.”

    “Brash turned back to the journalists and replied, ‘I know Lynton Crosby has not been working for us at all. I’ve never spoken to or met Lynton Crosby. To the best of my knowledge he is not involved…. I don’t know about his firm. That’s something you’d have to check out with Steven Joyce on.’3 Contrary to what he said, Brash had first met and been briefed by Lynton Crosby in Canberra a year before this interview”

    National has been able to look principled when actually it is acting out of self interest. Lost in the commotion is the fact that they are fighting worthwhile parts of the bill that are designed to reduce big money in elections, money that is most likely to be supporting National.

    http://www.nickyhager.info/election-funding-whats-national-up-to/

    http://www.nickyhager.info/the-manipulators-chapter-10-of-the-hollow-men/

    http://www.nickyhager.info/donor-cash-stays-in-shadows/

    • Bearded Git 7.1
      2 November 2018 at 8:11 am

      Yep the Gnats now telling JLR to inform the Speaker of his status. Looks like they are going to use the WJB.

      What was it Nick Smith said in the House about the WJB:

      “the most Draconian, obnoxious, anti-democratic, insulting piece of legislation ever inflicted in this Parliament”

      Winston is going to have some fun with this. Larf!

    • Hooch 7.2
      2 November 2018 at 8:21 am

      Something afoot on the comments of that article. There were more than 20 comments first thing this morning now comments have been closed down and all but three have been left up, the rest have vanished. Intriguing.

    • Gabby 7.3
      2 November 2018 at 9:15 am

      Well they’ve done gone and created a new proportionality then haven’t they. Not Weewoss’ fault if they spurn his vote.

  8. ScottGN 8
    2 November 2018 at 7:38 am

    Great piece from an Immigration Lawyer on Morning Report just now (didn’t catch his name unfortunately). He’s right, the whole immigration decision making system is fucked. Regardless of the ins-and-outs of the Sroubek case how was it that his file ended up on the minister’s desk and considered for clemency rather than, say, the family who was kicked out last year because one of the children was autistic and considered a potential drain on the public health system? Or any number of families who are battling fruitlessly with tin eared department officials to keep their family intact. Remember the Sri Lankan family in Queenstown last year who, undoubtedly, would have been removed from NZ by now if it hadn’t been for a huge community effort to overturn the removal decision?
    The Coalition government should make it a priority to overhaul the ministry and put some humanity back into its decision making.

    • Bearded Git 8.1
      2 November 2018 at 8:18 am

      Yep Scott…a guy on RNZ has just said the enquiry into the Sroubek case should be enlarged to include the workings of the whole immigration system.

      I think the officials who gave the minister the information are at fault so someone should take a look at these people.

      But National had several other opportunities to get rid of Sroubek-they can’t blame Labour for this.

      • Pat 8.1.1
        2 November 2018 at 8:54 am

        He may very well have been set up by his officials but he dosnt appear to have asked any questions of his own …..he shouldve have had the nous to see it coming.
        Whether he survives as Minister or not there will be a shake up in the Immigration Dept…..and one that is long overdue.

        • ianmac 8.1.1.1
          2 November 2018 at 9:19 am

          As the great Simon Bridges said to Guyon, , the Minister is not expected to be a detective but relies on the information given to him in order to make a good decision.
          What! Bit that is what the current Minister said and was howled down by the Opposition. Contradictory? Hypocritical?

        • AB 8.1.1.2
          2 November 2018 at 11:45 am

          Tend to agree. If Lees-Galloway had the proper level of loathing, contempt and fear of the National Party, he would have seen a lying, cynical law ‘n order beat-up written all over this one in big, red crayon.
          Perhaps he is too afflicted with kindness.
          I’d suggest the Minister writes 50 lines every morning – “the National Party are vicious, unethical pricks out to defend their economic privilege by any means available – don’t give them any openings.” And then 50 more at night.

          • OnceWasTim 8.1.1.2.1
            2 November 2018 at 1:42 pm

            Yea well, a few people did try and warn him (not specifically him, but an incoming government) the extent of the problems they might face.
            The last thing I’d criticise him for though would be “…. too afflicted with kindness”.
            I’m picking that right now, a few of the gNat’s own ilk would be wishing for a bit of kindness – but you know – what’s sauce for the geese is source for the ganders.

            I’m not sure even the nastiest of the gNatz realise the extent to which they’ve contributed to things such as people trafficking, exploitation of labour that borders on slavery, racist attitudes based on both ethnicity and country of origin. And probably from a selfish Koiwoi POV, the extent to which they’ve politicised our public service.

            And just reading a few comments from yesterday from the likes of @Chris T whilst pulling on his tassle regarding Labour’s apparent failings over a Czech national, HE should be a little more circumspect.

    • francesca 8.2
      2 November 2018 at 8:49 am

      Tuariki Delamere wasn’t it?

      • ScottGN 8.2.1
        2 November 2018 at 9:14 am

        No there was another interview earlier in the hour. Delamere’s was good too though. He said Soubrek should have been deported in 2009 when his use of a fake passport was first flagged to Immigration NZ. National expilicitly said yesterday that Soubrek’s case didn’t come before any of their relevant ministers in the 9 years they were in office?

    • veutoviper 8.3
      2 November 2018 at 9:39 am

      I’m in a good mood so far today so here are links to all the items this morning on Morning Report on the Sroubek case, in time order:

      7.10am
      https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018669441/immigration-to-blame-for-czech-criminal-s-residency-national

      7.14am
      https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018669442/how-did-czech-criminal-get-nz-residency

      7.52 am https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018669450/czech-drug-smuggler-karel-sroubek-a-history

      8.11am Tuariki Delamere interview
      https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018669456/delamere-puzzled-by-decision-not-to-deport-czech-criminal

      IMO and from my experience, Immigration Dept has been a mess, which is putting it mildly, for many years and needs a complete overhaul.

      I also think National are now panicking and don’t want Lees-Galloway to undertake a full inquiry into the full history of the Sroubek case as this is going to turn over many stones National don’t want exposed. Hence their call for a very quick day or two inquiry or none at all. Interesting times ….

      • Patricia Bremner 8.3.1
        2 November 2018 at 2:20 pm

        Chickens coming home to roost?? Could be interesting and revealing!!

      • OnceWasTim 8.3.2
        2 November 2018 at 5:40 pm

        “I also think National are now panicking and don’t want Lees-Galloway to undertake a full inquiry into the full history of the Sroubek case………….”
        No they don’t really, but why just a full inquiry into the Sroubek case.

        And thanks @vv for the links. Except I’ve got 7 pages of links dating back slightly more than 2 years – predominantly from RNZ, but also investigative work done by the likes of Morrah at Newshub, and even Lincoln Tan at Granny that show what an absolute bugger’s muddle the Munstry set up by Messrs Joyce and Coleman has been. (Even in a cabinet paper, potential warnings were given that have now all come to pass)

        How anyone ever thought that a Ministry that deals from everything from the bloody radio spectrum, to building standards, to mediation services, to labour, to a companies register and to immigration was ever going to work I just fail to see/failed to have seen. Never mind though – its all now a matter of record. (And we’ll leave out a culture that thought it OK to engage in the services of Thompson and Clark at the moment, but while I do – I note that some of those engaged in academic research conducted by Dr Christina Stringer into exploitation thought they were being surveilled).
        And we won’t get into the antics of the gNats when they came to power OR indeed into a Bakshi or a Parmer.

        I think the easiest summation without getting really really heated up, is to say that INZ (and various other business units under the bugger’s muddle known as MBIE) have been complicit in worker exploitation, a growth in shoddy immigration advocacy, a blind eye to shoddy private tertiary education, and the industrialisation and commodification of people and their movements AND the politicisation of the little fiefdom is something to behold. (Some within have become so fucking arrogant, they can’t even see it ffs).
        I’m afraid a new CEO just isn’t going to cut it no matter how hard she tries (and by Christ is SHE an improvement!)
        Perhaps the best way to handle all this is to get on with the Sroubek instance, but to seriously expedite Chippy’s public service review AND to broaden the terms of what he sees as his expectations.

        And HARK at Woodhouse. I just heard the pompous git on Checkpoint again. If he’s not careful, there’ll be another JLR debacle to have to deal with.
        (Maybe that’s a good thing……I just remembered the due diligence a mate was doing on a Kapiti Rangoli after a Nafe and the charasmatic Key and enterage had passed through – complete with video at the time.)

        MoBIE has been an UTTER failure. Despite one or two really good people within, it is not EVER going to work. It doesn’t matter whether a Devoy is a decent sort of bloke, or whether one or two bleeding heart temporary contractors are employed. IT . IS . A . COMPLETE. FUCKUP. (Sorry @ AD – but it is and was set up at a disAdvantage, and that’s all it can ever aspire to be).

        Probably its only benefit is that it has one responsible Minister who holds a couple of disparate portfolios – Associate Immig and Broadcasting.

        Either break the fucking juggernaut up, OR make it also responsible for the services of the Ministry for Information and Propaganda. There’d be one or two within that would love nothing better as they suck the diks of their beloved.

        A while back, I wondered what the worst thing gNats had done to the public service over the past 9 or 10 years. Was it WINZ/SocDEV, was it MPI, was it Mot/NZTA, was it Corrections, or was it the Ministry for Evrything. I think its the Ministry for Everything – It’s a CLEAR winner of public service dysfunction (sorry @ AD – but it is)

    • Anne 8.4
      2 November 2018 at 9:43 am

      I think it was Tuariki Delamere – former NZ First MP in the 90s.

      He mentioned three former Nat.Ministers of Immigration (Coleman, Smith and Woodhouse) all of whom he believes had sufficient evidence available to them which should have seen him expatriated.

      So definitely a case of pots and kettles.

    • SaveNZ 8.5
      2 November 2018 at 9:50 am

      +1 to immigration shake up. They have been making appalling decisions. They seem to let the poorly educated, dishonest migrants in with fake paperwork and lies and the honest people we want to migrate here, are deported or told they don’t qualify!

      I heard one reason the drug lord was allowed to stay was he has considerable equity in his house – doh- he’s a drug importer, of course he has money! We all know if he was a Kiwi they would probably have confiscated his house under the crimes act, but nope, apparently Kiwis are expected pay for his prison stay on the taxpayer while he keeps his house.

      Also apparently his partner was a factor, but again he’s been in prison for years so his actions obviously have already kept them apart. God knows how much money is transacted in these lies as apparently he threatened her, then she changed her mind from not supporting him to supporting him. Nice, another potential family violence statistic to our shores. sarcasm.

      Oh and he has that ‘export’ business from the EU. Also brings in drugs too! What a bonus.

      WTF are they thinking, he was already known as a fraud on the passport, has kidnapping charges against him and now importing drugs and being sent to prison for 5 years where apparently he was denied parole as he’s still a danger to society.

      It is crazy how keen our government was to give him an exceptional leave to stay!

      It’s like our government is attracted to the world’s scumbags to give them a NZ passport to commit crimes, for some reason.

      No wonder the world is starting to not trust the Kiwi passport or residents!

      Next thing our own youth won’t get into OZ, because OZ will get tired of our lazy immigration and the flow on effects to them.

    • OnceWasTim 8.6
      2 November 2018 at 10:00 am

      Yep….in fact two of them (Alistair McClymont and Tuariki Delamere) both genuine and experienced -as opposed to the many charaltans operating as immigration advisors.

      INZ is a basket case….but under MoBIE, working as designed by its creators Joyce and Coleman.
      Whatever the reason(s), whether under-resourcing, inexperienced staff, cosy little arrangements or other…..it needs a fucking big shakeup.

    • Herodotus 8.7
      2 November 2018 at 12:13 pm

      The govt (our Pm deputy PM and min of Immigration) have all as justification of this decision and have compared to what Nat have done.
      If the current govt is basing their actions and justifying them based on National then they are destined to meet the standards of the last govt, and we “Don’t” want that.
      What is worse they all on Monday and Tuesday supported the decision, and said there was “other” issues at play.
      There is a saying ” throw good money after bad”, The current govt continues to do this, by their response.

  9. reason 9
    2 November 2018 at 7:40 am

    In a rare moment of honesty from james ,,,, combined with his right wing need to gloat over any reversal or set back for the ‘left’ …. lead him to nominate Jair Bolsonaro as the most charismatic politician in world politics.

    Charisma ?

    ” While casting his vote in favor of Rousseff’s impeachment in 2016, Bolsonaro dedicated it to the memory of Carlos Alberto Brilhante Ustra, a notorious torturer who died the year before without ever having to answer for crimes he committed as an agent of the dictatorship.

    In twenty-seven years in Congress, Bolsonaro has faulted the dictatorship for not killing enough people during its two decades in power, suggesting there should have been at least 30,000 casualties instead of several hundreds.

    He has argued that parents can and should beat homosexuality out of their children at an early age. ”

    And to quote Bolsonaro on women …..

    From an exchange with congresswoman Maria do Rosario in Brazil’s lower house.”I wouldn’t rape you because you don’t deserve it.” (2014)

    In a subsequent newspaper interview, Bolsonaro said Rosario was “not worth raping; she is very ugly.”

    ….. It seems to me James is not to be taken seriously on issues of violence, corruption, abuse of power or anything else he claims to be offended by.

    Because Its actually charismatic … if the victims are on James hit list.

    http://upsidedownworld.org/archives/brazil/brazil-truth-commission-details-extent-of-rape-during-military-dictatorship/

    “Bolsonaro has been carrying out a campaign of harassment against Maria do Rosário for some time, as this was not the first incident in which he has told her the he “wouldn’t rape her because she did not deserve it.” He uttered the same words to her before in the corridors of Congress in 2003, at which time he also pushed her and called her a “vagabunda,” or tramp.”

    https://www.hrw.org/news/2014/12/10/brazil-panel-details-dirty-war-atrocities

    • Cinny 9.1
      2 November 2018 at 8:02 am

      Mhmmmm, last night’s thread was rather revealing.

      Excellent post Reason.

      • reason 9.1.1
        2 November 2018 at 9:53 am

        We accidentally good cop bad copped him 😉

        …. well done Detective Sergent Cinny … for getting the confession

        I doubt he would have admitted his starry eyes for the fascist guys to me.

        And thank christ james isn’t immigration minister ….. hot dirty money probably turns him on ……… like the prospect of joining an illegal usa invasion / war ….does to wayne mapp and the Nacts.

        “When the US Secretary of State asked for more fighting troops to try to fix the mess the United States has made in Afghanistan, Key and his colleagues were always going to say yes.

        Some of the Cabinet may be hawks, others may have cynical thoughts of buying trade concessions. But I think the main explanation is that these are people (Key, Murray McCully, Wayne Mapp) who don’t understand or care much about the issues. Winning approval in Washington just seems like a good idea. ”

        ” There is a simple reason why the SAS will be sent to Afghanistan later this year: it’s what National Governments do. “

        • Cinny 9.1.1.1
          2 November 2018 at 1:38 pm

          Lmao, unless it was said just to piss me off. Funny either way.

          Seriously wouldn’t be surprised if Brazil turned into military government with the ex captain now in charge.

          Latest news is he is going to move Brazil’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem

          Tropical trump.

          Dodgy bibi will be delighted.

    • Gabby 9.2
      2 November 2018 at 9:33 am

      He’s only been stabbed once, which I think is .. unfortunate.

      • Cinny 9.2.1
        2 November 2018 at 1:10 pm

        For sure and he milked it for all it was worth. Couldn’t make the final leaders debate, instead he was able to do a televised statement, thanks to the bishop.

  10. You_Fool 10
    2 November 2018 at 7:47 am

    National reject JLR proxy vote

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12153125

    First step in forcing JLR out of parliament? Will National use the waka-jumping law despite being so strongly against the law and how undemocratic it was… I guess they will use the excuse that JLR is unwell and it is better for his health to step down from being a MP… They will take this fall for JLR own personal welfare… aren’t those nats so nice?

    I am undecided if this still fits in my theory of a new right party being thrown up around JLR (and Judith Collins) or not…

    • Incognito 10.1
      2 November 2018 at 7:58 am

      The game of political chess continues and while all eyes are on the board we cannot see the players and most definitely not the ones in charge of the ‘tournament’.

    • xanthe 10.2
      2 November 2018 at 8:16 am

      I also think that the game here is a new right wing party. And slater is up to his neck in it

      • Bearded Git 10.2.1
        2 November 2018 at 8:22 am

        Perfect, so long as New-ACT gets 4.9%

        • xanthe 10.2.1.1
          2 November 2018 at 8:29 am

          Slater intends it to be the New Conservatives (without Colin Craig!)

        • You_Fool 10.2.1.2
          2 November 2018 at 10:49 am

          and is obviously aimed at holding the electorate of Botany, so 4.9% is too high

          • Bearded Git 10.2.1.2.1
            2 November 2018 at 12:07 pm

            Good point…but JLR’s street cred seems to be in shreds and National will continue its attacks so I doubt if he can hold on to Botany. But….

            He has broken the golden rule and brought the Party into disrepute.

            • You_Fool 10.2.1.2.1.1
              2 November 2018 at 1:50 pm

              If Bridges gets rolled then they could do a “all is forgiven” thing and agree to working together in principle, but have disagreements as if they are really different parties

    • BM 10.3
      2 November 2018 at 9:27 am

      I am undecided if this still fits in my theory of a new right party being thrown up around JLR (and Judith Collins) or not…

      Can’t really see it, JLR backed Bridges during the leadership challenge, not Collins, you’d think if they were going to form a party the least you’d do is stay loyal not chuck her to one side and support Bridges because he’d get more power.

      Does rather show the Slater-Collins link no longer exists though.

      • marty mars 10.3.1
        2 November 2018 at 9:42 am

        The link exists I think.

        Yeah can’t see any new party coming from this – this ain’t redemption road, no coming back for Ross thank goodness. Fatal blow to bridges – Collins will be even worse than bridges imo even her mates can’t stand her – all promise no delivery.

        • BM 10.3.1.1
          2 November 2018 at 9:54 am

          I don’t think it’s fatal to Bridges, no one outside the blogs/twitter gives a shit which is why it’s highly likely he’ll be leading National into the election in 2020.

          If Judith Collins ever wants to be the leader, she’s got to win over her colleagues within the caucus, how’s she ever going to do that if she’s any way connected to JLR and that moronic fuckwit Cameron Slater? who’s currently on some sort of kamikaze death spiral against National.

          Which is why there’s no link with Slater anymore, the guy is toxic and has been for a very long time.

          Unless Bridges steps down, Collins will back Bridges to the hilt.

          • marty mars 10.3.1.1.1
            2 November 2018 at 10:14 am

            “Unless Bridges steps down, Collins will back Bridges to the hilt.”

            Lol the hilt sticking out of his back.

            Bridges is mortally wounded – he’s a gonna but his wee ego will keep him pretending far too long thus stuffing up the next leader.

            Collins has missed her chance for the big time – just too unlikable and still nek deep in dirty dirt. The public know but desperate gnats prob don’t.

            • Drowsy M. Kram 10.3.1.1.1.1
              2 November 2018 at 10:41 am

              “Collins will back Bridges to the hilt.” – BM

              “Lol the hilt sticking out of his back.” – marty mars (brilliant)

              Very good time to make hay – let the sun shine in.

            • Ffloyd 10.3.1.1.1.2
              2 November 2018 at 10:29 pm

              I like Anne Tolley.

          • ScottGN 10.3.1.1.2
            2 November 2018 at 12:17 pm

            No link to Slater anymore? You’re forgetting that just last week Bridges rang him for nice wee chat?

        • JanM 10.3.1.2
          2 November 2018 at 11:30 am

          Not being liked by her mates won’t stop them if they think she can win. The ‘mates’ couldn’t stand Muldoon either, but they elected him because they thought he could win an election – that’s ethics National style 🙁

      • You_Fool 10.3.2
        2 November 2018 at 11:40 am

        Theory goes, JLR was once in the Collins camp, but realised it was going no where so switched to the Bridges camp with promises of some good baubles. Baubles never really arrived, but JLR was in the trusted circle and he realised he could get some good dirt on Bridges as a just in case sort of thing. Then once he realised that he was being set up for the leak thing (as someone needed to take the hit if they couldn’t find definite links) JLR switched back to Collins. Collins realised that there was a golden opportunity, get JLR to full frontal attack on Bridges (note it is not National he attacks, just Bridges) and Collins to lie in wait. JLR gets in touch with Slater/lusk to help facilitate the attack (Collins possibly green-lit this, possibly is upset with it as it tarnishes everything), but Collins stays back so she isn’t implicated in attack. JLR and Bridges go toe to toe, ending with JLR winning a Botony by-election and becoming an independent. Collins waits for a few months until the dust somewhat settles, whilst JLR takes potshots at Bridges and undermines him all the way, along with any definite Bridges supporters in National. When the time is right Collins makes her move, possibly riding into a caucaus meeting on horseback, overthrows the incompetent bridges. Once this is done, JLR decides to form a new party, or takes over TOP, or the conservatives or something, and a new right wing party is born, giving National someone to work with, and try to mop up the ~3-5% of voters that miss out (TOP/Conservatives/Some act hangers on/some more extreme right NZF) and hope that is enough to a)knock NZF below 5% and b) give the right 50.1% next election. Prime Minister Collins all the way….

      • SpaceMonkey 10.3.3
        2 November 2018 at 2:30 pm

        The Slater-Collins link still exists… I can assure you.

  11. Cinny 11
    2 November 2018 at 8:08 am

    Children are being removed from Nauru.

    This appears to be flying under the media radar in Aussie.

    Dosen’t seem to be making the airways in NZ either.

    Did find an article in the herald, but personally I prefer Al Jazeera for international news.

    https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/11/facing-heat-australia-children-nauru-year-181101050432769.html

  12. ianmac 12
    2 November 2018 at 8:25 am

    Morning report interview just now with Delamare. He thinks the previous Ministers of Immigration failed in their duty to deport Sroubek back when his false passport appeared. He thinks it is a bit rich for Bridges to accuse now when three National Ministers failed to act.
    A very interesting discussion. Includes the shambles at the Immigration Department.
    https://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player?audio_id=2018669456

    • ianmac 12.1
      2 November 2018 at 8:35 am

      For the above interview:
      “An immigration consultant who represented Karel Sroubek says he’s puzzled by Minister Iain Lees-Galloway’s decision not to deport him back to the Czech Republic. Sroubek was jailed two years ago, for more than five years, for importing the drug MDMA. Mr Lees-Galloway has asked officials to investigate the case again and says he expects them to report back within three weeks. Tuariki Delamere was the Immigration Minister in the late 1990s, and is now an immigration consultant, who’s acted for Sroubek.”
      https://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player?audio_id=2018669456

      • SaveNZ 12.1.1
        2 November 2018 at 9:54 am

        Tuariki Delamere seems to bring a lot of scumbags into NZ residency and citizenship. I guess it’s not what you know but who in NZ these days. As long as they are rich and can pay his fees, crims and the morally questionable are often rich, so all good.

        • OnceWasTim 12.1.1.1
          2 November 2018 at 10:32 am

          Actually I’m not that big a fan of Delamere but like a few others, he does know what a complete fuckup INZ is and how its got worse over the past decade.
          I was very disappointed when he favoured retention of visas tied to a specific employer-a recipe for worker exploitation and scammers. He said that because he was worried that an employer could do all the work bringing in an immigrant only to have that immigrant ‘poached’ by someone else.
          Hopefully he’s changed his mind.
          INZ seem to have difficulty in determining who is genuine and who is not….but that’s because immigration has been industrialised over the past decade and they seem to think they can automate it all, whether by demographic profiling, shutting down offices and relying online inputs, and poor enforcement practices through the use of tik boxes, inexperienced staff/contractors/cost cutting.
          But then when its shoved under a Ministry for Everything with completely the wrong organisational culture, why are we even surprised at all its many stuffups?

  13. WeTheBleeple 13
    2 November 2018 at 8:35 am

    re: Climate Change, Canterbury (and other) Drought Solutions.

    Here’s more Aussie innovation that needs decent traction here. PA Yeoman’s Keyline System.

    Re-hydrating land not only improving production, but soil carbon stocks, land carrying capacity…

    It’s a win-win for Farmers and Greenies on ‘water challenged’ land.

    Don’t forget to plant!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qz6vhoOg4Hc

    I have no idea what sort of legislative nightmare farmers here might face trying to make moves like on-farm water storage re small dams and lakes serving large properties.

    Hopefully not too harsh.

    • mauī 13.1
      2 November 2018 at 10:01 am

      You probably know of him already, but Geoff Lawton (a Mollison permie disciple) is always a good one to listen to.

  14. ScottGN 14
    2 November 2018 at 9:22 am

    “I hope you’ve got decent locks on your doors.”

    Collins channelling her very best Trumpian dogwhistle in response to the Coalition government’s state housing drive.

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/11/judith-collins-mocks-government-s-state-housing-drive.html

    • veutoviper 14.1
      2 November 2018 at 10:16 am

      Newshub have now taken that story down and apologised for it at the bottom of this separate article:

      https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/11/phil-twyford-absolutely-ape-over-kiwibuild-criticism-judith-collins.html

      “A previous version of this story contained a comment from Ms Collins regarding locks on doors, which Newshub misinterpreted as being criticism of the Government’s expansion of state housing. Newshub apologises for the error.”

      However,Collins and Twyford did have a ‘discussion’ about door locks in Housing NZ houses in Question Time yesterday in Q5:

      Video – https://www.parliament.nz/en/WatchParliament/PlayVideo/OnDemand/203742
      Hansard
      https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/?Criteria.Timeframe=range&Criteria.DateFrom=2018-11-01&Criteria.DateTo=2018-11-01

      • ScottGN 14.1.1
        2 November 2018 at 10:22 am

        Cheers veutoviper. That makes more sense, the comment seemed a bit out of context?

        • veutoviper 14.1.1.1
          2 November 2018 at 10:25 am

          I didn’t actually see it, but I’m amused that Newshub have taken it down so quickly and apologised!

          I am more interested in the fact that Collins is getting a lot of media coverage at present rather than what she is actually saying – seems to be a sign that Bridges’s position is not particularly secure … LOL.

          • ScottGN 14.1.1.1.1
            2 November 2018 at 10:28 am

            Me neither, it’s hard to stomach Collins so early in the morning. I had just come across the written portion of the online segment.

          • ScottGN 14.1.1.1.2
            2 November 2018 at 10:29 am

            Her and Mark Mitchell jostling for position I reckon.

            • veutoviper 14.1.1.1.2.1
              2 November 2018 at 11:51 am

              Agreed that Mitchell is also pushing himself forward as the calm, cool, reasonable alternative.

              And then there is Bennett, who has gone all quiet ….

              And Nikki Kaye who has kept well out of it all ……

              And Amy Adams who I think has just given up.

              And another female Nat MP who hasn’t been in the House now for two weeks – but who is definitely not a Leader contender.

              • ScottGN …
                2 November 2018 at 12:06 pm

                Regarding that awol woman MP, her local paper, in an editorial a week or so ago basically called for her resignation…

              • ScottGN …
                2 November 2018 at 12:08 pm

                And Mitchell will need some serious speech training if he’s to rise further.

          • Dukeofurl 14.1.1.1.3
            2 November 2018 at 11:28 am

            So Collins gets a story changed over a small detail in the time it takes to snap her fingers ?
            Evidence she is a ‘leaker’ to Newshub , who are quick to ‘look after her’

            Plenty of Newshub and other sites have stories that bigger errors than that and yet the stay.

            Yesterrday there was plenty of Nonsense about Z Energy and ‘lower profit’ when the reality was the profit was quite a lot higher.

            The company spun a story about a lower profit using ‘non standard accounting’- ie made it up.

  15. esoteric pineapples 15
    2 November 2018 at 9:26 am

    For something a bit different, here’s an interesting interview with the author of a book who researched the connections between US military intelligence and the emergence of the hippy movement in LA, centred around Laurel Canyon. Whatever one thinks of his conclusions it is amazing how many coincidences there are. Especially the sheer number of the scene’s most famous musicians who had fathers who were involved in the military and especially US military intelligence from Jim Morrison to Frank Zappa and David Crosby. I think the relationship between American hard and soft power is an area worth more exploration. The military may not been responsible for the growth of the movement but it could conceivably seeded or nurtured it. Or it could just be that the US military always has its fingers in as many pies as possible.

    • Gabby 15.1
      2 November 2018 at 9:31 am

      Given WW2 and ongoing conscription it’s hardly an earthshattering discovery that a whole bunch of hippies had military parents.

    • WeTheBleeple 15.2
      2 November 2018 at 10:35 am

      I’m sure the military were at least interested in the movement. Potential enemies of state spouting anti-war rhetoric, peace, and love. No good for business having attitudes like that.

      But maybe if you could keep these hippies busy with concerts and drugs. Dancing and fucking is way more fun than protesting any day. Monitoring the effects of LSD on crowds would be deemed useful military data too.

      Monitoring is a large part of what they do. Subterfuge and infiltration are part and parcel, so, how deeply did they infiltrate the hippies?

      I can’t see these musicians as intelligence though. Zappa was a musical genius. Jim Morrison a bored drug-fucked poet. Crosby is a long and successful career musician, has put five solo albums in the charts, as well as been a part of several iconic musicians art.

      This guy being interviewed is straw grasping all over the place reducing the credibility of whatever he might have that’s real.

      imo.

  16. Observer Tokoroa 16
    2 November 2018 at 10:27 am

    Immigration Bubble

    Is there any talk of reducing immigration numbers so that we can build the infrastructure for all the people we already have.

    Build the Houses too

    Get the Asians used to Toilets and such.

    Build the Class Rooms too

    Help the Whenua and low whites reduce their high crime rates

    Get a decent leader for the National bunch

  17. Observer Tokoroa 17
    2 November 2018 at 10:54 am

    Hi Antoine

    You value White crime?

    I would prefer you discourage it

  19. Dennis Frank 19
    2 November 2018 at 11:07 am

    “According to Gallup in 2017 42% of Americans identified as “Independent”, 29% as Democrats, 27% as Republicans. So what are “Independents?” Left, Right, Up, Down, Charmed, Strange? (Inside joke for quantum theory proponents.) Their viewpoint appears to be ignored by Dr. Fukuyama. Yet they are the plurality of Americans.”

    That’s astonishing! Only a few years after centrists expanded to parity with the left & right to create a three-way split, that new political reality has now slid into Trotsky’s dustbin of history. Americans have moved on!

    The note appears appended in the first Amazon review of Fukuyama’s “Identity: The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of Resentment”, published last month. I’m currently reading my brand-new copy, and can report that after complaining about the lack of theoretical basis for identity politics on my website in 2011, then on various blogs since, pointing out the tacit concession of the entire field of psychology that they can’t figure it out, I need do so no longer. He’s filling that vacuum left by the incompetence of psychologists. Fukuyama’s been a political science professor.

    “In a 2018 interview with New Statesman, when asked about his views on the resurgence of socialist politics in the United States and Great Britain, he responded:

    “It all depends on what you mean by socialism. Ownership of the means of production – except in areas where it’s clearly called for, like public utilities – I don’t think that’s going to work. If you mean redistributive programmes that try to redress this big imbalance in both incomes and wealth that has emerged then, yes, I think not only can it come back, it ought to come back. This extended period, which started with Reagan and Thatcher, in which a certain set of ideas about the benefits of unregulated markets took hold, in many ways it’s had a disastrous effect. At this juncture, it seems to me that certain things Karl Marx said are turning out to be true. He talked about the crisis of overproduction… that workers would be impoverished and there would be insufficient demand.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Fukuyama

    Yet, as the reviewer pointed out, centrists failed to feature in his latest overview of politics. You’d think the fact that centrists are now dwarfing the political right and political left in the USA would impact on a political scientist, eh? Particular one oft noted for the depth and penetration of his insight. That’s the problem with the goddam elephant in the room. Eternally invisible.

    • ianmac 19.1
      2 November 2018 at 1:18 pm

      In the USA there is really only a voting choice either voting for Democrats or Republicans. So Independents have no real home.
      A bit like our system pre-MMMP.

  20. ScottGN 20
    2 November 2018 at 11:10 am

    I’ve always been a supporter of POAL going about its business on the downtown harbour. And the naval base on the farther shore too. And all the other activities of a working port which seems to me to be an intrinsic part of a great harbour city. The idea that our waterfront becomes nothing more than a swanky office precinct and/or enclave for those people rich enough to afford the luxury apartments that eventuate would be a very poor outcome of Aucklanders desire to have more access to that waterfront.
    The attitude of POAL, however, has become a major stumbling block for plans to develop the waterfront for all of us. And Auckland Council is either unwilling or unable to reign in the port company. It’s time for central government to step in and redraw the rules of engagement around the way our harbour’s are managed.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12152595

    • Dukeofurl 20.1
      2 November 2018 at 11:20 am

      The port takes a tiny piece of ‘the harbour’.

      • ScottGN 20.1.1
        2 November 2018 at 11:30 am

        A small but significant piece Duke. And what’s important is what they want to do with that piece. I think that almost everybody except POAL agrees that using Bledisloe Wharf for stacking used Japanese imported cars is a pretty dumb idea. And the plan to try and disguise the multi storey car park by building a hotel in front of it, facing south away from the harbour is just plain stupid. By the same token building a sports stadium (however swishy) on that area, and reclaiming more harbour to do so is a waste too.

    • JC 20.2
      2 November 2018 at 4:00 pm

      Shanes’ onto it…

      The coalition agreement between Labour and NZ First agreed to “commissioning a feasibility study on the options for moving the Ports of Auckland, including giving Northport serious consideration”.

      https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/mockery-shane-jones-has-new-target

  21. marty mars 21
    2 November 2018 at 12:57 pm

    Funny and accurate

    If you need a further Peterson catch-up, can I recommend a video posted by GQ magazine this week, in which Jordan is interviewed by the New Statesman’s Helen Lewis. It’s hard to pick my favourite moment from the nearly two-hour-long encounter, but I very much enjoyed the bit where Lewis reasons: “Lobsters don’t get depressed. I think you’re anthropomorphising to a ridiculous degree. These are creatures that urinate out of their faces.”

    Then again, it must be said that Peterson spends most of the interview looking like he’s about to urinate out of his face. In the entire exchange, he smiles about once, at some perceived irony in something wistfully arch that he has just said. One’s primary takeout is not: here is a man who can laugh at himself. Which is such a missed opportunity. I am reminded of the time when Jeffrey Archer told Dame Edna Everage that “the most important thing is to be able to laugh at yourself”. “You’d have to do that,” came the deathlessly sympathetic reply, “otherwise you’d be missing the joke of the century.”

    https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/lostinshowbiz/2018/nov/01/pity-jordan-peterson-lobster-analogy-replace-sense-humour

    • McFlock 21.1
      2 November 2018 at 2:04 pm

      heh

      “The League of Extraordinarily Fragile Gentlemen.”

    • Chris T 21.2
      2 November 2018 at 3:15 pm

      When he comes here in February it is going to drive the anti free speech brigade into have a group simultaneous physical, mental and emotional meltdown with the faux outrage.

      It will make the chick from Canada and her racist mate look like friendly greetings

      Quite forward to it for the laugh.

    • SHG 21.3
      3 November 2018 at 4:37 am

      Why do people fixate so much on the lobsters?

  22. Eco maori 22
    3 November 2018 at 10:10 am

    Kia ora Emma and Simon from Newshub Nation I have allready made my view on the reality on the imagination issue Wjy has no one in NZ MSM not picked up on THE Antarctics sanctuary plan it was in Hobart Tasmania Australia I will link the story.
    Its good people are slowing down on petrol
    We have fuel companys who are minpulating fuel prices full stop these multi national companys are price gougeing the Kiwi consumers its money for jam to them than they dont pay a fair share of taxes.???????
    Tova you should be following the Antarctic story not this undermines the government.
    The coalition people governments has made more positive changes for all people wealthy and poor people.
    Its all about keeping all people happy if money is targeted to Maori national will jump up and down and hit the government on the head with it.So long as maori and the poor common person is get treated better everyone is winning not just maori .Crime is dropping wages are going up social services is in proving a lot of good things .
    I not talking about trump the media in America is being miluplated buy trump he cheats in everything he does . Ka kite ano P.S I HAD TO use someone else’s device my phone is blocked to thestandard site.money miluplated.

  23. Eco maori 23
    3 November 2018 at 10:27 am

    The story About the Antarctic been put into a reservation for future decendinces not to be ravaged by wealthy money men who are greedy for money and power muppets ana to kai .
    Links below ka kite ano

    https://www.google.co.nz/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/02/plan-create-worlds-biggest-nature-reserve-antarctic-rejected

  24. Eco Maori 24
    3 November 2018 at 1:33 pm

    My phone is unblocked now this post will be on the Kiwi build project.
    Here’s how I see it a couple who get through the process and qualified to buy a house in reality they leave a house vacant for someone else to rent and that’s the way kiwis build works.
    I see sweets making waves about the Kiwi build in Porirua I’m not sure if he has figured that equation out or if the money man’s money has distorted his view.
    It would be nice to be able to retro fit out the old state houses but that’s to costly and land is to expensive so pulling down the old state housing and building new house will make the location more attractive for all people to live and new well insulated ventilated house is what is needed.
    If one goes to Europe well the big picture is the best Insulation is what gives people the biggest bang for there bucks in a nutshell and later on if they want to solar power installation is the next step. Ka kite ano P.S I hope this helps people sort through the B.S

  25. eco maori 25
    3 November 2018 at 8:14 pm

    I should not have singled out Tova about the Antarctic sanctuary Eco knows how it works Some Eco Maori Music For The Minute.

  26. eco maori 26
    3 November 2018 at 8:25 pm

    Some Eco Maori Music For The Minute.

  27. eco maori 27
    3 November 2018 at 9:02 pm

    Mana Wahine Strong Ladies vote for your future and your daughters future everyone FUTURE. Eco Maori Music For The Minute

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