Open mike 02/06/2014

Written By: - Date published: 6:55 am, June 2nd, 2014 - 108 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

openmike Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

108 comments on “Open mike 02/06/2014 ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. lprent 1
    2 June 2014 at 11:03 am

    Ouch. That was a bad upgrade. It looks like it started failing after it switched back from the backup server to the usual web servers. Just after I went to bed (grr)

    Fixed now by rolling back the web servers.

    There will be some maintenance tonight.

    • karol 1.1
      2 June 2014 at 11:07 am

      Thanks for sorting it so quickly – while most others have the fortune to be in holiday mode.

      • lprent 1.1.1
        2 June 2014 at 11:11 am

        Thank rocky. I was in full blown sleep-in mode…..

        She rang because she has a problem with the video driver on her new desktop box and (grr) woke me up. I’d better head over to her new house and suffer the torments of no seats, boxes everywhere, and fixing windows driver problems. She’d already tried everything so it will be one of those nasty extract and reinstall.

        • infused 1.1.1.1
          2 June 2014 at 12:39 pm

          Just run the vendors driver removal tool and reinstall the latest. Intel laptops, specifically HD4000 ones come with a buggy driver. So it’s probably just that. Download the newest version.

    • Rosie 1.2
      2 June 2014 at 11:58 am

      Thanks for the awesome Lprent, and all you do for the site.

    • veutoviper 1.3
      2 June 2014 at 12:09 pm

      My thanks also for all your hard work, lprent. Much appreciated. Felt ‘lost’ when I could not get on this morning!

    • Paul 1.4
      2 June 2014 at 12:23 pm

      Thank you for your work to make this site run.

      • Colonial Viper 1.4.1
        2 June 2014 at 12:27 pm

        +100!

        • Belladonna 1.4.1.1
          2 June 2014 at 12:57 pm

          Thanks Lynn, was starting to get withdrawal symptoms. Thanks for all you do for this site.
          Would be a grim world if it wasn’t available.

        • Once was Tim 1.4.1.2
          2 June 2014 at 8:32 pm

          Ditto (even tho’ I am but an occasional/regular interloper).

          As I register my compliments however, (and with the pleasure of having Natrad in holiday mode – with a superior Colin Peacock and a Matinee Idol team replacing the regulars) – has anybody else noticed todays msm preocc with their idol?
          John Key says this
          Jonkey says that
          Simon says pick a bale of cotton!

          So far I’ve heard is expertise on everything from bloody road accidents caused by international terrorists on the roads, to the All Bleks in Sam Owen to itchim smetchim fawn polsy fekting ear fewcha.

          Thank Christ for alternative media (such as the Standard, and elsewhere)

          • Paul 1.4.1.2.1
            2 June 2014 at 8:37 pm

            Many dictators would be jealous of the uniformity of the western corporate media.
            All hail the dear Leader.
            He makes all sorts of important pronouncements for us.

      • lprent 1.4.2
        2 June 2014 at 12:48 pm

        Don’t thank me for this one. It was my cockup. Holiday mode…,

  2. Morrissey 2
    2 June 2014 at 11:09 am

    Coup d’état and Assassination Plan Unveiled in Venezuela

    The United States has backed murderous insurrections against democratic governments in what its politicians contemptuously call its “backyard” for more than a century. It’s still at it…

    http://www.minci.gob.ve/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Magnicidio-Inglés.pdf

    • ianmac 2.1
      2 June 2014 at 11:24 am

      Watched the Pilger South American program showing over and over again the USA dirty tricks overthrowing Democratic governments. If it is in the USA’s national interests then they will do what it takes. Sadly it is so huge it is beyond my ability to comprehend and what can the world do about it. Better to rail about the local carpark I suppose.

      • Tautoko Viper 2.1.1
        2 June 2014 at 1:16 pm

        The Shock Doctrine was shown on Maori TV last week. It was chilling. Why is NZ associating itself with an ethically bankrupt regime? How far will the US go to keep their Muppet/Puppet in power here?

        http://www.maoritelevision.com/tv/shows/tuesday-festival-documentaries/S01E001/shock-doctrine

        • Paul 2.1.1.1
          2 June 2014 at 2:18 pm

          Great film. By the way, Shock Doctrine can be applied to the events in Christchurch and 1980s New Zealand. There are so many similarities between New Orleans post Katrina and Christchurch for the 2011 earthquake.

          I recommend you watch ‘Dirty Wars’, which is a much more recent film.
          As part of 5 Eyes, NZ now contributes to these secret wars and assassinations.

          Review
          http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/nov/24/jeremy-scahill-exposing-us-dirty-war-afghanistan-pakistan-somalia-yemen
          Trailer

        • Rosie 2.1.1.2
          2 June 2014 at 3:13 pm

          Have been meaning to watch this as I missed it last week on Maori TV.

          Vaguely related. I’ve been watching the drama, Treme, about post hurricane Katrina New Orleans (see Paul’s comment) and have been disturbingly surprised by the themes of disaster capitalism and ordinary people’s experiences with their government and authorities.

          Christchurch mirrors New Orleans in some ways in some of the story lines.

          A little bit about Treme:

          http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treme_(TV_series)

          And a great opening intro song:

          • Paul 2.1.1.2.1
            2 June 2014 at 4:10 pm

            Treme was written by David Simon, who also wrote the Wire.
            Probably the best drama ever. Makes a strongest care ever for the end of the drug war.

        • The Al1en 2.1.1.3
          2 June 2014 at 4:12 pm

          “How far will the US go to keep their Muppet/Puppet in power here?”

          If you see yankee warships in NZ harbours, then that will be a big clue.

            • Colonial Viper 2.1.1.3.1.1
              2 June 2014 at 4:26 pm

              Thanks I had missed that. Very interesting the PLAN was involved.

            • The Al1en 2.1.1.3.1.2
              2 June 2014 at 4:44 pm

              Scared me enough to decide to comfort cook toad in the hole for dinner, which coincidentally, is what JK will be when he gets booted from office and settles permanently in his u.s holiday home

          • Colonial Viper 2.1.1.3.2
            2 June 2014 at 4:23 pm

            The military exercises around Canty etc recently

            Also our co-operation in drawing up GCSB legislation to their specifications and requirements

        • greywarbler 2.1.1.4
          2 June 2014 at 8:59 pm

          @Tautoko
          How far will the US go to keep their Muppet/Puppet in power here?

          Does the road wind up-hill all the way?
          Yes, to the very end.
          Will the day’s journey take the whole long day?
          From morn to night, my friend.
          Up-Hill
          Christina Rossetti, 1830 – 1894

  3. Tautoko Viper 3
    2 June 2014 at 11:09 am

    For an excellent argument on corporate welfare, watch Joseph Stiglitz: Let’s stop subsidising tax dodgers.

    https://www.commondreams.org/video/2014/05/31

  4. karol 4
    2 June 2014 at 11:14 am

    I don’t buy this argument for the demise of left-right politics. I’m sure there’s an uprising in anti-establishment sentiment (that’s what drives the tea party). But that’s all a symptom of how the power elites have undermined left wing parties and politics over the last few decades, masking the entities that have the most power and influence.

    • lprent 4.1
      2 June 2014 at 11:23 am

      …uprising in anti-establishment sentiment (that’s what drives the tea party).

      Not to mention the occupy movement and a whole pile of non-party movements.

      Incidentally I watched V for Vendetta last night. Finally cottoned on to the Guy Fawkes masks 🙂 This is what happens when you drop out of popular culture for a few years back in the mid-00s

      • Pasupial 4.1.1
        2 June 2014 at 12:32 pm

        CV

        Alan Moore wrote the comic back in the 80s, but the masks didn’t really take off until the film happened.

    • Draco T Bastard 4.2
      2 June 2014 at 1:08 pm

      The establishment isn’t doing the majority of people any good and everyone knows it but the established parties will keep doing the same things because it’s what they’ve always done before. We see it in Labour here in the fact that they are unwilling to make any real changes such as 80% tax rates on the rich, the banning of foreign ownership and stopping the private banks from creating money.

      • karol 4.2.1
        2 June 2014 at 1:11 pm

        Well, maybe the mistake (of those who see left-right distinctions as in decline) is in assuming that political parties, like Labour, are totally left wing – rather than seeing them as embracing a mix of left and right wing values and policies.

        • Draco T Bastard 4.2.1.1
          2 June 2014 at 3:03 pm

          Political parties do have a mixture of Left and Right in them but the real problem, IMO, is the embracing of the status quo. It is the status quo that needs changing but none of our major parties are willing to change it.

          • Tracey 4.2.1.1.1
            2 June 2014 at 3:08 pm

            people think the status quo serves them because change is scarier

          • karol 4.2.1.1.2
            2 June 2014 at 3:12 pm

            But currently the status quo favours right wing values more than left wing ones. Changing the status quo, without a clear idea of a society that works for all and in balance with the environment and resources – could just mean a new status quo, with different players, and not a lot different from the old status quo.

            • Draco T Bastard 4.2.1.1.2.1
              2 June 2014 at 3:25 pm

              True but we’re not even seeing a vision of a better society.

            • Tracey 4.2.1.1.2.2
              2 June 2014 at 3:34 pm

              if its substituting the status quo with a disguised status quo…

              Humans hate change. Most resist it. Which is why too many politicians disguise it.

              The basic status quo has benefitted the ruling elite for hundreds of years, they tinker only when they begin to be found out and then they pretend to change… After a few years the lack of change is obvious

              • Colonial Viper …
                2 June 2014 at 9:13 pm

                From time to time the elite can support a change in the status quo OPERATIONS when circumstances dictate its necessity. They are forced to move to a new paradigm to maintain their place on top of the HIERARCHY which is the one status quo that they will not change.

                Example – Roosevelt’s new deal. Massive government employment programmes were created and tax rates dramatically increased which was a change to the status quo OPERATIONS but it was only done with the aim of ensuring the 1%’s position as the status quo atop the HIERARCHY.

                • karol …
                  2 June 2014 at 9:20 pm

                  In the same vein, CV, my concern with the likes of Kim Dotcom, is that he (and maybe some of his colleagues) aim to change the way businesses operate in the Internet age: a way that makes the best use of digital technologies. The result could actually be to re-vitalise capitalism in a way that responds to its current challenges. But it also may only be a temporary boost to capitalism, given the challenges.

                  • Colonial Viper …
                    2 June 2014 at 9:27 pm

                    if some kind of renewed emphasis on high tech business can help give us an extra 10 years economic breathing room with which to adapt the rest of the nation to harsh future realities it may not be a wholly bad thing? Just pondering.

                    One other thing with KDC – he may be rich himself but he has also set himself in direct opposition to the corporate power elite. They don’t like bolshy SMEs that they can’t buy up and they definitely don’t like class traitors.

                    • karol …
                      2 June 2014 at 9:30 pm

                      Hmmm. But, but in the past, at moments of upheaval, younger people break through in unorthodox ways to become the new elite – think Bill Gates,… or further back, the likes of Andrew Carnegie.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      2 June 2014 at 10:29 pm

                      That’s also true – changing the old oligarchs at the top for younger ones, and updating the company names on the Dow Jones to newer ones is hardly progress.

          • greywarbler 4.2.1.1.3
            2 June 2014 at 9:03 pm

            Labour 1984 changed the status quo. Now it is time to change the new, now old status quo.

            • Draco T Bastard 4.2.1.1.3.1
              2 June 2014 at 9:13 pm

              Yep. They did it in 1935 as well. At some point in the past Labour had the guts to change the system but, seemingly, they no longer do.

            • Colonial Viper 4.2.1.1.3.2
              2 June 2014 at 9:14 pm

              In 1984 Labour led a revolution which upended the social and economic order of the country.

      • The Lone Haranguer 4.2.2
        2 June 2014 at 8:18 pm

        80% tax on the rich?

        Lets see what would happen
        1)Dot Com woudnt declare any income in NZ
        2) ACT would say all the monied types will invest overseas and the economy will collapse
        3) The Nats will say the Banks will squeeze us and the economy will collapse
        4)Winston First will release Dot Coms tax return to show the rich foerigners arent paying their fair share
        5) Peter Dunne will also leak the Dot Com tax return and then blame Winston
        6) Mana will make an exception for Germans
        7) Labour will be strangely quiet and have no policy
        8) The Greens will put in huge tax rebates for those who invest in wind farms and stuff they themselves invest in.

        • Colonial Viper 4.2.2.1
          2 June 2014 at 9:16 pm

          I suggest a 91% income tax rate on monies earnt over 10x the median income = $29,000.

          That income tax rate is consistent with what the US had around 1960.

          Also a death tax is a good idea to sweep in all that hoarded financial capital. Say 50% of all financial assets i.e. not including the family home.

        • Draco T Bastard 4.2.2.2
          2 June 2014 at 9:19 pm

          1.) Doubt it
          2.) Just so long as the monied types follow their money I’m all for it – along with the ban on foreign ownership
          3.) The banks are already squeezing us dry
          4.) Winston would be right about the rich foreigners – KDC isn’t one
          5.) Peter Dunne will say something meaningless, then contradict himself and then build an altar to Sensible Centrism.
          6.) Doubt it
          7.) So, no change then?
          8.) Good, need more renewable energy

  5. Clean_power 5
    2 June 2014 at 11:30 am

    How ironic. David Farrar being savaged on his own blog for (partially) siding with the Greens on the carbon tax.

  6. bad12 6
    2 June 2014 at 11:46 am

    Bomber waxing lyrical in the Herald today,”Some on the left call this a sell out. principled opposition is admirable, but, who will tell 285,000 children in poverty we wouldn’t replace the Government because we couldn’t agree on which version of Marx to follow”,

    If Harawira, Harre, Sykes, and, minto are the sell out, sign me up”.unquote.

    Couldn’t agree more, Principles can neither put food on the table or a roof over your head…

  7. bad12 7
    2 June 2014 at 11:50 am

    My comments are like mist, disappearing into the ethereal unknown…

  8. Rosie 8
    2 June 2014 at 12:05 pm

    Talking of non party movements, our little efforts in Ohariu get some attention from bored commuters. PPO’s latest placard, on the Govts reneging on the GCSB and SIS review, promised to Dunne as part of the “willing buyer, willing seller” deal, situated at the J’ville train station (with more sites to come as more placards are produced)

    http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=67747

    • karol 8.1
      2 June 2014 at 12:10 pm

      Thanks, Rosie. Will add it to my 20th century spying post – which will make it more accessible for future use.

    • veutoviper 8.2
      2 June 2014 at 12:11 pm

      Love the poster, Rosie. Well done – and good to see your group’s efforts being reported on.

      • Colonial Viper 8.2.1
        2 June 2014 at 12:29 pm

        It’s especially awesome that this is just one in an ongoing series…people take this kind of consistency with much more seriousness.

    • phillip ure 8.3
      2 June 2014 at 1:37 pm

      i put it up on whoar..

      • Rosie 8.3.1
        2 June 2014 at 1:55 pm

        Thanks karol, VV, CV and phillip.

        We try to keep it a bit light by adding the emoticons Dunne face. (Although his angry face is rather a deep shade of red in the above placard 😀 ) and usually do a few placards on the Dunne topic du jour and place them in strategic sites around the electorate.

        Here’s a previous placard from Scoop:

        http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=61648

        It’s fun to do but is also a challenge to Dunne as well as an awareness raiser for the locals.

    • ianmac 8.4
      2 June 2014 at 2:47 pm

      That is what is needed Rosie. A little abrasion often wears away the sock.

  9. Jilly Bee 9
    2 June 2014 at 12:22 pm

    Just read the piece on the Herald website about the Samoan PM criticizing (or rather misconstruing) the Labour Party’s proposed immigration policy and of course John Key picking it up and running with it. Presumably the Samoan PM is well aware of the housing situation in Auckland and that PI families are living in cars and other inadequate housing, particularly in South and West Auckland. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11266018

    Am I unfairly suggesting that he simply wants unfettered access for his people so they can come over and work for less than fair wages so more money can be sent back home to Samoa.

    • Descendant Of Sssmith 9.1
      2 June 2014 at 6:07 pm

      Really or maybe he would like his people to have the same labour mobility that the English and Australians have so that they can come here and work in higher paid jobs than fruit picking.

      Explain to me any rational reason why our close ties to the Pacific nations shouldn’t ensure their workers have the same rights to work here as Australians.

      Presumably you’re aware that housing problems is not just an issue for Pacific Island families.

  10. William Joyce 10
    2 June 2014 at 1:35 pm

    I have some questions that just occurred to me that some may be able to answer (save me looking it up if one of you already know 🙂 )

    Under what legal conditions is the Rt Honourable (& they are all Honourable men) John Key able to own land in Hawaii / United States? (Oh the irony of him being an absentee foreign owner of land!)

    Under what legal conditions is he able to enter the United States for periods of time? Does he have a limited stay type of visa or does he have dual citizenship?

    If he has dual citizenship (US & NZ) then what conflict of interest issues does that raise if he is the head of NZ’s security services? Does this explain why he & his govt have brought the KY to the James Clapper/Ian Fletcher/Eric Halder lovefests & the Dotcom raid?

    as as side….
    Why has Grant Wormald from OFCANZ (Organised and Financial Crime Agency) not been charged with perjury for his testimony in court?

    • One Anonymous Bloke 10.2
      2 June 2014 at 2:23 pm

      The Wormald prosecution will have to be brought by Graham McCready. ‘Senior police’ have closed ranks: “his words have been taken out of context”, “he thought the question was about physical surveillance”, “the transcript proves his innocence. You can’t see it.”

    • Tracey 10.3
      2 June 2014 at 2:29 pm

      he would be staying on diplomatic equivalent or visitor visa, nz citizens get automatic 3 month visa to the us i think.

    • RedBaronCV 10.4
      2 June 2014 at 7:13 pm

      I’ver wondered about this. Has anybody ever asked J Key if he holds a USA passport? If he does there must be potential for some pretty big conflicts of interest? And if he does, then he is liable for US taxes on his worldwide income which I assume includes his Prime ministerial salary. Maybe he also takes advantage of the US tax breaks around donations?

  11. Marius 11
    2 June 2014 at 2:16 pm

    I recently emailed Maori television to ask if the station thinks in light of the ongoing human rights violations against the Palestinian people at the hands of israel they feel it is prudent for the station to go ahead and screen israeli comedy films in their 9:30 pm Sunday night film slot. I waited the time they said it would take to respond and longer. No reply. I did receive responses from both Trademe and RNZ on the same topic. Both were pretty much bullshit- but at least they did reply.

  12. Draco T Bastard 12
    2 June 2014 at 2:44 pm

    What Is Money by Jeremy Lee 1993 Australia

  13. Gosman 13
    2 June 2014 at 3:15 pm

    The Greens have support for their Carbon tax proposals from an unexpected group.

    http://us7.campaign-archive2.com/?u=c86359d14575615d6ae8c2b60&id=5797dbd47b

  14. phillip ure 14
    2 June 2014 at 5:38 pm

    i never realised tau henare is so old..(or bred so young..?..)

    “..Henare, the great grandson of former Northern Maori MP Tau Henare –

    was selected this afternoon to contest the Auckland Maori electorate..”

    • anker 14.1
      2 June 2014 at 6:19 pm

      Phillip @ 12.

      No not the National TAu Henare. The late Tau Henare who was a MP for Northen Maori

  15. Clemgeopin 15
    2 June 2014 at 5:53 pm

    One way ticket to Mars.

    From an email to me:

    At this moment, 705 candidates from the original pool of over 200,000 applicants remain in Mars One’s astronaut selection process. They will be interviewed by the Mars One selection committee, headed by Dr. Norbert Kraft, Chief Medical Officer of Mars One.

    With a long history in astronaut selection and crew preparation at NASA and the Japanese Space Agency, Dr. Kraft is well aware of the risks and challenges for the Mars settlers. He has also spent 110 days in group isolation as commander of an international mixed gender crew and spaceflight simulation experiment in Moscow, Russia.

    Dr. Kraft says, “we’re incredibly excited to start the next phase of Round 2, where we begin to better understand our candidates who aspire to take such a daring trip. They will have to show their knowledge, intelligence, adaptability and personality.”

    Who are the 705 candidates?
    The remaining 418 men and 287 women in Mars One’s astronaut selection program come from all over the world: 313 from the Americas, 187 from Europe, 136 from Asia, 41 from Africa, and 28 from Oceania. In this spreadsheet you’ll find all the 705 candidates and a link to their profile on our community platform.
    Aspiring Martians T-shirt
    We are temporarily offering an Aspiring Martians themed T-shirt to celebrate the Aspiring Martians Community first anniversary. We will have them printed if at least 100 shirts are pre-ordered by May 31st. Don’t miss out!

    Each month, we award an autographed Mars One coffee mug to two randomly picked monthly donors. This month, the rewarded supporters are Humberto Q. (Brazil) and Arnold S. (Denmark). Thank you!

    The next selection steps
    The remaining candidates will be invited for a personal interview. Mars One is in negotiations with media companies to report on those interviews. Once the television deal is finalized and the interviews begin, the stories of the 705 aspiring Martians will be shared with the world.

    The selection phases that follow in 2014 and 2015 will include rigorous simulations, many in team settings, with focus on testing the physical and emotional capabilities of the candidates.

    Aspiring Martians who have missed the first application round can join subsequent astronaut selection programs. Mars One will commence regular recruitment programs as the search for follow-up crews continues. Read more about the astronaut requirements.
    Candidates dominate headlines!
    As round two of the astronaut selection process carries on, Mars One has continued to be the subject of many media stories. Many of our candidates have been featured by various media outlets, including:

    Interviews with some candidates:

    RT http://rt.com/news/158216-mars-one-way-ticket/
    CNN: http://edition.cnn.com/2014/05/16/tech/innovation/mars-one-candidates/
    CBS: http://us5.campaign-archive1.com/?u=24d8ce153d9cbd2546aca36de&id=ca374bb0c4&e=d2915e610c
    {The CBS video did not play for me}

    http://us5.campaign-archive1.com/?u=24d8ce153d9cbd2546aca36de&id=ca374bb0c4&e=d2915e610c

    Find more Mars One media coverage on the Mars One website:
    http://www.mars-one.com/news/media-publications

  16. Weepu's beard 16
    2 June 2014 at 7:11 pm

    Is Kelvin Davis the new Shane Jones? You know he’s in trouble when he has immediately become the pet of Cameron Slater.

  17. Paul 17
    2 June 2014 at 7:20 pm

    Just saw the interview of Leila Harre by Susan Wood.
    The bias was just so overt.

    • Paul 17.1
      2 June 2014 at 7:23 pm

      Followed by sycophantic giggling to Matthew Hooton as he makes snide comments about them.
      Body language..everything different.
      Very chummy and convivial amongst all of the panel.
      What a bunch of….

      • karol 17.1.1
        2 June 2014 at 7:33 pm

        As I said earlier today on twitter – that Qu & A panel was rambling like the late end of a Remmers cocktail party.

        A small group of people locked in their own bubble, clueless about the struggles of a lot of Kiwis.

        • Paul 17.1.1.1
          2 June 2014 at 7:37 pm

          A disgrace if that’s what constitutes political debate in this country.

          • karol 17.1.1.1.1
            2 June 2014 at 7:41 pm

            I was interested to watch Qu & A this week, because it was being talked about online. But I do find Susan Woods pretty unwatchable. She is so not right for a current affairs show. Just smug and prissy, and totally out of her depth when engaging with someone as politically savvy as Harre.

            • Paul 17.1.1.1.1.1
              2 June 2014 at 7:43 pm

              Quite the Tory and in the Remmers set.

              • Anne …
                2 June 2014 at 8:03 pm

                She lives in Paratai Drive does she not? I’m sure no-one is allowed live in that street without first presenting their National membership card. They do allow ACT members to live there too but only with special dispensation.

            • Clemgeopin 17.1.1.1.1.2
              2 June 2014 at 8:52 pm

              I also HATE it when the interviewer asks a question and interrupts the answer before the person has a chance to complete the answer. It is not only bad manners, rude and irritating, but quite off putting for the person answering. Many of these ego driven stupid interviewers do it! For them it is just a feel good game for a few minutes for their programme, but for the politician answering the question and for the party they represent, a lot is at stake.

            • Colonial Viper 17.1.1.1.1.3
              2 June 2014 at 9:07 pm

              A small group of people locked in their own bubble, clueless about the struggles of a lot of Kiwis.

              And not just clueless – more like couldn’t give a fuck and the cruelty of deliberate ignorance.

        • Clemgeopin 17.1.1.2
          2 June 2014 at 8:43 pm

          I wonder how much these biased idiots are paid for their so called ‘expert commentary’!
          Any idea or guess?

          • Paul 17.1.1.2.1
            2 June 2014 at 8:46 pm

            Probably not much in the way of cash.
            However, they get paid in the contacts they make. They network on a programme like Q and A.
            Future cushy contracts await.

  18. Anne 18
    2 June 2014 at 8:15 pm

    Oh wow! He says it in a nutshell. Thanks Paul.

  19. bad12 19
    2 June 2014 at 8:22 pm

    Damn all my comments have been locked out by this morning’s outage…

    Edit: lolz except this one…

  20. bad12 20
    2 June 2014 at 8:49 pm

    Maori television’s Native Affairs,as usual, out of the blocks first with in depth coverage of potential Maori MP’s for this election….

  22. phillip ure 22
    2 June 2014 at 9:19 pm

    i want the green candidate..and the labour candidate..and the maori party candidate..

    ..they were all far better than most of the wastes of space who are currently mp’s..

    ..and all would improve parliament..

    ..and their skills/commitment could not be questioned..

    ..unforunately..as a mana voter..

    ..the mana candidate impressed least of all..

    ..why is the green guy number 21 on the list..?

    ..he won’t get in..and that is a shame..

    ..w.t.f.are the greens thinking..?

    ..why isn’t he higher..?

    ..would you like a list of current green mp’s who in a just world would/should move aside for the likes of macdonald..?

    • karol 22.1
      2 June 2014 at 9:24 pm

      Jack McDonald was particularly impressive – and Willow was also excellent.

      • bad12 22.1.1
        2 June 2014 at 9:40 pm

        If i were to pick a ”winner” out of tonight’s discussion it would be Labour’s Willow Jean Prime, my prejudices are showing here, both Grandfather’s freezing workers, father worked 20 years for the railways befor being made redundant,

        She seemed to ‘come across’ best on the medium of television, pity Willow is contesting the Northland electorate for Labour,(havn’t checked to see where She sits on the list),

        The Maori Party candidate made one good point about the current clusterfuck that is Auckland housing, in saying that it is easy to shift from the provinces to look for work, should you not find that work tho it is virtually impossible to shift back home again,

        Of course seeing this from the point of view of the incongruous relationship the Maori Party shares with the current National Government devalues His point dramatically and it is such ”attacks” upon Maori from National while the Maori Party tucks nga korokoro under the table and nga tiro onto the leather seats of the beamers that have all but condemned the Party to the overcrowded dustbin of political history…

        • bad12 22.1.1.2
          2 June 2014 at 9:51 pm

          When it come to housing policy tho, Jack Mcdonald from the Green Party had it all over everyone else, with the Mana Party candidate failing to fire in terms of having a clear personal vision of Mana’s State House policy,

          The variable equity scheme as outlined by the Green party policy is in my opinion an excellent forward looking piece of ”bread and butter” policy that they should spend far more effort explaining to the electorate,

          This policy simply means that anyone, in theory, from the lowest of beneficiaries to the most comfortable of the middle class could be housed and it is only my worries about future attacks upon those housed under this policy by another Tory Government that i see as the slightest negative issue with the policy,

          (besides the ability to build enough such homes that is)…

  23. Paul 23
    2 June 2014 at 10:24 pm

    “Senior Labour Party MPs have used social media to attack the alliance struck between Mana and the Internet Party.
    Former leaders Phil Goff and David Shearer, and Rimutaka MP Chris Hipkins are among those who have objected to the deal.
    The strong opposition from within Labour could make post-election coalition talks tricky.
    All three MPs were linked to the Anyone But Cunliffe [ABC] faction – who were opposed to David Cunliffe assuming leadership of the party. However, a Labour source played down talk of more division, saying all three were close to Te Tai Tokerau candidate Kelvin Davis.
    Davis himself posted on Twitter: ‘‘Bro, I think of the people of Te Tai Tokerau, not Sergeant Shultz.’’ He was referring to Dotcom’s German origins.”

    The neo-liberal rats in the Labour caucus are squirming and causing as much trouble as they can.
    Cunliffe must apply some party discipline here.
    Goff was a key member of the Douglas clique who betrayed NZ.
    Davis looking more and more like a total plonker.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10111029/Labour-MPs-not-happy-with-Mana-Internet

    • Kiwiri 23.1
      2 June 2014 at 10:59 pm

      Progressive voters in Mt Roskill, Mt Albert, and Rimutaka, now have a choice and can cast their party votes for IMP!

      And those in Te Tai Tok can cast their electorate vote for Hone.

      🙂

    • phillip ure 23.2
      3 June 2014 at 6:49 am

      “..Davis looking more and more like a total plonker..”

      ..+1..

      ..’sgt schultz’..?..really..?

      ..that’s the best davis has got..

      ..i used to think davis was ok..

      ..but you are right…he is actually a ‘total plonker’..

  24. Pete 24
    3 June 2014 at 12:04 am

    John Oliver’s Last Week Tonight eviscerates Tony Abbott

  25. Dennis Scoles 25
    3 June 2014 at 5:25 am

    The Labour Party used to be the people’s party, but it seems determined to lose many of its traditional voters. I myself will not be voting Labour again, but with me that decision came about after the election as leader of David #2 – is he the biggest goose Labour has ever had as a leader? Too late to get David #1 back…. or is it.

    • Paul 25.1
      3 June 2014 at 7:06 am

      Sounds like a concern tr**l

    • karol 25.2
      3 June 2014 at 8:05 am

      Seriously? Do you think Shearer would have been able to cope with all the nasties the Nats have been throwing out?

    • Colonial Viper 25.3
      3 June 2014 at 8:22 am

      Shearer proved unable to navigate internal Labour Party politics, partly because he was too inexperienced, I do not think he would be able to deal with the quickly changing dynamics that IMP is bringing to the table.

      Imagine the Internet Party having a more experienced leader (Laila Harre ex Labour led Cabinet Minister) than the Labour Party (David Shearer 0 full terms as Labour MP).