Open mike 05/11/2024

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, November 5th, 2024 - 15 comments
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15 comments on “Open mike 05/11/2024 ”

  1. aj 1

    At last, a voice in the New York Times promoting diplomacy ahead of war, war, and more war.

    Of course, Ms. Harris would face constant pressure from those in Washington who deem any gain by China or Russia to be near catastrophic. She should set the record straight: There are compelling reasons to help Ukraine and Taiwan, but not to put everything on the line for them and bring about disastrous global conflict. Pragmatic, determined diplomacy — neither the democracy-versus-autocracy fatalism of Mr. Biden nor the frenzied fumbles of Mr. Trump — will make Americans safer.

    How Kamala Harris Should Put America First — for Real.

    https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/21/opinion/harris-foreign-policy-america.html?unlocked_article_code=1.T04.bTW8.-s7TO-yEaHhM&smid=url-share#

  2. Joe90 2

    Lol…..it can't be illegal if it's fraud.

    @MarshallCohen

    from Philly courtroom —

    Musk lawyer says his $1m giveaway is NOT a lottery. "There is no prize to be won" and winners "are not chosen at random," Musk lawyer Chris Gober said.

    Instead, the $1m is a salary they "earn" to be a spokesperson for Musk's pro-Trump super PAC. Winners are picked based on their "suitability to serve" and their personal story, Gober said.

    In response, Philly DA team called this a "complete admission of liability" that Musk is running an illegal lottery under PA law.

    Remember: When Musk announced the giveaway…. in PA nonetheless…. he said, "we are going to be awarding $1 million randomly." DA showed this in court to the judge.

    Gober argued there's a difference between "randomly" and "by chance," which is why he argued that this isn't an illegal lottery under PA gaming laws.

    https://xcancel.com/MarshallCohen/status/1853466185712468446

  3. Koina 3

    Melbourne Cup day.

    Guy Fawkes night.

    New President on the morro – perhaps

    Oh and yes I must remember to plant my tomatoes

    A jolly 24 hours all round

  4. joe90 4

    Legislating away any opposition.

    /

    A bill that is largely seen as discriminatory against Palestinian citizens of Israel has passed its first reading following a vote in the Israeli Knesset.

    The bill, introduced by Likud Member of the Knesset (MK) Ofir Katz, would amend Section 7a of the 'Basic Law: The Knesset' and introduce a new clause titled "Expansion of Grounds for Preventing Election Participation."

    The clause expands the ability of the Knesset to disqualify candidates, or parliamentary lists, from running for election, largely by widening what can be considered support for armed struggle against Israel.

    According to the Knesset's website, the bill will enable the Knesset to bar those who show "support for armed struggle, even if the support is for the armed struggle of a lone terrorist".

    Additionally, the bill also expands who the support can be against, expanding it to encompass Israeli citizens as well as the State of Israel.

    https://www.newarab.com/news/new-israel-bill-seeks-bar-palestinian-knesset-candidates

    • SPC 4.1

      It is a bill to disenfranchise Israelis who oppose the coalition partners of Likud (WB settlement). Arab or Jew.

  5. observer 6

    "I am pretty much across everything" – a PM, today.

    Except the things he's actually asked about. Happens almost daily now. The guy is a joke (on us).

    Boot camps: Christopher Luxon claimed he had no conversations on use-of-force, despite Cabinet already agreeing to it – NZ Herald

    • Drowsy M. Kram 6.1

      Luxon sold his soul to Mammon years ago – as ‘honest’ as the day is long.

      "An honest politician is one who, when he is bought, will stay bought."
      Simon Cameron (March 8, 1799 – June 26, 1889)
      After making his fortune in railways and banking, he turned to a life of politics.

      "I am pretty much across everything" – a PM, today.

    • Bearded Git 6.2

      Luxon was petty and aggressive on RNZ's Morning Report today when interviewed by Ingrid Hipkiss. He had the cheek to complain about RNZ's editorial policy when Hipkiss gave him a hard time on the never-ending heated tobacco scandal, saying that they should be asking him about positive things like the trade deal with the Middle East.

      Hipkiss, to her credit, took none of this, explaining to him that Morning Report had already interviewed the relevant minister on that issue*.

      https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018962738/pm-luxon-on-advice-used-to-cut-excise-tax-from-heated-tobacco

      *Luxon is trying to claim credit here for a trade deal negotiated over 20 years by multiple governments.

      • georgecom 6.2.1

        If Costello had any integrity she would say she made a mistake, cancel the tax cut and resign from her position. If the Prime Minister had any spine he would admit he made a mistake, cancel the tax cut and remove Costello. Of course he won't as Winston has him over the barrell

  6. Drowsy M. Kram 7

    Act's David Seymour calling for 'hard-left' Human Rights Commission to be abolished [29 Oct 2020]

    Our deputy PM-to-be simply nominated Rainbow for the HRC job – nothing to see here.

    I didn’t get the HRC job’: Stephen Rainbow’s Human Rights Commission appointment just got weirder [5 Nov 2024]
    I didn’t get the HRC role but still very keen to help out,” wrote Stephen Rainbow to Act Party chief of staff Andrew Ketels in a text message on May 22 this year. Rainbow had applied for the position of chief human rights commissioner, after being nominated by Act leader David Seymour, and been interviewed for the job in March. He did not receive a text back from Ketels.

    Somewhere between May 22 and August 16, Rainbow went from being an unsuccessful, “not recommended” candidate, to being the successful candidate. Previous questions put to the justice minister about the qualifications and appointment of Rainbow received a brief response that the panel simply recommends candidates, it doesn’t appoint them.

    • Tony Veitch 7.1

      This really is an ACT-led CoC!

      Luxon just does as he is told – and that telling only the absolute minimum – the mushroom principle – keep it in the dark and feed it bullshit!

      Will it get even worse when David steps up to the PM DPM?

  7. tWig 8

    Timeline of Rainbow appointment as Human Rights Commisioner, according to Reddit.

    ‘1.Stephen Rainbow offered to help out the ACT Party, including being "a gay Human Rights Commissioner for example

    2.The ACT Party nominate Rainbow for the role

    3.Twelve candidates were considered and four shortlisted, Rainbow was not one of those shortlisted

    4.Goldsmith recommended that Rainbow be shortlisted and interviewed

    5.After interviews, 2 candidates were recommended by an independent hiring panel. Rainbow was not one.

    6.Goldsmith said that despite not being a lawyer, Rainbow's experience as a legislator made him suitable to the role. Rainbow has no experience as a legislator.

    7.Rainbow messaged ACT's chief of staff saying he did not get the job

    8.Rainbow got the job’

    I look forward to him (mis-) navigating this extremely stressful and very visible public role.

  8. Doug Granger 9

    Still, its better, than having nzfirst with 5% deciding who wins.

    [TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]

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