Open mike 07/03/2023

15 comments on “Open mike 07/03/2023 ”

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1. Bazza64 1

   7 March 2023 at 7:38 am

   No grain stackers for Ukraine, press yesterday hitting out at Nanaia Mahuta for turning this down. Chris Hipkins on one news this morning explains that the NZ company had approached Ukraine first & then tried to get the government to fund the sale, so the story is a bit more detailed than first reported & it makes sense why the request was turned down.
   • Jenny are we there yet 1.1

     7 March 2023 at 12:39 pm

     Barstards!
     Every war attracts 'Carpet Baggers' and opportunists.

     From Wikipedia

     ….carpetbagger is a largely historical term used by Southerners to describe opportunistic Northerners who came to the Southern states after the American Civil War, who were perceived to be exploiting the local populace for their own financial, political, and/or social gain….

     https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpetbagger
2. Ad 2

   7 March 2023 at 8:06 am

   Looking forward to the government publishing its new RLTP.

   For a handbrake turn like that one yesterday they should lose their license for loss of traction control.
   • Bearded Git 2.1

     7 March 2023 at 12:21 pm

     Hipkins is turning Labour into National-lite on transport……see Idiot/Savant's feed.
     • bwaghorn 2.1.1

       7 March 2023 at 12:53 pm

       The instant he uttered the word aspirational it was obvious that Hopkins ain't no lefty, that said he'll be 10 times better than lukewarm luxon
3. Bearded Git 3

   7 March 2023 at 12:41 pm

   Did anyone else hear David Farrar on RNZ's The Panel on Friday attack the hundreds of thousands of people demonstrating in Israel over the current extreme right-wing government's moves to emasculate the Supreme Court in Israel?

   He remarks "how radical people can feel when threatened by change". He goes on to massively underplay the significance of the changes. Wallace Chapman has no idea and so allows Farrar to get away with this nonsense.

   It starts at time 9.29:

   https://www.rnz.co.nz/audio/player?audio_id=2018880158

   Meanwhile the Guardian reports:

   "[Israeli Justice Minister Levin] proposed a series of changes aimed at curbing the powers of the judiciary, including allowing lawmakers to pass laws that the high court has struck down and in effect deemed unconstitutional. Levin laid out a law that would empower the country’s 120-seat Knesset to override supreme court decisions with a simple majority of 61 votes. Levin also proposed that politicians play a greater role in the appointment of supreme court judges….The planned overhaul has already drawn fierce criticism from Israel’s attorney general and the Israeli opposition, though it is unclear whether they will be able to prevent the far-right government from racing forward."

   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/04/israel-unveils-controversial-plans-to-overhaul-judicial-system

   Hasn't Farrar heard of the separation of powers? Does he really think hundreds of thousands are demonstrating against this for no reason? How does he get away with quoting this rubbish unchallenged on RNZ? Does he have Israeli links or sponsorship?
   • Tricledrown 3.1

     7 March 2023 at 1:01 pm

     Remember when whaleoil got a free trip to Israel a few years back,wouldn't be surprised if the well financed right wing spinners are getting funding plus the use of Israeli spy ware to undermine democracy.
     • Bearded Git 3.1.1

       7 March 2023 at 2:09 pm

       Ah I forgot about that Tricle…thanks.
   • SPC 3.2

     7 March 2023 at 3:39 pm

     It's a deliberate tactic to marginalise the opposition to the right wing drift as "radical".

     It's standard there to pose the Israeli left as radical. So as to infer that only by not being of the left can one be mainstream. Internationally the left is posed as anti-Zionist. Therefore to be a nationalist patriot in Israel …. .

     When established principles of law are the only roadblock left (to the most right wing government in their history) then the government comes to subordinate whatever resistance is left.

     The right wing drift began after Adelson began his free newspaper (in support of Netanyahu) in 2007 – now their largest by circulation. An irony is that the then largest paper's owner tried to do a deal with Bennie (offer a media less critical etc if Adelson went away). And Olmert went to prison …

     PS The government is threatening to restrict law of return access (to those they like the look of). In one sense very nationalist Jew only homeland and on the other in breach of the (humanitarian) principles their nation was founded on.
   • SPC 3.3

     7 March 2023 at 4:10 pm

     Listening to the detail of it.

     They have no constitution as such, but a concept of basic law (loosely human rights/civil liberties presumably) that the Supreme Court defends from government over-reach.

     At first DF tries to say is no big deal – why should the court be able to block government if there is no constitution? It would be like here etc. Then reveals it is about human rights of citizens.

     That the change is posed by the most right wing government in their history (the profiles of the Ministers of Finance Bezalel Smotriche and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir are quite shocking for a nation with a basic law of their type …. – so would seem to be incompatible with their party's inclusion in any coalition government of the state without changing the nature of the state) is the issue.
     • Bearded Git 3.3.1

       7 March 2023 at 5:01 pm

       Yes agreed SPC. Farrar attempts to paint the objectors as dinosaurs that are trying to stop an entirely sensible course of action.

       NZ, like Israel, has no written constitution. I would be out on the streets if a Nat/ACT coalition with a 61-59 majority attempted to weaken the role of the NZ Supreme Court in the same manner. I wonder whether Farrar would go on The Panel to defend this.

       I am still suspicious that he is in thrall to extreme Zionist elements. I think we should be told. (I am sure that he reads TS so feel free to reply David).
       • alwyn 3.3.1.1

         7 March 2023 at 5:26 pm

         "I would be out on the streets if a Nat/ACT coalition with a 61-59 majority attempted"

         I imagine you would Oh Bearded One. Bu would you say "I would be out on the streets if a Labour/Green coalition with a 74-46 majority attempted to entrench some law in the same manner"

         If your answer is yes, did you protest about the water assets sale fiasco?
         • Bearded Git 3.3.1.1.1

           8 March 2023 at 1:58 pm

           Alwyn-it is hardly equivalent.

           You seem to be obsessed with 3 Waters. All the government is trying to do is improve NZ's water infrastructure in the long-term while at the same time stopping some wanker like Luxon privatising it.
   • Mohammed Khan 3.4

     8 March 2023 at 12:10 pm

     There is no such thing as a 'left wing' in 'israel', aside from Palestinians. All zionists support the genocide of the native Palestinian human population of Palestine.
4. Descendant Of Smith 4

   7 March 2023 at 6:12 pm

   I did and the money wasn't used where John Key said it would be either.

   "At the start of the 2011 election campaign, Prime Minister John Key had promised the money raised would have to deliver substantial social or economic dividends, like major hospital redevelopments, new schools and transport projects.

   The government raised a lower-than-expected $4.7 billion from the sales of stakes in Mighty River Power, Meridian Energy, Genesis Energy and Air New Zealand.

   But documents released under the Official Information Act show only a third of the $3.9 billion dollars allocated so far in the Future Investment Fund has been earmarked for education and health, with another quarter to transport."

   Bastards.

   https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/285835/have-asset-sale-funds-gone-where-promised

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