Open mike 08/02/2013

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, February 8th, 2013 - 54 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner).

Step right up to the mike…

54 comments on “Open mike 08/02/2013 ”

  1. AsleepWhileWalking 1

    Congratulations to Stuff for perpetuating the myth that sex offenders are “odd” people.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/8276509/Paedophile-odd-says-former-boss

    • AsleepWhileWalking 1.1

      Duplicate comment. Not sure what happened there.. but not delete or edit tab showing.

  2. AsleepWhileWalking 2

    Congratulations to Stuff for perpetuating the myth that sex offenders are identifiable “odd” people as opposed to people who look and (apart from the sexual violation of minors) act like the rest of us.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/8276509/Paedophile-odd-says-former-boss

  3. Ad 3

    What is Labour’s policy response to the current employment crisis? Have there been releases, policy ideas, commentary, articles or media that I have missed?

    I hope David Shearer hasn’t forgotten the definition of the word labour.

    • logie97 3.1

      I wonder if Mr Shearer, when asked the question whether he supported a four year term, might have replied, “There are far more important issues to be working through than that right now…”

      • just saying 3.1.1

        What could be more important to him than his own career prospects?
        Has there been any evidence of genuine passion, or deep concern about anything else?

      • Fortran 3.1.2

        Agreed – Red Herring

    • r0b 3.2

      What is Labour’s policy response to the current employment crisis?

      http://www.labour.org.nz/policy

      See the tab “Jobs”

      • Coronial Typer 3.2.1

        Some of those bullet points are definitely helpful.
        CGT. Activist Reserve Bank. R&D tax breaks.

        Others are just bullet points.
        We are deep into the second term of National.
        Substantial, worked out, costed policy to deliver high value sustainable jobs should have been written by now, for precisely such a media moment as this.

        Together with a compelling spokesperson.
        Appreciate the link.

        But who in Labour is making the case, and with what?

        • Elizabeth Bourchier Real Labour 3.2.1.1

          Grant Robertson and Trevor have it all worked out. Stop bothering yourself with worry. Here is a calendar for fundraising, distribution, street corner meetings and hoarding erection. Just get on with it.
          They have it it all under control. Don’t forget how well they do on the party vote in Wellington/Hutt.
          F*cking geniuses.

    • Saarbo 3.3

      Can someone tell me who in Labour is looking after Economic Development??? Joyce on RNZ this morning provided with a free rein to spin his bull shit…

      • tc 3.3.1

        That’s why they go onto RNZ, a free hand on their compliant media outlet courtesy of their boy chairman Armstrong.

        Joyce’s no fool, you will not see him running the risk of being shown that’s he’s as full of it as Shonkey/Blinglish/Bennett etc are he’s got a better delivery and a very effective bully which’s part of the Mr Fixit charade.

      • QoT 3.3.2

        Why did you make me look, Saarbo? According to Labour’s website, they have NO economic development spokesperson. It was Cunliffe, and the last media release under the ED portfolio tab was November, jointly issued by Cunliffe/Robertson.

        God it’s depressing.

      • Puddleglum 3.3.3

        An opposition spokesperson with any nouse would have been on the phone to RNZ telling them what a series of pathetic non-sequiturs Joyce was spouting and offer to be interviewed.

        For goodness sake, Joyce leapt from curious unemployment and employment stats (i.e., people opting out of the workforce leading to a lower rate of unemployment) to the need for foreign investment, to the need to mine resources – all supposedly to ‘create jobs’.

        None of it followed (either logically or in any practical sense) but it was left to listeners to email in about Joyce’s stunningly incoherent analysis.

        Where were any opposition spokespeople (or just any opposition MPs)?

    • Kevin Welsh 4.1

      Numerous independent analysts share the IMF’s view.

      “The projects are simply not well prepared,” says Philip Ammerman, an investment consultant and co-founder of London-based Navigator Consulting Group.

      “What we see coming out of the various government ministries or the office of the prime minister is simply not up to par on any international standards,” he says. “The project concepts don’t exist, the numbers don’t stand up, there are no numbers supporting the project concept, and there is just too much ideology.

      Why are we not surprised?

      And how dare those wealthy Chinese, Russians and Arabs try and gatecrash the party.

    • Jokerman 4.2

      hmmm
      http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57568130/u.s-war-games-with-japan-australia-in-show-of-force-to-rising-china/

      btw, fyi, from Over The Hills and far away… i put my signature to a comprehensive afa davit as the truth concerning my upbringing, no ‘story” there!

  4. Scott 6

    From Radio NZ today: Foreign Investment Key to finding More Jobs – Joyce. That’s the first ‘deep idea’. Here’s another from the same report:-

    Mr Joyce says although people feel strongly about mining natural resources, it needs to be considered as a solution to finding more jobs.

    What more proof do we need that this government is utterly devoid of ideas, imagination, policies?

    There’d be no surprise if one of them comes out with the Increase-Immigration line shortly.

    Also see the same story for the spin put on the latest workforce figures by another segment of the nation’s Brain Trust, a bank economist – a truly independent source for analysis, eh!

    • Draco T Bastard 6.1

      We don’t need foreign investment to utilise our own assets. Just need the political will to tell the capitalists to eff off.

      • Jokerman 6.1.1

        “We are heading for economic and social mayhem- and it’s only breakfast time” -Satyajit Das -NZ Listener Sept

    • millsy 6.2

      Mining is fine, just keep it out of our conservation estates and national parks. They belong to US.

  5. fatty 7

    Aaron Keown being a dick and screwing the people of Chch again. The automobile and petrol companies must be happy we have a bunch of morons controlling the Chch rehash.
    Funding woes seems like a good excuse for more cycle tracks, not less.
    If Aaron Keown says something is not cool, then you know all the cool kids are doing it

  6. Pascal's bookie 8

    Here we go then:

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10864146

    Warner Bros is threatening that the Government’s release of confidential documents about the Hobbit union debate would be a “major disincentive” to future film-making in New Zealand.

    • Bill 8.1

      Wingnut Films also criticised the move.

      “I can categorically assure you that if the above information was released and a similar situation occur in the future, neither myself nor Wingnut Films would be inclined to help the Government again with such a candid level of advice and opinion,” reported The Hollywood Reporter.

      My. head. hurts.

    • Rosie 8.2

      Bastards. I guess they figure their bully boy tactics were so effective back in 2010 that all they have to do is threaten to pull the plug on future productions if our govt releases the deal documents and hey presto, they get their way, awkward situation avoided. They don’t want their dirty laundary aired. They must see our govt as a push over and so easy to manipulate.

    • Rosie 8.3

      And another thing. So Warner Bros/New Line Cinema can make all the threatening noise they like but what other country are they really going to produce their films in when, thanks to them they have a cheap unregulated labour force to exploit here?

      Jonathan Handel, author of The New Zealand Hobbit Crisis puts it plainly when he says “…that country [nz] has the world’s only non union English language film business.”

      They’re not going to make it hard for themselves by producing films elsewhere.

      • yeshe 8.3.1

        Hi Rosie .. looks like you might have the Handel book now ? This was a comment that intrigued me and I wished to know more … who was it and how did Key know him “quite well” ??

        Quote: ‘Key said he was encouraged that the studio had sent a “fairly heavy duty team” to meet with him, including the president of New Line   Cinema, the company’s chief legal counsel and a senior executive from Warner Bros.   whom Key   said he knew “quite well”. ‘

        Handel, Jonathan (2012-11-21). The New Zealand Hobbit Crisis (Kindle Locations 720-722). . Kindle Edition. “

        • Rosie 8.3.1.1

          Hi yeshe. Yes, the library did get the book in and I’ve read it. I think its a useful book to have on hand for referencing events around the timeline but I’ve got to say there seemed to be a lack of analysis I was still left with questions. Maybe those answers are in those documents that Warner Bros/New Line are so keen to keep hushed up…….

          And yes, I was also intrigued about JK knowing the senior exec from warner Bros “quite well”. Is that just our PM buzzing out with the whole celebrity/rich n’ powerful idol thing he has going on, or does he really know the exec “quite well” and if so how, and why? Did he have something to do with him , or indeed that industry during his time at Merrill Lynch? Who else does he play puppet to at our expense?

          Hope we stand up to those Hollywood bully boys and release the documents. Imagine the fall out……………..Cin77 is right, they’d be really juicy.

          • yeshe 8.3.1.1.1

            Maybe someone might pick it up from here and ask the question of Key.

            Do you mean fallout if they do, or fallout if they do not release them ? Either way promises great drama .. couldn’t happen to a nicer Cabinet !!

            • Rosie 8.3.1.1.1.1

              Fallout if they do release the documents. NZers really have their magical thinking hats on when it comes to this phoney belief that JK and Peter Jackson are our saviours for their part in the dirty -deeds -done -dirt -cheap deal with Warners Bros.

              Imagine if the facts of the whole sordid matter were exposed and they could see our PM and the ministers invloved for the sell outs they are. It might be a reality check for a lot of NZers and of course will be excellent fodder for the opposition……..great drama indeed!

  7. cin77 9

    i really want to read these papers, they sound juicy.

  8. North 10

    Aha !

    Kim Philby Key.

    The Third (Rate) Man.

  9. Rupert the Beer 11

    Who’s behind the A Bit Shit Facebook page, do you think?

    http://www.facebook.com/abitshit

    Funny how it appeared on Cameron Slater’s and Farrar’s blogs before it appeared anywhere on the left…

  10. Tim 14

    Could NOT have said it better re OUTSOURCING:

    http://norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/2013/02/zoe-williams-on-outsourcing.html

    Probably the most attractive things for gubbamint is how it relates to accountability.

    It not only holds true for central gubbamint, but for local bodies and regional councils too

    Clayton’s public service! It’s become pervasive.

  11. bad12 15

    Slippery the Prime Minister trying to get Ozzy Prime Minister Julia Gillard to bail His sordid FAILURE of a Government out by paying benefits to Kiwis living in Australia,

    Imagine if Gillard agreed, the Minister of Overseas Travel for Employment Paula Bene-basher would be frog marching Beneficiaries onto the plane by the 100,s…

    • The Al1en 15.1

      His only hope is to flatter her into thinking the Aussie Cleopatra needs English speaking slaves.

      Sand to arabs, fridges to eskimos, flies to shit.

    • Murray Olsen 15.2

      Benefits are not much of an issue to Kiwis over the ditch. Most of us work, and work hard, despite what the RWNJs say about our being bludgers. Key would be more usefully employed getting his shipwreck of a government to pay the benefits people are legally entitled to at home. Instead, he imports a succession of third rate academics to compare benefits to heroin, etc. To use a word that the rabid right have real trouble spelling, he’s a total hypocrite.

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