Open mike 11/03/2011

97 comments on “Open mike 11/03/2011 ”

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1. joe90 1

   11 March 2011 at 7:33 am

   No matter what you do it’s all a-okay if you wrap it up as Christian repentance.

   There’s no question at times of my life, partially driven by how passionately I felt about this country, that I worked far too hard and things happened in my life that were not appropriate,” said Gingrich. “And what I can tell you is that when I did things that were wrong, I wasn’t trapped in situation ethics, I was doing things that were wrong, and yet, I was doing them.

   “I found that I felt compelled to seek God’s forgiveness. Not God’s understanding, but God’s forgiveness.

   Disgusting, a convert of convenience to Catholicism and an example of the hypocrisy of religion.
   • Bored 1.1

     11 March 2011 at 2:04 pm

     Joe, we all need forgiveness…and some of us are more worthy of it than others. Lets face it, Gods grace dictated that I have more money than you, so consequently I can be a complete bastard to you and still expect Gods forgiveness because hes on my side, not yours. Now this is really good, who else will God let me shit on? Time to join the National Party!
   • Vicky32 1.2

     11 March 2011 at 5:35 pm

     For all you know, he’s perfectly genuine! Time will tell, if his future behaviour reflects that. It’s sadly a bit bigoted of you to assume that repentance is always “an example of the hypocrisy of religion”.
     Deb
     • Pascal's bookie 1.2.1

       11 March 2011 at 6:56 pm

       Vicky, it’s possible. But this is a guy who proposed to his second wife while his first wife was dying of cancer. Only after that proposal, did he divorce his first wife. His second wife was afflicted with MS, and was hospitalised. He was having an affair with a staffer in his political office at the time. That staffer shortly became his third wife. While these events were going on, he was a leading figure in the impeachment of Clinton over his affair with an intern.

       He acknowledges now that what he did (the affairs) was wrong, but says he did it because he was working so hard for America. It was his patriotism that made him do it you see! Usually when one confesses, you try not to make a virtue out of it. Or at least that’s the way it was done when I studied the catechism.

       All have a little more faith in his repentance when it includes an acknowledgment of his hypocrisy towards Clinton, and an apology to him for that hypocrisy. As it stands, it’s a repentance that only advantages him politically, ie there are no political costs to his moves here. I’m not God, so I can’t see his heart. Therefore he has to show me.
       • Vicky32 1.2.1.1

         11 March 2011 at 7:25 pm

         That’s fair enough, PB! 🙂
         Deb
     • Bored 1.2.2

       12 March 2011 at 6:20 pm

       Come on Deb, whats with this bigot business? I was being tongue in cheek about a well established justification the rich have been known to use.
2. logie97 2

   11 March 2011 at 7:41 am

   Apparently Hone has been approached by prominent persons like John Tamihere and Donna Awatere-Huata regarding a new political party. Cannot help feeling that Rodney Hide and ACT might be rubbing their hands. Hide is desperate to find an issue to get his show back on track and the two personnel mentioned are bound to give him a platform to get back into the limelight.
   • just saying 2.1

     11 March 2011 at 8:28 am

     You mean having the ‘grand coalition of the right’ that is parliament threatened by an actual left-wing or Maori interest party?

     If so, bring it on…

     It looks like Hone is strongly leaning towards an alternative Maori Party rather than a broader left-wing party. Unfortunately a pan-left party probably won’t be able to get up and running before the election imo.

     I hope Donna gets on board with Hone. Not many people I can forgive both being ACT and stealing from charity (or is that the same thing?). Anyway, a stint in prison may have been just the thing she needed to bring her back from the ‘forces of darkness’. Cos even after all she’s done, what she gave of herself, particularly in her work with the Tamariki of South Auckland, over years, still counts for a big fat something to me, and it would be a damn shame if a talent like hers wasn’t able to be utilised to the full.
     • ZeeBop 2.1.1

       11 March 2011 at 9:21 am

       Hone has, because of the kind of MMP system we have, to act as an anchor for a centre left party, now discrediting him as looking to associate with prominent recent failures is naive at best – he will be an anchor not the frontman if a real threat. Any new pan-left party will be more important after the next election if ShonKey is returned. I doubt this will happen since the right of centre has seen what they are getting with JK, have already got their pay off – tax cuts, and aren’t expect any more (rather the reverse more taxation), so the question they pose themselves – given the trends are left leaning – do they want the party of the centre left they know or the a new out ‘growth’ on the left.
       Look at the first comment today, a politician changing the subject from their wrong doing to them being the story, the same applies here, does the right in NZ want the new story to be underlined by a strong left-wing party message, especially when the Labour party is so well centre right on economics. Its a no brainer, better the evil they know rather than the evil of change.
       • logie97 2.1.1.1

         11 March 2011 at 5:53 pm

         I do not have a view whether Hone should form a party or not.
         My point is that Hide was heavily involved in the termination of the political careers of both Awatere-Huata and Tamihere. Hide is sinking at the moment but a distraction that John and Donna (bless them) will provide would be just the tonic for the perk buster to gain traction again.
   • mickysavage 2.2

     11 March 2011 at 8:39 am

     A party with Tamihere and Awatere-Huata could never, ever be described as being left wing, more a vehicle for personal advancement. With such an arrangement Hone would also provide impetus to the anti MMP movement and give Farrar and Cameron a straw man to try and scare swinging voters back to National.

     The worst of all worlds …
     • Ron 2.2.1

       11 March 2011 at 9:21 am

       couldn’t agree more. While I welcome the demise of the Brown Tory Party, I think Hoine is showing his true colours. His speech was full of “I am a man of principle” yet he sat with the Maori Party while they assisted the Tories with their agenda. Tamihere and Awatere-Huata? Spare us.
       Again, Hone is all talk. He says he’s also talking to Willie Jackson so………I’m not sure he knows WHAT he’s doing
       • millsy 2.2.1.1

         11 March 2011 at 10:28 am

         “Again, Hone is all talk”

         How very very true.

         The guy is all bluff and bluster.

         Waste of space
     • g says 2.2.2

       11 March 2011 at 9:22 am

       mickey.. maybe another effect would be to scare labour (or nat lite) into giving voters a credible alternative. $15,000 tax free anyone?
   • Deadly_NZ 2.3

     11 March 2011 at 8:03 pm

     You are joking!! DAwatere- huata back in parliament, so she can just suck straight back on to the public teat and lie about stomach stapling and who paid for it among other indiscretions.

     http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10348000

     And John Tamihere Oh yes a shining paragon of virtue there as well. If that’s who’s going to run with Hone well he is doomed from the start. And that would be a pity because he could be really effective, but if he is surrounded by Ex this and wanna be that poli’s then he will also become irrelevant, and that would play right into Shonkey and turia’s hands. Yes a great pity because he will be poisioned by the “Oh I know that name” or “Oh god you are joking” which was my first thought upon seeing Donna’s name, and I had not even got to John.
     • just saying 2.3.1

       11 March 2011 at 8:26 pm

       Completely agree re that sexist pig Tamihere.

       But I believe, on the basis of her pre-ACT years of selfless work in SA, that Awatere-Huata is redeemable. Wouldn’t usually be quite so forgiving of being ACT and stealing from charity, but see them as being part of the same aberration.

       When she’s good she’s very very good, though when she was bad, she was rotten.

       No matter what happens with Hone, I’m sure she will again work in the public eye, and achieve a good deal more for her people.

       As for Hone, he seems to be talking with lots of people. I think it’s too soon to assume that all or any of them will be involved with his party, as potential MPs.
3. Sanctuary 3

   11 March 2011 at 8:01 am

   The government creates a national state of emergency, passes the CERA, and appoints King Gerry I to do as he pleases in order to “get things done” but when it comes to actually doing anything beyond it’s ego, a photo opportunity and looting the state for it’s rich mates it is all about “consulting” until it can backslide out of any committment to real New Zealanders at all. The failure to deliver a stimulus package to the West Coast in the wake of the martyrdom of the 29 Pike River Miners on the alter of capitalism is just the latest example of Key’s cynical expolitation of tragedy followed by the utter abandonment of the victims once he has sucked them dry of political opportunity.

   Aroha Ireland
   The Pike River 29.

   Weep for the people of Christchurch.
   • logie97 3.1

     11 March 2011 at 8:12 am

     …this site was vilified by the right for commenting on the posturing politicians. Greymouth is the first and Christchurch will be no different. Let’s make sure that we keep the bastards honest.
     • Pete 3.1.1

       11 March 2011 at 8:43 am

       Keeping Stock is trying to keep “you bastards” honest after the furore over the Collin’s quip – should Goff have made this comment?

       On radio station BFM on February 28, Mr Goff talked about meeting a man in Linwood whose sister was killed in the quake, whose house had been badly damaged but then it was ransacked by looters.

       “I saw the army out in the street and I thought court martial, firing squads you just can’t believe how low a small minority of people can get,” he told the radio station.

       Time will tell whether some left-wing blogger is prepared to condemn Phil Goff’s “firing squad” comment in the same manner in which they climbed in to Judith Collins for something which she did not actually say.

       http://keepingstock.blogspot.com/2011/03/of-looters-cellmates-and-firing-squads.html

       I think this illustrates the fact that over the past couple of weeks politicians have been more exposed by emotion and more exposed to media picking up off the cuff comments.
       • mickysavage 3.1.1.1

         11 March 2011 at 8:51 am

         Troll.

         The right wing are great at this. They pluck a few words out of an informal chat, apply a bit of spin and hey presto you have headlines and discussion points for the next couple of days which provide cover for their masters to continue pillaging and looting the country without being noticed.

         Oh for a real debate about the things that matter.
         • higherstandard 3.1.1.1.1

           11 March 2011 at 9:03 am

           What like the post on Prince William ?

           People are drawn to the trivial and banal, especially the political hacks who like to jump on every utterance of those that are on the opposite team.

           Prepare for more debate and comment on mindless drivel as we ramp up towards the election.
           • lprent 3.1.1.1.1.1

             11 March 2011 at 10:08 am

             Prince William is trivial and banal IMHO. And that is pretty much what r0b said. Personally I’m dreading the trivial and banal bullshit that is going to spew forth from the media continuously during his visit.

             That doesn’t mean that r0b shouldn’t be able to put his views forth on it.

             Just as I2 and others will probably put their views forth on Goff’s statement. However as a ex-soldier in the TF, I’d have to say that Goffs statement is entirely accurate. Post disaster, if there is a breakdown in order and widespread looting ensues, then the army will be tasked to stop it. They will use military courts and will use deadly force where required.

             The trigger for that is a order in council signed by the GG (who the armed forces report to) declaring martial law in an area.

             That order in council hasn’t been signed and what the military can currently do is severely constrained. However the potential is always there. Goff as a past minister of defense knows this and as far as I can see just expressed it. Every soldier is aware of it as well.

             Now if that troubles I2 (and others) ‘stomach’, then perhaps they should look at what the relevant provisions are and why they are there. The biggest issue with looters is that they can make a disaster considerably worse. For instance by starting fires
             • higherstandard …

               11 March 2011 at 10:16 am

               Lynn I have no problem with what Phil said just as I have no problem with what Collins said, there’s more important things in the world than the utterances of politicians……. in fact just about everything.

               Just playing with Mickey’s partisan postings.
             • just saying …

               11 March 2011 at 10:20 am

               Never met an ex-armed forces man that didn’t, in his heart of hearts, believe that civilians generally, “cant handle the truth”.

               However, that’s no excuse for Goff’s statement.
               • lprent …

                 11 March 2011 at 11:05 am

                 In my case it comes largely from reading the history of post-disaster events. Human societies are normally quite resilient, but become quite fragile when they are in a disaster shock – then they disintegrate rather rapidly in the days and months afterwards. So far Christchurch hasn’t been too bad. But they really need some certainties like some clear plans about what will be done with sewerage systems over the next few months. From the comments I’ve been looking at, the biggest issue right now is that lack of certainty, and bullshit statements by Key and Brownlee aren’t helpful.

                 My experience in the NZ military is that they’d far prefer not to have to deal with civilians in any kind of governance role. Looking at cases in history where the military have tried to do so is replete with examples about why it doesn’t work for either the military or the civilians. The role that military society is designed to cope with is completely inefficient without a pressing threat to focus on. Normally a society doesn’t have that and where the military are put in control they screw up rather badly.

                 There is a reason that history is so emphasized during OCS.
         • AndyB 3.1.1.1.2

           11 March 2011 at 9:22 am

           OMG, are you serious?

           “The right wing are great at this. They pluck a few words out of an informal chat, apply … ”

           Seriously? What you have described is most definitely a trait of the left. Hell, it’s what most politicians of the world ascribe to. I mean, a fair amount of the posts here are exactly what you describe!

           You must be seriously ideologically blind if you can’t see that both sides do this. In my opinion, more so by the left than the right.
         • Pete 3.1.1.1.3

           11 March 2011 at 9:31 am

           What matters? Getting the parties, especially the largest parties, to be seen to mostly work together with the good of the country foremost, sort of like they can do behind the scenes as in select committees?

           That would mean replacing “us great, them terrible” with “working for common good”. Politicians need to realise they are more servant than saviour.
         • Mickysavage 3.1.1.1.4

           11 March 2011 at 9:50 am

           Such faux outrage higherstandard. The Standard day in day out puts out extraordinarily detailed analysed posts but engages in the odd bit of humor and you chose to offer up a humorous post as a typical post.

           And Pete your naivety is touching but misplaced. National is not interested in having a decent chat about things and then working for the common good. It has a seriously distorted view of reality as well as an unfailing belief in its superiority which makes consensus driven decision making impossible.
           • higherstandard 3.1.1.1.4.1

             11 March 2011 at 9:58 am

             Cry me a river you partisan hack.
       • Pascal's bookie 3.1.1.2

         11 March 2011 at 9:35 am

         @Pete, Rex mentioned this last night, there was some reaction from regulars:

         http://thestandard.org.nz/building-our-future/#comment-306790

         ms, please explain the context which makes it ok for a leader of the opposition, (and former Minister of Defence to boot) to joke about having NZ Defence force personnel shooting NZ citizens in the street. It was a fucked up thing to say mate. Rightwingers using it to deflect attention from their own bullshit is no excuse to defend it. In fact, that’s just another reason that it was a fucked up thing to say.
         • lprent 3.1.1.2.1

           11 March 2011 at 10:14 am

           As I said elsewhere, it is in fact what can happen. It takes an order in council signed by the governor general declaring martial order in an area.

           It would be one of the least liked things that the army would want to do. However it is part of their list of potential tasks if it ever becomes required.
           • Pascal's bookie 3.1.1.2.1.1

             11 March 2011 at 10:53 am

             Sure, but we’re nowhere near needing that in ChCH at the mo’ are we.
           • Armchair Critic 3.1.1.2.1.2

             11 March 2011 at 10:59 am

             It would be one of the least liked things that the army would want to do. However it is part of their list of potential tasks if it ever becomes required.
             And it shouldn’t be discussed in jest, especially by someone who wants to be in a position to make decisions about the need for martial law. It’s not right for any senior politician to speak this sort of power lightly.

             I’m sufficiently pissed off that we have to have clown for PM, but is it too much to wish for a leader of the opposition who can take his responsibilities seriously? The whole concept of John Key-lite seemed ridiculous back in 2009, yet in the last couple of months Phil Goff seems to have been putting a good case that he could be even more lightweight than Key. From what I know of him (which is not that much, I’ve met him a couple of times a few years back) Phil’s both clever and competent, so why the apparent pretence?
       • Bill 3.1.1.3

         11 March 2011 at 11:24 am

         Listened to the audio.

         And insofar as there is a grim or gallows sounding (ie these words are not to be taken literally or as an indication of actual intent) laugh as he mentions firing squads as an aside, it’s not as bad as it appears in print. For sure, there is exasperation and a ‘some people deserve a good kicking’ feel to it. But as the very next question to his aside asks what he would do with looters and he answers along the compulsion to work on clean-up duties line…

         As for Collins. She clearly implied she’d be happy for looters to be ‘someones bitch’ in jail. And as far as I can tell, there was neither humour nor a clarification of what she would actually rather happen to looters. It wasn’t an aside. It was a stand alone statement.

         I’m no fan of Goff and have no partisan interest in defending him. But in this instance there is no need for defense anyway. The throwaway about firing squads sounds fine in context and becomes a beat up when treated in isolation.
4. outofbed 4

   11 March 2011 at 9:52 am

   oh no peak coffee!
   • Rosy 4.1

     11 March 2011 at 11:04 am

     Maybe Northland should be looking at planting up. We have the olives and the grapes, why not coffee with temperatures rising…. Wellington has awesome coffee and really cheap when comparing with European coffee – some cafes there must be struggling at the moment. My coffee comsumption has been cut by 2/3 since I’ve been away.
5. millsy 5

   11 March 2011 at 10:47 am

   I really get pissed off with fucking moralists who think that they should interfere in what goes on between consenting adults

   Quite frankly I think these people may be be worried about whether they will be recognised from a past transaction
   • Lanthanide 5.1

     11 March 2011 at 11:05 am

     I don’t think they have a problem with the sex. They have a problem with where it’s happening. Would you be happy to be finding used condoms and other detritus on your property?

     Also interestingly there’s this article from stuff:
     http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch-earthquake-2011/4750642/Relief-work-keeps-prostitutes-busy

     They interview someone called “Candice” who is 24 on that corner, whereas The Herald had “Candace” who was 27. Karla in the herald says it’s the hardest time working she’s ever had, while Candice in stuff said it’s been the most profitable ever.
6. Morrissey 6

   11 March 2011 at 11:15 am

   The boorish Gary McCormick runs rampant on Jim Mora’s programme
   Radio New Zealand National The Panel. Wednesday 9 March 2011.

   Today it’s Jim Mora, Raybon Kan and Gary McCormick. After the usual lengthy and obsequious introductory chat with each panelist—this usually eats up at least seven minutes—they deal with “issue number one” for the day: the government’s bail-out of MediaWorks, the failing foreign media conglomerate that owns TV3 and RadioLIVE. You can be confident that today’s guests will bring their serious intellects to bear on this subject. Kan sniffs: “Really, I don’t think it’s that big a deal.” McCormick, an employee of MediaWorks station More FM, intones: “It’s important to have an alternative view.”

   McCormick’s fellow panelists sportingly refrain from mentioning the obvious: that far from an “alternative” view, RadioLIVE largely reiterates and amplifies the same menu of complacent bigotry as can be heard on NewstalkZB. So instead of opposing Leighton Smith with someone interesting and informed, RadioLIVE puts up Michael Laws. Instead of someone clever to contrast to Danny Watson, RadioLIVE puts up the clownish duo of Willy and JT. Instead of an informed and serious contrast to Larry Williams, RadioLIVE puts up the complacent and ill-informed Maggie Barry. Instead of a knowledgeable and respected counterpart to sports boofhead Murray Deaker, RadioLIVE puts up—God help us—Martin (“Roof-Sitter”) Devlin.

   Throughout 2008 and 2009, McCormick infamously used his bully pulpit on More FM to daily propagate his enthusiasm for thrashing children, in support of his smack-happy colleague Simon Barnett. This position, like virtually every other position taken on that station or Radio Live, presented no “alternative view” whatsoever. In fact, the RadioLIVE “General Manager of Talk Radio”, one Mitch Harris, has tirelessly defended the strategy of employing extremist and divisive “talent” like Michael Laws; his grand theory posits that listeners are “stimulated” by racist and bigoted talk. In other words, Harris is no different to NewstalkZB’s Bill Francis, who justifies the continued employment of Paul Holmes, Leighton Smith and Larry Williams using the identical rationale.

   But McCormick’s self-serving words go unchallenged.

   Then it’s on to “issue number two”: the danger of second-hand smoke. The guest is Professor Nick Wilson MBChB, FNZCPHM, DIH, MPH. Professor Wilson is an expert on tobacco use epidemiology, and he is respected around the world. Respected by experts, that is. When it comes to self-styled “ordinary citizens” like Messrs Mora, Kan and McCormick, it’s a different matter. These three harbour a real hostility to jumped-up so-called professors who think they know better than commonsense Kiwis. We join the discussion in mid-rant…

   McCORMICK: Yeah I know Nick, we get this a lot from health professionals! Do we have any EVIDENCE that second-hand smoke HARMS PEOPLE?

   PROFESSOR WILSON: The World Health Organization has presented reams of evidence that even a low level of second-hand smo—-

   JIM MORA: Look, Nick, uhhh, you’re the medical professional and, uhhhh, I don’t want to argue the science with you but, uhhhhh, I’ve seen those Scottish statistics and they were heavily disputed and refuted!

   McCORMICK: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, you’re right, Nick, but we ordinary citizens keep hearing this scientific research which isn’t that sound. So Nick, tell us: is it that important?

   PROFESSOR WILSON: Four hundred deaths is not trivial.

   JIM MORA: But that’s an extrapolation as well, isn’t it!

   RAYBON KAN: Nick, you seem quite hung up on this science thing. Ummmm, how does smoke compare with the threat of sunlight?

   McCORMICK: A ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Good one, Raybon!

   PROFESSOR WILSON: It’s not really the same thing.

   McCORMICK: Yes it is, actually! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

   JIM MORA: Doesn’t this come back to John Stuart Mill, that unless we can PROVE harm, then we have no right to ban something. It’s all about rights, surely?

   PROFESSOR WILSON: Non-smokers have the right to breathe clean air.

   McCORMICK: Yeah Nick, I’m concerned about the rights of people to experience direct sunlight. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

   RAYBON KAN: He he he he he he he! Nice one, Gary!

   JIM MORA: Doctor Nick Wilson, from the Otago University School of Medicine and Health Science. Nick, THANKS for being with us! It’s time for the News.

   Following the news break of five minutes, the panelists are still flushed with the triumph of their mauling of Professor Wilson…

   McCORMICK: That was lovely, Raybon, what you said about the sun. We really need to go after people like that. We often get put in a situation where we BELIEVE the experts. It’s good to challenge them!

   RAYBON KAN: What ISN’T a carcinogen? Sun is a carcinogen. Sugar is a carcinogen. LIFE is a carcinogen! Being BORN is a carcinogen! This science is vaguely interesting, like vegemite, so move on!

   McCORMICK: Ha ha ha ha ha haha! Well put, Raybon!

   JIM MORA: Ha ha ha ha ha haha! Well said, Raybon. You’re very clever! Okay, onto our next topic: Sara Palin.

   McCORMICK: Sara Palin? She’s too STUPID to be true!

   …et cetera, et cetera…
   • Lanthanide 6.1

     11 March 2011 at 11:21 am

     Thanks very much for this writeup, as I mentioned previously I don’t usually get a chance to listen to MP3s. Also reading takes up less time than listening, and frankly I don’t think I’d want to listen to the above exchange, it was bad enough reading it.

     Mora’s an idiot.
     • Morrissey 6.1.1

       11 March 2011 at 11:37 am

       It’s my pleasure, Lanthanide. I don’t think Mora is an idiot, but I do think his two fellow panelists are. Mora’s fault is that he curries favour with cretins. He regularly indulges a whole host of other self-important lightweights, including (just to name a few) Nicky Pellegrino, Garth George, Deborah Hill Cone, Islay McLeod and Christine Rankin.
       • millsy 6.1.1.1

         11 March 2011 at 11:59 am

         Oh god it gets worse.

         Hill-Cone, Rankin and George.

         If Fox News ever gets set up in NZ, they would be at the top of the list for panel dicussions
         • Morrissey 6.1.1.1.1

           12 March 2011 at 10:38 am

           “Fox News Aotearoa”. Sayyyyy… I like the sound of that. No doubt they’d set up a Hannity & Colmes type show, where an obnoxious neanderthal (Hannity) scowls continually and dominates a mealy-mouthed, desperate-to-please “liberal” (Colmes) who ends up agreeing (reluctantly at times) with everything the neanderthal says. I suggest one of the following Bully & Wimp combinations:

           Hooton & Watkin
           Bishop & Slack
           Barnett & Trotter
           Boag & Doe
           Farrar & Slane
           Franks & Webb
           Wishart & McDonald
           • Pascal's bookie 6.1.1.1.1.1

             12 March 2011 at 11:02 am

             Better viewing would be:

             Redbaiter & ak

             Coddington & Lew

             Kerr & Trotter

             and kicking it old school

             Billy and the ‘sod
   • millsy 6.2

     11 March 2011 at 11:41 am

     God, if this is what passes for debate these days, then this country has really gone to the pack.

     The worse thing is that, everywhere else is much worse than us.
     • neoleftie 6.2.1

       11 March 2011 at 11:53 am

       i agree millsy – Those three are too lazy to actual have any worthwhile dialogue…more trival entertainment; jeeze no wonder i dont watch TV and just read CV comments on here..
       • Colonial Viper 6.2.1.1

         11 March 2011 at 11:17 pm

         🙂
   • vto 6.3

     11 March 2011 at 1:59 pm

     McCormick has always lain in the classic pit of believing his skills with words is equal to his skill with brains.

     He is just a boofhead with a huge chip on shoulder and arrogance to boot.
7. ianmac 7

   11 March 2011 at 11:45 am

   Jim Moira’s show was interesting in its early days but seems to be a bit jaded now. McCormick should stick to what he does best- climbing airport fences.
   However I will tune in tonight to Edwards and Boag.
   • Anne 7.1

     11 March 2011 at 12:36 pm

     I have noticed that some of the superior guests of yesteryear rarely appear on the Jim Mora show now – Gordon Campbell and Richard Griffin being amongst them.
8. Pascal's bookie 8

   11 March 2011 at 1:05 pm

   Washing up in the whirlpool of looting, heritage, demolition, red tape cutting and organised gangs of marauding visigoths that is becoming the narrative of chch;

   I find this,

   (which relates to something I found out yesterday via another source; toowitt, demolition crews have a right of salvage on materials and contents of the buildings they tear down)

   I’ve heard of a demolition crew offering to sell the contents of a ChCh antique store to dealers in Auckland. Organized looting.

   http://twitter.com/c1espresso/status/45660224803184640

   Let er rip sez the guvnor, in haste to get his gerry built edifice completed.
   • Armchair Critic 8.1

     11 March 2011 at 1:27 pm

     Gerry-built! Brilliant
     • prism 8.1.1

       11 March 2011 at 1:42 pm

       Hard to believe that the authorities would offer a contract giving demoliton firms powers of salvage right over goods and property saved. That would show complete lack of respect for property and callousness towards the people suffering from damage plus being distanced from their goods. Recently the blanket-ban on entry with no individual assessments of safety has been lifted a little. I hope that acessability is extended where possible and that people are saved from losing all personal and business records which could wipe them out financially.

       With Mayor Bob Parker talking about some landlords being akin to looters, people losing possessions like this could surely expect his intervention.
   • Lanthanide 8.2

     11 March 2011 at 2:12 pm

     “(which relates to something I found out yesterday via another source; toowitt, demolition crews have a right of salvage on materials and contents of the buildings they tear down)”

     Actually I’m pretty sure that’s illegal and the company involved has declared they have salvage rights that actually they don’t have.
     • prism 8.2.1

       11 March 2011 at 3:00 pm

       Lan.. Thanks. I hope. The salvage firm may be thinking of salvage rights for ships which seem pretty swingeing.
     • Pascal's bookie 8.2.2

       11 March 2011 at 3:58 pm

       Could be insurance co contracts?

       Still it’s flying around:

       http://www.nzherald.co.nz/christchurch-earthquake/news/article.cfm?c_id=1502981&objectid=10711219

       The place I saw it was on heritage/architecture type blog, to which I have lost the trail, but I’ll try and find it.
9. todd 9

   11 March 2011 at 1:22 pm

   The week that was:

   http://thejackalman.blogspot.com/2011/03/week-that-was.html
   • Armchair Critic 9.1

     11 March 2011 at 1:32 pm

     All that, AND you managed to upset Cactus Kate. Well done.
     • todd 9.1.1

       11 March 2011 at 5:05 pm

       It wasn’t that hard. It seem the pretentious old hack can’t stand a little of her own medicine.
   • Lanthanide 9.2

     11 March 2011 at 2:16 pm

     As you don’t even allow comments without signing up for some ridiculous service any more, I’ll post my reply to your post here:

     “National Minister of Telecommunications Steven Joyce who used to own Radio Works now known as Mediaworks, deferred payment of $43.3 million in taxpayer money to cover Mediaworks’ licensing fees. This money could have better been spent on rebuilding Christchurch.”

     This deferral was arranged back in 2008-2009, before they knew CHCH was going to have big earthquakes. Your point is still valid, but again you’re skimping on the actual details of the deal. The money was also loaned to them at an interest rate of about 11%, which was the commercial rate at the time.

     captcha: permitted
     • prism 9.2.1

       11 March 2011 at 3:06 pm

       Lanthanide – Again good info. I thought something similar about the money, but would like to have seen it spent on public tv being supported so it was ongoing, not to be abandoned at the whim of every nouveau politician. One wonders why the loan/advance was ever agreed to.

       Nice to have mates in political parties, cash for straitened firms, land deals arranged. What can the Labour Party do for me?
     • todd 9.2.2

       11 March 2011 at 5:08 pm

       Lanthanide, I’m not sure I know what you mean by signing up for something? You do need to sign in now because I was getting too many derogatory comments and couldn’t be bothered moderating them all.
10. Rob 10

    11 March 2011 at 1:27 pm

    Remember Farrar frothing at his fangs over food figures earlier this week?

    Food Price Index out today. A flat February (thanks to seasonal shifts) but an annual increase of 5.3%. I like (well, I don’t) this bit from the official release:

    In the year to February 2011, food prices increased 5.3 percent. This includes a 2.2 percent rise in food prices in October 2010 when the rate of goods and services tax rose from 12.5 to 15 percent. Although food prices are now 5.3 percent higher than a year ago, they are 6.1 percent higher than two years ago and 15.4 percent higher than three years ago. The latest annual increase is the largest since an 8.4 percent increase in the year to July 2009.

    Oh where art thou, penguin? Read it and weep – OFFICIAL figures – 15% increase in three years
    • Pete 10.1

      11 March 2011 at 1:38 pm

      Did you notice that the largest annual increase was mostly from the year that Labour was still in office? Why was that?
      • Rob 10.1.1

        11 March 2011 at 2:13 pm

        Try again. This is not about blaming the Govt. This is about someone trying to portray the smell of sh!t as a pleasant odour from the garden.
      • Draco T Bastard 10.1.2

        11 March 2011 at 2:29 pm

        Spin and misdirection from the RWNJs already. It didn’t say which part of the year that the inflation mostly occurred and National had 7 months of it.
        • Pete 10.1.2.1

          11 March 2011 at 3:16 pm

          Count again.

          National were elected on 8 November 2008 and would have taken a week or three working out their coalition and getting up and running. That leaves barely three months, over the silly season, they will have had very little influence on food prices in that time.

          From November 2007 to November 2008: Food prices increased 10.3 percent.
          From February 2008 to February 2009: Food prices increased 8.8 percent.
          • Colonial Viper 10.1.2.1.1

            11 March 2011 at 5:09 pm

            Where National is going to die is their inability to keep wages and employment moving in line with the true cost of living.

            Actually while prices have been going up, wages and employment have been going down.

            That’s a real vote winning strategy there, the idiots.
            • ianmac 10.1.2.1.1.1

              11 March 2011 at 5:16 pm

              For working people that I know they do not really want to know the details or the politics. They just know that “My food costs more and more!” And Pete’s wriggling is irrelevant to most. Your NAct MPs are in charge. Its your fault. Stop making excuses!
              “My food costs more and more!” Fix it or else!
              • Pete …

                11 March 2011 at 7:07 pm

                I agree that it’s National’s (not my) problem this year, perception-wise, not matter how responsible they may or may not be for it.I was just pointing out it’s easy to screw around with statistics, and Rob was conveniently leaving out the time of the biggest movement.

                I’m not trying to promote National’s interests, I just get sick of the ultra pessimism that some people promote to try and score their own points, and that comes from both sides.

                As hard as it might be for National to battle against the continuing (since before they took power) financial mess, I think whoever wins in November may find it even harder.

                Todd, 15% is not a trend, it’s a three year movement, and not a nice one. If you look at trends they are more up and down and up.
                • Pascal's bookie …

                  11 March 2011 at 7:27 pm

                  I think Robs actual point relates to a recent post dpf did trying to debunk a recent herald piece about food price rises. dpf was using all sorts of stats tricks to show that actually everyone is better off because of National, in spite of what they think when the bills come in.
                • Rob …

                  12 March 2011 at 12:31 pm

                  Pete – you just don’t get it do you?

                  My post wasn’t political – it was a postscript to NZ’s biggest blogger trying to argue sh!t smells like roses (when it came to the cost of food and a comparison with wage growth – HA! wage growth, there’s an oxymoron).

                  I don’t give a flyin fk whether he’s blue, red, pink or canary. I do give a fk when some dimwit who for some reason is widely-read tries to argue we’re all better off when for a lot of people it is patently not the case.
                  • Pete …

                    12 March 2011 at 12:49 pm

                    I mustn’t get it, I thought what you said here sounded a tad political:

                    Oh where art thou, penguin? Read it and weep – OFFICIAL figures – 15% increase in three years

                    You also missed a wee descriptor:

                    it was a postscript to NZ’s biggest blogger

                    He’s a political blogger, so forgive me for presuming there was a bit of politics involved. Can you honestly say no politics was involved?

                    I’m not trying to argue DPFs case. I have simply been pointing out that most of that 15% occurred while Labour where still in power (that doesn’t necessarily mean they were responsible for it but it happened on their watch).
                    • Rob …

                      12 March 2011 at 1:35 pm

                      Forgiveness? Sure, an easy presumption to make – hand on heart there was no politics involved and it was just a co-incidence I pulled the three-year figure from the media release and it wasn’t an attempt to tie it into the current Govt term. As others have pointed out, oil prices have more influence on food prices than Govt policy so why would I?

                      If some labour politician, or left-leaning blogger tried to tell me black was white I’d call them out too.

                      Plenty of people are doing it tough in the real world, and to have some puffed-up penguin tryin to tell me we’re better off just rips my undies. No effin clue.
                    • Pete …

                      12 March 2011 at 2:36 pm

                      we’re better off

                      Who are you talking on behalf of? I’m not a part of your “we”.

                      I’m sure there are some people who don’t think they’re better off. And some of them actually won’t be better off for sure.

                      I was speaking for myself, and I know I’m better off – I’m more of an average prick financially, certainly not a rich prick, I doubt that my circumstances are unique.
          • todd 10.1.2.1.2

            11 March 2011 at 5:26 pm

            The overall trend is 15% increase over the time National has been in power. Couple this with a huge increase in unemployment, their rotten stench is going to be smelt by everybody.
11. randal 11

    11 March 2011 at 1:41 pm

    the cycleway is not going down very well in Masterton.
    in the rush to be seen to doing something.
    wow look at us.
    they hav e routed the cycleway through one of the busiest streets and one that is very important to the commerce of the town and they have advantaged some businesses and disadvantaged their direct competitors and the mayor says ho hum.
    well thats just fiddle faddle.
    the cycleway does not need to go where it is in your face for cosmetic PR reasons.
    next time get it right instead of putting on the rush to appease the PM and his cronies.
    • Bored 11.1

      11 March 2011 at 2:12 pm

      Look here John, I know you have a disaster (or four) on your hands BUT…WHERES MY F***ING CYCLEWAY??????????????

      PS Dont tell me Masterton main drag. Thats just a cop out.
12. sophie 12

    11 March 2011 at 1:56 pm

    Now Mr Key is describing the work of identifying caring for and bringing loved ones home to families as “grisly”. Thanks for the sensitivity John!
13. Draco T Bastard 13

    11 March 2011 at 2:12 pm

    Regulators Reject Proposal That Would Bring Fox-Style News to Canada

    Fox News will not be moving into Canada after all! The reason: Canada regulators announced last week they would reject efforts by Canada’s right wing Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, to repeal a law that forbids lying on broadcast news.

    Canada’s Radio Act requires that “a licenser may not broadcast….any false or misleading news.” The provision has kept Fox News and right wing talk radio out of Canada and helped make Canada a model for liberal democracy and freedom.

    Harper’s attempts to make lying legal on Canadian television is a stark admission that right wing political ideology can only dominate national debate through dishonest propaganda

    Obviously, we need a similar law here.
    • Vicky32 13.1

      11 March 2011 at 6:12 pm

      Unbelievable! Thanks DtB….
14. seeker 14

    11 March 2011 at 3:55 pm

    @ Marty G.

    Re : Building Our Future -posted yesterday Mar 10.)

    Was gobsmacked, like others, as I read your very clever post simulating good, creative leadership and thought I had entered an alternate universe at long last. I also thought, “Blast Key/ Nat are copying Labour ” for Phil Goff had said very similar things in a leading article in the NZ Herald on Mar 9 under the heading “Goff Warns of Skills Shortage.”

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10711145

    It was only there for a short while – it is now in the archives. It is also buried on the Scoop site and is alive and well on Red Alert under ‘.news’.(title: “Investment in Trade Training critical to Canterbury rebuild”.) Hope vto, ianmac and especially neoleftie and RexW. tune in to read what he had to say .

    I don’t think Goff will be a bad leader (P.M.) – we certainly need an alternative to what we have now- especially with their amoral ideas on ECE and sending mothers to “work” before their wee ones have hardly drawn breath. Sickening!
    • ianmac 14.1

      11 March 2011 at 5:09 pm

      Thanks Seeker. Missed that. Must say that the way that Marty expressed his version was far clearer and more compelling than Mr Goff’s??? Perhaps Marty could be a writer for Phil? Top salary as a consultant of course.
15. Rob 15

    11 March 2011 at 4:17 pm

    “I don’t think anyone who really doesn’t have all that information should speculate and certainly not emotively”.

    DonKey, responding to an opinion from a UK rugby writer that the RWC shouldn’t be held in ChCh.

    The same DonKey who emotively speculated about the number of houses to be demolished after a fly-over.
16. todd 16

    11 March 2011 at 5:04 pm

    Bonus Asshole of the Week Award

    http://thejackalman.blogspot.com/2011/03/bonus-asshole-of-week-award.html

    Now we all know Whaleoil is a bit of a twat at the best of times, but once in a while he really outdoes himself. The last moronic outbursts are to do with looters in Christchurch. After getting on his high horse to say…
    • higherstandard 16.1

      11 March 2011 at 6:03 pm

      yeah he’s a dick alright but not as much of a front bum as you are you link whoring twerp.

      http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2011/02/general_debate_11_february_2011.html#comment-797212
      • todd 16.1.1

        11 March 2011 at 6:43 pm

        Well I must say lords and ladies, I just can’t stand for those horrid trolls down there in the sewer. They are just so beneath proper blogging etiquette, which I always abide by. You won’t find me down there trying to communicate in a language they understand. I’ve learned my lesson good and proper. What!
      • Marty G 16.1.2

        11 March 2011 at 11:06 pm

        cool it hs.

        there’s a line with linkwhoring. You’re welcome to link to our own post as long as you contribute something of substance in your comment here. Todd doesn’t really pass that test in this instance in my judgement. but I’ll let him off with a warning.
17. ianmac 17

    11 March 2011 at 5:40 pm

    In the Herald “Instead, it is alleged the 30-year-old West Auckland woman inflicted a range of horrific abuse and torture on her terrified daughter – causing injuries so bad that those now involved with the case, including experienced child abuse investigators, say they have been deeply affected.”
    I wonder what we will say when this little girl grows up and does horrific things to others. At some point she will shift from” poor little mite” to “vicious ruthless thug.” Heartbreaking.
    • Colonial Viper 17.1

      11 March 2011 at 6:19 pm

      We have thousands of young children in vulnerable situations all over the country.

      When we see stats on poor educational achievement, high rates of youth unemployment/non training, young violent offenders, youth binge drinking etc, all that stuff is at the bottom of the cliff.
    • prism 17.2

      11 March 2011 at 9:05 pm

      ianmac – I wonder what the mother\’s background is? That sort of behaviour usually follows neglect or brutalisation or discontinuous parenting behaviour being experienced when the parent was growing up, from what I\’ve read. By discontinuous I mean changing patterns so that the child can never gain a grounding of stable behaviour as parent reaction to it changes each day.
      I\’ve forgotten the term child psychologists use.
18. William Joyce 18

    11 March 2011 at 6:37 pm

    You pull departments apart
    You join departments again
    You pull departments apart
    And you shake them all about

    You do the shonkey jonkey
    And smile and wave
    That’s what it’s all about

    You point the finger at the poor
    You point the finger at the left
    You point the finger at the poor
    And you wag it all about

    You do the shonkey jonkey
    And avoid the blame
    That’s what it’s all about

    You grab your ankles for the rich
    You grab your ankles for the banks
    You grab your ankles for the boss
    And they say it shouldn’t hurt

    You do the shonkey jonkey
    And kiss your arse goodbye
    That’s what it’s all about

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/19473099@N05/
19. Colonial Viper 19

    11 March 2011 at 11:11 pm

    Large Chinese Earthquake

    Did anyone post on this today?

    An earthquake has toppled more than 1,000 houses and apartment buildings in China’s southwest near the border with Myanmar, killing at least 25 people and injuring more than 200, officials and state media said.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10711642
20. Marty G 20

    11 March 2011 at 11:46 pm

    Japanese quake comments moved to new post
21. ianmac 21

    12 March 2011 at 12:49 am

    Happened to hear on Maori TV Friday night that a leader from Tai Tokerau said that they were very disappointed that Hone did not stay with the Maori Party as promised and that some were thinking of throwing their weight behind Kelvin Davis (Lab)

Links to post

1. The Standard: posted on 3 November 2010 at 8:11 pm
2. The Standard: posted on 10 March 2011 at 5:14 pm

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