Open mike 15/02/2023

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, February 15th, 2023 - 27 comments
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27 comments on “Open mike 15/02/2023 ”

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  1. ianmac 1
    15 February 2023 at 9:33 am

    A bit weird that on Morning Report Mr Luxon seemed to agree with everything this Government is doing. Is he undergoing a U-turn?

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018877829/luxon-backs-delaying-parliament-a-week

    • RosieLee 1.1
      15 February 2023 at 9:40 am

      No. I think his political minders have had the sense to tell him now is not a good time to play politics – and he has had the sense, finally, to understand.

      • bwaghorn 1.1.1
        15 February 2023 at 12:36 pm

        I don't know, just caught him on tv1 news,

        He was getting plenty of politics in , couldn't here who was asking the questions but the cynic in me reackons he was being lobbed free hits.

        Even tried out a new campaign slogan I reckon, let's get it done,

        • aj 1.1.1.1
          15 February 2023 at 3:00 pm

          He was getting plenty of politics in

          Noted that. Inappropriate at this time. Couldn't wait a week.

    • Mac1 1.2
      15 February 2023 at 11:09 am

      A corollary of this is that a strong message has gone out from the centre-right to the nutter right wing that rationality and social cohesion are more important than blind oppositional defiance. A bit of 'me, too' politics but also importantly distancing from that vocal fringe craziness.

  2. Jenny are we there yet 2
    15 February 2023 at 10:15 am

    But other people are doing it, and doing it worse than us.

    A riff on the Whataboutism frequently trotted out by the supporters of Putin'sbloody invasion of Ukraine, who constantly toss up the US invasion of Iraq and other US atrocities as an excuse for Russia to do the same.

    [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.]

    • Ghostwhowalksnz 2.1
      15 February 2023 at 12:35 pm

      Its not an excuse 'to do the same'…

      Its just pointing out the immense hypocrisy…. not a word from you about the Nato 20 yr occupation of Kosovo , in reality a frozen conflict.

      That too was an invasion of a sovereign country – which had its infrastructure wrecked by natos immense bombing campaign.

      That invasion/occupation exists 'right now'…. but you have blinkers

      • Jenny are we there yet 2.1.1
        15 February 2023 at 3:49 pm

        Doubling down on the whataboutism?!

        You've got to be joking

        "…. not a word from you about the Nato 20 yr occupation of Kosovo ,"

        So what?

        I also never mentioned US atrocities in Afghanistan, or Vietnam or the overthrow Mosaddegh in Iran in '53, or Arbenz in Guatemala in '54 or US complicity in the overthrow and murder of 'Allende in Chile in ''73 I never mentioned the CIA flights of Extraordinary Rendition to Syria for torture in the '90s. This is not the full list of US crimes against humanity, not even close. Abu Graib, Guantanamo etc

        I did say; "… and all the other US atrocities". I just didn't know I had to list them all..

        But no matter how long the list of US atrocities, whataboutism, still doesn't make the case for the Russian Federation to do the same.

        Or getting back to this post whataboutism is no excuse for us to do nothing about climate change.

        • Ghostwhowalksnz 2.1.1.1
          15 February 2023 at 3:53 pm

          So what is the level of your outrage of the occupation of another countrys sovereign territory by Nato.

          Righto , got that. Keep calm and carry on

          • tWiggle 2.1.1.1.1
            15 February 2023 at 8:08 pm

            But that occupation did not start the conflict, did it? There's a heavy moral price for those who start wars, whatever that nation is.

            • Jenny are we there yet 2.1.1.1.1.1
              16 February 2023 at 4:44 am

              heart

            • Ghostwhowalksnz 2.1.1.1.1.2
              16 February 2023 at 9:15 am

              No the Kosovo war started with a Nato attack on Serbia and a massive aerial bombardment.

              Not too different to the Saudi attack on its neighbour Yemen, with massive air raids on the cities, both supported by US and UK , indeed US had direct support
              ‘A coalition led by Saudi Arabia launched military operations by using air strikes to restore the former Yemeni government. The United States has provided intelligence and logistical support for the Saudi-led campaign’

              Link

              Wheres the consequences for those ongoing invasions/occupations. LMAO

              Yemen – Ukraine ? let me guess only one you care about

              • SPC …
                16 February 2023 at 9:30 am

                A recognised government has the right to ask for help during a civil war.

                SA bombed the rebels in Yemen. Russia bombed the rebels in Syria.

                Before the NATO intervention there was ethnic cleansing of Albanians in Kosovo, apparently part of the break up of a federal government of Yugoslavia was some ethnic cleansing to reboot as Serbia (sans Croatia and Slovenia), seeking to ethnically cleanse in Kosovo and carve out part of Bosnia.

                I suppose you opposed our concern about that stuff in Rwanda and Burundi, but waiting to let them be do the international criminal court stuff afterwards …is one reason why there was action re Kosovo.

                And a government has the right to ask for assistance when the victim of an invasion, as per Ukraine.

                • Ghostwhowalksnz …
                  16 February 2023 at 2:47 pm

                  Please …recognised government that lost power . It happens

                  It was some time later after The President fled to Riyadh that the Saudis and US started their bombing

                  So if Putin attacked just after Yanukovich fled to Moscow, to return him to power, it would OK? But doesnt Putin now claim he invaded to protect Russians living in Ukraine, but hes not allowed to do that its only western leaning countries that can unilaterally bomb and invade.

                  Civil wars happen all over the world

                  Your couture anti-war sentiments are the usual elites view from the EU of when we do it its all right.
                  The attack on Serbia wasnt UN approved so was illegal, same as Saudi attack on Yemen.
                  Self defence only remember, not self interest

                  • SPC …
                    16 February 2023 at 3:41 pm

                    Until a new government is recognised – had any new government in Yemen been recognised?

                    The post Yankovich government had been recognised, including by Russia.

                    Who cares what Putin claims? Only the UNSC veto and nukes makes his and 4 other nations, a law unto themselves.

                    Milošević like those involved in ethnic cleansing in Rwanda and Burundi has been before the ICC.

                    In 1989, Milošević rose to power in Serbia. Milošević promised a reduction of powers for the autonomous provinces of Kosovo and Vojvodina, where his allies subsequently took over power … This ignited tensions between the communist leadership of the other republics of Yugoslavia and awoke ethnic nationalism across Yugoslavia that eventually resulted in its breakup …(with all but Montenegro declaring independence) …the large ethnic Serb communities opposed independence from Yugoslavia. The FRY remained outside the conflicts, but provided logistic, military and financial support to Serb forces in the wars. In response, the UN imposed sanctions …

                    In 1998, the Albanian guerilla KLA and Yugoslav security forces led to the short Kosovo War (1998-1999) in which NATO intervened, leading to the withdrawal of Serbian forces and the establishment of UN administration in the province

                    On 21 May 2006, Montenegro held a referendum to determine whether to end its union with Serbia. The results showed 55.4% of voters in favour of independence, which was just above the 55% required by the referendum.

                    The Assembly of Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia on 17 February 2008. Serbia immediately condemned the declaration and continues to deny any statehood to Kosovo.

                    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serbia

                    Serbia remains a candidate to join the EU, but has not been admitted. To this point there has been a pattern, Serbia is Serbia and no one but Serbs want to live under their rule. And apart from Kosovo has come to accept this.

                    Is there something Russia needs to learn?

                    If Serbia can deny statehood to Kosovo, why cannot Ukraine deny any annexation into Russia of the Donbass enclaves and Crimea or expect international assitance for any invasion of its territory?

          • Jenny are we there yet 2.1.1.1.2
            15 February 2023 at 9:44 pm

            “…..Righto , got that. Keep calm and carry on”
            Ghostwhowalksnz

            Tell it to the Ukrainians being murdered in their beds by Russian missiles or freezing in the Northern winter without heating.

            • Ghostwhowalksnz 2.1.1.1.2.1
              16 February 2023 at 9:09 am

              That would make a lovely speech for those beauty pageants where they fervently wish for world peace

              • Jenny are we there yet …
                16 February 2023 at 9:31 am

                A speech made by a beauty pageant contestant, condemning the Russian assault on Ukraine in support of the people being brutalised and killed by the Russian Federation, would still be lightyears ahead of your support for this disgusting atrocity made by you in this forum.

  4. Jenny are we there yet 4
    15 February 2023 at 5:51 pm

    We are there now.

    All the politicians here and overseas who refused to act over climate change when they had the chance to have blood on their hands.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/131237171/cyclone-gabrielle-child-found-dead-over-1400-unable-to-be-contacted

  5. Maurice 5
    16 February 2023 at 10:12 am

    Everyone a little preoccupied this morning?

    What help is required that can be transported North?

  6. Eco Maori 6
    16 February 2023 at 5:01 pm

    Ki Ora whano

    https://youtu.be/ZR_X6PrASho

    Kia Kaha whano

  7. The Fairy Godmother 7
    19 February 2023 at 2:23 pm

    Seems quite weird that when I go on my mobile on this site I get a version of several says ago but once I have commented it comes back to normal.

  8. The Fairy Godmother 8
    19 February 2023 at 6:38 pm

    Puzzled as to why my mobile has a version which is 4 days old.

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