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Open mike 18/02/2015

Written By: - Date published: 6:53 am, February 18th, 2015 - 156 comments
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For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

156 comments on “Open mike 18/02/2015 ”

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    • Paul 1.1
      18 February 2015 at 7:21 am

      Despite Hager’s book, Dirty Politics alive and kicking under Key’s sleazy government.
      TPP?
      Sky City?
      Sabin?

      • tc 1.1.1
        18 February 2015 at 7:30 am

        Key takes the election result as a mandate for another term of it as the sheeple say so assisted by a labour party with past their use by dates MPs and strategists

        • Skinny 1.1.1.1
          18 February 2015 at 8:16 am

          I saw an MP had posted on facebook a photo of the Labour caucus class of 2015 on the steps of parliament yesterday. Plenty of 50 something’s shades of grey. It was depressing some of the same old faces still clipping the ticket. Others must have been thinking the same as there were few likes.

        • Paul 1.1.1.2
          18 February 2015 at 4:54 pm

          Yes democracy rapidly becoming a sham in the land of the great white sheeple.

      • marya46 1.1.2
        18 February 2015 at 10:04 am

        @ Paul. Agree.

        By the way where is Nicky Hager these days? Haven’t heard anything of him for a while!

        Is he under house arrest?
        Been gagged?
        Prevented from speaking publicly?
        Any news about the outcome of police removing his personal effects from his home to be investigated?

        We need a journalist of Hager’s intelligence, calibre and integrity to investigate John Key’s involvement re the time frame of having been informed of the Mike Sabin affair!

        Another point is it’s interesting that today, msm (Fairfax and NZH) is carrying the story about Andrew Little’s past “non payment” of an invoice, (after it was raised in Parliament yesterday by the loathsome Steven Joyce), focusing on the time frame of the actual payment (yesterday)!

        So I ask, where is msm focus on slimy PM Key and his grubby ministers, digging deep about when they first became aware of the Sabin investigation?

        Pity more media enthusiasm and attention isn’t focused on this issue, where it should be.

        • dv 1.1.2.1
          18 February 2015 at 11:34 am

          A good rejoinder to Joyce would be to ask how many Teachers have not been paid correctly this year.

        • Paul 1.1.2.2
          18 February 2015 at 4:53 pm

          The media give corporate shills like Mary Beard a voice, not real journalists like Hager publicity.
          Remember they want more for themselves and less for the rest of us.
          So being on a salesperson for the TPP rather than an advocate for democracy, transparency and solidarity.

    • wyndham 1.2
      18 February 2015 at 7:48 am

      Labour Party PR is abysmal. How can any efficient system drop their leader into the mess that Andrew finds himself in? The Shearer “fish in Parliament” debacle, lack of penetrating secondary questions and dredging up petty and inconsequential points. Andrew needs a decent “minder” that would never have allowed the likes of Joyce to crucify him over an unpaid bill. It’s all over the media today and Key’s back off the ropes.
      Pay some real money and buy a minder that’s got his/her finger on the pulse. Another with the political nous of Heather Simpson – – – there’ll be someone out there.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 1.2.1
        18 February 2015 at 8:01 am

        “It’s all over the media”.

        Not a single reference to it on Stuff’s front page in fact. I guess people who are impressed by ‘gotcha’ politics will clutch their pearls a bit. Meanwhile, Bill English’s toxic ACC rort is getting as least as much attention, and that will still be news tomorrow, as will National Party Sabinism and the Skysore.

      • ScottGN 1.2.2
        18 February 2015 at 8:12 am

        Sure is a pretty dumb own-goal but given the debacle of last week and the ease with which Little has owned Key on SkyCity I guess some sort of retaliation was to be expected. No surprise then that the Nats have reverted to the tried-and-true methods that have served them well in the past. It will be interesting how Little and Labour respond. Probably best just to suck it up, take responsibility and try and push through. And, since we’re dealing the dark art of politics, some added fuel thrown on Winston’s claims of insider trading at SkyCity would be useful.

        • Skinny 1.2.2.1
          18 February 2015 at 9:03 am

          The timing of SkyCity announcement of wanting a taxpayer handout pushed their share price up which was smart Morrison. However the ‘no penalty’ for the convention centre size reduction looks dodgy as hell.

          Key and his cronies tie up with that very sketchy outfit the NZX is fishy in my opinion. By the NZX moving into being a fund manager and recently increasing their holdings bears looking into.

          Gosman the National Party shrill will come on here with his twisted opinion shortly.

      • phillip ure 1.2.3
        18 February 2015 at 8:36 am

        “..The Shearer “fish in Parliament” debacle..”

        wasn’t that stuart nash shearers’ chief-adviser then..?

        ..was the fish his idea..?

        ..or did shearer brain-fart that one out all on his own..?..

        • Lanthanide 1.2.3.1
          18 February 2015 at 9:10 am

          I believe the fish idea was entirely Shearer’s, and no one else in caucus knew about it until he did it. He bought the fish from an Auckland supermarket and flew to Wellington with him in his carry-on…

        • Skinny 1.2.3.2
          18 February 2015 at 9:15 am

          That was a great example of the emperor has no clothes on. I remember thinking
          oh dear god this mug has lost the plot. To think he didn’t fall on his sword and not seek re election sums up the problem with Labour. All the previous leaders bar DC should have not stood again.

        • phillip ure 1.2.3.3
          18 February 2015 at 9:49 am

          funny story..!

          ..shearer now feels he is qualified to work in ‘intelligence’..

          ..(just keep him away from the fish..!..)

          • Andre 1.2.3.3.1
            18 February 2015 at 11:29 am

            New temporary boss of GCSB was the ex lawyer for the ministry of Fisheries Maybe take some loaves and he is in!

    • whateva next? 1.3
      18 February 2015 at 5:43 pm

      I bet a few people would like to have a Super Minister discuss their unpaid bills in parliament, and then get the harpie Gower into it to. Perhaps they could get onto the tax evaders for the country while they are onto it

  2. Pete George 2
    18 February 2015 at 7:10 am

    A caliphate established by radical Muslims that supports genocide and appears intent on precipitating World War 3 with an aim of engineering the Apocalypse – “that it considers itself a harbinger of—and headline player in—the imminent end of the world.”

    Doing nothing to try and minimise this would seem to be unwise.

    ISIS – apostles of the Apocalypse

    Long version (Graeme Wood at The Atlantic): What ISIS Really Wants

    • Paul 2.1
      18 February 2015 at 7:17 am

      Invading Iraq in 2003 really worked, didn’t it?
      Guess you advocated for NZ’s involvement then as well.

      • Pete George 2.1.1
        18 February 2015 at 7:27 am

        No, you shouldn’t make baseless assumptions. I opposed the invasion of Iraq.

        This is now very different situation. ISIS is not a State. Iraq has asked us to assist them in opposing ISIS.

        Have you read The Atlantic article? Or have you leapt straight to diversion?

        • One Anonymous Bloke 2.1.1.1
          18 February 2015 at 7:38 am

          Nah, this is about you telling lies again. Citation needed for people who suggest we do nothing. Put up or shut up, racist.

          • Pete George 2.1.1.1.1
            18 February 2015 at 7:43 am

            That’s more garbled than usual from you OAB.

            Of course I’m a much more dangerous enemy than ISIS. ‘Must defeat enemy’. You should wake up properly first though.

            • One Anonymous Bloke 2.1.1.1.1.1
              18 February 2015 at 7:46 am

              Who are the people who say we should do nothing? Put up or shut up, racist.

              • vto …
                18 February 2015 at 8:23 am

                Me. I say we should do nothing. It would work if we did nothing – why don’t people actually think through these things?

                • One Anonymous Bloke …
                  18 February 2015 at 8:29 am

                  No humanitarian aid then. No help for the Kurds. No restriction on arms dealers?

                  • vto …
                    18 February 2015 at 8:36 am

                    Nothing military.

                    For a large number of reasons, all of which have been thrashed around here plenty.

                    What do you think would happen if we did nothing militarily?

                    • One Anonymous Bloke …
                      18 February 2015 at 8:43 am

                      Just making sure that Racist George hasn’t found his citation – “nothing military” ≠ “nothing”.

                    • phillip ure …
                      18 February 2015 at 8:46 am

                      little said that the iraqi politician who visited asked for humanitarian-aid..

                      ..why the fuck don’t we just do that..?

                      ..instead of being mercenaries/spear-carriers for the fucken americans..

                      ..with our soldiers having to be given diplomatic passports..

                      ..so they can kill at will..?

                      ..’cos the iraqi govt won’t give them the legal rights to kill their people..

                      ..the australian soldiers are already killing using diplomatic passports..’cos they were also refused that right by the iraqi govt..

                      ..how the fuck does all of this mesh with the bullshit being spun by key..?

                      ..that we aren’t just mercenaries/spear-carriers for the americans..

                      ..we are going to war ‘to help’ the iraqis..

                      ..that they ‘want us there’..

                      ..as little was told..what they want is humanitarian aid..

                      ..not just more fucken soldiers throwing lead around..

                    • vto …
                      18 February 2015 at 9:24 am

                      No prob oab.

                      But – what would happen over there if we did nothing militarily?

                      Anyone?

                    • One Anonymous Bloke …
                      18 February 2015 at 9:42 am

                      We’d have to stop helping spy on them first – unless that doesn’t count as “something military”.

                    • vto …
                      18 February 2015 at 11:33 am

                      Ok then, if the spying and any other military activity stops.

                      What would happen if we did nothing militarily over there?

                      Anyone?

                      (why do I get the feeling the question is being avoided…

                    • One Anonymous Bloke …
                      18 February 2015 at 11:49 am

                      I think the result would be much the same, because the plan is rubbish and we lack sufficient influence to change it.

                    • Pascals bookie …
                      18 February 2015 at 11:56 am

                      I’ll have a crack VTO.

                      ISIS is a threat to a bunch of people over there who would do stuff about it.

                      Obviously the Shia blocs who are the current primary target of ISIS. So they are already stepping up in the alliance between Iran/Iraq and Syria. That would continue. They have their own agenda of forming a fairly solid shia ruled area. They’d probably achieve that.

                      Secondly, the Gulf states like Saudi A, UAE etc are threatened by ISIS to a small degree. Insofar that they are bad PR for the anti Shia movement that they care about, they will step up. They have problems in that if they step up too hard against IS then their own populations get a bit angsty, not because of direct IS support (which is small) but because of IS being an Anti-shia force. It’s a tricky spot for them, so they’d probably clamp down hard on ISIS when it raises it’s head in a Sunni state, (same as they do with AQ and the Bortherhood).

                      The Sunni states probably enjoy watching Iran bleed against ISIS so they may be tempted to quietly fund them to prolong it, and they will not be happy about the Shia states getting their solid bloc, but I doubt they could stop it, and fundamentally, they’d rather have someone who wasn;t as insane as ISIS to be their proxy.

                      So, I reckon if we butted out, the Shia would fuck ISIS over the next year or two, the Sunni states would say ‘that’s annoying’ and start funding some other wee group.

                      Pretty much the same as what will happen if we do interfere, with the difference being that we won’t be getting in the way.

                    • vto …
                      18 February 2015 at 6:56 pm

                      interesting and correct although I meant “we” being “NZ”. In other words the US and its dirty cronies like Australia carry on without us.

                      Same result – no difference…

    • Skinny 2.2
      18 February 2015 at 7:19 am

      Sounds like an endorsement for war with shoot to kill being approved by the PM and the troops becoming honorary diplomat’s.

      • tc 2.2.1
        18 February 2015 at 7:33 am

        Expecting something else from captain beige ? content generation is best done with such inferences.

      • Pete George 2.2.2
        18 February 2015 at 7:40 am

        Sounds like you haven’t tried to read it.

        I’m a strong supporter of peace and non-violence generally.

        But when you already have a war with major intent then doing nothing doesn’t reduce or stop the violence, it allows it to grow.

        All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent – Edmund Burke

        • One Anonymous Bloke 2.2.2.1
          18 February 2015 at 7:43 am

          Citation needed for people who suggest we do nothing, Racist George.

        • thatguynz 2.2.2.2
          18 February 2015 at 12:25 pm

          A stated before PG… How about the “West” stop training, funding and arming ISIS before “we” worry about putting military personnel there – in ANY form?

          No arms, no cash and no capability would tend to weaken them quite a bit don’t ya think?

          Stop sipping the kool-aid.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 2.3
      18 February 2015 at 7:36 am

      Handwringing pearl clutching racist has nothing of value to offer. Again.

    • Tautoko Mangō Mata 2.4
      18 February 2015 at 8:13 am

      Well that will just fit in perfectly with those Christians who also want to bring on the Apocalypse.
      http://www.christianity.com/theology/end-times/

      Pity we cant limit the war to Apocalypse believers only on some unoccupied area of wasteland and leave them to it.

    • McFlock 2.5
      18 February 2015 at 11:46 am

      readership down a bit, that you need to clickbait?

  3. Morrissey 3
    18 February 2015 at 7:13 am

    Nobel Peace Laureates Slam Human Rights Watch’s
    Refusal to Cut Ties to U.S. Government
    AlterNet, July 8, 2014

    Human Rights Watch’s affiliation with ex-CIA and NATO officials generates perverse incentives and undermine its reputation for independence.

    In a May 12 letter published on AlterNet, two Nobel Peace Prize Laureates and over 100 scholars, journalists and human rights activists called on Human Rights Watch to close its revolving door to the U.S. government. On June 3, HRW published a response from executive director Kenneth Roth on its website, arguing that their “concern is misplaced.” In a June 11 debate on Democracy Now!, HRW Counsel and Spokesman Reed Brody similarly rejected their recommendations.

    Now, Nobel Laureates Mairead Maguire and Adolfo Pérez Esquivel join fellow signatories Richard Falk (United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Palestinian Territories from 2008-14) and Hans von Sponeck (UN Assistant Secretary General from 1998-2000) in demanding that their proposals be taken seriously, and additionally, that HRW remove former NATO Secretary General Javier Solana from its Board of Directors.

    Dear Kenneth Roth,

    While we welcome your stated commitment to Human Rights Watch’s independence and credibility, we are dismayed by your rejection of our common-sense suggestion for strengthening them: bar those who have crafted or executed U.S. foreign policy from serving as HRW staff, advisors or board members—or, at a bare minimum, mandate lengthy “cooling-off” periods before and after any associate moves between HRW and the foreign-policy divisions of the U.S. government.

    Before addressing your letter’s objections to the three instances of HRW’s advocacy that suggest a conflict of interest, we would like to reiterate that they were “limited to only recent history,” and that other cases could have been raised as well. One obvious example of HRW’s failure to appropriately criticize U.S. crimes occurred after the 2004 coup d’état against the democratically elected government of Haiti. The U.S. government essentially kidnapped Haiti’s president; thousands of people were killed under the ensuing coup regime; and deposed officials of the constitutional government were jailed.

    In the face of what were likely the worst human rights abuses of any country in the Western hemisphere at the time, HRW barely lifted a finger. HRW never hosted a press conference criticizing the coup or post-coup atrocities. In contrast to HRW’s appeals to the Organization of American States’ Inter-American Democratic Charter for Venezuela and Cuba, HRW never publicly invoked the Charter in the case of Haiti, even as Articles 20 and 21 afforded multilateral measures “in the event of an unconstitutional alteration of the constitutional regime.” HRW never placed an op-ed about the overthrow in a prominent newspaper. (In 2004 The New York Times alone published at least five HRW opinion pieces and four HRW letters on other subjects.) It is reasonable for outside observers to question whether this lack of response from HRW to such large-scale human rights violations had anything to do with U.S. foreign-policy priorities.

    The very existence of such questions regarding HRW’s advocacy should be reason enough to impose sharp restrictions on HRW’s close ties to the U.S. government. ….

    Read more….
    http://www.alternet.org/world/nobel-peace-laureates-slam-human-rights-watchs-refusal-cut-ties-us-government

  4. amirite 4
    18 February 2015 at 7:17 am

    I knew something sneaky was hiding behind the SkyCity funding kerfuffle. The Govt has been softening us for (at least) $6M funding of a bunch of wealthy losers: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11403588

    • Paul 4.1
      18 February 2015 at 7:23 am

      Government of the rich, for the rich, by the rich.

    • tc 4.2
      18 February 2015 at 7:37 am

      Yes but they are quality losers who know no other life, you wouldnt want to see them down the local cafe down to their last million wearing last years pradas would you.

    • vto 4.3
      18 February 2015 at 8:28 am

      $millions$ given to rich yachties (and they are very rich)

      $hundredsthousands$ taken from school children libraries.

      ………

      $millions$ for casinos

      $homes$ sold from under the poor

      • freedom 4.3.1
        18 February 2015 at 10:15 am

        -and a measely $30 thousand couldn’t be found to fund Christchurch’s only Rape Crisis Support Line

  5. phillip ure 5
    18 February 2015 at 7:28 am

    “..I feel shameful walking past rough sleepers – how must the politicians responsible feel?..” (+ comment:..and how do our politicians feel when they see their handiwork in the flesh..?..do they shift at all uneasily in their (comfortable/well-padded/heated) seats..?..especially those labour politicians..eh..?..’cos of all of them..they should really know better..eh..?..but they don’t..)

    “.. An evening walk down the Strand in London brings to painful life official figures –

    – that show a sharp rise in rough sleeping..”

    (cont..)

    (ed:..i have asked myself that question..

    ..especially of labour mp’s/politicians..

    ..and our labour/green mayors of auckland..

    ..both of whom when first campaigning to be mayors..

    ..put their hands on their hearts..

    ..and vowed/promised to help the homeless..

    ..since then..yeah..nah..eh..?

    ..but especially those neo-liberal/rightwing labour mp’s..

    ..those who won the argument within the labour party pre-’14 election..

    ..that saw labour ’14 election-policy offering absolutely nothing for the poorest..

    ..cunnliffe said that benefit-levels wd increase ‘by the rate of inflation..

    ..which is what national does..

    ..and here’s the funny story..!

    ..those rightwing/neo-liberal labour people are still wondering why those poorest..(the missing million..)..

    ..why they didn’t rush to the polling booths..

    ..sobbing in/with gratitude on their way..

    ..to tick the box for labour..

    ..as i say in the headline..eh..?..’they should really know better’..eh..?..)

    (cont..)

    http://whoar.co.nz/2015/i-feel-shameful-walking-past-rough-sleepers-%E2%80%93-how-must-the-politicians-responsible-feel-comment-and-how-do-our-politicians-feel-when-they-see-their-handiwork-in-the-flesh-do/

    • One Anonymous Bloke 6.1
      18 February 2015 at 8:08 am

      When it gets back up to the average price in 2011, be sure to let us know.

    • Hayden 6.2
      18 February 2015 at 11:17 am

      Analysts had expected prices to firm in response to lower supply brought on by drought conditions on the east coasts of both the North and South Islands.

      See, droughts are good news.

      The auction will give farmers some confidence that Fonterra will meet its $4.70 a kg milk price forecast for the current season after prices slumped by 50 per cent in 2014.

      However, farm investment company MyFarm estimates the current forecast is well below its estimated average cost of production of $5.03 kg.

      I’m not an expert, but that looks like a loss-making enterprise to me.

  7. The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 7
    18 February 2015 at 8:26 am

    This:

    http://www.frankieboyle.com/frankie/free-speech.html

    • adam 7.1
      18 February 2015 at 11:30 am

      I’m not going to follow the link gormless – as your to bloody lazy to write a description.

      Are you just click baiting?

      • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 7.1.1
        18 February 2015 at 12:19 pm

        It’s “you’re”. It is a contraction of “you are”. Maybe reading is not your thing.

        • te reo putake 7.1.1.1
          18 February 2015 at 12:34 pm

          adam was writing, not reading, gormless. Pot, kettle, etc.

          • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 7.1.1.1.1
            18 February 2015 at 12:40 pm

            If he writes like that, I have good grounds to conclude he is incapable of reading.

            • te reo putake 7.1.1.1.1.1
              18 February 2015 at 12:50 pm

              And if you read like that, I have good grounds to conclude you are incapable of writing anything other than erroneous pedantry. Concentrate on adam’s criticism; a brief summary of why we should click on the link would be helpful, because the number of readers who are going to just on your say so is minimal.

              Something like: ‘Frankie Boyle skewers the false outrage of the media’ or ‘comedian rips into media hypocrisy’. It’s not hard.

              • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell …
                18 February 2015 at 12:59 pm

                You could have read it by now. Or not. Suit yourself. I will try to struggle on regardless.

                • te reo putake …
                  18 February 2015 at 1:07 pm

                  More reading difficulty, gormless? That fact that I was able to provide a couple of short summaries strongly suggests I did read Boyle’s piece. Try and avoid arguments based on pedantry in the future, you’re not much good at them.

                  • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell …
                    18 February 2015 at 1:56 pm

                    Noted.

                    • swordfish …
                      18 February 2015 at 3:01 pm

                      You’ll like this from Frankie Boyle, Ole – given that you’re such a good Tory…

                      On Mock the Week after Thatcher’s demise:

                      How much do you think the funeral is going to cost ?

                      Frankie Boyle: “3 million. For 3 million, they could give everyone in Scotland a shovel and we would dig a hole so deep that we could hand her over to Satan personally.”

  8. Sirenia 8
    18 February 2015 at 8:28 am

    Who suggested Andrew Little commission anything from David Cohen? He is a very right wing journalist and a great friend of Bill English. It was before Andrew Little was leader so hopefully he is getting better advice these days about who to talk to.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 8.1
      18 February 2015 at 8:33 am

      Yeah, for goodness sakes don’t make any effort to find out how the Right will spin the things you say 🙄

      • phillip ure 8.1.1
        18 February 2015 at 11:42 am

        he was hired to coalesce/define/translate..

        ..the thoughts of chairman little..

        ..i wonder how all of that worked out..?

        ..if it was value for money..?

        • One Anonymous Bloke 8.1.1.1
          18 February 2015 at 11:45 am

          Knowing what your adversary will say about you before they say it can be an advantage, if the information is used wisely.

          I think Little’s doing ok on the presentation front.

          • phillip ure 8.1.1.1.1
            18 February 2015 at 11:49 am

            “..Knowing what your adversary will say about you before they say it can be an advantage, if the information is used wisely. .”

            to a point..i s’pose..

            ..and cohen was the only one who cd make those calls..?

            ..who cd lay out those hypothetical-scenarios..?

            ..and so now we have a rightwinger..who has looked inside littles’ head..

            ..any hypothetical bad-scenarios you can see around that..?

            ..and little was ‘doing ok’..

            ..not so much lately..

            • One Anonymous Bloke 8.1.1.1.1.1
              18 February 2015 at 11:53 am

              Other than you, who says Cohen was the only one?

              The fact that National have to reach further down into the barrel to ping him for a ubiquitous human error – forgetting to pay a bill – is an indication that they aren’t getting many hits in debate.

              What happened to ‘angry Andy’? 😆

              • phillip ure …
                18 February 2015 at 11:55 am

                nobbled by neo-liberalism..?

                (and..)

                “..Other than you, who says Cohen was the only one?..”

                ..was there a whole team on it..?

                ..the ‘little-brain team’..?..

                ..’here come the l.b.t.’s..!’..

                ..did they have a uniform..?..

                ..or at the very least..an insignia..?

                ..a motto..?

                • phillip ure …
                  18 February 2015 at 12:04 pm

                  “..– is an indication that they aren’t getting many hits in debate..”

                  going on the commentary i did on q-time yesterday..

                  ..little was the one not ‘getting many hits’..

                  ..and i mean..there is hardly a lack of ammunition to hand..?

                  ..is there..?

    • Visubversaviper 8.2
      18 February 2015 at 12:22 pm

      Not only that but the NBR has the story saying that the go-between (one Chris Matthews) was also slaggng off other Labour MPs to the journalist. Who is he and what position does he hold?

  9. Philip Ferguson 9
    18 February 2015 at 8:39 am

    Since the working class was defeated, indeed pretty much smashed, under the fourth Labour government and the following National government, class consciousness in this country is at an all-time low. The left, defeated on the economic front, managed to win some victories on the cultural front. That was good, but we do need to get back to class: https://rdln.wordpress.com/2012/10/24/class-class-consciousness-and-left-political-practice/

  10. vto 10
    18 February 2015 at 8:41 am

    Reading about the Euro debt-mongers problems with their unsustainable business model in Greece would be tragic and hilarious if it wasn’t so hilarious and tragic.

    The entire western financial system is hilarious and tragic.

    It is up to its use-by date and Greece is a canary in the mine.

    More debt in the world than there is money to repay it ……………. thinking thinking thinking

    Hilarious

    Tragic

  11. adam 11
    18 February 2015 at 8:55 am

    This is quite similar to what Bill wrote here the other day. Indeed if the only option for war with ISIS, is war with ISIS – I think we should do the right thing and help the people at war with ISIS – rather than send our own troops over there.

    http://libcom.org/news/kurdistan-gilles-dauv%C3%A9-17022015

    Sorry about the long links in advance.

    Just another reason, why we should not send troops into the middle east. This is just stupid on the part of the commanders who ordered this to happen – stupid.

    http://www.publicintegrity.org/2015/02/12/16751/us-troops-burned-waste-hazardous-open-pits-while-safer-incinerators-sat-idle?utm_source=email&utm_campaign=watchdog&utm_medium=publici-email&goal=0_ffd1d0160d-3b6faff816-100020097&mc_cid=3b6faff816&mc_eid=c346e018f7

    And if you think privatising health care is a winner – or if Obama care is any go. Think again. Insurance companies are in the business to make money – sick people don’t make money = hence the USA and it’s SNAFU approach to health care.

    http://www.publicintegrity.org/2015/02/16/16766/elimination-public-option-threw-consumers-insurance-wolves?utm_source=email&utm_campaign=watchdog&utm_medium=publici-email&goal=0_ffd1d0160d-3b6faff816-100020097&mc_cid=3b6faff816&mc_eid=c346e018f7

    At Public Integrity – you should look up health – and see all the nasty, vicious, and down right evil things the health insurance industry does to make a buck.

    • Chooky 11.1
      18 February 2015 at 6:29 pm

      Robert Fisk’s latest on ISIS

      ‘Isis has provoked an Arab alliance to bomb the West’s enemies’

      http://www.independent.co.uk/biography/robert-fisk

      …..”But for Arabs, there is a clear message in all these alliances. Washington has an American-trained general in charge of the Libyan air force, an American-trained former field marshal and president in charge of Egypt, an American-educated and British-trained king in Jordan and two wealthy emirates with huge US investments – one of them headquarters to the US fleet in the Gulf – in the battle. Only that well-known dictator who has been fighting Isis for longer than any of them – Bashar al-Assad of Syria – is left out. For now.”

      ( spot the ironies)

  12. The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 12
    18 February 2015 at 9:14 am

    And this:

    https://dimpost.wordpress.com/2015/02/17/same-as-it-ever-was/

  13. Murray Rawshark 13
    18 February 2015 at 9:20 am

    There is a Wisconsin version of FJK, Scott Walker. There are many similarities in their methods. Given the nature of the US and A, Walker may actually end up in legal trouble if things filter up to the federal level. Meanwhile, FJK’s smile and wave is increasingly being replaced by scowl and lie.

    http://www.alternet.org/tea-party-and-right/4-things-you-should-know-about-presidential-candidate-scott-walker-its-too-late

  14. Colonial Rawshark 14
    18 February 2015 at 9:36 am

    Daily Telegraph political commentator quits in protest at deteriorating journalistic standards

    http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-02-17/honesty-shocker-telegraphs-political-commentator-quits-over-hsbc-coverage-accuses-pa

  15. rawshark-yeshe 15
    18 February 2015 at 10:07 am

    Go Winston .. let’s see if the FMA have either teeth or guts ….

    Winston Peters: ‘Huge volume’ of SkyCity shares trading must be investigated:

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11403839

    • Murray Rawshark 15.1
      18 February 2015 at 12:15 pm

      I’m glad Winnie has raised that. He’s still useful on some issues.

      • Chooky 15.1.1
        18 February 2015 at 6:17 pm

        Winston is a lot more useful than Labour these days ( since Helen Clark) ….Labour is a liability…didnt Labour MPs …(the Labour Party boys)…accept SKYCITY hospitality along with the Nacts?…and what about that Auckland Labour Mayor’s role in helping along SkyCity ?…say no more….

        ….it was the Greens who have always had form on fighting the SkyCity deal …and Winston…and Mana ….this is the real Left Opposition in New Zealand

  16. Skinny 16
    18 February 2015 at 10:13 am

    The book Dirty Politics gains a win for the port workers with the Maritime Union members ratifying a collective agreement this morning.

    Well done comrades and excellent job brother Gary Parsloe. My you enjoy many years of retirement!

  17. AsleepWhileWalking 17
    18 February 2015 at 11:50 am

    David Cameron is demanding that obese/overweight people *accept help* (For example the outdated dietary advice that includes eating wheat and a little sugar? That the obese or overweight should learn to hate the appearance of their bodies like the government apparently does? To be taught that human rights law is for “real” disabilities? Hmmm….) or lose benefits.

    Cameron really knows how to bene bash huh? At least this reporter has the good sense to make this comment:

    “But here is the alternative theory. What if the intention is not to make people slimmer, but to make the obese reconcile themselves with the fact that they are worthless human beings, and hence unworthy of receiving any financial support from anyone? If that is the case, then the initiative may work very well indeed.”

    http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/feb/16/david-cameron-obese-big-society-benefits

    • Murray Rawshark 17.1
      18 February 2015 at 12:16 pm

      The plan should be trialled on Gerry Brownlee. He certainly doesn’t deserve any financial support from anyone.

      • gsays 17.1.1
        18 February 2015 at 5:40 pm

        hi murray, where are the obesist police?
        i would have expected you to be taken to task for that comment.
        perhaps double standards much?

        i think i detect a touch of afflunentist (?) in yr comment too. 😉

        • Murray Rawshark 17.1.1.1
          18 February 2015 at 8:57 pm

          Ask them, if you know who they are. When the English Tories start on obese people as part of their attack on our brothers and sisters in England, I think it’s perfectly OK to suggest they start on Brownlee.

    • weka 17.2
      18 February 2015 at 2:17 pm

      I don’t know what the forms are like currently in NZ, but back in the day when you applied for a benefit for medical reasons part of the form you signed said something like how you could be declined a benefit if you refused medical treatment for the condition. I’m surprised Bennett and co haven’t gone down that track already tbh.

  18. rawshark-yeshe 18
    18 February 2015 at 12:01 pm

    What could possibly go wrong ?

    US lets allies buy killer drones … oh yes, this should end well.

    07-866 6851www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2015/02/17/u-s-to-let-allies-buy-killer-drones.html?via=newsletter&source=CSPMedition

    MORONS.

    • Murray Rawshark 18.1
      18 February 2015 at 12:21 pm

      With the US having them, it’s already ended badly. This is just a continuation.

      • rawshark-yeshe 18.1.1
        18 February 2015 at 6:56 pm

        Hi Murray .. hope your trip to Tai Tokerau tomorrow bears some fruit if you are in the right place at the right time .. travel well …

    • Draco T Bastard 18.2
      18 February 2015 at 2:44 pm

      Quoting article:

      Each foreign government’s request will be examined on a case-by-case basis, and they must agree to “proper use” principles created by Washington that stipulate the drones must obey international law.

      Oh, would that be like US drones indiscriminately killing civilians?

      I’d say that it’d be better for any country to build their own drones. That way they could guarantee that there wouldn’t be any back doors into the control systems.

  19. hoom 19
    18 February 2015 at 3:11 pm

    Apparently Ports of Auckland have settled with Maritime Union & new Collective contract agreed.
    Neither Herald nor Stuff have any details so its going to be interesting to see who ‘won’ after all.

  20. phillip ure 20
    18 February 2015 at 3:11 pm

    andrew little under-impressed..again..

    ..and kennedy ‘death-stare’ graham got performer-of-the-day..

    ..but all in all..it was a bit of a drag..

    (but key did tell us that he ‘has a vision’..)

    http://whoar.co.nz/2015/new-zealand-parliament-list-of-questions-for-oral-answer-wednesday-18-february-2015/

  21. Puckish Rogue 21
    18 February 2015 at 3:17 pm

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/editorials/66323975/editorial-andrew-little-plays-into-pms-hands-on-spying

    Heres where I’d usually sling some stuff KLittles way over this except that hes doing the exact thing I’d advise him to do, keeping the Greens out of anything that matters is what most voters want since the Greens only got 10% of the vote which is pretty shoddy when you consider how many people didn’t vote

    Little is taking Labour to the center which is what he needs to do and it looks like hes distancing Labour away from the Greens to set up a deal with Winston for the next election ala Labour back when they were last in power

    Labour doesn’t need to offer the Greens anything because theres nowhere else for the Greens to go and if its a choice between Labour/Winston and the Greens or National/Act/MP then of course the Greens will be Labours doormap

    So, unfortuantely (as I want another term for Key) , this is smart politics from Little

    • phillip ure 21.1
      18 February 2015 at 3:28 pm

      good advice there pucky..!

      ..move more to the right you reckon..?

      ..even when that didn’t work that well last time..eh..?

      ..that missing-million couldn’t be stirred to vote for the promise of s.f.a. for them..

      ..silly poor..!..eh..?..they should be grateful for crumbs..!..even for no crumbs..!.

      ..yep..!..that worked out really well..

      ..little-labour should try really hard to be more like key-national..eh..?

      ..well..they have made a good start..eh..?..on the spooking-front..

      ..taking five minutes to agree to extending the powers of the spooks..

      ..and freezing turei/the greens out of the spooks-‘club’..eh..?

      • Puckish Rogue 21.1.1
        18 February 2015 at 3:42 pm

        Never said anything about going to the right instead I applaud him for:

        going to the center
        learning from Helen Clark

        and yes Little needs to do whatever he needs to so he can get into power then he can make the changes, the problem with Labour supporters in general is that they don’t quite seem to get it that you need to get the power first before you make the changes

        Fortunately, for Labour supporters, Little realises that

        • phillip ure 21.1.1.1
          18 February 2015 at 3:58 pm

          and labour polled their highest when exactly…?

          ..wasn’t it when cunnliffe had his (however brief) ‘workers’ flag is deepest red’ moment..?

          ..what wd u take from that..?

          • Puckish Rogue 21.1.1.1.1
            18 February 2015 at 4:06 pm

            As you say briefly and then people realised he was all mouth and no trousers, had he gone to the center he probably would have won

            Which is why John Key is merely tinkering around the edges of what the right wing want ie

            partial privitisation as opposed to full sell offs,
            keeping union membership voluntary instead of abolishing unions,
            90 day employment bill instead of firing any time any place,
            increasing benefit payments instead of cutting back,
            tinkering with the RMA instead of abolishing ot and writing a new one

            all this because Keys knows (as did Clark) its the center that decides who governs

            • felix 21.1.1.1.1.1
              18 February 2015 at 4:31 pm

              Thanks Chris for owning up to what the right really intend to do to our society.

            • ScottGN 21.1.1.1.1.2
              18 February 2015 at 4:34 pm

              Do you really think they should abolish the unions PR? You’re saying the government should legislate away the right to free association?

        • felix 21.1.1.2
          18 February 2015 at 4:27 pm

          ” Never said anything about going to the right”

          FFS chris73. In which direction do you move to get from the left to the centre?

  22. Morrissey 22
    18 February 2015 at 4:18 pm

    Liars of Our Time
    No. 47: SIMON MERCEP

    * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

    “Coming up in a few minutes, The Panel with Jim Mora and Noelle McCarthy. I don’t know who their two guests are today, but whoever they are, quality broadcasting will ensue….”

    * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

    —SIMON MERCEP, Radio NZ National, 3:35 p.m., Wednesday 18 February 2015

    Liar No. 46 Julia Gillard: “I have got a lot of respect for people who whistle-blow, ummm….”
    http://thestandard.org.nz/ope-mike-08022015/#comment-965394

    Liar No. 45 Zara Potts: “Sir Bob Geldof has assembled the best of modern musicians for this year’s record, including Ed Sheeran and One Direction.”
    http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-11112014/#comment-924196

    More liars HERE….
    http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-09102014/#comment-907232

  23. ScottGN 23
    18 February 2015 at 5:02 pm

    Hipkins managed to get this out of the Min of Ed Secretary today:
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/66349800/novopay-botchups-cost-45m-to-fix
    That’s an extra 45 million on top of the countless sums already spent.

    • Tracey 23.1
      18 February 2015 at 6:11 pm

      But Scott, Little didnt pay a $900 debt, you must know THAT is more worthy of being shared with TV3’s news audience tonight?

  24. Tracey 24
    18 February 2015 at 6:10 pm

    Paddy Gower has taken a $900 unpaid debt to new heights.

    By making it his most important event today he has nailed Little. Announcing the honeymoon is over… Almost sounded like he was making a very pointed comment to Little directly.

    • ScottGN 24.1
      18 February 2015 at 6:31 pm

      I think Gower’s piece tonight smacked of overreach actually. For all that though hopefully Andrew Little is practicing the media shut-down right now.

      • Tracey 24.1.1
        18 February 2015 at 7:31 pm

        It was Gower’s version of

        na-na-na-na-na

        I think it reflected more on he than little in the end

    • ianmac 24.2
      18 February 2015 at 6:32 pm

      Paddy was so thrilled to be able to “nail” Andrew. “It seems that -(pause) the Honeymoon is over!” Poor deficient Paddy.

      • ScottGN 24.2.1
        18 February 2015 at 6:40 pm

        You get the feeling that Gower (and probably TV3) had hoped to lead with this story (exclusive emails etc) but events have rather overtaken them.

      • Atiawa 24.2.2
        18 February 2015 at 7:03 pm

        As in most contests when one side is getting flogged the ref will attempt to even things up a bit by making a “no fuss no foul” trivial call.
        Gower is out of his league and should be reporting the Mid-week news in a small community based provincial newspaper.
        Cohen is well known to the likes of aunty Audrey & uncle Vernon when they were principled unionists with the journalists union.

  25. Richard@Down South 25
    21 February 2015 at 1:07 am

    From another Open Mike, but it didnt get answered:

    I was wondering if an employer that pays minimum wage, after the minimum wage goes up, is required to negotiate in good faith, or can just say ‘im paying minimum wage, deal with it’