Open mike 19/01/2011

28 comments on “Open mike 19/01/2011 ”

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1. Pascal's bookie 1

   19 January 2011 at 6:51 am

   http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/news/4505837/PM-passes-test-of-judgement

   Equally important is that the public knows they can trust their leaders to speak for them when tragedy strikes, he says.

   “In the case of Pike River, the enormity of the human loss was so great, and we were all so helpless to do anything for those families, that in the end all we could do was show them support.

   “And because it’s not practical for the other four million New Zealanders to personally engage with those families, that responsibility fell to me.”

   At a memorial service broadcast live, Key drew on his own experience as a child who grew up without his father to comfort the families, to show them he understood.

   “The reason the feedback has been strong in support of my actions was that people wanted to show solidarity and support, and because they weren’t capable of it, they were pleased I was in there doing it on their behalf.”

   hat tip , Daily News editorial, not online yet, which spake thusly

   “The Government told me it was not a money issue. . . everyone is telling us different stories and I want to get to the bottom of it,” Mr Monk said.

   Opposition leader Phil Goff says John Key has passed the buck, and he in turn has been accused of making a statement which is “a bit sad and a bit cynical imder the circumstances” by Mining Minister Gerry Brownlee. But Mr Goff is quite right to underline the level of dissatisfaction which is now evident.

   The police effectively elected to call off the search, just as they have done many times when looking for missing people.

   But the ball should not be left in the receivers’ hands. Given the Government’s considerable presence immediately after the tragedy, it would seem prudent for it to also take some responsibility for leading the way in decision making now.
2. RedLogix 2

   19 January 2011 at 7:33 am

   Why being a ‘smart talker’ is a loosing strategy..
3. ianmac 3

   19 January 2011 at 9:24 am

   Every year there is a repeat of the “poo from the sky story.” The explanation in the past is that nesting birds (ducks?) refuse to despoil their nests and wait till they are flying away then let go with pent up quantity and force. Two ducks or three ducks……..
   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10700543
4. Lanthanide 4

   19 January 2011 at 9:50 am

   As reported on Summer Report this morning, the Maori Party’s 4 MPs have signed a formal complaint about Hone’s article in the Sunday Star Times. No details as to specifically what they’re complaining about, but it is apparently several pages long, written in Te Reo.
   • Colonial Viper 4.1

     19 January 2011 at 9:53 am

     Hope that Hone has a game plan set to roll. He must’ve realised that his piece would cause the defaecation to hit the oscillation.

     And a complaint like this is an extremely ham-fisted approach. Its going to bring ongoing nation wide prominence to the message. Daft!
5. Rodel 5

   19 January 2011 at 10:12 am

   From page A6 of the New Zealand Herald Jan.15th (Claire Trevet- deputy politcal editor)

   ‘National MP Sandra Goudie will retire this year, at the same time as Prime Minister John Key attempts to woo former All Blacks Michael Jones and Inga Tuigamala to enter parliament……’
   Daffy Duck wasn’t mentioned.

   Imagine the rejuvenated front bench…..John, Maggie Barry, Inga and Michael Jones.. Spare me! Come back Pansy!!
   • Olwyn 5.1

     19 January 2011 at 1:28 pm

     It seems that in the course of two years the NACT govt has devolved from elected representatives, to the board of NZ Inc, to the advertising wing of NZ inc.
   • Vicky32 5.2

     19 January 2011 at 5:40 pm

     “John Key attempts to woo former All Blacks Michael Jones and Inga Tuigamala to enter parliament……’”
     Why? Being All Blacks doesn’t necessarily disqualify them, but it certainly doesn’t qualify them! But they will have tremendous name recognition, which sadly often trumps ability..
     Deb
6. Deadly_NZ 6

   19 January 2011 at 10:57 am

   Michael and Inga???? Hasn’t Shonkey Heard of the PEDA scandal? Or maybe he just thinks if he smiles and waves for the crowds, they will just say “oh we will just forget the last 3 years of Incompetence, Lies and Cycle way politics” And the scary thing is that there are a lot that will just do that or will just Blindly vote Nat because that’s all they ever voted.
7. vto 7

   19 January 2011 at 11:04 am

   http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4556279/Summit-cook-up-offends

   So DOC is required to protect, among other things, the mountain’s cultural and spiritual values. I would have thought a bbq in such a place is entirely within the culture of NZ (in which the mountain exists). Or is there only room for cerain selected cultural values?

   A good example of the clash of cultures. One particular culture should not trump the others.

   And when should a culture’s culture be deemed something worthy of protection? In my view many cultures hold certain things as worthy which are in fact a load of bollocks, and it is merely tradition which gives it any weight.
   • Colonial Viper 7.1

     19 January 2011 at 11:14 am

     Are we really talking about a conflict between two longstanding cultural value sets here?

     Or are we talking about conflict between a bit of a once off fun lark up the mountain and a longstanding culture?

     If it was the latter, I rather think that the lads could easily have had their bbq off the summit and still got full/had a good/got great photos time.
8. prism 8

   19 January 2011 at 11:20 am

   A report from Britain in an employment case by an experienced female journalist who has won against the BBC who sacked her when they changed format on her long-term show and wanted someone younger. She went them on age discrimination and sexism.

   All about it in good article (with photo of pleasant looking woman) – http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=46528&c=1

   Was thinking – what claim of discrimination could be brought if sacked or not hired on the basis of not following a fashionable line of thinking ie a Keynesian economist being rejected for a neo-liberal-implanted one? When Paula Redstock was hired, could other candidates from NZ or other, claim they were discriminated against because the government is so biased in favour of reliably compliant automatons like her?
   • Colonial Viper 8.1

     19 January 2011 at 11:29 am

     Hey if the wealthy and influential in our society can claim that they are now an oppressed minority which needs state protection, and that they are being descriminated against by Standardista’s comments, I don’t see why not.
9. prism 9

   19 January 2011 at 11:29 am

   Col Viper – That takes the idea another step, you can be my advisor or lawyer if I need a sharp thinker.
   • Colonial Viper 9.1

     19 January 2011 at 11:30 am

     Dude, it would be my honour.
10. Draco T Bastard 10

    19 January 2011 at 11:50 am

    Upton Sinclair and the Wonk Gap

    Second, I’m surprised that Chait doesn’t refer to Upton Sinclair’s principle: it’s difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it.

    An interesting thought and probably a viable truism.

    Wouldn’t the right be better served by better wonks? No. For one thing, they’d be unreliable — they might start making sense at an inappropriate moment. And, crucially, the media generally can’t tell the difference.

    But that is really the crux of the matter. The right have to disbelieve reality and that means that their “policy advisor’s” have to be able to tell them what they want to hear rather than reality so as to confirm their beliefs. And for catering to the RWNJs beliefs they get well paid for it.
11. Pascal's bookie 11

    19 January 2011 at 1:43 pm

    http://www.kxly.com/news/26530294/detail.html

    Device Found Along MLK Parade Route Credible Threat
    

    The Spokane office of the FBI confirmed late Tuesday morning that a suspicious package found along the route of the Unity Parade on Monday morning was a credible threat that had the potential to cause “multiple casualties.”

    On Tuesday morning the FBI released a statement confirming that following the successful disruption of the device by the Explosives Disposal Unit, “preliminary analysis revealed the backpack contained a potentially deadly destructive device, likely capable of inflicting multiple casualties.”

    Remember kids! It’s all fun and games till someone gets blood libeled.
    • Colonial Viper 11.1

      19 January 2011 at 1:48 pm

      An FBI task force considers it a big deal that “multiple casualties” might be caused by this explosive device.

      But selling high powered hand guns with extended 33 round clips which have exactly the same capability is a no brainer? I mean, the handguns take lives every day, when was the last time an IED in the US actually killed someone?

      Welcome to the USA.
    • Pascal's bookie 11.2

      19 January 2011 at 1:49 pm

      also, and too:

      http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41041710/ns/politics/

      I won’t open letter bombs for you. Obviously just some deranged clash fan upset about his job prospects, therefore, liberal.
      • The Voice of Reason 11.2.1

        19 January 2011 at 2:55 pm

        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIuS2LCWNh8&feature=BF&list=PLAB185F9BD3C76024&index=42

        It cuts off rather brutally, but there don’t seem to be many live versions of Career Opportunities on the web. Hopefully it’s instructional for younger readers. Can’t over emphasise what a stunning record the first album was both musically and politically and I echo whoever it was the other day that mentioned the Westway to the World doco as a good starting point to learn about The Only Band That Matters.

        RIP Strummer.
        • Pascal's bookie 11.2.1.1

          19 January 2011 at 3:33 pm

          “Can’t over emphasise what a stunning record the first album was…”

          Yep. had it on a while back and someone asked if was a ‘best of’ album…

          nope.
12. Jum 12

    19 January 2011 at 7:48 pm

    Captcha: files

    Some feedback please on the character of Tony Gibson, new CEO of Ports of Auckland.

    We know that JKeyll and Hide want to sell off Auckland Airport and the Ports of Auckland. Both estates have huge potential for making money for the people of New Zealand. Is Tony Gibson put in place to sell off the Ports?
    • Armchair Critic 12.1

      20 January 2011 at 10:40 pm

      Is Tony Gibson put in place to sell off the Ports?
      Short answer – yes.
      Tony is an ideologue, intelligent, convincing and very capable. There are very few people better suited to prepare POA for sale and to oversee the sale process.
      • Jum 12.1.1

        20 January 2011 at 11:10 pm

        Don’t hold back on the bad news, will ya!

        So who gets to sign on the dotted line that New Zealanders have lost one of their major moneymaking assets and will it be before the election this year?

        How much publicity will it get?
        • Armchair Critic 12.1.1.1

          21 January 2011 at 11:03 am

          We have a National government – expecting good news is unrealistic.
          At this stage I think POA won’t be sold until 2012, based on some new legislation – an amendment to the LGA that encourages council’s to divest assets. Meanwhile Tony Gibson will be working towards preparing POA for sale.
          Publicity? It’s not time yet, National can wait until after the 2011 election.
13. prism 13

    19 January 2011 at 10:55 pm

    Jum – I was interested too. Just did a quick look at google and came up with this. Gibson served as managing director of Maersk, New Zealand for three years.
    Further thumbnail sketch – http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10696337 Interesting about the connections between different businesses through one person.

    This is a few details I gathered after reading a newspaper report involving one person in NZ. The newspaper referredto independent director Keith Smith being involved with China entity, and then I saw his name connected with The Warehouse. Other google headings … He has been Independent Director of PGG Wrightson Ltd., since 2005. … He served as a Director of NZ Farming Systems Uruguay Limited until October 2010. … 9 Apr 2010 … Independent Director Keith Smith has been appointed Chairman of Goodman (NZ) Limited, the Manager of Goodman Property Trust.
    PGG Wrightson has today spelled out the process for a partial takeover offer signalled by Chinese agricultural company Agria. Agria owns 19.01 per cent of PGW and wants to move to 50.1 per cent. It has a pre-bid agreement with Pyne Gould Corp relating to its 18.3 per cent stake.
    PGG Wrightson (PGW) said today that the offer is likely to be sent on January 21. The offer will be to all shareholders on the register on January 17.
    PGW’s board has formed a response committee comprising independent directors Sir John Anderson, Keith Smith and Bill Thomas.

    Work has been done in the past on tracing the levels of separation with many of our NZ directors. Can be almost incestuous and much power to do big deals lies in the hands of these men. I wonder what vision and ideals are driving them?
14. Jum 14

    20 January 2011 at 10:15 pm

    Prism – Thanks for that. I’ll be watching him very carefully, given the changes to legislation which allows the cco/council to sell off the ports, etc come 2012 without the previous proviso of 75% agreement from Aucklanders(NZers?).

    I also had to avoid the same name different body problem as well. According to my small google search I also channelled Tony Gibson, engineer. I checked the faces and one was chubbier than the other but there were certainly similarities. Maybe they’ve been cloned… Just kidding… I think.
    • Armchair Critic 14.1

      21 January 2011 at 10:24 pm

      You may be able to draw some conclusions from this.

      Mr Gibson co-authored this report on road user charges. My thoughts on the report are documented elsewhere.

      Mr Gibson became chairman of a company that was the beneficiary of the recommended option in the report mentioned above, which he co-authored.

      The less cynical amongst us would put it down to coincidence, or serendipity.

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