Open mike 20/09/2023

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, September 20th, 2023 - 35 comments
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Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

35 comments on “Open mike 20/09/2023 ”

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  1. SPC 1
    20 September 2023 at 6:29 am

    Still in shock at hearing CIA asset, Doctor Alan Bonner, explain domestic Canadian politics and foreign policy, as per the assassination of a Sikh in Canada by the government of Bharat – on National Radio. Now channeling the world view of Leighton Smith (and other male journalists here from Oz).

    • SPC 1.1
      20 September 2023 at 6:54 am

      Allan Bonner. He’s now with The McKenzie Institute (McKenzie/Canadian for appeasement of the internationale – reminds one of FBI agents joining left wing groups).

      It’s a form of post modernism, sacrifice of national values in return for participation in the international community – being kind by appeasing the foreign party to keep the peace.

      The hive wanted appeasement of Russia to prevent a Russian China axis and appeasement of China to reduce risk of war (global division). The peace first approach to global co-operation.

      Bonner added do not upset India, because they are part of the QUAD. Canada relations with ASEAN, trade and containment of China.

    • SPC 1.2
      20 September 2023 at 2:45 pm

      The escalating row over the murder of a Sikh separatist leader has the potential to derail years of close relations between Canada and India, two key strategic partners on security and trade.

      https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-66851144

  2. SPC 2
    20 September 2023 at 6:39 am

    Google does not know who the 2023 campaign manager for the Labour Party is. It does for National.

  3. Mike the Lefty 3
    20 September 2023 at 8:12 am

    Thinking about last night's debate, two issues.

    Luxon now claims he misheard the question about whether free lunches should be in all secondary schools when he said yes. He now claims that what he really meant was that the existing targeted programme should be done a bit differently. Maybe he did not understand the question, but just maybe he received a phone call from a thoroughly pissed off David Seymour last night.

    And a sugar tax. Hipkins said no, but interesting Luxon didn't actually say no, he hinted that they would look at it.

    What I got from last night, and backed by many commentators, was that Luxon is trying to put a little space between National and his ACT adjutants, looking towards the centre rather than the right. Will be interesting to see how this develops.

    • Mike the Lefty 4.1
      20 September 2023 at 10:28 am

      That was all a bit funny, especially the old couple posing on a seat "listening" to Seymour. They might have been there quite a while, the old chap's head was looking quite pink. Rather obviously a staged photo. Those on super thinking of voting ACT should be reminded that the periodic inflation-based increases to their pensions will likely end if ACT have their way.

  6. Peter 6
    20 September 2023 at 9:30 am

    There’s something surreal about Seymour working his electorate, the dire streets of Remuera, helping the locals believe that NZ is on the bones of its whatever, the country is a wreck and consequently their lives are miserable, nowhere near what they should be.

    He as his motley minders will be pissed off there was no ram raid in the neighbour hood overnight.

  7. adam 7
    20 September 2023 at 10:16 am

    Why when two acts were passed, how is the hospital full of self euthanize propaganda. But not one piece of marketing for CBD/THC?

    Vote Maori Party to change that.

  8. weka 8
    20 September 2023 at 12:02 pm

    The Spinoff are running an all day political live stream. James Shaw up next. Full programme and youtube link here,

    https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/20-09-2023/live-the-spinoff-election-2023-megapod

  9. Peter 9
    20 September 2023 at 1:31 pm

    David Seymour is a cretin. Fortunately for him in furthering his insane educational nuttery the country is littered with many as cretinous as him who will support him.

    He intends to rank schools using standardised testing twice a year in all schools. In any age we want enlightenment. In any time we need it in education and learning.

    The irony is that those who will support his nonsense are the already braindead.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/election-2023-act-wants-to-cut-funding-for-poorly-performing-eces-rank-all-schools-using-standardised-tests/AMJZOAUXEJFRBIAQIFDDS2O5Y4/

  10. Roy Cartland 10
    20 September 2023 at 2:03 pm

    I can't paste links while using the cellphone, sorry mods!

    But on Stuff is an article about the Posie Parker juice thrower applying to have their charges dismissed. She cited the Stephen Joyce dildo thrower not being charged as a precedent. The judge so far disagreed with the comparison.

    I found the dildo funny and worthy. But I didn't find this juice incident either of those. It's that hypocritical? I feel not but can't quite articulate why – any ideas? Maybe because Joyce laughed about it himself?

    • observer 10.1
      20 September 2023 at 2:16 pm

      In my time, in both NZ and overseas, there have been stories about people protesting by throwing …

      Flour. Eggs. Milkshakes. Juice. Mud. And much more.

      All technically an assault, but none very serious and – let's be honest – our approval/disapproval is largely determined by the politics of the recipient.

      Lamingtons are fine.

      • weka 10.1.1
        20 September 2023 at 2:35 pm

        All technically an assault, but none very serious and – let's be honest – our approval/disapproval is largely determined by the politics of the recipient.

        Or the context. GC women had already been assaulted at LWS and similar public square events, so it's reasonable to say that throwing anything at someone carries both a higher degree of risk and a higher degree of intimidation.

        I found the dildo one funny too, agree that it's probably in part because of how Joyce handled it, but a very different situation. I also think it should be a one off not a precedent, because throwing sex toys carries more meaning than other objects.

        Lammingtons do seem fair game, but there's also a difference from throwing something at someone they can see coming and coming up behind someone and taking them by surprise, esp when there is already a high degree of fear and anxiety happening.

    • Sabine 10.2
      20 September 2023 at 10:11 pm

      Maybe it has to do with the fact that the liquid could have been anything, soup, acid, gasoline…who knows. While a dildo is a dildo, it would hurt if hit full frontal, but it will not leave one disfigured, blind etc.

      And for what its worth there are cops that have been assaulted with liquids in NZ too.

      Mostly, what NZ should be happy about is that no one got killed on March 25th, whilst the police stood by and did fuck all to prevent it from happening.

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

      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/arrest-after-boiling-water-thrown-in-dunedin-police-officers-face/UVZRYYTJNNAA2N2SZJTLIMOSOE/

  11. SPC 11
    20 September 2023 at 2:22 pm

    First blood Luxon: A battle fought in National's territory

    ANALYSIS: This opening head-to-head won't have changed many minds, but it did show Christopher Luxon as a credible would-be prime minister.

    My first thought was that this was written by an exile from Albanesia, probably here on an ASIO scholarship.

    Not a hard pick.

    Hipkins was certainly operating on Nastional Party territory – lack of questions over wages, working conditions and National being dependent of making savings to the cost of “government” … and the issue of National standing by its policies and not adopting those of ACT to afford its tax cuts …also not covered.

    Given ACT’s threat not to offer supply if they do not get what they want …

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/election-2023/498355/hipkins-vs-luxon-the-first-leaders-debate-by-the-numbers

  12. weka 12
    20 September 2023 at 2:36 pm

    Just uploaded this meme to TS for a post. If you have any other good ones, let me know.

  13. Anker 13
    20 September 2023 at 2:49 pm

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300974391/protesters-clash-with-police-after-court-appearance-of-posie-parker-juice-thrower

    so it is the trans rights activists trying to push through the police barricade (quite a significant number of cops thankfully) to get to the peaceful gender critical women engaging in a quiet rally.

  14. SPC 14
    20 September 2023 at 2:53 pm

    Voluntary reformulation is not working, but health officials and surprisingly the industry are working on a phased compulsory process by which sugar and salt content is reduced (and also portion sizes in the fast food area …).

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/off-the-shelf/story/2018907594/sugar-salt-and-portion-size-limits-pushed-by-health-officials

  15. Joe90 15
    20 September 2023 at 5:43 pm

    Poots returns to his bloody Cheka roots.

    @20committee

    "Imagine the head of German foreign intelligence unveiling a statue of Heinrich Himmler in front of BND headquarters, while citing the SS boss as a virtuous moral example to follow, and that’s where Putin’s Russia is today." https://topsecretumbra.substack.com/p/remembering-the-kgbs-murderous-history

    https://twitter.com/20committee/status/1703383811549991051

    A bronze statue of “Iron Felix” Dzerzhinsky, the ruthless founder of the Soviet secret police and architect of the Red Terror that followed the 1917 revolution, has been unveiled at the headquarters of Russia’s foreign spy service.

    Dzerzhinsky, a Polish noble turned revolutionary who helped lay the foundations of the repressive system over which Joseph Stalin was to preside, is reviled by dissidents but is a hero to the spies who rule in Vladimir Putin’s Russia.

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/11/monument-to-founder-of-soviet-secret-police-unveiled-in-moscow