Open mike 21/10/2023

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, October 21st, 2023 - 40 comments
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40 comments on “Open mike 21/10/2023 ”

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  1. Binders full of women 1
    21 October 2023 at 9:19 am

    I'd be okay if Chippy (he is the PM after all) or Grant rep us at the RWC final. Luxon not going. The best rep would be Louisa, the worst would be Mallard…but he'll be there.

    • Robin The Goodfellow 1.1
      21 October 2023 at 10:00 am

      Due to the timing of the event and with the election result still not finalized, the best option would be for a non-politician to represent us

      Sir John Key for example

    • Belladonna 1.2
      21 October 2023 at 12:11 pm

      Doesn't NZ have an ambassador in France – who can represent us? In fact, isn't that part of her job….

      https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-zealand-ambassador-france-announced

      Surely there is no need for politicians to fly across the world on the off-chance of a photo op. (no guarantee that the ABs will win – though we can hope). Climate change emergency, and all that….

      If Mallard is there, it can only be a personal trip – since the NZ Ambassador to Ireland has no official reason to be in Paris next weekend.

      Though why the Ambassador to Ireland would be a better choice to represent NZ than the Ambassador to France – is an open question.

      • alwyn 1.2.1
        21 October 2023 at 1:34 pm

        Why don't just stick with the people who are already providing such great representation at the event? Why should we have a politician present at an event that is not being held in New Zealand?

        The troika of Darren Shand, Ian Foster and Sam Cane can do anything required.

        If they need an assistant before the final match get Richie McCaw to do the job. He is the only man to twice captain the winning team and he's already over there.

    • observer 1.3
      21 October 2023 at 3:57 pm

      The caretaker PM should ask Winston Peters to attend on behalf of NZ. He’s a great statesman (according to his new friends) and a former Foreign Minister. Say publicly that he will do this after consulting with Luxon.

      Not because Winston deserves it, but just to make Luxon refuse (looks bad) or accept (looks bad).

  2. Ad 2
    21 October 2023 at 10:12 am

    That Georgia election interference case is really stacking up against Trump.

    16 of the 19 co-defendants have pleaded Not Guilty.

    3 have now pleaded Guilty: Cheseborough, Sidney Powell, and Scott Hall

    I'm betting a good 10 more will fold very close to trial.

    Looking forward to the action.

    • Peter 2.1
      21 October 2023 at 12:49 pm

      I recently listened again to the whole of the 'Find me 11,780 votes" tape. The most astounding thing about it is how extraordinary and astounding it is.

      The nuances between asking, pleading, suggesting, begging, requesting and appealing are all there. Much of it with the element of demanding.

      With the extremes and excesses of the former president nothing seems exceptional, the extremes are just 'business as normal.' It is astonishing.

      Imagine the same call being made to the Chief Electoral Officer by Winston Peters on realising the numbers weren't what he wanted.

  3. Ad 3
    21 October 2023 at 10:20 am

    Interesting take on Luxon as a Chief Restructuring Office and the degree to which he can or will cut into the number of public servants now employed.

    https://pointofordernz.wordpress.com/2023/10/20/philip-crump-new-zealand-appoints-its-chief-restructuring-officer/

    • Patricia Bremner 3.1
      21 October 2023 at 10:53 am

      I have observed that considered change to the Public Service, but there are also unintended consequences. Those council workers who fought three waters on behalf of the national govt elect, will soon find themselves out of work or with fewer hours as their councils struggle with indebtedness and an increasing demands for infrastructure. How are they going to raise the required money now? Ratepayers be aware. Austerity bites two ways and ripples out to communities. Fix the cost of living? Oh, only for a selected few. Example Waikato.

      • Belladonna 3.1.1
        21 October 2023 at 11:18 am

        Which 'council workers' do you mean, Patricia?

        Any local government employee is required to act under the direction of their CEO – who takes political direction from the mayor and council. They hardly "fought three waters on behalf of the national govt elect"

        I guess, they could have resigned on principle – though most people have mortgages to pay, and families to feed.

        • Patricia Bremner 3.1.1.1
          21 October 2023 at 12:20 pm

          See '70 roles to go' Waikato Times.

          • Belladonna 3.1.1.1.1
            21 October 2023 at 12:38 pm

            Assume you mean this article:

            https://www.waikatotimes.co.nz/a/nz-news/350095083/nearly-70-hamilton-city-council-jobs-set-go-christmas

            Fail to see what this has to do with ‘council workers’ fighting "three waters on behalf of the national govt elect"

            “The revelations come as the city council faces what’s been described as a short-term financial crisis and an operating deficit due to balloon from $17 million this year to $78 million in 2024-25.”

            All Councils are cutting costs (and jobs) – in the current economic climate of rampant inflation (over the last 2 years), and ongoing cost increases.

            AT has announced 150 job cuts – and Auckland Council 500 (though these may include the AT ones). Both of these were announced well before the election.

            And, none of these job cuts are in water infrastructure… as far as I can see.

    • Belladonna 3.2
      21 October 2023 at 11:10 am

      I think that the can/will aspect of the cuts will depend largely on the composition of the new government. But the public service bureaucracy has few friends in the National/ACT/NZF parties.

      Interesting that Peter Hughes has resigned – I'd missed that piece of news.

      floated the idea of following the Australian approach of the incoming government replacing several department heads in order that they may implement their reform agenda more effectively. It is a view that is known to hold some appeal amongst National’s current front bench.

      I would say it would also have appeal to the Left as well – there was much moaning about the effect that foot-dragging bureaucrats had on the ability of the last government to deliver their agenda.

      Note: I don't necessarily think it's a *good* approach, but rather one that is likely to appeal to many Ministers and potential Ministers.

      But there is certainly a perception that the 'Yes Minister' regime of senior civil servants – to outlast the government in power, and just run their own agenda – is alive and well.

      • alwyn 3.2.1
        21 October 2023 at 1:49 pm

        'Interesting that Peter Hughes has resigned – I'd missed that piece of news."

        It was a long time ago that he announced it so it would not be surprising that it has been forgotten. He informed the responsible Ministers on 4 July 2023 advising them of both the intent to retire and the date it would take effect.

        I don't know whether it was made public at the time but I believe it was known in the Public Service.

    • Jester 3.3
      21 October 2023 at 5:34 pm

      I don't think they will be able to cut the number of public servants that much, but may rely more on not replacing people as they leave. I think they will get bigger savings by cutting down on the use of the consultants ie. numerous employment consultancy firms and the four big accounting firms.

    • mikesh 3.4
      21 October 2023 at 6:43 pm

      In other words we seem to have elected an administrator when we really need a visionary.

      • Ad 3.4.1
        21 October 2023 at 8:39 pm

        One can only imagine what Labour would have got done if they'd had a few decent administrators to start with in 2017.

        • mikesh 3.4.1.1
          21 October 2023 at 11:53 pm

          With this lot coming in it looks like it will be "business as usual", no vision, no imagination.

          2017 is ancient history. In politics anyway.

  4. Rodel 4
    21 October 2023 at 1:25 pm

    Yes. -ir John Key. He could lurk in the showers waiting to retrieve the fallen soap.(Remember Tom Scott's classic cartoon featuring Richie McCaw and Johnkey?) But the handshake was even funnier.

  5. Ad 5
    21 October 2023 at 10:09 pm

    Normally one should be able to equate Donald Trump as being on the wane because of his all-out backing of Jim Jordan whose career just died.

    But in reality chaos is the singular brand of Republicanism now, not old-school small state conservativism.

    It's like every moment in Republican Washington has been scripted by Roger Stone beforehand.

    It is such a weird moment to watch a massive party fall apart.

    And I take no joy in it. Someone should do an American version of Wole Soyinka’s Season of Anomie on this.

    • fender 5.1
      22 October 2023 at 12:07 pm

      I think there's a great deal of joy in seeing the vile extremist agenda hit a brick wall. And while there's seldom anything for progressive voters to admire about traditional Republican representatives, I have a newfound respect for those who won't tolerate the Gym/Jim Jordon cancer that wants to destroy democracy on behalf of the orange turd.

      When those unwilling to vote for the insurrectionist wing of the GOP are receiving death threats for not supporting their chaos colleagues it's obvious the tactics of these wreckers needs to be repelled staunchly.

      • Ad 5.1.1
        22 October 2023 at 2:19 pm

        The extremist agenda is still really strong with Republican supporters and Trump is head and shoulders the preferred nominee.

        That's ten of millions of armed people who will be very angry once Trump is jailed or bankrupted or doesn't make it to President again.

        I foresee another Jan 6th insurrection unless state troopers and National Guard are better prepared on election day November 6th 2024.

        • fender 5.1.1.1
          22 October 2023 at 3:45 pm

          There will be anger, misguided as it is, but the overwhelming majority of US voters want democracy as per the Constitution.

          There are States looking to disqualify Trump from even being on the ballot due to him breeching the section 3 clause of the 14th Amendment that clearly states why he's ineligible.

          Homeland Security are awake to these homegrown terrorists and won't fall for their shit again. It's funny how after the outrage at the time, the Basket of Deplorables description was so very accurate, prophetic even.

          • Ad 5.1.1.1.1
            22 October 2023 at 4:09 pm

            7 in 10 Republican supporters want Trump to run again. That's up from 6 in 10 in June.

            It's good that his protesters aren't coming out in droves for his court cases.

            But I still believe the threat of targeted civil breakdown in the US is real. I don't believe it will be a full civil war.

            What what we don't yet know is this:

            How many right-of-center Americans believe violence will be necessary to repel a perceived racial or cultural threat?

            Do those who harbor that belief have genuine intent to take up arms?

            If so, what it would take to make them shoot?

            Particularly if Jim Jordan and Marjorie Taylor-Greene gain control over the Republican Party which I see now as very likely. We don't have to look back too far to see many armed whites lining the streets against Black Lives Matter protests.