The propaganda offensive against Edward Snowden moves into overdrive
How much does the NSA pay Simon Marks?
Monday 24 June 2013
Just after 9 a.m. yesterday I turned on my car radio to listen to the BBC World Service News. An angry, deadly serious American voice, evidently someone high up at the National Security Agency, was carefully laying down the media’s talking points for the next few days and weeks. “He has made things so much harder for the United States and our allies…. remember we are going after bad guys… we are going after terrorists…. we are going after bad guys…”
In a clip of not much more than ten seconds, he used the phrase “bad guys” twice, used the term “terrorists” once, and lamented the irresponsibility of this “whistle-blower” at least twice. Over the next few weeks, see how many times you hear any or all of these tropes being parroted by our loyal and obedient media, led, of course, by the impeccably on-message BBC.
Later in the day, on Radio NZ National’s Checkpoint, the go-to guy was not one of the many serious, well informed or principled analysts or journalists who have commented on this case but (surprise, surprise) another BBC drone—or at least a former BBC drone. If ever a vengeful regime wanted a megaphone with a built-in sneer to amplify its propaganda, Simon Marks is that megaphone.
He is billed on his ghastly website as an “independent reporter”, but his tone and style is BBC through and through. Marks asserts, with evident approval, that NSA head Gen. Keith Alexander harbours a “barely concealed disdain” for Edward Snowden. There is a clip of Alexander’s gruff voice: “He betrayed the trust and confidence we had in him. This was an individual with top secret clearance whose duty it was to administer these networks. He betrayed that confidence and stole some of our secrets.”
Marks seems to be amused by the fact that Snowden has had to take refuge in Russia—“albeit,” he chortles, “in more congenial circumstances than Mr Assange’s in the Ecuadorian embassy!” Then Marks assumes a serious air, and intones, with all the gravitas he can muster: “By running to Russia, Snowden has shown that he is willing to work with repressive governments when it suits him. For Checkpoint, I’m Simon Marks in Washington.”
Concomitant with his role as a an imitation BBC reporter, Simon Marks spends a lot of time writing puff pieces for the likes of Barack Obama, Vladimir Putin, Vaclav Havel and Margaret Thatcher… http://simonmarks.com/
Wonderful way to humanise folk we put on a pedestal: imagine showing them some of the people who ignorantly appropriate their works and then hearing them utter an astounded “but the guy’s an absolute dick!”
Notice how in the compliant media the entire focus is on Snowden, with a big fat zero on what he has actually revealed about how every person is under constant surveillance and recording.
…yes, because if what Mr Snowden told us was highlighted, people might work out that when the American government is working against the interests of their people, (spying in such a manner and to such an extent goes against some well-established rights, namely peoples’ liberty) then it can be clearly seen as entirely WRONG to accuse Mr Snowden as acting in a manner ‘against the government’ or more importantly ‘against the interests of the public’, (noting that ensuring that the interests of the people making up the society is well catered for is one of the main purposes of a government’s existence), therefore he cannot be accused of, let alone ‘done’ for, treason, sedition, espionage or any similar notion.
Um, are you sure? The coverage has been overwhelming about what he has revealed. But, obviously, the captivating story right now is his leaving HK and his asylum bid, so that’s what’s getting the headlines. However, to give one example, the Guardian headline is ‘US hunts for Snowden amid mystery over whereabouts’. But there are links to half a dozen other related stories right below it, including exposes of his revelations.
I have to admit to not being a great commenter on our mainstream media, due to having an aversion to watching and reading the diluted crap that we are dished out, however, in response to your query TRP:
Any ‘event’ is an opportunity to relay the issues at stake and the implications to us, the punters, and if every ‘event’ was used in this way, we would all be more informed.
Yesterday I looked on the internet to find out what was going on with Mr Snowden and I learned that many countries have snubbed American demands for Mr Snowden’s capture and have also asked America for details and reasons for why they are being spied on.
TV1 news, thankfully (for small mercies), did mention Mr Snowden’s travel from Hong Kong to Russia and how an Equadorian (I think it was) car indicating someone from high office was present at the airport. However, there was no mention of any details of the days goings on including the concern being expressed by other countries with regard to the illegal and uncivil spying that Mr Snowden has alerted us all to.
The opportunity to let us all know just what a load of crap it is that America could even begin calling the guy ‘traitorous’ has been lost to be replaced with the bare minimum physical travel details being reported.
Some may call this coverage ‘objective’ and others might consider it biassed in its omission and consider such as leading the general public to be left in the dark as to the real effects of Mr Snowden’s disclosures and left ignorant as to the real nature of a country spying on not only its own, yet also every other citizen of any other country’s private and economic affairs.
Personally I’d rather risk being killed by a ‘terrorist’ than live under the level of paranoia that the United States has historically proven itself to specialize in.
Excellent but scary article at http://www.democracynow.org – FBI’s Use of Drones for U.S. Surveillance Raises Fears over Privacy, Widening Corporate-Gov’t Ties – plus more up-to-date interviews on Snowden
Mining and burning coal is the highest emitter of carbon dioxide on the planet. If we don’t phase out all coal before 2030, says retired NASA scientist-turned climate activist Professor James Hansen, and begin significantly reducing all fossil fuel emissions, it’s game over for the climate. That’s game over for our children’s future.
CANA Coal Action Network
A growing protest movement is building against coal. As the Green Party prepares to go into a coalition government that will approve the biggest expansion in coal mining in this country’s history. This will inevitably lead to a clash with Green Party members and supporters.
If the Green Party can not get concessions over Denniston, (or deep sea oil). It would be better for the Green Party to only promise confidence and supply to Labour, which would leave their hands free to oppose coal mining and the other terrible for the environment practices that Labour is committed to. The alternative is to agree to have their hands tied by cabinet responsibility.
The Green Party must seriously question whether their drive for cabinet positions is worth it.
Maybe someone could tell me….
What on earth do the Green Party politicians hope to gain by gaining cabinet seats?
The Greens will be a minority in cabinet even if they get the full proportional number of seats they are seeking, (which Shearer is rejecting) they will still be out voted on every issue. But then will be tied to the majority decision to their cost.
A strong argument can be made that the Green Party will, and have, achieved more for the environment by being out of government, and staying in touch and working with their grass roots activists and lobbyists.
(Just witness the electric train service being built in Auckland)
Jenny, what are coalition agreements and how do they work in our parliament?
That’s the answer to your question right there.
Offerring C&S from ouside of a coalition isn’t a position of strength, it’s a free gift. That would be saying to a NZ First Labour govt, ‘Go right ahead and govern, we’ll back you up and you don’t need to agree to anything at all for us to back you as long as you let us say bad things every now and then, so as not to upset the symbolic purists in our support base’.
It’s a stupid game playing bunch of crap. I know you think that the Greens would be able to vote against everything they were not 100% behind, rejecting compromise to retain purity, but in practice, the major parties would react. And guess who would lose?
Parliament isn’t a theatre, although it has theatrical aspects. And it isn’t chess although you need to think strategically. The rules aren’t written in stone. There isn’t a script. People can change them, and they do change in response to tactics.
I’d predict that if a minor patry offered C&S in the way you suggest, and tried the strategy you suggest (sort of a one foot in one out, all take and no give) the major party would respond by making more votes matters of Confidence and daring the small party to bring down the government.
But if the Greens have a serious concern then the Govt would have to listen, for the simple reason is that National will probably vote against it as a matter of course, most of the time.
Yeah, but Bambam allows Henry Kissinger to remain unprosecuted…..then theres the criminals from the CIA who ran the “dirty wars” in central America…need I go on. Putin may be dirty, but nobody is clean…and our own Shonkstar plays patsy to whatever Washington says. Pukesom, a whole cadre of psychos.
But the idea that he would make Putin queezy [sic] is just laughable.
Really? Who has the higher body count? Who presides over an administration that is actively killing civilians in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen and Iraq? Who presides over a gulag extending from Cuba to Uzbekistan and beyond? Who backed Mubarak right until the very end of his dictatorship? Who heads a massive system of international kidnapping, torture and summary execution? Who could have stopped the Israeli massacres in Gaza, and demanded justice for the killing of nine peace activists on international waters in 2010 but instead chose to defiantly express support for the perpetrators? Who has done absolutely nothing to stop the illegal spread of settler-terrorists in the Occupied West Bank? Who is making moves to arm al Qaeda terrorists in Syria?
You are no doubt correct, Te Reo. I have been incensed, however, over the last week or so to hear media commentators portraying Obama as having to pinch his nose before dealing with this rebarbative, ruthless Russian.
It’s like the routine comment whenever a western leader goes to China: will he mention the human rights situation? The Chinese quite rightly have nothing but contempt for such talk, and no doubt so do the Russians.
Pity poor Vladimir
He has to consort with war criminals
When you are president of Russia, you are obliged to cozy up to some pretty repellent entities. Look at this photo carefully: the look on Putin’s face shows he does not necessarily find it easy wading through slime as a career….
That’s just nonsense. Putin wades through slime by choice. He ran the 2nd Chechen war, which he started on pretty dubious grounds, brutally. That’s all I’m saying, and it’s not a defence of Obama to say so.
Obama has the blood of Pakistani, Afghani, Iraqi, Yemeni and Palestinian citizens on his hands, not to mention the thousands of U.S. soldiers he has condemned to an early grave.
You’d have to be smoking drugs to compare Obama to Pete Seegar. What are you on—Blue
Mountain Hydroponic?
Climate Change “speech” coming up next, to be damned to the annals of oblivion; such a disappointment he must be to his mother…(have you read his biography?…oh, she was too into consciousness…).
At 7:17 yesterday morning, Pascal’s bookie wrote: “Obama (for all his faults, which are multitude) is Pete Seeger compared to Putin in the war crime stakes.”
What part of “Obama is Pete Seeger” do you not understand?
What part of “compared to Putin” do you not understand?
That’s wrong, of course. Putin is not as bad as Obama, no matter what index you use. You can, of course, as you have chosen to do, ignore the U.S. depradations in the middle east and Asia, ignore the U.S. gulag, ignore the U.S. war against democracy, ignore the U.S attempts to undermine and destroy Cuba and Ecuador and Bolivia and Venezuela, and you can ignore the U.S. support of Israel, Saudi Arabia and now, God save us all, al Qaeda.
If you choose to ignore all that, as you have done, then Putin is a monster, and Russia is the most dangerous country in the world, and those U.S. whistleblowers are really just “crooks”, as the U.S. and U.K. politicians keep telling us.
Stop lying about what I say. It’s not like people can’t see what I write, just because you choose to ignore it.
“Russia is the most dangerous country in the world, and those U.S. whistleblowers are really just “crooks”, as the U.S. and U.K. politicians keep telling us.”
Where did I suggest anything of the sort?
The only ignoring go on is by you.
You ignore what I say, and you claim that Poor Putin must feel awful about having to deal with Obama, ignoring Putin’s long blood soaked anti-democratic career. For shame Morrissey.
Your mate said Obama is worse than Putin in terms of war crimes. That comparison is simply ridiculous. Look up Putin’s war record (I suspect you both watch RT, you’ll have to look further afield than that).
Russian counter isnsurgency doctrine, as practiced by Putin in Chechnya, makes US COIN efforts (as bad as they are) look like a bunch of hippie bullshit.
Russian special forces would go into suburbs round up the elderly, and execute them. They’d wrap people in barbed wire and drag them behind their APC’s. There are many mass graves in and around Grozny that serve testament to this, and more.
Russian counter insurgency doctrine, as practiced by Putin in Chechnya, makes US COIN efforts (as bad as they are) look like a bunch of hippie bullshit.
That’s an even more inept and depraved simile than your Pete Seeger failure.
Are you seriously suggesting that Putin’s efforts in Chechnya were more humane than USian?
No, I am not. YOU are the one who is trying to claim, against all evidence, that Obama has some moral ascendancy over Putin. Your obscene invoking of Pete Seeger only makes you seem even more foolish and desperate, of course.
The record of the Chechen war compared to that of Obama. Obama’s record is awful, but if you are talking about war crimes, he has a long way to go before he matches Putin.
And if you weren’t claiming that Putin is more humane, then why did you suggest it would be so awful for him to consort with Obama. How does that make sense if you agree that his own record is worse?
Instead of explaining or justifying your logic, you get all upset about my metaphors. hmmm.
Lift your game Morrissey. Or bring one, or something.
And if you weren’t claiming that Putin is more humane, then why did you suggest it would be so awful for him to consort with Obama. How does that make sense if you agree that his own record is worse?
My post was a response to media “reports” over the last few days stating that Obama finds it distasteful to even talk to that Russian scoundrel. The implication, unchallenged by the stooges at the BBC, Radio New Zealand and most other outlets, was that the Americans have some kind of moral ascendancy over the Russians. They don’t.
Your attempt to show that Putin has a worse human rights record than Obama is not only dishonest, it’s depraved.
As an ex KGB Lt Colonel, Putin does have form on wading through slime (+ what PB said re: Chechnya).
However, Snowden would probably be best to just stay in Russia and go for citizenship; as Russian citizens can’t constitutionally be extradited. Though they can still be gunned down in the street, or fall down lift-shafts (not legally, but more frequently than I’d be comfortable with). I just hope the proposed run to Ecuador via Cuba is a ruse to throw the USA spooks off his trail.
“As an ex KGB Lt Colonel, Putin does have form on wading through slime (+ what PB said re: Chechnya)”
Not many leaders would be prepared to sacrifice what Putin did in Beslan and the cinema hostage crisis in Moscow either.
Russian citizenship might be the best option. Sadly, it’s not looking to promising for Snowden at the moment with Ecuador – something to do with U.S. trade deals being at risk, last I read. Hopefully he’ll find a safe haven and people will start talking about the crap Snowden uncovered, and what that represents, rather than false memes about who or what he might represent.
No doubt we will be hearing eulogies delivered by all sorts of people in the next few weeks – some even by people who didn’t appear to understand the significance of 1981 and can’t even remember what they were doing at the time.
I was marching, running, yelling and doing other stuff – generally trying to make life difficult for everyone not with us – including you David 🙂 I have to say I was pretty stuffed by the end (had a bit to carry) and pumped too – could have used a beer then.
When Nelson Mandela leaves us, I don’t think I will be able to handle the faux expressions of loss and grief coming out of the mouth of Key. That will be too much…
The lack of glasses is probably just vanity. But uniforms are highly symbolic, and I wonder what symbolism Alexander is intending to portray with those stars on his shoulders? I think U.S. Grant was the first four star general. Perhaps Alexander is telling us that he has a similar determination to Grant in his evangelical mission to save the union from its enemies, no matter if it means laying waste to anything (like democracy) that gets in his way?
I’m sure I’ve read somewhere but I would struggle to source it, that Grant used to go on monumental drunken benders from time to time, but he was so revered at the time that it was largely hushed up. Anybody got the inside story on Alexander – just in case history is repeating itself?
General Ulysses S Grant? Most of the histories on him will happily refer to his lifelong problem with alcohol. Most will happily describe him as a drunk in parts of his career. It seems that he drank to excess when he was bored.
Alexander was apparently a favourite of the Cheney/Wolfowitz crowd from the 1990’s on. A real old school, American exceptionalism days, political player. The piece I read described his purview as simply huge. Further, his operational area has the dirt on everyone – literally, everyone.
Dumb government. Benefit changes means nobody will lose the benefit income. Oh wait…
…no, now that sickness benefit has been rolled into the unemployment benefit, there is a new requirement that those on a benefit for a year reapply. Yes, you see if they are in a hospital bed, house bound, or for some other reason do cannot visit the benefit office, and their sickness certificate stipulates their illness is ongoing, then the dumb government can ignore reason and demand people attend and hold up the basic income support until they do.
aerobubble
No no the government is making it easy and efficient to communicate with them. So the bene will be able to call them from their hospital bed and put their fingerprints on a special pad, or probably look closely into their camera function and send their iris to the terminal for the department. Talking about terminal….
When I was on a benefit for a while I had to call from the phone at my seasonal job workplace in the country (and lucky there was one there – before cell phones), to report in, and was criticised because I was supposed to report in person.
The endless debilitating controls of a government reluctant to provide a sensible, positive social system enabling people to be mostly self-supporting and ensuring that opportunity to all, and reluctant further, to manage the country in a way that produces a healthy, vital economy and producing the best results possible to all people.
As well as taking a well-aimed and well-deserved swipe at the MSM, the ever-articulate and thoughtful Tom Frewen highlighted the dilemma John Key kinds himself in with the GSCB legislation . . .
. . . And this is no ordinary bill. It has the prime minister’s name on it. The GCSB is his responsibility. So far, his performance as its minister has been appalling. A spy agency’s worst nightmare is public exposure. Key has not only exposed the previously-obscure agency to public gaze but, with this legislation, has opened it to an unprecedented degree of examination and loss of public confidence . . .
Needless to say, this situation is one John Key has made all by himself because of his inveterate mendacity . . .
Matthew 5:14 etc;
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
As lights of the world, they are illustrious and conspicuous and have many eyes upon them. Some admire them, commend them, rejoice in them and study to imitate them; others envy them, hate them, censure them and study to blast them.
The gospel is so strong a light, and carries with it so much of it’s own evidence, that like a city on a hill, it cannot be hid, it cannot but appear to be from God. It will give light to all that are in the house, to all who will draw near to it, and come where it is.
The knowledge must be communicated for the good of others, not put under a bushel, but spread.
The disciples of Christ must not muffle themselves up in privacy and obscurity, under pretence of contemplation, modesty or self-preservation.
We must do good works that they may be seen to the edification of others.
That those who see your good works may be brought, not to glorify you, but to glorify God.
There is winning virtue in godly conversation.
18:2 A fool finds no pleasure in understanding
:4 The words of a person’s mouth are deep waters, but the foundation of wisdom is a bubbly brook, benath the Pons asinorum
Dominiom Post, Headline : Traffic Chaos may go on all week- cos’ The Road goes on Forever and the party never ends. 😎
Had John Boscawen been a Labour speech writer then this is what David Shearer would have said in response to Winston Peter’s untrue, ignorant opportunistic attack on Chinese people in NZ.
“Winston Peters is trying to drive a wedge between the Chinese community and the rest of New Zealand in a sad attempt to engender support for his party, LABOUR Party Leader David Shearer says.
“In a speech today, Winston made a number of assertions aimed at establishing a false picture that Chinese immigrants take more from New Zealand than they contribute. This is far from the truth,” Mr Shearer says
Chinese families who immigrate here are hard-working people who move to make a better life for themselves and their children. In the process, many start their own businesses, employ staff, pay taxes, invest heavily in education and contribute to the growth of New Zealand’s economy, the LABOUR Leader says.
“Every year, thousands of Chinese students arrive on our shores to pay top dollar to gain qualifications from our universities. The universities benefit from increased revenue, and the students’ time here, immersed in our culture, serves to strengthen economic ties between China and New Zealand.
“China is New Zealand’s second biggest trading partner. In 2011, bilateral trade between our two nations amounted to $12.7 billion and this will continue to grow.
“Tourism is one of our most significant export industries. Why shouldn’t the Government do all it can to attract wealthy Chinese visitors to our country to spend their tourist dollar? Australians don’t even need a visa to visit New Zealand, so the idea that some Chinese visitors getting ‘fast-tracked’ visas amounts to special treatment is laughable.
“Winston also claimed that non-resident Chinese buyers are one of the major drivers behind the Auckland housing affordability crisis. This is unfounded. The latest BNZ-REINZ survey shows that Chinese buyers represent a mere 1.3 per cent of the market. We don’t hear Winston complaining about the British who buy more homes than the Chinese do.
“The LABOUR Party rejects Winston’s claims that Chinese are somehow ripping New Zealanders off. Chinese migration and trade is of significant benefit to the New Zealand economy and, unlike NZ First, the LABOUR Party welcomes their contribution,” Mr Shearer says.”
Yeah, the Labour leader really should use the ACT president, and sole remaining paid up party member, as a speechwriter. Still. Boscowen did a wonderful job promoting lamingtons, so there maybe something in it.
[lprent: Two week ban. You know the rules. Don’t insinuate facts directly or indirectly about authors unless you are able to put up incontrovertible legal level proof. Now this isn’t an easy standard to meet as it requires that you either get an ‘out’ admission from the author themselves or have some kind of backend access to The Standard. The latter isn’t going to happen, and in the case of James neither has the former.
Which of course is why Cameron Slater (aka “PornDream”) is simply a liar in his many confident lies about our authors.
Damn I was really tempted to make that run until after my vacation to reduce moderation effort… But I resisted. ]
Another ‘profound’ comment from King Kong.
Domitian finalized the conquest of Britain, strengthened the Rhine / Danube frontier, suppressed immorality, as well as freedom of thought in philosophy and religion.
[lprent: If you can’t read the about then you really are kind of illiterate. Of course I could *educate* you, but just at present I’m more likely to ban you for diversion trolling and wasting my time. Perhaps you should use your post-anal scratch finger and a dictionary and try to figure it out word by word without my help….
Moving this thread to OpenMike as being off topic for the post. ]
You can also put ‘pseudonym’ or ‘pseudonymous’ into the search box at the top of the page, for some interesting reading on the use of pseudonyms on ts.
I don’t think we ever had an anonymous author. One of the admins always knew who they were. We had to because otherwise they couldn’t have gotten a login. Similarly the guest posts require that one of the admins puts it up.
The nearest we ever get to it are the pieces that are posted in Notices and Features. Where possible we try to put in a definitive link. However when some of the images turn up in the email or on facebook or twitter…
Hamilton City Councillor Dave MacPherson giving his considered opinion, explaining why Hamilton City Council voted, in the interests of public health, to remove fluoride from drinking water supplies.
For exposure of the corporate 1%, in whose interests the Auckland region is being run, don’t bother reading ‘The Daily Blog’ (from which Martyn Bradbury has me banned) – try this?
Press Release from Auckland Mayoral Candidate Penny Bright:
“Open the doors! Open the (submission) books! Stop this ‘democracy for developers’!”
______________________________________________________________________________
“Auckland Mayor Len Brown is facing more grief over the Unitary Plan process with one councillor vowing to boycott secret meetings and local boards demanding access to public submissions.
Chris Fletcher said the process was appalling and was boycotting secret workshops – starting with one tomorrow on height limits – until she received full disclosure of the 22,700 public submissions on the controversial plan.
This followed revelations in the Herald that last week’s first workshop on height limits and volcanic viewshafts contained feedback from the Property Council, Fletcher Development and Tramlease, but no counter view from the Volcanic Cones Society or community groups. …
Mr Brown has refused to release background papers used by the political working party to develop rules for heritage and the mixed housing and terrace housing and apartment zones. Chief executive Doug McKay has instructed lawyer Wendy Brandon to keep the work on heritage rules hidden. ….”
______________________________________________________________________________
“It is an absolute disgrace in a so-called ‘democracy’, that the Auckland region is effectively being run by an unholy alliance of big business and property developers – the Committee for Auckland and the NZ Property Council, and those who serve their interests, ” says Auckland Mayoral candidate, Penny Bright.
In 2013 we will be an influential voice for all of Auckland, creating cross-sectoral solutions to the city’s issues and
Focusing on a future beyond the electoral cycle helping New Zealand’s only world-ranked city to achieve its potential for the region and the country
The Committee for Auckland (CFA) has played a prominent role in galvanising positive change for our city. Our members are all specialists in the city’s issues and fervent advocates for its success. Having contributed significantly to the new shape of Auckland as one city, 2013 is the platform for a re-focused Committee to drive the agenda for Auckland as a world leading destination as well as the welcoming gateway to New Zealand.”
Membership of the Committee for Auckland:
http://www.committeeforauckland.co.nz/membership
“Membership to the Committee for Auckland is by invitation. Members meet quarterly and are invited to be involved in those aspects of the work programme that interest them.
Members are Chairs of Boards, Directors and Chief Executives
Corporate Membership annual fee $10,000. ……”
“It is interesting to note how members of this VERY powerful private lobby group are intertwined with Auckland Council and Auckland Council ‘Council Controlled Organisations’ (CCOs),” states Bright.
The current list of members of the Committee for Auckland:
“The way to stop arguably corrupt practices is through transparency,” says Bright.
“Where is the transparency, when elected Councillors have not yet ‘received full disclosure of the 22,700 public submissions on the controversial (Draft Unitary) plan’, and secret meetings are being held behind closed doors, from which the public are excluded?”
“Why are the Auckland Council CEO, Doug McKay, and General Counsel for Auckland Council, Wendy Brandon, the Mayor and apparently some Councillors, continuing to violate this fundamental principle of the Local Government Act 2002?
(1)In performing its role, a local authority must act in accordance with the following principles:
(a)a local authority should—
(i)conduct its business in an open, transparent, and democratically accountable manner; ..”
______________________________________________________________________________
“As an Auckland Mayoral candidate, with a proven track record in fighting for ‘open, transparent and democratically-accountable’ local (and central) government, I call for:
FULL disclosure of the 22,700 public submissions on the Auckland Draft Unitary Plan to be made available to both Auckland Council elected representatives and the public.
For ALL ‘workshops’ on the Auckland Draft Unitary Plan to be open to ALL elected representatives and the public, who wish to attend.
Open the doors! Open the (submission) books!
Stop this ‘democracy for developers!'”
(More evidence linking Auckland Council with the Committee for Auckland can be found in the following High Court document:
The prime minister’s entertaining adventures in social media continue.
At 10.30 this morning he posted – or, rather, the staffer who runs his Twitter account did; I’m not even sure if he personally knows he has a Twitter account – this inquiry to the online masses:
This is why I think economic growth is important. What do you think?
The Unguarded Moment.
Instruction 1: Patience is enjoyed upon the believers. 16:127
Patience is made a condition of success and prosperity. 3:200
The reward of those who exercise patience is doubled. 28:54
Good question, postie. For starters, it may mean the arrangement for UF to be in Government might have to be rewritten to take into account Dunne’s new status. Assuming Dunne wants to continue the arrangement, that is. As a lowly backbench MP with no extra salary and perks, he may feel the arrangement no longer delivers in the way it did in the past.
Im thinking that Key will promise Dunne a lucrative deal The alternative is Dunne leaves parliament, .then a bye election that the Nat’s may well lose, Interesting time.
The Knighthood?
Another non-compete in Ohariu?
Nomination to international institutions?
A friendly law firm to offer a consultancy?
A guest lectureship at a School of Journalism?
Has anyone else noticed the change in tone/style in the PM recently. He is becoming quite nasty in his old age. The smiling assassin is feeling a little isolated and hitting out and getting quite aggressive. He is aiming directly at Shearer (who may be an easy target) and is becoming more obviously just another politician – not the image of the clean-new-broom that was heralded on his taking up the leadership. His delivery in The House today certainly was “Muldoonesque”. What say John Armstrong now …?
I noted it on the TV news this evening. Small black eyes unblinking… devoid of character/emotion… the eyes of a mercenary which is exactly what he is in a political sense.
So Berlusconi got a nominal seven years – but he won’t be detained while he appeals, and if his appeals fail he’ll probably pull the “too old for prison, like health n stuff” card.
‘And to fight for the Labour Party is to fight to lose. There will be no end to austerity if Ed Miliband is elected, as he chose to make clear himself in a speech elsewhere over the weekend. The struggle we face now has little or nothing to do with party politics and everything to do with class war – and the modern Labour Party is on the wrong side.’
TRP reassured me recently that the NZ Labour Party is the political party of the working class. That’s why he continues to support them. How can I doubt him? He knows what he is talking about. Right?
100% correct, CV. Thanks for showing such faith in me ;). It’s based on the fact that most working class people identify with Labour, though MMP has deluted that somewhat with other options. I’m rather hoping the 2 by-elections will prove the point.
Re: Edward Snowden “It was his fearlessness that tore off Washington’s sanctimonious mask”.
I sense some East-West tension haha.
“In a sense, the United States has gone from a ‘model of human rights’ to ‘an eavesdropper on personal privacy’, the ‘manipulator’ of the centralised power over the international internet, and the mad ‘invader’ of other countries’ networks,” the People’s Daily said.
The White House said allowing Snowden to leave was “a deliberate choice by the government to release a fugitive despite a valid arrest warrant, and that decision unquestionably has a negative impact on the US-China relationship”.
The People’s Daily, which reflects the thinking of the government, said China could not accept “this kind of dissatisfaction and opposition”.
“The world will remember Edward Snowden,” the newspaper said. “It was his fearlessness that tore off Washington’s sanctimonious mask”.
Q:
Anybody else following Oliver Stone’s “Untold History of the U.S.”? Opinions?
I’ve never really given the guy much credence since he ‘sexed up’ the ending of Midnight Express and I seem to have missed a huge part of the series but it looks interesting.
he’s too left wing and bolshie for the mallard-robertson-goff nexus
they prefer to muddle along, and retain the patronage of wealthy sponsors like Owen Glenn
Tomorrow afternoon, if things go really really badly, I may find myself down to one eye. People who used to sneer at me on Twitter will no doubt say So what's changed? Nothing, that's what, you one-eyed lefty.I don’t mean to be dramatic, it’s just a routine bit of cataract ...
A few weeks ago an invitation dropped into my email inbox to attend a joint Treasury/Motu seminar on recent, rather major, changes that had apparently been made to the discount rates used by The Treasury to evaluate proposals from government agencies. It was all news to me, but when ...
All your life is Time magazineI read it tooWhat does it mean?PressureI'm sure you'll have some cosmic rationaleBut here you are with your faithAnd your Peter Pan adviceYou have no scars on your faceAnd you cannot handle pressureSongwriter: Billy Joel.Christopher Luxon is under pressure from all sides. The reviews are ...
After seeing yet-more-months of political debate and policy decisions to ‘go for growth’ by pulling the same old cheap migration and cheap tourism levers without nearly-enough infrastructure, or any attempt to address the same old lack of globally conventional tax incentives for investment, I thought it would be worth issuing ...
The plans for the buildings that will replace the downtown carpark have been publicly notified giving us the first detailed glance at what is proposed for one of the biggest and best development sites in the city centre. The council agreed to sell the site to Precinct Properties for $122 ...
With the Reserve Bank expected today to return the Official Cash Rate to where it was in mid-2022 comes a measure of how much of a psychological impact the rate has. Federated Farmers has published its latest six-monthly farm confidence survey, which shows that profit expectations have fallen and risen ...
Kiwis Disallowed From Waiting Lists Based on Arbitrary MeasuresWellington hospital are now rejecting patients from specialist waiting lists due to BMI (body mass index).This article from Rachel Thomas for The Post says it all (emphasis mine):A group of Porirua GPs are sounding alarm bells after patients with body mass indexes ...
The Prime Minister says he's really comfortable with us not knowing the reoffending rate for his boot camp programme.They asked him for it at yesterday’s press conference, and he said, nah, not telling, have to respect people's privacy.Okay I'll bite. Let's say they release this information to us:The rate of ...
Warning 1: There is a Nazi theme at the end of this article related to the disabled community. Warning 2: This article could be boring!One day, last year, I excitedly opened up a Substack post that was about how to fight back, and the answer at the end was disappointing ...
This may be rhetorical but here goes: did any of you invest in the $Libra memecoin endorsed and backed by Argentine president and darling of the global Right Javier Milei (who admitted to being paid a fee for his promotion of the token)? You know, the one that soared above ...
Last week various of the great and good of New Zealand economics and public policy trooped off to Hamilton (of all places) for the annual Waikato Economics Forum, one of the successful marketing drives of university’s Vice-Chancellor. My interest was in the speeches delivered by the Minister of Finance and ...
The Prime Minister says the Government would be open to sending peacekeepers to Ukraine if a ceasefire was reached. The government has announced a $30 million spend on tourism infrastructure and biodiversity projects, including $11m spent to improve popular visitor sites and further $19m towards biodiversity efforts. A New Zealand-born ...
This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler “But what about when the sun doesn't shine?!” Ah yes, the energy debate’s equivalent of “The Earth is flat!” Every time someone mentions solar or wind power, some self-proclaimed energy expert emerges from the woodwork to drop this supposedly devastating truth bomb: ...
This post by Nicolas Reid was originally published on Linked in. It is republished here with permission.In this article I look into data on how well the rail network serve New Zealanders, and how many people might be able to travel by train… if we ran more than a ...
Hi,Before we get into Hayden Donnell’s new column about how yes, Donald Trump is definitely the Antichrist, I wanted to touch on something feral that happened in New Zealand last week.Members of Destiny Church pushed and punched their way into an Auckland library, apparently angry it was part of Pride ...
Despite delays, logjams and overcrowding in our emergency departments, funding constraints are limiting the numbers of nurses and doctors being trained. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Tuesday, February 18 are:A NZ Herald investigation ...
Now that the US has ripped up the Atlantic alliance, Europe is more vulnerable now than at any time since the mid-1930s. Apparently, Europe and Ukraine itself will not have a seat at the table in the talks between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin that will ...
Olivia and Noah and Hana are going to the library!It is fun to go to the library. It has books and songs and mat time and people who smile at you and say, Hello Olivia, what have you been doing this morning?The library is more fun than the mall. At ...
New World Orders: The challenge facing Christopher Luxon and Chris Hipkins is how to keep their small and vulnerable nation safe and stable in a world whose economic and political climate the forty-seventh American president is changing so profoundly.IT IS, SURELY, the ultimate Millennial revenge fantasy. Calling senior Baby-Boomer and Gen-X ...
“This might surprise you, Laurie, but I reckon Trump’s putting on a bloody impressive performance.”“GOODNESS ME, HANNAH, just look at all those Valentine’s Day cards!”“Occupational hazard, Laurie, the more beer I serve, the more my customers declare their undying love!”“Crikey! I had no idea business was so good.” Laurie squinted ...
In 2005, Labour repealed the long-standing principle of birthright citizenship in Aotearoa. Why? As with everything else Labour does, it all came down to austerity: "foreign mothers" were supposedly "coming to this country to give birth", and this was "put[ting] pressure on hospitals". Then-Immigration Minister George Hawkins explicitly gave this ...
And I just hope that you can forgive usBut everything must goAnd if you need an explanation, nationThen everything must goSongwriters: James Dean Bradfield / Sean Anthony Moore / Nicholas Allen Jones.Today, I’d like to talk about a couple of things that happened over the weekend:Brian Tamaki’s Library Invasion and ...
New reporting highlights how Brooke van Velden refuses to meet with the CTU but is happy to meet with fringe Australian-based unions. Van Velden is pursuing reckless changes to undermine the personal grievance system against the advice of her own officials. Engineering New Zealand are saying that hundreds of engineers ...
The NZCTU strongly supports the Employment Relations (Employee Remuneration Disclosure) Amendment Bill. This Bill represents a positive step towards addressing serious issues around unlawful disparities in pay by protecting workers’ rights to discuss their pay and conditions. This Bill also provides welcome support for helping tackle the prevalent gender and ...
Years of hard work finally paid off last week as the country’s biggest and most important transport project, the City Rail Link reached a major milestone with the first test train making its way slowly though the tunnels for the first time. This is a fantastic achievement and it is ...
Engineers are pleading for the Government to free up funds to restart stalled projects. File Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Monday, February 17 are:Engineering New Zealand CEO Richard Templer said yesterday hundreds of ...
It’s one of New Zealand’s great sustaining myths: the spirit of ANZAC, our mates across the ditch, the spirit of Earl’s Court, Antipodeans united against the world. It is also a myth; it is not reality. That much was clear from a series of speakers, including a former Australian Prime ...
Many people have been unsatisfied for years that things have not improved for them, some as individuals, many more however because their families are clearly putting in more work, for less money – and certainly far less purchase on society. This general discontent has grown exponentially since the GFC. ...
A listing of 34 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, February 9, 2025 thru Sat, February 15, 2025. This week's roundup is again published soleley by category. We are still interested in feedback to hone the categorization, so if ...
The Salvation Army’s State of the Nation report shows worsening food poverty and housing shortages mean more than 400,000 people now need welfare support, the highest level since the 1990s. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate and ...
You're just too too obscure for meOh you don't really get through to meAnd there's no need for you to talk that wayIs there any less pessimistic things to say?Songwriters: Graeme DownesToday, I thought we’d take a look at some of the most cringe-inducing moments from last week, but don’t ...
Please note: I’ve delayed my “What can we do?” article for this video.The video above shows Destiny Church members assaulting staff and librarians as they pushed through to a room of terrified parents and young children.It was posted to social media last night.But if you read Sinead Boucher’s Stuff, you ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is sea level rise exaggerated? Sea levels are rising at an accelerating rate, not stagnating or decreasing. Warming global temperatures cause land ice ...
Here is a scenario, but first a historical parallel. Hitler and the Nazis could well have accomplished everything that they wanted to do within German borders, including exterminating Jews, so long as they confined their ambitious to Germany itself. After all, the world pretty much sat and watched as the ...
I’ve spent the last couple of days in Hamilton covering Waikato University’s annual NZ Economics Forum, where (arguably) three of the most influential people in our political economy right now laid out their thinking in major speeches about the size and role of Government, their views on for spending, tax ...
Simeon Brown’s Ideology BentSimeon Brown once told Kiwis he tries to represent his deep sense of faith by interacting “with integrity”.“It’s important that there’s Christians in Parliament…and from my perspective, it’s great to be a Christian in Parliament and to bring that perspective to [laws, conversations and policies].”And with ...
Severe geological and financial earthquakes are inevitable. We just don’t know how soon and how they will play out. Are we putting the right effort into preparing for them?Every decade or so the international economy has a major financial crisis. We cannot predict exactly when or exactly how it will ...
Questions1. How did Old Mate Grabaseat describe his soon-to-be-Deputy-PM’s letter to police advocating for Philip Polkinghorne?a.Ill-advisedb.A perfect letterc.A letter that will live in infamyd.He had me at hello2. What did Seymour say in response?a.What’s ill-advised is commenting when you don’t know all the facts and ...
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff has called on OJI Fibre Solutions to work with the government, unions, and the community before closing the Kinleith Paper Mill. “OJI has today announced 230 job losses in what will be a devastating blow for the community. OJI needs to work with ...
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff is sounding the alarm about the latest attack on workers from Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden, who is ignoring her own officials to pursue reckless changes that would completely undermine the personal grievance system. “Brooke van Velden’s changes will ...
Hi,When I started writing Webworm in 2020, I wrote a lot about the conspiracy theories that were suddenly invading our Twitter timelines and Facebook feeds. Four years ago a reader, John, left this feedback under one of my essays:It’s a never ending labyrinth of lunacy which, as you have pointed ...
And if you said this life ain't good enoughI would give my world to lift you upI could change my life to better suit your moodBecause you're so smoothAnd it's just like the ocean under the moonOh, it's the same as the emotion that I get from youYou got the ...
Aotearoa remains the minority’s birthright, New Zealand the majority’s possession. WAITANGI DAY commentary see-saws manically between the warmly positive and the coldly negative. Many New Zealanders consider this a good thing. They point to the unexamined patriotism of July Fourth and Bastille Day celebrations, and applaud the fact that the ...
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the week’s news with regular and special guests, including: and on the week in geopolitics, including the latest from Donald Trump’s administration over Gaza and Ukraine; on the ...
Up until now, the prevailing coalition view of public servants was that there were simply too many of them. But yesterday the new Public Service Commissioner, handpicked by the Luxon Government, said it was not so much numbers but what they did and the value they produced that mattered. Sir ...
Photo by Mauricio Fanfa on UnsplashKia oraCome and join us for our weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news with myself , plus regular guests and ...
In a moment we explore the question: What is Andrew Bayly wanting to tell ACC, and will it involve enjoying a small wine tasting and then telling someone to fuck off? But first, for context, a broader one: What do we look for in a government?Imagine for a moment, you ...
As expected, Donald Trump just threw Ukraine under the bus, demanding that it accept Russia's illegal theft of land, while ruling out any future membership of NATO. Its a colossal betrayal, which effectively legitimises Russia's invasion, while laying the groundwork for the next one. But Trump is apparently fine with ...
A ballot for a single member's bill was held today, and the following bill was drawn: Employment Relations (Collective Agreements in Triangular Relationships) Amendment Bill (Adrian Rurawhe) The bill would extend union rights to employees in triangular relationships, where they are (nominally) employed by one party, but ...
This is a guest post by George Weeks, reviewing a book called ‘How to Fly a Horse’ by Kevin AshtonBook review: ‘How to Fly a Horse’ by Kevin Ashton (2015) – and what it means for Auckland. The title of this article might unnerve any Greater Auckland ...
This story was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. Within just a week, the sheer devastation of the Los Angeles wildfires has pushed to the fore fundamental questions about the impact of the climate crisis that have been ...
In this world, it's just usYou know it's not the same as it wasSongwriters: Harry Edward Styles / Thomas Edward Percy Hull / Tyler Sam JohnsonYesterday, I received a lovely message from Caty, a reader of Nick’s Kōrero, that got me thinking. So I thought I’d share it with you, ...
In past times a person was considered “unserious” or “not a serious” person if they failed to grasp, behave and speak according to the solemnity of the context in which they were located. For example a serious person does not audibly pass gas at Church, or yell “gun” at a ...
Long stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, February 13 are:The coalition Government’s early 2024 ‘fiscal emergency’ freeze on funding, planning and building houses, schools, local roads and hospitals helped extend and deepen the economic and jobs recession through calendar ...
For obvious reasons, people feel uneasy when the right to be a citizen is sold off to wealthy foreigners. Even selling the right to residency seems a bit dubious, when so many migrants who are not millionaires get turned away or are made to jump through innumerable hoops – simply ...
A new season of White Lotus is nearly upon us: more murder mystery, more sumptuous surroundings, more rich people behaving badly.Once more we get to identify with the experience of the pampered tourist or perhaps the poorly paid help; there's something in White Lotus for all New Zealanders.And unlike the ...
In 2016, Aotearoa shockingly plunged to fourth place in the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index. Nine years later, and we're back there again: New Zealand has seen a further slip in its global ranking in the latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). [...] In the latest CPI New Zealand's score ...
1. You’ve started ranking your politicians on how much they respect the rule of law2. You’ve stopped paying attention to those news publications3. You’ve developed a sudden interest in a particular period of history4. More and more people are sounding like your racist, conspiracist uncle.5. Someone just pulled a Nazi ...
Transforming New Zealand: Brian EastonBrian Easton will discuss the above topic at 2/57 Willis Street, Wellington at 5:30pm on Tuesday 26 February at 2/57 Willis Street, WellingtonThe sub-title to the above is "Why is the Left failing?" Brian Easton's analysis is based on his view that while the ...
Salvation Army’s State of the Nation 2025 report highlights falling living standards, the highest unemployment rates since the 1990s and half of all Pacific children going without food. There are reports of hundreds if not thousands of people are applying for the same jobs in the wake of last year’s ...
Mountain Tui is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Correction: On the article The Condundrum of David Seymour, Luke Malpass conducted joint reviews with Bryce Wilkinson, the architect of the Regulatory Standards Bill - not Bryce Edwards. The article ...
Tomorrow the council’s Transport, Resilience and Infrastructure Committee meet and agenda has a few interesting papers. Council’s Letter of Expectation to Auckland Transport Every year the council provide a Letter of Expectation to Auckland Transport which is part of the process for informing AT of the council’s priorities and ...
All around in my home townThey're trying to track me down, yeahThey say they want to bring me in guiltyFor the killing of a deputyFor the life of a deputySongwriter: Robert Nesta Marley.Support Nick’s Kōrero today with a 20% discount on a paid subscription to receive all my newsletters directly ...
Hi,I think all of us have probably experienced the power of music — that strange, transformative thing that gets under our skin and helps us experience this whole life thing with some kind of sanity.Listening and experiencing music has always been such a huge part of my life, and has ...
Business frustration over the stalled economy is growing, and only 34% of voters are confidentNicola Willis can deliver. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, February 12 are:Business frustration is growing about a ...
I have now lived long enough to see a cabinet minister go both barrels on their Prime Minister and not get sacked.It used to be that the PM would have a drawer full of resignations signed by ministers on the day of their appointment, ready for such an occasion. But ...
“The ACT Party can’t be bothered putting an MP on one of the Justice subcommittees hearing submissions on their own Treaty Principles Bill,” Labour Justice Spokesperson Duncan Webb said. ...
The Government’s newly announced funding for biodiversity and tourism of $30-million over three years is a small fraction of what is required for conservation in this country. ...
The Government's sudden cancellation of the tertiary education funding increase is a reckless move that risks widespread job losses and service reductions across New Zealand's universities. ...
National’s cuts to disability support funding and freezing of new residential placements has resulted in significant mental health decline for intellectually disabled people. ...
The hundreds of jobs lost needlessly as a result of the Kinleith Mill paper production closure will have a devastating impact on the Tokoroa community - something that could have easily been avoided. ...
Today Te Pāti Māori MP for Te Tai Tokerau, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, released her members bill that will see the return of tamariki and mokopuna Māori from state care back to te iwi Māori. This bill will establish an independent authority that asserts and protects the rights promised in He Whakaputanga ...
The Whangarei District Council being forced to fluoridate their local water supply is facing a despotic Soviet-era disgrace. This is not a matter of being pro-fluoride or anti-fluoride. It is a matter of what New Zealanders see and value as democracy in our country. Individual democratically elected Councillors are not ...
Nicola Willis’ latest supermarket announcement is painfully weak with no new ideas, no real plan, and no relief for Kiwis struggling with rising grocery costs. ...
Half of Pacific children sometimes going without food is just one of many heartbreaking lowlights in the Salvation Army’s annual State of the Nation report. ...
The Salvation Army’s State of the Nation report is a bleak indictment on the failure of Government to take steps to end poverty, with those on benefits, including their children, hit hardest. ...
New Zealand First has today introduced a Member’s Bill which would restore decision-making power to local communities regarding the fluoridation of drinking water. The ‘Fluoridation (Referendum) Legislation Bill’ seeks to repeal the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Act 2021 that granted centralised authority to the Direct General of Health ...
New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill aimed at preventing banks from refusing their services to businesses because of the current “Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Framework”. “This Bill ensures fairness and prevents ESG standards from perpetuating woke ideology in the banking sector being driven by unelected, globalist, climate ...
Erica Stanford has reached peak shortsightedness if today’s announcement is anything to go by, picking apart immigration settings piece by piece to the detriment of the New Zealand economy. ...
Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. The intention was to establish a colony with the cession of sovereignty to the Crown, ...
Te Whatu Ora Chief Executive Margie Apa leaving her job four months early is another symptom of this government’s failure to deliver healthcare for New Zealanders. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Prime Minister to show leadership and be unequivocal about Aotearoa New Zealand’s opposition to a proposal by the US President to remove Palestinians from Gaza. ...
The latest unemployment figures reveal that job losses are hitting Māori and Pacific people especially hard, with Māori unemployment reaching a staggering 9.7% for the December 2024 quarter and Pasifika unemployment reaching 10.5%. ...
Waitangi 2025: Waitangi Day must be community and not politically driven - Shane Jones Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. ...
Despite being confronted every day with people in genuine need being stopped from accessing emergency housing – National still won’t commit to building more public houses. ...
The Green Party says the Government is giving up on growing the country’s public housing stock, despite overwhelming evidence that we need more affordable houses to solve the housing crisis. ...
Before any thoughts of the New Year and what lies ahead could even be contemplated, New Zealand reeled with the tragedy of Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming losing her life. For over 38 years she had faithfully served as a front-line Police officer. Working alongside her was Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson will return to politics at Waitangi on Monday the 3rd of February where she will hold a stand up with fellow co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. ...
Te Pāti Māori is appalled by the government's blatant mishandling of the school lunch programme. David Seymour’s ‘cost-saving’ measures have left tamariki across Aotearoa with unidentifiable meals, causing distress and outrage among parents and communities alike. “What’s the difference between providing inedible food, and providing no food at all?” Said ...
The Government is doubling down on outdated and volatile fossil fuels, showing how shortsighted and destructive their policies are for working New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s commitment to get New Zealand’s roads back on track is delivering strong results, with around 98 per cent of potholes on state highways repaired within 24 hours of identification every month since targets were introduced, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is ...
The former Cadbury factory will be the site of the Inpatient Building for the new Dunedin Hospital and Health Minister Simeon Brown says actions have been taken to get the cost overruns under control. “Today I am giving the people of Dunedin certainty that we will build the new Dunedin ...
From today, Plunket in Whāngarei will be offering childhood immunisations – the first of up to 27 sites nationwide, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. The investment of $1 million into the pilot, announced in October 2024, was made possible due to the Government’s record $16.68 billion investment in health. It ...
New Zealand’s strong commitment to the rights of disabled people has continued with the response to an important United Nations report, Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston has announced. Of the 63 concluding observations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), 47 will be progressed ...
Firstly I want to thank OceanaGold for hosting our event today. Your operation at Waihi is impressive. I want to acknowledge local MP Scott Simpson, local government dignitaries, community stakeholders and all of you who have gathered here today. It’s a privilege to welcome you to the launch of the ...
Resources Minister Shane Jones has launched New Zealand’s national Minerals Strategy and Critical Minerals List, documents that lay a strategic and enduring path for the mineral sector, with the aim of doubling exports to $3 billion by 2035. Mr Jones released the documents, which present the Coalition Government’s transformative vision ...
Racing Minister, Winston Peters has announced the Government is preparing public consultation on GST policy proposals which would make the New Zealand racing industry more competitive. “The racing industry makes an important economic contribution. New Zealand thoroughbreds are in demand overseas as racehorses and for breeding. The domestic thoroughbred industry ...
Business confidence remains very high and shows the economy is on track to improve, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says. “The latest ANZ Business Outlook survey, released yesterday, shows business confidence and expected own activity are ‘still both very high’.” The survey reports business confidence fell eight points to +54 ...
Enabling works have begun this week on an expanded radiology unit at Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital which will double CT scanning capacity in Hawke’s Bay to ensure more locals can benefit from access to timely, quality healthcare, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. This investment of $29.3m in the ...
The Government has today announced New Zealand’s second international climate target under the Paris Agreement, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand will reduce emissions by 51 to 55 per cent compared to 2005 levels, by 2035. “We have worked hard to set a target that is both ambitious ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Korolev, Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, UNSW Sydney The United States and Russia agreed to work on a plan to end the war in Ukraine at high-level talks in Saudi Arabia this week. Ukrainian and European representatives were pointedly ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Karleen Gribble, Adjunct Professor, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University BaLL LunLa/Shutterstock Sleep is the holy grail for new parents. So no wonder many tired parents are looking for something to help their babies sleep. A TikTok trend claims ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ranjana Gupta, Senior Lecturer, Accounting Department, Auckland University of Technology Jirsak/Shutterstock The profit made on every breakfast bowl of weet-bix is tax exempt, giving Sanitarium Health Food Company, owned by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, an advantage over other breakfast food companies. ...
A closer look at some of the homegrown talent currently commanding television screens around the globe. The new season of The White Lotus hit our screens this week, and with it a familiar face in New Zealand actor Morgana O’Reilly. To secure a role in one of the world’s most ...
"This is a crisis of the Government’s own making and the unit is another sign of desperation," said PSA acting national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Francesca Perugia, Senior Lecturer, School of Design and the Built Environment, Curtin University Australia’s housing crisis has created a push for fast-tracked construction. Federal, state and territory governments have set a target of 1.2 million new homes over five years. Increasing housing ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ash Watson, Scientia Fellow and Senior Lecturer, UNSW Sydney Shutterstock When we’re uncomfortable we say the “vibe is off”. When we’re having a good time we’re “vibing”. To assess the mood we do a “vibe check”. And when the atmosphere in ...
What’s up with the man from Epsom? The leader of the Act Party has been in plenty of headlines in the last two weeks, ranging from a controversial letter to police on behalf of constituent Philip Polkinghorne (written before David Seymour was a minister) to an attempt to drive ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elise Stephenson, Deputy Director, Global Institute for Women’s Leadership, Australian National University Newly published research has found clear evidence that openly lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex, and queer+ (LGBTIQ+) Australian politicians were disproportionately targeted with personal abuse on social media at the ...
Gilmore Girls, Schitt’s Creek, even The Vampire Diaries – they’re all set in tight-knit neighbourhoods where everyone knows everyone. So what is it like to actually know your neighbours? My favourite television shows are set in tight-knit neighbourhoods where everyone knows everyone. Characters attend town meetings where they debate local ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yanyan Hong, PhD Candidate in Communication and Media Studies, University of Adelaide IMDB On the surface, Ne Zha 2: The Sea’s Fury (2025), the sequel to the 2019 Chinese blockbuster Nezha: Birth of the Demon Child, is a high-octane, action-packed and ...
Wellington travellers say their buses are so hot they’re often forced to get off early and walk. Shanti Mathias explores the impact of non-functioning air conditioning on public transport. When Bella, a young professional living in Wellington, thinks about taking the bus, her first thought is “Ugh”. The bus might ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Annette Kroen, Research Fellow Planning and Transport, RMIT University The cleanup is underway in northern Queensland following the latest flooding catastrophe to hit the state. More than 7,000 insurance claims have already been lodged, most of them for inundated homes and other ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Subha Parida, Lecturer in Property, University of South Australia Carl Oberg/Shutterstock Houses and fire do not mix. The firestorm which hit Los Angeles in January destroyed nearly 2,000 buildings and forced 130,000 people to evacuate. The 2019–20 Australian megafires destroyed ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Bowman, Professor of Pyrogeography and Fire Science, University of Tasmania Tasmania has been burning for more than two weeks, with no end in sight. Almost 100,000 hectares of bushland in the northwest has burned to date. This includes the Tarkine rainforest ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Martin Loosemore, Professor of Construction Management, University of Technology Sydney This week, the Productivity Commission released its much-awaited report into productivity growth in Australia’s housing construction sector. It wasn’t a glowing appraisal. The commission found physical productivity – the total number ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Pascale Lubbe, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Molecular Ecology, University of Otago Royal spoonbills are among several new species that have crossed the Tasman and naturalised in New Zealand. JJ Harrison/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA When people arrived on the shores of Aotearoa ...
Stats NZ’s head is stepping down over the agency’s failure to safeguard census data, and more officials may soon be in the firing line, writes Catherine McGregor in today’s extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. An ‘absolutely unacceptable’ failure Stats NZ chief ...
Health NZ is under greater government scrutiny, with the new health minister setting up a unit he says will "drive greater accountability and performance". ...
Manurewa Marae acknowledges should have done better at handling completed census forms, following an inquiry into steps government agencies took to protect data. ...
Police failed to protect people from protesters at a high-profile rally and made unlawful arrests at another, the Independent Police Conduct Authority says. ...
Comment: Crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are making it easier for people to invest in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum without having to handle digital wallets or private keys. These allow investors to buy and sell cryptocurrency through their regular brokerage accounts.This has opened the door for billions of dollars ...
Two long-awaited reports into alleged personal data misuse, centred on census collection and Covid-19 vaccination efforts at Manurewa Marae, were released yesterday. Here’s what you need to know.“Very sobering reading” was how public service commissioner Sir Brian Roche described his organisation’s long-awaited report into the alleged misuse of census ...
Backbench MPs reached new levels of patsy questions in an extraordinarily dull question time on Tuesday. Echo Chamber is The Spinoff’s dispatch from the press gallery, recapping sessions in the House. Columns are written by politics reporter Lyric Waiwiri-Smith and Wellington editor Joel MacManus. “MPs ask questions to explore key issues ...
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The propaganda offensive against Edward Snowden moves into overdrive
How much does the NSA pay Simon Marks?
Monday 24 June 2013
Just after 9 a.m. yesterday I turned on my car radio to listen to the BBC World Service News. An angry, deadly serious American voice, evidently someone high up at the National Security Agency, was carefully laying down the media’s talking points for the next few days and weeks. “He has made things so much harder for the United States and our allies…. remember we are going after bad guys… we are going after terrorists…. we are going after bad guys…”
In a clip of not much more than ten seconds, he used the phrase “bad guys” twice, used the term “terrorists” once, and lamented the irresponsibility of this “whistle-blower” at least twice. Over the next few weeks, see how many times you hear any or all of these tropes being parroted by our loyal and obedient media, led, of course, by the impeccably on-message BBC.
Later in the day, on Radio NZ National’s Checkpoint, the go-to guy was not one of the many serious, well informed or principled analysts or journalists who have commented on this case but (surprise, surprise) another BBC drone—or at least a former BBC drone. If ever a vengeful regime wanted a megaphone with a built-in sneer to amplify its propaganda, Simon Marks is that megaphone.
He is billed on his ghastly website as an “independent reporter”, but his tone and style is BBC through and through. Marks asserts, with evident approval, that NSA head Gen. Keith Alexander harbours a “barely concealed disdain” for Edward Snowden. There is a clip of Alexander’s gruff voice: “He betrayed the trust and confidence we had in him. This was an individual with top secret clearance whose duty it was to administer these networks. He betrayed that confidence and stole some of our secrets.”
Marks seems to be amused by the fact that Snowden has had to take refuge in Russia—“albeit,” he chortles, “in more congenial circumstances than Mr Assange’s in the Ecuadorian embassy!” Then Marks assumes a serious air, and intones, with all the gravitas he can muster: “By running to Russia, Snowden has shown that he is willing to work with repressive governments when it suits him. For Checkpoint, I’m Simon Marks in Washington.”
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Concomitant with his role as a an imitation BBC reporter, Simon Marks spends a lot of time writing puff pieces for the likes of Barack Obama, Vladimir Putin, Vaclav Havel and Margaret Thatcher…
http://simonmarks.com/
Edward (Goldstein) Snowden
I’m not sure I should ask, but Edward Snowden’s full name, as a comment on it’s own, (if that’s what it is) is important because… ?
I think Jenny means he looks a bit like the guy in the ASB ads. The actor who played Goldstein also appeared in The Sopranos.
ahh – I can’t see the resemblance, but there you go – each to their own.
Tall, geeky, bespectacled. Like you, I think the resemblance ends there, but I am sure Jenny can explain a little more fully.
An overwrought 1984 reference surely?
I thought he looks more like a young Daniel Vetorri myself and then slightly.
Cue (or queue) cricket puns….
I’ll be the judge of that
Fairly sure Eric Blair would think you’re a dick tbh.
lol
Wonderful way to humanise folk we put on a pedestal: imagine showing them some of the people who ignorantly appropriate their works and then hearing them utter an astounded “but the guy’s an absolute dick!”
spotted; not all reptiles are chameleons.
Notice how in the compliant media the entire focus is on Snowden, with a big fat zero on what he has actually revealed about how every person is under constant surveillance and recording.
…yes, because if what Mr Snowden told us was highlighted, people might work out that when the American government is working against the interests of their people, (spying in such a manner and to such an extent goes against some well-established rights, namely peoples’ liberty) then it can be clearly seen as entirely WRONG to accuse Mr Snowden as acting in a manner ‘against the government’ or more importantly ‘against the interests of the public’, (noting that ensuring that the interests of the people making up the society is well catered for is one of the main purposes of a government’s existence), therefore he cannot be accused of, let alone ‘done’ for, treason, sedition, espionage or any similar notion.
Um, are you sure? The coverage has been overwhelming about what he has revealed. But, obviously, the captivating story right now is his leaving HK and his asylum bid, so that’s what’s getting the headlines. However, to give one example, the Guardian headline is ‘US hunts for Snowden amid mystery over whereabouts’. But there are links to half a dozen other related stories right below it, including exposes of his revelations.
I have to admit to not being a great commenter on our mainstream media, due to having an aversion to watching and reading the diluted crap that we are dished out, however, in response to your query TRP:
Any ‘event’ is an opportunity to relay the issues at stake and the implications to us, the punters, and if every ‘event’ was used in this way, we would all be more informed.
Yesterday I looked on the internet to find out what was going on with Mr Snowden and I learned that many countries have snubbed American demands for Mr Snowden’s capture and have also asked America for details and reasons for why they are being spied on.
TV1 news, thankfully (for small mercies), did mention Mr Snowden’s travel from Hong Kong to Russia and how an Equadorian (I think it was) car indicating someone from high office was present at the airport. However, there was no mention of any details of the days goings on including the concern being expressed by other countries with regard to the illegal and uncivil spying that Mr Snowden has alerted us all to.
The opportunity to let us all know just what a load of crap it is that America could even begin calling the guy ‘traitorous’ has been lost to be replaced with the bare minimum physical travel details being reported.
Some may call this coverage ‘objective’ and others might consider it biassed in its omission and consider such as leading the general public to be left in the dark as to the real effects of Mr Snowden’s disclosures and left ignorant as to the real nature of a country spying on not only its own, yet also every other citizen of any other country’s private and economic affairs.
Personally I’d rather risk being killed by a ‘terrorist’ than live under the level of paranoia that the United States has historically proven itself to specialize in.
I certainly hope so Rosy but I’m hoping it’s not something nasty. Perhaps I’m over sensitive . But I don’t like it .
Alexander is pissed; all that ‘subterfuge’ down the drain.
Excellent but scary article at http://www.democracynow.org – FBI’s Use of Drones for U.S. Surveillance Raises Fears over Privacy, Widening Corporate-Gov’t Ties – plus more up-to-date interviews on Snowden
The campaign against coal.
http://coalactionnetworkaotearoa.wordpress.com/
A growing protest movement is building against coal. As the Green Party prepares to go into a coalition government that will approve the biggest expansion in coal mining in this country’s history. This will inevitably lead to a clash with Green Party members and supporters.
If the Green Party can not get concessions over Denniston, (or deep sea oil). It would be better for the Green Party to only promise confidence and supply to Labour, which would leave their hands free to oppose coal mining and the other terrible for the environment practices that Labour is committed to. The alternative is to agree to have their hands tied by cabinet responsibility.
The Green Party must seriously question whether their drive for cabinet positions is worth it.
Maybe someone could tell me….
What on earth do the Green Party politicians hope to gain by gaining cabinet seats?
The Greens will be a minority in cabinet even if they get the full proportional number of seats they are seeking, (which Shearer is rejecting) they will still be out voted on every issue. But then will be tied to the majority decision to their cost.
A strong argument can be made that the Green Party will, and have, achieved more for the environment by being out of government, and staying in touch and working with their grass roots activists and lobbyists.
(Just witness the electric train service being built in Auckland)
Jenny, what are coalition agreements and how do they work in our parliament?
That’s the answer to your question right there.
Offerring C&S from ouside of a coalition isn’t a position of strength, it’s a free gift. That would be saying to a NZ First Labour govt, ‘Go right ahead and govern, we’ll back you up and you don’t need to agree to anything at all for us to back you as long as you let us say bad things every now and then, so as not to upset the symbolic purists in our support base’.
It’s a stupid game playing bunch of crap. I know you think that the Greens would be able to vote against everything they were not 100% behind, rejecting compromise to retain purity, but in practice, the major parties would react. And guess who would lose?
Parliament isn’t a theatre, although it has theatrical aspects. And it isn’t chess although you need to think strategically. The rules aren’t written in stone. There isn’t a script. People can change them, and they do change in response to tactics.
I’d predict that if a minor patry offered C&S in the way you suggest, and tried the strategy you suggest (sort of a one foot in one out, all take and no give) the major party would respond by making more votes matters of Confidence and daring the small party to bring down the government.
But if the Greens have a serious concern then the Govt would have to listen, for the simple reason is that National will probably vote against it as a matter of course, most of the time.
Pity poor Vladimir
He has to consort with war criminals
When you are president of Russia, you are obliged to cozy up to some pretty repellent entities. Look at this photo carefully: the look on Putin’s face shows he does not necessarily find it easy wading through slime as a career….
http://rt.com/files/politics/obama-putin-russia-us-g20-mcfaul-reset-496/obama-putin-president.si.jpg
Read up on Putin’s war in Chechnya and how it was prosecuted.
Obama (for all his faults, which are multitude) is Pete Seeger compared to Putin in the war crime stakes.
Yeah, but Bambam allows Henry Kissinger to remain unprosecuted…..then theres the criminals from the CIA who ran the “dirty wars” in central America…need I go on. Putin may be dirty, but nobody is clean…and our own Shonkstar plays patsy to whatever Washington says. Pukesom, a whole cadre of psychos.
for all his faults, which are multitude
Yeah, it’s a long list. But the idea that he would make Putin queezy is just laughable.
But the idea that he would make Putin queezy [sic] is just laughable.
Really? Who has the higher body count? Who presides over an administration that is actively killing civilians in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen and Iraq? Who presides over a gulag extending from Cuba to Uzbekistan and beyond? Who backed Mubarak right until the very end of his dictatorship? Who heads a massive system of international kidnapping, torture and summary execution? Who could have stopped the Israeli massacres in Gaza, and demanded justice for the killing of nine peace activists on international waters in 2010 but instead chose to defiantly express support for the perpetrators? Who has done absolutely nothing to stop the illegal spread of settler-terrorists in the Occupied West Bank? Who is making moves to arm al Qaeda terrorists in Syria?
Clue: the answer is not “Vladimir Putin.”
Who flattened Grozny?
Seriously, read up on the 2nd Chechen war. Putin makes Obama look like a pussy cat.
I’m not defending Putin, you fool. I’m trying to find out why YOU are defending Obama, who is far more blood-drenched than Putin.
I don’t think its a competition, Moz, but I suspect Putin has been quite literally blood drenched in his previous career.
You are no doubt correct, Te Reo. I have been incensed, however, over the last week or so to hear media commentators portraying Obama as having to pinch his nose before dealing with this rebarbative, ruthless Russian.
It’s like the routine comment whenever a western leader goes to China: will he mention the human rights situation? The Chinese quite rightly have nothing but contempt for such talk, and no doubt so do the Russians.
Here’s what you said:
That’s just nonsense. Putin wades through slime by choice. He ran the 2nd Chechen war, which he started on pretty dubious grounds, brutally. That’s all I’m saying, and it’s not a defence of Obama to say so.
Obama has the blood of Pakistani, Afghani, Iraqi, Yemeni and Palestinian citizens on his hands, not to mention the thousands of U.S. soldiers he has condemned to an early grave.
You’d have to be smoking drugs to compare Obama to Pete Seegar. What are you on—Blue
Mountain Hydroponic?
Climate Change “speech” coming up next, to be damned to the annals of oblivion; such a disappointment he must be to his mother…(have you read his biography?…oh, she was too into consciousness…).
“You’d have to be smoking drugs to compare Obama to Pete Seegar”
You’d have to be on mushrooms to think anyone did.
At 7:17 yesterday morning, Pascal’s bookie wrote: “Obama (for all his faults, which are multitude) is Pete Seeger compared to Putin in the war crime stakes.”
What part of “Obama is Pete Seeger” do you not understand?
What part of “compared to Putin” do you not understand?
What part of “compared to Putin” do you not understand?
That’s wrong, of course. Putin is not as bad as Obama, no matter what index you use. You can, of course, as you have chosen to do, ignore the U.S. depradations in the middle east and Asia, ignore the U.S. gulag, ignore the U.S. war against democracy, ignore the U.S attempts to undermine and destroy Cuba and Ecuador and Bolivia and Venezuela, and you can ignore the U.S. support of Israel, Saudi Arabia and now, God save us all, al Qaeda.
If you choose to ignore all that, as you have done, then Putin is a monster, and Russia is the most dangerous country in the world, and those U.S. whistleblowers are really just “crooks”, as the U.S. and U.K. politicians keep telling us.
I haven’t ignored that:
“(for all his faults, which are multitude)”
“Yeah, it’s a long list”
“makes US COIN efforts (as bad as they are)”
Stop lying about what I say. It’s not like people can’t see what I write, just because you choose to ignore it.
“Russia is the most dangerous country in the world, and those U.S. whistleblowers are really just “crooks”, as the U.S. and U.K. politicians keep telling us.”
Where did I suggest anything of the sort?
The only ignoring go on is by you.
You ignore what I say, and you claim that Poor Putin must feel awful about having to deal with Obama, ignoring Putin’s long blood soaked anti-democratic career. For shame Morrissey.
See my reply posted at 7:12 a.m. (below).
Doesn’t address your lies about what I have supposedly ignored.
Pathetic stuff Morrissey.
Prof Longhair, re-read what I said.
Your mate said Obama is worse than Putin in terms of war crimes. That comparison is simply ridiculous. Look up Putin’s war record (I suspect you both watch RT, you’ll have to look further afield than that).
Russian counter isnsurgency doctrine, as practiced by Putin in Chechnya, makes US COIN efforts (as bad as they are) look like a bunch of hippie bullshit.
Russian special forces would go into suburbs round up the elderly, and execute them. They’d wrap people in barbed wire and drag them behind their APC’s. There are many mass graves in and around Grozny that serve testament to this, and more.
Russian counter insurgency doctrine, as practiced by Putin in Chechnya, makes US COIN efforts (as bad as they are) look like a bunch of hippie bullshit.
That’s an even more inept and depraved simile than your Pete Seeger failure.
Explain why. Make an actual argument, just once. Show me you know something, anything at all, about how Russia prosecutes war.
Are you seriously suggesting that Putin’s efforts in Chechnya were more humane than USian?
Are you seriously suggesting that Putin’s efforts in Chechnya were more humane than USian?
No, I am not. YOU are the one who is trying to claim, against all evidence, that Obama has some moral ascendancy over Putin. Your obscene invoking of Pete Seeger only makes you seem even more foolish and desperate, of course.
Evidence?
The record of the Chechen war compared to that of Obama. Obama’s record is awful, but if you are talking about war crimes, he has a long way to go before he matches Putin.
And if you weren’t claiming that Putin is more humane, then why did you suggest it would be so awful for him to consort with Obama. How does that make sense if you agree that his own record is worse?
Instead of explaining or justifying your logic, you get all upset about my metaphors. hmmm.
Lift your game Morrissey. Or bring one, or something.
And if you weren’t claiming that Putin is more humane, then why did you suggest it would be so awful for him to consort with Obama. How does that make sense if you agree that his own record is worse?
My post was a response to media “reports” over the last few days stating that Obama finds it distasteful to even talk to that Russian scoundrel. The implication, unchallenged by the stooges at the BBC, Radio New Zealand and most other outlets, was that the Americans have some kind of moral ascendancy over the Russians. They don’t.
Your attempt to show that Putin has a worse human rights record than Obama is not only dishonest, it’s depraved.
But your response was just as dishonest as the “reports” you didn’t link to.
(EDIT: Just to be clear, I think you are also lying about what these media “reports”, “state”. )
So is it your position that Putin’s record is better than Obama’s? You seem to bounce around on that.
Putin’s looking like that because he just found out Russia got out-spied by the U.S. It’s a dirty, dirty game they play.
Edit: I also heard on the news the U.S. warning Russia about helping Snowden… something about breaking trust between the two nations. I lolz’d.
As an ex KGB Lt Colonel, Putin does have form on wading through slime (+ what PB said re: Chechnya).
However, Snowden would probably be best to just stay in Russia and go for citizenship; as Russian citizens can’t constitutionally be extradited. Though they can still be gunned down in the street, or fall down lift-shafts (not legally, but more frequently than I’d be comfortable with). I just hope the proposed run to Ecuador via Cuba is a ruse to throw the USA spooks off his trail.
“As an ex KGB Lt Colonel, Putin does have form on wading through slime (+ what PB said re: Chechnya)”
Not many leaders would be prepared to sacrifice what Putin did in Beslan and the cinema hostage crisis in Moscow either.
Russian citizenship might be the best option. Sadly, it’s not looking to promising for Snowden at the moment with Ecuador – something to do with U.S. trade deals being at risk, last I read. Hopefully he’ll find a safe haven and people will start talking about the crap Snowden uncovered, and what that represents, rather than false memes about who or what he might represent.
No doubt we will be hearing eulogies delivered by all sorts of people in the next few weeks – some even by people who didn’t appear to understand the significance of 1981 and can’t even remember what they were doing at the time.
I do, it hurt…lots.
Yeah – especially when my sister made me laugh after the last test and I found out how bloody awkward stitches in my batoned lip were going to be.
I was working delivering booze for Super liquor man, and I had to get back to the Basin from Island Bay. I had a very, very, slow drive back.
I was marching, running, yelling and doing other stuff – generally trying to make life difficult for everyone not with us – including you David 🙂 I have to say I was pretty stuffed by the end (had a bit to carry) and pumped too – could have used a beer then.
Would you believe my wife and my first dates were on Springbok protests?
Rumour has it that a certain PM is beginning to wish that he had been part of the demos as well.
When Nelson Mandela leaves us, I don’t think I will be able to handle the faux expressions of loss and grief coming out of the mouth of Key. That will be too much…
Geez, I have nothing but contempt for that man.
A curious but perhaps insightful detail – here is a glasses wearing Gen. Keith Alexander from back in the day in fairly normal three star general uniform – http://www.thenewnewinternet.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/nsa_director_keith_alexander.jpg
And here he is now, promoted to head the NSA and sans spectacles and with his four stars arranged on his shoulders like he is expecting to be assigned to the Union’s Army of the Potomac any day now – http://a.abcnews.go.com/images/Politics/abc_keith_alexander_this_week_jt_130623_wg.jpg
The lack of glasses is probably just vanity. But uniforms are highly symbolic, and I wonder what symbolism Alexander is intending to portray with those stars on his shoulders? I think U.S. Grant was the first four star general. Perhaps Alexander is telling us that he has a similar determination to Grant in his evangelical mission to save the union from its enemies, no matter if it means laying waste to anything (like democracy) that gets in his way?
Ah, yes .. but were they Google Glasses with NSA certified apps .. ?
Yeah, I did a bit of double take when I first saw it but I think they have gone back
to a feature of the Union officer military uniform from the American Civil War ..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USGrant%26family.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d7/John_Alexander_McClernand.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army#Uniforms
.. very apt given Obama as president, although I have seen no public announcement to that effect.
I’m sure I’ve read somewhere but I would struggle to source it, that Grant used to go on monumental drunken benders from time to time, but he was so revered at the time that it was largely hushed up. Anybody got the inside story on Alexander – just in case history is repeating itself?
General Ulysses S Grant? Most of the histories on him will happily refer to his lifelong problem with alcohol. Most will happily describe him as a drunk in parts of his career. It seems that he drank to excess when he was bored.
Alexander was apparently a favourite of the Cheney/Wolfowitz crowd from the 1990’s on. A real old school, American exceptionalism days, political player. The piece I read described his purview as simply huge. Further, his operational area has the dirt on everyone – literally, everyone.
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2013/06/general-keith-alexander-cyberwar/all/
If you are living in or around Napier, be very afraid.
“The Kiwi nation is embracing the oil rush ..”
http://www.angelnexus.com/o/web/47449
I reckon Aaron Gilmore and his mates have a few shares in this play.
PETROSTATES
Dumb government. Benefit changes means nobody will lose the benefit income. Oh wait…
…no, now that sickness benefit has been rolled into the unemployment benefit, there is a new requirement that those on a benefit for a year reapply. Yes, you see if they are in a hospital bed, house bound, or for some other reason do cannot visit the benefit office, and their sickness certificate stipulates their illness is ongoing, then the dumb government can ignore reason and demand people attend and hold up the basic income support until they do.
aerobubble
No no the government is making it easy and efficient to communicate with them. So the bene will be able to call them from their hospital bed and put their fingerprints on a special pad, or probably look closely into their camera function and send their iris to the terminal for the department. Talking about terminal….
When I was on a benefit for a while I had to call from the phone at my seasonal job workplace in the country (and lucky there was one there – before cell phones), to report in, and was criticised because I was supposed to report in person.
The endless debilitating controls of a government reluctant to provide a sensible, positive social system enabling people to be mostly self-supporting and ensuring that opportunity to all, and reluctant further, to manage the country in a way that produces a healthy, vital economy and producing the best results possible to all people.
Crawling Key?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10892773
I guess the question is whether WinstonFirst supporters would be more comfortable supporting National or Labour/Greens/Mana
Interesting times are afoot but don’t worry Shearer has a plan… 🙂
‘
As well as taking a well-aimed and well-deserved swipe at the MSM, the ever-articulate and thoughtful Tom Frewen highlighted the dilemma John Key kinds himself in with the GSCB legislation . . .
Needless to say, this situation is one John Key has made all by himself because of his inveterate mendacity . . .
‘
But wait, there’s more . . .
. . . stay tuned, more to come.
Inveterate mendacity
ouch
The Slippery little Shyster seems way over-confident of having ‘the Hairdo’s’ support for the GCSB legislation,
Perhaps it’s a case of vote for the legislation wee Petey or have the emails to and from the DomPost’s Vance leaked to the media one at a time…
IT
IT worries me a little that he is so sure that Dunne will support the bill. I wonder why ?Let’s hope it’ just Key’s ego .
http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1945/0041/latest/DLM239213.html
Section 8 – Repealed in 1991, by the National Government
When will NZ begin officially be mined for Uranium?
What might the significance and/or relation to the 60-60 rejection of Depleted Uanium Prohibition Bill (June 2012), be?
Mouse over the yellow dots to translate the protest placards.
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/06/21/world/americas/brazil-protest-signs.html?_r=2&
Matthew 5:14 etc;
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
As lights of the world, they are illustrious and conspicuous and have many eyes upon them. Some admire them, commend them, rejoice in them and study to imitate them; others envy them, hate them, censure them and study to blast them.
The gospel is so strong a light, and carries with it so much of it’s own evidence, that like a city on a hill, it cannot be hid, it cannot but appear to be from God. It will give light to all that are in the house, to all who will draw near to it, and come where it is.
The knowledge must be communicated for the good of others, not put under a bushel, but spread.
The disciples of Christ must not muffle themselves up in privacy and obscurity, under pretence of contemplation, modesty or self-preservation.
We must do good works that they may be seen to the edification of others.
That those who see your good works may be brought, not to glorify you, but to glorify God.
There is winning virtue in godly conversation.
18:2 A fool finds no pleasure in understanding
:4 The words of a person’s mouth are deep waters, but the foundation of wisdom is a bubbly brook, benath the Pons asinorum
Dominiom Post, Headline : Traffic Chaos may go on all week- cos’ The Road goes on Forever and the party never ends. 😎
Had John Boscawen been a Labour speech writer then this is what David Shearer would have said in response to Winston Peter’s untrue, ignorant opportunistic attack on Chinese people in NZ.
“Winston Peters is trying to drive a wedge between the Chinese community and the rest of New Zealand in a sad attempt to engender support for his party, LABOUR Party Leader David Shearer says.
“In a speech today, Winston made a number of assertions aimed at establishing a false picture that Chinese immigrants take more from New Zealand than they contribute. This is far from the truth,” Mr Shearer says
Chinese families who immigrate here are hard-working people who move to make a better life for themselves and their children. In the process, many start their own businesses, employ staff, pay taxes, invest heavily in education and contribute to the growth of New Zealand’s economy, the LABOUR Leader says.
“Every year, thousands of Chinese students arrive on our shores to pay top dollar to gain qualifications from our universities. The universities benefit from increased revenue, and the students’ time here, immersed in our culture, serves to strengthen economic ties between China and New Zealand.
“China is New Zealand’s second biggest trading partner. In 2011, bilateral trade between our two nations amounted to $12.7 billion and this will continue to grow.
“Tourism is one of our most significant export industries. Why shouldn’t the Government do all it can to attract wealthy Chinese visitors to our country to spend their tourist dollar? Australians don’t even need a visa to visit New Zealand, so the idea that some Chinese visitors getting ‘fast-tracked’ visas amounts to special treatment is laughable.
“Winston also claimed that non-resident Chinese buyers are one of the major drivers behind the Auckland housing affordability crisis. This is unfounded. The latest BNZ-REINZ survey shows that Chinese buyers represent a mere 1.3 per cent of the market. We don’t hear Winston complaining about the British who buy more homes than the Chinese do.
“The LABOUR Party rejects Winston’s claims that Chinese are somehow ripping New Zealanders off. Chinese migration and trade is of significant benefit to the New Zealand economy and, unlike NZ First, the LABOUR Party welcomes their contribution,” Mr Shearer says.”
Thanks to NBR & John Boscawen.
Winston is a grave digger; seen who attends his meetings and speeches?
Yeah, the Labour leader really should use the ACT president, and sole remaining paid up party member, as a speechwriter. Still. Boscowen did a wonderful job promoting lamingtons, so there maybe something in it.
[deleted]
[lprent: Two week ban. You know the rules. Don’t insinuate facts directly or indirectly about authors unless you are able to put up incontrovertible legal level proof. Now this isn’t an easy standard to meet as it requires that you either get an ‘out’ admission from the author themselves or have some kind of backend access to The Standard. The latter isn’t going to happen, and in the case of James neither has the former.
Which of course is why Cameron Slater (aka “PornDream”) is simply a liar in his many confident lies about our authors.
Damn I was really tempted to make that run until after my vacation to reduce moderation effort… But I resisted. ]
Another ‘profound’ comment from King Kong.
Domitian finalized the conquest of Britain, strengthened the Rhine / Danube frontier, suppressed immorality, as well as freedom of thought in philosophy and religion.
Why are authors anonymous?
[lprent: If you can’t read the about then you really are kind of illiterate. Of course I could *educate* you, but just at present I’m more likely to ban you for diversion trolling and wasting my time. Perhaps you should use your post-anal scratch finger and a dictionary and try to figure it out word by word without my help….
Moving this thread to OpenMike as being off topic for the post. ]
tell you later behind the bikesheds
Why are you?
The standard rarely has posts from anonymous authors now. I think you mean pseudonymous. After you’ve read Lynn’s link, try this one –
http://ideologicallyimpure.wordpress.com/2012/08/27/pseudonymity/
You can also put ‘pseudonym’ or ‘pseudonymous’ into the search box at the top of the page, for some interesting reading on the use of pseudonyms on ts.
I don’t think we ever had an anonymous author. One of the admins always knew who they were. We had to because otherwise they couldn’t have gotten a login. Similarly the guest posts require that one of the admins puts it up.
The nearest we ever get to it are the pieces that are posted in Notices and Features. Where possible we try to put in a definitive link. However when some of the images turn up in the email or on facebook or twitter…
I was thinking of guest posts that had no author name attached (ie anonymous to readers, not to admin). There seem to be way less of those now.
Seen this?
DOCTORS PRESENT THE CASE TO END FLUORIDATION
Sat 29th June 7pm – 9pm
Freeman’s Bay Community Hall, 52 Hepburn Street, Auckland Central.
Come and judge for yourself whether fluoride is something you would want in your tap water!
______________________________________________________________________________
Hamilton City Councillor Dave MacPherson giving his considered opinion, explaining why Hamilton City Council voted, in the interests of public health, to remove fluoride from drinking water supplies.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zcu7XIIZyt4&feature=youtu.be
______________________________________________________________________________
Do you think the Ministry of Health can be trusted for advice regarding the safety of NZ drinking water?
Or that Watercare really cares about public health when it comes to safeguarding the quality of our drinking water?
If so – I suggest you read this…………………
http://www.occupyaucklandvsaucklandcouncilappeal.org.nz/?page_id=15
Penny Bright
[For the public record, as an Auckland Mayoral candidate, I am opposed to the fluoridation of public water supplies.]
For exposure of the corporate 1%, in whose interests the Auckland region is being run, don’t bother reading ‘The Daily Blog’ (from which Martyn Bradbury has me banned) – try this?
Press Release from Auckland Mayoral Candidate Penny Bright:
“Open the doors! Open the (submission) books! Stop this ‘democracy for developers’!”
______________________________________________________________________________
“Revolt over Unitary Plan secrecy”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10892671
“Auckland Mayor Len Brown is facing more grief over the Unitary Plan process with one councillor vowing to boycott secret meetings and local boards demanding access to public submissions.
Chris Fletcher said the process was appalling and was boycotting secret workshops – starting with one tomorrow on height limits – until she received full disclosure of the 22,700 public submissions on the controversial plan.
This followed revelations in the Herald that last week’s first workshop on height limits and volcanic viewshafts contained feedback from the Property Council, Fletcher Development and Tramlease, but no counter view from the Volcanic Cones Society or community groups. …
Mr Brown has refused to release background papers used by the political working party to develop rules for heritage and the mixed housing and terrace housing and apartment zones. Chief executive Doug McKay has instructed lawyer Wendy Brandon to keep the work on heritage rules hidden. ….”
______________________________________________________________________________
“It is an absolute disgrace in a so-called ‘democracy’, that the Auckland region is effectively being run by an unholy alliance of big business and property developers – the Committee for Auckland and the NZ Property Council, and those who serve their interests, ” says Auckland Mayoral candidate, Penny Bright.
______________________________________________________________________________
Who are the Committee for Auckland:
http://www.committeeforauckland.co.nz/
“Our vision: Auckland as a global city.
In 2013 we will be an influential voice for all of Auckland, creating cross-sectoral solutions to the city’s issues and
Focusing on a future beyond the electoral cycle helping New Zealand’s only world-ranked city to achieve its potential for the region and the country
The Committee for Auckland (CFA) has played a prominent role in galvanising positive change for our city. Our members are all specialists in the city’s issues and fervent advocates for its success. Having contributed significantly to the new shape of Auckland as one city, 2013 is the platform for a re-focused Committee to drive the agenda for Auckland as a world leading destination as well as the welcoming gateway to New Zealand.”
Membership of the Committee for Auckland:
http://www.committeeforauckland.co.nz/membership
“Membership to the Committee for Auckland is by invitation. Members meet quarterly and are invited to be involved in those aspects of the work programme that interest them.
Members are Chairs of Boards, Directors and Chief Executives
Corporate Membership annual fee $10,000. ……”
“It is interesting to note how members of this VERY powerful private lobby group are intertwined with Auckland Council and Auckland Council ‘Council Controlled Organisations’ (CCOs),” states Bright.
The current list of members of the Committee for Auckland:
http://www.committeeforauckland.co.nz/membership/member-organisations
Doug McKay Chief Executive Officer Auckland Council
Brett O’Riley Chief Executive Officer ATEED
Robert Domm Chief Executive Officer Regional Facilities Auckland
Mark Ford Chief Executive Officer Watercare
John Dalzell Chief Executive Officer Waterfront Auckland
______________________________________________________________________________
“Also, how the Committee for Auckland includes key members of the NZ Property Council and property developers,” Bright continues.
____________________________________________________________________________
Connal Townsend National Director Property Council of NZ
Evan Davies Chief Executive Officer Todd Property Ltd
______________________________________________________________________________
“The way to stop arguably corrupt practices is through transparency,” says Bright.
“Where is the transparency, when elected Councillors have not yet ‘received full disclosure of the 22,700 public submissions on the controversial (Draft Unitary) plan’, and secret meetings are being held behind closed doors, from which the public are excluded?”
“Why are the Auckland Council CEO, Doug McKay, and General Counsel for Auckland Council, Wendy Brandon, the Mayor and apparently some Councillors, continuing to violate this fundamental principle of the Local Government Act 2002?
http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2002/0084/latest/DLM171810.html
14 Principles relating to local authorities
(1)In performing its role, a local authority must act in accordance with the following principles:
(a)a local authority should—
(i)conduct its business in an open, transparent, and democratically accountable manner; ..”
______________________________________________________________________________
“As an Auckland Mayoral candidate, with a proven track record in fighting for ‘open, transparent and democratically-accountable’ local (and central) government, I call for:
FULL disclosure of the 22,700 public submissions on the Auckland Draft Unitary Plan to be made available to both Auckland Council elected representatives and the public.
For ALL ‘workshops’ on the Auckland Draft Unitary Plan to be open to ALL elected representatives and the public, who wish to attend.
Open the doors! Open the (submission) books!
Stop this ‘democracy for developers!'”
(More evidence linking Auckland Council with the Committee for Auckland can be found in the following High Court document:
http://www.occupyaucklandvsaucklandcouncilappeal.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/OCCUPY-AUCKLAND-APPEAL-APPLICATION-BY-APPELLANT-BRIGHT-TO-ADDUCE-NEW-EVIDENCE-pdf.pdf
Penny Bright
‘Anti-corruption/anti-privatisation’ campaigner
2013 Auckland Mayoral candidate
So, farewell then United Future
it was the worm that made you
now
you are wormfood
EJ Dunne (14 and a half terms)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/8838701/Speaker-backed-in-Dunne-funding-row
Excellent, guess the CCSB Bill is on the table then…
Bwaahaha!!
http://www.listener.co.nz/commentary/the-internaut/john-key-asks-twitter-what-it-thinks/
The prime minister’s entertaining adventures in social media continue.
At 10.30 this morning he posted – or, rather, the staffer who runs his Twitter account did; I’m not even sure if he personally knows he has a Twitter account – this inquiry to the online masses:
This is why I think economic growth is important. What do you think?
they are laughing at you John, not with you ya clown. Wotta dick! showing his age.
Lord of all he surveys, master of nothing but his fortune.
Peace talks with the Taliban are going well…..
/
http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-106686-Kabul:-Militants-storm-Afghan-presidential-palace
https://twitter.com/MHarooni
The Unguarded Moment.
Instruction 1: Patience is enjoyed upon the believers. 16:127
Patience is made a condition of success and prosperity. 3:200
The reward of those who exercise patience is doubled. 28:54
Just announced ,Dunne is an independent MP. I wonder how this will effect the government .
Good question, postie. For starters, it may mean the arrangement for UF to be in Government might have to be rewritten to take into account Dunne’s new status. Assuming Dunne wants to continue the arrangement, that is. As a lowly backbench MP with no extra salary and perks, he may feel the arrangement no longer delivers in the way it did in the past.
Im thinking that Key will promise Dunne a lucrative deal The alternative is Dunne leaves parliament, .then a bye election that the Nat’s may well lose, Interesting time.
The Knighthood?
Another non-compete in Ohariu?
Nomination to international institutions?
A friendly law firm to offer a consultancy?
A guest lectureship at a School of Journalism?
Has anyone else noticed the change in tone/style in the PM recently. He is becoming quite nasty in his old age. The smiling assassin is feeling a little isolated and hitting out and getting quite aggressive. He is aiming directly at Shearer (who may be an easy target) and is becoming more obviously just another politician – not the image of the clean-new-broom that was heralded on his taking up the leadership. His delivery in The House today certainly was “Muldoonesque”. What say John Armstrong now …?
I noted it on the TV news this evening. Small black eyes unblinking… devoid of character/emotion… the eyes of a mercenary which is exactly what he is in a political sense.
The real John Key has stood up.
So Berlusconi got a nominal seven years – but he won’t be detained while he appeals, and if his appeals fail he’ll probably pull the “too old for prison, like health n stuff” card.
Oh well.
oh dear, how sad, nevermind; two ‘bosses’ in one week, with the Saviour’s passing to come.
Breaking news .. Speaker strips Dunne of funding
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/8838701/Speaker-backed-in-Dunne-funding-row
What are the implications ?
Presumably he will still deliver Confidence and Supply to this government .. but
it nibbles away at its legitimacy.
On the GCSB Bill, “it’s all about safety” -Key
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10892844
(not play-time, don’t you know?)
The GCSB, “dependent on The Daily Blog” for it’s source”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10892829
well I’ll bfd!
Hilarious…. I bet that is changed pretty damn fast.
The return (or resurgence) of anti-semitism in Britain
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10892870
Mormons to park up the bicycles and begin knocking on Windows 8
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10892862
(or picking Apples)
‘And to fight for the Labour Party is to fight to lose. There will be no end to austerity if Ed Miliband is elected, as he chose to make clear himself in a speech elsewhere over the weekend. The struggle we face now has little or nothing to do with party politics and everything to do with class war – and the modern Labour Party is on the wrong side.’
http://johnnyvoid.wordpress.com/2013/06/24/the-legacy-of-the-peoples-assembly-could-be-manufactured-surrender/
Just like here…..
TRP reassured me recently that the NZ Labour Party is the political party of the working class. That’s why he continues to support them. How can I doubt him? He knows what he is talking about. Right?
Labour or National is like being able to choose between presidents Snow or Coin.
There are no correct answers just least wrong.
100% correct, CV. Thanks for showing such faith in me ;). It’s based on the fact that most working class people identify with Labour, though MMP has deluted that somewhat with other options. I’m rather hoping the 2 by-elections will prove the point.
edit: Herodotus: bloody Romans etc.
No, I don’t really agree with that. A notable proportion of the working class might still yes, but well under 50% nowadays.
Re: Edward Snowden “It was his fearlessness that tore off Washington’s sanctimonious mask”.
I sense some East-West tension haha.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/25/peoples-daily-savages-us-over-snowden
A quick appraisal of a few of the comments – spotted this one.
Couple of pieces on why Rafael Correa would accept Snowdon.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/06/24/why-journalist-jailing-ecuador-would-open-its-arms-to-edward-snowden/
http://www.juancole.com/2013/06/snowden-horrible-ecuador.html
Also, Correa’s success.
http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2013/06/bill-black-how-ecuador-won-by-defying-neoliberal-washington-consensus-playbook.html
Q:
Anybody else following Oliver Stone’s “Untold History of the U.S.”? Opinions?
I’ve never really given the guy much credence since he ‘sexed up’ the ending of Midnight Express and I seem to have missed a huge part of the series but it looks interesting.
Why the hell did Labour not pick David Cunliffe to lead?
Because he doesn’t suffer ‘honourable member’ fools easily?
From what I can make out? Because he’s likely to challenge the status quo.
he’s too left wing and bolshie for the mallard-robertson-goff nexus
they prefer to muddle along, and retain the patronage of wealthy sponsors like Owen Glenn