Open mike 27/04/2013

99 comments on “Open mike 27/04/2013”

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1. big bruv 1

   26 April 2013 at 7:48 pm

   “the Bill will reduce the Employment Relations Act to a farce and the result will be wages are driven down and employment agreements broken up, with some of the most significant impact being on workers in the public sector.”

   And when that does not happen will we see an apology from the author of this post?

   Today is a great day for the country.

   [lprent: This looks more like diversion trolling than addressing the topic – moved to OpenMike.
   Two week ban. One for diversion trolling. The second for wasting my time moving the comments. ]

   • Cant remember my last username 1.1

     26 April 2013 at 7:59 pm

     The ironic thing is labour will get into power and leave most of the changes intact (like most of the changes Roger implemented) – they know its good for the economy

     Then again labour is acting mighty strangely lately with all this NZ Power craziness!!!

     • Colonial Viper 1.1.1

       26 April 2013 at 8:04 pm

       It’s good for owners
       Bad for workers

       • Cant remember my last username 1.1.1.1

         26 April 2013 at 8:08 pm

         That’s a very simple ‘class war’ construct to think about the issue..you can do better than that

         • Colonial Viper 1.1.1.1.1

           26 April 2013 at 8:14 pm

           Exactly, this anti-labour legislation is a salvo in NZ’s ongoing class war.

           • Cant remember my last username 1.1.1.1.1.1

             26 April 2013 at 8:20 pm

             Lol you like a walking slogan….

             • North …

               26 April 2013 at 10:12 pm

               I suspect you’re a wannabee shogun.

               You are talking an alien culture. Fuck Off !

               • Draco T Bastard …

                 26 April 2013 at 10:32 pm

                 No, he’s a wannabe squire.

                 • Colonial Viper …

                   26 April 2013 at 10:49 pm

                   Manservant

                 • North …

                   26 April 2013 at 10:58 pm

                   In relation to ” ‘Cos-I’m-John-Key-can’t-remember-my-last-username”, this is defining. In the archaic meaning of “squire” he was a fellow who was the dependable runner or errand boy of the knight.

                   Well, no unkindness intended but that’s how the abovenamed strikes me.

                   And he will be vindicated.

                   There is no doubt that before that citizen of the Kingdom of Global Banker leaves these now less-lovely shores, he will bestow upon himself The Order Of This That the Other Thing.

                   The abovenamed will have a true knight to snivel around after !

     • prism 1.1.2

       26 April 2013 at 11:35 pm

       crmlu
       You’re right Labour did blend in NACT type policies. There was a subterranean movement and a lot of aspiring NACTs took over hearts and minds of the Labour faithful in spades. It’s time to forge new approaches which is what is being said each day.

   • Jenny 1.2

     27 April 2013 at 7:42 pm

     I don’t mind you refusing to print any of my guest post requests. As a Centre Left website you have every right to do so. No website allows posts they disagree with, that’s understandable. And why should you be different? But Lynn, do you really have to bump down my posts on Open mike?

     P.S. Saying that. If you did allow more controversial Left of Centre posts. Who knows? You might find you could possibly get more debate and more readership.

     • ghostrider888 1.2.1

       27 April 2013 at 7:54 pm

       the site is unpredictable at times Jenny; comments I make often end up above comments that came before; don’t panic; I read most of your comments, most of the time anyway.

       • Jenny 1.2.1.1

         27 April 2013 at 9:16 pm

         You are right, of course. Thanks ghost, for your vote of support.

2. Jenny 2

   27 April 2013 at 7:23 am

   “Politics is all about pressure”

   Coincidentally since I put up THIS post on open mike yesterday.
   The Herald has published reviews of a new book which details all the pressures that David Lange was put under by the New Zealand state, the permanent heads of the Civil Service, military leaders, and foreign government leaders, to ignore his promise to the electorate. And the dismay these people felt, when Lange, under this onslaught of secret behind the scenes pressure, despite some early vacillation, eventually turned his back on them. That these undemocratic parasites on the body politic have now accused Lange of lying to them. Is just sour grapes. Politics is all about pressure and this time the pressure from below, was greater than the pressure from above.

   “Lange lied over Anzus rift: author”

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10879810

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10879996

   P.S. All my best wishes to those attending rallies against asset sales today.

   See you there.

   Jenny

   • Morrissey 2.1

     27 April 2013 at 9:00 am

     If only Lange had had the courage and the wit to stand up to the enemy within: Douglas, Prebble, Bassett, Moore, De Cleene and their fanatical mentors in Treasury.

     • Rhinocrates 2.1.1

       27 April 2013 at 9:05 am

       You can add Goff and King, who are still there.

     • Jenny Kirk 2.1.2

       27 April 2013 at 9:21 am

       To Morrissey and Rhinocrates et al “If only Lange had had the courage and the wit to stand up to the enemy within: Douglas, Prebble, Bassett, Moore, De Cleene and …….”

       He did ! Don’t you remember ? Some time late in 1987 Lange called for a “cup of tea” – meaning he wanted a pause in the ongoing rushed economic reforms to allow for proper consideration of them and their effects.

       He was strongly vilified for that, a grouping led by Douglas, Prebble ,De Cleene etc set up the “Backbone Club” which went out publicly – with MSM support – to vilify Lange and his attempts to stop what was going on, when he had realised just how damaging it was. The vilification continued in house in the caucus as well. It was sickening to observe. Disgusting behaviour on the part of the leaders.

       • Rhinocrates 2.1.2.1

         27 April 2013 at 9:41 am

         Indeed, sorry for any misunderstanding. Lange was a sincere person under enormous pressure.

         Goff and King on the other hand…

         • Tim 2.1.2.1.1

           27 April 2013 at 12:42 pm

           Aye!

       • Murray Olsen 2.1.2.2

         27 April 2013 at 4:04 pm

         During an industrial dispute in Kawerau, provoked when Tasman cunningly appointed an unqualified woman to a machine operating position ahead of several qualified men, Lange came out on the side of the bosses. He said he would never stand with a union that was against employment for women, even when this patently was not the issue.
         My view of Lange is that Kirk was the last half way decent Labour PM.

     • Tim 2.1.3

       27 April 2013 at 12:15 pm

       Agreed …. though I don’t judge him QUITE as harshly as the ‘careerists’ that followed and who STILL keep trying to push their barrow (or rather keep doing their best to push SHIT uphill).
       At Least Lange had the decency to call for a cup of tea and a lay down – i.e. he recognised the programme was hollow.
       Not so others – and unfortunately I now have to include that pathetic munter Robertson amongst that ilk (UNLESS of course he has an epiphany forthwith).
       Hey……… btw….. whatever happened to that FanBoi or Fan Club fella?
       Haven’t seen it screaching loudly lately in defense of the indefensible. (I guess he/she/it is too busy climbing the ranks and sucking as much rrrrrrrr’s as possible)

       • Tim 2.1.3.1

         27 April 2013 at 12:23 pm

         I ‘spose he/she/it’s content with that little media 15 secs of fame on Neshnool TV recently -though I doubt it.

         Grant……where are you?
         Shearer ……… where are you?
         Bullyboy – what’s her name – ah yea – Mallard ……..where are you?

         Clare! Darling! Where are you?

         Maid Marion – where are you?

         Oh…… I know – all in your little comfort zones destined to destroy the entire concept of the “Labour Party”.

         Carry on what?

         • Jackal 2.1.3.1.1

           27 April 2013 at 2:32 pm

           Gerald Hensley reinvents history to besmirch the memory of David Lange, and instead of being critical of that cowardly and disgusting behaviour, comments on The Standard concerning this matter are predominantly anti-Labour… Some even claiming Lange wasn’t courageous enough at a time he implemented legislation to ensure New Zealand became nuclear free in spite of huge international and domestic pressures.

           You’d have to be seriously gullible to believe what Piggy Muldoon’s former chief adviser has made up to discredit a left wing Prime Minister. In fact you’d likely have to be as deluded as Hensley himself. Let’s instead ask the right wing hack what his advice was on the Springbok tour, the Think Big projects and increasing external debt by 1338% while Muldoon was Prime Minister. Where’s the book accepting that the third National Government was a complete economic, social and political failure for New Zealand?

           Giving Hensley’s fabrications the credence they clearly don’t deserve by attacking Labour will only help to promote the idea of removing our Nuclear Free legislation (PDF)… Not that National presently abides by those laws anyway, that’s the end goal for Hensley and the current government. Let’s make something very clear… Like the vast majority of Kiwis, David Lange wanted New Zealand to be nuclear free… Hensley’s lies won’t change that fact one iota.

           • ghostrider888 2.1.3.1.1.1

             27 April 2013 at 2:46 pm

             love ya work Jackal

             • Jackal …

               27 April 2013 at 2:54 pm

               Thanks ghostrider888.

               • ghostrider888 …

                 27 April 2013 at 3:11 pm

                 don’t always agree with your analysis yet you appear a fairly astute and balanced commentator. *Bow* (wow)

     • Jenny 2.1.4

       27 April 2013 at 9:44 pm

       If only Lange had had the courage and the wit to stand up to the enemy within: Douglas, Prebble, Bassett, Moore, De Cleene and their fanatical mentors in Treasury.

       Morrissey

       No human being could stand up to that sort of pressure alone. Such pressure can be so intense that you can be ambushed into making decisions that can even go against your own better judgement. Despite it all, Lange did eventually call a halt. And probably wondered “Why on earth did I ever support any of that?” A question that I am sure many principled people finding themselves in similar isolated positions have asked themselves.

       To his cost. For David Lange on his retirement, there was no plum sinecure as a director on a board of some well off company or bank, the usual reward for politicians of his stature who do what they’re told.

       What was missing was a mass movement that would have supplied Lange with the counter pressure to the neo-liberal tidal wave.

       Politics is all about pressure and who can bring it to bear.

       • Colonial Viper 2.1.4.1

         27 April 2013 at 9:56 pm

         The unions could have crippled the 4th Labour Government, had they chosen to.

3. karol 3

   27 April 2013 at 7:57 am

   Colin Craig: working tirelessly to help the unemployed! Well done, Craig! What’s next? Secure housing for the homeless?

   • AsleepWhileWalking 3.1

     27 April 2013 at 8:41 am

     “March 21
     Novopay debacle solved by restarting computer

     Novopay minister Steven Joyce: “We tried everything we could think of. We made sure the plug was in, we ran a virus scan. You know, pretty much everything. And then John walks in this morning munching on his breakfast bagel, and he says ‘Hey, Steve. Have you tried restarting the computer’?”

     • Tim 3.1.1

       27 April 2013 at 1:09 pm

       If in doubt – reboot! – Says it all really. Cure the immediate, though not the cause.
       Very symbolic of a NAct agenda, and symbolic of the neo-Lib agenda too.
       Keep it up is what I’m DESPERATELY hoping for but they should not be surprised when they disappear up their own arses (as fat and ugly as they may be).

       Shades of Monty P/Greed/Sloth explosions in the nature of weapons of mass disgusting

       • ghostrider888 3.1.1.1

         27 April 2013 at 5:49 pm

         from what I have read of this chap behind The Civilian (beyond a Nicholas Cage article) he appears very capable and creative; now a part of the media furniture for a while, with the hesitant support of his parents.

         Here in H.B there is a young woman broadcasting her interesting life and personality to a YouTube audience of hundreds of thousands of people.”Jamies World”. great self-marketing for an aspirant dramatic arts performer or director. could be a few unforeseen consequences.

   • David H 3.2

     27 April 2013 at 9:35 am

     At least we can be a little pleased for the guy that runs The Civillian. He does help to make the day go with a smile. And as they say Any advertising is good advertising.

     • Rosie 3.2.1

       27 April 2013 at 10:57 am

       Indeed David H.Thank god (no religious inference intended) for Colin Craig being an arse. I hadn’t heard about that hilarious Civilian website until he threw a wee tanty.

       • David H 3.2.1.1

         27 April 2013 at 1:14 pm

         Same and I am so pleased I found it. Maybe a thank you E-Mail to Colin, for telling us about this website. Just to say thanks you know 😉

4. Morrissey 4

   27 April 2013 at 8:11 am

   The Comedy of Mortification
   Kiwi version of The Office struggles along
   Back Benches, Prime TV, Wednesday 24 April 2013, 10:30 p.m.
   Hosted by WALLACE CHAPMAN and DAMIAN CHRISTIE
   Politicians: Gareth Hughes (Green), Aaron Gilmore (National), Chris Hipkins (Labour)

   After suffering through TV3’s dire The Vote: Is New Zealand a Racist Country?, my big night of television continued with yet another New Zealand current affairs show fronted by a couple of clowns.

   These two, although far less self-assured clowns than Espiner and Garner, are, nonetheless, impressive exponents of the comedy of embarrassment. Christie, in particular, came across very effectively as New Zealand television’s very own David Brent. The fact that this was entirely unintentional only made it all the more effective.

   In case you haven’t seen Back Benches—and you probably haven’t—it consists of aforesaid clowns (Wallace Chapman and Damian Christie) talking to a panel of three politicians and then walking around the Back Benches tavern in Wellington asking people what they think about what the politicians have said. The politicians are usually pretty relaxed—it seems that ties are banned—and usually acquit themselves quite well. The members of the public, however, are a little more unpredictable. The following is a quick highlights reel of Wednesday night’s episode….

   After the politicians have been interviewed, the first person on the roving mike is John Carnegie from Business New Zealand. Predictably, sadly, he vapours pompously about the Labour-Green electricity pricing policy: “We are sending an incredibly bad signal that New Zealand is no longer a safe place to invest.” The crowd reacts to this rant with skeptical murmuring and scattered laughter. Quite apart from his irrational, hysterical words, many people have no doubt noticed that Carnegie looks uncannily like the fat guy in The Office.

   http://www.pilkipedia.co.uk/wiki/images/thumb/4/4f/BigKeith.jpg/250px-BigKeith.jpg
   http://www.businessnz.org.nz/images/upload/JohnCarnegie%20web.jpg

   Back to the politicians, for their thoughts. This is where not only the intellectual, but the moral calibre of the politicians is often revealed. Chris Hipkins and Gareth Hughes both speak eloquently, but when Hipkins is speaking, Aaron Gilmore hoots and laughs. Such displays of loutish imbecility are, damningly, all that National is capable of; Gilmore’s antics are no different from the antics in Parliament of other National Party thugs, especially Gerry Brownlee. (Talking about people who look like Big Keith…)

   Then it’s time for the most unpredictable part of the show: the vox pops. This consists of Damian Christie walking around the tables with his microphone and asking them what they think. This is a nerve-wracking exercise at the best of times, and it’s not helped by Christie’s patent awkwardness….

   DAMIAN CHRISTIE: Have you been to Gallipoli for the dawn service?
   WOMAN: Yes.
   DAMIAN CHRISTIE: What were you doing over there?
   WOMAN: Going to the dawn service.

   This is met by gales of laughter, some of it shading into outright derision of Christie. Undeterred, however, Christie ploughs on, like an ANZAC soldier struggling doggedly up a Turkish cliff…

   CHRISTIE: You’re getting all choked up over it now, aren’t you!
   WOMAN: Not really.

   Bravely, Christie continues to circulate around the room, wielding his enormous microphone, looking for vulnerable drinkers. It’s quite noticeable that people are drawing away as he approaches. He’d better watch himself, otherwise he’s going to make people as nervous as Brian Edwards did with his ambush vox pops in Auckland’s Victoria Park during his short-lived Saturday night horror show a decade ago.

   • Paul 4.1

     27 April 2013 at 8:29 am

     Can you find this online?

     • Morrissey 4.1.1

       27 April 2013 at 8:36 am

       You CAN get this online, but SkyTV makes you jump through hoops. I recommend you don’t encourage them in their bid to privatize this content….

       http://www.isky.co.nz/product/481749.aspx

       • Tim 4.1.1.1

         27 April 2013 at 9:01 am

         Indeed – don’t encourage them.
         I’ve only managed to watch one Backbenches since is commercial transition – just as I have Media3 (once was Media7).
         One of the big problems with the commercialisation of these programmes (or should I now call them ‘shows’) is that the continuity is destroyed often by the NEED to ‘take a break’ at as close to set times as is possible – and regardless of interrupting participants trying to make a point.
         You’ll notice it on FUX NEWS often – when the left are getting any sort of advantage in an argument….. “we gotta get a break”, etc.

         That’s just ONE of the problems! The platform is insidious: whether intended or not – you’ll find Brown, Chapman, Christie et al become victims of the ‘stardom mentality’ that seems to be a necessity in operating on this commercially driven platform.

         In both cases (Prime BB, and MW M3), the defense is – it’s better than no BB or M3. I’m afraid not for me.

       • Paul 4.1.1.2

         27 April 2013 at 9:09 am

         Probably more entertaining to read your take on the programme anyway!

   • muzza 4.2

     27 April 2013 at 9:07 am

     We are sending an incredibly bad signal that New Zealand is no longer a safe place to invest

     It would be followed by an lowering of our credit rating, and a devaluation in currency.

     The oil prices being kept artificially high as a deterrant to flirting with currency devaluation, because the inflationary pressure threat would be rammed down everyones throat!

     Interest rates would rise, and whats left of the NZ economy will fall out the backdoor. Even with more competitive exports, the current account deficit will keep widening, with a higer cost of borrowing to service the lesser credit rating, leading to higher taxes to service the gowing debt costs!

     The NZ Power policy as no chance of getting off the ground,

     Because the global banking cartel, has NZ, by the balls!

     Since 1961

     • Jackal 4.2.1

       27 April 2013 at 2:52 pm

       The effect of NZ Power on private shareholders dividends will be 3 to 4.5% (not accounting for revenue increasing, + 18.6% in 2012). You’re saying that because of a potential 3 to 4.5% reduction in value of dividends going to private shareholders the NZ economy will fall out the backdoor? Get off the grass muzza.

       • Colonial Viper 4.2.1.1

         27 April 2013 at 7:38 pm

         If that’s all it reduces shareholder dividends by, NZ Power is only scratching the surface of what it should be doing.

         • Jackal 4.2.1.1.1

           28 April 2013 at 2:29 pm

           I have to agree with you there CV… After crunching a few numbers it appears NZ Power won’t have much if any affect on power companies profitability or the dividends they payout. However there are savings to be made through better management of current infrastructure, which I think is just as much a problem as the current bidding system that means consumers are paying far too much for electricity that’s relatively cheap to produce.

           It appears that Labour and the Greens perhaps knew there would be howls of anger from the right wing regarding NZ Power and so devised a very moderate policy. It certainly isn’t far left “economic vandalism” that some have claimed. Let’s hope that when NZ Power gets up and running (mid to late 2016) they will push the envelope a bit on how much is actually able to be saved for consumers.

       • muzza 4.2.1.2

         27 April 2013 at 9:34 pm

         Actually Jackal, my intent was aimed at what would likely happen to the housing/retail markets, should interest rates rise from their current. *lows* ??? following a devaluation in our currency, via a ratings mark down!

         My commentary was a high level overview of what would happen, as was pointed out, if *a signal that NZ was no longer a safe place to invest*, went out!

         Which is what NZ Power will have to contend with, and its creators contend with, before it stands any chance to become airborne!

         • Jackal 4.2.1.2.1

           28 April 2013 at 2:31 pm

           A ratings downgrade because of a potential 3 to 4.5% decrease in dividend values for private shareholders… Are you out of your mind?

   • Bill 4.3

     27 April 2013 at 9:25 am

     A wee bit surprised you didn’t zone in on the comment made by one of those ( I don’t know one from the other) aforementioned clowns Morrissey. Never mind. I’ll do it. Came after a quick fire question to the pollies relating to Boston.

     Where were the alleged bombers from? Answer given was Chechnya. Answer queried on the grounds (I guess) that Kyrgyzstan had been mentioned in connection to them and their family. And the clown, not remembering the name ‘Kyrgyzstan’ deemed it an an opportunity to pop out the racially loaded ‘Wogistan’ alternate answer.

     And no-one batted an eyelid.

     • Tim 4.3.1

       27 April 2013 at 12:49 pm

       Not surprised you don’t know one clown from another. After all, they’re all make-uo (courtesy of whatever brand of face paint that’s in vogue these days).

       I was just thinking though (after witnessing a hipkins on some Beck Benchas ‘show’ – constructed by a Chapman and a Christie – where the credits were at pains to tell us all who ‘dressed them’) – I was going to suggest he should ‘Moisturise!…. Moisturise!…. Moisturise”.
       It may well be his greatest contribution to the Labouring Party

     • Morrissey 4.3.2

       27 April 2013 at 12:58 pm

       A wee bit surprised you didn’t zone in on the comment made by one of those ( I don’t know one from the other) aforementioned clowns Morrissey.

       I heard it, but I didn’t write it down in my transcription notebook, so I’d forgotten it by the time I came to type it up. The clown that said it was (surprise, surprise) the National Party lout Aaron Gilmore.

       Never mind. I’ll do it. Came after a quick fire question to the pollies relating to Boston.

       Thanks, Bill. You’re a trooper—in the good sense.

       Where were the alleged bombers from? Answer given was Chechnya. Answer queried on the grounds (I guess) that Kyrgyzstan had been mentioned in connection to them and their family. And the clown, not remembering the name ‘Kyrgyzstan’ deemed it an an opportunity to pop out the racially loaded ‘Wogistan’ alternate answer.

       And no-one batted an eyelid.

       It’s not that nobody noticed, or cared. The problem is the format of the show. To remonstrate with that halfwitted National Party thug would have been counter to this show’s enforced mood of frivolity. Earlier in the evening, over on TV3, the same determined dumbing down occurred when Prof. Damon Salesa tried to say something serious during the moronic laugh-fest The Vote.

       • Bill 4.3.2.1

         27 April 2013 at 1:10 pm

         It wasn’t Gilmore came out with that shit Morrissey. It was one of the presenters – the one who tended to do the wandering around eliciting opinion from attendees.

         Gilmore answered with “Chechnya”. One of the presenters was a bit unsure of that as an answer and the other clown kind of dismissively (barely conceiled undertones of ‘they’re all the same and who the fuck cares anyway’) suggested “Wogistan”. Racially, ethnically and religiously fucked up as all hell imo.

         • Morrissey 4.3.2.1.1

           27 April 2013 at 1:16 pm

           Really? Thanks for that, Bill.

           Aaron Gilmore, sorry. Call off your lawyers now.

           Damian Christie: you are so much better than that.

5. Northshoreguynz 5

   27 April 2013 at 9:13 am

   Even John Armstrong is taking not-so-much an anti Labour line this morning.
   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10880014
   I’m not sure if this is a good thing.

   • geoff 5.1

     27 April 2013 at 10:22 am

     John Armstrong is the Peter Dunne of the NZ Herald. Always trying to position himself in the vaccuous centre because he thinks that will may him look sensible, balanced and fair. In reality he’s just another self-serving journo.

     • Paul 5.1.1

       27 April 2013 at 10:30 am

       Everyone should see the the film ‘Shadows of liberty’; it was on at documentary festival and hopefully will come back to cinemas once finished the festival cycle.
       Here it trailer http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=_SAUborWbPw&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D_SAUborWbPw
       It does show what has happened to the media and examples can be found in New Zealand of all the same issues mentioned in the film.

     • Pascal's bookie 5.1.2

       27 April 2013 at 12:20 pm

       “John Armstrong is the Peter Dunne of the NZ Herald.”

       heh.

       It’s a thing. “High Broderism” it’s called, after David Broder who dominated the Washington press corp for lo, many years.

       The basic conceit is that some journalists develop a identity of being the caretakers of the discourse. The content of policy, the actual business of politics, becomes a side issue at best; the protection of order, and form, take over. Disputes are seen not as politics functioning as it ought, but as threats to be resolved. ‘Bold policy’ is just a move in a game. They are positioning statements aimed at voter blocks, rather than policies aimed at problems.

       What that leads to, though it is never admitted, or even realised I suspect, is that much of the political analysis we see is not analysis of policy, or even of politicians, but of the polis.

       The question “How will this policy play in the electorate in terms of votes” is not answered by looking at the effects of a policy, or the reasoning behind it. ie, it cannot be answered by reporting on policy or politicians. It is answered by discussing whose votes might shift, and what it might do in the polls.

       The advantage for journalists here is that this is a non partisan endeavor; they aren’t pontificating about whether the policy is good/bad, or whether the politician is honest/mendacious.

       The whole area gets a good working over here:

       http://pressthink.org/2010/06/clowns-to-the-left-of-me-jokers-to-the-right-on-the-actual-ideology-of-the-american-press/

       • Ad 5.1.2.1

         27 April 2013 at 5:07 pm

         lovely article there.

       • ghostrider888 5.1.2.2

         27 April 2013 at 5:36 pm

         interesting; well they are not very good at looking after the polis

       • ghostrider888 5.1.2.3

         27 April 2013 at 7:38 pm

         having just re-read the Armstrong piece, conclude it is disgusting (and patronising as well).

       • geoff 5.1.2.4

         27 April 2013 at 11:51 pm

         Nice link, PB. I think Colin Espiner fits that description too. When many had pegged him as a friend of the left he let loose with the article on Green/Labour policy.

         http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/blogs/bull-dust/8568124/Labours-crazy-new-energy-policy

         • Colonial Viper 5.1.2.4.1

           27 April 2013 at 11:54 pm

           These pretend journalist types are determined to make the news and be the news, not report and analyse it.

     • QoT 5.1.3

       27 April 2013 at 12:33 pm

       And like Peter Dunne, he’s prone to let the whole facade drop and throw a hissy fit when he thinks he’s not being given the obeisance he’s due.

       • Morrissey 5.1.3.1

         27 April 2013 at 12:50 pm

         Poor old Armstrong is still licking his wounds after being comprehensively humiliated by the superior Gordon Campbell last year.

   • karol 5.2

     27 April 2013 at 7:26 pm

     Armstrong’s piece is all about strategy – about The Game. And nothing about what is actually the right thing to do for the majority of Kiwis, and especially for those struggling on low incomes.

     It’s a heartless piece. But that’s what “neoliberalism” has done to mainstream political commentary.

     • Colonial Viper 5.2.1

       27 April 2013 at 7:29 pm

       The coldness of the writing comes from the coldness in the heart.

6. freedom 6

   27 April 2013 at 9:31 am

   small question (and I understand folks are busy)
   Why is there no banner/promotion on The Standard for the Day of Action ?
   There is just yesterday’s reminder. Seems like a missed opportunity is all.

   anyways . . .

   You may have voted National, Maori Party, United Future or even Act. That does not deny you your right to voice opposition to their actions as a Government. In fact to succeed in their crimes, they count on your silence and your complicity. Today is your chance to let them know you matter.

   If you are not working today, little has greater significance to the future of New Zealand than this simple walk down the street amongst friends.

7. Tigger 7

   27 April 2013 at 10:58 am

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10879994

   The crowning of Maurice Williamson as a ‘gay icon’ (by the media at least) has left me somewhat bemused.

   Nothing against Williamson. He voted yes for marriage equality and as a result I applaud him. Even more so, he is a member of a conservative party in a rather blue neighbourhood. I have no doubt the pressure on him from those opposing equality was fierce.

   His speech was good. Great? That’s debatable. It was loud. It had a few amusing turns of phrase. But it wasn’t necessarily any better than any of the other pro-speeches. Mojo Mathers, for example, gave one of the most stirring speeches I’ve ever seen. So why isn’t she being lauded as a ‘gay icon’?

   Perhaps because she isn’t male, white and heterosexual? She doesn’t possess that holy triumvirate that many in society ascribe as being ‘preferable’ or ‘powerful’ or even ‘acceptable’.

   Williamson voted down Civil Unions. He says it’s because they didn’t go far enough. That doesn’t wash with me. By that same logic you would deny a starving person a hamburger because it wasn’t steak. Back then those of us who needed legal protection were happy to get it any way we could. We saw civil unions as a secondary class, but it was a class nonetheless. No Maurice, you don’t get a pass on that. You voted tactically there, not with your conscience. Be honest.

   Maurice, you’re not an ‘icon’ to this ethnic gay man. You’re a straight white man who voted progressively. You’re not worthy of the kudos that the media is heaping on you for marriage equality. That belongs to those politicians who worked tirelessly for years, decades, to achieve this. Kevin Hague. Louisa Wall. Those are gay icons. Those are the people who should be invited on Ellen. Not you, Maurice.

   Stop the interviews. Don’t go on Ellen. Get on with doing your job. Because feeding this ‘gay icon’ fire is just sad to those who know it’s all puffery. You did a good thing. A very good thing. But there’s nothing worse than someone taking credit that isn’t due.

   • ianmac 7.1

     27 April 2013 at 11:12 am

     But won’t Mr Key be livid. He had to boyishly grin as he gave approval for the Ellen visit.
     But why wasn’t it him! John Key is the man for centre stage, the limelight, the adulation, the autograph hunters, and international spotlight. To have to step back for a lowly Maurice for heavens sake! Hell will blaze for a man back-benched!

     • Tigger 7.1.1

       27 April 2013 at 12:23 pm

       My conspiracy theory is that Maurice nixed the trip (I seem to remember him saying he wouldn’t go at first) but that Key pushed him to promote NZ. His talk about the trip now has tourism speak all over it.

       But we can assume Key is pissed someone else is getting the limelight…

   • Lanthanide 7.2

     27 April 2013 at 11:27 am

     +1

     Boyfriend just yesterday was wondering why Louisa Wall didn’t get the invite, since she actually did the work.

   • Murray Olsen 7.3

     27 April 2013 at 4:15 pm

     Some people I know took it upon themselves to inform Ellen de Generes of Williamson’s history on the issue. He was pretty much promoted by the Herald etc because he’s a Tory – just hijacking kudos for NAct. I didn’t think his speech was anything great and the fact that it was lauded all round the world just goes to show oratory has died.

   • karol 7.4

     27 April 2013 at 7:29 pm

     I can see how Ellen might think Williamson would help get the white male heterosexual conservatives in the US onside for the same sex marriage campaign in the US.

     However, she totally ignores the impact within NZ.

     I agree, Tigger. Mojo Mathers gave the best speech in the 3rd reading of the Bill, as far as I’m concerned – it was about an inclusive family and wider whanau.

     • Murray Olsen 7.4.1

       27 April 2013 at 11:45 pm

       By US political standards, Williamson is a card carrying communist. I don’t think he’ll help get their conservatives onside.

       • Colonial Viper 7.4.1.1

         27 April 2013 at 11:52 pm

         From the US point of view, that so many National MPs voted for marriage reform basically identifies them as God-despising family hating bleeding heart liberals who are all going to hell.

8. lprent 8

   27 April 2013 at 12:01 pm

   A few upgrades running. Site may be a bit slow for an period.

   Oops – database just upgraded

   • Tim 8.1

     27 April 2013 at 1:17 pm

     hence the “database unavailable” shite a while back.
     You should be commended lprent as I’m hoping you are from time to time.
     The approach is obviously not the ‘suck it and see’ one found elsewhere.

     • lprent 8.1.1

       27 April 2013 at 4:44 pm

       The outages should have only been 10-20 seconds or so each time.

       Upgraded and been through a good solid compacting including old versions of posts and comments. I have corrected all issues with orphaned comments (~200 all up). Deleted about 4 that were in a chain in 2010 where the original comment got deleted and the replies all referred to the original comment.

       It is suck it and see some of the time. There are some issues that I can’t test on the development system because of loading differences.

9. LynWiper 9

   27 April 2013 at 1:37 pm

   To all marching today…thank you so very much. I can’t be there due to the on call nature of my work but I am with you in spirit and will be following the protests around the country with much interest. I marched up Queen Street with my 84yr old Dad last year and found it very helpful in so many ways. I trust you all will too. Once again, many thanks from those of us unable to be there in body, we are with you.

10. ghostrider888 10

    27 April 2013 at 2:30 pm

    see, with these subsistence-labour factories like the one that collapsed in Bangladesh it is only the consumer, and their demand for price, that can make the difference; the consumer. A dilemma indeed.

    They can be quite delayed and sensationalist these prime-time news bulletins; In context, the last bird-flu killed approximately 370 people world-wide, from memory. That is not to say that something unforeseen might happen if the current strain becomes transmitted human to human.

    According to the agonising of the sheep and beef farmer, if they don’t find solutions “they may as well pack it in” according to one representativee.

    So, the use of sarin is a “red-line”, a “game-changer” says Obama, yet the US and Co. are being a bit more cautious before rushing in this time it appears.

    and according to a commentator on the Auckland transport bind; “cycling (if possible) really does blow all other forms of transport away”.

11. AsleepWhileWalking 11

    27 April 2013 at 3:13 pm

    Latest spin from Rugby Union http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/8604494/Rugby-bad-boys-paying-the-penalty

    No sympathy here. If psychological stress is a job issue then screen them for it before hiring them in the first place.

    • ghostrider888 11.1

      27 April 2013 at 3:30 pm

      Doug Sellman is the man to go to concerning the addiction issues NZ faces.
      “professional sports are just rife with mental health issues”-Karen Nimmo
      “rugby administrators are inconsistent in their enforcement of ‘codes of conduct'”

      Rob Nichol, an apologist for big-money sports investment effectively, nonetheless identifies the two big issues professional sports (and those who aspire to participation in the field) face;
      -integrity
      -mental health of athletes (just consider Susan Devoy; too many shuttles to the head).

12. Murray Olsen 12

    27 April 2013 at 4:35 pm

    I’d like to thank anyone who is marching today against the theft of our national assets. I am unable to be there, but am with you in spirit.
    To the scum who wish to sell us out: Kaore e mau te rongo–ake, ake!

    • LynWiper 12.1

      27 April 2013 at 4:58 pm

      +100 Ditto, as above

13. Pete 13

    27 April 2013 at 6:58 pm

    Swaps and detivatives rate fixing investigation hits Bank of America Merrill Lynch

    After fining banks billions of dollars over the last year for distorting a key interest rate known as Libor, regulators in the U.S. are now investigating whether a more obscure rate in another huge market is also rigged.

    The rate, known as ISDAfix, is a benchmark in the $379 trillion market for interest rate swaps, which corporations and governments use to fine-tune their borrowing costs. U.S. regulators have subpoenaed as many as 15 banks and about a dozen current and former brokers at ICAP (IAP), the company that collects the data submitted by banks to set ISDAfix prices, to determine if they’re colluding to manipulate quotes. ICAP said in a statement on April 9 that it had no knowledge of price manipulations by its brokers, and that it is conducting its own inquiry.

    http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-04-18/meet-isdafix-the-libor-scandals-sequel

    It should surprise no one that among the players implicated in this scheme to fix the prices of interest-rate swaps are the same megabanks – including Barclays, UBS, Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase and the Royal Bank of Scotland – that serve on the Libor panel that sets global interest rates.

    http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/everything-is-rigged-the-biggest-financial-scandal-yet-20130425

    NB: Bank of America bought Merrill Lynch in 2009

    Five questions about the CFTC’s Isdafix probe

    The ISDA includes foreign exchange derivatives among its suite of products.

    • ghostrider888 13.1

      27 April 2013 at 7:15 pm

      I read those links thanks Pete; too blown out to comment.

    • Colonial Viper 13.2

      27 April 2013 at 7:27 pm

      Zero Hedge does a brief out take from the story for those who want a summary.

      http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-04-26/illuminati-were-amateurs-matt-taibbi-explains-how-everything-rigged

    • muzza 13.3

      27 April 2013 at 9:38 pm

      Another .5cent equivilant fine coming their way, and the system will remain unchanged!

      Been caught stealing (the energy of the entire planet)

14. Morrissey 14

    27 April 2013 at 7:22 pm

    Shoddy standards continue to erode the integrity of TVNZ news
    Why would anyone trust this television station?
    Television One News, Saturday 27 April 2013

    Thousands of people turned out on the streets this afternoon to protest against the Government’s plan to flog off our national assets. But not according to one crusty old newsreader on Television One. I switched on my television just after 6:30 this evening to hear this…

    Peter Williams: “HUNDREDS of people turned out in marches all over the country today…”

    Given the fact that there were hundreds of protestors in Tauranga alone, it seems certain that there were several thousand marchers over the whole country.

    http://www.sunlive.co.nz/news/42694-marching-against-asset-sales.html

    Yet someone gave that silly old fool Peter Williams a script that said there were only “hundreds” of marchers nationwide. Or maybe Williams adjusted the figure himself; in light of his many nasty, smug little comments over the years, I would not put it past him to do such a thing.

    After that came the preview of the sports news. This was equally abject, equally foolish, equally contrary to reality….

    Jenny-May Coffin: “The Blues and Hurricanes have both lost to Aussie opposition. Both games were superb spectacles but the Australian teams were WAY TOO STRONG.”

    THE FACTS…
    The Auckland Blues lost to Queensland by one point in a closely fought away game, in Brisbane. The Blues scored the only try, a beauty by Jackson Willison. The Reds were extremely fortunate to win.
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10880055

    In Palmerston North, the Hurricanes lost 16-18 to the Cape Town Stormers. Both sides scored two tries, and the Hurricanes were unlucky not to win.
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10880001

    Yet some genius wrote a script for Jenny-May Coffin to read out that claimed the Australians were “way too strong.” Perhaps it was the same person who claimed there were only “hundreds” of marchers nationwide today.

    Are they testing the copy-writers at TVNZ for hallucinogenic drug use? And if not, why not?

15. Salsy 15

    27 April 2013 at 7:30 pm

    I found it strange watching the news – no mention of the Stewart Island oil leaking fishing vessel country of origin – why it ended up on rocks. Just the name Sureste – and a seemingly relaxed Environment Southland – heavy weather had dispursed most of the oil away.

    Is this the same Sur Este – one of the Korean-flagged fishing vessels recently in the news for abusing crew?

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/8266324/Fishing-crew-walk-off-ship-in-Timaru

    • McFlock 15.1

      27 April 2013 at 9:15 pm

      mentioned on three news

    • Populuxe1 15.2

      28 April 2013 at 11:10 pm

      Yes, it is

16. BLiP 16

    27 April 2013 at 8:37 pm

    ‘

    Here’s an odd thing – an application from the FBI to hack a computer which was denied on the basis that the target computer is outside the territorial limit. I guess it just a Texas judge, so presumably the hacking of Kim Dotcom’s computers must have been issued by someone from the World Court, right?

    http://cryptome.org/2013/04/tx-search.pdf

    • Colonial Viper 16.1

      27 April 2013 at 9:20 pm

      Dotcom’s house was raided by NZ authorities, not by American. (although the Americans instigated and supervised it). This is also why the NZ courts system has jurisdiction over the incident.

17. Draco T Bastard 17

    27 April 2013 at 10:32 pm

    Too-big-to-fail banks implicated in $500 trillion fraud: biggest price-rigging scandal in history

    And here’s what we know so far: The CFTC has sent subpoenas to ICAP and to as many as 15 of those member banks, and plans to interview about a dozen ICAP employees from the company’s office in Jersey City, New Jersey. Moreover, the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, or ISDA, which works together with ICAP (for U.S. dollar transactions) and Thomson Reuters to compute the ISDAfix benchmark, has hired the consulting firm Oliver Wyman to review the process by which ISDAfix is calculated. Oliver Wyman is the same company that the British Bankers’ Association hired to review the Libor submission process after that scandal broke last year. The upshot of all of this is that it looks very much like ISDAfix could be Libor all over again.

    Yeah, private banks – just so fucken trustworthy.

    • Colonial Viper 17.1

      27 April 2013 at 10:37 pm

      Remember that these private banks are empowered by the central banks, and that the top execs of both move freely between each others organisations at the highest levels.

      A true “inside job”.

    • geoff 17.2

      28 April 2013 at 12:11 am

      cheers, draco

      Matt Taibbi of The Exile no less

    • red rattler 17.3

      28 April 2013 at 12:55 am

      What’s new? The whole 20th century was one of concentration of capital into giant industrial and banking trusts, combines and cartels.

      Its called state monopoly capitalism.

      Competition is for losers. You only survive by getting bigger. Once you are big enough you can corner any market, land, finance, oil etc and set up a cartel especially if you can buy the govt. Land is a natural monopoly, but in finance you buy the govt and get it to license you to print money, set interest rates, get bailed out blah blah.

      Its not new, its not an aberration, its not corruption, its the way the capitalist system works by outgrowing its competitive origins and using state power to bully all and sundry to accept your monopoly as god’s gift.

      The system has to run like this because that’s the only way it can continue to accumulate and concentrate private wealth at the top, i.e. by making sure that only those at the top can compete.

      So competition is squeezed upward out of markets, out of national jurisdictions and into international trusts that use the power of their state machines to bully their rivals. Its also squeezed downwards into the surplus population to divide and rule the working class. The result is world wars. US vs China is the current world war in the making.

      Even at the beginning of the 20th century such was the fusion of industrial capital and banking capital that Lenin coined the term ‘finance capital’ to express this fact.

      Today the term ‘finance capital’ is used to mean ‘money’ or ‘banking’ capital, when in reality it is fused with industrial capital.

      As I said none of this is new. The constant surprise expressed by these ‘players’ as to the depth of collusion in business and banking is evidence of their ignorance as to how the system really works.

      This sort of learned stupidity is part of the process of legitimating capitalism.

      • Draco T Bastard 17.3.1

        28 April 2013 at 10:57 am

        Its not new, its not an aberration, its not corruption, its the way the capitalist system works…

        It’s not new, it is how the capitalist system works and it is corrupt.

        This sort of learned stupidity is part of the process of legitimating capitalism.

        My latest thought on the matter is that the whole neo-liberal paradigm isn’t actually an economic theory (How can it be? It’s not even remotely explaining the reality) but is just a means to legitimate the continued accumulation of the communities wealth into fewer and fewer hands.

        • red rattler 17.3.1.1

          28 April 2013 at 11:42 am

          Agree DTB if you use a standard of ‘corruption’ external to capitalism. Capitalism is inherently corrupt compared to pre-capitalist standards of communal sharing of social resources, and compared to post-capitalist concepts of communal existence. It breaks what is a fundamental rule of social reproduction (i.e. survival) which is “from each according to their ability and to each according to their needs”. It’s transgression of this rule is what is driving it to destroy humanity and nature.

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