Open mike 27/08/2011

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, August 27th, 2011 - 32 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner).

Step right up to the mike…

32 comments on “Open mike 27/08/2011 ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. The Voice of Reason 1
    27 August 2011 at 7:15 am

    (Put this on the wrong open mike last night, but worth repeating, methinks.)
     
    Credit where it’s due department, potential United Future voter Pete George handles the big questions well!
     
    (Takes a while to load, btw. The fun starts about the 15 minute mark.)
     
     
     

    • Pete George 1.1
      27 August 2011 at 7:43 am

      Thanks. Things are different in the real world, blogs are useful – and sometimes pesky – but it’s great to get out and do real stuff.

      A momentous occasion last weekend! After years of blogging I finally met a blogperson in real life. It’s always worth keeping in mind online that real people are behind the keyboards and names and handles. It’s a bit like Vote Chat and meeting politicians and seeing what’s behind the media veneer – and usually gives a better impression.

    • Ianupnorth 1.2
      27 August 2011 at 10:25 am

      Won’t load, maybe it has a NI filter?
       

      • The Voice of Reason 1.2.1
        27 August 2011 at 10:38 am

        Seems to take 2-3 minutes to load up on my lappie, Ian, but you have to click on the ‘start’ arrow first and let it download itself. When it’s finished, the opening music will launch and then you can just slide it to the 15 minute mark. Then you’ll see a younger, happier version of Don Brash regularly referring to United Future as ‘them’, which doesn’t inspire confidence in a long term relationship!

        • Pete George 1.2.1.1
          27 August 2011 at 9:42 pm

          Big difference. Brash tried the big bash with a struggling party. I’m merging one part with a party quietly rebuilding and extending it’s reach. No wonder I’m happier.

    • felix 1.3
      28 August 2011 at 10:49 pm

      ahahaha! And he STILL didn’t say!

  2. headbanger 2
    27 August 2011 at 9:32 am

    Ministerial U-turn costs taxpayer millions

    In January all of the farmers were to be cleared off the land bordering Lake Ellesmere and were told so. But DOC’s decision not to renew the licence was overturned by ministers Wilkinson (Conservation Minister) and Carter, assisted by MP Amy Adams.

    A five-year extension was approved to Barry Clark as a result. Wilkinson and Carter were accused of bullying DOC staff to overturn their decision and failed to consult with Ngai Tahu. At the time Ellesmere was the second most polluted lake in New Zealand.

    Seven months later the taxpayer will be buying the same land from farmer Clark after a ministerial u-turn meaning that Wilkinson and Carter’s improper intervention will cost the taxpayer millions.

    Comments anyone?

    Articles:
    27/8/11 – http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/5509883/12m-plan-to-clean-up-lake
    22/1/11 – http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/4569111/Ministers-step-in-on-DOC-lease

    • Colonial Viper 2.1
      27 August 2011 at 9:53 am

      This is just shit. 15 farmers get a payout for what? Rewarding bad behaviour, that’s what. Good farming practice means fencing land off from waterways, replanting natives etc. along there. Now these farmers are going to get hundreds of thousands of dollars each because they could not be assed to do any of those things previously.

      • Janice 2.1.1
        27 August 2011 at 10:06 am

        They have had to sack a lot of DOC and MAF staff and cut down on services to get these funds for their farmer mates. I wonder when the rich kiwi fruit farmers in the BOP put together the cutting of the biosecurity staff with the arrival of PSA?

    • rosy 2.2
      27 August 2011 at 10:03 am

      Very nice connecting of the dots, headbanger. I think I understand your moniker.

    • Draco T Bastard 2.3
      27 August 2011 at 10:35 am

      Seven months later the taxpayer will be buying the same land from farmer Clark after a ministerial u-turn meaning that Wilkinson and Carter’s improper intervention will cost the taxpayer millions.

      Can we bill the bastards for it?

  3. ianmac 3
    27 August 2011 at 10:13 am

    Anyone hear Brazilian journalist Pepe Escobar who writes for Asia Times Online, on Kim Hill this morning? He thinks that the Countries who are “helping” Syria have eyes fixed on not only oil but huge reserves of water. He thinks that Syria will be a cross between Iraq and Afghanistan in stability. (Robert Fisk’s headline “With Gaddafi at large, a guerrilla war eroding the new powers is inevitable” via No Right Turn, seems to be as pessimistic.)

    So lets celebrate Syria’s freedom? Yeah right!

  4. Dave 4
    27 August 2011 at 10:52 am

    How does Duncan Garner get the political commentator position for channel 3? The man is an unmatched dork, I thought Paul Holmes was bad, but at least he is obviously got the blue lenses on. Journalism is as dead as the dinosaurs in NZ, bring back John Hawkesby, this current crop wouldn’t deserve to shine his shoes.

    • Jilly Bee 4.1
      27 August 2011 at 7:51 pm

      Dave, John Hawkesby, was a newsreader – you should probably be referring to Jane Young who was the TV3 Political Reporter, who really knew her subject. She is now a contributor to The Pundit.

    • Jum 4.2
      27 August 2011 at 9:28 pm

      Dave,

      Did you hear Pepe Escobar say that he was ‘a journalist; we deal in facts’?

      I burst out laughing and nearly fell out of bed. He obviously doesn’t work in New Zealand or for the fairfax and other whorish media does he.

  5. oftenpuzzled 5
    27 August 2011 at 2:53 pm

    Why is our Prime Minster suggesting that this country will give millions of dollars to Lybia when they have hundreds of millions of dollars in frozen assets? How come there is so much surplus aid that this can be done? If we want to give aid to Africa what about the horned of Africa where millions of people are dieing through starvation? Or to our neighbours in the Pacific where this Government cut aid. Seems one of those ridiculous thoughtless and not thought through comments this Prime Minister is so good at.

    • Draco T Bastard 5.1
      27 August 2011 at 5:02 pm

      I suspect the actual word that should be used is bribe rather than aid. Next question would be just who the hell is he trying to bribe?

    • Vicky32 5.2
      28 August 2011 at 5:13 pm

      Why is our Prime Minster suggesting that this country will give millions of dollars to Lybia when they have hundreds of millions of dollars in frozen assets?

      Exactly! What on earth was Key doing jumping in at all?

      • Jum 5.2.1
        28 August 2011 at 5:44 pm

        Vicky 32

        Key is America’s man Vicky32. They told him to jump; he said how high. Get used to it.

  6. millsy 6
    27 August 2011 at 4:24 pm

    This is really disgusting

    Locking toilets so students couldnt use them is abhorrent, and this bitch who calls herself a principal needs to be chucked out on her ear yesterday.

    Unlike what people might think, students actually have a right to decent abultion facilities.

    Signs of things to come, those in authority get their kicks from depriving young girls of toiliet facilities and telling them go to and piss in a bush.

    What if they were menstrating?

    • ianmac 6.1
      27 August 2011 at 4:55 pm

      It beggars belief Millsy. It suggest an unimaginative Principal and staff who have perhaps taken a line from the Government. If it moves punish it.
      To lock toilets against kids is probably illegal. When schools loose their toilets/water they usually send the kids home pronto, but to stop kids from using them is wrong. If some kids are disrespecting them, it suggest there is a problem within the school generally.
      (But just send John and Anne in and with a wave and a smile and kids will suddenly be proud of their school ans toilets will become a thing of beauty. Perhaps Anne could introduce a National Standard for toilets?)

  7. Jim Nald 7
    27 August 2011 at 10:38 pm

    If, in NZ today still, rugby is religion, would the following be blasphemy?
    If there is a least worst time for the ABs to choke, it is tonight rather than the upcoming months during RWC.
    Less worse to choke now than to choke later.

  8. Georgecom 8
    28 August 2011 at 8:29 pm

    Congratulations to Hillary Calvert for being, er, dropped from the ACT party list. Don Brash richly rewarded Clavert for her support during his putsch by cutting her out of the top 10 on the ACT list. Doesn’t say much for Brash and his commitment to reward loyalty. His purchase of the ACT Party was bad enough however, sorry Hillary, his project for take over of the party and stacking it with his mates is total. If that means you are a casualty then that is expedient for Brash.

    And the ACT Party, man, you have to be white male and old to be at the top. Anyone not old, male and white need not apply. “Young” Don Nicholson is the youthful face of ACT. The only other party with such a similar homogeneous list of candidates is the Maroi Party and they are clear about who their support base is and even they have women at the top.