Open mike 28/09/2015

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1. Tautoko Mangō Mata 1

   28 September 2015 at 7:41 am

   Note the unsubtle advertising for the National Party in the Herald article by Claire Trevett, titled “Syria to grab UN focus on Key’s visit.” The article is about the PM but the photo shows Key with the National Party logo on the rostrum in the forefront.
   • Tautoko Mangō Mata 1.1

     28 September 2015 at 8:07 am

     Product placement is the inclusion of a branded product in media, usually without explicit reference to the product.

     (The product being the National Party “brand”.)

     How much did the Herald get for that or are they doing it free?
     • Lanthanide 1.1.1

       28 September 2015 at 9:23 am

       Yes, I agree, all photos of political leaders in newspapers should be completely and utterly devoid of their party branding, at all times.

       🙄
       • alwyn 1.1.1.1

         28 September 2015 at 2:19 pm

         I guess you think that The Herald is biased when it runs this story?
         http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11520183
         Or perhaps this one?
         http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11519500
         Or maybe this one?
         http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11511627
         • Lanthanide 1.1.1.1.1

           28 September 2015 at 2:22 pm

           Totes biased, you can tell by the way they have a party leader with their party branding in the same photo together.
           • alwyn 1.1.1.1.1.1

             28 September 2015 at 2:37 pm

             Actually, in Andrew Little’s case at least it is just an easy way for the paper to get around the dilemma that most New Zealand people would be hard pressed to actually identify the fellow.
             Using this stock photo of AL saves then having to caption a neutral photo of him, without a background of the Labour party clue, with something like the following.
             “Andrew Little ( currently the head of the New Zealand Labour Party in the NZ Parliament)”.
             The background in the stock photo saves them having to explain who the little-known man in the photo is.

             ps. And yes I did see the smiley face when I first read your comment.
             • Lanthanide …

               28 September 2015 at 3:04 pm

               Down with party branding!

               All party logos should be plain black font on a white rectangular background.

               “Parties” with only single MPs in parliament must use Comic Sans for their party logo, all other parties must use Verdana.
         • weston 1.1.1.1.2

           28 September 2015 at 8:44 pm

           fair enough the seccond link though the heather whatshername story is laughable this poor girl who looks like she has barely completed puberty is completely clueless and would probably be better off working at mcdonalds or pac n save than attempting to comment on politics
           • alwyn 1.1.1.1.2.1

             28 September 2015 at 9:34 pm

             I never actually read any of these stories.
             I just remembered that The Herald tends to use a lot of stock photo’s and that they had a particularly noticeable one of Andrew Little that they seemed to use on every story about him. I simply looked for Herald stories about him and linked the first three that had the standard photo.

             I do agree with Lanthanide about the black and white on a plain background though. We could extend it to using standard slogans like the ones on cigarette packets as well.

             Labour “Voting Labour is dangerous to your health”
             National “Voting National will shorten your life”
             Green “Voting Green will cause dementia”
             NZF “Voting for Winston will give you nappy rash”
             and so on.
             • weston …

               28 September 2015 at 10:28 pm

               sorry alwyn i missed the real point shouldnt have had the seccond gnt !
     • Morrissey 1.1.2

       28 September 2015 at 11:10 am

       They do it reflexively and automatically. The Herald is, more than ever, a National Party publication.
2. Draco T Bastard 2

   28 September 2015 at 9:03 am

   A beginner’s guide to neoliberalism – listen now

   Neoliberalism – it’s a word that often comes up in discussions of political theory; blamed or praised for creating the economic system we live in today.

   But what are the values and ideas behind neoliberalism? Where did it come from and how did it spread? Is it still around today? And how could we do things differently?
3. Draco T Bastard 3

   28 September 2015 at 9:06 am

   UK Labour have put together their new Economic Advisory:

   The Committee, which contains a broad based group of world leading economists, includes:

   • Mariana Mazzucato, Professor, University of Sussex
   • Joseph Stiglitz, Professor, Columbia University, recipient of the 2001 Nobel Memorial Prize in economics.
   • Thomas Piketty, Professor, Paris School of Economics
   • Anastasia Nesvetailova, Professor, City University London
   • Danny Blanchflower, Bruce V, Rauner Professor of Economics Dartmouth and Stirling, Ex-member of the MPC
   • Ann Pettiffor, Director of Policy Research in Macroeconomics (PRIME), and an Honorary Research Fellow at the Political Economy Research Centre of City University

   Should make for some interesting policy ideas coming out of it.
4. Draco T Bastard 4

   28 September 2015 at 9:12 am

   If VW made countries…
   • weka 4.1

     28 September 2015 at 10:07 am

     heh.
5. Penny Bright 5

   28 September 2015 at 10:05 am

   “Nothing to hide – nothing to fear?”

   Is this the reason for the latest big distraction from Anne Tolley?

   How convenient ……

   ————————————————————————-

   Groups fighting TPP secrecy set for their day in court
   |
   Last updated 07:07 28/09/2015

   HAMISH RUTHERFORD

   Trade Minister Tim Groser has refused to give details of New Zealand’s position in TPP negotiations.ROBYN EDIE

   A group of organisations wanting to cast light on Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations will tell the High Court on Monday that Trade Minister Tim Groser is acting unlawfully in refusing to outline New Zealand’s position.

   Jane Kelsey, a Professor of Law and trade commentator has filed a statement of claim seeking a declaration that Groser breached the provisions of the Official Information Act.

   In February Groser’s office issued a blanket refusal to release documents to Kelsey related to negotiations on the proposed 12 country trade deal, which is yet
   • savenz 5.1

     28 September 2015 at 1:54 pm

     Go Jane Kelsey.
     Go freedom of Speech and accountability for government officials.
6. Morrissey 6

   28 September 2015 at 11:07 am

   Ann Tolley’s vicious ramblings about sterilizing the poor didn’t arise out of nothing.
   Another National M.P. has denigrated “low-lifes”, “ferals” and “the handicapped” for years.
   RadioLIVE, Friday 18 February 2011, 10:50 a.m.

   In 1978 the late, great Larry Hagman had a choice to make. He’d been offered the lead role in two new television series: a comedy called The Waverly Wonders and a soap opera called Dallas. He eventually opted for the latter “because there’s not one redeeming nice character in the whole show.” Hagman explained that during a highly entertaining interview on National Radio in February 2011.

   Later that same morning, listeners to another radio station had the dubious pleasure of hearing someone who, even in that cast of villains at Southfork, would have been an exceptionally nasty character….

   MICHAEL LAWS: No. No. The government shouldn’t put another cracker in. The intellectually handicapped get enough money. I’m pretty reluctant to give them ANYTHING more. No more money should be thrown away on the intellectually handicapped. They’ve chosen the most expensive way of living. If they have to go back to large aggregations of them, so be it. Welcome to living within your means. …. I tell you what, that Indian chap that’s been given life, he should be given a BULLET. There are too many people alive in this country that should be dead. … We’ve got Margaret on the line.

   CALLER MARGARET: Institutions are not good places. People deserve to have some kind of life.

   MICHAEL LAWS: Yeah, but, uh, I went to a boys’ boarding school….

   More wit and wisdom from Michael Laws here….
   http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-22022012/#comment-439366
7. Chooky 7

   28 September 2015 at 11:43 am

   This is very interesting …whether you have a member of family or friend OR YOURSELF with an addiction…whether it be gaming or alcohol or drugs or anything else eg bloody blogs

   ‘Neuroscientist Mark Lewis – addiction is NOT a disease’

   http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/201772363/neuroscientist-mark-lewis-addiction-is-not-a-disease

   “Professor Marc Lewis is a former drug addict, who recovered and now specialises in addiction. His latest book, The Biology of Desire: Why Addiction is not a Disease, has divided the medical profession, as refutes the medical view of addiction as a brain disease, arguing that it is simply a learned habit that can be broken.”
8. Morrissey 8

   28 September 2015 at 11:49 am

   “I absolutely agree with what Matt said about Anne Tolley.”
   That corpse Mike Williams is a waste of time every Monday morning.
   From the Left and From the Right, Radio NZ National, Monday 28 September 2015
   Kathryn Ryan, Matthew Hooton, Mike Williams

   Once again, Matthew Hooton did the lion’s share of the talking. Williams chuckled appreciatively and endorsed everything Hooton said. As usual, Kathryn Ryan didn’t seem to have much of a clue about anything.

   First up, Hooton delivered a lengthy encomium on the eugenics fanatic Anne Tolley. Even by the abysmal standard of a Hooton speech, this was a cynical, depraved, and partisan expression of support for someone who has been openly voicing some of the most repellent views imaginable. After Hooton’s lengthy monologue, it was time for a response from “the Left”….

   MIKE WILLIAMS: I absolutely agree with what Matt said about Anne Tolley. There were two superb performances on television over the weekend….

   Williams (as usual) did not talk for long, allowing Hooton the opportunity to make some disparaging comments about a social worker who had spoken up for the rights of poor women. Williams said nothing to contradict him.

   KATHRYN RYAN: Now, captain’s calls. Are you being a bit mischievous here, Matthew?

   MIKE WILLIAMS: [chortling] Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm! Of course he is! Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm!

   …..ad nauseam….

   http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-14092015/#comment-1070364
9. Morrissey 9

   28 September 2015 at 12:04 pm

   Everyday Madness
   by ANDREY PANEVIN, Slavyangrad, 26 September 2015

   Perusing the daily headlines has become somewhat like reading a prologue to global conflict, penned by a madman. Every day there is some new-found elaborate Russian plan to overrun the Ukraine, take control of Syria, or conduct programmes of genocide. It seems that every Western reporter has uncovered a conspiracy of their own that firmly pins the blame for the world’s troubles on Putin or the Russian people; the only problem being that all of their sources remain ‘anonymous’ and their stories cannot be confirmed.

   These constant, and often contradictory, reports fill social media streams and television screens, and have become the basis for stock phrases such as ‘Russian aggression’ and ‘Western Values’, which politicians need only utter to convince their constituents that they are indeed righteous while the enemy is not. The insanity of Western political and cultural rhetoric is no longer an undercurrent, instead, with disconcerting ease, it has lodged itself into mainstream conversations. ….

   Read more….
   http://slavyangrad.org/2015/09/26/imperial-madness-2/
   • weston 9.1

     28 September 2015 at 9:03 pm

     putin seems a lot more straight up than most of the other world leaders too and from a russian perspective it cant feel very nice all those nukes pointed in yr dirrection from 800 or so bases arround the world and even the oceans damn neer seething with british french and american nuclear armed subs and aircraft carriers its a wonder russias as stable as what it seems .good on them for giving snowden assylem too
10. keepLeft 10

    28 September 2015 at 12:11 pm

    #savekim

    Rally for Kim! Save Kim Dotcom from Amerikkkan corporate oppression! Kim Dotcom is facing extradition based on trumped up evidence and betrayal by his former comrades (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11519489). If extradited he will be taken to Amerikkka and forced to face Amerikkkan (in)justice system. Let’s get organised comrades!
    • Puckish Rogue 10.1

      28 September 2015 at 12:56 pm

      Save the 1%! Yes!
      • savenz 10.1.1

        28 September 2015 at 2:05 pm

        I think Puckish Rogue, you will find something like 90% of people have used a file website like You-Tube so the case is about Internet freedom and illegal spying. If Hollywood notice something illegal they just ask the file Website to remove it. NO DRAMAS – this is about oppression and control from Big Business in which even Sony’s lawyers confirmed they did not think their was a case and NZ government officials hoodwinked the facts to put a ‘positive’ spin on their bizarre actions of sending in 70 armed defenders to a family with young children to arrest and contain them.
        • Puckish Rogue 10.1.1.1

          28 September 2015 at 2:31 pm

          I’m sure Kim will thank you from his mansion where hes underpaying and threatening the staff working for him
          • weston 10.1.1.1.1

            28 September 2015 at 9:23 pm

            even if he was its completly and utterly irrelavent next to the fact that the key government allowed and approved an fbi style raid on a nz citizen complete with helicopters and swat teams after illeagally using state intelligence agencys to spy on him for months .whether you like the man personaly or not is irrelevant to the fact that as a nz citizen he should have exactly the same rights as you or i.By continuing the key narrative of lets all hate kim .com you are simply letting them get completely away with a gross misuse of state power.Next time you feel like uttering key mantras go back and see the vid of kim dot com pleading pastionately against the gcsb bill in parilment .He was doing all of us a favour.
      • Morrissey 10.1.2

        28 September 2015 at 4:27 pm

        Puckish Rogue, you’re out of your depth. You’ve made some foolish comments on this forum, but that must be about the stupidest of all.
    • savenz 10.2

      28 September 2015 at 1:59 pm

      Go Dotcom. Hope you win! This is not about American corporate oppression it is about corporate welfare and oppression and lobbyists now controlling inter country armed defenders to do their dirty work – without a trial – instead of what they should be doing. The armed defenders and GCSB should not be a private security enforcement agency and spies for Hollywood. Nor should we be giving tax cuts and employment law changes for Hollywood.
      • Chooky 10.2.1

        28 September 2015 at 2:16 pm

        +100 saveNZ
    • xanthe 10.3

      28 September 2015 at 2:30 pm

      Still drip feed of Dotcom communications without context. how long can they keep this up? Surely there must be some sort of actual crime that he committed? Cmon Crown you signed up to liability for billions in damages on our behalf ! You must have something? anything?
      • keepLeft 10.3.1

        28 September 2015 at 7:04 pm

        More lies against Dotcom:

        http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=11520205

        Ha! If mega was paying people $50,000 to upload movies mega would have gone bankrupt! How stupid do they think we are?

        #savekim
11. Alan W 11

    28 September 2015 at 12:31 pm

    Rally for Kim?
    So a few people with limited knowledge wave a few banners and chant a few chants, Yep, that is going to make a huge difference to the outcome
    • maui 11.1

      28 September 2015 at 12:55 pm

      Maybe you would prefer a society where corporations have even more power of you.
      • savenz 11.1.1

        28 September 2015 at 2:05 pm

        +1 Maui
12. maui 12

    28 September 2015 at 12:47 pm

    Have to wonder if the Pope’s protection crew is more of a threat to the Pope than any other threat.
    https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://img.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/files/2015/09/489847586-800×533.jpg&w=1484
13. Tautoko Mangō Mata 13

    28 September 2015 at 12:52 pm

    Very interesting and scary.

    “Gordon Campbell on New Zealand’s TPP done deal on dairy, and on investor-state disputes”
    http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2015/09/28/gordon-campbell-on-tpp-dairy-and-investor-state-disputes/
    • veutoviper 13.1

      28 September 2015 at 3:17 pm

      Gordon Campbell’s post today as linked by TMM above is a MUST READ!

      In essence, based on information available overseas (eg US and Canadian news reports, Inside Trade etc referenced in the post), Campbell considers that a deal has possibly already been made re NZ diary exports to the US. Hence, Key’s statement last week that a TPPA may still be signed – compared to Groser’s strange remarks a few days ago that he will not be heading to the ministerial meeting underway in Atlanta unless a better deal is possible.

      “…For the past week, the government has been actively downplaying the likely deal on dairy access to overseas markets that New Zealand may achieve via the TPP . Prime Minister John Key has warned that the dairy deal outcome will not be ‘gold-plated’ ; and on Friday Trade Minister Tim Groser told RNZ that if a better deal than the one hitherto on offer wasn’t available, it would hardly be worth his time attending the upcoming ministerial talks in Atlanta this week, which are expected to conclude the TPP deal. It was a peculiar renark. Surely if the dairy deal is on the ropes, should’t Groser be rushing to help push it over the line. Surely five years of negotiations deserve no less than 110 per cent effort at the finale. What’s going on here?

      The likely explanation is that the dairy deal, has in fact, been done. Over the weekend, evidence has emerged that a new deal for NZ on dairy – and a solution to the previous impassae – has been reached, and is being reported on in North America. What our government has done is to talk down the likely outcome, so that it can maximise the gains of pulling the rabbit successfully out of the hat. Secrecy breeds the opportunities for this kind of spin. …”

      Campbell then goes on to discuss the likely negative reaction of the US and Canadian dairy industries to such a deal re NZ dairy import access especially in the midst of the Canadian election; and other outstanding issues in the TPPA negotiations of concern – eg investor state disputes.

      IMHO, Campbell’s article makes a lot of sense. The alarm bells have been going off in my head in the last week as to the reason for the distractions such as flags and pandas, and today Tolley’s latest beneficiary bashing. We can but hope that the overall negotiations fail …

      Please note that I am not against improved export access for NZ products to other countries, particularly North America. In fact quite the opposite. I am not going to go into detail, but I actually spent a number of my teen years in that part of the world as a result of my father’s work involved in promoting and gaining access to NZ exports to those markets. BUT I am totally opposed to the loss of sovereignty issues etc that the TPPA appears to also entail, going on the little we know about it.
      • veutoviper 13.1.1

        28 September 2015 at 3:39 pm

        Snap. Having pressed submit and then left the computer to do its thing, came back to find a post had been put up on the Campbell article while I was drafting the above.
        • lprent 13.1.1.1

          28 September 2015 at 3:47 pm

          Happens. I was going to push a post on it myself, but then saw someone else had done so.

          It is a very interesting read. I’ll have to have a peek at the links later in the evening.
14. Ovid 14

    28 September 2015 at 12:54 pm

    TPP COUNTRIES HEAD TO ATLANTA WITHOUT DEAL IN SIGHT ON AUTO ROO

    Schewel, Matthew. Inside US Trade33.37 (Sep 25, 2015).

    …

    But there have been no publicly announced meetings between TPP countries on dairy or biologics since the Maui meeting. New Zealand’s trade ministry indicated in a Sept. 24 press release that negotiators were still far from laying out acceptable options on dairy market access.

    It did so by implicitly threatening that Trade Minister Tim Groser would not attend the TPP ministerial scheduled for Sept. 30-Oct. 1 in Atlanta absent more progress on dairy market access. “Should negotiators make sufficient progress resolving outstanding issues, including dairy market access, to warrant ministerial engagement, Mr. Groser intends to travel to Atlanta to meet other trade ministers,” the ministry said.

    However, the ministry said its officials would definitely attend the Sept. 26-29 chief negotiators meeting in Atlanta.

    …

    Both the Peruvian and New Zealand governments signaled this week in separate documents that the outstanding issues generally fall into the categories of intellectual property (IP), market access, rules of origin, textiles, and legal and institutional issues. New Zealand’s trade ministry said in a Sept. 22 letter responding to an official information request that it would send negotiators for these areas as well as state-owned enterprises to the Atlanta meetings.
15. Draco T Bastard 15

    28 September 2015 at 1:29 pm

    Unfortunately, having studied the quality of jobs which many people in the UK are now doing, this is not entirely the case. The UK labour market is, indeed, performing well but we have a growing and potentially corrosive problem of poor quality, precarious and temporary work which threatens our productivity and competitiveness, levels of social inclusion and, ultimately, the health of the workforce.

    And what’s National been doing about this? Oh, that’s right – making sure that there’s more precariousness in work, that beneficiaries are getting forced off benefits that they’re entitled to and generally making things worse.
    • Draco T Bastard 15.1

      28 September 2015 at 4:59 pm

      Dammit, forgot the main link: A bad job is harder on your mental health than unemployment
16. Once was Tim 16

    28 September 2015 at 2:08 pm

    I kwow I’ve been avoiding TS to make comments, it’s just that Idiot/Savant is above them (probably with justification – no doubt the evidence will appear soon); TDB is not that responsive due to delays in comments appearing – such that conversation is near impossible; and TS is very very tolerant of absolute imbeciles – I guess that’s democrissy).

    I was just wondering if anyone new WHEN John Key is going to embarrass us all at the U.N. – going forwid?
    I hope they’ve found suffishint Bunglish trenslaydis – although thinking about it it’s probably better they don’t

    [lprent: We tend to the view that even imbeciles (and people with lousy spelling and grammar) can have a valid viewpoint and are entitled to express it. After all the Electoral Act generally holds to that viewpoint as well, which is a sufficient legal guideline.

    What we don’t tolerate are idiotic behaviour that violates our behavioral policies. Then we act more like bouncers to discourage similar behaviour in the future. Surprisingly, most people respect that (and those who do not have to find other places to comment). ]
17. Morrissey 17

    28 September 2015 at 5:35 pm

    “I’m not sure it’s the rugby.”
    Leading thinker tries to explain the huge RWC crowds in England
    The Panel, Radio NZ National, Monday 28 September 2015
    Jim Mora, Gary McCormick, Wendyl Nissen

    It is not at all controversial to point out that the standard of New Zealand rugby commentary is about as bad as commentary gets. The list of useless and/or offensive rugby commentators is a long one. Here are twenty of the worst:

    1. Tim (“Someone might attack John Hart’s horse”) Bickerstaff (R.I.P)
    2. Scott “Sumo” Stevenson
    3. Murray (“Too many boofhead Islanders in the team”) Deaker
    4. Martin “Moron” Devlin
    5. Doug (“That black PIG Mugabe!”) Golightly
    6. “Sir” John (“Too many Darkies”) Graham
    7. Wynne “Sensible” Gray
    8. Andy (“Too many Darkies”) Haden
    9. Jim “Kadaverous” Kayes
    10. David (“Too many dark faces for my taste”) Kirk
    11. Paul “Lackwit” Lewis
    12. Willy (“Gwaham Henwy can just PISS OFF!”) Lose, AKA Wiwwy Wose
    13. John (“Are there too many darkies?”) Matheson (R.I.P.)
    14. John (“Second Fiddle”) McBeth
    15. Graham “Moods” Moody (R.I.P.)
    16. Chris “Rat Shit” Rattue
    17. Andrew (“Nothing to do in Cardiff”) Saveloy
    18. Tony (“It wasn’t really me who hospitalized my fiancée”) Veitch, AKA “Veitchy”
    19. Nigel (How many times can I say “Opportunity”?) Yalden
    20. Spiro (“Rugby is ballet, it’s opera, it’s Swiss watch-making”) Zavos

    This afternoon, sufferers of Jim Mora’s light chat show were inflicted with yet another member of this dismal fellowship….

    JIM MORA: Mark, these crowds in England for the Rugby World Cup have been phenomenal. I see there was a record set for the Ireland-Romania match.

    MARK REASON: [speaking slowly and carefully so as to convey deep thoughtfulness] I’m not sure it’s the rugby. It’s the occasion. …

    Reason chuntered on in this deliberate, utterly ridiculous fashion for a long, long minute. Then he suddenly, thankfully, stopped talking.

    JIM MORA: Shrewd analysis. That’s Mark Reason!

    GARY McCORMICK: Really good analysis, Mark.

    Aficionados of this kind of high-flown analysis should tune in tomorrow. Reason is on The Panel every day until the end of the tournament.
18. Draco T Bastard 18

    28 September 2015 at 5:55 pm

    Planet Key is expanding:

    The proposed merger between M2 Group and Vocus Communications will create more competition in the market, according to its executives.

    The two merged companies will be valued at more than $3 billion, creating the fourth biggest vertically aligned telco in the Australian market and third in New Zealand.

    Vocus CEO and founder, James Spenceley, said the merger created more competition rather than less in the market.

    So, two companies are merging to form one vertically integrated company, no new companies are being created by this move and they’re claiming that competition is increasing?

    Yeah, pull the other one, it’s got bells on.
19. Morrissey 19

    28 September 2015 at 7:58 pm

    Matthew Palmer QC says TPPA opponents “not a bunch of wild-eyed radicals”;
    He and his media parrots need to consider their words more carefully.
    Checkpoint, Radio NZ National, Monday 28 September 2015

    About 6:10 p.m. ….

    Talking about the government’s refusal to release information about the talks, Patrick O’Meara repeated the careless phrasing of Matthew Palmer QC that the groups seeking the judicial review were “not a bunch of wild-eyed radicals” and included such “reputable” organizations as Consumer New Zealand, Ngati Kahungunu and the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists.

    By using such irresponsible and cavalier words, Matthew Palmer and the journalists that parrot his words are (perhaps unwittingly) demeaning and even demonizing the people and organizations that have been trying to talk seriously about this assault on democracy for several years.

    By the way, am I the only person to be gravely concerned at the recent steep decline in quality of Checkpoint? With Mary Wilson being kicked upstairs and no longer able to discomfit the likes of Bill English or Gerry Brownlee, the dominant voice there now is Jim Mora, who is simply not up to the job.

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/285448/anti-tpp-campaigners-argue-text-ban-is-unlawful
    • weston 19.1

      28 September 2015 at 10:04 pm

      i thought checkpoints been crap for ages i cant even listen to it anymore yeah be great if mary really did get into brownlee and co but trying to make a mountain out of a molehill perpetualy is just a drag to listen to .Plus the guts of the content has been more than thoroughly turned over during the day ! Cam slater and the nats call it red radio i call it radio repetition and these days i can only handle it in small doses .really enjoy though your regurgitations for our entertainment good stuff youve obviously got a solid constitution.!1

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