Open mike 29/06/2011

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, June 29th, 2011 - 92 comments
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92 comments on “Open mike 29/06/2011 ”

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  1. Bored 1
    29 June 2011 at 7:47 am

    Defense, like lor’in’orda is a National party shibboleth. And they have failed to deliver. Worse they are planning to shrink it further.

    Couple of quick questions…
    * is the world in 2011 any safer than before, can we afford to let our gaurd down and be at the mercy of whoever decides to rip off our fisheries, threaten trade routes, attack our strategic partners and interests?
    * is it right that we are allowing the private sector to take over key defense roles as opposed to keepig all military related activities independent? Will the corporations and mercenaries end up being the front line as has happened in Iraq with the US military?

    The silence on this issue from the left is deafening.

    • Bill 1.1
      29 June 2011 at 9:03 am

      The privatisation of the defence forces is disquieting for a host of reasons. So is Labour’s acquiescence. They have stated they are happy with basic concept of ‘civilianization’.

      • vto 1.1.1
        29 June 2011 at 9:06 am

        Didn’t the left experiment successfully with flour bombs in 1981?

        • jingyang 1.1.1.1
          29 June 2011 at 6:42 pm

          Vto, the McGillicuddies have been practicising with flour bombs since the 1970s, and furthermore have always been ‘civilianized’ – they also offered the cheapest defence policy. Clearly someone in the National Party has been reading their manifestos…

      • KJT 1.1.2
        29 June 2011 at 12:58 pm

        Labour has not abandoned their support for much of the Neo-Liberal paradigm.

        Makes you wonder how serious they are about being a credible alternative to national.

      • Reality Bytes 1.1.3
        29 June 2011 at 8:28 pm

        Putting on my right wing hat, I’d be very pissed off with that. Saving a couple dozen $K on civilianising a few hundred defence force personal’s positions sounds like very lefty government ideals gone mad…

        But in this case case, this is the Nats + crew doing the cutting. Personally I think it’s better for our fighting forces to also have capable soldiers defending themselves and building infrastructure is just as important as the frontlines.

        • Colonial Viper 1.1.3.1
          30 June 2011 at 12:45 am

          Saving a couple dozen $K on civilianising a few hundred defence force personal’s positions sounds like very lefty government ideals gone mad…

          You clearly don’t know Left from Right very much. Firing Defence Force personal has nothing to do with Left ideals of community, socialism or direct employment. Quite the opposite.

          • Draco T Bastard 1.1.3.1.1
            30 June 2011 at 2:03 am

            The last 20 years is educational about defence. During the 1990s, despite how much the RWNJs seem to have a fetish for guns, National ran down the defence forces. Over the 2000s the Left leaning government began to built them up and now we have a National led government, again against their apparent desire to get in to wars and be a credible force, cutting them to the bare bones. This time though it also comes with guaranteed, no risk profits for their rich mates.

            Defence is a core government service that also strategic information that you don’t want others to know, ergo, you should never contract any of it out.

          • Reality Bytes 1.1.3.1.2
            1 July 2011 at 8:05 pm

            I’m just saying, if it was Labour and co doing the cutting the right wingers would be crying blue murder and treason etc. I’m just trying to illustrate the hypocrisy.

            • Alice 1.1.3.1.2.1
              1 July 2011 at 8:19 pm

              I’m never going to marry you, quit the hints, your too limp and unimportant for my liking, you have no true courage, your not manly enough for me, you are sly, sloppy and second-rate and you ALWAYS take the easy way out- cheating, and lying.

              You call yourself a wolf; please you are more like a sewer rat.

    • Colonial Viper 1.2
      29 June 2011 at 9:37 am

      Bored, the National “Once Were Farmers”, “Once Were Conservatives”, “Once Were Small Businessmen” Party is now just a barely disguised and barely held back implementation group for economic neoliberals and corporate interests.

      Anything which can degrade the nations sovereign strength and let them cut even more taxes for the rich boys is welcome by this bunch.

      I was just saying to someone yesterday (echoing remarks by DTB), that we should have the local ability to make AK 101’s (or AK 103’s), ammunition and high explosives for our armed forces here in NZ. Relying on fragile Steyrs and imported parts from across the world is stupid in a time of peak oil and supply chain fragilities.

      New Zealand needs to build up its local military, home and coastal defence capabilities, not strip it back.

      • Reality Bytes 1.2.1
        29 June 2011 at 8:41 pm

        I thought it was sad how that guy that developed lightweight diesel powered helicopter drones (24hr flight time) was bought out and jailed for hiding his Intellectual Property.

        Shame our government didn’t capitalise on that kind of technology, could have really helped to give us kiwi-underdogs the edge.

        • The Voice of Reason 1.2.1.1
          29 June 2011 at 8:51 pm

          Kiwi underdog? Dya mean the former National Party MP who lied to the receivers of his failed business about a significant asset he was hiding?

        • Draco T Bastard 1.2.1.2
          30 June 2011 at 2:05 am

          Get it right, the scumbag sold the IP with the business. Him trying to hide it was effectively theft.

          • Reality Bytes 1.2.1.2.1
            2 July 2011 at 7:39 pm

            No doubt it was illegal to withold the IP if that was part of the deal, I’m just pointing out that there was some serious potential in the product and tech which could have helped us, and it’s potential was ignored and wasted by our government. Simply yet another tech opportunity wasted and lost AFAIC.

    • Frank Macskasy 1.3
      29 June 2011 at 1:53 pm

      “The silence on this issue from the left is deafening.”

      Of for Flying Spaghetti Monster’s sakes – the government is making hundreds redundant throughout the civil sector on an almost daily basis!! It’s frickin’ hard to keep up with the next batch of sackings.

      How about the Right taking Personal Responsibility in this matter? It’s right wing/National supporters who voted in this government – you guys deal with it. Why the feck do you expect the left to continually address policies that this government implements, and then some rightwingers happen to take exception to???

      The Right claim ‘Personal Responsibility’ as one of their most basic tenets.

      I see precious little of any National supporter taking personal responsibility for their government’s behaviour, thus far.

    • rosy 1.4
      29 June 2011 at 7:20 pm

      And a third question… how on earth did a trade trip turn into one that increased defence ties with India, including a defence advisor being located there at the same time as jobs are being lost in the military here? I’ve not seen any news about this pact (outside of the Stuff news item ). Nothing here about how, what, where this relationship will operate. It all seems a bit strange to me.

  2. Bill 2
    29 June 2011 at 9:24 am

    So first the government changed employment law to accommodate Warner Bros.

    Then it bowed to Auckland Casino.

    And most lately scraped to the insurance companies to protect them from public outrage over cover for Christchurch customers.

    Last night on Campbell live the spokeperson for AMI excused insurance companies not doing the morally right thing on the grounds that it would cost money.

    So only repairs get paid for on houses in red zones. And then the houses get demolished. The government pays GV, ie insurance companies get off the hook. Which means (among other anomalies) that uninsured Christchurch residents who will receive nothing from either the government nor insurance companies are going to be making a financial contribution to those who were insured…or more accurately, subsidising the insurance companies along with every other tax payer in NZ.

    If the government hadn’t essentially bailed the insurance industry, public opinion may well have forced the insurance industry to ‘come to the party’ and either pay replacement value for badly damaged homes regardless of where rebuilding was located or pay for repairs of an order that would avoid land remediation (deep piles sunk to bed rock etc).

    I made a comment last week to the effect that the government should compulsorily purchase land to the west of the city and that that land should be treated (for insurance purposes etc) as though it was the original land in the east.

    But then, that would have put people’s needs first, cost us all a lot less money and placed insurance companies balance sheets second in the scheme of things.

    • Colonial Viper 2.1
      29 June 2011 at 9:39 am

      And even after being bailed out by the Government, insurance companies are not going to cover Christchurch City Council assets any more.

      What are you fraking doing, National.

      • Jim Nald 2.1.1
        29 June 2011 at 12:13 pm

        What is this lot in government doing?
        Hmm, not good.
        Power in their hands
        is not being used with integrity,
        fairness and for overall benefit of the many.

        How this lot is going about with overseas trade
        can give rise to some foreboding.
        With a sleight of their hands,
        New Zealand’s free trade with other countries
        can end up with us being handed over as free gift.

      • Draco T Bastard 2.1.2
        29 June 2011 at 2:01 pm

        What are you fraking doing, National.

        Protecting the profits of Big Business. It’s what they do.

    • ianmac 2.2
      29 June 2011 at 9:56 am

      When the AMI chap was asked if the Replacement Insurance issue had been discussed when negotiating with Government, he looked uncomfortable and said that there had been discussions about many aspects, or words to that effect. It suggests that Mr Brownlie knew well what was about to happen but that presumably could not get in the way of Mr Key’s “good” news could it.
      (At least the AMI chap fronted.)

      • Colonial Viper 2.2.1
        29 June 2011 at 10:01 am

        I’m amazed to hear that its going to take as long as 6-8 weeks before households start receiving their offer letters from the Government’s deal. Everything is moving so sloooooowwwwly.

        Its like its all being improvised on the spot and things which have been announced haven’t actually been thought through or back office systems actually set up to support them (you know, all those useless unproductive bureaucrats).

        Christchurch is going to lose National the election. Chickens and roosts haven’t quite hit home time yet though.

    • just saying 2.3
      29 June 2011 at 10:10 am

      The Government would not want publicity about, and comparisons drawn, regarding the dangers of ACC being privatised and run entirely according to the insurance model (and it’s not far from operating in that mode now). This is exactly what they do. Move heaven and earth to avoid paying out on large and/or longterm liabilities.

      Most people’s impression of the reliablility of their insurer (or ACC) comes from their experiences with their less serious and costly claims. Most people never experience dealing with an insurer in the case of catastrophe and hence the dirty tricks they will employ to cheat claimants.

      It’s how they make their owners all those glorious profits.

    • Bill 2.4
      29 June 2011 at 10:45 am

      Question. If I had replacement insurance and my house went on fire but was deemed repairable, then insurance would pay repairs. But what if gales three days later were sufficient to knock over the remaining weakened structure? Surely full replacement kicks in.

      So what’s the difference between a government mandated bulldozer knocking over weakened structures and a strong wind, second fire or an after shock?

      I’m astounded that government is aiding and abetting insurance companies to shirk their responsibilities. No I’m not. I’m sickened and angry.

      Again. They could/should have purchased land to the west and passed a law mandating the transfer of insurance policies from land lot ‘a’ to land lot ‘b’. Compulsory purchases are used for roading projects. Why not in the case of housing ‘half’ a city? Surely cheaper than paying GV on eastern properties?

      For those who wished to stay on in the east, insurance companies should have been made to pay for effective repairs….including deep piles etc. Where infrastructure was not going to be repaired and replaced, then council insurance payouts should have put towards the installation of quake resistant septic tanks and water tanks.

      • Treetop 2.4.1
        29 June 2011 at 2:45 pm

        The trouble is the overseas reinsurers (who are faceless) are the ones saying to NZ insurance companies that they only have to repair unless a total right off; condition of reinsurance. A lot of money is being made off shore by little NZ.

  3. ianupnorth 3
    29 June 2011 at 9:53 am

    Anyone considered the numerous TV (and internet ads) suggesting we change power companies?
     
    Presumably the government is paying for these, but why? Aren’t we supposed to be looking for savings?
     
    I did the whole powerswitch.org.nz thing a few years back, and following the ads decided to revisit – guess what, the results were the same.
     
    Am I being paranoid in thinking there may be some ulterior motive, fiddling the inflation figures, downscaling the business of certain power companies?

    • ianmac 3.1
      29 June 2011 at 9:58 am

      What do you mean that “the results were the same?”

    • millsy 3.2
      29 June 2011 at 6:54 pm

      I work in the electric power industry (for a meter reading company) and I tell you the one thing that keeps power prices up is the extensive ticket clipping and duplication throughout the industry. Everything is split up and contracted and subcontracted to point where people don’t know which company does what tasks in what area, and it is quite common for a work order to pass through 2 or 3 different companies before it even gets to someone that does it.

    • Deadly_NZ 3.3
      30 June 2011 at 12:39 am

      Yeah I went and had a look and wow I can save 150 a year for that I probably have to screw around signing odd bits of paper for direct debit permissions and all the other bull shit. But i’ll stick with who I am with. Because I dont want to have to hassle around every week, or when ever, just to save 3 bucks a week. and they have done nothing to warrant me changing anyway, and their call center is in NZ.

  4. ianupnorth 4
    29 June 2011 at 10:07 am

    The same company came out as the cheapest – maybe lots of people didn’t know about this, but in a climate where ‘mum and dad investors’ might be interested in buy state assets it seems a strange coincidence for a govt to go messing with peoples power choices.

  5. Tigger 5
    29 June 2011 at 10:23 am

    Cactus Kate on the ACT list?
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10734367

    This line is bs “Cathy Odgers is expected to address one of Act’s weaknesses, its appeal to women and especially to young women.”

    What was Heather Roy, an old male? Say what you want about Heather, she’s been pretty effective in her areas and she’s not unappealing to women…at least the women I know across a range of political beliefs seem to rate her. Hard to see how ‘Kate’ will be more appealing…

    • Colonial Viper 5.1
      29 June 2011 at 10:31 am

      Yeah thats NACT spin. You don’t replace a known MP who has good name recognition and broad appeal (well, for an ACT MP anyways) with someone known only in highly politicised circles. Unless you have to.

  6. Morrissey 6
    29 June 2011 at 10:29 am

    WIMP-WALLOPING: Williams and Ralston vs. Pagani, 28.6.11
    The Huddle, NewstalkZB, Tuesday 28 June 2011, 5.40 p.m.
    Today’s Huddle is: Larry Williams, Bill Ralston, John Pagani.

    This programme is nothing less than a travesty of broadcasting. It’s never any good, but nevertheless it’s quite interesting as an example of how voices of the right (actually, the extreme right) capture and dominate a discussion unless they are forthrightly challenged or resisted. It ostensibly aims to pit a right winger against a left winger to comment on issues in the news. Of course, it’s always two against one, as host Larry Williams is rabidly and bitterly right wing, and candidly pro-government in all his views. Williams habitually interrupts and scoffs at the liberal guest, and lets the right winger talk all over the left winger and butt in at will.

    The right wingers are the usual suspects: Bill Ralston, his ghastly wife Janet Wilson, the superficially jolly but deeply racist and reactionary Jock Anderson, David Farrar, Michele Boag, Ellen Read. Until his death on September 22nd last year, perhaps the most obnoxious wimp-walloper of all was the notoriously rude and intolerant Graeme Hunt (RIP). But all of these people have the same modus operandi—none of them ever concedes a point, and they are encouraged and supported unconditionally by Williams.

    Sadly, on “The Huddle”, as on so many other radio programmes, the appointed “left” voice is usually a patsy, playing pretty much the same role as the Washington Generals to the Harlem Globetrotters. Three of the regular patsies are Matt Nippert, John Pagani and Tim Watkin. It’s not that Nippert, Pagani or Watkin are incapable; every one of them is far more intelligent and better informed than any of the people named above, but they all lack one indispensable quality: courage. None of them ever challenges his opponents forthrightly. They are polite and good-humored to a fault; they make good strong points and then let Williams or the other guest snort in derision and make a disparaging, dismissive comment.

    Anyway, let’s see how they walloped the wimp on Tuesday 28 June…

    LARRY WILLIAMS: All right, first issue is Alisdair Thompson. What’s gonna happen to him? Why is it taking so long?

    JOHN PAGANI: He’s got the lawyers in to plead his case. This is rank hypocrisy, because he is totally opposed to workers having the right to use lawyers in employment disputes.

    WILLIAMS: [impatiently] Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. Bill, what do you think?

    BILL RALSTON: We’re seeing this lynch mob come out as they did for Paul Holmes and Paul Henry! It’s a liberal left lynch mob!

    WILLIAMS: Yeah!

    PAGANI: I take a bit of issue with the lynch-mob comment. He made those comments and—

    RALSTON: [brusquely] Oh come on, John! The guy was set up by the liberal left lynch mob!

    WILLIAMS: Mmmmm. Yeah!

    RALSTON: The guy had no media skills! It was a liberal lynch mob!

    WILLIAMS: Mmmmm, yeah. You’re right. Back in a minute, it’s 15 to 6.

    ——-ADVERTISEMENTS——-

    WILLIAMS: We’re back with The Huddle. Issue number two: Vote For Change. Bob Harvey’s changed his mind on MMP, Bill!

    RALSTON: It’s a discussion we need to have!

    PAGANI: They don’t do themselves much favor, this anti-MMP mob. It’s a very secretive organization, it’s closed and non-democratic. There’s an excellent analysis of them on Tim Watkin’s Pundit site toda—

    RALSTON: Arrrrggghh! Watkin’s a left-winger, and his views are biased! He has no credibility!

    WILLIAMS: Yeah. All right, issue number three: Ian Wishart’s book about the Kahui twins.

    RALSTON: I have no time for Ian Wishart. He’s not an investigative journalist.
    —————————-

    • Frank Macskasy 6.1
      29 June 2011 at 1:48 pm

      Was that transcript for real, or a pisstake?

      • Colonial Viper 6.1.1
        29 June 2011 at 1:53 pm

        Which one would you hope for? 🙂

        • Frank Macskasy 6.1.1.1
          29 June 2011 at 2:01 pm

          I’m in dread to think…

          If real, Bill Ralston has turned into a very strange man.

          • Vicky32 6.1.1.1.1
            30 June 2011 at 4:12 pm

            I remember a neighbour telling me in 1996 that Ralston was a “good left-wing man”, and even back then, I told her to look closer… the rot set in when he left his wife for Janet, then he turned against solo mothers (such as his ex-wife) with a vengeance. Then he extended that to all beneficiaries…

      • Morrissey 6.1.2
        29 June 2011 at 5:53 pm

        It’s for real. I did not make up a single thing.

    • D-D-D-Damn ! 6.2
      29 June 2011 at 4:35 pm

      So, Ralston really is the Right-Wing Tosser I always thought him to be !

      Like most reasonably discerning people, I make a habit of avoiding Commercial Radio if I can. But back in the early 90s, I’d occassionally listen to Ralston on 2ZB. Richard Griffin was a frequent guest on the programme. Both appeared at the time to have a basic default-setting of banal National Party apologetics.

      Over recent years, I’ve only come across Ralston via his dreary, turgid weekly column in the Listener (pure filler material). Good to have my initial instincts all those years ago confirmed. Presumably his “ghastly wife” 🙂 🙂 🙂 Janet Wilson is also a Nactie ? Can’t say I could ever discern her personal politics from her TV current affairs days, but I have to admit her personality always irritated me a little (always preferred ‘Black Janet’ to “White Janet’).

  7. vto 7
    29 June 2011 at 10:49 am

    Unexpected Earthquake Observation #120;

    That the authorities had no plan to deal with the aftermath of an earthquake disaster striking one of New Zealand’s main cities. Bloody useless. The bureacrats should be sued. Or at least placed in the stocks for public ridicule and tomato throwing.

    • Jim Nald 7.1
      30 June 2011 at 4:27 pm

      Will be tough to execute your suggestion.
      NZ has been kissing goodbye to bureaucrats. From being capped to being zapped.
      They are not frontline but backroom operators – remember this government making a song and dance about efficiencies and other rhetorical claptrap?

  8. Portion Control 8
    29 June 2011 at 11:56 am

    Do you think it’s right for the far left to [deleted]

    [lprent: *sigh* If you want to use something like that – then link to it and explain its relevance. Otherwise I just consider it to be diversion trolling. Next time I see you do it, you’ll get an educative holiday. ]

    [lprent: Moved to OpenMike as it appears to be a different topic to that of the post it was on. ]

    • pollywog 8.1
      29 June 2011 at 12:06 pm

      Be keen to see Cactus Kate ‘honestly’ defend her perfect candidacy, especially to Brash’s Exclusive Brethen mates, when she openly boasts to…

      – extra marital relations with men(tick)
      – weakness for hot male groupies (tick)
      – has made a career out of assisting others give less money to governments to waste (tick)
      – admitted recreational drug use (tick)
      – likes champagne (tick)
      – random bouts of tourettes (tick)
      – a late night partying record equal to Winston Peters (tick).
      – honest about all of the above (tick)

      Yes the perfect candidate.

      http://asianinvasion2006.blogspot.com/2011/04/act-sequel.html#282247340283307413

      …and then to see Brash defend her candidacy to the electorate.

      • Bored 8.1.1
        29 June 2011 at 3:57 pm

        Jeez Polly, excitable little lass methinks. Sounds like shes selling, but is anybody buying? Suspect not…….

    • Portion Control 8.2
      29 June 2011 at 12:34 pm

      Use your brain lprent. Zetetic says that the comments of one act person are indicative of the misogyny of the far right. If that is true then the comments of bomber towards cactus are indicative of the misogyny and hate of the far left. Bomber’s stupid comment comparing Cactus to Graham Capill are in that vein. But you won’t find it in a link to bomber’s site because bomber deleted it, there are still comments that refer to it. Bomber also tweeted it. You can see screenshots of it here http://asianinvasion2006.blogspot.com/2011/06/new-quotes-of-day-bomber-in-gutter.html

      So what’s the relevance lprent? If it is good enough to say that the stupid comments of one indicate the hatred of the right, then it’s equally valid to say that the stupid comments of one on the left indicate the hatred of the left.

      [lprent: Then as I said – do the simple thing and link to it explaining why you think it is significant. Then readers can go, look and make up their own mind.

      Otherwise what we see is just you spinning your own interpolation on whatever it is without relating it to the post (which you tried to do this time – but didn’t address the post at all). Your interpretations are notably quite suspect (to be precise they look like diversion trolling).

      I have bumped this to OpenMike as it appears to be severely off topic

      BTW: If I have to say the same thing again I’ll reduce my workload. ]

      • pollywog 8.2.1
        29 June 2011 at 1:33 pm

        Forget Bomber and his off kilter comparisons…

        Do you think someone who admittedly swears like a trooper, uses illegal drugs, parties hard with male groupies and sleeps with other peoples husbands who she’s probably helped dodge taxes and boasts about it online is a good candidate for ACT.

        …and really, blowing shit up off throwaway lines from twitter. Is that all she’s got ?

        PFFFFFFFFFFFFTTTTT…

      • jackal 8.2.2
        29 June 2011 at 2:43 pm

        I think the comments made by Act’s Peter McCaffrey on the Act Party website trying to justify Cameron Browne’s “get raped” insult is indicative of the far right’s misogyny.

    • Colonial Viper 8.3
      29 June 2011 at 12:34 pm

      An “educative holiday” at one of those nice socialist re-education camps :mrgreen:

  9. uke 9
    29 June 2011 at 2:06 pm



    Warnings from the central bankers’ bank
     
    “The rot and decay at the heart of the global financial system is deepening and extending. This is the conclusion to emerge from the annual report of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) released on Sunday.
    The BIS, sometimes referred to as the central bankers’ bank, was one of the few institutions that pointed to the dangerous imbalances in the global financial system that led to the collapse of Lehman Brothers in September 2008. Three years on its annual report gives clear indications that another financial crisis is in the making.”

    • Colonial Viper 9.1
      29 June 2011 at 3:59 pm

      Except this is not a crisis of finance. Its a crisis of the broader capitalist system of which the financial sector is but one part of.

      • uke 9.1.1
        29 June 2011 at 5:28 pm

        When the arch-capitalist bankers of the world get this twitchy, though, we can be assured they are planning their next move, whatever that may be (and its not just recommending reducing government debt and spending etc. etc.).

  10. jackal 10
    29 June 2011 at 2:13 pm

    Asshole of the Week Award – Cameron Browne

    ACT on Campus Auckland vice-president Cameron Wayne Browne recently told somebody to “get raped.” Apparently he was having a heated debate on Facebook when he made the unacceptable comment. Being that rape is not acceptable under any circumstances, using such a chauvinistic remark is disgusting! The use of such derogatory language shows a lack of debating skill, not to mention a level of stupidity as thick as a short plank…

  11. Olwyn 11
    29 June 2011 at 3:17 pm

    A few reflections, after returning from a visit to relatives in Sydney: firstly, you run into kiwis whichever way you turn; working, eating kebabs at the market, celebrating their birthdays at the pub, etc. Secondly, despite the political dialogue, which I shall get to shortly, an ordinary level of wellbeing is still pretty widespread, and not a reason for self-congratulation – being able to pay your bills, solve your problems and go out with your mates on Friday night is the default rather than the aspiration.

    Political statements and current affairs shows are eerie in that the are virtually identical to those in NZ, but peppered with local examples. For instance, Joe Hockey promises tax cuts for “struggling Aussies” to be paid for by cutting down on the “bloated public service,” whose numbers were allegedly inflated by Julia Gillard. Instead of a boxer getting the sickness benefit for tennis elbow while training for a match, we were treated to a woman organising cat shows, carrying cages about while getting the sickness pension for a bad back. These are just two examples, but the overall tone was enough to turn you into a conspiracy theorist. It is as if the pollies and the MSM everywhere have silicone chips planted in their heads, so as to generate utterances formulated by an evil alien for world-wide distribution. It was very odd seeing Hockey saying identical sentences to those of Key or English, with a facial expression suggestive of actual thought. On the positive side, their ABC media watch is hard-hitting and really does call the media out for lying etc.

    Looking at the NZ news from there; such as the plans to abolish public housing and reintroduce youth rates, I felt deeply puzzled by the apparent national indifference to the poor and low -paid, especially since there seems to be no positive plan beyond these plans, and I came to think that there are elements in NZ that actually want the poor to bugger off, or to somehow disappear from view. Another relative, waiting to pick me up from the airport, got into conversation with a woman who was also waiting for someone. “My husband left me with six kids,” she said, “Some people blame me for having them, but you just have to get on with it don’t you. It doesn’t make much difference financially whether I work or not, it’s still a struggle either way. I feel frightened every day.”

  12. Draco T Bastard 12
    29 June 2011 at 3:54 pm

    I/S brings our attention to a couple of things that’s happened lately. The first is this:

    So, John Key goes to India seeking progress on a free-trade agreement, and comes back with closer defence ties. Its completely out of the blue, and quite alarming.

    It appears that we’ve also signed up to some sort of the defensive pact with India as well as an FTA.

    The other is a bit more blasé but goes towards John Key’s promise to lower wages:

    Another day, another 600 job losses – 300 from the NZDF (who will apparently be able to reapply for their old jobs, though with reduced pay and conditions – something which would be unlawful for any other employer), and 300 at a meat works in Waipukurau. This is what happens when you leave the market to “sort itself out”. This is what happens when the government sits on its hands and does nothing: ruined lives, insecurity, and misery.

  13. Vicky32 13
    29 June 2011 at 6:16 pm

    Unbeflippinglievable! I have just heard on 3News, that the Warehouse and Paper Plus are “banning” Macsyna King’s forthcoming book. Where do they get off doing that? The 3 News reporter said that between them they have 195 “stores” (sic) and so that amounts to censorship, not that I would ever buy a book at the Whorehouse…
    Normally, I don’t read books by Ian Wishart, (my blood pressure can’t take it), but I want to read this one, even if only to see what the woman has to say for herself. But have we become even more like the USA where this kind of thing would (from what I see) fine?

    • Morrissey 13.1
      29 June 2011 at 6:33 pm

      Actually, Vicky, there would be an even more compelling case for people to boycott Paper Plus until it gets rid of its “book reviewer” Kerre Woodham, and the Warehouse for its deleterious effects on local shops wherever it goes (not to mention its shoddy merchandise and the bored, overworked staff).

      • Vicky32 13.1.1
        30 June 2011 at 5:25 pm

        Kerre Woodham is their reviewer? Oh no…. I hadn’t known. Yet another reason, then.
        The Facebook page shows a “mob mentality”, which my sister (!) who’s in favour of the boycott openly accused me of showing when I opposed the boycott! Insane…

    • g_man 13.2
      29 June 2011 at 6:36 pm

      It’s called free choice. The bookstores have the right to decide not to stock whatever they want. Where do you get off feeling that you can tell them that they MUST stock such-and-such book?

      Anyway, the book will be sold through other vendors, so you will be quite able to read it.

      • felix 13.2.1
        29 June 2011 at 7:17 pm

        I agree.

        But what I really want to know is: Will the book be sold by other vendors in which The Warehouse or Paper Plus have an interest?

        Cos this boycott is gonna drum up some pretty awesome publicity for whoever does retail the book, eh?

        Which would make the whole thing seem a wee bit cynical IMHO…

      • Vicky32 13.2.2
        30 June 2011 at 5:41 pm

        The bookstores have the right to decide not to stock whatever they want.

        And I have a right to boycott those “stores” (sic) and call for others to do so, as Gary McCormick reportedly is doing…
        As the former Publishers Association head said on the radio this morning, it sets a very dangerous precedent. No book on a ‘controversial’ subject would be safe. I think most of it is a bunch of illiterate talkback listeners but some of it is simply an anti-Wishart campaign.
        They’ve bombed TradeMe, and 87% against 13% on the poll,  have got TradeMe refusing to sell it. So, what other vendors are those then?

        • Jim Nald 13.2.2.1
          30 June 2011 at 5:52 pm

          Is this the new “counter-intuitive” marketing ploy to increase publicity for a book?

        • KJT 13.2.2.2
          30 June 2011 at 5:54 pm

          I have absolutely no time for Wishart, but placing restrictions on books like this is a bit too uncomfortably like regimes and groups that ban, bowdlerize and burn books.

          • Vicky32 13.2.2.2.1
            30 June 2011 at 6:07 pm

            I have absolutely no time for Wishart, but placing restrictions on books like this is a bit too uncomfortably like regimes and groups that ban, bowdlerize and burn books.

            That’s exactly the issue! It’s well scary…

    • millsy 13.3
      29 June 2011 at 6:57 pm

      I wonder if they will boycott the David Bain book that Joe Karam is writing?

  14. Treetop 14
    29 June 2011 at 6:30 pm

    The people who need to read the book are forensic psychiatrists and the police team investigating the death of Chris and Cru.

  15. Morrissey 15
    29 June 2011 at 7:07 pm

    NewstalkZB Personalities
    No. 1: BRUCE RUSSELL

    According to NewstalkZB’s own website Bruce Russell “likes to bring his sense of humour to his overnight talk show, but the serious issues are also tackled.” It also claims that Russell “is widely read, and can talk with people on just about any subject they raise…”
    http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/featdetailnew.asp?recnumber=2&menu=3&menuitem=2

    Well, let’s have a look how Russell performed last night from eight till midnight. Let’s check out that vaunted “sense of humour”, see how he tackles a very serious issue, and how his “wide reading” elevates the tone of his show….

    28.6.11 NewstalkZB, 8:00 to 12 midnight

    CALLER GEOFF: That lady who said Maori kids should be taken out of their homes and put into a Pakeha family was ridiculous.

    BRUCE RUSSELL: It was a generalization.

    CALLER: It wasn’t a generalization, it was downright backward.

    RUSSELL: I don’t know why you’re upset and aggressive! The statistics show that 54 per cent of bashed kids are Maori!

    Later another woman tells Russell that it’s not as simple as he says and his statistics are bogus. Such namby-pamby liberal claptrap infuriates this widely read host…

    RUSSELL: See, I don’t agree with that disadvantage thing! Hopelessness is not a reason to bash your kids! Pacific Islanders don’t bash their kids. Why do I have to be careful with statistics?

    MALE CALLER: It’s due to savagery, animal instinct. These people have just come out of cannibalism. It’s still in their gene pool. Samoans are a very bad violent race as well.

    FEMALE CALLER: They’re violent, and they won’t work! They have loads of money! They’re lazy!

    RUSSELL: Well they are just enjoying life on the dole. No responsibility. I honestly don’t believe that because your land was taken off you, that you bash your kids. See Hone Harawira is a good example. The rhetoric and the racism that comes from that joker is appalling!

    CALLER: It’s these flaming left liberals, Bruce! And why the hell are the police showing bloody cultural sensitivity to Maori?

    RUSSELL: I’ve got quite a few e-mails here, all about the topic under discussion tonight. The first one reads: “Culture schmulture.” Thank you Jackie. “Why do we pay these dropouts to have children?” That was another Jackie. “It’s the warrior gene”, says Richie. Hello, Diane.

    CALLER DIANE: I live next door to a Maori and he is so embarrassed. He wishes he was a Fijian! What’s the pronunciation these days, Maori or Marry?

    RUSSELL: I’m afraid I’m still very condemning of the sort of lifestyle of people like Macsyna King. You come to the conclusion that some people should not be allowed to have children.

    MALE CALLER: They have all this Treaty money, Bruce! But they spend it all on drink and weed!

    RUSSELL: You would think they would be a very wealthy society and wouldn’t need to lay around on the benefit.

    et cetera, ad absurdum, ad nauseam…

  16. millsy 16
    29 June 2011 at 7:12 pm

    Why don’t just go and dress up in white and burn a fucking cross at the local domain.

    Im getting really sick of these redneck brownshirt douchebags/douchettes.

    • Morrissey 16.1
      29 June 2011 at 8:48 pm

      Im getting really sick of these redneck brownshirt douchebags/douchettes.

      One thing wrong, there, Millsy. These people are bigots, not rednecks. Bruce Russell has done about as much work in the hot sun as he has “read widely”.

      Please don’t confuse rednecks (i.e., working men) with moronic bigots.

  17. gobsmacked 17
    29 June 2011 at 7:34 pm

    Studies in leadership, chapter one.

    All you need to know about the country’s commander-in-chief … headlines taken from Newstalk ZB:

    1) 29/06/2011 13:56:01
    No Kiwis caught in attack in Kabul – PM

    2) 29/06/2011 17:46:00
    Two SAS soldiers have been injured during a firefight with insurgents in Afghanistan today

    That’s right. The Prime Minister knew diddly squat about what was going on in Kabul, and what NZ troops were doing, but that didn’t stop him pretending he did.

    So, let’s ask again – who’s better informed on Afghanistan and the SAS? John Stephenson or John Key? A reporter who goes there and investigates, or a puppety-parrot?

    • Pascal's bookie 17.1
      29 June 2011 at 8:02 pm

      I know. Between him and Murray Mc’Present’ it’s the worst foreign affairs team in living memory. I wonder how much input Mfat had into this ‘closer defence relationship’ with India surprise!!

      this journo on the ground seems to be on the kabul story too BTW:

      https://twitter.com/#!/jeromestarkey

  18. jackal 18
    29 June 2011 at 8:18 pm

    National in Breach of Privacy Law

    John Key recently sent out a personally addressed letter entitled Budget 2011 – Back to surplus sooner, better services for families. It was sent to people who are not National Party members or registered with National in any way and was mainly targeted at pensioners. There are two ways National might have attained the addresses that they sent their unsolicited letter to: 1. The Work and Income database. 2. The electoral role.

    • Anne 18.1
      29 June 2011 at 8:30 pm

      They could have used the occupation section of the electoral role and sent it to all those who described themselves as being ‘retired’.

      • Ianupnorth 18.1.1
        29 June 2011 at 8:37 pm

        Or retarded, as only an idiot would believe those leaflets

      • The Voice of Reason 18.1.2
        29 June 2011 at 8:38 pm

        Yeah, could be something like that. But it’s definitely worth asking the question and it’ll be interesting to see the official response to the complaint Jackal has made to the Privacy Commissioner.
         
        ‘roll’ btw.

  19. Ianupnorth 19
    29 June 2011 at 8:22 pm

    From today’s Herald – John Armstrong
     

    Vote for Change looks very much like the National Party Preservation Society in drag.

    Couldn’t have put it better
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10735152

  20. Morrissey 20
    29 June 2011 at 8:54 pm

    STRAUSS-KAHN IN ACTION
    WORLD EXCLUSIVE!!

    At last, we can see security camera footage of IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn gauchely propositioning a maid at the Sofitel Hotel, New York City on May 14, 2011.

    Just click on the following….
    http://www.doctormacro.com/Images/Karloff,%20Boris/Annex/Annex%20-%20Karloff,%20Boris%20(Bride%20of%20Frankenstein,%20The)_05.jpg

  21. ZeeBop 21
    30 June 2011 at 12:50 am

    Not happy with inferring that government could cure all sick beneficiaries within two years, when Bennett exclaimed the sickness benefit was on meant to be temporary, as if all illnesses last only two years. Bennett has gone further, her Ministry now believes forcing people into work will cure them, with the miracle that her department does not need to consider the nature of the illness, the unsuitable of the work. Work will set them free. Adequate work is a social right of all citizens, does not mean government can ignore the rest of the civil rights of citizens, their capacity, their needs, and force via threats to seek more than adequate work, inappropriate work, or be dismissed as a new class of untouchable marginalize and deprived. Has serfdom arrived under National? Surely not? Well you could move to Australia so ignore the role of government to run the economy fairly for all, hardly a choice.

  22. Don 22
    1 July 2011 at 12:15 am

    What a mess this country is in .One of the worlds worst ongoing disasters and did the PM go to the UN for help? not that Ive heard .When all the available engineering brains in the country can work out what needs to be done with ChCh and create a blue print for future may be the Govt can get their bearings instead of this unqualified crap that they see as being the way forward .They have put the people of ChCh at the mercy of the insurance industry who clearly dont have the funds to finance all their obligations . AMI stadium is living proof a statement to that particular company .

    Then we have our disintegrating democracy ,the same bunch of right wing fascists once again trying to rid the country of any true representation of the vote in our general elections.Hammering the masses out of their rights to any power in their govt .This govt should be put on a boat and feed to the sharks