Open mike 30/09/2011

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, September 30th, 2011 - 107 comments
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Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

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Step right up to the mike…

107 comments on “Open mike 30/09/2011 ”

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  1. Joe Bloggs 1
    30 September 2011 at 7:38 am

    At last, MSM attention has been focused on Darien Fenton’s hate speech.

    Perhaps now she will realise that Sir Peter Leitch is the type of person that Labour used to represent – a man who has never forgotten his working class roots, and who gives unstintingly of his time and energy for those less well off

    It just goes to show how much Labour has alienated its support base.

    What is it about the liberal-left and its pathological loathing of freedom of speech and open debate? Rather than vilifying Sir Peter, Labour should be asking how they can win his support back.

    • higherstandard 1.1
      30 September 2011 at 7:42 am

      At least she has finally apologised and withdrawn (whether of her own volition or not) yet Campbell Larsen and a number of others commenting on this site maintain their vitriol towards Peter.

      • Bored 1.1.1
        30 September 2011 at 7:51 am

        I prefer not to use the Sir. Dont care what anybody says, or what his politics are Leitch is a fantastic bloke. He does for his community with actions, not words. We should all applaud him for what he is.

        On that note it sets a bad precedent to criticise people who state their preferences in the public arena, if he was to come out for Labour he would probably get attacked from the other end. Better to not go there.

        • Joe Bloggs 1.1.1.1
          30 September 2011 at 8:01 am

          I call bullshit on the last few words in your comment Bored.

          Sir Peter came out for years in support of Helen Clark – visit his museum in Mangere and you’ll still see pictures of her proudly displayed by the Butch. “The other end” never said a bad word about that relationship.

          • Bored 1.1.1.1.1
            30 September 2011 at 10:22 am

            Whats the problem Joe, I think Peter Leitch a great guy, I dont think he or anybody else should be judged for stating a personal political preference.

            For the record I think his preference Shonkey is a total pillock, but hey there are a few ABs Graham Henry prefers to my choices……of course I am right and he is wrong.

            • dale 1.1.1.1.1.1
              30 September 2011 at 6:06 pm

              Your a total cock!!! Sir Peter is everything you and your ilk will never be.An outstanding New Zealander that will go down in history as a real working class hero!

          • Anne 1.1.1.1.2
            30 September 2011 at 7:21 pm

            Sir Peter came out for years in support of Helen Clark

            I call bullshit on that Joe Bloggs. Sure, he was happy to be seen associating with her when she was the prime-minister but he never claimed to support her politically. Indeed he is on record at the time saying (and I paraphrase) “I prefer not to talk about the politics” Well, he reneged on his word by politically endorsing Key so perhaps Mr. Leitch owes an apology too.

          • mik e 1.1.1.1.3
            30 September 2011 at 11:29 pm

            mad butcher fairweatrher friend just like glenn.H’ell back any horse so long as he thinks its a winning one.Working class hero he has shown he is not

      • Joe Bloggs 1.1.2
        30 September 2011 at 7:58 am

        Apologise? Not really.

        Fenton has said that her reaction was impulsive and silly. A small concession to be sure, but it’s evident from Butch’s reaction that Fenton has not picked up the phone and apologised to him.

        Here’s a clue – an apology is an expression of one’s regret, remorse, or sorrow for having insulted, or wronged another.

        A fulsome apology might sound something like this: “I’m sorry Butch. I apologise for my pig-ignorance and vilification of your character. I’m truly remorseful for the distress I’ve caused you.”

        As for Larsen? Wishing death on the Butch – then whining when someone tells his agent??? Oh grow me some balls, boy! He’s just another piece-of-shit example of how out of touch Labour and its liberal-left supporters are with mainstream New Zealand.

        • mickysavage 1.1.2.1
          30 September 2011 at 8:06 am

          Typical RWNJ’s.  Child poverty, undermining the rule of law, environmental devastation, ratings downgrades, pwah and who cares.

          But find a leftie who used a couple of not very nice words about an old guy and there is hell to play … 

          • Joe Bloggs 1.1.2.1.1
            30 September 2011 at 9:48 am

            troll alert!

            I post a few words in defense of Sir Peter and you imply that I have no concerns about child poverty, undermining the rule of law, environmental devastation, and ratings downgrades????

            Well good on you for parading your own moral and socio-political virtue by being seen to express the “right” thoughts on every subject under the sun.

            Now back to reality – will Fenton apologise to the Butch?

        • Ianupnorth 1.1.2.2
          30 September 2011 at 8:37 am

          Her comment 

          ;So, Mad Butcher. You have a choice, but so do I.

          ; is far removed from Campbell’s death wish.

          Sir Peter Leitch himself has clearly indicated why some of us are pissed off by what he has said.

          ;”I’ve done nothing with John Key that I didn’t do with Helen Clark – I’ve been a little bit more vocal.

          ;

          So whilst he may have supported Labour, he never went on TV rabbiting on about how “John Key was the man to sort out ChCh” (especially when he clearly isn’t).

          Of course this sort of story deflects from Blinglish’s financial incompetence, the lack of sensible policies and the smile and wave approach.

           

          • Anne 1.1.2.2.1
            30 September 2011 at 7:29 pm

            So whilst he may have supported Labour,

            He never said he supported Labour. He was happy to support Helen Clark when she was prime-minster but he never endorsed her politically!

            Sorry, but in some respects at least, he’s a home grown Owen Glenn.

        • Campbell Larsen 1.1.2.3
          30 September 2011 at 9:42 am

          Cry me a river Joe. I have never shied away from genuine attempts at discussion and I believe that those that have actually participated in this one, rather than just throwing insults and schoolyard taunts around, are wiser for having taken part.

          The questions remain:
          Is celebrity endorsement of political leaders a good thing?
          Doesn’t this just led us down the path of American style personality politics? Is this what we want?
          When does ‘news’ become electioneering? is it a problem? If so how should we respond?

          ‘Butch’ may very well have been innocently doing what he has always done, selling stuff on tv, but an election is not a sausage. I am convinced by others reports that he is a very generous and well meaning fellow – unfortunately the same cannot be said of Jonkey – the man he supports.

          • Joe Bloggs 1.1.2.3.1
            30 September 2011 at 9:50 am

            Frankly I don’t give a flying fuck for you or your thoughts on having ‘become wiser’

          • higherstandard 1.1.2.3.2
            30 September 2011 at 9:54 am

            “The questions remain:
            Is celebrity endorsement of political leaders a good thing?”

            Well according to you ‘yes’ if they are on your team and ‘no’ if they’re on the opposition team.

            Now back off to your latte with the luuuuuuurvies.

            Oh and by the way……. MACBETH.

            • Jum 1.1.2.3.2.1
              30 September 2011 at 11:06 am

              Campbell Larsen said ‘are wiser for having taken part.’

              I’ll agree with that, having learned that Peter Leitch has on’sold’ his business to his daughter, pocketed the money in trusts, and with no capital gains tax to reduce that, keeps a huge amount of money that he now helps out the less fortunate blue collars on their $13 per hour wages, if they have a job that is.

              Key doesn’t want a CGT; Goff does. There’s a good reason for wanting to get Key back in right there.

              What business wouldn’t want to get alongside any PM to advertise their wares and get more huge tax cuts. Look at Matthew Ridge.

              Sure Leitch is probably a nice guy. But, he’s not a saint; he’s a businessman who gets tax concessions and helped people with cheap meat, thereby earning him huge advertising for free.

              I also heard him say when asked who he supported at the 2008 election; he said he was not telling. That’s a given admission that he already supported Key but did not want to upset his business progress. He said that when in the company of Clark.

              Once more; if he has used his cancer card to push voter choice for Key, then he has earned my contempt.

              • Anthony …
                30 September 2011 at 11:15 am

                What a muppet thing to say by Fenton.

                Some people need to be media managed.

                • Joe Bloggs …
                  30 September 2011 at 1:00 pm

                  .
                  Farrrk, Phil Goff agrees with me! I’m doomed with the kiss of death!!

                  Labour leader Phil Goff said today he did not agree with Ms Fenton’s comments about Sir Peter. “I’m a real Warriors fan. I’ve been going to their matches for years and have caught up with the Mad Butcher many times. He is a great guy and a great ambassador for rugby league. He is absolutely entitled to express whatever opinion he likes.”

                  Just a pity that Butch has to go to that vile place Red Alert to read Fenton’s apology – instead of receiving a contrite phone call from her directly…

                  • Jum …
                    30 September 2011 at 2:28 pm

                    Yes Joe Bloggs,

                    Phil Goff said that another person has a right to say what he likes.

                    We all accept that. That’s why we all state on here what we like, and the moderators then decide if that is okay or not because it is their site, and I e.g. say Peter Leitch is using his public persona to influence voting, and if he is using his cancer card to do that, that is reprehensible, lowers him in my estimation, and earns him my contempt.

                    Funny that you don’t want to hear what we have to say, which makes you a fascist.

                    • Joe Bloggs …
                      30 September 2011 at 4:07 pm

                      Go ahead, knock yourself out Jum – say what you like – tar yourself with the same brush as that piece of shit Larsen.

                      But before you crawl down to that level, take a moment to remind yourself that it was the Butch who got on the BBQ and fed every mourner at David Lange’s funeral. And very grateful we all were for his efforts.

                  • Jum …
                    30 September 2011 at 7:46 pm

                    joe bloggs, crawl? No.

                    Like I said, the man’s a businessman; there’s nothing like a funeral to advertise…

                    Nah, I like the guy really, but to make out he’s some sort of national hero is quite frankly bizarre.

                    I’ll even let him join my cancer club if he stops trying to influence voters.

                    There’s nothing worse.

                    Oh yes there was – John Key giving extra money for herceptin, just before the 2008 election, a drug unproven to produce any greater result over a longer period, yet cunningly expected to con women into voting for him. I didn’t like him before the 2008 election knowing he was one of The manipulative Hollow Men, but even I was gobsmacked to find that he had used women’s illnesses to gain extra votes.

                    The man has no shame. Those who associate with him will eventually be tainted by the brand.

                    Maybe those herceptin women are the guinea pigs; do they know? That’s the history of New Zealand by men – don’t inform the women you are experimenting on them.

                    So, since Key used the illness card in 2008, and it proved very successful with women, voting-wise, using the cancer card is being tried again. I hope not; I can’t believe Peter Leitch would do what Key did. I can believe it of Key – not of Leitch, at least I hope not.

                • Vicky32 …
                  30 September 2011 at 6:16 pm

                  What a muppet thing to say by Fenton.

                  No. What she said was mild, it was nothing… Don’t exaggerate! The Mad Butcher (who has the squickiest radio jingle in creation, btw) needs to grow a thicker skin.

              • Anne …
                30 September 2011 at 7:47 pm

                Once more; if he has used his cancer card to push voter choice for Key, then he has earned my contempt.

                Cheers Jum: on the button. I didn’t have feelings one way or the other about Peter Leitch until he used his cancer as a political tool – and don’t anyone pretend he didn’t because he bloody well did! He plummeted in my estimation as a result. Darien Fenton’s response was fair enough.

            • Campbell Larsen 1.1.2.3.2.2
              30 September 2011 at 1:36 pm

              Nuance is lost on you isn’t it LS?
              There is an important difference between celebrities supporting policies and taking a stance on issues vs celebrities simply endorsing the leader of a party on a superficial basis – you don’t seen to have grasped it yet so I will let you ponder it some more.

              What the Hell, why don’t we just do away with elections and instead appoint whichever party can line up the most celebrities? After all if they were on TV a few times, or played rugby, or gave to charity they must be much more important and worthy than that silly old democratic principle of one person, one vote.

              • Jum …
                30 September 2011 at 2:23 pm

                Campbell Larsen,

                Unfortunately, Campbell, your second paragraph has already come to pass. How do you think Key got in in 2008? Taking two sportsmen around the pacific people during the election campaign so they all thought – gee if these two pacifica people like Key, he must be okay. No thoughts about the policies or the mask of Key.

                It worked so well in 2008, he’s doing it again, but rarking it up somewhat with visuals from Matthew Ridge and rotundtable financiers and what I once thought were reputable public personalities i.e. Leitch who in 2008 would not say whom he was voting for but in 2011 is happy to.

                If people fall for a con once, that’s okay; if they fall for it twice they deserve the fallout.

                • higherstandard …
                  30 September 2011 at 2:43 pm

                  Key got in via the 2008 election because the swing voters wanted to vote Helen and Labour out – you really are in Lala land you naughty teletubby.

                  • Jum …
                    30 September 2011 at 8:21 pm

                    No higherstandard(who is slipping as we blog).

                    It was reported that many of the people that voted for National had been told that they would still get Helen Clark as Prime Minister.

                    Gullible enough to believe anything a NAct campaigner would say is a worry, but far too many people are still too trusting of this government and they will continue to vote for Key for what is basically – nothing.

              • higherstandard …
                30 September 2011 at 2:41 pm

                MACBETH

                • Jum …
                  30 September 2011 at 8:23 pm

                  higherstandard,

                  get thee behind me you wicked warlock and take your damned ghosts with you – crosby and textor to go by the modern titles.

        • Vicky32 1.1.2.4
          30 September 2011 at 6:04 pm

          Sorry,l I honestly don’t see where what Darien Fenton said was so bad! She simply said she wasn’t going near him again, but never said that anyone else should follow suit…

    • thejackal 1.2
      30 September 2011 at 4:26 pm

      Hate speech? RWNJ’s really do have thin skin.

    • millsy 1.3
      1 October 2011 at 12:02 am

      Seems that the right can dish it out, but they cannot take it.

      I see right wingers dish out hate speech galore, especially on kiwiblog.

      And Peter Leitch is a fat idiot. So what if he ‘donates to charity’. Charites always pick and choose who they help anyway.

      Darien should have stood by her comments. The world needs more people like her, who would stick it to the powerful in the name of the powerless.

      Mad Butcher, you are dirty stinking flithy traitor.

      [lprent: You are getting very close to the bounds of deliberate flame starting. I would suggest modifying the style in a hurry. ]

      • bemused 1.3.1
        1 October 2011 at 8:11 am

        Wow classy people at this site.

        [lprent: Is that a question?

        We don’t segregate by class or anything else part from behaviors.

        Read the policy if you want to figure out what we allow from commentators (and where we would interfere) ]

        • Jum 1.3.1.1
          1 October 2011 at 5:25 pm

          Yes bemused.

          We are classy people at The Standard, because we actually care about what is happening to our beloved country New Zealand and the Kiwis that live here.

          Ranged against us are greedy people that will make a huge pile of money out of betraying everything this country stands for or once stood for; an egalitarian style of living.

          Too much greed was once a disease, not a career choice.

          Then we got Douglas, then we got Richardson – we slowed down with Clark and then we got Key AND Douglas.

          Greed and selfishness is now a career choice.

          • lprent 1.3.1.1.1
            1 October 2011 at 7:04 pm

            Heh. That was a amusing. I popped out to see who you were talking to to find myself looking at two separate moderation notes.

            Of course I seldom look at who or what people are responding to because of the nature of the moderation queue. In this case a newbie saying something daft, and millsy walking too close to the edge :twsted:

      • Kenelle 1.3.2
        1 October 2011 at 11:07 pm

        Right wingers hate speech??????

        Mad Butcher, you are dirty stinking flithy traitor……….. Now if that ain’t hate speech, I think you Millsy could teach them a thing or 2………….not good form!!!!!!!

  2. Bored 2
    30 September 2011 at 7:46 am

    Comments yesterday on the MSMs inability to say anything that reflects reality (as opposed to the interest driven orthodoxy)…and in this mornings New York Times we see more front page fantasy.. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/30/business/global/even-if-europe-averts-crisis-growth-may-lag-for-years.html?_r=1&hp

    Growth may lag for years, whoopee. There will be middle class angst, hand wringing, wailing and a great gnashing of teeth. That which is held real and precious will become a distant dream.

    Guys, even if the MSM cant write it up as it really is get used to the idea, long term growth economics is mortally wounded. prepare forthe new reality of solid state resource limited economics.

  3. Ianupnorth 3
    30 September 2011 at 8:30 am

    Your thoughts please on the impartiality (racism/old boy network/power of the sponsors) of the IRB

    Samoan player wears MOUTHGUARD which has an ‘unauthorised sponsors logo’ – fined $10000 – the wearing of such item breaches ‘contracts’ but not ‘the laws of the game’. Player feels it in the pocket.

    England trainers (and their most respected/well known player) deliberately change the ball being used for the conversion, breaching the laws of the game (on more than one occasion) – result the trainers are told not to be at Eden park for the next game (one game ban) – nil for the player asking for the ball, nil for the team that cheated, nil for the opposition.

  4. Lazy Susan 4
    30 September 2011 at 8:38 am

    Fractional reserve banking is a great system because.:

    1. It fuels economies.
    2. Makes heaps of money for banks.
    3. Works because depositors will never all ask for their money back at the same time.

    What was number 3 again?

    Oh dear!

    • Lanthanide 4.1
      30 September 2011 at 9:14 am

      #3 really is true, though. Imagine if all of the depositors at banks all over the world did actually ask for their money back. It would actually be impossible to liquidate everything that represented that money, and what would everyone do with the money anyway? Buy some of the assets? It would just be a huge money-go-round.

      I’ve actually had similar thoughts about the concentration of wealth in the hands of the minority – it effectively works as a great big dampener on inflation by preventing money from circulating in the economy.

    • Ianupnorth 4.2
      30 September 2011 at 1:04 pm

      Watch Mary Poppins and you’ll see what happens when people ask for what is rightfully theirs.

  5. Lanthanide 5
    30 September 2011 at 9:19 am

    So listening to Morning Report this morning, it turns out with this cigarette ban in prisons that the prisons now give out patches and nicotine lozenges to prisoners whenever they ask for it, without any restrictions or limitations on consumption. Some prisoners have been spotted wearing 2-3 patches at a time, and others have been going through lozenges “like they were mints”.

    These nicotine replacement therapies are paid for by the taxpayer, where previously cigarettes were paid for by the prisoners.

    I’ll note just before the ban came into effect 3 months ago there was a nice little story going around about how prisoners were going to be enrolled in singing classes and given carrots as a way to prevent nicotine withdrawal. It seems that that news report was entirely PR spin from the government to make them look “tough on criminals”, when the reality is that they can get all the nicotine they want from the therapies. I expect the prisoners probably prefer the new regime because they aren’t paying for it and may be able to get more nicotine than they used to, and I wouldn’t be surprised if quite a few of them actually preferred these alternatives over cigarettes (I’ve heard quite a few smokers say they don’t really enjoy it, but just do it because they’re addicted).

    Be nice to see Labour ask some questions on this in parliament.

    • Draco T Bastard 5.1
      30 September 2011 at 12:22 pm

      (I’ve heard quite a few smokers say they don’t really enjoy it, but just do it because they’re addicted)

      That’s how I was for quite some time before I gave up. Sitting down to a coffee and ciggy for relaxation is enjoyable for a while but it soon palls.

      • lprent 5.1.1
        30 September 2011 at 12:34 pm

        Sitting down to a coffee and ciggy for relaxation is enjoyable for a while but it soon palls.

        It palled for me when I became aware in a hospital bed with a foreign body stuffed in a artery, and Lyn stating that I’d smoked my last cigarette because she wasn’t going through the trauma of keeping me alive again.

        Seven months off the tobacco now after 30 years smoking. But I’d have to say for me it was definitely a straight addiction that I wasn’t getting too much pleasure from….

        Coffee is a lot less of an addiction. I can and have stopped using that easily, something that was incredibly difficult with cigarettes

        • higherstandard 5.1.1.1
          30 September 2011 at 12:43 pm

          The good news is after cessation of smoking your risk decreases quite sharply over time – as should your insurance costs.

        • Joe Bloggs 5.1.1.2
          30 September 2011 at 1:04 pm

          Good on you Lyn, first sensible thing you’ve said for a while. More power to you.

          • lprent 5.1.1.2.1
            30 September 2011 at 4:25 pm

            And I didn’t know that you cared… 😈

            • Joe Bloggs 5.1.1.2.1.1
              30 September 2011 at 4:40 pm

              Yeah well, we’re all human (sort of)

              it took me 20 years to knock the habit. I wish someone had told me that nicotine was more addictive than heroin 🙁 🙁 when I first started smoking…

              So like I said more power to you…

              But that’s no reason to get all cosy with me – I’m also a reformed liberal 😆

        • Lanthanide 5.1.1.3
          30 September 2011 at 1:36 pm

          When my dad was in hospital after his heart attack, he said to my mum “well at least I don’t have to quit smoking!”. They got some rather puzzled looks from other people (patients/nurses) in the room – he had to explain that he never smoked.

        • Vicky32 5.1.1.4
          30 September 2011 at 6:45 pm

          Seven months off the tobacco now after 30 years smoking. But I’d have to say for me it was definitely a straight addiction that I wasn’t getting too much pleasure from….

          Good on you, and if I were in your position I would probably do the same. The problem is that absent any of the stuff I’ve been told will happen to me, (none of it has), I have no motivation to quit – I know better than to believe that anti-smoking campaigners actually give a monkey’s about the ‘health’ of anyone! They’re simply authoritarians, who will actually have far more credibility with me, (and others!) when they have a word to say against alcohol misuse, air-pollution etc. I used to be on the periphery of a social circle that had at its core several dozen hard-core ASH members. Every one of them drank more alcohol (in the form of expensive wine!) in an evening than I’ve drunk in a lifetime, and than the average non-middle class kiddie would have in a year! I looked on and thought “hello hypocrites!”
          I truly believe a lot of it is a class thing…

    • Vicky32 5.2
      30 September 2011 at 6:36 pm

      I’ll note just before the ban came into effect 3 months ago there was a nice little story going around about how prisoners were going to be enrolled in singing classes and given carrots as a way to prevent nicotine withdrawal. It seems that that news report was entirely PR spin from the government to make them look “tough on criminals”, when the reality is that they can get all the nicotine they want from the therapies. I expect the prisoners probably prefer the new regime because they aren’t paying for it and may be able to get more nicotine than they used to, and I wouldn’t be surprised if quite a few of them actually preferred these alternatives over cigarettes (I’ve heard quite a few smokers say they don’t really enjoy it, but just do it because they’re addicted).

      I take it you don’t smoke and never have, Lanth… What on earth good were
      ‘singing classes and carrots’ supposed to do? My son worked at CADS (Community Alcohol and Drug Support) in 2008, and although he’s a fanatical anti-smoker, he was sensible enough to agree with CADS policy – they don’t insist that people trying to deal with alcoholism and P addiction, quit cigarettes. It’s too much to cope with. You can’t force someone to give up anything and expect them to do it. They have to want to themselves! 
      You’re also either very naive or very authoritarian, if you believe that patches and gum actually come even close to actually supplying “all the nicotine they want”. (I’ve tried the patches, and I assure you that even though I smoke a fraction of the amount that some others do, I barely notice that I have a patch!) Crazy old Tariana came up with the idea of making prisoners all stop smoking, and the “let’s hate on crims” brigade all immediately orgasmed over the prospect of punishing “crim’nals” some more. Very vicious, very authoritarian, just plain nasty. I recommend you read the book ‘Face to face with evil’, written by a psychologist who spent years interviewing Ian Brady (one of the Moors murderers) about his life in a “secure hospital”. He’s 73 now, has been banged up there for 46 years… and periodically gets ‘given the bash’ which I believe is the NZ term… On top of it all, they declared that the secure hospitals (equivalent of the Mason Clinic) would become Smoke Free from 2008. Just lovely!
      I really haven’t the words to express how angry I feel about this issue. My anger is just exacerbated by all these news stories invited the Garth McVicar types (and the anti-smoking hysterics) to cream their jeans and laugh at the stupid crims…

  6. ianmac 6
    30 September 2011 at 9:36 am

    Given the Credit Rating downgrade I expected that the Herald would have large headlines. And commentary on why so.
    Fraid not. The Mad Butcher having his feelings hurt is much more important.

    • Lanthanide 6.1
      30 September 2011 at 10:11 am

      I was listening to morning report at 7:30 and they were saying “it’s only just come out” and so the markets hadn’t had much time to react.

      So the print edition will have nothing on it. Online will probably doing some scrambling to get stories out, too. I’d expect more this afternoon.

      • logie97 6.1.1
        30 September 2011 at 5:12 pm

        NO sign of Hooten, though I bet he is snooping around (or does he do that in the early hours)? Not such good news today Matthew regarding the credit rating – seem to remember Joky Hen wouldn’t implement some measure a couple of months back on the grounds that it might affect our AAAAAA+++ standing. Seems the agencies have done it anyway so he might just as well have implemented the change.

        • millsy 6.1.1.1
          1 October 2011 at 10:58 am

          Too busy sucking up to the Chinese, and working out how to ensure our ports wind up in their hands.

          Someone should remind him that they actually hanged Petain. They didnt give him a pat on the back,

  7. Annon-0-mouse 7
    30 September 2011 at 9:54 am

    Elvis says hi.

    Tramp The Dirt Down – for NZ PM John Phillip Key.

  8. Ianupnorth 8
    30 September 2011 at 1:07 pm

    Lprent – has the WYSIWYG interface got screwed; things like the blockquote button are misbehaving.

     

    • Lanthanide 8.1
      30 September 2011 at 1:38 pm

      I always had troubles with it any way. So now I just use regular style.

      • McFlock 8.1.1
        30 September 2011 at 2:05 pm

        I tend to post then edit in tags afterwards. But then at work I also prefer to programme directly, rather than using the project GUIs 🙂

  9. joe90 9
    30 September 2011 at 2:12 pm

    Spreading with at least 52 cities in America occupied or organizing.

    http://occupytogether.org/

    • Brett Dale 9.1
      30 September 2011 at 2:19 pm

      You know you can have all the huffington posts and michael moore web sites you like, until the MSM start giving this coverage it wont work.

      • Jum 9.1.1
        30 September 2011 at 2:36 pm

        brett dale,

        a citizen class action against the NZ media might bring some notice.

        The action would be that foreign-owned media are actively trying to rort a fair election in New Zealand.

        What would it cost to take it to court and how many people would be interested in funding it?

  10. Puddleglum 10
    30 September 2011 at 2:36 pm

    Jon Stephenson clarified the role of SAS troops in Afghanistan on Morning Report today

    He made the point that the soldiers (especially the dead ones) had a right to be acknowledged for the actual role they are playing. He was not kind about John Key’s continuing claims that their role is ‘mentoring’ and argued that it amounted to using the soldiers deaths to support the PR spin and, consequently, misrepresenting the brave, individual efforts they were putting in to their role.

    An interesting observation. 

  11. Draco T Bastard 11
    30 September 2011 at 3:33 pm

    Labour sells out – again.

    • just saying 11.1
      30 September 2011 at 6:52 pm

      Yeah Draco,

      Wish I was surprised. I’m really starting to get my head around the death of the Labour movement. I’ve been talking about it for a while, but that didn’t mean I’d accepted it.

      It scares the shit out of me cos there’s this big vacuum on the left, at the worst possible time, and no way of knowing what, if anything, will takes its place. I realise Labour hasn’t been anything like Labour for yonks, and that was never going to be sustainable. We couldn’t pretend forever. The financial crisis has just brought things to a head. And Labour turned further right/authoritarian because there just wasn’t enough Labour left in Labour.

      Hope you’re proud of yourselves, Labour parliamentarians (and the likes of John Pagani). The Opposition (must give you a wry laugh when we call you that), putting the last nails in the coffin, kicking the working class in the teeth.

      Slow clap.

  12. thejackal 12
    30 September 2011 at 4:28 pm

    United States is a Joke

    There’s no doubt that climate change is one of the biggest issues we’ve ever faced, and that the planet is warming, mostly due to human activity.

    Despite unequivocal evidence that we’re responsible, those most able to make changes to reduce emissions are failing to act. Some openly deny that climate change exists while others have a vested interest in allowing polluting industries to continue their destructive practices…

  13. logie97 13
    30 September 2011 at 6:28 pm

    Joky Hen – talk about political interference and friends in high places. There used to be a programme on BBC TV hosted by Jimmy Saville – it was called “Jim’ll fix it.”

    Rushed Visas
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/5684460/Michael-Luck-Junior-may-get-help-from-PM
    The wheels have been put in motion for a fast-tracked passport but there is a backup plan, with rugby league and Warriors ambassador Sir Peter Leitch calling upon his mate Key for help in the event of any glitches in the process.

    Coronation Street schedules.
    http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/john-key-pledges-fight-coro-switch-4428912
    He said he would talk to “someone important” at TVNZ about the change of timeslot.

    Suggest all the unemployed write to him in person – god knows what he’ll turn up for you.

  14. randal 14
    30 September 2011 at 6:56 pm

    Hey nobody has picked up on John Boscawen complaining that life as an MP was “too” hard”.
    what a softcock he turned out to be. All those priniciples and all the rest weren’t wortha tin of it when it came down to his personal comfort.

  15. Jum 15
    30 September 2011 at 8:00 pm

    ‘Anne 1.1.1.1.2
    30 September 2011 at 7:21 pm said,

    in reply to Joe Bloggs saying ‘Sir Peter came out for years in support of Helen Clark’

    “I call bullshit on that Joe Bloggs. Sure, he was happy to be seen associating with her when she was the prime-minister but he never claimed to support her politically. Indeed he is on record at the time saying (and I paraphrase) “I prefer not to talk about the politics” Well, he reneged on his word by politically endorsing Key so perhaps Mr. Leitch owes an apology too.” ‘

    @ Anne

    I heard him say that he did not get involved with the politics when asked if he supported Helen Clark.

    I am beginning to be a little concerned for Peter Leitch now. If Leitch is so adored by the blue collars and they are usually the ones to be laid off when greed for profit becomes the catchcry of NAct, will they thank him later for helping Key to get back in to put into practice everything he needed to wait for the second term to do, everything that erodes still further the working rights their fathers and grandfathers fought to obtain. I doubt it.

    Damned right Leitch owes an apology; it is patently obvious that he did not support Helen Clark politically but was happy to use that connection to his own advantage. If he did support Helen Clark he would have said so then, just as he is saying now that he supports John Key.

    Court Game set and match against Peter Leitch. Apology please, Peter Leitch.

    • Kenelle 15.1
      1 October 2011 at 11:42 pm

      @ JUM

      “blue collars”????
      You arogant arse.
      I’m a “blue collar” & don’t vote left…..just re-read the bile your spewing.
      If it was posted by someone from the right you lot would be all over them.
      It’s called the Right for a reason, so get your head out of your arse!!!!

      • Jum 15.1.1
        3 October 2011 at 12:41 am

        Kenelle,

        I have no interest in how you vote; the term ‘blue collars’ was used by another blogger from the rightwing (small r) i.e. the sewer, your neck of the woods, a couple of threads ago.

        I just recycled it.

        So get your facts right and then return to the sewer – kiwiblog – from whence you came.

      • Draco T Bastard 15.1.2
        3 October 2011 at 1:20 am

        I’m a “blue collar” & don’t vote left

        Which just proves that you’re a stupid RWNJ voting against your interests.

  16. mickysavage 16
    30 September 2011 at 8:27 pm

    Latest Roy Morgan is out.  It happened at the time of the RWC launch.  National down 6%, Labour up 4.5%, Greens at 11%, all that I would like to say in a self conscious restrained way is …

    FCUK YEAH! 

    • The Voice of Reason 16.1
      30 September 2011 at 8:33 pm

      Yeah, baby! You bet me by a nano-second, MS, I just checked in an idle moment and there ya have it. A top start to the weekend and I sniff a change in the media’s attitude to Key in the last couple of weeks too.
       
      One question though. Where’s Winny?

      • mickysavage 16.1.1
        30 September 2011 at 8:42 pm

        Wow down 1.5% to 1%, and the bad part of the result is that confidence is up ….  How can this be …  The country and the world are facing huge problems and kiwis think that she will be right …
        I wonder however if Key finally jumped the shark today.  For the sake of my country I hope so …

  17. Anne 17
    30 September 2011 at 8:41 pm

    Keep everything crossed for the next eight weeks mates. 😀

  18. Treetop 18
    30 September 2011 at 9:02 pm

    My eyes rolled when I heard on TV 3 news that English wants people to pay off personal debt and save. Yeah right, don’t do as the government does.

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