Imagine if three Palestinian policemen executed an Israeli youth
New Video of Fatal Shooting at West Bank Checkpoint Shows Officer’s Final Shot
Jonathan Cook writes at his Facebook page:
The unedited video of an Israeli soldier shooting dead 17-year-old Muhammad Awad Salaymeh at a Hebron checkpoint earlier this month has finally surfaced, thanks to what looks to have been a misjudgment by an Israeli journalist.
It shows conclusively, as I and others argued even based on the edited footage, that the soldiers executed the unarmed youngster. He was shot at least three times, including when he was already bent over and incapacitated from the first shot.
It’s good that the New York Times has published the video, though a shame that it has relegated it to a blog entry rather than the news pages. It would surely have been given far greater prominence had a Palestinian policeman been filmed executing an Israeli minor.
Interestingly, it seems that some in the Israeli media have had the unedited footage for a while but decided to release only the misleading, edited footage. Channel 10 reporter Roy Sharon, who uploaded the full video to his private Youtube channel, says it had been provided by the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit.
Just a facile expression of “I couldn’t give a stuff and you’re a wanker Morrissey because you do……now indulge me while I Mr Andre perform like a smartarse teenager”.
I endorse your highighting of the utter evil of the oppressed turned oppresser situation in Palestine.
Thanks for your kind words, North. Yes, Andre’s response was a little on the facile side, I guess, but it was still wittier than what we’ve had to put up with over the last few days from poor old Te Reo Putake, Populuxe1 and McFliper.
Not to get into a bun fight ,But the only people who will make peace over there is the ordinary people .Not Iran Saudi or America or even little old Morrisey. We need to help not dictate .Facile .. some might say its not brain surgery.
With the climate projections. The near east and south med are likely to be without water and food by 2130 Best we can do is maybe address the loss of there homeland {who ever owned it.}
If you actually cared about the situation over there, you would fly over there and become hands on, instead of writing away on various pages on the internet.
Youn can comment on it all you like, but for the fact that you havent actually flew over there and helped out, shows me you probably dont really care about it.
He probably wouldn’t be allowed to. Israel has been cracking down on that sort of thing.
We don’t have it bad here with media coverage. The US media is ridiculously pro Israel such that some of the things that get printed in the Israeli media would be career ending if an American journalist published them. At least we don’t have the Israel mafia here.
Actually, my friend, we do have it that bad here. Our radio and television reporters simply parrot the same distortions and propaganda slogans that the foreign networks do. During the recent escalation of Israel’s daily attacks against the population of Gaza, some New Zealand newsreaders looked embarrassed, or even disturbed, when they were forced to recite nonsense like the standard “but Israel has denied this” after every hit on a civilian, but most of them didn’t even seem to understand what they were reading out. Greg Boyed was so robotic on Television One that he almost morphed into Peter Jennings.
The US media is ridiculously pro Israel such that some of the things that get printed in the Israeli media would be career ending if an American journalist published them.
Don’t forget there ARE some courageous and determined journalists in the US, like Glenn Greenwald, Seymour Hersh, and Matthew Lee….
At least we don’t have the Israel mafia here.
Again, sadly, I must disagree with you. In April 2002, when the New Zealand Herald cartoonist Malcolm Evans dared to criticize the Holy State for its depradations in the Occupied West Bank (this was just after the Jenin massacre) the Israeli embassy, in concert with the likes of David Nathan, Dame Lesley Max and David Zwarz, mounted a sustained campaign of character assassination and vilification against Evans, combined with snarling threats against the Herald‘s editor, Gavin Ellis, a weak character who needed little more than a few swear words down the telephone to frighten him. He sacked Evans eventually, replacing him with the pisspoor Rod Emmerson. http://www.voxy.co.nz/national/protest-against-former-herald-editor/5/141168
Cunlifffe no3? I would have thought that Shearer should have been up there? Having shown what a tough guy he is by smearing Cunliffe and manufacturing a coup that never was, shouldn’t Shearer be doing better than he is?
I’d like to dispute the idea that Shearer won public support via his behaviour towards Cunliffe. In my experience, Shearer is a non-entity. This despite relentless cheerleading from the msm.
His non-entity status was only confirmed by the whanau bbq season, in which I couldn’t get any kind of decent conversation going about him with anyone. No-one was interested, yet, as always politics was the number one topic. Labour in general, however, was much discussed, mainly in the context of particular policies and its non-appearance as the opposition.
One family member has gone down his own political ‘road to damascus’ and has joined us on the left, with some passion, after many years with the right. Coincidentally he went right through school with Shearer and knew him well, he played sport with him and they were often in the same classes. He was very keen to talk politics, but when I asked him about Shearer as a he had almost nothing to say. When I asked directly about what he thought of him he said “not much”. When I asked what Shearer was like as a kid he said “he was okay”. With further questioning I found two things; he was an average student academically, and he was “pretty good” at rugby.
Anyway, this may be what the Paganiists want, a leader who makes almost no impression. (I was surprised and expected the sort of jeering that Goff attracted).
McCarten seems to have changed his tune a bit in this piece. He seems to no longer be claiming that Cunliffe staged a coup.
IF.. I were into “conspiracy”Most” media liked Mr Shearer . Seems like ,with the state of the MSM ….. Mr Cunliffe will be a good choice for the leader?
My own gathered family in Wanaka generally cancel each other out blue-red. But this time blue-green. The German tourists can’t understand the southern loathing for the Greens here. even American tourists are mystified on that.
Cunliffe knows he was outplayed. Can’t understand the radio silence from him. After all if Chippie and Jones can … And Cunliffe should stop relying on supporters here on this site to do his heavy lifting for him.
Tell you what, anyone 55 or over here is mystified that Labour hasn’t got a plan for the country. Not communicating it is as bad as not having one.
Even the hard core Nats here see nothing is making any money (even real estate here) and surprisingly many compare Key’s Sky City deal far worse than Clark’s speeding to the Rugby. Just absolutely evident here the Nat’s desire to weaken the state has not dimmed the idea of the nation itself.
Karol, it’s a list of those who have had a bad year. Like Shearer or not, he’s had a good year. He’s cemented his leadership, destroyed the only challenge to his authority in caucus and risen in the polls personally and taken the party up as well. He knows he will be PM in less than two years. That’s a good 12 months for a politician.
Actually believe politics to be real eh, and because you support Labour blindly, and have invested yourself into the the theatre, can’t/won’t see the reality, whats up with that?
The comment made above, is an example of the reason this country goes down the toilet a little more each day.
Thanks for that TRP!
Edit: JS -agree with what you say, except that Shearer is certainly not, a non-entity, he is in fact the polar opposite. As the NACT move further right, so the LP can be moved further center, all while some still believe they represent the left!
Right on karol! Cunliffe’s “allies” hardly showed themselves in a good light. “Without any internal backlash” claims McCarten – who, of course, does not mention the enormous external backlash!
The internal backlash has been stifled and hasn’t had a chance to manifest itself, but will appear in Feb if there is a leadership challenge. To date shearer has bullied everyone into silence by demanding allegiance and blind following. There could be a swift surgical coup shortly.
Matt is wrong when he say there was a boost in the polls from shitting on Cunliffe. The polls went back to where they were in August and to where they have been ever since Phil & Annette took over. No change, despite an atrocious year from Key.
Matt is swallowing a line fed to him and Young an Trevett.
Labour is doing SHITE in the polls.
Saying otherwise is like polishing a turd.
If you say something with enough repetition if will be assumed to be true therefore becomes fact to a host of people, ie the Cunliffe leadership challenge.
IMHO it appears that’s what he trying to do.
Cunliffe is not in politics for the money. As I understand it, he and his wife are wealthy in their own right. Makes for an interesting point of difference between him and some in the ABC club.
Another good poll result for the left, Micky. If even the HOS poll shows National falling short of a majority at the end of 2012, then we can be pretty happy going into 2013. Time for Labour to start calling for a snap election, methinks.
Don’t know TRP. Labour’s gain is at NZF’s expense and last election it is clear that some of NZF’s support came from Labour voters trying to give the party an ally.
And I don’t think the tactic of Shearer trashing the party’s best and brightest to “cement” his leadership is one with any long term benefits.
You’re right about the Labour support going Winston’s way, but at the next election, I think National supporters are more likely to make that tactical choice. Tories would would see Labour/NZF as more palatable than Lab/Greens, so the English effect may re-appear.
As for trashing the best and brightest, Cunliffe is bright, but he’s been bested. It’s over for him and like the plucky contender picking himself up from the canvas, he never saw it coming.
Um TRP if the party is going to be run in such a way it is not going to improve its position and the best and brightest activists will go off to the greens. This idea of maintaining power at all costs is very dangerous.
Tempted as I am to rerun Muldoon’s joke about emigration to Oz, I don’t see any signs that Labour activists are moving to the Greens, other than a few grumpy comments here. I’m not a fan of power at all costs either, but if power comes at the cost of sidelining the unproven David Cunliffe, I’m not too bothered. The task from here on in is to see a left coalition Government elected and its the policies I care about, not the pollies.
I guess it depends who you’re talking to, TRP when it comes to what way Labour supporters will vote. If you’re talking mostly with people who supported Labour in the last election, then you’ll find that they’re not at all happy with the way the Labour caucus/Shearer is going at the moment and they’re looking at future voting alternatives. If you’re talking to Nat supporters, well – they”ll be happy with whatever the Nats do so they won’t leave their ship! No Nat supporter that I’ve ever come across has ever voted Labour – not even last election when Key said they’d sell SOEs did the Nats around where I live change their vote and then expressed shock, horror at the thought of SOEs being sold !
Seasons Greetings TRP. I wouldn’t write off Cunliffe just yet.
Cunliffe may be only keeping his silence as a tactical move until February. Win or lose, Cunliffe, unlike Shearer, has something to offer the Labour Party and the country.
Greetings to you too, Jenny, hope the new year is a good one for you and yours.
You are dead right about Cunliffe having something to offer and I hope he gets given some real responsibility before the election and a cabinet post after it. I also have a sneaking suspicion Shearer will surprise us all in election year by having a total cleanout of the dead wood, including the leaders of the ABC club. It would be a tactical masterstroke to go into the next election making a clean break with the people who cost Labour the last election.
Indeed TRP. I’ve heard rumours that just such a move is under consideration. It would be good to see a rejuvenated front-bench. One of the things that has upset me most about the infighting is that is has divided some of the party’s best up and coming talent. Robertson, Hipkins, Adern, et al should be working with Cunliffe, Wall, Moroney, et al to forge a new, competent, and assertive parliamentary Labour Party but instead have been put on separate sides by the wealth of ill-feeling created by Mallard, Goff, King, et all. Then there’s the non-aligned (or less aligned?) new blood such as Andrew Little and David Clark who are doing good things but would be able to perform even more effectively if their talents were nested in a more functional caucus.
I think that Shearer’s difficulty with members would disappear overnight if he dealt with the old toxic elements of the caucus.
I also think that we’d see more political successes from Labour and with them, more courage to push harder and lefter. As far as I can tell most of the younger caucus members hold very similar solid left views regardless of the “camp” they are in – it’s the older lot that are still locked into the third-way belief that the electorate won’t tolerate social democratic initiatives (this may be the last remnant legacy of the fourth Labour govt) .
You give me hope. I think the clean-out needs to start with the re-shuffle coming up soon, and be well and truly complete before the end of this year so we go into election year with a tried and true fresh slate. Shearer hasn’t earned my support yet, but if he pulls this one off I’ll happily rescind my criticisms – fully and publicly on The Standard blog site!
Shearer’s at 25% preferred PM in the poll, Cunliffe and Ardern 0.6%, just behind Goff on 0.8% and just ahead of Colin Craig on 0.5% and Hone Harawira on 0.4%. Shearer’s numbers are up 50% from the last Reid Research poll, so starting to look respectable. Key is still holding National up all by himself – the accompanying article says that if National’s partners hold Epsom and Ohariu they can still govern. That’s pretty tenuous this far out from 2014. And New Zealanders still oppose asset sales by two to one.
The ‘system’ inside and organisation including a political party can turn itself around. It probably can’t happen as fast as we would like but, believe it or not, I actually believe the Clark government was carefully putting the building blocks in place. Bear in mind, they had two conservative minor parties to contend with (and that was delivered them by the voters) so progress was slow. There’s no reason why a Labour/Green government-elect in 2014 can’t complete the job.
Actually a majority of delegates at the Labour conference started the ball rolling, and it was directly responsible for the ABC club hissy fit. The last throes of a dying third way belief ?
Could you elaborate on your comments about the Clark governments building blocks ?
Your last sentence, remains to be seen, although decades of negative trending would offer very long odds, and personally I do not believe that Cunliffe is anything different to Shearer, other than having some more experience inside the local machine. I interperet the *hissy fit* as more of the theatre I have referred to many times previously, not any final death rattle, so much as yet another act in the play!
Until the critical issue of NZ’s monetary control is addressed, and examination/auditing, and public showing of the debt situation, are demanded by those who are *playing politician*, then optimism has NO place, as it will simply allow the deterioration/theft to continue!
If there’s a clean out of the “old guard” I hope it includes Shane Jones, in the light of his attacks of Green policies.
It would be great to see some of the very able Labour MPs brought back in – but I hope it doesn’t mean a re-selection of John Tamihere (truly a relic from the past). I also hope more women are given prominent front bench positions, like Cunliffe, Wall, Moroney, Chauvel, etc. Under Shearer so far, thew LP has looked too macho male-dominated for me, and I would not like to see that kind of leadership in the next government.
Andrew Little has delivered some very good speeches in the House: e.g. on ACC.
I have so far had mixed responses to Ardern and Hipkins. Ardern has shown some fiery sparks of sincere advocacy for those in poverty. At other times she looks less sincere and more of a managerialist-style politician. But these two are young, so there’s time to develop. I’ll wait and see how they go.
I also have a sneaking suspicion Shearer will surprise us all in election year by having a total cleanout of the dead wood, including the leaders of the ABC club. It would be a tactical masterstroke to go into the next election making a clean break with the people who cost Labour the last election.
Firstly, hope is not suspicion, unless you have some sort of evidence leading you to believe it. What signs are there of this? Shearer has shown, if nothing else, that he is loyal to those who are loyal to him. If you are in his camp, you can get away with all sorts of damaging shit, leaking to the press, bagging potential coalition partners, general internet idiocy, none of it matters.
Secondly, the reality of the permanent campaign means that if something like this is a good idea for an election year, you should be doing it now. By the time the year rolls around it is too late. If a clean break is needed, why for god’s sake would you not make it now?
Oh yeah, personal loyalty to the people fucking up. So he’ll let them fuck up for another year, let those fuck ups continue to feed narratives, and then hope for a ‘clean break’.
A clean break, is an admission that what you were doing, sucks. That’s not the sort of admission you make a year out from an election. You should be doing it in the first year after. that gives 2 years + to build that narrative of a ‘government in waiting’. But that narrative isn’t building because the break hasn’t been made yet.
In the short term, Shearer needs the current coterie. Past the February caucus, his standing as leader will be confirmed and the LP’s hopes at the election (and the MP’s jobs) then rely on him to a large extent. The ABC club consequently have less power and less power means less influence. They will become, ahem, lame ducks. Tactically, a clean out nearer the election means the ABCers will not have time to mount a coup in response and Shearer can go into the election as his own man, beholden to none. He will gain a personal poll boost as he did when he finished Cunliffe off, being seen as a strong leader making his mark. The timing is the masterstroke I was talking about, I think it’s better later than earlier.
IB: cheers, some typically spot on analysis in your comment. Maybe a post in it?
Ok, so it looks like we were thinking about different things.
Correct me if I’m wrong, please, but what you outline looks to me to be something like this:
Shearer needs the support of some useless idiots in caucus to avoid facing a broader party vote in Feb. He needs to avoid that vote because he can’t count on the support of the broader party.
So he will allow the idiots to remain being idiots until the threat from his lack of support in the broader party has been circumvented, and then he will stab the idiots in the back and replace them with some of thee people who would rather have let the broader party have a say.
Everyone starts singing kumbayah.
Sorry, but that to me looks like a really good play for a leader who is shoring up personal support in a weak position. It ignores that fact that leadership of the party isn’t the main goal of politics.
TRP, I don’t think he does need the ABC. In fact I think if he did sweep them out and bring the younger MPs of the two camps together there’s no way the half dozen MPs that make up the old guard would have the numbers to make the February vote and Cunliffe and his supporters would have no need to. What are the old guard going to do? Put Trev or Phil up as their new champion?
IB, while I agree his doesn’t need them in the long term , he does need them now. If the Feb vote is unanimous, and it should be, then Shearer has the whip hand and can afford to make his move at a time of his choosing. But he’d be foolish to rock the boat now.
If the strategy is to consolidate power and set the scene for the future, the immediate tactic is to formalise his authority in caucus. That means looking to repeat the unanimous vote post conference, not merely get the 60% plus one majority, so a move now would be way too early.
Following on what PB has said, if Shearer does intend to burn off the ABC club, what sort of a leadership does he actually have in mind for himself? So far he has given no indication, and the only thing I have seen him do with conviction is demote and silence the man that he saw as his main challenger. Was the Rufus Painter speech, and his limp defence of it, a sop to supporters with whom he intends to break ranks? Does he really think that left and right are not fruitful ways of conceptualising issues, or was that another sop?
There have been a few comments over the past day or two that raise questions that run far deeper than poll results.
RedLogix cited a conversation with Michael Cullen, who “…took the pains to explain to me in my naivety that governments can only operate within what is considered the acceptable ‘paradigm’ of the day. That some things were possible and others were a step too far at the time.”
Elsewhere, Sanctuary said, in a tone of exasperation, “I don’t see a fear of ideological purity, I see a fear of losing the benefits of being part of the elite.”
Bearing these comments in mind, this is the question to which I would like a straight answer from whoever leads the Labour Party. If you are taken to one side after the election, and told that the Nats have run the economy into the ground, and that you must introduce measures that squeeze the most vulnerable even further, what are you going to do?
The crucial question is whether our government is there to protect foreign interests, to the career advantage of local representatives, or there to defend the interests of the citizens, including the most vulnerable citizens.
The problem goes deeper than leadership. Labour has during 2012 simply not presented itself as a credible “next government”/leading coalition partner to the electorate. While the talent and ideas are there there has also been persistent feeling that everything is still inchoate with Labour which a critical 10-15% of the electorate are probably picking up on. Its something that will need to be worked upon during 2013.
To Olwyn : Bearing these comments in mind, this is the question to which I would like a straight answer from whoever leads the Labour Party. If you are taken to one side after the election, and told that the Nats have run the economy into the ground, and that you must introduce measures that squeeze the most vulnerable even further, what are you going to do?
This is an important question you have asked. Perhaps the most important of all.
This is just the scenario faced by Lange/Douglas et al in 1984 which they used to go down the neo-liberal economic path. I would hope that Labour in 2014 would take us down a different track but until we know what Shearer really thinks, we cannot possibly guess what way they’d go.
The fact that we do not know what Shearer thinks looks ominous to me. Along with his tendency to sidestep rather than address criticisms, his previous status as an international elite, and the panicked response of his crew when Cunliffe had the temerity to suggest that Labour would not make do with amputating your leg a little lower than National would. I should throw in as well his fan club of right wing shills. It seems to me that if he had more to offer than managing NZ on behalf of its “investors” he would by now have said so, loud and clear.
It may or may not be ominous, Olwyn. But that’s the problem. Maybe it has been a strategy to win over the MSM etc first. However, during the last year, there has been an erosion of trust. So, now, even if Shearer comes out and sincerely advocates for a strong left/labour movement position, how do we know he will stick to that once in government?
I would prefer that Team Shearer does take leadership of a strong left agenda, but I will still be voting Mana or Green in order to have representation from parties that would be most likely to keep a Labour-led government “honest”.
Caving to what some might see as the media’s demands does not amount to winning them over. Clark won the media over, though she lost them, after seven or eight years, to Key. But she did so with forthrightness, friendliness and clear articulation, not by purporting to follow a centre-right line.
The most crucial question to me lies with the difference between having the representation of New Zealanders as your focus, including and especially the most vulnerable, and selling your brand to New Zealanders in order to manage them on behalf of the international elite. One cannot expect miracles when corporatism has rendered us a more-or-less occupied country, but one can distinguish between a politician who employs their energy and their wiles on our behalf, and one who simply facilitates our exploitation while enhancing their own career prospects.
Makes you wonder how much trashing of the country has to occur before people decide to switch.
There are no shortcuts, Micky. People will not vote Labour just because they aren’t National. The old saying that goes ‘Oppositions don’t win elections, Governments lose them’ does have an unspoken proviso that the Opposition needs to meet a minimum standard of competence.
At the moment, Labour is a complete fail. People don’t have any idea what they stand for, who their leader is, or any confidence in their day-to-day political management and performance. They’ve been overshadowed by the Greens and Winston all year.
To put it bluntly, no matter how much Key screws up, people won’t go for Labour in its current form. That leaves Key wide open to do whatever he likes.
The Greens are proving very competent, but they are still a minor party in most people’s eyes. To have a change of government, people need to regain confidence in the main Opposition party – Labour. And it doesn’t look like happening anytime soon.
Maybe the country isn’t being trashed the way you say it is. The Xmas receipts were well up from last year, indicating people had money in their pockets and weren’t worried about spending it ie confidence in their jobs and the way the country is going maybe.
Or were those just the rich pricks? If so there seem to be a lot of rich pricks around.
So, what changes will Labour/Watermelon make, and how will it improve things? Or will they start us backwards down the track to Greece and Zimbabwe?
Christmas retail up just 3.3%, after retail in general has been down all year. Unless the trend continues in January and February, I wouldn’t read too much into it.
Micky – thanks. This hardly endorses McCarten’s insistence of increased support for Labour since the crucifixion (“destroyed” is the word chosen by TRP) of Cunliffe by Shearer! Never mind, tons of time for a Cunliffe “resurrection” yet!!
Hi Doc. I think you are right, a Cunliffe “resurrection” should not be ruled out, in fact I think it is almost compulsory. In politics “resurrection” is the rule, rather than the exception.
Politics is almost exciting as war. In war you can only be killed once. But in politics many times.
Winston Churchill After Churchill’s expulsion from the Conservative Party in 1906
Big banks, FBI, Homeland Security and local law enforcement actively worked together to collect intelligence on Occupy activists, and violently crush Occupy protests right across the USA. Draw your own conclusions about what the melding of corporate and state power means to all of us. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/dec/29/fbi-coordinated-crackdown-occupy
What do people think the *intelligence* networks do all day long, jesus it obviously took control of the *arab spring* and engineered it towards the desired outcomes across the board, why on earth would occupy have been any different, *intelligence* is not a new industry!
Disgusting what Russia did, using Orphans to score political points off the usa, funny how the green party and te mana and the labour party are silent over Russia’s repugnant actions, despite telling people how they’re the party that cares about childern.
This is what happens when diplomatic relations between major powers deteriorate badly. Ordinary people get caught in the middle. Russia was always going to retaliate against the US Magnitsky Act which targets senior Russian officials.
You cannot be too disgusted, you are using those very same children whose treatment has very little to do with New Zealand politics, (unless you think we are simply a US proxy state), to score stupid political points against New Zealand political party’s…
International adoptions are a fraught area: there’s arguments for and against it. Some argue against it as encouraging the international marketing of children. Others think it is traumatic or the child to take them away from their home culture.
Opponents of international adoption, including UNICEF, suggest that the money and effort spent on giving homes to a few children would be better spent on improving conditions in the children’s native countries. The idea is that reducing poverty and disease would reduce the number of orphans. In most cases the children available for international adoption are in institutions or temporary foster care, without the possibility of domestic adoption in the near future. Even people who oppose international adoption in principle tend to agree that it’s preferable to a life spent in an orphanage.
Crikey! It’s the weekend?! Well it’s been a blur of heat and humidity all week. Nice breeze a blowing now though…. thank god.
Thank god (or ratepayers rather) for libraries too. Stocked up on reading matter on xmas eve including Mojo music mags. Quote of the week has to be from Don Letts speaking on John Lydon (Mojo, August 2012)
“People are scared when somebody else speaks up when they haven’t got the guts to. People want to squash it”
This made me think of the silence/cognitive dissonance/apathy we have in NZ during one of the most painful political times we have experienced in a awhile. Bring the noise I say!! (Apologies for being a bit political on the social pages)And on that note: Arohanui to the authors and moderators here at The Standard. You are a wise and strong collective,whose work is much appreciated by myself and many other commentors and readers for sure. I wish you well for your ongoing and increasing success in 2013.
To commentors and readers: The very best of health and happiness to you in 2013, especially to those of you whose path has not been easy – may you find the change you are looking for. Kia Kaha
PS: Moved this comment from weekend social as its semi social, semi political. Big ups all:-)
beginning with an Adneckdote;
-over a post S.A 😉 service cuppa tea the Lord led an itinerant “farmer” to engage with me. After the usual pissing comparison of our denominational journeys (his first step int the S.A, via marriage),we came around to politics; he asked if I belonged, I said I’m joining Labour, red (and black) through and through, whatta bout you, Blue?
His words-(now this is really funny)” No! John Key has done as much damage to this country as Helen Clark did” (he exclaimed from the heart of his airtex shirt and Tussock Creek moleskins).
then, then,”You should join the Conservative Party (assumed i’m conservative obviously; i don’t even look freakin’ conservative, i look a cross between John and Rasputin). You’re joining the Labour Party??? There are more gays in in there than anything”, and then he immediately got up before i could reply (well, spose i already had with my pierced eyes 🙂 ), saying I gotta go (probably to wash his mouth out), grabbed his “bible” and strode off; must have been the bright light hurting his briefly opened mind. Very sad, yet, something to bear in mind (bear, now that’s funny), cos it’s all about
impressions, and although i find David Clark interesting to listen to, and think Charles is well spoken,
Robertson worries me personally.
TOO MUCH MARIHUANA, PERHAPS?
Hollywood entertainment lawyer Mark Litwak interviewed by Simon Morris
Radio New Zealand National, Sunday 30 December 2012, 1:25 p.m.
A neat example of two minds: one just a bit too laid back and one razor-sharp…
MORRIS: You were talking about the ninety-day, errrrr—
LITWAK: Gap.
MORRIS: Gap, yes.
If Morris keeps on with the woolly-minded “errrrr” and “ummmm” stuff, Leighton (Ummmmm, Errrrrr, Ahmmmm) Smith and Larry (Lackwit) Williams had better look to their laurels; someone else could be contending for the title of dopiest person on the air….
anyway, the wave and a smile is my best friend, Amor fati
climbing up on Soulsbury Hill, Red Rain’s fallin’ down In Your Eyes
wherd ya’ leave the Delorean Marty, back in High School McFli?
government blacktop “binge”; there’ll be a toll to pay
no Transmission Lawrence…radio my Transmission
It won’t happen overnight Rachal, but it will happen
that’s the panting explosion. Esau I have loved
Yet, Esau must go-Rachel grew jealous
shairing in all the duplicity and falsehood of her gasoline alley family.
Leah Laban Labia. Lamentations:the fate of the children
Suicide Blond in excess. Marvin Marvin Marvin
there are too many children crying
(heard it thru’ the grapevine) “Mine Mine Mine”
They’re all livin for the City
there’s too many children dying. Horn being train sets
In Vain. Manchester Brittle Indian cotton land. Return
of “the guardians”; tooth fairy and Bugs Bunny,
“eh wots up Doctorow. It’s one virus and calcium
deficit after another. Have you ever pulled a chain
Gang, been around or on The Block?
singin’ all day, singin’ ’bout nothin’ oh meow meow Mao
Oh Mao meow meow. The kingdom of God is near.
Apathy Agnosticism Atheism: Anarchy
Acquisition Acquiescence Appeasement: Anarchy
Behaviour Bleeding Belonging: Blessing
Saviour Sister Brother Blessing
Blessings from the Rock of our Salvation
Admit Believe Call. Concrete Blonde Always
God is a Bullet, have Mercy on us everyone.
To cut a long story short I lost my mind
(if you leave me, can I come too, and if)
You don’t, then I won’t too. Little Boys, big toys
each has a shiny “horse”, gayly they play
each summers’ day, “warriors” all of them of course
Father Father Father, there’s too many children dying
Father Father Father, men leave women cryin’
Eats, Roots and Leaves. Mama she has taught me well
Told me when I’s young, Son your life’s an open book
don’t close it ‘fore it’s done.
By the rivers of Babylon, there we set down
there air we wept
when we remembered Zion
Nothing Else Matters
never care for what they say
never care for what they do
Dare to be a Daniel, Red Blooded through and through.
Vegetarian soon she’ll be comin round the mountain
comin’ round the mountain, she’ll be comin round
the mounting when she comes.
(Driver 8 take a break, we’ve been on this “trip” too long)
The Bible is often overlooked tunneling under war monuments
We’re in his hands, Idle Hands and all that Sin City jazz
We can change the world, with our own Two Hands
A-men O-men, when I see your face again
Ben-Harper. The days I cannot see have all been planned.
enter No Plea. Barter. Paraclete will see you through.
scourged him to the bone The Romans did
Thank God for Joseph of Arimathea .
meanwhile, the church packed it’s bags
sat at the Bus Stop waiting for The Rapture
who shares their umbrella. A Long Cool
Women in a black dress, working for the FBI
at the time of Elisha, the more “wailers” you paid
the more sadness you weighed:Elisha had P.R
The Inheritance we have is the presence of God.
Billy Graham left the bus tours and knelt
After Wesley; wore that carpet out Side By Side
Onward Caritas Soldiers support and comfort
The Poor will always be with us; there is an increase.
Pirates.Radio Hauraki run up The Jolly Roger
-cheeky wink. Think Think Think.
the black the white, the dark the fair
your colour does not matter here
there’s every nation, every race
at The Standard we can all embrace
God Loves You All
Personally what baffles me is the sheer authoritarian nastiness the ABC clique has employed. If they had an honest argument they would have used it and while a few egos’ might of gotten bruised; we would not be where we are now with a weakened Labour party leader trying desperately to hose down this kind of damaging dissension … and long-time loyal activists openly contemplating leaving Labour behind.
Not dealing honestly with issues always makes them worse.
Infiltration of the LP began decades ago, why should it be a surprise that there are still such types who make up the *core* of the party, are the same who are forging such damage and giving the NACT such a free ride, because that’s whats really going on!
Same techniques rinse and repeat, and people still fall for it!
RL: Personally what baffles me is the sheer authoritarian nastiness the ABC clique has employed.
Yes, that, the bullying, the suppression of dissent from members, and the manipulation of the MSM to create a false narrative of Cunliffe attempting a coup, resulting in the smearing of Cunliffe – that all leaves a nasty taste in the mouth, and has resulted in the development of a feeling of distrust in Team Shearer. I don’t know how all that damage can be easily undone.
I doubt the MSM were manipulated. More likely they were accomplices. That was certainly the impression I got observing their activity (or some of it) at the Labour Conference.
now, when shall we see mowing over lightbulbs on the A40 sit-com stop rerunnin? hmmm?
hmmm? (keep listening to RNZ, might learn an unPopular thing or two)
Well, from just observing the reports in the MSM, it looked like some mutual attempts at manipulation – by the Labour Caucus anonymous leakers and journalists manufacturing their own version of the story.
SST-
some gristle in the OECD article;
-% income spent on housing-29-36th of 36 (rankings)
-child poverty-20/36
-work life (un)-balance-30/36
“Oh the humidity…” get a haircut, and get a productive job.
Laws-bit of a pavlova himself by the sounds and look of it (nothin’ personal, just gristle between my
teeth) No need to mince words, spit ’em out; elicit not my fluffy, feathered friend; we already know what the conclusions are, including needing a woman to hold your hand while you manipulate that
peace (holmes already had his trial) sons, your lives are over, ours have just begun.
Ozzy Osbourne airoport, where the big jet engines roar…(Birmingham)
In September 2012 Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel attempted to break the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) with a bid to privatize Chicago’s public schools. The mayor’s proposal was based on a plan to subject teachers (and schools) to performance measurement based on students’ standardized test scores.
Teachers whose students scored poorly would be fired. Schools whose students scored poorly would be closed. The students would then be farmed out to so-called “charter schools” – for the most part, for-profit institutions run by corporations like Edison Schools, Rocketship, Victory Schools, and Educational Services of America.
The rest of the article takes a somewhat dark line, but this opening strikes a very familiar chord.
still lovin’ ya work Floccular, gobsmacked as usual
a Molly of an anecdote, Take Note!
remain positive Mike;glass half full
great Macro analysis as per
potential TRP pragmatic potential http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pendle_witches
(problematic for Wesley)
don’t be so glum-jump in puddles (lux ury may be found for tramps under bridges)
kc and the Sonshine band (thats the way aha aha I like it)
numerator Jenny, not numero uno (hubris cometh before?)
forget Georgy peter puddin’ pie; com municate with George
one outta the box and into the Pink (all pink inside)
a dab one-two analysis left hook; southpaw?
reasoned as usual Red. Peoples Power (Patti Smith)
keep on Going North.Not too much turf on the fire aye Bill (smoke gets in their I’s)
hope it’s all Rosie for you too-Guten Morgen / Tag
“don’t be so glum-jump in puddles (lux ury may be found for tramps under bridges)”
Yep. I’m probably the least glum person I know, being honest.
The Silver Chair – the serpent scene. A burnt foot doesn’t matter when you know what matters.
“One word, Ma’am,” he said, coming back from the fire; limping, because of the pain. “One word. All you’ve been saying is quite right, I shouldn’t wonder. I’m a chap who always liked to know the worst and then put the best face I can on it. So I won’t deny any of what you said. But there’s one more thing to be said, even so. Suppose we have only dreamed, or made up, all those things-trees and grass and sun and moon and stars and Aslan himself. Suppose we have. Then all I can say is that, in that case, the made-up things seem a good deal more important than the real ones. Suppose this black pit of a kingdom of yours is the only world. Well, it strikes me as a pretty poor one. And that’s a funny thing, when you come to think of it. We’re just babies making up a game, if you’re right. But four babies playing a game can make a play-world which licks your real world hollow. That’s why I’m going to stand by the play world. I’m on Aslan’s side even if there isn’t any Aslan to lead it. I’m going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn’t any Narnia. So, thanking you kindly for our supper, if these two gentlemen and the young lady are ready, we’re leaving your court at once and setting out in the dark to spend our lives looking for Overland. Not that our lives will be very long, I should think; but that’s a small loss if the world’s as dull a place as you say.”
Wittgesntein, language games (i.e., ‘babies playing a game’):
“Something new (spontaneous, specific) is always a language-game” (Philosophical Investigations, p. 224)”
Vaclav Havel:
“Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out.”
I keep reading on this site about the need for policy and that it is more important than personalities. I tend to agree with this but think it is very important to have good leadership AS WELL.
If you want to see what one party’s policy is, relating to the current world economic crisis, then go to this site http://www.democrats.org.nz/; here you will find an abundance of policy for real change which both Labour and the Greens would do well to study. I think it is fairly obvious that REAL CHANGE is not going to come from Labour OR the Greens
I find it amazing that SOME of these policies (and Social Credit as a party) have not had any mention during these trying times.
DEBATE is lively in this forum, just before the end of the year. But again, it is the selected few raising voices and ideas, those who take interest, follow, read, learn and are informed.
Regrettably you are all too few. I dread again, for days we get the usual end of year shit news from MSM (mainstream media), about traffic, sales turnovers, the feeding at the missions, the accidents in bush, on beaches and on the roads. The odd crime story fills in, and there is heaps of weather prediction, always a bit off what really will come.
FFS, is this what NZ is about, I ask yet again?
I know many here know a better part of NZ, but I am talking about the supposed “masses” of brain-washed consumers, leisure holidayers, and those just not interested in others, rather themselves to have a bloody good time. Christmas was again a shocker, with NO CULTURE of any sorts, no enlightenment, nothing worth reading, watching or listening to.
The dumbing down agenda is working, so I am afraid.
We have a Labour leader go surfing and wanting to have lots of BBQ fun. He is mellow, shallow and a no-hoper. An opposition that only really comes in force from the minor players (so far) in “opposition”. We have a country on the brink, but all have gone on holdays now, forget the future and the needs of the people, I suppose. If you cannot afford it, splash out on the credit card, surely in 1 to 2 months the bills will come, and the sobering up phase. But hey, then it will be autumn and winter, fit for somber moods.
I am for a first time in a long time in contact with people in Europe, I am feeling a need to rethink my future. Do I want to spend the rest of my life in a vast, expansive farm yard, short of ideas, where revolutionary thinking and great ideas will NEVER catch on with most, or do I perhaps seek a chance to get back to what I call “civilisation” and informed people?
Honestly, I am at a stage in my life, where I am ready to call it quits for NZ, I see little hope at all for this small post colonial place. It is sooooooo depressing and hopeless. Not even presenting media, and others with scandalous information and facts moves anything.
I am tired of living in a dictatorship or some kind of dumbo land.
Happy New Year, whatever you may be able to make of it.
Yes I understand what you are saying Xtasy, there is a lot of truth in what you are saying. However it could be worse, we could be in AUSTRALIA. Just keep positing on the Standard, I enjoy your posts.
I felt really inspired for the first time this year on listening to Owen Glenn (RNZ 7.30 ish) talking about his commission of inquiry into child abuse and violence. He has a web site which I am yet to visit and he hopes to have a blue print ready in the first quarter of 2014. A panel of about 35 selected people are involved.
I already quit NZ Xtasy and am living in the States, National doesn’t care about human welfare or the future of New Zealand. It is the Chicago Boys project all again, John Key is just a Roger Douglas with a different name. The right wing in NZ are under the personality cult of John Key, as are the MSM. The MSM always attack the Greens and Labour, the only two parties that have people that give a damn if New Zealand stays afloat or not. The longer National stays in power, the more damaged New Zealand becomes. If you have to leave as I have, then good luck. 🙂
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The Council of Licenced Firearm Owners (COLFO) is urging firearms owners to make sure they pass on any information they have to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Attack on Christchurch Mosques before submissions close tomorrow (Friday). ...
The big electricity companies consider solar energy “disruptive” and want pricing to suppress it. In contrast, advocates of local energy say that solar, energy efficiency, and other local energy solutions are the cheapest ways to reduce carbon emissions. ...
The Earthquake Commission and Shine Lawyers are delighted to announce that EQC has reached an agreement with the Gibling family, agreeing to cover the cost of repairs of remaining earthquake damage on their property. ...
Four months into the inquiry, the Royal Commission is gathering significant information and continues to receive valuable submissions from the public, from current and former State servants, experts and community groups. ...
While Fish & Game New Zealand is pleased to see Federated Farmers Environment Spokesperson Chris Allen say that 'we all want good, fresh water', he conveniently overlooks some key facts. ...
What: Wellington demo “Save the Amazon Forest/Salve a Amazônia!” When: Friday, 6 September 2019 from 12:30-13:30 Where: Embassy of Brazil in Wellingtona ...
Rt Hon Trevor Mallard, Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives, welcomes the visit of His Excellency Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues, President of the Assembly of the Republic of Portugal. ...
A cross political Mental Health and Addictions Wellbeing group will be launched on Wednesday 28 August hosted by Sir John Kirwan and Moe Milne (ONZM) who have both been at the forefront of our country’s often difficult conversations about mental ...
Confirmation that the government will be progressing an independent Parliamentary Budget Office is great news for democracy and transparency, Federated Farmers says. ...
At first glance, Simon Bridges’ strident opposition to the government’s proposal to establish an independent office to cost political parties’ election spending plans looks childish and petty. ...
Euthanasia-Free NZ is appalled that Parliament spent so little time debating Part 2 of the End of Life Choice Bill and voted to leave it full of holes. ...
Jordan Williams, a spokesman for the Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance and its nationwide sister group the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is slamming Auckland Mayor Phil Goff for his comments today that John Tamihere would need the Government’s support to ...
A ‘one size fits all’, inflexible and punitive regulatory regime for water quality just gets backs - and costs - up and most importantly will not work, Federated Farmers says. ...
Mediation yesterday between secondary principals and the government has resulted in a deal that the principals' negotiating team is recommending to its members. ...
Clubs New Zealand welcomes the decision of Justice Minister Andrew Little to put forward a bill amending the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act to allow all licensed premises to remain open for Rugby World Cup matches. ...
The Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation has ordered a review looking at labelling of added sugars in food and drinks. An option under investigation is ‘a pictorial approach applied to sugary beverages / sugar-sweetened beverages’ ...
Labour market data released by Statistics New Zealand today indicates that a gender pay gap persists in New Zealand, despite improvement in some areas. ...
In the midst of the 6th Great Extinction Event the coalition, STOP Trashing Our Planet is urging voters to take full responsibility for the legacy we are leaving our children. ...
LGNZ will carefully consider the proposed National Policy Statement on Urban Development (NPS-UD) to assess if it meets the Government’s aim of enabling urban development or simply adds more red tape to the planning process. ...
Statistics out today from the Government show that the gender wage imbalance, or gap, in the average wage is 11.9%, a strong 2 percentage point improvement from 13.9% last year. The gender pay imbalance in the median wage is 9.3%. ...
Newstalk ZB Drive host and Herald on Sunday columnist Heather du Plessis-Allan is taking on the challenge of keeping 2019 Auckland Mayoral contenders Phil Goff and John Tamihere in line and on point in tonight’s live NZ Herald Newstalk ZB debate. ...
After twenty years Napier residents have endured heavy sleep and health disruptive noise and air pollution from freight trucks gridlock operations to and from the Napier port and other regions. ...
The EMA says much is riding on the board and chief executive of the new National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) announced by Infrastructure Minister Hon Shane Jones today, with a difficult task ahead to deliver on its purpose. ...
The Public Service Association welcomes the introduction of workplace standards by the State Services Commission that make it clear public services should expect positive and safe workplaces. ...
The Financial Services Federation (FSF) - the voice of responsible lenders and leasing companies - and FinCap - working with consumers facing financial hardship - are signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) this Thursday 22 August in Auckland. It will ...
Wellington, 20 August 2019 — Lawyers for Vulnerable New Zealanders (LVNZ) has lent its support to the amendments proposed by MP Chris Penk to better protect vulnerable people from being coerced to end their lives under the End of Life Choice Bill, currently ...
The Government’s decision to establish and independent Parliamentary Budget Office, outside of Treasury, is a taxpayer victory and will improve democracy, says the New Zealand Taxpayers' Union . Taxpayers' Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke says, “It's ...
The Taxpayers’ Union can reveal that the cost-benefit analysis prepared by Ministry of Transport and used to advise Ministers on the Government’s Clean Car Standard and ‘Feebate’ policies has serious flaws which undermine justifications for the ...
The Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers (ANZASW) welcomes new proposals for prison reform put forward by the Minister of Corrections and non-government organisations recently. ...
The New Zealand Maori Council has called on the nation to address all forms of racism and not to shy away from an honest conversation about where it’s taking hold. The call comes after the Nelson Club decided to keep a member after his comments became ...
Wellington (20 August 2019): The New Zealand Initiative enthusiastically welcomes the Coalition Government’s announcement of an Independent Parliamentary Budget Office. Finance Minister Grant Robertson and Associate Finance Minister James Shaw ...
Ballot Box.Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards – The nature of New Zealand general election campaigns could be significantly changed with the proposed establishment of an “umpire” to adjudicate over political party manifesto policies. A suggestion has been put forward by the Government for the establishment of a parliamentary watchdog ...
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.New Zealand Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand.Today’s content by Dr Bryce Edwards.Ihumātao Delphine Herbert and Dan Satherley (Newshub): Tainui to buy Ihumātao land – sources Danielle ...
Extinction Rebellion takes a tour of downtown Wellington to point out the coal industry stalwarts and ask why they’re still there in the face of a climate emergency. “There are coal companies in Wellington??”That’s the incredulous response every single time we mention taking the public on a tour of the biggest ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel A. Ankeny, Professor of History and Philosophy, and Deputy Dean Research (Faculty of Arts), University of Adelaide The South Australian government recently announced its intention to lift the long-standing statewide moratorium on genetically modified (GM) crops, following a statutory six-week consultation ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vicki Sentas, Senior Lecturer, UNSW Law, UNSW Being strip searched by the police can be intrusive, humiliating and harmful. Typically, strip searches involve being required to strip naked in front of police officers, who often give the direction to “squat and cough”, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Louise Remond, Clinical Psychologist, University of Technology Sydney Hi, I was just wondering if something’s wrong with me because I’m never happy and never want to do anything and I’m getting really lazy and I really hate school. Thanks – Anonymous ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luke Zaphir, Researcher for the University of Queensland Critical Thinking Project; and Online Teacher at Education Queensland’s IMPACT Centre, The University of Queensland From as early as Grade 3 teachers start teaching children how to put across their own points of view. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Holden, Professor of Economics, UNSW It’s four years since then Prime Minister Tony Abbott warned Australia had been heading to “a Greek-style economic future”. He was referring to what he said had been happening under the previous Labor government. When Labor ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samia Khatun, Senior Lecturer, SOAS, University of London Some 1,000 kilometres inland from Sydney, over the Blue Mountains, past the trees that drink the tributaries of the Darling River, there stands a little, red mosque. It marks where the desert begins. The ...
Online gambling is growing fast in New Zealand, but critics say new government ideas for regulating websites focus on what's good for the industry, rather than protecting people from harm. ...
An "extreme pro-Beijing" writer has caused controversy in the Chinese community and awkwardness for the Labour Party by standing for political office in Auckland. ...
Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Concern about slow progress for major transport projects, smoking researcher under pressure over funding, and hikoi marches from Ihumātao to Ardern’s office.NZTA is struggling to get spending out the door, so the money isn’t flowing through the economy, reports Thomas Coughlan ...
Speaker of the House Trevor Mallard will look at whether people making submissions on proposed law changes should be forced to disclose conflicts of interest. ...
Rugby and league legend Honey Hireme has put all her careers on hold - including her Warriors debut - to take care of her mum, who has terminal cancer. ...
In the ongoing battle to prevent 480 houses being built on ancestral land, a petition with more than 26,000 signatures was delivered to the Prime Minister’s Mt Albert office yesterday. Leonie Hayden was there.Lead by the inimitable Pania Newton, about 100 kaitiaki set off from Ihumātao near Māngere yesterday morning ...
Every scholarship exam and approximately every two external assessments are wrapped in their own single-use plastic bag. We’re asking the NZQA to cut it out, writes year-13 student Sophia HoneyEvery year after an exam, I see the same conversation happen. Friends turn to each other, talk about how difficult that ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Even Scott Morrison, with his abundant self-belief, couldn’t have imagined that on Saturday’s first anniversary of his seizing the prime ministership, he’d be winging his way to France for a G7 meeting, where Australia has ...
A group of students, including some Youth MPs, have been banned from Parliament for a year, after singing a waiata in the public gallery in support of the Ihumātao hīkoi. ...
National MP Nick Smith has lodged a serious accusation against Parliament's Speaker calling him "biased" after once again being booted out of the debating chamber. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sunanda Creagh, Head of Digital Storytelling Last weekend, hundreds of thousands of people again took to the streets in Hong Kong to protest against the government – the 11th straight weekend of demonstrations that began in June over a proposed extradition bill. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Scott Hamilton, Strategic Advisory Panel Member, Australian-German Energy Transition Hub, University of Melbourne Australia’s primary federal renewable energy target – to have 33 terawatts of renewable energy by 2020 – has essentially been achieved. There is much uncertainty as to what is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lewis Mitchell, Senior Lecturer in Applied Mathematics, University of Adelaide I swear by Hypatia, by Lovelace, by Turing, by Fisher (and/or Bayes), and by all the statisticians and data scientists, making them my witnesses, that I will carry out, according to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Blaxland, Professor, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University Just when we thought Australia was getting serious about shifting priorities away from the Middle East to its own neighbourhood, the prime minister has announced another Middle East step up. Australia ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendan Keogh, ARC DECRA Fellow, Queensland University of Technology In the last three months, the Australian Classification Board has “refused classification” for at least four video games – effectively banning them in Australia. The latest is zombie-survival shooter DayZ. Despite being previously ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Collins, Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Newcastle The Heart Foundation now recommends full-fat milk, cheese and yoghurt or reduced-fat options as part of its updated dietary advice released yesterday. This moves away from earlier advice that recommended only reduced-fat ...
Business is Boring is a weekly podcast series presented by The Spinoff in association with Callaghan Innovation. Host Simon Pound speaks with innovators and commentators focused on the future of New Zealand. This week he talks to Paris Georgia co-founders Paris Mitchell Temple and Georgia Cherrie.This week’s podcast features a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Former deputy prime minister Tim Fischer, who has died aged 73 of cancer, leaves a political and personal legacy as a man of courage, conviction and congeniality. The support that Fischer as National Party leader ...
One part telenovela, one part family drama, one part addictive love story. Sam Brooks reviews Jane the Virgin, the great show with an unfortunate name that should be your next Netflix binge.The following piece contains very mild spoilers for Jane the Virgin.While watching the last season of Jane the Virgin, ...
Before Zumba, before Just Dance, before it was cool again to move in public group settings, there was Jump Jam. Madeleine Chapman reflects.Jump Jam entered the lives of New Zealand kids in 2001, a year filled with historic cultural movements. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was released in 2001; ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Jensz, Research associate professor, University of Münster Donald Trump is not the first US President to make an offer of buying Greenland from Denmark – but he might be the last. Home of some 56,000 people and around 80% covered by ...
We review the entire country and culture of New Zealand, one thing at a time. Today, Tara Ward taste-tests the best hot chips in the country. Everyone loves a hot chip because they’re a) hot, and b) a chip, but there’s nothing more disappointing than a bad chip experience. A ...
Sky Network Television has written down the value of large parts of its business and scrapped paying a dividend as it changes direction to counter falling pay TV subscribers. ...
Open mike 30/12/2012 
Nothing from me tody - I'm off to Christchurch to pretend to be other people for a weekend. Normal bloggage should resume on Tuesday. ...37 mins ago
Spark is bracing for a customer backlash as rugby fans all across the country struggle to get a picture on their wireless router. With the Rugby World Cup fast approaching, an elderly Taranaki couple are furious after being told that they still won’t be able to watch the tournament, even ...13 hours ago
Several explosions have been reported across Auckland, as well-meaning environmentalists have already begun purchasing too much petrol Starting from next week, customers will no longer need a car to purchase petrol directly from the pump, a development that two major fuel providers are billing as an opportunity to help fight ...14 hours ago
A new study claims to find that a mother’s exposure to fluoridated water during pregnancy may decrease the IQ of male children – but is it correct? (Photo: Getty Images) Anti-fluoride campaigners are promoting ... 16 hours ago
Television advertising has a huge impact on our lives. Even if we don’t recognise that, we know it has to be true, since otherwise why would advertisers spend so much on it? Its significance, however, is greater than simply the influence it has on what we purchase and consume. It ...2 days ago
by Jan Rivers More than 30 years ago a Commission of Inquiry was held in New Zealand to investigate, amongst other things, whether women with cervical cancer were aware that they had been part of a research project and whether they were properly informed of the treatment options ...3 days ago
Everyone Wants To Be Fuhrer: When fascist groups are discussed, the image conjured-up in the minds of most New Zealanders is one of pathetic misfits. This negative impression is reinforced by the latter’s idiotic embrace of the swastika. Even in the second decade of the twenty-first century, the baleful legacy ...3 days ago
In the previous two posts, I laid out the context and set the theoretical framework to answer a question: whether indigenous economies should take the LEAP. This final part outlines ways to conceive of practicing mana motuhake within the existing legal system by carving out special jurisdictions that enable Indigenous ...5 days ago
Fully Informed? Labour’s 2017 promises raised expectations that were little short of revolutionary. Unfortunately, they were never adequately shaken through the fiscal sieve. The hard economic work was not done – and it shows. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s critics have long complained that her grasp of the way the New ...5 days ago
You cannot expect to pound communities into the ground day after day, year after year, decade after decade and just expect them to take it lying down. There’s a point at which the place will explode. And we’re faced with some very big ructions on both sides of the Atlantic ...7 days ago
7 days ago
Going Down? Once truth and propaganda become fused in the minds of one’s followers, debate and discussion become redundant. If one’s opponents are all outrageous liars, then engaging with them in any way is pointless. Rather than waste its time, a political party should, instead, target all its messages at ...7 days ago
We need to fundamentally reframe our systems settings to address the drivers causing and underpinning inequality; structural change in systems especially financial. The Equality Network Hui was held in Wellington on 27 June 2019. The hui covered important topics such as child poverty; a living wage; taxation; public health; mental ...1 week ago
The views-per-page for some of my recent postings:Depressing, isn't it? Provide thoughtful and wise commentary on the mainstream of British politics and no-one notices. Make a passing reference to Tommy DICKHEAD Robinson in a thread title and you get hundreds of views. Write something about anti-Semitism and you get another ...1 week ago
The government has announced plans to move the Treaty of Waitangi and other taonga to a new site. Great news! So where are they going? Right next to the old one:The new plan will see a new 22,000-square-metre archive built on the former site of Defence House - the former ...1 week ago
Back in June, StatsNZ went public about a project to track population data on an hourly level by using people's cellphones. It wasn't as bad as it initially looked - they were receiving no individual data, only counts by suburb - but there was still a huge consent problem, so ...1 week ago
I did an interview on the TVNZ Breakfast Show about the situation in Hong Kong. I tried to frame the issue as a collective action problem between two sides with very different end games. The video is here. Because of time constraints we could not discuss the fact that the ...1 week ago
Image Credit: Wild Rose College A new study reporting the ranges of values for kidney and liver parameters in a healthy population is being actively misrepresented by anti-fluoride campaigners. The Fluoride Action Network’s (FAN) latest ... 1 week ago
Alone, Alone. All, All Alone: Will it be a good or a bad thing, when humanity’s bright blue spacecraft is stricken by the civilisation-destroying problem of Climate Change, that no Huston Control will be standing-by to rescue the crew?“WE HAVE A PROBLEM, HUSTON.” These were the words used by the ...1 week ago
Divided Loyalties: Can the Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, be relied upon? That’s what the boys and girls at Foggy Bottom and the Pentagon needed to be reassured about. Because, from the perspective of Washington, it’s looking more and more like Jacinda Ardern and her Labour Party comrades are getting ready ...2 weeks ago
This handy Queer Theory Glossary is from thetranswidow.com In case you’ve had trouble keeping up with the spate of new queer theory terms, here’s a handy glossary for your reference. Queer – A straight person with an interesting haircut. Non-binary/genderqueer – A chubby young female, typically 16-28, who has ...2 weeks ago
The winter grazing issue is becoming a highly sensitised one that I hope will not become so politicised that it delays solutions and results in the suicides of some very stressed farmers.Winter grazing has hit the headlines after a determined campaign, including the release of a video of some very ...2 weeks ago
The Green Part has been accused of lack of transparency in two recent situations. The first was the claimed media lockdown during Green's annual conference and the second was Julie Ann Genter's refusal to release a letter she had sent to Phil Twyford.I do get frustrated when journalist's succumb to ...2 weeks ago
Opportunities to dodge tax are shrinking with the completion of a new tax agreement with Switzerland, Revenue Minister Stuart Nash announced today. Mr Nash and the Swiss Ambassador David Vogelsanger have today signed documents to update the double tax agreement (DTA). The previous DTA was signed in 1980. “Double tax ...2 weeks ago
Friday, 23 August: Government delegates from around the world, including New Zealand, are meeting in New York for the third of four meetings at the United Nations to agree a Global Oceans Treaty that could help to protect 30% of our oceans by 2030. Greenpeace ...12 mins ago
New Zealand-owned Kiwibank says it is winning more customers, demonstrated by a strong increase in deposits and lending. ...16 mins ago
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.
A community representative in Auckland says she's been sidelined by her peers after posting photos online with Green and Labour party MPs. ...57 mins ago
Extinction Rebellion takes a tour of downtown Wellington to point out the coal industry stalwarts and ask why they’re still there in the face of a climate emergency. “There are coal companies in Wellington??”That’s the incredulous response every single time we mention taking the public on a tour of the biggest ...1 hour ago
Dairy's huge role earning export dollars for New Zealand is facing a threat some say could bring it to its knees. ...2 hours ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vicki Sentas, Senior Lecturer, UNSW Law, UNSW Being strip searched by the police can be intrusive, humiliating and harmful. Typically, strip searches involve being required to strip naked in front of police officers, who often give the direction to “squat and cough”, ...3 hours ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Louise Remond, Clinical Psychologist, University of Technology Sydney Hi, I was just wondering if something’s wrong with me because I’m never happy and never want to do anything and I’m getting really lazy and I really hate school. Thanks – Anonymous ...3 hours ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luke Zaphir, Researcher for the University of Queensland Critical Thinking Project; and Online Teacher at Education Queensland’s IMPACT Centre, The University of Queensland From as early as Grade 3 teachers start teaching children how to put across their own points of view. ...3 hours ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Holden, Professor of Economics, UNSW It’s four years since then Prime Minister Tony Abbott warned Australia had been heading to “a Greek-style economic future”. He was referring to what he said had been happening under the previous Labor government. When Labor ...3 hours ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samia Khatun, Senior Lecturer, SOAS, University of London Some 1,000 kilometres inland from Sydney, over the Blue Mountains, past the trees that drink the tributaries of the Darling River, there stands a little, red mosque. It marks where the desert begins. The ...3 hours ago
Online gambling is growing fast in New Zealand, but critics say new government ideas for regulating websites focus on what's good for the industry, rather than protecting people from harm. ...3 hours ago
More than 100,000 Chinese citizens have studied in New Zealand in the past 20 years. ...3 hours ago
An "extreme pro-Beijing" writer has caused controversy in the Chinese community and awkwardness for the Labour Party by standing for political office in Auckland. ...4 hours ago
Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Concern about slow progress for major transport projects, smoking researcher under pressure over funding, and hikoi marches from Ihumātao to Ardern’s office.NZTA is struggling to get spending out the door, so the money isn’t flowing through the economy, reports Thomas Coughlan ...4 hours ago
New Zealand's only national book sales chart, as recorded by Nielsen BookScan New Zealand and described by Steve Braunias. ...5 hours ago
A ban on fossil fuel vehicle imports from 2035 was set to go to Cabinet, before a change of heart. ...6 hours ago
Rugby and league legend Honey Hireme has put all her careers on hold - including her Warriors debut - to take care of her mum, who has terminal cancer. ...6 hours ago
The IPCC's Mark Howden speaks to Eloise Gibson about Aussie farmers' growing acceptance of climate change and his take on NZ’s methane debate. ...6 hours ago
NZ can't spare naval ships to help a US-led mission near Iran - but there's a good chance we don't need them at all. ...6 hours ago
In the ongoing battle to prevent 480 houses being built on ancestral land, a petition with more than 26,000 signatures was delivered to the Prime Minister’s Mt Albert office yesterday. Leonie Hayden was there.Lead by the inimitable Pania Newton, about 100 kaitiaki set off from Ihumātao near Māngere yesterday morning ...6 hours ago
Every scholarship exam and approximately every two external assessments are wrapped in their own single-use plastic bag. We’re asking the NZQA to cut it out, writes year-13 student Sophia HoneyEvery year after an exam, I see the same conversation happen. Friends turn to each other, talk about how difficult that ...6 hours ago
Polls world wide suggest the Holocaust is being forgotten. A NZ survivor is working to make sure it isn't. ...6 hours ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Even Scott Morrison, with his abundant self-belief, couldn’t have imagined that on Saturday’s first anniversary of his seizing the prime ministership, he’d be winging his way to France for a G7 meeting, where Australia has ...12 hours ago
By distorting the climate truth Federated Farmers is making its members complacent about their performance and blind to the threats they face. ...13 hours ago
ANALYSIS: By Camellia Webb-Gannon of the University of Wollongong Last weekend, the Indonesian police took 43 West Papuan students into custody for allegedly disrespecting the Indonesian flag during an independence day celebration (an allegation the students deny). Police stormed the students’ dorm and used teargas to force them out, ...14 hours ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Scott Hamilton, Strategic Advisory Panel Member, Australian-German Energy Transition Hub, University of Melbourne Australia’s primary federal renewable energy target – to have 33 terawatts of renewable energy by 2020 – has essentially been achieved. There is much uncertainty as to what is ...17 hours ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendan Keogh, ARC DECRA Fellow, Queensland University of Technology In the last three months, the Australian Classification Board has “refused classification” for at least four video games – effectively banning them in Australia. The latest is zombie-survival shooter DayZ. Despite being previously ...18 hours ago
Government agencies are taking an unconventional approach to family violence solutions. ...18 hours ago
Sky Network Television has bought the rights to put its name on Wellington's Westpac Stadium. ...20 hours ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Collins, Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Newcastle The Heart Foundation now recommends full-fat milk, cheese and yoghurt or reduced-fat options as part of its updated dietary advice released yesterday. This moves away from earlier advice that recommended only reduced-fat ...20 hours ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Libby Porter, Professor of Urban Planning, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University The Victorian government has announced it is seeking heritage listing for parts of the Eastern Freeway in Melbourne. We heard this news on Wednesday as we sat under a grandfather ...20 hours ago
A flood and a botched insurance job has left a Howick couple out of their home for almost two years. But it's a story with some strange twists. ...20 hours ago
One part telenovela, one part family drama, one part addictive love story. Sam Brooks reviews Jane the Virgin, the great show with an unfortunate name that should be your next Netflix binge.The following piece contains very mild spoilers for Jane the Virgin.While watching the last season of Jane the Virgin, ...21 hours ago
Before Zumba, before Just Dance, before it was cool again to move in public group settings, there was Jump Jam. Madeleine Chapman reflects.Jump Jam entered the lives of New Zealand kids in 2001, a year filled with historic cultural movements. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was released in 2001; ...22 hours ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Jensz, Research associate professor, University of Münster Donald Trump is not the first US President to make an offer of buying Greenland from Denmark – but he might be the last. Home of some 56,000 people and around 80% covered by ...22 hours ago
Live updates: Around 150 are taking part in the hīkoi to the PM's electorate office from Ihumātao in a bid to get her to visit the site. ...23 hours ago
We review the entire country and culture of New Zealand, one thing at a time. Today, Tara Ward taste-tests the best hot chips in the country. Everyone loves a hot chip because they’re a) hot, and b) a chip, but there’s nothing more disappointing than a bad chip experience. A ...23 hours ago
Sky Network Television has written down the value of large parts of its business and scrapped paying a dividend as it changes direction to counter falling pay TV subscribers. ...23 hours ago
Imagine if three Palestinian policemen executed an Israeli youth
New Video of Fatal Shooting at West Bank Checkpoint Shows Officer’s Final Shot
Jonathan Cook writes at his Facebook page:
The unedited video of an Israeli soldier shooting dead 17-year-old Muhammad Awad Salaymeh at a Hebron checkpoint earlier this month has finally surfaced, thanks to what looks to have been a misjudgment by an Israeli journalist.
It shows conclusively, as I and others argued even based on the edited footage, that the soldiers executed the unarmed youngster. He was shot at least three times, including when he was already bent over and incapacitated from the first shot.
It’s good that the New York Times has published the video, though a shame that it has relegated it to a blog entry rather than the news pages. It would surely have been given far greater prominence had a Palestinian policeman been filmed executing an Israeli minor.
Interestingly, it seems that some in the Israeli media have had the unedited footage for a while but decided to release only the misleading, edited footage. Channel 10 reporter Roy Sharon, who uploaded the full video to his private Youtube channel, says it had been provided by the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit.
http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/27/new-video-of-fatal-shooting-at-west-bank-checkpoint-shows-officers-final-shot/
2400 years they have been fighting in that area ,I think we have some issues here that you might address ?
What an ignorant comment. Are you Garth George?
Was he with the ottomans? or the crusaders?
Nice comeback my friend. Garth George is actually almost old enough, and certainly stupid enough, to have gone on the original Crusade.
Not a nice comeback at all.
Just a facile expression of “I couldn’t give a stuff and you’re a wanker Morrissey because you do……now indulge me while I Mr Andre perform like a smartarse teenager”.
I endorse your highighting of the utter evil of the oppressed turned oppresser situation in Palestine.
Go Morrissey !
Spoken like a great peacemaker. I applaud your diplomacy ..
Leaving smartarse back to facile.
Thanks for your kind words, North. Yes, Andre’s response was a little on the facile side, I guess, but it was still wittier than what we’ve had to put up with over the last few days from poor old Te Reo Putake, Populuxe1 and McFliper.
Not to get into a bun fight ,But the only people who will make peace over there is the ordinary people .Not Iran Saudi or America or even little old Morrisey. We need to help not dictate .Facile .. some might say its not brain surgery.
It’s easily solved: just enforce the law. Israel must withdraw all of its illegal settlers from the Occupied Territories and observe the 1967 borders.
Israel and the United States are the only two obstructions to this.
And they must withdraw all of their comedians as well, obviously
With the climate projections. The near east and south med are likely to be without water and food by 2130 Best we can do is maybe address the loss of there homeland {who ever owned it.}
Gaza is often without water right now. Israel cuts it off to “discipline” the imprisoned population.
But your and my V8 will surely be the final nail in there coffin {metaphorically]
Maybe they should stop shooting rockets into Israel then.
What is Israel offering to do for the people in Gaza then?
sadly, Gaza suffering an outbreak of H1N1
Morrissey:
If you actually cared about the situation over there, you would fly over there and become hands on, instead of writing away on various pages on the internet.
Gutless.
So I can’t comment on it?
Thanks for that.
Morrissey:
Youn can comment on it all you like, but for the fact that you havent actually flew over there and helped out, shows me you probably dont really care about it.
He probably wouldn’t be allowed to. Israel has been cracking down on that sort of thing.
We don’t have it bad here with media coverage. The US media is ridiculously pro Israel such that some of the things that get printed in the Israeli media would be career ending if an American journalist published them. At least we don’t have the Israel mafia here.
We don’t have it bad here with media coverage.
Actually, my friend, we do have it that bad here. Our radio and television reporters simply parrot the same distortions and propaganda slogans that the foreign networks do. During the recent escalation of Israel’s daily attacks against the population of Gaza, some New Zealand newsreaders looked embarrassed, or even disturbed, when they were forced to recite nonsense like the standard “but Israel has denied this” after every hit on a civilian, but most of them didn’t even seem to understand what they were reading out. Greg Boyed was so robotic on Television One that he almost morphed into Peter Jennings.
The US media is ridiculously pro Israel such that some of the things that get printed in the Israeli media would be career ending if an American journalist published them.
Don’t forget there ARE some courageous and determined journalists in the US, like Glenn Greenwald, Seymour Hersh, and Matthew Lee….
At least we don’t have the Israel mafia here.
Again, sadly, I must disagree with you. In April 2002, when the New Zealand Herald cartoonist Malcolm Evans dared to criticize the Holy State for its depradations in the Occupied West Bank (this was just after the Jenin massacre) the Israeli embassy, in concert with the likes of David Nathan, Dame Lesley Max and David Zwarz, mounted a sustained campaign of character assassination and vilification against Evans, combined with snarling threats against the Herald‘s editor, Gavin Ellis, a weak character who needed little more than a few swear words down the telephone to frighten him. He sacked Evans eventually, replacing him with the pisspoor Rod Emmerson.
http://www.voxy.co.nz/national/protest-against-former-herald-editor/5/141168
Says BrettDale :
“If I actually cared about the ( _____ ) situation over here, I would become hands on, instead of writing away on various pages on the internet.
Witless.”
There, fixed it for you.
Well said, Galeandra.
Who pays Matt McCarten living expenses now days ?
Matt’s on the money this morning.
Cunlifffe no3? I would have thought that Shearer should have been up there? Having shown what a tough guy he is by smearing Cunliffe and manufacturing a coup that never was, shouldn’t Shearer be doing better than he is?
McCarten
I’d like to dispute the idea that Shearer won public support via his behaviour towards Cunliffe. In my experience, Shearer is a non-entity. This despite relentless cheerleading from the msm.
His non-entity status was only confirmed by the whanau bbq season, in which I couldn’t get any kind of decent conversation going about him with anyone. No-one was interested, yet, as always politics was the number one topic. Labour in general, however, was much discussed, mainly in the context of particular policies and its non-appearance as the opposition.
One family member has gone down his own political ‘road to damascus’ and has joined us on the left, with some passion, after many years with the right. Coincidentally he went right through school with Shearer and knew him well, he played sport with him and they were often in the same classes. He was very keen to talk politics, but when I asked him about Shearer as a he had almost nothing to say. When I asked directly about what he thought of him he said “not much”. When I asked what Shearer was like as a kid he said “he was okay”. With further questioning I found two things; he was an average student academically, and he was “pretty good” at rugby.
Anyway, this may be what the Paganiists want, a leader who makes almost no impression. (I was surprised and expected the sort of jeering that Goff attracted).
McCarten seems to have changed his tune a bit in this piece. He seems to no longer be claiming that Cunliffe staged a coup.
IF.. I were into “conspiracy”Most” media liked Mr Shearer . Seems like ,with the state of the MSM ….. Mr Cunliffe will be a good choice for the leader?
My own gathered family in Wanaka generally cancel each other out blue-red. But this time blue-green. The German tourists can’t understand the southern loathing for the Greens here. even American tourists are mystified on that.
Cunliffe knows he was outplayed. Can’t understand the radio silence from him. After all if Chippie and Jones can … And Cunliffe should stop relying on supporters here on this site to do his heavy lifting for him.
Tell you what, anyone 55 or over here is mystified that Labour hasn’t got a plan for the country. Not communicating it is as bad as not having one.
Even the hard core Nats here see nothing is making any money (even real estate here) and surprisingly many compare Key’s Sky City deal far worse than Clark’s speeding to the Rugby. Just absolutely evident here the Nat’s desire to weaken the state has not dimmed the idea of the nation itself.
I agree with the green thing Ad. I think its a cunning plan on NZLP to let the Nats hang themselves, I do not think they need a commentary.
“Can’t understand the radio silence from him.”
That, as I understand it, is because he was silenced by caucus. At the time of his demotion he was banned from speaking publicly.
About the leadership. Long since time for Cunliffe to get back on the horse, or it’s on the truck to the glue factory.
Key’s Sky City deal far worse than Clark’s speeding to the Rugby.
You forget that KLARK ‘fraudulently’ put her signature on a painting in order to help raise funds for a worthwhile charity. Key can’t top that.
(Remember the fuss? All seems so trifling and quaint now doesn’t it?)
Even Whaleoil acknowledged a couple of days ago time was running out on Key to do anything memorable as PM.
Karol, it’s a list of those who have had a bad year. Like Shearer or not, he’s had a good year. He’s cemented his leadership, destroyed the only challenge to his authority in caucus and risen in the polls personally and taken the party up as well. He knows he will be PM in less than two years. That’s a good 12 months for a politician.
Actually believe politics to be real eh, and because you support Labour blindly, and have invested yourself into the the theatre, can’t/won’t see the reality, whats up with that?
The comment made above, is an example of the reason this country goes down the toilet a little more each day.
Thanks for that TRP!
Edit: JS -agree with what you say, except that Shearer is certainly not, a non-entity, he is in fact the polar opposite. As the NACT move further right, so the LP can be moved further center, all while some still believe they represent the left!
Transparent!
Right on karol! Cunliffe’s “allies” hardly showed themselves in a good light. “Without any internal backlash” claims McCarten – who, of course, does not mention the enormous external backlash!
The internal backlash has been stifled and hasn’t had a chance to manifest itself, but will appear in Feb if there is a leadership challenge. To date shearer has bullied everyone into silence by demanding allegiance and blind following. There could be a swift surgical coup shortly.
Not prioritizing is my issue .Plenty of preeminent people
Matt is wrong when he say there was a boost in the polls from shitting on Cunliffe. The polls went back to where they were in August and to where they have been ever since Phil & Annette took over. No change, despite an atrocious year from Key.
Matt is swallowing a line fed to him and Young an Trevett.
Labour is doing SHITE in the polls.
Saying otherwise is like polishing a turd.
If you say something with enough repetition if will be assumed to be true therefore becomes fact to a host of people, ie the Cunliffe leadership challenge.
IMHO it appears that’s what he trying to do.
I have not looked up yet how much salary Cunliffe lost from being exiled to the back bench.
Cunliffe is not in politics for the money. As I understand it, he and his wife are wealthy in their own right. Makes for an interesting point of difference between him and some in the ABC club.
There is a Key Research HOS poll in this morning’s herald (not online). National is on 46.9%, Labour 30.7, theGreens 13.3 and NZF 3%.
Makes you wonder how much trashing of the country has to occur before people decide to switch.
Another good poll result for the left, Micky. If even the HOS poll shows National falling short of a majority at the end of 2012, then we can be pretty happy going into 2013. Time for Labour to start calling for a snap election, methinks.
Don’t know TRP. Labour’s gain is at NZF’s expense and last election it is clear that some of NZF’s support came from Labour voters trying to give the party an ally.
And I don’t think the tactic of Shearer trashing the party’s best and brightest to “cement” his leadership is one with any long term benefits.
You’re right about the Labour support going Winston’s way, but at the next election, I think National supporters are more likely to make that tactical choice. Tories would would see Labour/NZF as more palatable than Lab/Greens, so the English effect may re-appear.
As for trashing the best and brightest, Cunliffe is bright, but he’s been bested. It’s over for him and like the plucky contender picking himself up from the canvas, he never saw it coming.
“he never saw it coming.”
I suppose that is why they pick the spot right between the shoulder blades.
I always aim for the face, because king hits are tools of cowards and the inferior. 😉
And I never give anything, let alone trust or votes, to anyone who can’t attack from the front.
Um TRP if the party is going to be run in such a way it is not going to improve its position and the best and brightest activists will go off to the greens. This idea of maintaining power at all costs is very dangerous.
Tempted as I am to rerun Muldoon’s joke about emigration to Oz, I don’t see any signs that Labour activists are moving to the Greens, other than a few grumpy comments here. I’m not a fan of power at all costs either, but if power comes at the cost of sidelining the unproven David Cunliffe, I’m not too bothered. The task from here on in is to see a left coalition Government elected and its the policies I care about, not the pollies.
“sidelining the unproven David Cunliffe”
Wait, how many significant Ministerial portfolios has David Shearer held?
I don’t see any signs that Labour activists are moving to the Greens, other than a few grumpy comments here
I have seen a few and I suspect some are waiting to see what happens over the next few months.
+1
+1
I guess it depends who you’re talking to, TRP when it comes to what way Labour supporters will vote. If you’re talking mostly with people who supported Labour in the last election, then you’ll find that they’re not at all happy with the way the Labour caucus/Shearer is going at the moment and they’re looking at future voting alternatives. If you’re talking to Nat supporters, well – they”ll be happy with whatever the Nats do so they won’t leave their ship! No Nat supporter that I’ve ever come across has ever voted Labour – not even last election when Key said they’d sell SOEs did the Nats around where I live change their vote and then expressed shock, horror at the thought of SOEs being sold !
+1
Seasons Greetings TRP. I wouldn’t write off Cunliffe just yet.
Cunliffe may be only keeping his silence as a tactical move until February. Win or lose, Cunliffe, unlike Shearer, has something to offer the Labour Party and the country.
Hopefully he can continue to box clever.
Greetings to you too, Jenny, hope the new year is a good one for you and yours.
You are dead right about Cunliffe having something to offer and I hope he gets given some real responsibility before the election and a cabinet post after it. I also have a sneaking suspicion Shearer will surprise us all in election year by having a total cleanout of the dead wood, including the leaders of the ABC club. It would be a tactical masterstroke to go into the next election making a clean break with the people who cost Labour the last election.
Indeed TRP. I’ve heard rumours that just such a move is under consideration. It would be good to see a rejuvenated front-bench. One of the things that has upset me most about the infighting is that is has divided some of the party’s best up and coming talent. Robertson, Hipkins, Adern, et al should be working with Cunliffe, Wall, Moroney, et al to forge a new, competent, and assertive parliamentary Labour Party but instead have been put on separate sides by the wealth of ill-feeling created by Mallard, Goff, King, et all. Then there’s the non-aligned (or less aligned?) new blood such as Andrew Little and David Clark who are doing good things but would be able to perform even more effectively if their talents were nested in a more functional caucus.
I think that Shearer’s difficulty with members would disappear overnight if he dealt with the old toxic elements of the caucus.
I also think that we’d see more political successes from Labour and with them, more courage to push harder and lefter. As far as I can tell most of the younger caucus members hold very similar solid left views regardless of the “camp” they are in – it’s the older lot that are still locked into the third-way belief that the electorate won’t tolerate social democratic initiatives (this may be the last remnant legacy of the fourth Labour govt) .
Agreed entirely.
TRP @ 9:29am and IB.
You give me hope. I think the clean-out needs to start with the re-shuffle coming up soon, and be well and truly complete before the end of this year so we go into election year with a tried and true fresh slate. Shearer hasn’t earned my support yet, but if he pulls this one off I’ll happily rescind my criticisms – fully and publicly on The Standard blog site!
Yes, I agree Anne. Hope and a way forward for all!
How many decades has Nz politics been sending this country down the toilet again!
Clean outs, reshuffles, camps, factions – Yeah thats about as helpful as optimism that the system can turn itself around.
Shearer’s at 25% preferred PM in the poll, Cunliffe and Ardern 0.6%, just behind Goff on 0.8% and just ahead of Colin Craig on 0.5% and Hone Harawira on 0.4%. Shearer’s numbers are up 50% from the last Reid Research poll, so starting to look respectable. Key is still holding National up all by himself – the accompanying article says that if National’s partners hold Epsom and Ohariu they can still govern. That’s pretty tenuous this far out from 2014. And New Zealanders still oppose asset sales by two to one.
Indeed Mike, just think how much better Shearer would be doing with a refresh on top of his recent rise – he was heralded as the new broom, after all.
This is very encouraging talk.
@ muzza
The ‘system’ inside and organisation including a political party can turn itself around. It probably can’t happen as fast as we would like but, believe it or not, I actually believe the Clark government was carefully putting the building blocks in place. Bear in mind, they had two conservative minor parties to contend with (and that was delivered them by the voters) so progress was slow. There’s no reason why a Labour/Green government-elect in 2014 can’t complete the job.
Actually a majority of delegates at the Labour conference started the ball rolling, and it was directly responsible for the ABC club hissy fit. The last throes of a dying third way belief ?
Hi Anne,
Could you elaborate on your comments about the Clark governments building blocks ?
Your last sentence, remains to be seen, although decades of negative trending would offer very long odds, and personally I do not believe that Cunliffe is anything different to Shearer, other than having some more experience inside the local machine. I interperet the *hissy fit* as more of the theatre I have referred to many times previously, not any final death rattle, so much as yet another act in the play!
Until the critical issue of NZ’s monetary control is addressed, and examination/auditing, and public showing of the debt situation, are demanded by those who are *playing politician*, then optimism has NO place, as it will simply allow the deterioration/theft to continue!
Well any shift back to the left would be welcome.
If there’s a clean out of the “old guard” I hope it includes Shane Jones, in the light of his attacks of Green policies.
It would be great to see some of the very able Labour MPs brought back in – but I hope it doesn’t mean a re-selection of John Tamihere (truly a relic from the past). I also hope more women are given prominent front bench positions, like Cunliffe, Wall, Moroney, Chauvel, etc. Under Shearer so far, thew LP has looked too macho male-dominated for me, and I would not like to see that kind of leadership in the next government.
Andrew Little has delivered some very good speeches in the House: e.g. on ACC.
I have so far had mixed responses to Ardern and Hipkins. Ardern has shown some fiery sparks of sincere advocacy for those in poverty. At other times she looks less sincere and more of a managerialist-style politician. But these two are young, so there’s time to develop. I’ll wait and see how they go.
I also have a sneaking suspicion Shearer will surprise us all in election year by having a total cleanout of the dead wood, including the leaders of the ABC club. It would be a tactical masterstroke to go into the next election making a clean break with the people who cost Labour the last election.
Firstly, hope is not suspicion, unless you have some sort of evidence leading you to believe it. What signs are there of this? Shearer has shown, if nothing else, that he is loyal to those who are loyal to him. If you are in his camp, you can get away with all sorts of damaging shit, leaking to the press, bagging potential coalition partners, general internet idiocy, none of it matters.
Secondly, the reality of the permanent campaign means that if something like this is a good idea for an election year, you should be doing it now. By the time the year rolls around it is too late. If a clean break is needed, why for god’s sake would you not make it now?
Oh yeah, personal loyalty to the people fucking up. So he’ll let them fuck up for another year, let those fuck ups continue to feed narratives, and then hope for a ‘clean break’.
A clean break, is an admission that what you were doing, sucks. That’s not the sort of admission you make a year out from an election. You should be doing it in the first year after. that gives 2 years + to build that narrative of a ‘government in waiting’. But that narrative isn’t building because the break hasn’t been made yet.
Why wait? Why is waiting a masterstroke?
“Why wait? Why is waiting a masterstroke?”
In the short term, Shearer needs the current coterie. Past the February caucus, his standing as leader will be confirmed and the LP’s hopes at the election (and the MP’s jobs) then rely on him to a large extent. The ABC club consequently have less power and less power means less influence. They will become, ahem, lame ducks. Tactically, a clean out nearer the election means the ABCers will not have time to mount a coup in response and Shearer can go into the election as his own man, beholden to none. He will gain a personal poll boost as he did when he finished Cunliffe off, being seen as a strong leader making his mark. The timing is the masterstroke I was talking about, I think it’s better later than earlier.
IB: cheers, some typically spot on analysis in your comment. Maybe a post in it?
Maybe a post in it?
Yes please. People have time for reflection at this time.
I’m wary of posting too much on Labour’s internal politics as every time I do it seems to start a shitstorm.
And it should not.
The party ought to be having a discussion about its future.
Only cowards are afraid of open discussion.
Ok, so it looks like we were thinking about different things.
Correct me if I’m wrong, please, but what you outline looks to me to be something like this:
Shearer needs the support of some useless idiots in caucus to avoid facing a broader party vote in Feb. He needs to avoid that vote because he can’t count on the support of the broader party.
So he will allow the idiots to remain being idiots until the threat from his lack of support in the broader party has been circumvented, and then he will stab the idiots in the back and replace them with some of thee people who would rather have let the broader party have a say.
Everyone starts singing kumbayah.
Sorry, but that to me looks like a really good play for a leader who is shoring up personal support in a weak position. It ignores that fact that leadership of the party isn’t the main goal of politics.
TRP, I don’t think he does need the ABC. In fact I think if he did sweep them out and bring the younger MPs of the two camps together there’s no way the half dozen MPs that make up the old guard would have the numbers to make the February vote and Cunliffe and his supporters would have no need to. What are the old guard going to do? Put Trev or Phil up as their new champion?
IB, while I agree his doesn’t need them in the long term , he does need them now. If the Feb vote is unanimous, and it should be, then Shearer has the whip hand and can afford to make his move at a time of his choosing. But he’d be foolish to rock the boat now.
If the strategy is to consolidate power and set the scene for the future, the immediate tactic is to formalise his authority in caucus. That means looking to repeat the unanimous vote post conference, not merely get the 60% plus one majority, so a move now would be way too early.
Following on what PB has said, if Shearer does intend to burn off the ABC club, what sort of a leadership does he actually have in mind for himself? So far he has given no indication, and the only thing I have seen him do with conviction is demote and silence the man that he saw as his main challenger. Was the Rufus Painter speech, and his limp defence of it, a sop to supporters with whom he intends to break ranks? Does he really think that left and right are not fruitful ways of conceptualising issues, or was that another sop?
There have been a few comments over the past day or two that raise questions that run far deeper than poll results.
RedLogix cited a conversation with Michael Cullen, who “…took the pains to explain to me in my naivety that governments can only operate within what is considered the acceptable ‘paradigm’ of the day. That some things were possible and others were a step too far at the time.”
Elsewhere, Sanctuary said, in a tone of exasperation, “I don’t see a fear of ideological purity, I see a fear of losing the benefits of being part of the elite.”
Bearing these comments in mind, this is the question to which I would like a straight answer from whoever leads the Labour Party. If you are taken to one side after the election, and told that the Nats have run the economy into the ground, and that you must introduce measures that squeeze the most vulnerable even further, what are you going to do?
The crucial question is whether our government is there to protect foreign interests, to the career advantage of local representatives, or there to defend the interests of the citizens, including the most vulnerable citizens.
The problem goes deeper than leadership. Labour has during 2012 simply not presented itself as a credible “next government”/leading coalition partner to the electorate. While the talent and ideas are there there has also been persistent feeling that everything is still inchoate with Labour which a critical 10-15% of the electorate are probably picking up on. Its something that will need to be worked upon during 2013.
To Olwyn : Bearing these comments in mind, this is the question to which I would like a straight answer from whoever leads the Labour Party. If you are taken to one side after the election, and told that the Nats have run the economy into the ground, and that you must introduce measures that squeeze the most vulnerable even further, what are you going to do?
This is an important question you have asked. Perhaps the most important of all.
This is just the scenario faced by Lange/Douglas et al in 1984 which they used to go down the neo-liberal economic path. I would hope that Labour in 2014 would take us down a different track but until we know what Shearer really thinks, we cannot possibly guess what way they’d go.
The fact that we do not know what Shearer thinks looks ominous to me. Along with his tendency to sidestep rather than address criticisms, his previous status as an international elite, and the panicked response of his crew when Cunliffe had the temerity to suggest that Labour would not make do with amputating your leg a little lower than National would. I should throw in as well his fan club of right wing shills. It seems to me that if he had more to offer than managing NZ on behalf of its “investors” he would by now have said so, loud and clear.
+1
It may or may not be ominous, Olwyn. But that’s the problem. Maybe it has been a strategy to win over the MSM etc first. However, during the last year, there has been an erosion of trust. So, now, even if Shearer comes out and sincerely advocates for a strong left/labour movement position, how do we know he will stick to that once in government?
I would prefer that Team Shearer does take leadership of a strong left agenda, but I will still be voting Mana or Green in order to have representation from parties that would be most likely to keep a Labour-led government “honest”.
Caving to what some might see as the media’s demands does not amount to winning them over. Clark won the media over, though she lost them, after seven or eight years, to Key. But she did so with forthrightness, friendliness and clear articulation, not by purporting to follow a centre-right line.
The most crucial question to me lies with the difference between having the representation of New Zealanders as your focus, including and especially the most vulnerable, and selling your brand to New Zealanders in order to manage them on behalf of the international elite. One cannot expect miracles when corporatism has rendered us a more-or-less occupied country, but one can distinguish between a politician who employs their energy and their wiles on our behalf, and one who simply facilitates our exploitation while enhancing their own career prospects.
There are no shortcuts, Micky. People will not vote Labour just because they aren’t National. The old saying that goes ‘Oppositions don’t win elections, Governments lose them’ does have an unspoken proviso that the Opposition needs to meet a minimum standard of competence.
At the moment, Labour is a complete fail. People don’t have any idea what they stand for, who their leader is, or any confidence in their day-to-day political management and performance. They’ve been overshadowed by the Greens and Winston all year.
To put it bluntly, no matter how much Key screws up, people won’t go for Labour in its current form. That leaves Key wide open to do whatever he likes.
The Greens are proving very competent, but they are still a minor party in most people’s eyes. To have a change of government, people need to regain confidence in the main Opposition party – Labour. And it doesn’t look like happening anytime soon.
Maybe the country isn’t being trashed the way you say it is. The Xmas receipts were well up from last year, indicating people had money in their pockets and weren’t worried about spending it ie confidence in their jobs and the way the country is going maybe.
Or were those just the rich pricks? If so there seem to be a lot of rich pricks around.
So, what changes will Labour/Watermelon make, and how will it improve things? Or will they start us backwards down the track to Greece and Zimbabwe?
Christmas retail up just 3.3%, after retail in general has been down all year. Unless the trend continues in January and February, I wouldn’t read too much into it.
Micky – thanks. This hardly endorses McCarten’s insistence of increased support for Labour since the crucifixion (“destroyed” is the word chosen by TRP) of Cunliffe by Shearer! Never mind, tons of time for a Cunliffe “resurrection” yet!!
Hi Doc. I think you are right, a Cunliffe “resurrection” should not be ruled out, in fact I think it is almost compulsory. In politics “resurrection” is the rule, rather than the exception.
Big banks, FBI, Homeland Security and local law enforcement actively worked together to collect intelligence on Occupy activists, and violently crush Occupy protests right across the USA. Draw your own conclusions about what the melding of corporate and state power means to all of us.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/dec/29/fbi-coordinated-crackdown-occupy
What do people think the *intelligence* networks do all day long, jesus it obviously took control of the *arab spring* and engineered it towards the desired outcomes across the board, why on earth would occupy have been any different, *intelligence* is not a new industry!
Edit: Brett Dale, what are you on about?
Cheers for the link Napkins; very informative
Yes, thanks napkins. I’ve seen that issue mentioned before, but it reminded me & I think I can use the link in a future post.
Disgusting what Russia did, using Orphans to score political points off the usa, funny how the green party and te mana and the labour party are silent over Russia’s repugnant actions, despite telling people how they’re the party that cares about childern.
This is what happens when diplomatic relations between major powers deteriorate badly. Ordinary people get caught in the middle. Russia was always going to retaliate against the US Magnitsky Act which targets senior Russian officials.
You cannot be too disgusted, you are using those very same children whose treatment has very little to do with New Zealand politics, (unless you think we are simply a US proxy state), to score stupid political points against New Zealand political party’s…
International adoptions are a fraught area: there’s arguments for and against it. Some argue against it as encouraging the international marketing of children. Others think it is traumatic or the child to take them away from their home culture.
Crikey! It’s the weekend?! Well it’s been a blur of heat and humidity all week. Nice breeze a blowing now though…. thank god.
Thank god (or ratepayers rather) for libraries too. Stocked up on reading matter on xmas eve including Mojo music mags. Quote of the week has to be from Don Letts speaking on John Lydon (Mojo, August 2012)
“People are scared when somebody else speaks up when they haven’t got the guts to. People want to squash it”
This made me think of the silence/cognitive dissonance/apathy we have in NZ during one of the most painful political times we have experienced in a awhile. Bring the noise I say!! (Apologies for being a bit political on the social pages)And on that note: Arohanui to the authors and moderators here at The Standard. You are a wise and strong collective,whose work is much appreciated by myself and many other commentors and readers for sure. I wish you well for your ongoing and increasing success in 2013.
To commentors and readers: The very best of health and happiness to you in 2013, especially to those of you whose path has not been easy – may you find the change you are looking for. Kia Kaha
PS: Moved this comment from weekend social as its semi social, semi political. Big ups all:-)
beginning with an Adneckdote;
-over a post S.A 😉 service cuppa tea the Lord led an itinerant “farmer” to engage with me. After the usual pissing comparison of our denominational journeys (his first step int the S.A, via marriage),we came around to politics; he asked if I belonged, I said I’m joining Labour, red (and black) through and through, whatta bout you, Blue?
His words-(now this is really funny)” No! John Key has done as much damage to this country as Helen Clark did” (he exclaimed from the heart of his airtex shirt and Tussock Creek moleskins).
then, then,”You should join the Conservative Party (assumed i’m conservative obviously; i don’t even look freakin’ conservative, i look a cross between John and Rasputin). You’re joining the Labour Party??? There are more gays in in there than anything”, and then he immediately got up before i could reply (well, spose i already had with my pierced eyes 🙂 ), saying I gotta go (probably to wash his mouth out), grabbed his “bible” and strode off; must have been the bright light hurting his briefly opened mind. Very sad, yet, something to bear in mind (bear, now that’s funny), cos it’s all about
impressions, and although i find David Clark interesting to listen to, and think Charles is well spoken,
Robertson worries me personally.
Some more Bad Company
Deal?
Shooting from the lip
Feel me inside you?
Twitter war has broken out between McCarten, Henare,Mallard according to the
Herald, over comments Matt has made in his opinion piece.
Your post got me intrigued, and I’ve just had a look at Henare’s Twitter account. It’s full of fascinating entries, like this….
“Now at St Lukes L’Occitane. Smellies for my wife’s BDay. Yum”
Even for a Twitter entry, making the effort to write that strikes me as a particularly fatuous waste of time.
Henare’s moronic tweets also display his lingering bitterness towards Trevor Mallard, after Mallard clouted him in Parliament a couple of years ago.
Tweets by tauhenare
TOO MUCH MARIHUANA, PERHAPS?
Hollywood entertainment lawyer Mark Litwak interviewed by Simon Morris
Radio New Zealand National, Sunday 30 December 2012, 1:25 p.m.
A neat example of two minds: one just a bit too laid back and one razor-sharp…
MORRIS: You were talking about the ninety-day, errrrr—
LITWAK: Gap.
MORRIS: Gap, yes.
If Morris keeps on with the woolly-minded “errrrr” and “ummmm” stuff, Leighton (Ummmmm, Errrrrr, Ahmmmm) Smith and Larry (Lackwit) Williams had better look to their laurels; someone else could be contending for the title of dopiest person on the air….
Simon will be fine, he could consume 24/7 and still be 500 years ahead of those two fools from shittalkZB.
That’s true, but for a moment there this afternoon he sounded unnervingly like a NewstalkZB…. ummmm, errrrrr, ahhhhhhhhhhmmm….. host.
Perhaps Cunliffe should start his own party with whatever true believers remain in Labour. I’d probably vote for it.
Cunliffe is not Anderton.
We have got what we have got. Leadership and vote.
My bet is Labour will only take share off NZFirst.
Election 2014 % of vote result for me:
Labour 33
Greens. 14
National 41
With remaining as seats: Mana 1 seat, Maori 2 seats, and United stays 1
Labour gets back a bit more Maori. NZF vote redistributed.
Better results than that require too many planets to align.
Maybe a goer +1
anyway, the wave and a smile is my best friend, Amor fati
climbing up on Soulsbury Hill, Red Rain’s fallin’ down In Your Eyes
wherd ya’ leave the Delorean Marty, back in High School McFli?
government blacktop “binge”; there’ll be a toll to pay
no Transmission Lawrence…radio my Transmission
It won’t happen overnight Rachal, but it will happen
that’s the panting explosion. Esau I have loved
Yet, Esau must go-Rachel grew jealous
shairing in all the duplicity and falsehood of her gasoline alley family.
Leah Laban Labia. Lamentations:the fate of the children
Suicide Blond in excess. Marvin Marvin Marvin
there are too many children crying
(heard it thru’ the grapevine) “Mine Mine Mine”
They’re all livin for the City
there’s too many children dying. Horn being train sets
In Vain. Manchester Brittle Indian cotton land. Return
of “the guardians”; tooth fairy and Bugs Bunny,
“eh wots up Doctorow. It’s one virus and calcium
deficit after another. Have you ever pulled a chain
Gang, been around or on The Block?
singin’ all day, singin’ ’bout nothin’ oh meow meow Mao
Oh Mao meow meow. The kingdom of God is near.
Apathy Agnosticism Atheism: Anarchy
Acquisition Acquiescence Appeasement: Anarchy
Behaviour Bleeding Belonging: Blessing
Saviour Sister Brother Blessing
Blessings from the Rock of our Salvation
Admit Believe Call. Concrete Blonde Always
God is a Bullet, have Mercy on us everyone.
To cut a long story short I lost my mind
(if you leave me, can I come too, and if)
You don’t, then I won’t too. Little Boys, big toys
each has a shiny “horse”, gayly they play
each summers’ day, “warriors” all of them of course
Father Father Father, there’s too many children dying
Father Father Father, men leave women cryin’
Eats, Roots and Leaves. Mama she has taught me well
Told me when I’s young, Son your life’s an open book
don’t close it ‘fore it’s done.
By the rivers of Babylon, there we set down
there air we wept
when we remembered Zion
Nothing Else Matters
never care for what they say
never care for what they do
Dare to be a Daniel, Red Blooded through and through.
Vegetarian soon she’ll be comin round the mountain
comin’ round the mountain, she’ll be comin round
the mounting when she comes.
(Driver 8 take a break, we’ve been on this “trip” too long)
The Bible is often overlooked tunneling under war monuments
We’re in his hands, Idle Hands and all that Sin City jazz
We can change the world, with our own Two Hands
A-men O-men, when I see your face again
Ben-Harper. The days I cannot see have all been planned.
enter No Plea. Barter. Paraclete will see you through.
scourged him to the bone The Romans did
Thank God for Joseph of Arimathea .
meanwhile, the church packed it’s bags
sat at the Bus Stop waiting for The Rapture
who shares their umbrella. A Long Cool
Women in a black dress, working for the FBI
at the time of Elisha, the more “wailers” you paid
the more sadness you weighed:Elisha had P.R
The Inheritance we have is the presence of God.
Billy Graham left the bus tours and knelt
After Wesley; wore that carpet out Side By Side
Onward Caritas Soldiers support and comfort
The Poor will always be with us; there is an increase.
Pirates.Radio Hauraki run up The Jolly Roger
-cheeky wink. Think Think Think.
the black the white, the dark the fair
your colour does not matter here
there’s every nation, every race
at The Standard we can all embrace
God Loves You All
-The Great Commissioner (All Around My Hat)
I just have to say, Rogue Trooper, that your contributions are a breath of fresh air.
They’re like a kind of free-flow rationality that gather up the edits off the cutting floor and stitch them back together.
Whatever your muse is, let it keep speaking and, then, sit back and relax. You will have done more than your bit to make a human(e) place.
I like to think I have a muse too, sometimes. More like Bach’s – all disciplined and structured. But yours is full to overflowing in every line.
All the best 🙂
Too many parties on the left already pop.
Personally what baffles me is the sheer authoritarian nastiness the ABC clique has employed. If they had an honest argument they would have used it and while a few egos’ might of gotten bruised; we would not be where we are now with a weakened Labour party leader trying desperately to hose down this kind of damaging dissension … and long-time loyal activists openly contemplating leaving Labour behind.
Not dealing honestly with issues always makes them worse.
Infiltration of the LP began decades ago, why should it be a surprise that there are still such types who make up the *core* of the party, are the same who are forging such damage and giving the NACT such a free ride, because that’s whats really going on!
Same techniques rinse and repeat, and people still fall for it!
Agreed.
RL: Personally what baffles me is the sheer authoritarian nastiness the ABC clique has employed.
Yes, that, the bullying, the suppression of dissent from members, and the manipulation of the MSM to create a false narrative of Cunliffe attempting a coup, resulting in the smearing of Cunliffe – that all leaves a nasty taste in the mouth, and has resulted in the development of a feeling of distrust in Team Shearer. I don’t know how all that damage can be easily undone.
I doubt the MSM were manipulated. More likely they were accomplices. That was certainly the impression I got observing their activity (or some of it) at the Labour Conference.
ya sure got your gun Annee 🙂
now, when shall we see mowing over lightbulbs on the A40 sit-com stop rerunnin? hmmm?
hmmm? (keep listening to RNZ, might learn an unPopular thing or two)
Well, from just observing the reports in the MSM, it looked like some mutual attempts at manipulation – by the Labour Caucus anonymous leakers and journalists manufacturing their own version of the story.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/world/124542/ngo-wants-investigation-into-fiji-draft-constitution-burning
Anyone surprised?
SST-
some gristle in the OECD article;
-% income spent on housing-29-36th of 36 (rankings)
-child poverty-20/36
-work life (un)-balance-30/36
“Oh the humidity…” get a haircut, and get a productive job.
Laws-bit of a pavlova himself by the sounds and look of it (nothin’ personal, just gristle between my
teeth) No need to mince words, spit ’em out; elicit not my fluffy, feathered friend; we already know what the conclusions are, including needing a woman to hold your hand while you manipulate that
peace (holmes already had his trial) sons, your lives are over, ours have just begun.
Ozzy Osbourne airoport, where the big jet engines roar…(Birmingham)
British Steel
http://www.whosdatedwho.com/tpx_77826/judas-priest/songs
just keep on breakin’ the law
-priest 😉
Fireworks and slushies
http://www.newsnow.co.uk/h/
regarding these OECD “I’ve had a wonderful day” Rankin??? David David David
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depressive_realism
Smile. You’re on Candide Camera 🙂
NZH-“Ni hao.Huan ying, huan ying!) Welcome the Chinese (now where have i read that before?)
-patupaiarehe (great minds and all that blubber) 😉
Stumbled across this gem at TruthOut (although the original source is Australian Options)
The rest of the article takes a somewhat dark line, but this opening strikes a very familiar chord.
All hail the US Democratic Party.
and that’s a wrap (linen I pray, not disposable, it all comes out with Bleach-Nirvana) 🙂
still lovin’ ya work Floccular, gobsmacked as usual
a Molly of an anecdote, Take Note!
remain positive Mike;glass half full
great Macro analysis as per
potential TRP pragmatic potential
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pendle_witches
(problematic for Wesley)
don’t be so glum-jump in puddles (lux ury may be found for tramps under bridges)
kc and the Sonshine band (thats the way aha aha I like it)
numerator Jenny, not numero uno (hubris cometh before?)
forget Georgy peter puddin’ pie; com municate with George
one outta the box and into the Pink (all pink inside)
a dab one-two analysis left hook; southpaw?
reasoned as usual Red. Peoples Power (Patti Smith)
keep on Going North.Not too much turf on the fire aye Bill (smoke gets in their I’s)
hope it’s all Rosie for you too-Guten Morgen / Tag
Gute Nacht
-Joseph
(some Trenchcoat Rock)
“don’t be so glum-jump in puddles (lux ury may be found for tramps under bridges)”
Yep. I’m probably the least glum person I know, being honest.
The Silver Chair – the serpent scene. A burnt foot doesn’t matter when you know what matters.
“One word, Ma’am,” he said, coming back from the fire; limping, because of the pain. “One word. All you’ve been saying is quite right, I shouldn’t wonder. I’m a chap who always liked to know the worst and then put the best face I can on it. So I won’t deny any of what you said. But there’s one more thing to be said, even so. Suppose we have only dreamed, or made up, all those things-trees and grass and sun and moon and stars and Aslan himself. Suppose we have. Then all I can say is that, in that case, the made-up things seem a good deal more important than the real ones. Suppose this black pit of a kingdom of yours is the only world. Well, it strikes me as a pretty poor one. And that’s a funny thing, when you come to think of it. We’re just babies making up a game, if you’re right. But four babies playing a game can make a play-world which licks your real world hollow. That’s why I’m going to stand by the play world. I’m on Aslan’s side even if there isn’t any Aslan to lead it. I’m going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn’t any Narnia. So, thanking you kindly for our supper, if these two gentlemen and the young lady are ready, we’re leaving your court at once and setting out in the dark to spend our lives looking for Overland. Not that our lives will be very long, I should think; but that’s a small loss if the world’s as dull a place as you say.”
Wittgesntein, language games (i.e., ‘babies playing a game’):
“Something new (spontaneous, specific) is always a language-game” (Philosophical Investigations, p. 224)”
Vaclav Havel:
“Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out.”
William James and “The Will to Believe”.
Puddleglum’s Wager.
Forget about ‘religion’, ‘God’ or whatever. That’s an unfortunate distraction. Think about what is valuable to you (and everyone).
Nothing to be glum about, so far as I can see.
Searching for a better world makes perfect sense. Even a (political) scientist would have to agree.
(Hint: It’s the tension between the ‘actual’ and the ‘possible’).
Three questions:
1. What happens if Shearer does not involve the wider party membership in February’s leadership vote?
2. What happens if he does and Cunliffe wins?
3, What does Cunliffe then do about the ABCer’s?
Either way the Labour Party is pretty much stuffed for the next few years until it gets it’s shit together.
1. Nothing of note, other than permanent sidelining of this site by leadership.
2. He won’t win. Cunliffe will only get a Shadow slot if King goes, and beats Wilde.
3. He will never win. Never has won them over. permanent 40% spill cycle is result if he ever does.
I keep reading on this site about the need for policy and that it is more important than personalities. I tend to agree with this but think it is very important to have good leadership AS WELL.
If you want to see what one party’s policy is, relating to the current world economic crisis, then go to this site http://www.democrats.org.nz/; here you will find an abundance of policy for real change which both Labour and the Greens would do well to study. I think it is fairly obvious that REAL CHANGE is not going to come from Labour OR the Greens
I find it amazing that SOME of these policies (and Social Credit as a party) have not had any mention during these trying times.
Leadership from the NZ Democrats should put up regular posts on The Standard, on topical issues. I’m sure that would be most welcome.
DEBATE is lively in this forum, just before the end of the year. But again, it is the selected few raising voices and ideas, those who take interest, follow, read, learn and are informed.
Regrettably you are all too few. I dread again, for days we get the usual end of year shit news from MSM (mainstream media), about traffic, sales turnovers, the feeding at the missions, the accidents in bush, on beaches and on the roads. The odd crime story fills in, and there is heaps of weather prediction, always a bit off what really will come.
FFS, is this what NZ is about, I ask yet again?
I know many here know a better part of NZ, but I am talking about the supposed “masses” of brain-washed consumers, leisure holidayers, and those just not interested in others, rather themselves to have a bloody good time. Christmas was again a shocker, with NO CULTURE of any sorts, no enlightenment, nothing worth reading, watching or listening to.
The dumbing down agenda is working, so I am afraid.
We have a Labour leader go surfing and wanting to have lots of BBQ fun. He is mellow, shallow and a no-hoper. An opposition that only really comes in force from the minor players (so far) in “opposition”. We have a country on the brink, but all have gone on holdays now, forget the future and the needs of the people, I suppose. If you cannot afford it, splash out on the credit card, surely in 1 to 2 months the bills will come, and the sobering up phase. But hey, then it will be autumn and winter, fit for somber moods.
I am for a first time in a long time in contact with people in Europe, I am feeling a need to rethink my future. Do I want to spend the rest of my life in a vast, expansive farm yard, short of ideas, where revolutionary thinking and great ideas will NEVER catch on with most, or do I perhaps seek a chance to get back to what I call “civilisation” and informed people?
Honestly, I am at a stage in my life, where I am ready to call it quits for NZ, I see little hope at all for this small post colonial place. It is sooooooo depressing and hopeless. Not even presenting media, and others with scandalous information and facts moves anything.
I am tired of living in a dictatorship or some kind of dumbo land.
Happy New Year, whatever you may be able to make of it.
Yes I understand what you are saying Xtasy, there is a lot of truth in what you are saying. However it could be worse, we could be in AUSTRALIA. Just keep positing on the Standard, I enjoy your posts.
I felt really inspired for the first time this year on listening to Owen Glenn (RNZ 7.30 ish) talking about his commission of inquiry into child abuse and violence. He has a web site which I am yet to visit and he hopes to have a blue print ready in the first quarter of 2014. A panel of about 35 selected people are involved.
I already quit NZ Xtasy and am living in the States, National doesn’t care about human welfare or the future of New Zealand. It is the Chicago Boys project all again, John Key is just a Roger Douglas with a different name. The right wing in NZ are under the personality cult of John Key, as are the MSM. The MSM always attack the Greens and Labour, the only two parties that have people that give a damn if New Zealand stays afloat or not. The longer National stays in power, the more damaged New Zealand becomes. If you have to leave as I have, then good luck. 🙂