Search Results

1. 

   Dotcom snoopers: The “dirty, disgusting, despicable game”

   Written By:  karol -  Date published: 4:19 pm, February 14th, 2014 -  73 comments
   Categories: blogs, brand key, john key, slippery, spin, Spying, uncategorized
   Tags:

   So, the PM is hinting that his tips about Winston Peters visiting Kim Dotcom 3 times, came from Cameron Slater.  But then, who was Slater’s informant? Key admits to on-going contact with Slater. [Update: transcript of John Key stand up vid, Stuff – Update 2: transcript edited; 3 News]
   

2. 

   Mindless questions

   Written By:  Mike Smith -  Date published: 9:50 am, February 13th, 2014 -  304 comments
   Categories: john key, spin, winston peters
   Tags:

   The question I’d like the media to ask is “Where did John Key get his information that Winston visited DotCom three times?” Most likely source it seems to me is the GCSB. I think Winston  may have a point about his right to privacy.

3. 

   Polity: Kim Dotcom’s 5% gambit

   Written By:  notices and features -  Date published: 8:39 am, February 12th, 2014 -  92 comments
   Categories: accountability, activism, democratic participation, political alternatives, Politics
   Tags: electoral finance, Electoral Finance Act, internet party, kim dotcom, polity

   Rob Salmond looks at the implications of the Internet party failing to poll 5% and DotCom throws his support behind another party. A bidding war from competing parties? For the left this would be being both hypocritical and a bit icky. One of the reasons they worked hard to make election funding fairer in the late 2000s was to limit the ability of individuals seeking to buy government policy for cash. The right disagreed but is now caught by their own logic that it couldn’t happen.

4. 

   5 Eyes’ cyberwarfare: Snowden

   Written By:  karol -  Date published: 7:55 am, February 9th, 2014 -  60 comments
   Categories: blogs, democracy under attack, news, spin, Spying, uk politics, us politics
   Tags:

   Leaked by Edward Snowden, a GCHQ slideshow for a secret spy conference.  It outlines methods of cyber warfare and propaganda circulation.   Mainly aimed at non-5 Eyes’ countries, the methods include infiltrating blogs, DOS attacks, propaganda via social media & manipulating journalists.

5. 

   NRT: The NSA spies on its own government

   Written By:  notices and features -  Date published: 11:11 am, January 8th, 2014 -  51 comments
   Categories: International, Spying, us politics
   Tags: GCSB, no right turn, nsa

   Since Edward Snowden leaked proof of widespread NSA spying on US citizens, people have been wondering who exactly they’re spying on. Are they spying on their own government? Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders wanted to know, so he asked them directly. The response was not reassuring.

   Perhaps the same question should be put to the GCSB? After all its oversight seems even more incompetent and incestuous than that of the NSA.

6. 

   Snowden performed a public service

   Written By:  lprent -  Date published: 10:16 am, January 4th, 2014 -  99 comments
   Categories: International, internet, Media, Spying, us politics
   Tags: granny herald, nyt

   The New York Times has an editorial stating that Edward Snowden should be regarded as a whistleblower who has done the public there and elsewhere a service by revealing the illegal extent of the NSA’s surveillance. What is most interesting in the extremely well linked editorial is that there is this curious hole in the US whistle blower laws that many including Barack Obama have said he could have used. They don’t cover contractors….

7. 

   Troubling double-standards from police

   Written By:  Michael Valley -  Date published: 9:30 am, November 26th, 2013 -  40 comments
   Categories: crime, police
   Tags:

   The Police investigations into both the teapot tapes and the GCSB’s unlawful spying on Kim Dotcom came down to the same section of the Crimes Act, 216B. That makes it a crime to intentional intercept a private communication without lawful excuse. In both cases, the issue hinged on that word ‘intentional’ but the Police used very different definitions, and investigative tools.

8. 

   ImperatorFish: Revolution!

   Written By:  notices and features -  Date published: 9:17 pm, November 4th, 2013 -  10 comments
   Categories: Satire
   Tags: nz taxpayers union

   Scott thinks we should all join the nz taxpayers’ union. Comrades, he hasn’t seen such a fabulous undemocratic union since the Soviet one, so what could go wrong?

9. 

   David Cunliffe Speech to 2013 Labour Party Conference – Building a future for all

   Written By:  notices and features -  Date published: 2:57 pm, November 2nd, 2013 -  142 comments
   Categories: david cunliffe, labour
   Tags: 2013 Labour

   David Cunliffe’s speech notes for his speech to today’s Labour Party Conference

10. 

    NSA: ‘full spectrum dominance’

    Written By:  karol -  Date published: 9:39 am, October 28th, 2013 -  23 comments
    Categories: accountability, capitalism, democracy under attack, internet, john key, national, slippery, Spying, telecommunications, uk politics, us politics, war
    Tags:

    Latest revelations about the NSA’s international surveillance show it is about “full spectrum dominance” of military, economic, business and political activities. The TICS Bill is the latest part of Key’s changes to NZ’s surveillance agencies, further enabling the US government dominance via NSA, especially in business & politics.

11. 

    The fish rots from the head

    Written By:  Mike Smith -  Date published: 8:12 pm, October 16th, 2013 -  91 comments
    Categories: accountability, brand key, election 2014, election funding, john banks, john key, same old national
    Tags:

    Today’s decision that John Banks will stand trial for signing a false donations return signals the beginning of the end of the Key government. Increasingly it resembles the last days of the Shipley government only worse, as corruption replaces shambles. The decision also puts the famous tea party conversation between Key and Banks, where they stitched up the deal to provide the present Government’s majority, into new perspective.

12. 

    Discourage the pantie sniffers

    Written By:  lprent -  Date published: 9:01 pm, October 13th, 2013 -  30 comments
    Categories: accountability, activism, humour, International, john key, Spying, telecommunications, us politics, you couldn't make this shit up
    Tags: GCSB, herald on sunday, nsa

    It isn’t that hard to get around the prurient arsehole peekers that populate the NSA and the kiwi puppets – John Key being a prime example. Encrypt, falsify your “metadata”, and send lots of crap purely so they have no idea what to look at. Hell – even the NZ Herald gets it these days as in an anonymously published article in the weekend rag…

13. 

    I guess this just shows the Right doesn’t have a monopoly on arseholes

    Written By:  James Henderson -  Date published: 8:11 am, September 27th, 2013 -  34 comments
    Categories: racism, sexism
    Tags:

    The other day, I wrote a piece on Poto Williams’ selection to be Labour’s candidate in the Christchurch East by-election. I promptly had to ban a commenter who assumed her selection was due to a quota – ie. a woman Cook Islander can’t possibly win on her own merit. Unfortunately, it seems The Standard sets higher, um, standards than The Herald, which published a similar argument by Damien Rogers today.

14. 

    Key loses his “Centre”, Herald spins right, Smith on the ropes

    Written By:  karol -  Date published: 11:31 am, September 25th, 2013 -  35 comments
    Categories: Conservation, david cunliffe, greens, housing, john key, labour, MMP, poverty, spin
    Tags: nick smith

    Cunliffe’s moderate, centre left Labour is on the rise; MSM-supported, NAct smears & negative spin is in over-drive.  John Key and the NZ Herald editorial  spin from the radical “neoliberal” right.  Slippery Nick Smith, a NAct weak point, is under concerted pressure. [Updated]

15. 

    Anti-democratic tendencies

    Written By:  Bunji -  Date published: 6:45 pm, September 24th, 2013 -  16 comments
    Categories: accountability, democracy under attack, john key
    Tags:

    John Key: “I don’t think New Zealand should rush to become a republic. It may happen one day, but I can’t for the life of me see the benefits of it other than you get to spend a lot of money electing heads of state as opposed to the government appointing one.”

16. 

    Beyond the MSM? You Bet!

    Written By:  karol -  Date published: 10:18 am, September 20th, 2013 -  221 comments
    Categories: child welfare, climate change, david cunliffe, economy, employment, gst, housing, labour, Left, pasifika, poverty, trade, Unions, vision, workers' rights
    Tags:

    David Cunliffe spoke to the Left base in the Daily Blog Live interview last night: economy, tax, employment, GCSB, TPPA & more.  He raises hopes for a new, post GFC social democratic vision. But he spoke to those with economic & policy knowledge. His nods towards better social security, away from bennie bashing, need fleshing out.

17. 

    The bankster memorandum

    Written By:  karol -  Date published: 10:41 am, September 9th, 2013 -  160 comments
    Categories: accountability, benefits, capitalism, class war, david cunliffe, democratic participation, economy, grant robertson, john key, labour, Shane Jones, slippery, telecommunications, workers' rights
    Tags: income inequality

    John Key honed his skills as a speculative banker. As PM, this casino capitalist has undermined democracy, & promoted international corporate interests, while beneficiaries & workers are brutalised, inequalities enhanced and NZ’s economy & sovereignty damaged.  Does one Labour leader contender have his number measure?

18. 

    NRT: Laws are for little people – again

    Written By:  notices and features -  Date published: 4:53 pm, August 29th, 2013 -  22 comments
    Categories: crime, law, police
    Tags: GCSB, no right turn

    No Right Turn looks at the police decision on the unlawful GCSB interceptions of DotCom’s communications. Of course getting the police to investigate their own requests for the GCSB to perform an unlawful activity is like putting a stoat in charge of kiwi chicks. Perhaps a private prosecution of the GCSB and the police would be a more productive.

19. 

    Ladies and gentlemen, your Prime Minister

    Written By:  Eddie -  Date published: 9:32 am, August 28th, 2013 -  66 comments
    Categories: john key, Minister for International Embarrassment, russel norman
    Tags:

    Much has been made of Key’s bizarre performance in the House yesterday. Some are naturally questioning his medical intake after his unhinged laughing at his own weak pre-written jokes in answer to Labour questions. But, for me, it was his response to Russel Norman’s questions that was more telling. His utter contempt for accountability is something every Kiwi should see.

20. 

    Why I electorate vote Cunliffe: op ed

    Written By:  karol -  Date published: 12:10 pm, August 23rd, 2013 -  138 comments
    Categories: capitalism, climate change, david cunliffe, democratic participation, Economy, employment, grant robertson, jobs, labour, monetary policy, sustainability, telecommunications, welfare
    Tags:

    I wasn’t going to express my opinion on the upcoming Labour leadership selection process. However, the usual right leaning MSM hacks seem to have been following the current Labour caucus leadership in naming Robertson as the frontrunner. This is my op ed testimony for my frontrunner, the MP for my electorate: Cunliffe.

21. 

    Disgusting

    Written By:  mickysavage -  Date published: 9:40 am, August 22nd, 2013 -  110 comments
    Categories: national/act government, same old national
    Tags: chris finlayson, GCSB

    Chris Finalyson’s contribution to the GCSB debate yesterday was a strong reminder that the job description for National MPs includes a requirement that they be rude and arrogant and a belief that they are somehow superior to the rest of us.

22. 

    If lawyers don’t understand the law…

    Written By:  Bunji -  Date published: 12:59 pm, August 21st, 2013 -  32 comments
    Categories: john banks, john key, law, Spying
    Tags: GCSB, privacy

    Then it’s a bad law. Who does John Key think is going to interpret the GCSB law other than lawyers from the Law Commission, the Human Rights Tribunal, the Privacy Commissioner etc?

23. 

    The innocent have nothing to fear?

    Written By:  Mike Smith -  Date published: 10:50 am, August 21st, 2013 -  18 comments
    Categories: newspapers, Spying, uk politics
    Tags: David Miranda, edward snowden, Glenn Greenwald, the guardian

    It’s not just journos who should watch out if the GCSB Bill goes through. David Miranda, partner of Guardian journalist Glenn Greenwald, was detained by British police yesterday while in transit through London. All his electronic equipment was confiscated. After the nine hour limit was up this “terrorist” was released into Britain! All because his partner has been the journalist who wrote about Snowden’s revelations about internet surveillance by GCHQ, NSA, and GCSB.

24. 

    When fear tactics backfire

    Written By:  notices and features -  Date published: 2:47 pm, August 20th, 2013 -  93 comments
    Categories: david shearer, john key, Spying
    Tags: courage, fear tactics, GCSB, Spying

    John Key’s fear tactics backfired badly when he tried to smear David Shearer…

25. 

    Is this a question buddy?

    Written By:  mickysavage -  Date published: 9:45 am, August 20th, 2013 -  25 comments
    Categories: blogs, john key, same old national
    Tags:

    Yesterday Scoop’s Alastair Thompson started to ask John Key a really difficult question essentially about the unprecedented powers that Key is giving to the GCSB.  Key responded by walking out of the post cabinet press conference.  So much for being on top of his game.  And last night’s Auckland Town Hall was a stunner.  The Bill is due to be debated again today.  If only a Government MP or Peter Dunne would develop some principles …

26. 

    Be there – tonight

    Written By:  notices and features -  Date published: 2:47 pm, August 19th, 2013 -  94 comments
    Categories: accountability, national, peter dunne, Spying
    Tags: GCSB, heroes, privacy, privacy under attack, Spying

    Final reminder of the pro-privacy anti-spying meeting tonight. Also worth noting in this context is Alastair Thompson’s excellent open letter to Peter Dunne. Read it. Will Dunne be a hero?

27. 

    Plans to “wiretap” the net

    Written By:  notices and features -  Date published: 10:11 am, August 19th, 2013 -  17 comments
    Categories: internet, Spying
    Tags: GCSB, privacy, privacy under attack, Spying, TICS Bill

    The second of the weekend’s must-read pieces.  This one is by Vikram Kumar (CEO of Mega) published in the NBR, on plans to require internet service providers to install a “backdoor for the government”.

28. 

    Be there

    Written By:  notices and features -  Date published: 9:32 am, August 17th, 2013 -  17 comments
    Categories: activism, Spying
    Tags: GCSB, Spying

    

29. 

    Not how a democracy works

    Written By:  Eddie -  Date published: 9:56 am, August 16th, 2013 -  34 comments
    Categories: Spying
    Tags: GCSB

    Key and his cronies have a long history of passing laws that give themselves sweeping powers and promising (honestly, truly) that they won’t use them. How many times has King Brownlee found himself in court for abusing his dictatorial powers, despite the ouster clauses in his enabling Act? Now, Key, says he won’t actually use the powers he’s getting the the GCSB Bill.

30. 

    Key vs Campbell: the transcript

    Written By:  karol -  Date published: 1:22 pm, August 15th, 2013 -  272 comments
    Categories: accountability, crosby textor, democracy under attack, john key, slippery, spin, Spying, tv, us politics
    Tags: campbell live

    The interview of John Key by John Campbell last night on Campbell Live (on the GCSB Bill), showed what a formidable spin merchant Key can be.  It is important to understand Key’s MO.  This is a work in progress – transcript of the first 10.44 12.27 mins. completed.

31. 

    John Key – in contempt

    Written By:  karol -  Date published: 8:30 pm, August 12th, 2013 -  71 comments
    Categories: accountability, john key, slippery, spin, Spying, telecommunications
    Tags: campbell live, GCSB

    John Key shows contempt for New Zealanders and democracy in refusing to talk about the GCSB Bill and saying New Zealanders care more about snapper quotas. Campbell Live discovers some Kiwis are well informed and have views on the GCSB Bill.