Will English speak up on Trump’s ban?

133 comments on “Will English speak up on Trump’s ban? ”

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1. joe90 1

   30 January 2017 at 7:38 am

   Will Bill English speak up?

   Nah.
   /

   The new US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, has pledged to overhaul the world body and warned US allies that she will be “taking names” of countries that do not support Washington.

   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/27/nikki-haley-united-nations-ambassador-taking-names
   • Morrissey 1.1

     30 January 2017 at 8:27 am

     Kicking ass and taking names. That’s the Trump Reich in a nutshell.
2. One Anonymous Bloke 2

   30 January 2017 at 8:23 am

   Will English speak up… and if not, which of his colleagues will show him what personal responsibility looks like?

   Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston said that Trump should be disinvited from addressing the Houses of Parliament when he visits the UK later this year.
3. North 3

   30 January 2017 at 8:50 am

   Well done Metiria Turei ! Delightful to hear her giving Wee Guyon a lesson in common sense on Morning Report around 8.20 this morning re the question posed in this post. This notwithstanding increasingly ‘miffed head prefect’ carry on from him. Link not available but will put it up if/when it is.
   • Carolyn_nth 3.1

     30 January 2017 at 9:31 am

     In this interview?:

     The Green Party’s Metiria Turei says the ban by Donald Trump is “grossly unjust” for those people who have been detained, also a “grossly irresponsible” move with no thought at all for the consequnces.
   • Macro 3.2

     30 January 2017 at 10:48 am

     This notwithstanding increasingly ‘miffed head prefect’ carry on from him

     Yes! I thought a very poor interview by him – he seemed incapable of waiting for an answer and was speaking over her constantly – even as she was giving the answer to him! I think he thought he “had” her wrt to the Greens working with NZF, and not agreeing with Winston on the support of Trump’s policy. Such simplistic thinking is the ruination of Political thought in NZ. We have a country where the Parliament is formed by a MMP vote. So Parties have to work together to find policies where they can agree, and progress those, and agree to disagree on other matters. Those other matters are then returned to voters to determine where the support lies.
     There are a number of Policies upon which NZF, the Greens, and Labour all agree. The other matters, where disagreement between Parties exist, can be worked through over time and the relative support for them tested, through the ballot box, or public submissions to Select Committees, or other forms of public consultation.
     When will radio interviewers realise that not all questions can be answered with a simple “Yes” or “No” or in one sentence?
     Metiria handled it very well. IMHO.
4. Cinny 4

   30 January 2017 at 8:56 am

   I cant see English speaking up about much, he’s no leader and our country needs a strong principled leader to stand up to Agent Orange, among others, when necessary.

   English is gutless, that’s a given.

   “So we will work with whatever the Trump administration produces. That’s what you have to do when you’re a small country.”
   No Bill, that’s what you would do, not what you ‘have to do’. The outgoing PM seems to prefer doing whatever is easy rather than what is right.

   I can think of a leader, an Alpha that would stand up to Agent Orange if needed.
   Alpha Andy the future PM of NZ, can’t happen soon enough.

   We need a PM who is a leader not a lacky.
5. Glenn 5

   30 January 2017 at 9:10 am

   Teresa May finally said she “disagreed with Trumps travel ban” after being prodded by a few Conservative MPs. Not really condemnation though.
   Which Nat MP will be the first to prod English if he makes no statement . Any?

   Biggest ever demonstration planned to coincide with Trumps visit to UK.
   http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/donald-trump-london-protest-demonstration-us-president-theresa-may-a7550591.html
   • Anne 5.1

     30 January 2017 at 9:15 am

     And the latest from the UK:

     http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/petition-calling-for-ban-on-donald-trump-hits-100000-signatures-in-less-than-5-hours-a7551756.html
   • Draco T Bastard 5.2

     30 January 2017 at 10:08 am

     Which Nat MP will be the first to prod English if he makes no statement . Any?

     They’re waiting for the focus groups. After all, they probably see nothing wrong with what Trump and his administration are doing.
     • Incognito 5.2.1

       30 January 2017 at 10:11 am

       Snap!
     • TheExtremist 5.2.2

       30 January 2017 at 2:02 pm

       “After all, they probably see nothing wrong with what Trump and his administration are doing.”

       Na, I don’t think there is any politician in New Zealand who would agree with what Trump is doing. Maybe you’re more pessimistic than me but I can’t see anyone standing for what Trump stands for… though I do remember one former Labour Party candidate who was quite keen on him…
       • Draco T Bastard 5.2.2.1

         30 January 2017 at 2:20 pm

         I think that there are politicians in NZ who agree with Trump and what he’s done – they’re just not telling anyone about it.
   • Siobhan 5.3

     30 January 2017 at 11:01 am

     Well I wouldn’t hold your breath….who could forget Keys powerful condemnation of the deportation of NZ born Australians..

     “For a start off, seeing will be believing, but if you look at the plight of New Zealanders in Australia, the sense we’ve been getting from the Australian Government is there’s some movement happening on that issue.

     “He thought Turnbull was a “reasonable, sensitive guy” who would consider all issues.”

     Or maybe Nationals stand on Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers…
6. Carolyn_nth 6

   30 January 2017 at 9:24 am

   Susan Devoy speaks:

   The Prime Minister should make it clear Muslim New Zealanders will not face similar actions to US President Trump’s travel ban on Muslim countries, the Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy says.
   • Morrissey 6.1

     30 January 2017 at 9:50 am

     Ha! English never lifted a finger to help New Zealanders being persecuted and imprisoned illegally by Australia. Do you think he’ll suddenly develop a backbone now?
     • Johan 6.1.1

       30 January 2017 at 10:38 am

       Bill who??? At least the Canadian leadership have some balls, despite living next door and being very much in the firing line, with impending re-negotiations of NAFTA.
     • Richard McGrath 6.1.2

       30 January 2017 at 7:27 pm

       You mean those Kiwi-born non-citizens of Australia who broke the law over there and now find their residence status being revoked and deportation imminent, pending appeals (which many of them win and then resettle in Australia)?
       • Morrissey 6.1.2.1

         30 January 2017 at 7:41 pm

         Idiot.
         • Richard McGrath 6.1.2.1.1

           31 January 2017 at 4:20 am

           That’s right, ignore the question
7. Anne 7

   30 January 2017 at 9:46 am

   Good for Angela Merkel:

   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/29/merkel-explains-geneva-refugee-convention-to-trump-in-phone-call

   And from the Aussie political trollop:

   Australia’s foreign affairs minister, Julie Bishop, said the government would continue to work closely with the Trump administration to implement “strong border policies”. She said: “We share a common view on many issues so we will continue to work very closely with the Trump administration,” adding: “The very best days of the Australia-US relationship lie ahead.”
   • Macro 7.1

     30 January 2017 at 10:25 am

     hmmm – conveniently overlooking the nice little arrangement she and Peter had managed to put together for the US to take the Manus Island folk off their dirty little hands.
     • Richard McGrath 7.1.1

       30 January 2017 at 7:24 pm

       So you think the thousand or so detainees on Manus shouldn’t have been allowed to settle in the USA?
       • Macro 7.1.1.1

         30 January 2017 at 8:32 pm

         Under the UNHCR to which Australia – as well as the USA are signatories – it is Australia’s responsibility to grant them the asylum they seek.

         Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states everyone has the right to seek asylum from persecution in other countries. Human rights are universal. They are basic freedoms and protections that everyone is entitled to.

         It is not illegal for people to flee persecution in their homeland or to cross borders without documents or passports in order to seek asylum. It is not a crime under Australian law to arrive here by boat without a valid visa and ask for protection.

         People have been fleeing persecution in their homelands for centuries, such as during the fall of the Roman Empire, during World War I and II and during the Vietnam War.

         More recently, religious, ethnic and political conflicts in Asia, Africa and the Middle East have left people with no choice but to flee persecution.

         The fact that almost all of these asylum seekers have now been classified refugees means that they were genuine asylum seekers in the first place.
         The banning order by Trump was contrary to the agreement from Obama to take these few people and settle them. However, it now seems that anything is possible under the chump and what he signed doesn’t really mean anything because apparently despite banning the entry of all refugees the 1000 or so from Australia are ok!
         https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/jan/29/donald-trump-malcolm-turnbull-phone-call-immigration-ban-muslim
         I think for the poor unfortunate people who fled from one horror to the next they may now be thinking of fleeing again. And I see one already has.
         • Richard McGrath 7.1.1.1.1

           30 January 2017 at 9:56 pm

           Why did these asylum seekers not claim refuge in Indonesia, from where almost all of them set off in boats?
           • Macro 7.1.1.1.1.1

             30 January 2017 at 10:06 pm

             Maybe because …

             The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) remains concerned by the lack of legal frameworks in South East Asian countries for the protection of asylum seekers. Although Indonesia is a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, it has not signed the Refugees Convention.

             As the fourth most populous country in the world, with a population of 240 million, Indonesia is focused on managing its diverse ethnic and cultural groups. Asylum seekers do not figure prominently in the national discourse.

             Yet Indonesia is a porous archipelago and important transit country (p 57) for those applying for protection. Asylum seekers from Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Burma move through Indonesia by air, land and sea seeking protection.

             It is not possible to be granted asylum or refugee status under Indonesia law, nor has the government established a system for providing protection to refugees.

             http://www.asyluminsight.com/indonesia/#.WI8BcfNZ87A
   • Steve Wrathall 7.2

     30 January 2017 at 10:35 am

     So we should emulate Germany-where muslim migrants commit mass rape attacks on women, and then the govt & press try to hush it up?
     • KJT 7.2.1

       30 January 2017 at 10:48 am

       I have several Muslim migrants working with me.

       They are about as dangerous as your average Presbyterian.

       Like most people they just want to fit in, contribute to New Zealand,and have a decent life for themselves and their kids.

       It is shameful that we allow wealthy economic refugees from the USA, UK and China to escape from the mess, of their own making, while we refuse asylum to, a reasonable number,of victims of the middle Eastern wars we help to wage.
       • Carolyn_nth 7.2.1.1

         30 January 2017 at 10:51 am

         Well said, KJT. Agree totally – also re-Muslims I know and have known.
       • paul andersen 7.2.1.2

         30 January 2017 at 3:03 pm

         agree with you 100%
       • bwaghorn 7.2.1.3

         30 January 2017 at 3:19 pm

         you might want to add white south africans to your list of arsholes who left the mess they made
         • KJT 7.2.1.3.1

           30 January 2017 at 3:52 pm

           Agree.
     • The Fairy Godmother 7.2.2

       30 January 2017 at 10:57 am

       How many Muslims do you know personally? I suspect none. Totally agree with KJT and Carolyn _nth. I have met and worked with many Muslim people and have found them to be good decent people as indeed most New Zealanders are. I would be more afraid of extremist Christians out to stop women having access to birth control and abortion – sending us back to the bad old days bare foot and pregnant. Looking at what is happening in the US this is not an impossibility.
       • Steve Wrathall 7.2.2.1

         30 January 2017 at 12:27 pm

         Of course muslims can be adorable, hardworking etc when they are a small minority living in an overwhelmingly non-muslim country. But when they are the majority on a country of part thereof then you get the ghettoisation, sharia patrols, sharia courts, FGM, honour killings, pedophile grooming gangs, de-facto sharia blasphemy restrictions by the MSM, and the moderates are irrelevant.
         Current US muslims will be the greatest beneficiaries of Trumps’s policy. It allows them the freedom to be as liberal as they like, unlike in the hellholes they came from, and increasingly the islamised dish cities of Europe.
         • Morrissey 7.2.2.1.1

           30 January 2017 at 1:39 pm

           I doubt that hardly anyone other than I bothered to look at this loon’s Paul Holmes-style rant….

           …ghettoisation, sharia patrols, sharia courts, FGM, honour killings…

           [SNIP]

           Eighty years ago people like Steve Wrathall wrote fevered letters to the editor denouncing Jewish refugees in similar unhinged fashion.
           • Steve Wrathall 7.2.2.1.1.1

             30 January 2017 at 7:56 pm

             So you are denying that islamic immigration to Europe has produced all of these? London Mayor Sadiq Khan say that terror attacks are now “part and parcel of living in a city”. This is horrifying that islam is trying to get us to accept indemic violence as normal.
             • McFlock …

               31 January 2017 at 1:26 pm

               You write as if London has never been subjected to a constant threat of terrorism. 🙄
         • McFlock 7.2.2.1.2

           30 January 2017 at 3:17 pm

           Whereas you’re in the minority, and you’re not adorable at all.
     • Macro 7.2.3

       30 January 2017 at 10:59 am

       In fact, Germany’s rape culture is deeply rooted in our collective psyche.

       Sexual assaults and even rape happen every year at big events like Oktoberfest. “The way to the toilet alone is like running the gauntlet: within 50 feet, you can be sure to tally three hugs from drunken strangers, two pats on the ass, someone looking up your dirndl, and some beer purposely splashed right down your cleavage,” wrote Karoline Beisel and Beate Wild in 2011, in the Süddeutsche Zeitung. An average of ten reported rapes take place each year at Oktoberfest. The estimated number of unreported cases is 200.

       https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/rape-culture-germany-cologne-new-years-2016-876
       I think you will find the same culture exists here.
       • Psycho Milt 7.2.3.1

         30 January 2017 at 3:02 pm

         Yep, rape culture in Germany and NZ is pretty similar (actually, I suspect NZ is worse, but maybe that’s just because I know it better). Both pale in comparison with rape culture in Muslim countries, though. There’s a reason why Sheikh Hilali gave that “uncovered meat” sermon – where he comes from, that’s the norm.
         • Macro 7.2.3.1.1

           30 January 2017 at 3:15 pm

           Yep, rape culture in Germany and NZ is pretty similar (actually, I suspect NZ is worse,

           My youngest daughter is working in High Schools right now on a programme trying to address this issue.

           Agreed the domination of women world wide is an issue across almost all cultures, if not all. I just don’t think it should be a reason to reject one ethnicity or cultural group from travel, or seeking refuge.
           • Psycho Milt 7.2.3.1.1.1

             30 January 2017 at 4:48 pm

             Yes. Steve’s argument “Muslim migrants in Germany molested some women, therefore we need to prevent Muslims entering the country” is a non sequitur, unless he accidentally left out some additional premises that would make it coherent. I suspect he didn’t though.
     • North 7.2.4

       30 January 2017 at 2:15 pm

       We could try you saving us from your reflections of ‘lovey-dovey’ for a US president with unmistakeably psychotic tendencies, Wrathall. Always the barely considered, angry, high-pitched scream from you !
     • lprent 7.2.5

       30 January 2017 at 2:35 pm

       I work with several immigrants of the muslim faith (and damn near every other faith including jewish). The most obnoxious and probably the most dangerous one around is me – a much older kiwi of no discernible faith.

       However, Steve, I tend to think the ignorant shithead bigots like you are mostly a danger to yourselves. So eaten up by hate and envy that your personality appears to be hollowed out. A mere shadow of a person. A wraith without any apparent social responsibility….
       • In Vino 7.2.5.1

         30 January 2017 at 11:13 pm

         I sometimes think you deliberately over-severe, but this time I find you a deeply, humane, understanding person.
8. Sutton's li'l helper 8

   30 January 2017 at 9:46 am

   He’ll be waiting for the polling/focus group results to come in on the subject.
9. michelle 9

   30 January 2017 at 9:49 am

   English needs to get some guts but he won’t even the person that said these words his mate John had none himself
10. Steve Wrathall 10

    30 January 2017 at 10:03 am

    Where is the Labour/Green outrage at the banning of Israelis from 16 countries-incl 6/7 on Trump’s list? Can I visit Mecca?
    • Morrissey 10.1

      30 January 2017 at 10:08 am

      Moron, go away. You’re out of your depth.
      • HDCAFriendlyTroll 10.1.1

        30 January 2017 at 10:23 am

        You poor boy. Sit down. Here, have a cuppa.
        • Morrissey 10.1.1.1

          30 January 2017 at 10:27 am

          Thanks, Troll, but I’m drinking Pimms.
          • alwyn 10.1.1.1.1

            30 January 2017 at 3:24 pm

            In that case you are already having a “cuppa”.
            Isn’t it normally known as “Pimms Cup”?
            https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pimm%27s
            That is, however my only contribution to this debate. Nobody can sensibly back the mad POTUS on this. It is futile to try and debate with anyone who supports the nutcase.
            • Morrissey 10.1.1.1.1.1

              30 January 2017 at 7:48 pm

              You might like to drop around to Chez Breen for a cup yourself one day, my friend.
      • Steve Wrathall 10.1.2

        30 January 2017 at 10:29 am

        Right, so when it is pointed out, the long-standing muslim discrimination against those who don’t follow the ROP, then you are all silent. But when a nation finally pushes back and decides to protect its citizens-outrage.
        • One Anonymous Bloke 10.1.2.1

          30 January 2017 at 11:25 am

          A simple Google search is all it takes to shatter your lie about silence. Kim Kardashian got the stats right. What’s your excuse?

          Are all your arguments this crap?
          • HDCAFriendlyTroll 10.1.2.1.1

            30 January 2017 at 11:55 am

            I tried googling “Kim Kardashian stats” but all I got was
            “Kim Kardashian Height Weight Body Statistics / Measurements. Kim Kardashian Height -159 cm, Weight -65 kg, Measurements -38-26.5-41, Bra Size -34D, “
            • One Anonymous Bloke 10.1.2.1.1.1

              30 January 2017 at 12:56 pm

              Do I have to hold your hand and spoon-feed you?
              • HDCAFriendlyTroll …

                30 January 2017 at 2:30 pm

                Wow, I never would have taken you for a Kardashian fan, OAB.

                Anyway, her stats may be correct but her argument is wrong.

                When a terrorist commits a terrorist act on American soil it has far more ramifications than some hillbilly shooting someone in a bar. The two just can’t be compared. It’s the same false argument put forth by those who go on about the number of people killed in Iraq.

                Or, short version – it’s not a numbers game.
                • One Anonymous Bloke …

                  30 January 2017 at 2:38 pm

                  When a US drone commits a terrorist act on Yemeni soil it has far more ramifications than some hillbilly shooting someone in a bar too.

                  Short version, violence begets violence, and still not a single one of the terrorist attacks on US soil would have been prevented by this right wing clusterfuck.

                  And you have the face to bring up false comparisons. Pfft.
                  • HDCAFriendlyTroll …

                    30 January 2017 at 2:48 pm

                    Your definition of terrorism is?
                    • One Anonymous Bloke …

                      30 January 2017 at 3:01 pm

                      …of little comfort to Syed Wali Shah.
    • North 10.2

      30 January 2017 at 2:24 pm

      So Wrathall it’s not the ongoing illegal settlement construction, the continued blockade of Gaza, and the biennial kill-fest of Palestinian children which has Zionist Israel unwelcome all around the world ? You’re a troublingly troubled thing Wrathall. Grab some clippers and take it out on your hedge.
11. Incognito 11

    30 January 2017 at 10:23 am

    National-ACT are vulnerable; one the one hand they’ve allowed immigration levels to skyrocket and on the other hand they only allow entry to 750 international refugees each year.

    A strong clear signal from our political leadership is desired to reaffirm our values to ourselves, to our nation, rather than to some plonker in DC. Given that Bill English will be a no-show at Waitangi I don’t think he’ll have the guts to stand up and speak up & out.
12. Skeptic 12

    30 January 2017 at 10:48 am

    Looking at this question objectively, Bill is damned if he does speak out against Trump and damned if he doesn’t. Historically National has been fairly progressive on human rights issues – not always but overall – and fairly sympathetic on immigration policy – so English may follow tradition. On the other hand, he may have recognized that Trump is a vindictive bastard and won’t want to jeopardize any future trade deals, so will probably keep quiet and swallow home grown outrage. Interesting what?
    • Carolyn_nth 12.1

      30 January 2017 at 10:53 am

      Good luck with the: any (positive for NZ) trade deals that would be done whether Bling presents himself as a doormat or stands up for what’s right!
    • Draco T Bastard 12.2

      30 January 2017 at 1:39 pm

      Historically National has been fairly progressive on human rights issues – not always but overall

      No they haven’t.

      and fairly sympathetic on immigration policy

      They love immigration. It brings in more people so that more people can be taxed allowing them to lower taxes on the rich thus boosting profits.
13. Infused 13

    30 January 2017 at 11:10 am

    Why does he need to? Trump was elected on doing this and he’s doing it. No onexception in us govt will give two shits what bill thinks.
    • One Anonymous Bloke 13.1

      30 January 2017 at 11:29 am

      Do you care what he thinks? I pick you as more follow the leader and open and close the camp gate sort of fellow.
      • Infused 13.1.1

        30 January 2017 at 11:43 am

        I dont really care about the us at all. It’s not my country.
        • Draco T Bastard 13.1.1.1

          30 January 2017 at 1:41 pm

          So, you’d have no problem if NZ cut all ties with them because of their atrocious behaviour?
          • Infused 13.1.1.1.1

            30 January 2017 at 7:40 pm

            America can do what it wants with its border. Stop being so entitled
            • Draco T Bastard 13.1.1.1.1.1

              30 January 2017 at 9:23 pm

              True but I tend to think that nations should have a valid reason for doing so and the US doesn’t for the ban that they’ve just enacted.

              And, of course, this is just the latest in a centuries long list of atrocities by the US.
14. Steve Wrathall 14

    30 January 2017 at 11:11 am

    And when Robert Spencer and Pamela Geller were banned from the UK for speaking out against jihad terror-where was the outrage? Islam and its dhimmi tools have no problem with travel bans for those who they disapprove of.
    • One Anonymous Bloke 14.1

      30 January 2017 at 11:16 am

      Were they banned because of where they were born? Um, no.

      Blow harder.
    • Muttonbird 14.2

      30 January 2017 at 11:19 am

      Googling it they were stopped from speaking to the EDL, presumably under the new laws clamping down on hate speech. Most western counties introduced these types of laws, didn’t they?
      • Steve Wrathall 14.2.1

        30 January 2017 at 12:14 pm

        “Hate speech” being a euphemism for criticism of jihadist terror. Right throughout Europe rights of free speech are being stripped away as their “leaders” kowtow to sharia blasphemy laws. Is it any wonder that America is charting a different course?
        • Muttonbird 14.2.1.1

          30 January 2017 at 12:39 pm

          No, extremist speech from both your friends in the EDL and from jihadist muslim clerics are treated the same (you are in fact the same just from different sides of the battle). Rantings from you, and jihadists, are not in the public good so the are stopped.
          • Steve Wrathall 14.2.1.1.1

            30 January 2017 at 4:37 pm

            When have the EDL or any other so-called “far right” group ever said “slay the muslims wherever you find them”
            • In Vino 14.2.1.1.1.1

              30 January 2017 at 11:22 pm

              By supporting dumb discrimination against all Muslims you yourself are coming pretty close to the ‘Slay them all’ meme. You think the world would be a better place if all Muslims were slain, don’t you? Or will you now back-peddle? (I am sure it is all their fault…)
15. Sacha 15

    30 January 2017 at 3:19 pm

    So, our PM kind of dislikes the policy but he won’t be telling Chump that any time soon.

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/323357/english-on-trump-order-'we-don't-agree-with-it‘
16. Whispering Kate 16

    30 January 2017 at 4:38 pm

    I heard something hilarious today about the wall separating the US from Mexico which Trump has sanctioned. The comment went like this, why he is at it why doesn’t he continue and build a wall to surround the US including a separation from Canada to protect the rest of us all from the danger within their country which is threatening us all by having this lunatic President in control.

    The irony of it all for me is that the citizens of the US have a bigger chance of home grown terrorists on a daily basis, mass murdering on university /school/church locations of its own citizens. With so many mentally unwell citizens carrying weapons and all the veterans from 3 or more tours of duty in the Middle East suffering PST running amok with weapons – hey I don’t think the Muslim community are going to be much of a threat. They need to look within their country and stop being so paranoid.

    I think old Trumpy may have a sudden heart attack some time this first term, even the Republicans deep state won’t put up with this behaviour for much longer.
17. joe90 17

    30 January 2017 at 4:41 pm

    Governor of Washington declares Trump to be an enemy of the United States.
    • Richard McGrath 17.1

      30 January 2017 at 7:12 pm

      What a surprise, lefty governor upset by result of democratic election spits the dummy.
      • One Anonymous Bloke 17.1.1

        30 January 2017 at 7:45 pm

        How sad that the best you can do is lie about his statements and motives.
18. Sacha 18

    30 January 2017 at 4:42 pm

    Lorde says what Bill lacks the balls to say: http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/celebrities/88883906/lorde-calls-to-followers-to-stay-informed-and-outraged
19. Richard McGrath 19

    30 January 2017 at 6:14 pm

    Trump’s ban on immigration from some Muslim nations is discriminatory. It should have been more inclusive and included applicants from all the remaining Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Egypt, Pakistan, Afghanistan, etc.
    • One Anonymous Bloke 19.1

      30 January 2017 at 7:43 pm

      How the Libertarian mask slips to reveal fascist bigotry. Are you looking forward to the shiny buttons on your uniform?
      • Richard McGrath 19.1.1

        30 January 2017 at 8:23 pm

        Another knee-jerk accusation of “fascism” – reminds me of Rick from The Young Ones years ago. The Saudis and Qataris should certainly be on Trump’s shit list, as sponsors of terrorism, and Pakistanis as cradle of the Taliban.
        • One Anonymous Bloke 19.1.1.1

          30 January 2017 at 10:35 pm

          There it is again.

          Pays lip service to the individual. Drools at the first racial stereotype he meets.
          • Richard McGrath 19.1.1.1.1

            31 January 2017 at 4:23 am

            What race?
            • One Anonymous Bloke 19.1.1.1.1.1

              31 January 2017 at 6:16 am

              Several are affected by your racial profiling . Polish the shiny buttons on your uniform then get ready to open and close the gates for the trucks.
    • lprent 19.2

      30 January 2017 at 10:15 pm

      I saw an article in a US website that pointed out that he’d appeared to have missed out the muslim countries that Trump’s business has business links to.
      • UncookedSelachimorpha 19.2.1

        30 January 2017 at 11:34 pm

        …not to mention Saudi Arabia. An undemocratic and undeniably Islamic state (and a fairly fundamentalist one) from which 15 of the 19 9/11 terrorists originated.

        No logic or consistency from Trump – he’s just a nasty, nasty man!!

        http://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/29/most-us-terror-attackers-not-from-countries-targeted-by-trumps-travel-ban.html
      • emergency mike 19.2.2

        31 January 2017 at 12:03 am

        I saw an article on a US website pointing out that the seven ‘countries of concern’ referenced in Trump’s order, (only Syria is actually named), were decided by the Obama administration last year.
      • One Anonymous Bloke 19.2.3

        31 January 2017 at 6:13 am

        I was thinking about this yesterday.

        Sanctions Programs and Country Information.

        It pains me to point out that Trump probably can’t do any business in Iran, Lebanon, Syria. Libya, Sudan, Yemen or Somalia.
20. Daveosaurus 20

    30 January 2017 at 6:44 pm

    And the massacres have begun: http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/americas/88902102/shots-fired-in-canadian-mosque I wonder how many of the local anti-Semites – or Islamophobes, as the disease presents itself these days – are getting all excited at the thought of all of those dead bodies.
    • HDCAFriendlyTroll 20.1

      30 January 2017 at 6:50 pm

      None. Unlike the Palestinians who celebrated the murder of 3000 civilians on 9/11.

      Barbarianism is barbarianism, no matter what the justification.
      • Sacha 20.1.1

        30 January 2017 at 6:54 pm

        “Unlike the Palestinians who celebrated”

        You’re seriously trotting out that lie? Get back to the sewerblogs.
        • Muttonbird 20.1.1.1

          30 January 2017 at 6:59 pm

          Not sure HDPATroll realises he as a right wing extremist is closer to muslim extremism than he is to civilised society.
          • HDCAFriendlyTroll 20.1.1.1.1

            30 January 2017 at 7:19 pm

            Congratulations. You win nutbar comment of the day.
            • Muttonbird 20.1.1.1.1.1

              30 January 2017 at 8:08 pm

              Don’t think so. You lot like to promote division and intolerance just like islamic extremists do.
        • HDCAFriendlyTroll 20.1.1.2

          30 January 2017 at 7:27 pm

          http://www.snopes.com/rumors/cnn.asp

          Origins: No, CNN did not air decade-old footage of Palestinians dancing in the streets. Eason Jordan, CNN’s Chief News Executive, confirmed that the video used on CNN was in fact shot on Tuesday, 11 September 2001, in East Jerusalem by a Reuters TV crew, not during the Persian Gulf conflict of 1990-91 — a fact proved by its inclusion of comments from a Palestinian praising Osama Bin Laden (whose name was unlikely to have come up ten years earlier in connection with the invasion and liberation of Kuwait) as well as the appearance in the video of post-1991 automobiles. The person who made the claim quoted above has since recanted.
21. Sabine 21

    30 January 2017 at 6:45 pm

    considering that the double dipper from Dipton has neither convictions nor a moral compass i would suggest that he will be missing in action and as Kellyanne Conway requested, he will keep his mouth shut. 🙂 Cause only Trump praise is acceptable.
    Cause he will make America Great Again! one deported person after another. So Great.
    Can ya’ll feel the Greatness? I mean this greatness is tremendous. So tremendous that our PM would never ever say anything other then nothing.
22. Richard McGrath 22

    30 January 2017 at 6:57 pm

    Oh look, another shooting at a mosque, this time in Quebec, with the shooters apparently telling the victims that Allah is great…
    • Muttonbird 22.1

      30 January 2017 at 7:07 pm

      Could you post a link confirming they were shouting ‘Allah is great’?
      • Richard McGrath 22.1.1

        30 January 2017 at 7:16 pm

        http://heavy.com/news/2017/01/quebec-mosque-shooting-allahu-akbar-isis-trump-islam-muslim-terrorism-motive-city-suspects-canada/

        They were reportedly yelling “Allahu Akbar”.
      • joe90 22.1.2

        30 January 2017 at 7:17 pm

        One man shouted something with the word Allah, the eyewitness said. The person had a thick French Quebecer accent. 2/5— Althia Raj (@althiaraj) January 30, 2017
      • HDCAFriendlyTroll 22.1.3

        30 January 2017 at 7:20 pm

        Not a lie. I remember seeing it on CNN, that bastion of far-right wing news and propaganda.
        • Muttonbird 22.1.3.1

          30 January 2017 at 7:59 pm

          You’re a bit sensitive, aren’t you? I didn’t say it was a lie.

          You seem to be under a bit of pressure at the moment defending your pro-fascist position.
          • HDCAFriendlyTroll 22.1.3.1.1

            30 January 2017 at 10:21 pm

            Oops. I meant to reply to https://thestandard.org.nz/will-english-speak-up-on-trumps-ban/#comment-1293636
    • HDCAFriendlyTroll 22.2

      30 January 2017 at 7:23 pm

      The shooters must have been white supremist islamophobes who shouted Allah is great to try and make it look like they were Islamists, because, you know, …
      • Muttonbird 22.2.1

        30 January 2017 at 8:10 pm

        Seems unlikely. More likely they were white supremacist islamophobes shouting Allah is great as a way to mock the people while they were killing them.
23. McFlock 23

    30 January 2017 at 7:51 pm

    Maybe we could all wait for actual facts to come out before leaping to conclusions about the latest piece of shittiness killing innocent people in the world?
    • Steve Wrathall 23.1

      30 January 2017 at 8:01 pm

      I agree. Whoever commmited this atrocity should be condemned unconditionally.
      • Richard McGrath 23.1.1

        30 January 2017 at 8:25 pm

        Agreed. Neither Islamists nor white supremacists have any respect for the right of individuals to live their lives peacefully.
        • McFlock 23.1.1.1

          30 January 2017 at 8:31 pm

          Oh fuck off.
          • Sabine 23.1.1.1.1

            30 January 2017 at 8:57 pm

            +1
          • Richard McGrath 23.1.1.1.2

            31 January 2017 at 4:25 am

            You disagree?
            • McFlock 23.1.1.1.2.1

              31 January 2017 at 11:12 am

              You don’t get to pretend to value the right of individuals to live peacefully after comment 22. Victim blaming at it’s worst. You’re part of the problem.
              • Richard McGrath …

                31 January 2017 at 6:20 pm

                That comment is nonsensical. Comment 22 drew attention to another violent incident at a mosque. It did not condone the violence.
                • McFlock …

                  31 January 2017 at 6:33 pm

                  And no doubt you’ll title your next artwork “Arrangement of Dogs in Grey and Black No. 1“.
24. Doug 24

    30 January 2017 at 8:01 pm

    Where was the outrage over Obama?
    http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/obama-mocks-trump-but-has-barred-immigrants-many-muslim-6-times/article/2594016
    • joe90 24.1

      30 January 2017 at 8:14 pm

      Had green card holders, people with valid visas and refugees who had already gone through the vetting process been detained at airports, you’d have a point.

      They weren’t so you don’t.
      /
    • Morrissey 24.2

      30 January 2017 at 8:16 pm

      True enough, old Hopey-Changey was responsible, either directly or by turning a blind eye, for massive violations of human rights in Yemen, Iraq, Gaza, the Occupied West Bank, Syria, Honduras, Venezuela and many other places. He carried on, in other words, a long U.S. presidential tradition.

      But Trump is something else again. He is the closest thing we’ve seen to a North American fascist dictator.
25. NZJester 25

    30 January 2017 at 8:52 pm

    All the countries he has not banned in the middle east are ones he has financial links to. The thing is they are also all the ones that the majority of the terrorists came from that committed the 9/11 attacks etc. The countries on his ban list are ones he has no financial links to and are not the country of origin of most of the known terrorists.
    So his assertion that it will make the US safer by keeping terrorists out is shown for the hollow lie it is.
26. Sacha 26

    30 January 2017 at 10:34 pm

    Andrew Little easily goes beyond timid Billy: http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2017/01/andrew-little-nz-must-say-no-to-donald-trump-s-poisonous-prejudice.html

    “New Zealand must say no to this poisonous prejudice by doing two things. First, we can demonstrate our humanity and rejection of Trump’s policy by increasing the number of refugees we embrace each year to 1500.

    Second, our Prime Minister Bill English can honour our tradition of standing up to bullies by publicly condemning Trump’s Muslim ban. He wouldn’t be sticking his neck out. Plenty of world leaders have already spoken up.”

    Yet Blinglish is not really much of a leader, is he ..
27. Pat 27

    30 January 2017 at 11:58 pm

    “If a relatively tame event like the election of an unpopular president can send people into this kind of tailspin, what are they going to do the day their paychecks suddenly turn out to be worth only half as much in terms of goods and services as before—a kind of event that’s already become tolerably common elsewhere, and could quite easily happen in this country as the dollar loses its reserve currency status?”

    perspective….its a bitch

    http://thearchdruidreport.blogspot.co.nz/2017/01/how-great-fall-can-be.html
28. Cinny 28

    31 January 2017 at 8:06 am

    English is weak, Jack Tame interviewed him this morning, all he could do was say he would not do such a thing here. Bloody embarrassing not having a strong leader.

    https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/why-youre-not-prepared-take-stronger-stance-jack-tame-puts-bill-english-spot-over-trumps-travel-ban?auto=5303064130001
    • Fisiani 28.1

      31 January 2017 at 8:35 am

      That was not a weak interview at all. That was a very reasonable and calm response to a histrionic Tane. Bill did not take the bait. He was being the leader. Angry just mouthed off again. Take off the blinkers. Bill’s job was to reassure NZ and I note that you agree that he was successful. That’s called leadership.
      • One Anonymous Bloke 28.1.1

        31 January 2017 at 8:45 am

        It’s called “appeasement”.
        • Sam C 28.1.1.1

          31 January 2017 at 11:31 am

          well we’ll never know what Andy would have done as PM in terms of sending a message to Trump because it will always be a hypothetical.
          • One Anonymous Bloke 28.1.1.1.1

            31 January 2017 at 12:04 pm

            Your certainty will serve you very well. Cling to it.
    • Richard McGrath 28.2

      31 January 2017 at 7:04 pm

      Not sure about you, but I don’t need a “strong leader” to tell me what to do and think.

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