Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Congratulations, Mr Key

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  • Tony Kennedy,

    after all if things get really bad (and you don't fancy the gun option) you can all rediscover those spandex psychedelic trousers and head for Goa. (dope smoking optional)

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 225 posts Report

  • Joe Wylie,

    Oh all right then - mon[k]ey-spanker.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    in case you're interested.

    This ? A friend makes model planes. Some are even pretty cool. I have an old art deco spitfire and one I cant remember the name of but they are pretty cool too.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    The Herald is speculating it might be hackers, but I'm sure it's just a little black humour.

    And why ever not? Bursting into tear during a crap-tastic movie just leaves you feeling ridiculous and miserable.

    He is actually insane, isn't he?

    I'd love to dish about how people who actually matter inside the National Party have answered that question, but it wouldn't only be breeching confidences but possibly defamatory. (Which is a nice segue to this bit of legal zen: Can you harm the reputation of someone who doesn't actually have one?)

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    He is actually insane, isn't he?

    I'd love to dish about how ....

    So a yes to that then ?I don't read that place, thanks y'all plus my man said he's puke on a stick so I figure why go there.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Paul Robeson,

    Oh, this is cool. Check out the picture on the front page of the Labour 08 campaign website.

    The Herald is speculating it might be hackers, but I'm sure it's just a little black humour.

    yep concur. Just wonder why Labour had to wait until after the election to find a bit humour or down to earthness and self awareness. ach weel.

    Since Feb 2008 • 87 posts Report

  • Paul Robeson,

    There's been talk about Key's 'Tranzrail eyes'.

    Tell you what, the two reaction shots during that Hyde interview- I don't know what you would call those eyes, but they weren't the look of someone who is used to letting people who annoy him hang around to do so.

    Since Feb 2008 • 87 posts Report

  • tussock,

    Ah, the "PM doesn't like cute kittens" moment on 3 news, from two angles no less.

    Does the media tend to promote candidates who make for stronger stories, rather than better governance? 'Cause this new PM of ours is giving me a few GWB vibes. The currency-trading investment banker now ruling over one of the largest traded currencies and a multi-billion dollar investments, sort of like the oil man in the white house? Both men who "failed to notice" serious corruption going on under their noses.

    Brain of mine always tries to draw things together like that, so I've no idea if other folk see it.

    Since Nov 2006 • 611 posts Report

  • dc_red,

    I believe ACT's policy is that two cars in every garage, and 3 eyes on every fish, is infinitely preferable to insulation in every home.

    Slightly more seriously, given the populist right's recent opposition to the very notion of building standards, it's not too much of a stretch to imagine: "Why should I have to insulate a new house? It's my right to spend as much on heating as I want, without Nanny State telling me otherwise!"

    Oil Patch, Alberta • Since Nov 2006 • 706 posts Report

  • linger,

    It isn't the "stable fees" we have to worry about:
    they're predictable, by definition.
    It's the unstable fees we may have to pony up for.

    And as for "saving our ponies" --
    many NZers tried doing exactly that in the past few years
    ...albeit in finance companies...
    how do you think we got in this deep a mess?

    Tokyo • Since Apr 2007 • 1944 posts Report

  • Kracklite,

    This ?

    Yes. :)

    Tell you what, the two reaction shots during that Hyde interview- I don't know what you would call those eyes, but they weren't the look of someone who is used to letting people who annoy him hang around to do so.

    Ah, now that's the difference between the corporate and parliamentary worlds that may continue to surprise Mr Key.

    The Library of Babel • Since Nov 2007 • 982 posts Report

  • Che Tibby,

    how do you think we got in this deep a mess?

    not riding out of town quickly enough.

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report

  • dc_red,

    Anyone waiting for the "Unauthorized biography of Phil Goff" (NZ Herald), or a pretty piece about the next "up-beat Prime Minister in Waiting" (DomPost) is likely to be disappointed. The Herald has already declared he's yesterday's man, a mere timeserver.

    Curiously, it also says the HC should have stayed on.

    I'm still in a bit of shock at the notion of NZ politics without HC, and it's only just dawned on me why. By my reckoning, she's been the leader or deputy leader of the Labour Party for 19 years.

    No mean feat (esp. considering what a back-biting lot they were until the mid-90s).

    Oil Patch, Alberta • Since Nov 2006 • 706 posts Report

  • Rich Lock,

    Politics has always involved a lot of horsetrading.

    I swapped mine for some magic beans.

    I have the best man

    Rookie mistake. You're meant to leave with the groom.

    And he can help you take care of your pony, too!

    B'dm tish!

    I'll get me coat.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    (Which is a nice segue to this bit of legal zen: Can you harm the reputation of someone who doesn't actually have one?)

    Does he have the reputationless reputation?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Elizabeth,

    I was amused by the fact that in Key's rather strange, certainly non-Prime Ministerial speech on Sat night (which had all the naive glee of just being told he had won the prize for the tastiest pie of the year or something), he never used a word larger than about 2 syllables. Such that even a 12 year old could have understood what he was talking about.
    Then yesterday I read some literacy report that suggested that the average reading age in NZ is about 12...it all makes sense then! (Don)Key was being inclusive (yeah right, if you're not gay or brown eh Mate).
    Anyway, I want to defend Goff. He's no Helen, but at least he's extremely smart, and hugely experienced, and with Helen and Michael still in opposition, I think (Don)Key's lack of intelligence is very soon going to be revealed....

    Kapiti • Since Nov 2008 • 20 posts Report

  • 3410,

    Herald says the weekend's election was the first of the post-New Zealand era.

    this new PM of ours is giving me a few GWB vibes.

    A thought: US + 10 parallels NZ

    Muldoon / Nixon
    Lange / Carter
    Bolger / Reagan
    Shipley / GHWB
    Clark / Clinton
    Key / GWB

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report

  • Matthew Littlewood,

    ...and placing my pessimist hat on, I expect Wishart and Whaleoil to move through these progressively unpleasant phases:

    1. Piling expectations on Key and Nat/ACT (done already).

    2. Disappointment and at first blaming 'subversives'.

    3. Noting that, following the precedent of the rabid right in the US claiming that Colin Powell is not a 'real' Republican when he endorsed Obama, Key might not be a real Nat.

    4. Especially on the Wishart end (Whaleoil will go off about his sexuality or the irrefutable fact that he's a Freemason, Bilderberger, Trilateralist, Grey with a rubber mask or suchlike), noting the importance of a deep cultural commitment to Christianity in the practice of government.

    5. Noting that Key is not a Christian...

    I won't go further - I expect the certifiable Mr W to do that.

    There, is that suitably depressing?

    Yes.

    Which begs the question...was Wishart always this much of a nutbar? I mean, even back around the Winebox Inquiry somewhere in the mists of time, was he that unhinged then? Or has this been a (relatively) new development?

    Speaking of which, for reasons I can't figure out, I spent five minutes skim-reading his poisnous, ugly and downright rotten Absolute Power at a bookshop one day (as I said, don't ask why). I noticed that the most outlandish of its claims were dutifully footnoted. I then noticed that the footnotes referenced articles he had written in the past.

    Oh, if only I could've pulled that stunt during my academic life...it certainly would've made my life a lot easier.

    On another note, why does the NZ Herald give Cameron Slater the time of day? They've quoted him in a few pieces this year. It's rather queasy actually.

    Which is a nice segue to this bit of legal zen: Can you harm the reputation of someone who doesn't actually have one?)

    Well, I laughed

    Today, Tomorrow, Timaru • Since Jan 2007 • 449 posts Report

  • Hilary Stace,

    DC Red and others coming to terms with Helen's moving on

    The stuff website still has its good phototribute to HC on www.stuff.co.nz. An interesting collection of photos set against her Sat night speech. Someone there has done a nice job.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Speaking of which, for reasons I can't figure out, I spent five minutes skim-reading his poisnous, ugly and downright rotten Absolute Power at a bookshop one day (as I said, don't ask why).

    So did I, and then had to go wipe my hands on the shrink-wrapped wank-mags to feel clean again...

    I noticed that the most outlandish of its claims were dutifully footnoted. I then noticed that the footnotes referenced articles he had written in the past.

    Still, a baby step above Ann Coulter who will footnote her screeds, so you can check for yourself how she distorted, carefully elided or outright fabricated easily accessible material. I guess I'm setting myself up for a quasi-Godwin here, but when David Irving pulled this shit and got comprehensively exposed he became a pariah to any respectable mainstream publisher. Coulter? Not so much.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Robert Fox,

    So did I, and then had to go wipe my hands on the shrink-wrapped wank-mags to feel clean again...

    Lol - another classic Mr Ranapia.

    Since Nov 2006 • 114 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    On another note, why does the NZ Herald give Cameron Slater the time of day?

    Because they want to appear to be aware of the blogosphere, whilst at the same time turning everyone off it.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Rookie mistake. You're meant to leave with the groom.

    And he can help you take care of your pony, too!

    B'dm tish!

    I'll get me coat.

    Yeah ok if you're getting married like,(which I don't need to go there cos it's not something I think aboot, and any help would be me bike which I am often told to get on. I'll get your coat :)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Because they want to appear to be aware of the blogosphere, whilst at the same time turning everyone off it.

    I'd be accused (by some I know, and oft wonder why ) of being a conspiracy theorist if I suggested that wee pearl of wisdom.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Shep Cheyenne,

    @ 3410

    "A thought: US + 10 parallels NZ
    Muldoon / Nixon, Lange / Carter, Bolger / Reagan, Shipley / GHWB, Clark / Clinton, Key / GWB"

    Not at all, gotta totally disagree here.
    Bolger for one has growing credibility even after leaving Parliment.
    Lange simply has no equal. Clark "I did not have sexual relations with that women" giggle - OK I'll give you that.

    Since Oct 2007 • 927 posts Report

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