Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Cranks, self-seekers and the mayor

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  • Ben Ross,

    Hehe Simon pulling another heavy hit again I see this time against Cameron Brewer. Ah well least it wasn't Chris Fletcher or Mike Lee like last year when Simon wrote on both of them.

    As for this:

    It’s hard not to feel sympathy for Penny Hulse and the other productive Auckland Councillors: once for the way Brown’s stupidity compromised them, and twice and thrice over for the way their work will be impeded this year by the cranks and self-seekers who cannot see past their pursuit of the mayor. Auckland needs to get some big things done in the next three years. We can can only hope the city will be allowed to move on.

    After a comment our Deputy Mayor left behind when I picked up a remark from Greg Presland I say Penny and the other senior councillors are ready to go and will be taking no prisoners to those cranks and self seekers as you put it Russell.\

    The various committees have their briefs and their jobs to do (and some of those committees will have very heavy work loads). Speaking personally I am in no particular mood for cranks and self-seekers either. Unitary Plans, Area Plans, Transport Plans and plenty other things to keep one busy for most of the year and have no time for the cranks

    Auckland • Since Jan 2014 • 32 posts Report Reply

  • Mike Graham,

    I've seen reports of another Cameron being present at Panmure which seems appropriate to mention given the title of the post.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 206 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Mike Graham,

    I’ve seen reports of another Cameron being present at Panmure which seems appropriate to mention given the title of the post.

    Ah. Transport Blog was saying he wasn’t there. I've amended the top of the post.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Martin Lindberg,

    Dick Cuthbert may have a long history of protest, but I don’t think he does his own reputation any credit by following Len Brown around with a placard demanding to know if the mayor is a “sex addict”. Another banner, visible in the photograph in the Herald, accuses him of being a “love rat” and features a series of pictures of the mayor morphing into a rat.

    Sigh. What do these people want?

    A kind-of related story I read this morning had this to say about the Dicks of this world (A Point of View: Sex and the French)

    Puritanism is a sin against human nature, and the worst of it is that puritanism is the most leering and prurient of world views. Far from wanting to keep sex in the private sphere, the puritans can't wait to drag it out in public. Puritans are the least buttoned-up people in the world. They can't wait to pin a scarlet A for adultery on someone's clothing, or hold a public humiliation ritual.

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report Reply

  • Mike Graham, in reply to Russell Brown,

    What I meant was that there was another individual named Cameron (not Cameron Brewer) at the opening - he was apparently using his duck caller whenever the Mayor spoke.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 206 posts Report Reply

  • Andre Alessi,

    There's certainly a strong argument to make that Cameron Brewer is a self-serving knob with no basis for his complaints, but Len Brown's interview on Morning Report really didn't make that argument. It was a weird excursion into prepared phrases and corporate speak, in ways that were honestly unnecessary. Was he still half asleep and on autopilot, or was this the result of some ham-handed crisis management training that has sapped his ability to speak normally?

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report Reply

  • Chris Waugh,

    I'm sorry, but I had to follow that Solo Passion link because, still being in the process of recaffeination, it reads to me like the title you'd give an organisation advocating for the rights of wankers, and I was completely unaware there was any threat to the right to pleasure oneself.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report Reply

  • Andre Alessi, in reply to Chris Waugh,

    Ceiling Cat is an apparatchik of the Nanny State, obviously.

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen,

    the cranks and self-seekers

    Like those working at The Herald?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Mike Graham,

    What I meant was that there was another individual named Cameron (not Cameron Brewer) at the opening – he was apparently using his duck caller whenever the Mayor spoke.

    Duh. Misread you.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Martin Lindberg,

    Sigh. What do these people want?

    They slate Brown for hiding away (during the New Year break, to be fair) and then slate him when he makes a public appearance. It's confusing.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Russell Brown,

    They slate Brown for hiding away (during the New Year break, to be fair) and then slate him when he makes a public appearance. It's confusing.

    You want consistency? From the likes of the same Cameron Brewer who was ardently in favour of better public transport whilst the head of the Newmarket Business Association but, since being elected, has fought to neuter bus lanes along Remuera Road as well as arguing stridently against the Core Rail Link being any kind of priority?
    You really are confused :)

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Gary Young, in reply to Martin Lindberg,

    Sigh. What do these people want?

    I'm not convinced that they actually want anything. If you pressed them I suspect they would have difficulty articulating any clear need or vision.

    I believe the lives and aspirations of protesters such as these are defined entirely by what they don't want.

    Glenfield • Since Jun 2013 • 39 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Graham McCready has backed down on his plan to try and prosecute Len Brown’s wife.

    And quite how he missed the section of the law that restricts prosecutions for corruption is anyone's guess.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Ah. I'm told the author of the creepy "love rat" banner is Penny Bright. Figures.

    Left and right seem to be meeting at the point of their shared lunacy over this.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Ray Gilbert,

    I would have thought National radio might have been a bit better at putting these privet prosecutions he brings In context, by giving a clearer picture of the motivation.

    A case of not being able to see the wood for the trees perhaps?

    Since Nov 2006 • 104 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    Cameron Slater using a duck caller? It is nice to know he also realises he is completely quackers.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Myles Thomas,

    Tea party antics go down a treat on the front page of 'New Zealand's newspaper'. Granny's getting as bad as she was in the late eighties.

    Auckland • Since Apr 2011 • 130 posts Report Reply

  • simon g,

    The protestors (and they're barely plural) are quite useful in one regard. Their banners remind us that the Brown-haters are enraged and outraged by sex, not corruption.

    Brown should indeed be challenged on his too close relationship with Sky City, but that will remain in the background as long as the "Band of Brewers" are more interested in his private relationships instead.

    I wonder why Cameron Brewer doesn't want to focus more on politicians being too close to corporates like Sky City ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report Reply

  • Andre Alessi, in reply to simon g,

    I wonder why Cameron Brewer doesn't want to focus more on politicians being too close to corporates like Sky City ...

    Someone I know who works for SkyCity pointed out the other day that handing out free upgrades is so ridiculously common, it's not something most hotels even keep a record of. Cheaper rooms tend to be overbooked, so moving people to more expensive rooms for free makes sense.

    There are plenty of people in the public eye who have benefitted from gifts from SkyCity in the last few years, and honestly those gifts far outweigh a few free upgrades.

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report Reply

  • Roger Lacey, in reply to Ray Gilbert,

    ...putting these privet prosecutions he brings In context, by giving a clearer picture of the motivation.

    A case of not being able to see the wood for the trees perhaps?

    Maybe he is a noxious weed?

    Whatakataka Bay Surf Club… • Since Apr 2008 • 148 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to ,

    I can safely say: Graham McCready, is a convicted blackmailer, on the internet. That is because he is. Hard to understand why that’s not relevant to the big media, when they report on our judicial systems being used as a toy.

    It gets mentioned in most articles in the Herald whenever he fires up a new prosecution. He’s been done for tax fraud, too, which also mostly gets a mention. The media doesn’t give him a pass on his convictions.

    ETA: TV3 thought it worthy of putting into the second sentence in their profile of the man.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Andre Alessi,

    There are plenty of people in the public eye who have benefitted from gifts from SkyCity in the last few years

    Though they weren't part of big decisions that benefitted the company.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Fecking Herald is still headlining Mayor hires a 'bevy of heavies' despite clear evidence it was Auckland Transport who hired security guards.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

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