Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Dirty Politics

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  • Trevor Nicholls,

    shorter nats: yeah, we really are like that, but we don't care, and neither should you

    Wellington, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 325 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Thanks, Kracklite. +1 whole infinity.

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

  • Hilary Stace,

    I wonder what will happen to ipredict now that it has been shown up as just another tool for manipulation of the message?

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • andin, in reply to izogi,

    fix the system

    Where do we start? There is so much wrong with our way of living on this planet much of it coming from our past and we just carry on as if the problem is to big to deal with.
    It's not.

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • izogi, in reply to andin,

    Where do we start?

    Good question. I've had some loose thoughts but answering it right now is beyond me.

    Really I’d just be keen to see a serious discussion about it, and with political parties engaged and interested in actually committing to making useful changes.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 1142 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Sjorn,

    People behaving like reasonable, responsible, humane adults you mean.

    New Zealand • Since Sep 2013 • 39 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    I wonder what will happen to ipredict now that it has been shown up as just another tool for manipulation of the message?

    Wasn't that obvious before the book?

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Ross Mason, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    I wonder what will happen to ipredict now that it has been shown up as just another tool for manipulation of the message?

    I think it shows where $200 can change the odds so much that it suggests that few people actually bet on the bloody site. It has an “apparent” influence far beyond its value..

    It shows that the MSM responds to an amazingly small number of people in this world. The one man NZ Assoc of Convenience stores, the bullshit of electoral selection by two people. And finally, two RW bloggers who have been shown to feed more bullshit to such an extent that the MSM consider any comment from them as major news.

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

  • tussock, in reply to Moz,

    They have to be thinking "oh, that smart, sensible, rich greenie I know, he's the exception, the rest are barmy".

    No. They're trying to win elections. They think calling smart, sensible, rich greenies, and all the other kinds, who they know and like and stuff, call them "barmy" is going to help them win elections. Which is their goal.

    There's no doublethink involved. There's the real world where they like you and know green policies are good for people, and there's the fantasy story where they don't know any of that and you're a crazy greenie. Like anyone reading fiction, or watching scary movies, they know the fantasy isn't real, but they also think the story might be good enough to shift a few people into voting for them.

    George W. Bush knew Iraq didn't have WMDs, he wouldn't have invaded if they did. That wasn't the point. The point was to have a good story on the way to militarily managing the looming oil crisis. For Farrar and co, it's not wars, it's just serving the local elite. Being at the coal face and letting the real movers and shakers keep their hands clean, and if people get hurt, well, that's just sad for them isn't it.

    Since Nov 2006 • 611 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to izogi,

    Good question. I've had some loose thoughts but answering it right now is beyond me.

    Really I’d just be keen to see a serious discussion about it, and with political parties engaged and interested in actually committing to making useful changes.

    It needs more than just another talkfest. Any serious solution would need something on the level of the Leveson or Finkelstein Inquiries, which in this case would probably take the form of a Royal Commission.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Mark Easterbrook,

    Aaron Gilmore on the revenge trail?

    Frankenstein's monster is heading back to the lab, and this time he's bringing the angry village folk with him and helping carry the pitchforks...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Geoff Lealand,

    ruffle trade...

    In the interest of fairness and valance...

    I like this idea, fairness is always good
    and draping fabric to conceal a clunky construction
    is so much like National's usual window dressing...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Kracklite,

    Can we leave the psychiatry to professionals please? As someone who does have an at times debilitating mental illness, I find the jokes rather less than funny.

    Exactly. I have that diagnosis myself, and the pills to prove it. It's still not an excuse to behave like a complete arsehole. That's on him. When you're chronically ill, you put in place mechanisms to cope with it, if you are unable to monitor yourself. If you don't, don't expect any sympathy from me.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    I wonder what will happen to ipredict now that it has been shown up as just another tool for manipulation of the message?

    It was pretty obvious it was being gamed right from the get go. I've used it as a qualifier to discount predictions that mention it.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to tussock,

    For Farrar and co, it’s not wars, it’s just serving the local elite. Being at the coal face and letting the real movers and shakers keep their hands clean, and if people get hurt, well, that’s just sad for them isn’t it.

    Well said, that grass!

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • simon g,

    Mike Hosking is probably still in the lead, but today the 'Herald on Sunday' editorial makes a valiant effort to compete for his crown:

    The past few weeks have been marked by an unedifying chant, a cheap racial joke and a book that attempts to smear Key by association with an unsavoury blogger.

    Yes, really.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report Reply

  • Dismal Soyanz, in reply to nzlemming,

    I've not read the book yet but at least with iPredict if people are trying to manipulate the prices in a systematic way there is an exploitable opportunity (in theory, at least) to make money from them.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2010 • 310 posts Report Reply

  • izogi, in reply to Simon Sjorn,

    People behaving like reasonable, responsible, humane adults you mean.

    That, and maybe some practical things to introduce more effective impartial oversight and constraints on what's done by elected officials and staff, and what happens in parliamentary offices.

    Looking at how the OIA (or similar) can be applied to the Parliamentary Service could be a good part of this, but maybe wouldn’t have stopped it from happening given how intent everyone involved seemed to be in not being seen, and the way in which Parliament can systematically cripple the Ombudsman whenever it becomes inconvenient. I guess all of this is also dancing with constitutional issues around letting elected officials and their appointed staff do their jobs properly. Y’know, if they actually intend to do their jobs properly, which I’m sure many do.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 1142 posts Report Reply

  • David Hood, in reply to Dismal Soyanz,

    They don't mind losing money on iPredict. They have money, and want to use that money to buy stories about how well National is doing. Spending $200 on national raising the odds -> seed news story about how well national is doing. Compared to the cost of buying advertising, it is peanuts for the news coverage it generates, and it looks more natural.

    Dunedin • Since May 2007 • 1445 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Sjorn,

    With all this generalised talk about negativity and 'reaction to the' talk - no one it seems.is.actually looking into the substance of the allegations themselves. Are journalists afraid? The Herald skips around this by giving Hager an article but that will do nought to convince anyone already zombified or on the fence. The lack of courage or willingness to find the truth is so depressing. National in full control -really they seem to have every base covered. I was also creeped out by the suggestion of 50 cent gang - with the way everything seems to be so expertly controlled and each potential crisis managed with apparent ease, this idea or some version of it does not seem that far fetched.

    New Zealand • Since Sep 2013 • 39 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Simon Sjorn,

    Are journalists afraid? The Herald skips around this by giving Hager an article but that will do nought to convince anyone already zombified or on the fence.

    Why not jump in there and ask them? I've called them on a couple of things today. That's what the comments section is for! But yes you are correct. It's pathetic.None so blind .....

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

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Andre Alessi,

    It’s his job to do the distasteful things so that the rest of the guys on his “side” (a side that, admittedly, fluctuates a little) can do what they need to do to win.

    We used to call them "Hired Goons"

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • stephen clover, in reply to nzlemming,

    Ok so it seems I may have been a little less than clear with my thoughts last night. I was trying to reason my way to a position where Slater is not a worthless p.o.s. As everything I have ever read and had reported about his behaviour doesn't really align with what I know about clinical depression, and as someone who's suffered at the wrong end of a misdiagnosis in the past, my logic lead me to a speculation that he's misdiagnosed and mis-medicated and that his life may see significant benefit from seeing a different doctor -- and all that that brings.

    Can we leave the psychiatry to professionals please?

    But yes, it was more-or-less idle speculation and I should have refrained. Apologies to anyone I upset :/

    wgtn • Since Sep 2007 • 355 posts Report Reply

  • cindy baxter,

    Discovery.

    Now there's a word.

    but nothing like that would happen until after September 20; the public deserves to know the truth before then.

    auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 102 posts Report Reply

  • Alfie, in reply to ,

    I don’t understand what this, form the Herald, actually means. Is it the heralds writing or my reading? It looks as if Dot Com is complaining that Hager and the National party are in car hoots.

    It could be read that way, although Dotcom's words appear to have been twisted a little. I suspect it's more a case of clumsy journalism than foul play.

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

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