Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: See you Latta, Bob ...

139 Responses

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  • Angus Robertson,

    Rich,

    No, don't be silly.

    Auckland • Since May 2007 • 984 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Steve, I kind of agree, but cunning seems inevitable in high ranking politicians. It can (and will) backfire, though. In performing cunning stunts, the PM will eventually look like a stunning....

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Isn't that a Gershwin tune?

    Why yes it is, and one of Fred and Ginger's finest moments to boot.

    Though for full effect, you can't go past Ella and Louis...

    Steve, I kind of agree, but cunning seems inevitable in high ranking politicians. It can (and will) backfire, though. In performing cunning stunts, the PM will eventually look like a stunning....

    And sometimes a cigar is just a cigar not signs of a latent desire to suck some cock. Got to ask this again: What part of "the law is working, and we're not going to repeal it" tests your comprehension skills as badly as Bob McCoskrie's?

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

  • Caleb D'Anvers,

    It's mildly amusing to see the teabaggers now dissing Mr Latta as being in the pay of the Nanny State. When they sense they're backed into a corner, they typically reach for the big red button that reads 'DEFCON 1'.

    Well, it's clear from Latta's Twitter feed that he really doesn't care about kids that much:

    Is it wrong that I love my new iphone more than my children? After all, it has GPS and they don't. 4:05 PM Nov 25th from web

    Quick! Someone ask for McCoskrie's take on that!

    London SE16 • Since Mar 2008 • 482 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Quick! Someone ask for McCroskie's take on that!

    Sorry, he's otherwise engaged coming up with a press release on the role of slapstick orgasms in the decline and fall of civilization. :)

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

  • Angus Robertson,

    Rich,

    Some cases deserve prosecution more than others.

    Family First slated the police in support of a man with an extensive history of domestic violence and an armed robbery conviction. In pursuing that support, they minimised and flat-out lied about the facts of the case.

    Must be prosecuted. Obvious really.

    Auckland • Since May 2007 • 984 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    What part of "the law is working, and we're not going to repeal it" tests your comprehension skills as badly as Bob McCoskrie's?

    I understand what he's saying, if that's what you're asking. I think I also understand why he's saying it, and that's what Steve and I were talking about. It's a very clever move, puts National in a good position. They get to keep a law they didn't ask for (but did vote for), which could be wildly unpopular if it were implemented differently. By keeping it, they can play the line that the opposition may seek to take it into the zone which made so many people feel uncomfortable recently. So Labour has to back down from this. Which leaves National reaping all of the kudos for bringing about a change they were never instrumental in making.

    But cunning has a way of flipping. If the law change is sold as working really well, thanks, come next election, Labour is just one hard sell away from pointing out that the law did actually change on their watch. So we'll see. IMHO Nationals best plan is to do exactly what Julie was predicting, let the whole thing slide down the memory hole.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Caleb D'Anvers,

    Sorry, he's otherwise engaged coming up with a press release on the role of slapstick orgasms in the decline and fall of civilization. :)

    Don't tease me like that, Craig, or I'll be hanging out on Scoop pressing F5 every two seconds for the rest of the afternoon!

    London SE16 • Since Mar 2008 • 482 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    They laughed at Columbus, they laughed at Fulton, they laughed at the Wright brothers.

    They're still laughing at Fulton, to be fair.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    That's cruel.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    But they also laughed at Bozo the Clown."

    But they are not laughing so much now. Bozo has been credited as the major influence for both Krusty the Clown, of The Simpson's and that other cultural icon, Ronald McDonald. Although, in themselves, not a Goldmine they are inseparable from the money making juggernauts they represent.
    Gerry Brownlee, on the other hand...

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Some cases deserve prosecution more than others.

    Family First slated the police in support of a man with an extensive history of domestic violence and an armed robbery conviction. In pursuing that support, they minimised and flat-out lied about the facts of the case.

    Must be prosecuted. Obvious really.

    It was.

    Angus said:

    no longer do we have an independent judiciary deciding what is "reasonable" punishment of a child. Now a government department decides what punishment of a child appears "inconsequential".

    Assuming that means you don't agree with this state of affairs, then that would require *every* case, not just the one you cited, to go to trial so the judiciary can decide on the facts. That would seem somewhat impractical.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    But that doesn't change the fact that you shouldn't hit, slap or punch anyone of any age, the law says so, and you can be prosecuted for hitting people if the circumstances warrant.

    Rich - that was basically my point. People - including some here - were outraged that the amendment was called "anti-smacking" - because it was a law change that wasn't about smacking.

    I happen to believe that because of the law change, the legal position of smacking has changed (it is now illegal, it was not previously). I just found it interesting that John Key was being taken to task for seemingly holding the quite common view that the amendment to section 59 was not "anti-smacking"

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Assuming that means you don't agree with this state of affairs, then that would require *every* case, not just the one you cited, to go to trial so the judiciary can decide on the facts. That would seem somewhat impractical.

    So impractical that it has never been the case. Police and other functionaries have *always* made judgments for themselves about whether to prosecute.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Heather W.,

    Amongst the Latta tweets was a link to a infant helmet called a Thudguard.

    North Shore • Since Nov 2008 • 189 posts Report Reply

  • Angus Robertson,

    Assuming that means you don't agree with this state of affairs, then that would require every case, not just the one you cited, to go to trial so the judiciary can decide on the facts. That would seem somewhat impractical.

    "Require" stripping discretion off the police? No, what is objected to is the police having sole discretion.

    If both the police and the courts had right to decide upon the inconsequentiallity, that would also alleviate this state of affairs.

    Auckland • Since May 2007 • 984 posts Report Reply

  • Angus Robertson,

    Put it another way.

    If David Bain becomes a parent he is more likely than most to be prosecuted for any smacks.

    Auckland • Since May 2007 • 984 posts Report Reply

  • Caleb D'Anvers,

    Amongst the Latta tweets was a link to a infant helmet called a Thudguard.

    Man, one of those looks like it could seriously interfere with a parent's sacred right to impart "loving correction." This Latta fella is looking more and more PC every second.

    London SE16 • Since Mar 2008 • 482 posts Report Reply

  • Christopher Nimmo,

    If both the police and the courts had right to decide upon the inconsequentiallity, that would also alleviate this state of affairs.

    And the judge in the uncle "pillow" case threw it out, presumably because he felt it was inconsequential...

    Wellington • Since May 2009 • 97 posts Report Reply

  • Heather W.,

    Rather, the Judge formed the view that the case could have been resolved with a lesser, included charge, which was unavailable to the Crown due to the election of the defence of a trial by jury.

    This paragraph near the end of the Scoop article implies that the system was worked in his favour.

    North Shore • Since Nov 2008 • 189 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd,

    If only Latta's skepticism went beyond his calling as a child-rearing specialist. He's not really going to earn my respect until I hear that he's come out and admitted he was gulled by the Ninox crew.

    The comments to that page are also well worth reading.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    'Silly Beliefs' is an excellent site - and very good at revealing the incredibly silly world of parts of television too-

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • mark taslov,

    Speaking of silly beliefs, pretty bizarre how CYFs and the police get called for beating a child but holding down a laddy and slicing off his foreskin, wouldn't turn a head...

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/3139627/Four-year-old-hospitalised-after-botched-circumcision

    Because it's religious Mark, so we can do what we want with the little fucker's foreskin.

    Mystified as to why the anti violence against children message isn't getting through....

    Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Mar 2008 • 2281 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    Did I just hear 3news refer to the Australian Swimming child sex abuse case as "the pedo-speedo scandal"?

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Deborah,

    @Craig

    Many thanks for those marvellous YouTube clips.

    New Lynn • Since Nov 2006 • 1447 posts Report Reply

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