And what's the road ahead for the Families Commission if Rankin wags the dog? California's Proposition 8, anybody?

Then they can just rodney that through.

Thinking like that makes me wonder what may be behind the Christine Rankin smoke screen.

Time for a breakaway People's Republic of Mt Albert, perhaps...

Rankin is a nutjob, but apart from pissing money down the loo there is not much power in the families commission. It could have done some good but it probably can't do much harm. That said it really pisses me?

You have to admire political gameplaying at this level.

I can understand why you would, but it's what disappointed me the most about these last few days.
Sensible, pragmatic discussion be damned – we need to play games with Duncan Garner.

completely irrelevant fact that she wears – gasp – women's clothing!

She's pre-op? (I've only lived here six years and don't know all the NZ backstories).

there is not much power in the families commission. It could have done some good but it probably can't do much harm

Her track record has my spidey senses tingling in a way that I suspect means she's going to prove you wrong on that. :o(

Some folks complained of?

Asked if Rankin was a safe pair of hands, Key said: "It's a part-time role. She's a part-time commissioner. She's not back running a major government department."

Wow. That's a vote of confidence. "Yeah, it'll be alright. She'll only be working mornings, hardly have any time?

Ministry of Foreign Affairs: the surprise appointment of a businessman to chief executive and Murray McCully knifing NZ Aid and snaffling its budget for his own purposes.

I saw the NZ Aid story, but missed the jobs for mates appointment in Foreign Affairs.

Ugh this is getting really disgusting. I?

She's a divisive character, and I wonder how much a person with her personality type can actually achieve in an environment?

Actually, I feel that the news story we're missing at the moment is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: the surprise appointment of a businessman to chief executive...

And that his name was confirmed in the public domain prior to the appointment. What does that say about the organisation (or Minister's?

Previously it looked like Key could just ignore it. Probably a low turnout, a silly question, a law that changes little ... no need to revisit The War of 2007 all over again. Mumble something soothing about "listen" and "monitor" and then leave?

Its all about lefties persecuting?

Have you also noticed how every nutjob/fundie/string-em-up/climate-change-denier group in this country seems to have links with Muriel Newman?

The 6, no, 3 Degrees of Muriel Newman. Something that Paul L could dig dirt on.

The last I heard from Muriel, her latest fad was the concept of Terra Nullius in?

big Daddy and his friends know best

I have often thought of this govt as the National equivalent to the David Lange led Labour one. John Key's, arrogance and ambition is being most deftly used by those ultra right wing diehards?

Actually, I feel that the news story we're missing at the moment is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.....and Murray McCully knifing NZ Aid and snaffling its budget for his own purpose

No we're not missing it.We're not reporting it. Some journos just need to read the right blogs rather than?

and the appointment's been roundly condemned throughout the media. And for what benefit?

The benefit is Rankin is above the fold and the important shit they are doing is page 3.

It is genuinely difficult to see how she could work effectively with organisations like Barnado's given her comments about them in the past.

Not at all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGcVB2YHnuY&

I wonder how she is going on iPredict...

The benefit is Rankin is above the fold and the important shit they are doing is page 3.

I don't buy that. Her appointment will only serve to alarm many who previously thought Key and co were benign centrists. That perception helped the Nats win power. So again, what benefit??

Meanwhile, back at the ranch Melissa Lee may be discovering that the quickest way out of parliament is the slightest whiff of the misuse of public funds...

You beat me to it.. :)

I don't think I have ever wished to reach over the radio waves and strangle someone *quite* as much as I did this morning, listening to that.

Possibly rhetorical question: what is *up* with Sean Plunket? Sheez.

"National shits on Auckland" is a meme that they can not live down, and one which any Aucklander can see the basis.

The Rankin debacle is simply an arrogant icing?

I don't buy that. Her appointment will only serve to alarm many who previously thought Key and co were benign centrists. That perception helped the Nats win power. So again, what benefit?

I agree. So many better options to choose from, so why her?

I keep wondering if Key is?

to go into schools to warn students about all the 'gratuitous sex and violence' on TV.

And Steven Joyce wants to pump more porn into our homes!

Save Families: Stop Broadband.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch Melissa Lee may be discovering that the quickest way out of parliament is the slightest whiff of the misuse of public funds...

The story's not quite right: Hone Harawira still has his northern media empire, but he seems to have managed potential conflicts well enough.?

There should be an online register of who gave what to whom so we can all judge for ourselves the context of?

The Rankin debacle is simply an arrogant icing on National's shark-jumping cake.

And someone left the cake out in the rain.. my point being, this is the most psychedelic mixed metaphor I have seen in a long time.

Going forward, I think we should declare a moratorium on the use of?

The Minister can appoint anyone they wish, achieve any composition they desire, and there's not even a requirement for a token lay person or iwi rep.

Good grief. Did McCully write that one too?

And someone left the cake out in the rain.. my point being, this is the most psychedelic mixed metaphor I have seen in a long time.

Heh!

Going forward, I think we should declare a moratorium on the use of the shark-jumping metaphor. It was never really that clever or?

I can hardly wait.

And more indication that we are in weird times Pansy Wong wants the Ministry of Women's Affairs to be more?

Quick note for Russell: Just because you've made up your mind doesn't mean Plunket should throw all scepticism out the window.

Wait, Plunket accepting the numbers provided by the Minister means that he hasn't thrown all scepticism out the window? That didn't sound backwards when you typed it?

Quick note for Russell: Just because you've made up your mind doesn't mean Plunket should throw all scepticism out the window.

His lack of scepticism was my complaint.

Frankly, he sounded like he'd had a late night and was just reading what was in front of him.

And David should?

Oh FFS... Let's see, someone whose contract was not renewed for undisclosed reasons claims she was "rather uncomfortable" because Lee was standing behind her?

If the exchange took place as reported, yes, it was troubling. If it didn't happen like that, then Lee should simply have kept her appointment with?

If the exchange took place as reported, yes, it was troubling. If it didn't happen like that, then Lee should simply have kept her appointment with the reporter and explained how it did go.

Yeah, and Helen Clark should have had a sit down with Ian Wishart and explained how?

But, however we might not enjoy being lectured by Rankin in this context, it would be perilous to say that it should preclude her from the post. There are much better arguments than that — most notably that Rankin?

Yeah, and Helen Clark should have had a sit down with Ian Wishart and explained how wrong all his little conspiracy theories are... because she's a fraking moron who can't smell a set up.

For goodness sake Craig, it was relevant and she's answerable both as an MP and as?

The Minister can appoint anyone they wish, achieve any composition they desire, and there's not even a requirement for a token lay person or iwi rep.

Let's guess – what former Act MPs or friends of the right have a bit of spare time and no expertise in governance transition?

What about Owen McShane ...

Hilary ... don't .

One of the first jobs for the agency will be appointing a chief executive, but it will also appoint an interim chief executive for the Auckland Council?

Hilary ... don't.

I know, that was painful to read because it feels too plausible. And I don't just mean He who is Afraid of Tunnels.

All Lee had to do?

That's a mindboggling railroading of basic democracy?

The Greens define a coup d'état:

A Bill being passed under urgency today establishes an Auckland Transition Agency with draconian powers over the people of Auckland, accountable only to Rodney Hide.

...

A coup d'état consists of the infiltration of a small, but critical, segment of the?

Prime Minister John Key said yesterday he was unhappy Mr Allen's name was in the public domain before he was officially appointed, "and I have made my unhappiness known".

He did not believe it was a leak from the Cabinet or from the ministry. "I do have a sense of?

They're cutting the legs off the RMA as we speak.

hrowing this into urgency is highly undemocratic. The governing arrangements for 1/3 of NZ's population should have the full review of Parliament, our representatives.

George: I really don't like urgency, because the genuine need for it is extraordinarily rare. But a coup d'etat? Oh, I'm going to call theatre supreme?

I?d be more concerned about the increasing say that Mark Weldon appears to be having in?

I popped over to see what Mr. Farrar had to say on the subject...

And no discussion of the revelations regarding Ms Lee that were aired on Campbell Live last night.

If by "discussion" you exclude a debate between DPF and former broadcasting minister Trevor Mallard on the appropriateness and?

The Greens define a coup d'état:

The latest developments are indeed alarming. However, the Greens need to work on their media strategy. Their press release is OTT verging on paranoia.

Although I'd expect nothing less than this sort of risible nonsense from Sue Kedgely:

We knew that democracy was under?

We knew that democracy was under threat in Auckland, but I had no idea that our Government would go to this extreme. It would make Benito Mussolini blush with pleasure.

Hey, at least she didn't say Hitler.

(Green party members who might be lurking out there: this voter is one?

I hope Lee knows the difference between refute and deny, Scotty.

Point taken. Although this was discussed in another thread a couple of weeks ago, and the term "refute" has come to mean "deny" in the legal industry at least. But guilty as charged, M'Lud.

And if you know anything?

I'm not trying to be argumentative

Yes you are, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. :) We just better not set up together as a spin shop, because the ACC and OSH liabilities will be horrible.

Electoral Commission, s8 Electoral Act 1993:

(1) The Electoral Commission shall consist of?
(a) the Secretary for?

(Green party members who might be lurking out there: this voter is one Kedgley away from joining your party.)

The one good thing I've found about membership is that I get the press releases early, allowing me to get the cringe reaction over and done with before extracts turn up?

Harking back to waaaaaay up thread – thanks for the invitations to Blenheim and Warkworth, but I think I'll have to stay in Mt Albert. I've never had the opportunity to lie down in front of a bulldozer before...

don't forget your towel ....

don't forget your towel ....

They don't excite me that much.

The hard answer is to join, and then work towards influencing the tone of discourse.

Maybe then we should all join ACT? (gag... choke...)

Russell, I appreciate and fully agree this carefully worded explanation of her unsuitability. Separately, I do wonder if National won't benefit somewhat from her appointment ~ with a different political cohort who see her as a real moderate in a sea of femo-nazis.

Yeah, but they already had their votes.?

Joshua, not looking like they're online yet. Gotta love that engagement of the democratic process, when legislation affecting the home city of 1/3 of the population isn't even available for consideration before it gets debated.

And that is the very reason why National are using urgency.

Look back on their?

In the absence of online versions of the Bills, I'll quote from the draft Local Government (Auckland Reorganisation) Bill, s11:

(1) The Transition Agency must have a governing body consisting of a chairperson and no fewer than 2 but no more than 4 other members appointed by the Minister.

And?

Yeah, but they already had their votes. Whereas they've just likely just lost some from sane people.

Possibly, but they might also consolidate and extend their votes with Evangelical Christian voters by seeming to wrest back control of the otherwise evil Commission? If that wasn't their intention, you'd be right?

one Kedgley

A Kedgley is defined as the number of stale McDonalds hamburgers needed to fill a 4 km long three lane road tunnel.

...putsch might be as simple as actually showing up to the AGM with 100 others and voting Hide et al out

I think they have dollar weighted voting, don't they?

don't forget your towel ....

They don't excite me that much.

At the risk of showing my age, it's a reference to The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy (1981!).

Hope the Waterview M'Way isn't quite that destructive! Think what else we could achieve with a billion or two dollars?

Maybe then we should all join ACT?

Like I said, the hard option. Although as has been pointed out, this might actually work :-)

"All transition costs will be borne by Auckland ratepayers, but controlled by the Lord Hide oligarchy," Dr Norman said.

it's pretty hard to take the Greens seriously when they release this sort of thing. It's a pity, because the issues they are trying to raise awareness of are serious ones.

?

I thought it was the weight of genetically modified McDonald's hamburgers required to make a 10 year old obese. Are you sure you're talking about metric Kedgleys?

you've got every chance of moderating any policy with which you have an issue

That's what I hear, but I'm yet to work out how without leaving my keyboard. Coming from an IT background what I want is a web FAQ or wiki page saying "How to moderate any policy?

I've not yet found route maps more detailed than these.

seek excuses not to engage with the Greens

Um branding an entire technology that I personally work with and I believe can and will do tremendous good for the planet as evil . Based on ... well no evidence at all actually.

Yeah sorry that's just an excuse.

At the?

you've got every chance of moderating any policy with which you have an issue

Oh and to follow-up, surely the way you moderate something is with mod points? How do I earn mine?

branding an entire technology that I personally work with and I believe can and will do tremendous good for the planet as evil.

You mean GM?

How is this policy:

Supporting the development of genetic technologies based on ethical screening and the precautionary principle on a case by case basis,?

I have to profess profound admiration for John Key in how he's handled this one. I presume his message to Peter Dunne is "you're a political irrelevance with no party backing, a bare majority in your electorate, and incredibly bad hair. This is?

Saving the planet will require the best minds, knowledge and technology

have you decided on a particular name for your religious cult?
(just for reference purposes, mind)

the bulk of evidence suggests that the "best minds, knowledge and technology" have contributed significantly to the destruction of the planet over the?

One of the issues the Greens face is that people seek excuses not to engage with the Greens e.g. If it wasn't for , then I'd vote/join/whatever...

There's probably a vaguely interesting political analysis as to why on the 'green side' of the equation people feel they have to agree?

How is this... branding GM as evil?

Or is it something else, like nerve-gassing babies and little puppy dogs??

There are certainly plenty in the Greens who act that way – they talk as if GE technologies threaten the existence of the planet. They're reactionaries, and are prone to making?

At the risk of threadjacking. The NZ iteration of the Green Party is a bunch of luddites and I will have nothing to do with them. Saving the planet will require the best minds, knowledge and technology that can brought to bear on the problems.

Every time someone says this,?

One of the issues the Greens face is that people seek excuses not to engage with the Greens

I'm perfectly happy to engage with the Greens. Heck, I've even leafleted, voted for them. But the Kedgley wing is a big part of the reason why I don't join, and I?

The easiest example is GM vs?

"best minds, knowledge and technology" have contributed significantly to the destruction of the planet over the last 150 years or so.

Surely they've also contributed one or two useful ideas as well. Penicillin is generally regarded as being quite useful, for example. And still don't know how those reflective cats?

Oh and when Kedgley gets on the anti-vaccine bandwagon, I want to kill her. Seriously. This is one area where her precious waving away of the evidence is harmful and even lethal.

It's a pity, and fucks me off, because the Greens have a lot?

And still don't know how those reflective cats eyes at the Royal Oak roundabout know to flash when someone's about to use the pedestrian crossing. That's just freakin' amazing.

Yeah – like the thermos flask that keeps hot things hot & cold things cold. How does it know?

There are much better arguments than that — most notably that Rankin and her trust set themselves against all the genuine child welfare agencies in the country by advocating strongly for the "right" to hit your children.

Well, yes. Not to mention that she's an incompetent self-obsessed drama queen..

Yeah – like the thermos flask that keeps hot things hot & cold things cold. How does it know?

Maxwell's Demon.

Yeah – like the thermos flask that keeps hot things hot & cold things cold. How does it know?

If I drink too much tonight I'm going to have to think about that one.

If GE organisms got into the wild and were then found to be hazardous, it could destroy our ability to sell certain?

Urgency has been moved and Government Notice of Motion No 2 (Establishment of select committee on Auckland governance) debate is beinning now.

But what's this Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill they've sprung out of nowhere? Screwing over tenants in favour of landlords again...?

I note the cut-n-cover is being used in exact alignment with nearly 2km of existing Gt North Rd.

This avoids obliterating Oakly creek, and is probably a reasonable solution long term.... but it's going to be traffic mayhem for a few years?

If GE organisms got into the wild and were then found to be hazardous, it could destroy our ability to sell certain agricultural produce overseas.

So could a creepy crawly hitching a ride in a container load of TVs. It's a question of balancing risk and reward – trade is?

Penicillin is generally regarded as being quite useful

of course it is, but it hasn't contributed to saving the planet.

But what's this Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill they've sprung out of nowhere? Screwing over tenants in favour of landlords again...?

It's that democratically-elected dictatorship in action again.

But what's this Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill they've sprung out of nowhere? Screwing over tenants in favour of landlords again...?

They're putting the RTA through urgency? Have I heard you right?

And still don't know how those reflective cats eyes at the Royal Oak roundabout know to flash when someone's about to use the pedestrian crossing. That's just freakin' amazing.

It's witchcraft, dude.

The policies of the Greens aren't all bad. But every time I hear Sue Kedgley speak about anything?

But what's this Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill they've sprung out of nowhere? Screwing over tenants in favour of landlords again...?

Presumably it's some of the outcomes from this. Dare I say it, vintage National. And they've only been in power for six months!

They're putting the RTA through urgency? Have I heard you right?

I'd quite like to know what's actually in that. Pity.

could someone outline the commercial advantages of GE outside the lab? only one or two US companies seem to have made a killing so far. please correct me if i'm wrong.

With old fashioned hybridisation we came up with dwarf wheat, which since the 1970s is credited to have saved?

the bulk of evidence suggests that the "best minds, knowledge and technology" have contributed significantly to the destruction of the planet over the last 150 years or so.

Say what? What evidence? When was the planet destroyed? Why am I always the last one to find out?

When was the planet destroyed?

You missed a bitchin' party.

Say what? What evidence? When was the planet destroyed? Why am I always the last one to find out?

To be fair, we did nuke it, poison it, warm it up to the point of possibly driving ourselves and a number of other species to extinction, as well as coming?

When was the planet destroyed?

Jan 1st 2001. But everyone was too hungover to notice.

better crop yields, higher nutritional values.

evidence please.
it looks more like GE religion to me, this belief that the technology works because the people selling it say so.

planet destroyed

it's a work in progress.

reduction in the use of pesticides

Roundup-Ready Soy (TM)

LOL!

banning research

when did the Greens call for banning lab-based research?

I'd quite like to know what's actually in that. Pity.

So would I. But the whole point of abusing urgency like this is to stop us from knowing until it is too late.

OK, so in this case we'll be getting a select committee process. But there'd be a far?

no telling what benefits

or costs even!?

but really, could have credible research on the benefits and costs, rather than lots of pie in the sky "it's sooo good" pronouncements before release of these organisms?

BT's an interesting case – it's 'natural' to the extent that organic farmers can use it ... so now people are GEing it?

when did the Greens call for banning lab-based research?

Not sure if it's party policy (I think so) but Kedgley is against release in containment fields, and you can't do a lot without that part of the equation.

or costs even!?

Of course, but you know, unless you're telling me?

(I think so)

is this a new anti-Greens religion?

is this a new anti-Greens religion?

Not sure where you came up with that. I said "I think so" because she said it publicly a number of times, and if it weren't party policy surely she wouldn't have – party discipline and all. But if you know differently, do tell.

could someone outline the commercial advantages of GE outside the lab?

Lets skip the money because there just is a lot of money in GE crops for everyone who grows them. Most of the farmers growing GE outside the US are small holders who actually do make more money.?

at least research the benefits

yes. research the benefits and costs and compare with various alternatives. but why release organisms when you have no idea what damage they might do? what about the precautionary principle?

research the benefits and costs and compare with various alternatives. but why release organisms when you have no idea what damage they might do? what about the precautionary principle?

Not sure if you're deliberately trying not to get the point. You can't research this things without limited, contained release. The?

Roundup resistant soybean and cotton are two major crops made by that evil empire Monsanto.

It's not the chemical resistance that's evil, it's the suicide genes that they've been putting into some of their crops, tying farmers into buying seed every year rather than being able to be self-sufficient after?

limited, contained release

how is it limited and contained? who is going to indemnify?
and lots of research can be done without release. just get NASA to build a research farm on Mars.

I'm perfectly happy to engage with the Greens. Heck, I've even leafleted, voted for them. But the Kedgley wing is a big part of the reason why I don't join, and I think it's a perfectly legitimate one to be frank.

I party vote Green, but give my electorate vote?

It's not the chemical resistance that's evil

Unless you're interested in protecting indigenous biodiversity (e.g. native plants, animals, habitats and ecosystems) from invasive plants (weeds) – in NZ we have enough trouble with exotic species without artificial resistance to the herbicides that might be capable of controlling them.

But if you know differently, do tell.

someone excerpted the party's policy upthread.

just get NASA to build a research farm on Mars

I rest my case.

I regularly hear from friends who are ecologists or might broadly be termed?

@Tom and the others who nearly support the Greens

That bit in my comment where I said that I give my party vote to the Greens? I think that's a bit more than "nearly".

My support for them is based largely on their emphasis on sustainability, but also on foreign?

It reminds me of the cover feature in about every third Listener: "If you don't get enough Omega 3, you'll need plastic surgery and you'll never afford a mortgage in a good school zone" or some such.

There is a disturbing zone where Kedgleyism overlaps with the electoral poster image?

It's not the chemical resistance that's evil, it's the suicide genes that they've been putting into some of their crops

Just to clear this up. What you have been told isn't true Mathew.

The suicide gene system was developed to try and figure out a method to make certain crops?

I don't want to pick on you Tom, but the broccoli comment is kind of typical of the response – it's like people have some childhood resistance to being "told what to do."

Well, I don't mean to pick on you (OK, that's a lie — to hell with me)?

Um if you check with the farmers they want to use the seed, even if they have to pay for it they still make more money than they used to.

It was certainly the case with the corn and soy seeds they exported to Italy after the war – the?

know-it-alls who regard democracy as something that's wasted on the ignorant peasants who just won't realise what's good for them.

Is democracy good for you?
Does it come in liquid form?

Is democracy good for you?

Yes, because its a form of government where you actually have to persuade people rather than threaten them with the drowny wrath of Dagon the Three Eyed FrankenFish.

the waggling finger just has to come out...

I'd pull it. :)

its a form of government where you actually have to persuade people rather than threaten them

In light of today's various tramplings, that's just priceless.

where you actually have to persuade people rather than threaten them with the drowny wrath of Dagon the Three Eyed FrankenFish.

Is he a friend of Jesus?

thought he might be one of the green onion slave girl's friends.

How come he gets a name and she doesnt?
I could imagine one up I s'pose.
Now where can I get me some liquid democracy.

Is he a friend of Jesus?

Can I throw a stout volume of Lovecraft at your head? It wouldn't achieve a damn thing, but sculling cough syrup isn't helping either.

Russell your prudence is commendable
(and hopefully not too dear) another way of
curbing fast rising dander is the new
Snibbo Dander Ruff to prevent
snapping and biting... : )

re the One City Ring Road

I hear the traffic is Mordor up there
while some Sauron?

Can I throw a stout volume of Lovecraft at your head?

Never did read him. Epicurus was so much more philosophically satisfying.

It wouldn't achieve a damn thing, but sculling cough syrup isn't helping either.

Try that Liquid Democracy.
But enough, I must give my full attention to Bill & Ted's?

http://oppthumb.blogspot.com/2009/05/song-of-motorway-madman.html

Dagon the Three Eyed FrankenFish.

I think the Elucidated Order might want to be having a few words with you.