Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Unreasonable people vote

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  • Petra,

    Speaking of Buckley...

    "now listen you queer, stop calling me a crypto-nazi, or i'll sock you in the goddamn face and you'll stay plastered."

    Good times, good times.


    Kind regards,
    Your ever loving YouTube slut. :)

    Rotorua • Since Mar 2007 • 317 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Successive US governments have handed out so many gimmick tax cuts that their revenue base is completely twisted out of shape. It just doesn't work any more.

    No doubt 'not working' won't be an impediment to more of it however.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Petra,

    Rachel Maddow - she rocks. I would turn gay for her.

    It truly boggles the mind that the fringe element of the Republican Party has reached such powerful heights. Obviously there's just not enough flouride in the water over there.

    Rotorua • Since Mar 2007 • 317 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Eade,

    I love Keith Obermann and Rachel. They just get it, that people are in trouble now, there's poverty right now and you can see it bothers them, as it fucking should.

    Craig and Megan seem to have cheerlead themselves to a froth. What's the point.

    The successes of Maggie Thacher wont convince me of a new dawn of gender equality ,she ruined a country, her pathway through the u.k conservatives may have been tough beacuse lets face it, they're a horrible party.Is Michael Steele chairing the republicans a big step for african-americans or just himself?

    auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 1112 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Rachel Maddow - she rocks. I would turn gay for her.

    I was just thinking this morning that if I were a chick, I'd totally want Rachel Maddow to do me.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    I was just thinking this morning that if I were a chick, I'd totally want Rachel Maddow to do me.

    It might be easier to ask her to turn straight for you. Or, y'know, pretend or something.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Eade,

    She is pretty but Fox News has the Miss Worlds, wow, turn the sound down, sit back and enjoy.

    Yes, Jeremy: women can be grumpy right-wingers, too! Whatever will they do next?

    Yeh it's a free world in roughly 40% of the planet, so absolutely, but at least give me the sanity of calling idiots, idiots and when they constantly reference and criticise their own gender,(and especially abusive to young woman) some of whom are my friends, I can't help thinking, "what the fuck are rightwing ladies about?".

    but, yes, you can be grumpy and rightwing and there is nothing i can do about it apart from laugh and point the occasional fact your way when you're happy.

    auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 1112 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    I was just thinking this morning that if I were a chick, I'd totally want Rachel Maddow to do me.

    Just after I watched that Rachel Maddow clip, I went to Twitter and it suggested I follow her. And I thought, that's not so much following as stalking. Because yes. Omnomnomnom.

    Not wanting to turn the sound down being part of the attraction, of course.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Carol Stewart,

    She is pretty but Fox News has the Miss Worlds, wow, turn the sound down, sit back and enjoy.

    Whoa there, Mr Unreconstructed.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report Reply

  • Pete Sime,

    In other news, the Defence White Paper has been released and there. I'm a little worried about this report in the Herald[ (http://dft.ba/-3yD) - "To "civilianise a significant number of posts currently filled by uniformed personnel not required to deploy operationally", enabling it to shift uniformed personnel to the front of the organisation."

    For one thing this sounds like we're going to open ourselves up to contractors for another, the military can't engage in industrial action (that would be mutiny), but these vital "civilianised" positions could - generally when negotiating a collective agreement, but also over issues of safety. Servicemen could die if civilian medical personnel refused to go into a combat zone - as they'd have a right to do, for example.

    Dunedin • Since Apr 2008 • 171 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Eade,

    Whoa there, Mr Unreconstructed.

    I missed that class.I don't know what that means, but for the record , most men would find those girls pretty, that's why they're there, it's cetainly not for their political insite.

    Whoa there, i like that.:)

    auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 1112 posts Report Reply

  • Petra,

    It might be easier to ask her to turn straight for you. Or, y'know, pretend or something.

    In fantasy land, everything is possible. :)

    'Nuther off topic aside, for Jeremy. Just made my dad a very manly man birthday cake. Chocolate Bourbon Cake. Hit my email link if you want a real manly man cake recipe. No girly cupcakes 'round here. :)

    Rotorua • Since Mar 2007 • 317 posts Report Reply

  • Petra,

    The successes of Maggie Thacher wont convince me of a new dawn of gender equality ,she ruined a country

    One could argue that that is exactly what makes her a gender equal.

    Rotorua • Since Mar 2007 • 317 posts Report Reply

  • Petra,

    that's not so much following as stalking. Because yes. Omnomnomnom.

    lol

    Rotorua • Since Mar 2007 • 317 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Eade,

    One could argue that that is exactly what makes her a gender equal.

    Well she blended in very well with the tories if that's what you're saying. Obama struggled through the Democratic Party , Clinton did too, a struggle is interesting , i'm sure maggies books might be slightly fun but those seats are in high demand from
    very powerful people.Anyway I'm trying to link back to the topic.

    Obama, a fine politician.A new breed i hope

    auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 1112 posts Report Reply

  • Carol Stewart,

    One could argue that that is exactly what makes her a gender equal.

    Exactly, Petra. Textbook role reversal.

    Jeremy - beauty contests, GAH! They look like aliens.

    BTW - 'unreconstructed' means the opposite of 'enlightened' or 'progressive'. Apparently the term came from the American Civil War (Southerners who refused to accept Reconstruction after the war).

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Eade,

    Jeremy - beauty contests, GAH! They look like aliens.

    I don't watch them, i was joshing but they are a base example of how we celebrate our women. That looks been on cornflakes packets and coke ads since I was a boy, and call me conditioned.Aliens is a bit strong. Good looking healthy girls in a bizarre competition.

    Once again i hope I'm wrong and you are right.
    :)))

    auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 1112 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Well she blended in very well with the tories if that's what you're saying. Obama struggled through the Democratic Party , Clinton did too,

    This is the point. I'm not exactly one to laud her name, but Thatcher was regarded with disdain by the male Tory establishment, right up until she became party leader -- and afterwards for a while, in some cases.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    Oh, don't tell me beauty contests aren't political.
    ;)

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Carol Stewart,

    Well, Jeremy, I was on a flight recently with a whole horde of Miss Central America contestants (long story). Next to each other they look kind of normal, but compared to the rest of the human race they look extremely weird. OK, aliens may be a little strong, but still.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Eade,

    but Thatcher was regarded with disdain by the male Tory establishment

    She caused polarity where ever she went.

    and she's one woman.
    Plenty others never saw the equality she created for herself, thanks to her individualistic society

    I guess its hard for me to comment on the tories back then because I regard her with disdain too. I'll try and read her story one day, I just think she is a sideshow to discussion of gender equality and her path to the top is hardly an inspirational story .

    auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 1112 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I don't seem to remember Tea Partiers protesting against any of that. Or conservatives generally.

    Well, apart from the paleo-right who regard the sand-niggers and Christ-killers (who secretly run the United States, don't cha know?) as barely human, and who should be left alone to kill each other.

    Craig and Megan seem to have cheerlead themselves to a froth. What's the point.

    OK, dude, put your twatcock back in your pants because I'm spoken for. Here's a crazy idea: No woman on this Earth has to live up to your standards of lady-like ideological purity. And when you disagree with them pay them the fundamental courtesy of not scolding them for flase consciousness and "malicious dishonesty".

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

  • Megan Wegan,

    I just think she is a sideshow to discussion of gender equality and her path to the top is hardly an inspirational story .

    But as you quite rightly point out, in terms of gender equality we're not all the way there.

    I know a number of woman who are inspired by Maggie. I even know one or two who are impressed by Sarah Palin.

    I don't agree with them, but God, they can damn well be inspired by whoever they like.

    And, you know, you can admire Margaret Thatcher for making her way and her mark, in what was very much a man's world, without admiring her politics. It's a little dismissive of her achievments, like them or not, to call her a sideshow.

    I would also point out, that as a woman, political and media role models are few and far between. We takes what we can gets.

    [eta: Oh, Rachel Maddow. Sign me up for the 'would turn gay' bandwagon.]

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report Reply

  • Angus Robertson,

    I don't seem to remember Tea Partiers protesting against any of that. Or conservatives generally. Liberal blogs have been hitting Obama on those exact issues, but they haven't exactly been protesting in droves near the Washington Monument.

    Independents decide elections. They exist in a space removed from progressive and conservative camps. They do not organise protests, because they have no set political agenda. If the government is not delivering the goods the independents will vote to change it.

    When progressives staged grassroots/astroturf anti-war marches during the Bush years, independents paid attention to Democrats promising to break with the Bush/GOP agenda. And when the economy went south at the end of the Bush years they voted for change as promised by the progressive Democrats.

    When conservatives staged grassroots/astroturf anti-healthcare marches, independents paid attention to Republicans promising to break with the Obama/Dem agenda.

    The economy is still not good, independents are looking to see who is going to change the most. Who will change the least.

    As per the link I posted above, the US economy has been growing throughout Obama's term. TARP was a Bush initiative, but was quickly tapped as "Obama's bank bailout" and has had a positive effect on the economy. (McCain has retroactively declared he would have reversed TARP, but again, that's a case of a Republican trying to exploit Tea Party rhetoric for electoral gain.)

    Well yeah, the gifting of $billions to mega rich idiots who somehow have managed to lose even more than that. You say its great news that is brilliant for the economy and causes growth. Others say it is bad news and causes unemployment. It's either good policy or its not, and people can make their own judgement call.

    In delivery perhaps, but not in purpose. Have a read of this article on the "Tea Party Manifesto". Small government, reducing federal entitlements, lower taxes, no universal health care, etc It's the Republican Party platform of the last twenty years liberally sprinkled with phrases like "grass roots", "decentralization", "independent", "not politics as usual", etc

    The approach of the Bush era was to borrow and deficit spend an expansion of government. Amoung his greatest domestic successes was to increase the size of medicare by $500billion. This was termed compassionate conservatism and was not the same as the Tea Party Manifesto.

    Auckland • Since May 2007 • 984 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Eade,

    I would also point out, that as a woman, political and media role models are few and far between. We takes what we can gets.

    I mean please calm down, I've never said I'm opposing their (rightwing female media, not all woman), right to those views, i'm opposing those views. I've never said that and you keep banging on like I have, c'mon.

    fundamental courtesy

    Craig, Fundamental courtsey, I've got more manners than you have books, everone has more manners than you.

    auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 1112 posts Report Reply

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