Island Life: He lied to us all
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why should we lead the world with the emissions trading scheme?
We're not. The European Union has been running an emissions trading scheme for 3 years now. That's 27 nations we're not leading. And Australia is literally only months behind and intends to release draft legislation late this year to become law in 2009.
We have a completely different set of emissions sources than Australia, and a different set of priorities and needs. The idea of signing our climate policy over to Canberra seems like not a particularly good idea. Our trading market is large enough to work effectively (and as I understand it the new legislation includes the right to trade internationally anyway - although I'd like to confirm whether this is the case).
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The use of "the Beltway" stems from a comment the PM made at one of her post-cabinet press conferences some time back.
We were quizzing her at length on an issue (I think it was the Electoral Finance Bill but I'm not entirely sure - forgive me I've been writing about Winston Peters for the past 10 hours and my brain's a bit fuzzy) and Clark was of the opinion the matter the journalists were raising wouldn't have much resonance outside of political circles and those that frequent them (ie journalists).
Her exact words were "outside the beltway". So journalists, being the respectful creatures that we are, have made the most of it.
Now don't take that as unusual. You wouldn't believe how many pictures of meerkats suddenly appeared on doors and walls around our offices a few weeks back after one Winston Peters made some observations on our skills and abilities.
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Never mind Winston. Has Helen Clark lied to us? Is withholding the truth lying?
And really I don't give a fig about the donations and I've never approved of Winston. Anyway, I doubt if the odd hundred thou has ruined our democracy. I guess Nats have lots of tricky way of getting money too BUT if our Helen has been dishonest than I'm moving to Oz.
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Felix, thanks for the inside perspective. Without dropping yourself in it or revealing any potential scoops, can you give us regular folk some sense of how much the gallery knows but hasn't published yet about this whole Winston mess?
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The use of "the Beltway" stems from a comment the PM made at one of her post-cabinet press conferences some time back.
Ha, I remember that, now that you mention it. When I reflect on that, it lowers my opinion of Clark somewhat...
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Her exact words were "outside the beltway". So journalists, being the respectful creatures that we are, have made the most of it.
it's still an americanism.
and should be purged from the public consciousness.
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I think it was the Electoral Finance Bill but I'm not entirely sure
I think you can thank/blame Jane Clifton for popularising it. She's been using it for at least as far back as the Listener is archived online.
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it's still an americanism.
and should be purged from the public consciousness.
Except that it's a fantastically useful shorthand for describing the group of people who are likely to be interested in political issues, daily, indeed fascinated by them, and eager to spend time talking and analysing politics.
What's wrong with 'Americanisms' anyway?
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What's wrong with 'Americanisms' anyway?
Thank you Deborah, thank you thank you thank you.
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It just grates a little. Like adding "gate" to every scandal that has even a mild connection to politics. I predict soon we will have a headline that reads something like "Beltwaygate Scandal Rocks Wellington Insiders"
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Except that it's a fantastically useful shorthand
i think you actually mean it's argot
and is used to make new zealand politics seems more like jane clifton's favourite tv show.
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Meh.
Odds that Che Tibby has never used an Americanism?
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low.
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i think you actually mean it's argot
Pendant.
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lol
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Felix, thanks for the inside perspective. Without dropping yourself in it or revealing any potential scoops, can you give us regular folk some sense of how much the gallery knows but hasn't published yet about this whole Winston mess?
The thing about news is there is always a bit more going on than gets reported. Parliament, particularly, is a place that thrives on gossip, rumour, innuendo, and the like. However the challenge is to sort the gems from the dross as there is often a Chinese whisper effect. What starts as something simple can be blown out of all proportion by the time it's filtered its way through half a dozen people and made it to us. Substantiating, cross checking, and confirming some of these things is sometimes almost impossible and in those cases we simply can't publish.
The other challenge is that of confidentiality. Often people will give us fantastic information but on a non-attribution basis. That leaves us to confirm it through other means (eg the OIA or another contact), or to use the phrase :sources have told us" (personally I'm not a fan of the the latter option). Again, we may find ourselves in a situation where we're positive we have a great story but aren't in a position to tell people about it.
So what I am endeavouring to say (in a terribly long winded way) is yes there is more to come on Winston Peters, but it's a matter of making sure it's reported properly.
I know there are those out there who feel the Gallery has a duty to tell the public all it knows. But on the flipside we also have ethical responsibilities not to be a conduit for unsubstantiated gossip.
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I know there are those out there who feel the Gallery has a duty to tell the public all it knows. But on the flipside we also have ethical responsibilities not to be a conduit for unsubstantiated gossip.
Quite. I think it's been outside the Gallery that some poor judgements have been made this week. The airtime given to Hide's baseless claim that TVNZ had destroyed the (heh) Crapper tapes, without benefit of evidence, was alarming.
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Will this lead to more baseless claims? Also, if I was Winnie, I would be glad that Peter Williams QC was representing me.
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Also, if I was Winnie, I would be glad that Peter Williams QC was representing me.
So would I, and it can't hurt that Williams does bill his clients and his definition of pro bono doesn't include soliciting contributions to pay said bills. Or I hope not.
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I know there are those out there who feel the Gallery has a duty to tell the public all it knows. But on the flipside we also have ethical responsibilities not to be a conduit for unsubstantiated gossip.
Felix, the impression I have from the sidelines is that there is an incredibly strong trend towards being first to report Parliament stuff. Its a trend that extends out into general news obviously, but the advent of new streams of communication have forced some organisations into a breathless trumpeting that they were FIRST! Analysis and depth tend to be brushed aside (much like the way Winston has started brushing cameras out of the way on the way into the House).
Actually, "brushed aside" may be a little harsh - I still appreciate all the solid work that goes in from people like yourself, Audrey, Tracey, Brent Edwards. Trying to pin Winston down is, well, impossible.
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Sounds like an interesting mix . Our
new Labour list party members here. Well those the Harold mention. -
The full list is on Scoop.
Take note of number 65. A long way down, I know, but there nevertheless. Wouldn't it be great if she got in. If not this time, next time, maybe...
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It would help if they knew the name of the British Home Secretary. Similarly, Radio NZ's website introduces us to candidates "Marian Street" and "Stewart Nash".
I suppose fact-checkers take Sundays off.
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I would have presumed that all electoral candidates would have made the list. Wonder why Grant Robertson isn't there (and any others).
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I suppose fact-checkers take Sundays off.
Is that why the link to Scoop from Deborah is dated march 2005?
I would have presumed that all electoral candidates would have made the list. Wonder why Grant Robertson isn't there (and any others).
I am confused now.
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