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Speaker: John and Phil meet Bob

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  • Leopold,

    The Pakeha version of Hone, Pita and Shane grovelling before a self-styled Bishp? Been there, seen that...

    Since Jan 2007 • 153 posts Report Reply

  • Lyndon Hood,

    Their press release came with a letterhead that matched the top bit of that poster. I have to say it triggered my nationalism alarm.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Meanwhile, Julia Gillard confirms that she's going to ignore her own party membership on same-sex marriage.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    You're going to have to imagine me seething with incoherent rage. Well, John and Phil, you've said "fuck you" to my family. Right back at you, bitches - I now have an open diary for the last Saturday in November because I'm not inclined to roll over the contract of either of these clowns.

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

  • Stephen Judd,

    Speaking as an avowed Labour supporter, this makes me very unhappy.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • James Butler, in reply to Stephen Judd,

    You’re going to have to imagine me seething with incoherent rage.

    Rage, I can imagine. Incoherent – I doubt it very much :-)

    ETA: Reply fail, meant for Craig. 100% certain I didn't press the wrong "Reply" button.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2009 • 856 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Stephen Judd,

    As an avowed Labour non-supporter who just might have considered a one stand with the enemy if the CGT wasn't utterly fuck-witted? Well, Phil, you picked a lousy time to turrn me off. :)

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

  • Sacha, in reply to James Butler,

    100% certain I didn't press the wrong "Reply" button.

    Calling the cactus-elves..

    (hey, when did that attachment button appear?)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • James Butler,

    It is obvious that neither of these men would be attending if they did not think there was something to be gained in their presence; either an opportunity to explain themselves to a hostile audience and dull criticism, or the opportunity to bolster support.

    In an ideal world you might hope they were there to bolster their support amongst those of their supporters with brains, by standing up in front of these dickheads and refusing to pander to their neanderthal prejudices (IOW what Metiria Turei said she would have done if invited to speak to Destiny - and I believe her, which is why it was never going to happen).

    Not holding my breath.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2009 • 856 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Sacha,

    (hey, when did that attachment button appear?)

    Don't know!

    You can keep it if you promise to use it wisely :-)

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • recordari, in reply to Sacha,

    (hey, when did that attachment button appear?)

    The notion is somewhat scary. As an 'evidence based' blog, I hope you have a lot of disk space free.

    Well, Phil, you picked a lousy time to turrn me off. :)

    I have the feeling that Winston Peters and the Greens will do very well out of this, if they just keep their mouth's shut.

    Personally, the Greens are looking rosier then I would ever have expected. What's the deal with this 'Pure Advantage' group?

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Gareth Ward,

    Is it too much to hope that one of them will use it as an opportunity to lambast their intolerance, hate and hijacking of the "family"?

    Actually, don't answer, my day is going OK so far...

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report Reply

  • Gareth Ward, in reply to recordari,

    What's the deal with this 'Pure Advantage' group?

    Tindall, Fyfe, Jeremy Moon et al have been talking about this for a while - I believe this is just a formal crystallisation of the group.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report Reply

  • recordari, in reply to James Butler,

    ETA: Reply fail, meant for Craig. 100% certain I didn't press the wrong "Reply" button.

    I've been here so many times I've lost count. IME it is human error, but you can quote from one post, and accidentally hit reply on another, and it credits to whomever the Reply button was under.

    If I could be so bold, could I suggest two possible fixes?
    1) Make the Reply function part of the 'Edit' feature, so it can be changed if wrong.
    2) If you 'quote' text from one post, but reply from another, have an error message pop up 'Quote and Reply do not match' or something.

    Sheepishly hoping this is more helpful than mansplainful.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to recordari,

    IME it is human error

    No. Only started appearing at a certain time, is always out by exactly one post, and I'd therefore bet on a buggy CMS update. Probably one line of code.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • recordari, in reply to Gareth Ward,

    Tindall, Fyfe, Jeremy Moon et al have been talking about this for a while - I believe this is just a formal crystallisation of the group.

    Umm, yes I saw the news report. I was wondering if they have any political connections or lobbying power. Would seem a good fit for the Greens, but not sure the big business backers would suit them.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Russell Brown,

    if you promise to use it wisely

    We all know where that leads..

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Lyndon Hood,

    I haven't found a canocical list, but I'll mention that, in general terms, the presence of party leaders at these things is not new.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Sacha,

    No. Only started appearing at a certain time, is always out by exactly one post, and I’d therefore bet on a buggy CMS update. Probably one line of code.

    The only time it’s happened to me was when I did actually click the wrong button.

    But ... there was an upgrade overnight that's broken a few things -- including all our audio!

    That's being restored now.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    On the one hand, being down on this sort of thing - or last month's brown version of same - is a bit of a worry, being only a step away from having an approved list, really, isn't it?

    On the other hand, 'tis yet another reminder that Goff doesn't really represent my values.

    [Nice job, George.]

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    I should say a few things.

    Firstly, Craig Young has written a series of useful An unhelpful column about cannabis on the subject. It would be remiss not to mention these.

    Secondly, Parents Inc, the religious parenting organisation headed by Ian Grant was recently handed a $2.4 million contract by the Government, without the least bit of due process or scrutiny. Many questions remain unanswered. (But I’ve been able to answer any of them, so I left this out – I like to point to what I know, rather than join incoherent dots). We can infer that there are a strong confluence of views between the organisation and the Government, but I don’t want to go beyond that.

    And thirdly, I don’t begrudge the PM or Leader of the opposition meeting with their constituents. Everybody has the right to participate in politics, no matter how disturbing we find their ideas. Unfortunately, Russel Norman seemed unable to make this distinction. I hate the Exclusive Brethren with an absolute vengeance – my own grandfather was blocked from entering his brother’s funeral, but I do not think this disqualifies their right to act politically. The same goes for Family First and the Australian Christian Lobby. What is a problem is hiding that contact, and leveraging one group while pretending your views and positions are different.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Young,

    In Phil's case,I imagine it's called 'Know Your Enemy'. Most of these fundie wingnuts are hardcore anti-Labour types and the parliamentary party is more socially liberal than ever. And as for Spinning Johnny, he'll probably grin nicely and point out that while he's not prepared to play ball over abortion and homosexuality, there's still the issue of New Right welfare privatisation and outsourcing that might pay dividends for the Christian Right- hence the presence of ACT's New Right anti-welfare spokesperson Lindsay Mitchell.

    Family lobby, my arse. What about real issues of real concern to real New Zealand families, like unemployment, substandard housing, homelessness, rising food costs, adolescent suicide and self-harm? Apart from Dr Makary's call for alcohol access restrictions, I don't see any mainstream family issues seriously discussed at this so-called Forum for (Very Few) "Families".

    Ho hum. All the better. If Key does cuddle up to the fundies, it'll annoy mainstream urban liberal voters.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 573 posts Report Reply

  • Gareth Ward, in reply to recordari,

    Umm, yes I saw the news report. I was wondering if they have any political connections or lobbying power.

    Outside of who they are? They are not funded by nor aligned with any political party (they state that fact quite clearly) and it looks like they're just putting an organisation around their ideas to lobby Govt as well as business and be a hub for discussion - another KEA, NZ Institute etc type deal by the looks of it.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    Ooh, we have a Twitter button? Shiny new toys!

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    Last month, safe sex advertisements featuring two men hugging affectionately while discreetly holding a condom were removed from Brisbane bus-shelters. It was revealed that a director of the ACL,Wendy Francis, was responsible for organising the form letters which had caused the advertisements to be removed in the first place. Condemnation of the removal was swift, and the backlash against her interference came from across the spectrum.

    Talk about anti-PC gone mad. We need more of these kinds of adverts just so the self-appointed anti-PC crowd hoist themselves on their own petard.

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

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