Posts by Idiot Savant

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  • THIS JUST IN,

    Howard Broad: "Now is not the time to issue a general apology"

    Lovely. So they smear people as terorists on insufficient evidence, then refuse to apologise in any way for it. And they wonder why people have a low opinion of the police.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report

  • THIS JUST IN,

    Cullen backs the police. So much for accountability.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report

  • THIS JUST IN,

    Well, they can't have one until Tuesday - the Standing Orders would not permit it. I suppose they can use the third reading of the Terrorism Suppression Amendment Bill. Winston certainly is.

    I just figured that out. Maybe they'll get one on Tuesday.

    I'm now waiting for National to follow up on its threat last week that the police will be held accountable as they've got this wrong.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report

  • THIS JUST IN,

    I assume they can still choose to add other charges?

    Only if they have sufficient evidence. And most of their "evidence" will now be entirely inadmissible.

    By pursuing 'terrorism", the police seem to have forfeited any chance of prosecuting for conspiracy to murder. So, even if their fears were real (rather than the paranoia of an insular, judgemental police culture), by viewing it as "terrorism" rather than as ordinary crime, and going all gung-ho and ninja-suit, they've blown it.

    As I said, I want heads. On pikes. It's a fiasco whichever way you look at it.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report

  • THIS JUST IN,

    Parliament has just started debating the Terrorism Suppression Amendment Bill. Winston Peters says that its "a day for recanting"... but not from his side.

    I'd say the concerns of those opposing prosecution were realised: the police simply didn't have a case.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report

  • THIS JUST IN,

    So there you have it. The Police did no wrong, the fault lies with the current Terrorsim legislation. Gee, if only our Politicians would give the Authorities the tools they need to do the job that needs to be done ... hmmm, what a shame there's no new legislation pending ...

    Though to be fair, that legislation wouldn't have made it easier to prosecute an undesignated group. The "problem" is that the law was aimed primarily at designated, foreign groups, and was never intended to be used domestically.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report

  • THIS JUST IN,

    Meanwhile, two parties (the Greens and Maori party?) have reportedly requested an urgent debate on the matter.

    Maybe after the debate on the Appropriations bill is done...

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report

  • Hard News: The Demon E-Word,

    No terrorism charges - they apparently couldn't be supported by the evidence.

    I want heads on pikes.

    Meanwhile, given that some of those bailed had no admissible evidence on the arms act charges, I wonder if those charges will be withdrawn.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report

  • Southerly: The Truth About Babies,

    Its an unappreciated fact of nature that traumatic amnesia is almost solely responsible for the ability of the human race to keep the birth rate above the death rate...

    Though with the internet breaking it down, allowing information to percolate and last forever, that won't last forever.

    I think those Waikato demographers are going to be facing a few more problems now...

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report

  • Hard News: Dopamine psychosis and other…,

    What percentage of the NZ population gamble at all frequently? I don't believe that myself and most of my friends are part of some freak statistical outlier that hardly ever gamble? So what makes us different - it isn't randomness - I think it just comes back to the self-respect thing.

    Or being able to do maths. Apparently, most people can't.

    The thing to understand about gambling is that the house always wins. always. And even if you win, the money is just coming from some other poor sod who threw their life savings into the hole. It's a tax on stupidity, a tax on hope, and a tax on desperation. And any decent person would want nothing to do with that sort of caluclated exploitation and evil.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report

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