Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: A week being a long time in politics

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  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Terry Baucher,

    The saga has reached the Guardian’s Media site

    Now we have The International Federation of Journalists condemning the Police.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Young,

    In defence of David Farrar...I asked him about Curia's clients, given that Family First's Value Your Vote leadership poll gave Winston and Colin Craig top marks for social conservative ideological purity, compared to Key. He stated that there is a seperation of expertise and owner political orientation at Curia, and I have no reason to disbelieve him.

    Craig Y

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 573 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Young,

    NB: Namesake, surely you meant Jar Jar Banks in that mangled Star Wars citation earlier? The resemblance is certainly striking. They're both vacuous, not very smart creatures fond of gobbledegook with pasts in questionable media products...?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 573 posts Report Reply

  • Andrew E,

    I was just phoned by Reid Research Services who wouldn't disclose their client, but said that the results would be broadcast on TV3.

    Their question with regard to meeting at the cafe was:

    'Do you agree or disagree that the cameraman should have left his digital recorder on the table?'

    When I suggested that from what I had read he didn't have a choice in the matter, the response was of course that this did not fit with their question. So I said that I agreed he should have left his recorder on the table: it's what any journalist would do at a publicly held press event. Frankly the whole thing is farcical: how can anyone pretend to go 'off the record' or into private session in the middle of a press event they've arranged? It's risible, and that alone shows what arrogant clowns Key and Banks are. I get angrier every time I think about it.

    Lots of other questions about whether I thought Key or Goff had good leadership/sound judgement/understood the needs of Maori/would be good in a crisis etc, plus a daft question about who, out of anyone, I would vote for as prime minister, which is not what the electoral system enables you to do.

    They were clearly also looking for shifts in voting behaviour, by asking me what I had voted at the last election, as well as what I intended to vote at this one. They weren't interested in whether I would be splitting my vote, and were only interested in my party vote.

    Also a very general question about did I trust anything Winston said. I asked if this referred to any particular statement by Winston (such as 'the sun will rise in the east tomorrow') or in general, and was told it was a general question about trusting anything coming out of his mouth.

    174.77 x 41.28 • Since Sep 2008 • 200 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Andrew E,

    I get angrier every time I think about it.

    I'm learning to manage it.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Andrew E,

    I was just phoned by Reid Research Services who wouldn’t disclose their client

    And that's how I flick off pollsters when I'm feeling like being polite. "OK, if you can't tell me who your client is that's fine. I like to know who I'm giving personal information to. Have a nice evening."

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

  • martinb, in reply to JacksonP,

    Amen! we need satire. Repatriate John Clarke! Kidnap if necessary.

    Auckland • Since Jul 2010 • 206 posts Report Reply

  • martinb,

    Picking the media to make up with John Key after their first spat. Sadly.

    Wasn't anyone who opposed TINA in the 90s (especially on student radio!!) a complete (insert term of presumed abuse here)?

    anyway it was a relief to find some news that seemed to say things a tad closer to what I thinking at the time and realise it might not be me who was mad.

    Auckland • Since Jul 2010 • 206 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I’d like to formally retract my call for a greater focus on policy. It's not entirely fair to expect the media to take policies more serious than leaders who can’t get basic details right without a crib sheet.

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

  • Ian MacKay, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    Tut tut Craig. You do realise that Mr Key does not need to refer to a crib sheet only because he does not front up for serious interviews and therefore has no questions to answer. How could anyone challenge Mr Key's claim for example, that he/they have added 2,000 nurses to the workforce. He says it then runs.
    Phil Goff does at least front.

    Bleheim • Since Nov 2006 • 498 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Parks, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    I’d note Andrew Geddis (that nototious Tory lick-spittle) is not assuming Bradley Ambrose will get the declaratory judgement that he wants – and which, I think it’s fair to say, many here assume is a no-brainer.

    I don’t think that many would say it’s a legal no-brainer. Most reasonable people, regardless of left or right leaning politics, seem to accept that the legal position is uncertain.

    I suspect many here agree with me that ethically the situation is not really comparable to the NotW-style phone hacking. Not anywhere near.

    During a political stunt in a public place with invited media around, their conversation got recorded, inadvertently or not. That conversation was between two high-profile politicians talking about politics, not about their personal lives. What they discussed is relevant to the New Zealand public and could change how some people vote. All things considered, it would be unethical not to release the tape.

    Wellington • Since May 2007 • 1165 posts Report Reply

  • Caleb D'Anvers,

    I find National's sudden interest in the issues somewhat touching, if disingenuous. It all reminds me a little of this:

    "The sky doesn't matter. It's the issues"

    London SE16 • Since Mar 2008 • 482 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Ian MacKay,

    Phil Goff does at least front.

    I'm sure there folks in Labour who'd rather he didn't without being fully briefed. And, yes, I don't disagree with your larger point that you expect politicians to *cough* present data in its most favourable light, but it would be endearing if the media did a lot more bullshit detecting. But it's not unreasonable to expect party leaders to be able to clearly articulate those assertions, right?

    I don’t think that many would say it’s a legal no-brainer. Most reasonable people, regardless of left or right leaning politics, seem to accept that the legal position is uncertain.

    Fair point well made, Mr Parks. Of course, my failwhale there was presuming the Kiwibog-Sub-Standard Acis of Hackery is full of such people. There's not a lot of evidence for that hypothesis.

    I suspect many here agree with me that ethically the situation is not really comparable to the NotW-style phone hacking. Not anywhere near.

    Wouldn't get any argument from me. As I said, there's many a ethically/legally sub-prime media monkey-shine that doesn't rise (sink?) to that level of general douchebaggery.

    All things considered, it would be unethical not to release the tape.

    I think that's where we will have to agree to disagree, but that's a difference that can be held in good faith by honest people. Don't have anything new to add to my view on that point.

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

  • Andrew R2, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    If you are concerned about unbridled power then you should be concerned about SM and FPP as these are systems that regularly deliver unbridled power.

    Russell • Since May 2011 • 7 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Andrew R2,

    If you are concerned about unbridled power then you should be concerned about SM and FPP

    I'm concerned aboot NACT! That simple at this point. :)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    In today’s Herald …

    A stern, well-referenced editorial:

    There is no question that, as framed so far, the police inquiry is a fishing expedition to establish if there is anything that might help them understand just what the Prime Minister alleges was breaking the law. Such fishing expeditions are regularly decried by the courts and defenders of the public’s rights.

    And a complete mess of an opinion column from Paul Holmes:

    If John Banks had met John Key in the latter’s ninth-floor office and it was known a tape recording had been made of the meeting no one would be demanding the tape be released. It is absurd.

    No, Paul, it’s your argument that’s absurd. If the conversation took place behind closed doors in the Prime Minister’s office, rather than in public at a media event in a cafe full of people, where the two men had invited 40 journalists and camera people, yes, that would be different. What’s your fucking point?

    There is no suggestion that they were in any way conspiring to commit a crime.

    No, there isn’t. No one has suggested that. Again, what is your fucking point?

    Oh well. At least this thing is sorting out the journalists from the celebrities.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell,

    Thanks for giving us a precis of the Holmes ‘mind’. No way I’m going to ruin a good coffee by reading him, though. Those snippets alone are in danger of souring the milk.

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • merc, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Oh well. At least this thing is sorting out the journalists from the celebrities.

    Amen

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Rob Stowell,

    Thanks for giving us a precis of the Holmes ‘mind’. No way I’m going to ruin a good coffee by reading him, though. Those snippets alone are in danger of souring the milk.

    I'm actually wondering how many weeks in a row he'll be allowed to use his paid Herald column to plug his fucking book. Seriously:

    I continue to get wonderful mail about my book, Daughters of Erebus. These are letters from intelligent, professional people, people who for years have known that there was injustice after the Erebus crash and that justice continues to be denied to the pilots of Flight 901.

    They are writing to thank me for making the effort. And it was an effort, one hell of an effort but I never for one minute thought it was not an effort worth making. Someone had to do it.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Rob Stowell,

    No way I’m going to ruin a good coffee by reading him

    Yes, it ruined my coffee. I even took to commenting when the plug for his book made me want to bring up said coffee. Sanctimonious or what?

    Oh! snap RB

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Terry Baucher,

    <i>Sanctimonious or what?</i>

    There's a lot of it about. Seems to be very prevalent amongst celebrity columnists and National campaign managers

    Devonport • Since Nov 2008 • 91 posts Report Reply

  • webweaver, in reply to Caleb D'Anvers,

    "The sky doesn't matter. It's the issues"

    Completely brilliant - I've never heard that version before. Thanks for sharing! Still giggling at it.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 332 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Oh well. At least this thing is sorting out the journalists from the celebrities.

    Indeed. It goes to show how far said 'celebrities' will go to maintain the façade. And just like a vampire, they'll behave very strangely when forcibly exposed to sunlight.

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

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Alimentary my dear...

    I continue to get wonderful mail about
    my book, Daughters of Erebus.

    Why, just the other day I overheard some people in
    a cafe talking about it, but I couldn't possibly share their
    thoughts and words as they were obviously unaware
    I was able to hear them... otherwise why would they
    be saying what an effort it was to read, and eff it, they
    couldn't be bothered finishing it, and they weren't
    talking about their tea...

    ...which makes me think about 'that' cupper tea
    is it merely a coincidence that cupper breaks down
    to: Cu = Copper, pp = Softly Softly, ER = the Crown
    and tea is, well, Colonial baggage from way back...
    Seems to me this whole affair from first sip to
    fishing trip has been an old fashioned orchestrated
    and subtly nuanced smoko screen...

    I note the cafe staff have not been questioned
    as to what they might have heard and shared,
    and I would expect them keep their tipsters
    and protect their saucers...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I'm actually wondering how many weeks in a row he'll be allowed to use his paid Herald column to plug his fucking book. Seriously:

    It looked even more fatuous (yes, that is possible kids) after reading a useful piece by Mai Chen.which was short on posturing and long on useful information.

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

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