Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: And The Mission Is?

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  • Lucy Stewart,

    Well, I'm sure there's any number of explanations.... but the one that keeps jumping to mind is that they are discussing publicly actual policies that were supposed to be secret because the leaders know they wont be that popular with the voters?

    Stuff tells me that Shane Arden "had no idea what was really in the policy" because only Key and English are privy to it.

    So, hey, it's not that the party as a whole has secret policies - it's just that the leadership doesn't trust the backbenchers enough to tell them what those policies are!

    Seriously, is that not bizarre?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report

  • John Morrison,

    Stuff tells me that Shane Arden "had no idea what was really in the policy" because only Key and English are privy to it.

    So, hey, it's not that the party as a whole has secret policies - it's just that the leadership doesn't trust the backbenchers enough to tell them what those policies are!

    Seriously, is that not bizarre?

    Yep, and only 3 months out from an election! Obviously, there will have to be a steep learning curve for all the candidates once these policies are released 1 month out. That's of course, they do not already know which brings into focus FletcherB's suspicions.

    Cromwell • Since Nov 2006 • 85 posts Report

  • Mikaere Curtis,

    Well, I'm sure there's any number of explanations.... but the one that keeps jumping to mind is that they are discussing publicly actual policies that were supposed to be secret because the leaders know they wont be that popular with the voters?

    I think it's possible that some of their policies are sensitive (i.e. unpalatable) so they are keeping them secret until the noise of the election campaign is loud enough to drown them out, but it strikes me that there could be another explanation: that they actually don't have many policies due to internal disagreement.

    Remember, English and Key were leaders of the two strongest factions in National hence the deal struck whereby English became 2IC. It is also possible that these two factions are actually in strong disagreement on key policies and this has resulted in a policy vacuum.

    I think I prefer this theory, if only because it leaves room for National to come up with policy that I'll personally find more acceptable. Who knows, maybe if they can't agree then they'll default to the status quo...

    Tamaki Makaurau • Since Nov 2006 • 528 posts Report

  • davidamstalden,

    Vote National: It's a Lucky Dip!

    Yay!

    New Plymouth • Since Mar 2008 • 45 posts Report

  • Stephen Judd,

    To be fair they have classed it "entertainment" and not "documentary/factual". Which probably means that even the producers know it's a pile of horse-hockey.

    I'm not buying that.

    I do have a bee in my bonnet about Sensing Murder. The producers talk out of both sides of their mouths. On the one hand they disclaim all responsibility and class their show as entertainment - on the other hand they promote in documentary style and act victimised when the credibility of their "psychics" is impugned. There's no parallel with the harmless Forgotten Silver which was proudly revealed as a hoax after it screened.

    The show actively promotes and spreads ignorance. To the extent that vulnerable people are emotionally hurt or persuaded to give money to frauds, it's damaging to the public well-being. I cannot think of a more outrageous use of public money as far as recent broadcast shows go. None of the other lowbrow crap actually leaves a chunk of its viewers more deluded than when they started watching.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Stephen Judd,

    And a PS - I don't go for the handwringing over Flight of the Conchords missing out. The inevitable caning handed out for our local TV failures must make any funder of local TV extremely wary and virtually guarantees the play-it-safe low-brow mundanity of most local shows that are publicly funded.

    But there has to be something wrong when Sensing Murder gets a million bucks and FoC got nothing.

    (Actually I would love to see an FoC-hosted psychic takedown. I bet it would be hilarious.)

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    But there has to be something wrong when Sensing Murder gets a million bucks and FoC got nothing.

    I think alot of the crap we get subjected to (if we are stupid enough to watch) stems from production companies slinging a few ideas around at the pub at lunchtime(seen it) then after a few pints like each others stupid ideas or can't think of any but one more drink should help then decide TV buys all this crap anyway so then it's an easy sell because they already have a demograph and then agencies make copies of this crap and badly and we get to watch them instead of FoC because then they would need another lunch and more ideas they couldn't find last time...and...

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

  • Cecelia,

    None of the other lowbrow crap actually leaves a chunk of its viewers more deluded than when they started watching.

    I couldn't agree more. Someone at work - a well educated person - was talking about how convincing it was last time it was on. She didn't seem to think that TV ONE would knowingly perpetuate a lie and a fraud. But they do and I think we ought to have the equivalent of a truckies strike until One stops this dumbing down (and provides more Coro catch-ups).

    Hibiscus Coast • Since Apr 2008 • 559 posts Report

  • Rob Stowell,

    I cannot think of a more outrageous use of public money as far as recent broadcast shows go

    Totally agree.

    (Actually I would love to see an FoC-hosted psychic takedown. I bet it would be hilarious.)

    Moon TV had a pretty good go. Funded by NZ on Air, too...

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    OK, folks let's get down to brass tacks. Imagine I'm the Prime Minister, and we're in the Cabinet Room working up the first Budget of the Ranapia Administration. Jonathan Coleman, Minister of Broadcasting, put up his hand.

    BROADCASTING: I've done a briefing paper on why a $50 million dollar increase in charter funding for NZOA would be a damn good idea, along with a 15% increase in funding for Radio NZ earmarked for local content provision.

    EDUCATION: Actually, 50 million would go a very long way to making sure no more schools have toilets that back up every time it rains...

    HEALTH: And I've still to trip over a DHB chair, or health sector interest group, that will say they're under-funded. Unless you get them really, really stoned first.

    POLICE: Unless that bill goes through allowing us to shanghai Police recruits off the street...

    ME: Jonathan, I'm going to have to get back to you.

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

  • Peter Ashby,

    All tv on p2p will never fly as conceived. The ISPs will disconnect anyone trying it. The ISPs were/are crying foul over the huge spike in traffic after the BBC iPlayer went live. All except VirginMedia the Cable Co (who we are with). We can get iPlayer on the telly via the digibox and the red button. In addition to VM's CatchUpTV service for much of the rest of digital TV and the Beeb.

    Cooking steak etc when the latest Dr Who starts? No problem. Watch it again at your leisure. As we did on Sat (the steak was wonderful, aged beef, pink inside done with a blue cheese cream sauce and LOTS of onions, red and white, and mash).

    Dundee, Scotland • Since May 2007 • 425 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Feh, don't you love it when you step on your own joke?

    That should read:

    HEALTH: And I've still to trip over a DHB chair, or health sector interest group, that won't say they're under-funded. Unless you get them really, really stoned first.

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

  • Paul Campbell,

    Are you sure that the real reason why no one in National knows what the policies are isn't simply that Crosby and Textor haven't got back and told them what they'll be yet?

    (I'm actually vaguely serious here - they probably haven't figured out what will fly and what they need to give away from the party line to get elected)

    I'll now retire back to my Rarotongan beach and let you argue ....

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Are you sure that the real reason why no one in National knows what the policies are isn't simply that Crosby and Textor haven't got back and told them what they'll be yet?

    Gee, Paul, perhaps Crosby/Textor are otherwise engaged deploying the jaws of life to remove Clark's foot from her mouth - again.

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

  • Shep Cheyenne,

    "along with a 15% increase in funding for Radio NZ earmarked for local content provision."

    Local is a problematic term for RNZ. They are such Anglophiles, in makeup and content, I'ld fully expect 1/2 that to go to a Welsh language programme.

    Since Oct 2007 • 927 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Gee, Paul, perhaps Crosby/Textor are otherwise engaged deploying the jaws of life to remove Clark's foot from her mouth - again.

    Yeah, seriously Craig. I thought the Key/railway shares was at best a 50/50 split for Labour in terms of points scored. She looked silly on TV last night with this 'Key on holiday' stuff. My lefty girlfriend and I were both telling her to shut up and give the media some real news to talk about.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • Paul Campbell,

    (pops head up off of beach to check work email) I was more thinking that what might be going on is that Key/English may be making policy with CT and the back benchers are not only feeling out of the loop and that their principles are going to be compromised when they think they have a shoo in but also that if they start talking about stuff publically the powers that be will have to accept them as gospel (but that obviously isn't working)

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes,

    I'm a heterosexal atheist Communist. :)

    Outed at last ;-)

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes,

    So, the denial of a secret agenda by members of national was because only Key, English and CT. know about it?
    Where are those psychics when you need them?
    I constantly worry about the collective intelligence of the "majority" There is a saying that goes "you are what you eat" and with the constant diet of shit that the major broadcasters and indeed the general media, dish up for our consumption I have little doubt that National have a good chance winning the next election lottery. If the average voter is to choose between good well thought out social and economic policy, or a stream of consciousness type of sound-bite drivel about how National will be "better" they will choose the latter. Wake up Sheeple, don't you know that National is going to look after their own, ie. big business, and roll back most if not all the good social policy that Labour has delivered over the past nine years?
    Sure, no-one's perfect but better the devil you know than letting a bunch of slippery greed-mongers take the purse strings.
    The mantra of the average National supporter is "let us keep more of what we have earned and let us spend it how we wish" yeah right. I can see it now. Privately funded organisations to look after the poor and the sick. People selling their Bentleys to help a homeless family get a roof over their heads or going without that yacht to put some strangers bright kid through university.
    My father used to say that people that have an "I'm alright Jack, fuck the rest of you" mindset are the worst kind of people and he voted Conservative fer Christs sake.
    Greed is NOT good. Choice is good but it is also a privilege that comes after the necessities are sorted out, when every child is educated, the poorest members of our society are not hamstrung by their poverty and the sick can be cared for without having to sell their home, when Busses are free to roam our streets with impunity and policemen hand out lollipops and ermm. Well, I'm sure you get my drift.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

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