Hard News: Mint Chicks win everything
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Russel - I think you have a missing '<' on the link for the open source awards ....
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With every additional intrusion, the police are raising the stakes for themselves. It seems clear that they have a great deal of evidence in hand, but some of their actions this week either that they're getting a bit desperate to find some key additional evidence, or that police command has overcooked this week's operation to a damaging extent.
Chris Trotter expresses confidence in Howard Borad's judgement in his column this morning.
It's an interesting piece (though probably I'm only saying that because it's consistent with something I wrote myself back on Tuesday).
Ours is a nation so small and politically intimate that its leaders can walk freely among their fellow citizens without fear of physical attack or assassination. We enjoy a political environment in which citizens' rights are so zealously guarded that full democratic participation in national affairs is straightforward, simple and effective.
Which is why all those who declare that the resort to armed force has become inevitable are first obliged to demonstrate that all other peaceful and democratic options have been foreclosed.
This is an incredibly high stakes game, and I don't think there will be any winners out of it.
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I rather suspect that Labour is actually pretty much hating this.
Ten weeks away from an election year in which Labour is facing a brutal contest with the Maori Party for one of their core demographics and the police decide to dress up as commandos and play solider in one of the heartlands of Maoridom? I think you might be right.
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Chris Trotter expresses confidence in Howard Borad's judgement in his column this morning.
Broad has been very careful in public not to over-egg things; its the leaks to the media which are doing that.
Meanwhile, it seems the SIS are involved - they briefed John Key (and presumably other members of the Security Intelligence Committee) last week.
My estimation of the "evidence" the police might present to support terrorism charges just went through the floor. Quite apart from their institutional prejudices, these people regard Google as a useful intelligence tool...
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I too agree with most of Chris's column (well except for the bit about '81, I too was being chased around Dunedin by the police and I don't remember the cops being all that nice about it - Chris was probably more plugged in at that time though than I was ...) - really I think the secrecy around the whole thing has become very corrosive and in the interests of national sanity the police need to show their hand - if they're right it wont matter, if they're wrong people can point out why - they're going to have to tell the people they have arrested anyway before they go to trial
The SIS thing was an interesting slip on Key's part one that someone's going to have to explain sometime today
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the excellent Johnny Devlin tribute by Jonny Toogood and the New Devils (which was, incidentally, the first chance Jon Toogood and Shayne Carter have had to share a stage)
I love how these events bring musicians together who might not ordinarily have reason to collaborate. Someone must put this on YouTube!
I'm really pleased the Mint Chicks won what they did. I <3 their Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No! album ). It has a strong pop base to it, but with quirky and punky flourishes around the edges. More people need to listen to it, and often.
Plus, Ruben Mint Chicks is sooo dreamy.
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From that stuff article (Dom Post):
When police returned, there was just a scrawl across the page with no name, he said.
I'm betting even odds that the scrawl was a copper in the back of the car, and then a 15 minute wait around the corner to make it look like they'd seen a judge.
And forgetting to put the name on it (the copper or the judge). I dunno if it's legal, but it's embarrassing.
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So what, one of the guys asks, would you be doing today if you weren't here talking to us? Well," says the officer. "I do have two murders to investigate," and he turns and leaves the room.
I would say that's a fabulous punchline, but I'm still looking for the joke...
Broad has been very careful in public not to over-egg things; its the leaks to the media which are doing that.
Well, I never thought I'd write this I/S but I'm a little less inclined to be generous to Broad. Is it beyond his capabilities to put out a STFU memo, because I don't think I'm the only person who think the leaks - regardless of the source - could come back to bite the Police, and Broad in particular, in the arse. HARD. As the Prime Minister used to like to say, the best strategy is to under-promise and over-deliver.
If nothing else, I think Clark and Key have proved the value of saying 'no comment' and meaning it. Which is a nice segue to...
And I expect I'm not the only one wishing Ron Mark and Pita Sharples would both STFU and stop politicking until there are a few more facts to discuss.
Preaching to the choir, baby. The really depressing thing about their respective performances is that I know they're actually capable of better. The more paranoid elements of the loony left and the rabid right that have come out to play this week, not so much.
I probably don't have the highest opinion of Maharey among PA readers - but he's the first resignation announced recently I'd consider any kind of loss to Parliament.
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It's a good column by Trotter. But we're still in an information vacuum. Key's quite right in what he says - reserving judgement will lead to the highest chances of being right in what you say.
But we're still gonna discuss a lot of hypothetical issues. Violent protest, taking arms against the state, when they are justified, what levels of police action are appropriate, etc, these things can be discussed and will be.
I'm still thinking the fizzout is a strong chance, that Terror laws will not end up being used, and the biggest upshot will be some minor criminal charges relating to firearms and drugs. I think this because even in countries where terrorism does actually happen, it's notoriously difficult to actually bust anyone for terrorist acts which have not actually been committed yet. There is always the question of whether it's just tough talk, and that the accused might have actually changed their mind right up until the last moment.
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I probably don't have the highest opinion of Maharey among PA readers
You probably don't have the lowest either. And don't let me get on the subject of Mallard.
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I probably don't have the highest opinion of Maharey among PA readers - but he's the first resignation announced recently I'd consider any kind of loss to Parliament.
Yeah. And it means its Goff after Helen. So much for any hope I'll be voting Labour anytime soon.
It also means the PN electorate might just be in play. It's very red, but Simon Power (whose home in Milson is now within the new electorate boundary IIRC) might have a chance against a new candidate.
As for who that candidate is, I'm wondering whether our recently unemployed mayor, Heather Tanguay, will give it a go...
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You probably don't have the lowest either. And don't let me get on the subject of Mallard.
I won't Andrew, because then I'll start, and Russell is going to end up forcing me to drink one of those puke-flavoured alco-pop whatsits. :)
It also means the PN electorate might just be in play. It's very red, but Simon Power (whose home in Milson is now within the new electorate boundary IIRC) might have a chance against a new candidate.
That would be interesting, but I suspect two things: 1) If I was a campaign strategist, I don't know whether I'd want Simon too tied down in what would be a pretty tough race. AFAIK, the only way Rangitikei's coming back into play is if Power rapes a kitten on Shortland Street and/or Labour selects Jesus.
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Maharey is going to be Vice-Chancellor of Massey University.
Well, he's got to be better than the current one...
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I'm betting even odds that the scrawl was a copper in the back of the car, and then a 15 minute wait around the corner to make it look like they'd seen a judge.
And forgetting to put the name on it (the copper or the judge). I dunno if it's legal, but it's embarrassing.
Paging Mr Edgeler!
What are the legal consequences of a police search with an invalid warrant? Would that be a cause of action for the owners or tenants of the property?
And what can you do if you think a warrant is dodgy?
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From Stuff today:
"Police Association president Greg O'Connor said much of the criticism of police has been outrageous and unbalanced and is coming from entirely predictable quarters, such as politicians seeking airtime and those subjected to the searches."
Gosh yes, who would listen to complaints from people subjected to searches? How could they have anything relevant to say about police conduct?
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Maharey is going to be Vice-Chancellor of Massey University.
Well, he's got to be better than the current one...
Yes... well... that's very close to the bone for me.
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FFS, I have a certain degree of respect for Greg O'Connor but let's be perfectly clear about what the Police Association is - it's a trade union. O'Connor is a union boss/spokesman, and it's job to advocate for the interests of his members.
Nothing wrong with that, but all too often I wish he'd choose to do so without sounding like... well, an unmedicated blog comment.
Sorry to write Greg a reality check, but if he wants to get up in my grill and say I'm 'anti-cop' or 'pro-crim'... hold my gold, girlfriend, because this bitch slaps back. Here's a theory: Could it be possible that the NZPF enjoys extraordinary levels of public respect because it is open to criticism and scrutiny, not in spite of it?
And here's another radical notion: Respect is earned, not a matter of divine right. I don't like being subject to criticism - especially when I think it's ill-founded or malicious. But who does? Last time I looked, the Police are civil servants - and nobody who works for me is beyond criticism.
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O'Connor is a union boss/spokesman, and it's job to advocate for the interests of his members.
Which apparently include unlimited authority, reduced oversight, no qestions asked, and the right to shoot anyone they damn well please.
No thanks.
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Can someone offer Cullen a job, please?
I fear Labour's chances of re-election while he remains in control of the purse-strings are slim.
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Can I just be an obsequious toad and say, I love it when you get your gay on Craig. I am also looking forward to saying "get up in my grill" the next time the opportunity presents itself.
"Police Association president Greg O'Connor said much of the criticism of police has been outrageous and unbalanced and is coming from entirely predictable quarters, such as politicians seeking airtime and those subjected to the searches."
Also read that this morning and thought WTF.
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It struck me today, hearing what people who got caught up in searches had to say, that the thing that really freaked people out was the cops were armed. I have to say when I first went to Ozzie and had my first dealings with cops there, the fact they were toting a pistol on their hip did frighten me a great deal. We're not used to it here.
I kind of agree with Craig when he says the NZPF enjoys extraordinary levels of public respect because it is open to criticism and scrutiny, not in spite of it but I also think that the police are more respected than feared here, and guns can reverse that quite easily.
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I love it when you get your gay on Craig
Me too, especially 'hold the gold, girlfriend, cause this bitch slaps back'. It's a beautiful image. I'm ashamed to say I usually just get annoyed by gay-talk, but when it's witty it's a different matter.
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I was rather disapointed withTrotter's article. However it is clear from that, and from what Russell has written, that there is word on the street I've not heard yet.
If anyone fancies dropping me a quick mail with the goss I'd be grateful.
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Can all politicians please revert back to their usual not commenting on matters that are in front of the court? Thank you.
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