Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Moving right along?

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  • nzlemming, in reply to Rob Stowell,

    It does seem a tad curious that while most of Bevan Chuang’s account seems to be accepted by commenters here, her belief that the mayor was offered and accepted free hotel rooms is not.

    I don't uncritically accept as fact anything that Bevan Chuang is reported to have said, beyond the fact of a relationship with Brown and only because he verified it. The conduits used to pass the information taint it, IMHO, especially as the earlier information released had no mention of Wewege, Palino or any of the other items that have been drip fed into the public arena that don't prove embarrassing to Brown.

    It would not surprise me to find that the first affidavit was completely bogus, written by someone other than Chuang, and that she had been pressured into signing it. Everyone is scrambling so hard to spin their story that it's very hard to ascertain what the actual truth is.

    The point about the hotels has been dealt with.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    As for pronouncing foreign names, look at least try. But it can be very hard and most folks accept that it’s hard but if you try most folks will appreciate that.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock, in reply to Zach Levi,

    some consider wanking in the office to be reasonable

    At least he hasn't claimed he suffers from Prestadidwicks Congena.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Rich Lock,

    I'd quite like to learn Morrissey dancing - does it involve morosely flopping around with Dame Edna's leftovers?

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

  • Seamus Harris, in reply to Sacha,

    Looks like my unexpected trip has been cancelled - right after I'd got my bags packed too.

    Kohimarama? Well done.

    I'm not in Kohimarama right now though, and haven't been for some time, so better dig harder. I'm easy enough to track down.

    Auckland • Since May 2008 • 49 posts Report Reply

  • Seamus Harris, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    "I think reasonable people would hear some other downright criminal dogs being whistled for behind a cute turn of phrase like Seamus’"

    I'm not sure I follow. You are saying that I'm somehow in cahoots with a rightist clique of criminal dogs? And here was me thinking the Cultural Revolution had ended some time back. Somebody else earlier seemed to think I was some kind of '50 center'? Err no. Not that either.

    I just made a comment or two as a detached observer of this circus.

    Auckland • Since May 2008 • 49 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Seamus Harris,

    I’m not sure I follow. You are saying that I’m somehow in cahoots with a rightist clique of criminal dogs? And here was me thinking the Cultural Revolution had ended some time back.

    M'kay, Seamus. It's been fun playing Whack-A-Troll, but the next time you want to call Brown an abusive stalker why don't go you do it on your own blog where you're the only person liable?

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

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Seamus Harris,

    Seamus, much of what you have written exceeds even the lurid affidavit drawn up by Stephen Cook, which has now been disavowed in some key respects by its signatory, Bevan Chuang. Please stop.

    As I’ve noted before, it’s funny that the actual matters of potential substance – the reference, the allegedly comped hotel rooms, Chuang’s New Lynn markets contract – were unearthed not by Cook and Slater but by the dreaded MSM journalists at the Herald. Cook was just too busy asking the hard questions about Len’s Brown’s penis size.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • SteveH, in reply to Rob Stowell,

    It does seem a tad curious that while most of Bevan Chuang’s account seems to be accepted by commenters here, her belief that the mayor was offered and accepted free hotel rooms is not.

    She wasn't sure and he and the hotels deny it. I think people here are willing to accept that she was mistaken unless further evidence comes to light. Similarly, the explanations for the reference are reasonable, so no fire there either at this time. It's not even clear if they were in sexual relationship when the reference was given (Brown has implied they were not).

    (Seamus:) And yet none of that matters, because the main thing for readers of Public Address (as always) is to endlessly obsess about evil right-wing people.

    The only story right now is around how this affair came to light and the friction within the National party that it has revealed. Until the inquiry is complete or new allegations surface (and it's been a few days so that seems unlikely) there isn't much to discuss on the Brown side.

    Since Sep 2009 • 444 posts Report Reply

  • Seamus Harris, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    I'm a 'troll' now? Wow. If you say so. . .

    Where did I call Len Brown an 'abusive stalker'?

    I don't recall calling him a 'stalker', and while his treatment of Bevan appears poor, I am not sure it qualifies as 'abuse' - at least not of her. Abuse of other things (i.e. his mayoral position and his right-honorable self) is obviously another matter.

    Auckland • Since May 2008 • 49 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __, in reply to Seamus Harris,

    I don’t recall calling him a ‘stalker’, and while his treatment of Bevan appears poor, I am not sure it qualifies as ‘abuse’

    “leverage his authority to pester a junior for sex” was what you said . That’s pretty much the definition of “abusive stalker”, isn’t it?
    Since there's no evidence for what you say, you are being potentially defamatory.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Seamus Harris, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Well if people are backtracking on the affidavit then that changes things.

    I am fed up though (based on recent personal experiences) of liars who threaten 'defamation' when put on the spot. That may be what is happening here - who knows?

    Also. . .

    I am pissed off at the person who started to 'out' me online. I refer to the Kohimarama quip above, from a mysterious someone who apparently knows me. What's next? Post my photograph and place of work? Is this an attempt to intimidate? Whatever it is, it's bad form.

    Oh, but maybe my comments on Len Brown are bad form? Well tough luck to Len. Attracting flack goes with becoming a public figure, particularly one who engages in risky, self-destructive, dishonest and inappropriate behavior.

    This place is like an echo chamber most of the time, and clearly that is how the residents prefer it. Fine. Everyone can get back to agreeing with each other and worrying about rightists.

    Auckland • Since May 2008 • 49 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __,

    And can I just say, the more exaggerated and disgusting the attacks on Len Brown, the more public sympathy he gets. His opponents are not doing themselves any favours.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • SteveH, in reply to Seamus Harris,

    What’s next? Post my photograph and place of work?

    Have you googled your name lately?

    Since Sep 2009 • 444 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    This place is like an echo chamber most of the time, and clearly that is how the residents prefer it. Fine. Everyone can get back to agreeing with each other and worrying about rightists.

    Or, just to get crazy for a moment, you could call off the pity party and grasp your more OTT comments (which even Chuang herself hasn't made) raise perfectly legitimate concerns. I get you're not even going to try engaging in good faith with anyone else here, but stop playing the victim.

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

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Seamus Harris,

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • DexterX, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    Quite right, Mister Mayor. Again: Who elected The Herald to anything?

    Well, Len Brown did with the “interview article” yesterday in the Herald - I just can't believe he won't STFU.

    I would suggest the next time for Len Brown to comment is when the investigation (independent or otherwise) into the “funding and influence” – is published or another affair or behavioural misjudgement comes to light.

    I can’t stomach Brown nor Key – whose take on “matters” are the same. They are both wankers.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1224 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Seamus Harris,

    I was thinking of Palino actually when I said 'Kohimarama'. Entirely coincidental. I have no idea who you are.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to DexterX,

    Well, Len Brown did with the “interview article” yesterday in the Herald – I just can’t believe he won’t STFU.

    But he can't win this media game, can he? He refuses to do interviews, cue the pompous, self-important "outrage to democracy" bullshit from the likes of John Armstrong. He doesn't attend events the press would normally not even front to and the media narrative is "AWOL Mayor refusing to do his job."

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

  • Morgan Nichol, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    But he can’t win this media game, can he?

    Look at the turn around in the polls and then tell me he's not already winning the game. (I mean no one is really winning out of the whole thing, but some are losing it worse than others.)

    Auckland CBD • Since Nov 2006 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • Roger Lacey, in reply to Seamus Harris,

    Well Russell (or whoever is in charge here) is welcome to edit posts as they see fit.

    I'm sure Russell has better things to do with his time. Editing posts also opens him up to cries of "censorship" and "lefties can't handle the truth" from the odd troll who pokes their head up here and reports back to their followers.
    Rather than relying on others to do it before you, engaging brain before posting is encouraged.

    Whatakataka Bay Surf Club… • Since Apr 2008 • 148 posts Report Reply

  • DexterX, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    But he can't win this media game,

    Yes - it may be hard for him - but he should just turn up and do the job he was elected to do and make no further comment on matters till the report comes out or a furher truck load of shit hits the fan.

    Life will be a lot harder for his wife and kids - it is interesting how a "life event" (death of a relative, cancer, work ) reveals a person's true character.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1224 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    peer revue...

    What’s next? (I)

    That whole series of books, etc* is quite clever,
    this one looked apt for a comments section, as well...
    I did like some of the What?...How? Wonderbook covers...
    oh, and John Carpenter's Carpenters movie.

    *(NB there is a lot of NSFW graphic explorations amongst it all)


    scatological eschaton...

    What’s next? (II)

    I tawt I taw Craig upthread calling for... Good Taste...
    These must be the final days....

    ;- )

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Seamus Harris,

    the way Public Address readers seem interested in dissecting anything and everything other than the central issue

    Two parts to this for me (maybe three).

    First, a lot of folks find an extramarital affair to be a fairly mundane and ultimately personal issue rather than a subject for public outrage.

    Second, PA has always been about “the media”, that is the discussion is about the way the news is presented rather than the actual news itself. In this case the media has been a very significant part of the story and also an particularly noxious example.

    And third, we ramble all over topics here.

    So no, a lot of folks here aren’t all that interested in Mr Brown’s affair and are more interested in the way it was publicised and the politics around that.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    Well, Len Brown did with the “interview article” yesterday in the Herald – I just can’t believe he won’t STFU.

    But he can’t win this media game, can he? He refuses to do interviews, cue the pompous, self-important “outrage to democracy” bullshit from the likes of John Armstrong. He doesn’t attend events the press would normally not even front to and the media narrative is “AWOL Mayor refusing to do his job.”

    Well, exactly. There was a great hue and cry about him not talking to the press.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

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