Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Not actually satire

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  • Russell Brown,

    If only the media would stop asking the same questions which he oviously has no intention of answering - and who's going to make him? Perhaps they could instead dig up some of his many previous hypocritical utterances, read them out and just ask him to say where he stands by them now. Lil Winnie may wriggle or refuse to answer but the statements will be there to speak for themselves either way.

    As Clark put it, it looks like a case for the Court of Public Opinion.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Blake Monkley,

    Between 1972 and 1975, Labour lifted the minimum wage from 44% of the average wage to 60%. But under National it was reduced right down to 30% of the average wage by 1984. From 1984 to 1990, Labour lifted the ratio back up to 54% by the late 1980s but it was 47% by 1990. By 1999, under National the ratio had slipped back again – to 40.2% of the average wage. The minimum wage was frozen in 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1994 and increased by only 2% in 1995 and 1996. Under Labour-led Governments since 1999 it has built up to 50.8% of the average wage.

    However, this ratio is well short of the 66 per cent recommended in 1973 after the Royal Commission into Social Security and even further behind the ratio of 83 per cent when the minimum wage was first introduced in 1946.

    Auckland • Since Jul 2008 • 215 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Unless you're proposing to change the rules on family trusts for everyone, it wasn't a story.

    The rules are quite clear as to how much you can "Donate" to a family trust in one yearand it is well below $2.3 mill.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    It looks like the Harold beat me to it:
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10524275

    Another day, another promise

    The money could have been lawfully laundered from the Spencer Trust to other legal entities and to the party in smaller amounts.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Stewart,

    Um, no Paul. "X. didn't meet with Y., but there's got to be a secret agenda in there somewhere" is Ian Wishart territory, and I don't see why it shouldn't be called out as such.

    Then call it as such. However, Young at no point came anywhere close to accusing Key of being a literal gay-basher, and the direct leap to that comparison, even in sarcasm, was rather confusing.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    Um, no Paul. "X. didn't meet with Y., but there's got to be a secret agenda in there somewhere" is Ian Wishart territory, and I don't see why it shouldn't be called out as such.

    We might be talking at cross purposes. My comment was in relation to this part of the article.

    It is far from uncertain that Key isn't trying to have it both ways, though- witness his rapid flip-flop over his earlier advocacy of inclusive adoption reform- compensating for his vote against Gordon Copeland's same-sex marriage ban bill in December 2005, no doubt

    I think the developing narrative is that Key's strategy is to simply adopt Labour policy or to change his mind to suit the circumstances. In which case, and particularly with regards the latest change of mind and adoption of Labour policy, my question remains; why on earth would you vote for him?

    At this rate, I agree with the earlier comment (this or another thread) that the only difference will be size and spread of tax cuts; <qenuine_question>__is that enough?</genuine_question>__

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • dc_red,

    Rodney Hide sure gets a lot of publicity for someone whose party consistently polls less than 1%.

    Is there even any reason to expect he will hold Epsom? I can't recall him rendering that electorate any notable service.

    Moving along to Tauranga, surely the locals might think about re-electing Winston, given that National offered them one of the most useless MPs* in living memory for the last three years.

    * = A lofty title, I know, especially given the intake of 1996.

    Oil Patch, Alberta • Since Nov 2006 • 706 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    Then call it as such. However, Young at no point came anywhere close to accusing Key of being a literal gay-basher, and the direct leap to that comparison, even in sarcasm, was rather confusing.

    I was, confused that is. Thanks Lucy.

    Craig, I thoroughly enjoy your writing style, it's exceptional, but sometimes it can be hard to follow (but I'd still rather you didn't change it).

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    No more reading Finnigan's Wake before bedtime - promise. :)

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

  • Steve Barnes,

    well below $2.3 mill.

    Sorry, I must clarify that. It was 2.5 million shares at a current value of around $400.000. If the shares were worth more that the allowance as long as any taxes were paid it was legal, but slippery.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Sorry, I must clarify that. It was 2.5 million shares at a current value of around $400.000. If the shares were worth more that the allowance as long as any taxes were paid it was legal, but slippery.

    Not anywhere close to the slipperiness of claiming, under Parliamentary privilege, that someone made a false statutory declaration. But I guess in Winston's World that's just another day that ends in Y.

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

  • Steve Barnes,

    On Rodney Hide and his coat of yucky colour

    I drew a line
    I drew a line for you
    Oh what a thing to do
    And it was all yellow
    Coldplay "Yellow"

    Coldplay hmmmmmmmm.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • anjum rahman,

    i don't want to get embroiled in what craig foss may or may not have done or owned, nor do i know much about rules of disclosure for MPs. what i do know is that trusts can't legally own shares. the trustees have to individually own the shares in their own names or they hold them jointly as a group of individuals. have no idea what relevance that may have here.

    hamilton • Since Nov 2006 • 130 posts Report Reply

  • LegBreak,

    Is there anyone on here who, in a strange and small way, will actually miss Winston once he’s gone in a few months time?

    Oh well, at least there will be the 12 month Electoral Petition to look forward to.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report Reply

  • andrew llewellyn,

    Is there anyone on here who, in a strange and small way, will actually miss Winston once he’s gone in a few months time?

    nope.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Is there anyone on here who, in a strange and small way, will actually miss Winston once he’s gone in a few months time?

    In much the same way as I miss the liquid breakfasts and passing out into pools of my own vomit that used to bookend my boozing days. More fun to talk about than live through.

    Oh well, at least there will be the 12 month Electoral Petition to look forward to.

    The retirement home shakedown will be something to see. All those little old diabetic ladies forcing down over-priced cakes, and sliding into diabetic comas with Winston's name on their lips. The emaciated, frozen corpses being hauled out of granny flats for Kaitaia to Bluff as they make the ultimate sacrifice for their beloved.
    Oh the humanity!

    Or, Owen Glenn find a cold, clammy unknown hand down his pants reaching for his wallet -- again.

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

  • Paul Williams,

    Is there anyone on here who, in a strange and small way, will actually miss Winston once he’s gone in a few months time?

    nope.

    Nope too. As amusing as he can occassionally be, he's past it and probably was a while back... sadly not all the voters feel this way.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • barnaclebarnes,

    In related news. Don't you think it was disrespectful and rude to ask about the Peters issue when Condoleezza Rice was in town? The news article on TV3 was inappropriate. Duncan Garner had no right to ask questions about internal politics when we had a foreign government representative at the press conference.

    Bad form!

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 90 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Is there anyone on here who, in a strange and small way, will actually miss Winston once he’s gone in a few months time?

    Well I would, he's like the "naughty" boy in class, disruptive but entertaining. Parliament would be far too boring without him and as such who would bother to watch them?

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd,

    Is there anyone on here who, in a strange and small way, will actually miss Winston once he’s gone in a few months time?

    No. He's done as much harm to the NZ political discourse as anyone.

    I mean, on the rare occasions when he has championed reasonable ideas, eg his superannuation savings proposals, people ran away simply because it was him proposing them.

    I think of him as someone with rare talent who has not just squandered it but actively misused it.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Duncan Garner had no right to ask questions about internal politics when we had a foreign government representative at the press conference.

    Bad form!

    Been there done that ;-)

    Garners behaviour at the press conference following Rices visit was, in my view, disgusting but considering that our "News" is merely a vehicle for advertising, did not surprise me at all.

    Page 1

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    Hmmm, I'd miss Winston in the "I would vote for New Zealand First if the choice was between Winston and Sue Kedgley" kind of way.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Moving along to Tauranga, surely the locals might think about re-electing Winston, given that National offered them one of the most useless MPs* in living memory for the last three years.

    I think it was fairly obvious what was on offer to them.

    Perhaps we could give Tauranga some sort of territory status like the District of Columbia, where they aren't allowed to vote, except for an elected Village Idiot or something.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • dc_red,

    I think it was fairly obvious what was on offer to them.

    Do you think so? I thought the ball-scratcher was heralded as an enterprising, can-do, go-get-em type?

    As opposed to the useless, inarticulate oaf he turned out to be?

    Oil Patch, Alberta • Since Nov 2006 • 706 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    No. He's done as much harm to the NZ political discourse as anyone.

    I appreciated his efforts to bring our attention to the Fay/Richwhite shenanigans and would rather see him back than say ...Tony Ryall./Judith Collins/.....the list really does start to grow given the opportunity.Lawyers could go, 'cept my main man Michael Cullen

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

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