Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Not yet standing upright

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  • Ross Mason, in reply to Sacha,

    Don't be a dick........seems he Seys Mour to it

    Flag that!

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

  • chris, in reply to Ross Mason,

    Opportune timing for that faux faux pas is on the same day as you’ve made headlines for telling a group of students that those suffering from mental illness should “harden up”. Nestled somewhere amongst all that hilarity.

    READ MORE: ‘Harden up’ comment stuns students

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Deborah,

    What I can testify to is his basic decency. In addition to that, he's got a real connection with people who don't hang about in political forums on the interwabs.

    He sent me an email a week or so ago, giving me a reply to one I sent him. It was good to get his perspective on something, that was genuine and now, understandable. It is good to get information from the actual person rather than the private secretary. It shows that every one of us can matter.

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

  • simon g,

    In parliament now ... Little seeks leave to introduce revised referendum (incl red peak), objection by National, as expected.

    Shame Labour didn't have a back-up bill, simply adding Red Peak, with no other changes. Would have put National on the spot.

    When everyone does the expected, only the status quo wins.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to simon g,

    Shame Labour didn't have a back-up bill, simply adding Red Peak, with no other changes. Would have put National on the spot.

    That would not have been what Labour have been saying all along and simply would have led to National claiming that Labour are doing a flip,flop. Labour want what many NZers have been saying. We should be asked first if we want to change. If yes, by all means let's find a flag to be proud of. If no, save millions of dollars. It is very simple and I don't see why Labour once again are being expected to clean up for John Key. Labour are trying to help the public here. That should't mean they should change their stance on what the public are saying. Now that the peak is something that people have decided is better than the choices given, Labour have stepped in to help without trying a con. National are not helping. Is that really that hard to understand? Surely not?

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

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Yeah, it's Labours job to oppose, not fix National's stuff ups.

    I think they played it correctly by asking for the option of "no change" on the first referendum. Without that, National look to flag opponents, and in any case if the end result is no change, to be gratuitously wasting money.

    If anything, Andrew Little should delegate speaking on this to one of the more junior MPs (Mullard?) in keeping with the triviality of the issue.

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

  • simon g,

    It's Labour's job to oppose well.

    Key's job (from his POV) is to drag Labour into the blame game, and so the public responds: "Politicians, eh? They're all the same!". Which is the default position for reporters, therefore headlines, therefore many voters.

    A simple bill: add red peak, no strings attached - would have forced Key's hand. Either accept or reject - either way, he backs down, Little gets a win.

    And please, Sofie, don't talk to me like *I* don't understand it. Of course I do, but who cares what I understand? Politics = other people. We're talking about the world of public perception, not tiny minorities of politics followers on blogs.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report Reply

  • chris, in reply to simon g,

    With these kinds of numbers I don't think it's unreasonable that Little is prepared to lose a battle to win the war.

    Flag change opposed by two-thirds - poll

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report Reply

  • Katharine Moody, in reply to chris,

    I'm so hoping Andrew Little sticks to the one referendum stance - as not allowing Red Peak in (much as I quite like the design) is a lose-lose for the PM. I felt from the beginning Key would back down on his original stance on Red Peak - having done so, I'm so glad that Labour have chosen not to play in his silly sandpit.

    Wellington • Since Sep 2014 • 798 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

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

  • chris, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    I’ve been trying to coherently explain this issue to my wife;

    John Key will include Red Peak in the first referendum if all the parties agree, sorry, if all the parties except New Zealand First agree…[…] and John Key is saying that if Red Peak doesn’t get on the ballot paper, the sole person responsible is Andrew Little…

    I’m not having much luck in either language.

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to chris,

    I’ve been trying to coherently explain this issue to my wife;
    I’m not having much luck in either language

    This might help, It is worth a read. Many contributions from Labour.

    Hansard debate from 29 July. Trevor Mallard raises some interesting points . New Zealand Flag Referendums Bill. He begins thus,

    There are times in this Chamber when I despair, and listening to that last member, Jacqui Dean, is one of those times—the fact that someone could chair a select committee and not have the ability to do 5 minutes on the broadest debate on the bill.

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

  • chris, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    I read all of that - not helping Sophie ;)

    As someone who's spent almost her entire life subjugated by a totalitarian regime, lured here by the promise of our great western democratic system, I'm still getting a similar result on every attempt to outline our process to change a flag - fits of laughter.

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report Reply

  • Alfie,

    Now here's a thing. Just as Canadians are about to go to the polls, Lynton Crosby has withdrawn from the Conservative's campaign which seems to be foundering badly.

    It seems that PM Stephen Harper decided to seek an endorsement from Toronto’s former mayor and general fuck-up Rob Ford. There's speculation that it was this ill-advised move which inspired Crosby to bail on Harper.

    Meanwhile Textor is furiously trying to distance the company from what is looking increasingly like a failed right-wing campaign. And I guess C|T wouldn't want to have one of those on their CVs.

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    UMR polling shows current fleg still has nothing to worry about. Meh.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to chris,

    fits of laughter

    fair response

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

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