Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The Bottom is a Magic Place

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  • Craig Ranapia,

    The Standard, inevitably, gets the needle on over the rather small size of the protest...

    Gee, that's a wee bit Freudian Russell. :) Then again, I can't be the only one wondering if The Standard chaps and Mr Farrar should get a room, because the mutual obsession is getting a little freaky and clammy for my taste.

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

  • Russell Brown,

    Gee, that's a wee bit Freudian Russell. :) Then again, I can't be the only one wondering if The Standard chaps and Mr Farrar should get a room, because the mutual obsession is getting a little freaky and clammy for my taste.

    Must agree. It tends to overwhelm any issue either blog is ostensibly discussing.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    After all the shouting on both sides, Vernon Small's column on the EFB saga is a more sober read.

    And I found this particularly interesting:

    There is a high probability that a commission – but probably not a jury of the people – would call for comprehensive state funding of political parties to level the playing field between parties advocating for the wealthy and those advocating for the worst off.

    That is ultimately what Labour and the Greens want. It was Labour's first intention when the bill was mooted.

    Right... so the Hollow Men and Women of the Left don't want to have an open and honest argument about state funding of political parties? And they don't see to want to cut off their supply of anonymous cash either... because it sure seems to me that if you really believe anonymity is a corruption of democracy, then you can't turn around and seriously argue being a little bit corrupt is OK.

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

  • Danyl Mclauchlan,

    The Standard. Pfft - at least David Farrar is a lickspittle for an opposition party and can thus reasonably be said to be performing some kind of public good in holding those in power to account. Is there anything more wretched and pathetic than being a sock-puppet and apologist for a sitting government?

    On the other hand, maybe the anonymous hobgoblins at the standard are getting $120 an hour for their efforts. I could respect that.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 927 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd,

    I realise I must have a filthy mind, because when I read the post title I assumed Russell was going to link to this. (Quite SFW, if you're wondering).

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • Ian MacKay,

    What happened to the Timaru woman who, earlier this year, was on the second charge of assault which this time was against her teenage son on the roadside in Canterbury?

    Bleheim • Since Nov 2006 • 498 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    The Standard. Pfft - at least David Farrar is a lickspittle for an opposition party and can thus reasonably be said to be performing some kind of public good in holding those in power to account. Is there anything more wretched and pathetic than being a sock-puppet and apologist for a sitting government?

    Well, more to the point Danyl if you don't know who David Farrar is, where he's coming from politically and precisely what his party political affiliations and history are you're functionally illiterate. And ditto for explicitly Labour-affiliated bloggers like Jordan Carter and Tony Milne.

    Anyone who wants to be a partisan hack is quite welcome to do so. You're not going to keep my attention for long, but I doubt you care. Just BE HONEST ABOUT IT - especially when you're prone to accusing other of being lying, hypocritical partisan sock puppets.

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

  • KevinHicks,

    After reading this I have very slightly modified my view against the anti-smacking bill. However as usual our MSM does not give us enough information to know if he is in the right demographic to be a real risk to his child, which we as a society are rally trying to deal with.

    History of:
    Multiple violent offending - unknown but permanent name suppression would suggest not
    [welfare dependence] - he came home from work
    Dysfunctional family/home situation - doesn’t sound like it
    Alcohol and/or drug dependence - unknown
    Intergenerational criminal behaviour/family violence - unknown
    Multiple cyfs intervention - unknown

    so historically this sentence would seem way over the top when people who have histories of multiple violent offending/multiple cyfs intervention and finally kill or maim their child get about 2-4 years.

    I can only hope that this is an indication of the judiciary's hardening attitude to violent crime and the next time a child murderer comes before this judge they will get 25 years non-parole as they deserve.

    Auckland • Since Sep 2007 • 67 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    "...Well, more to the point Danyl if you don't know who David Farrar is, where he's coming from politically and precisely what his party political affiliations and history are you're functionally illiterate..."


    hmmm, what does that tell us about the TVNZ newsroom - http://www.thestandard.org.nz/?p=657 - then?


    Prosecuting a guy for leaving bruising on his kid is fine example of S59 in action if you ask me.

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

  • Emma Hart,

    our MSM does not give us enough information to know if he is in the right demographic to be a real risk to his child

    Man, I wish I knew if you were taking the piss, Kevin.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    hmmm, what does that tell us about the TVNZ newsroom -

    That they also don't feel the need to remind people that Sir Geoffrey Palmer is a former Labour Party leader and Prime Minister every time he's interviewed or cited as a legal academic, president of the Law Commission or named partner in ChenPalmer?

    Seriously, Tom, I guess it's kind of flattering to have an obsessive cyber-stalker or two who thinks you're Darth Rove's padiwan learner... or something. But I stand by my initial comment: DPF and Tane (in particular) really need to get a room, or a paddling pool filled with chocolate pudding and work out their issues. Because this constant blog-bitching is neither insightful, informative or even particularly entertaining.

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

  • Tom Semmens,

    FORMER Prime Minister, as opposed to CURRENT National Party activist. Anyway, it turns on the relevance and when you have the chief on-line dog whistler of the National Party being presented as an independent commentator that should bother most people.

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

  • Russell Brown,

    What happened to the Timaru woman who, earlier this year, was on the second charge of assault which this time was against her teenage son on the roadside in Canterbury?

    It doesn't seem to have come to trial yet, which is probably why there's a name suppression order in place with respect to her latest behaviour.

    It would be nice to hear one of those very many people who championed this woman actually admit they were wrong, rather than just trying to forget it ever happened.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    FORMER Prime Minister, as opposed to CURRENT National Party activist. Anyway, it turns on the relevance and when you have the chief on-line dog whistler of the National Party being presented as an independent commentator that should bother most people.

    Thanks for proving my point, Tom. Here's a wacky notion, but folks like you and The Standard (and your wing-nutty brethren on the rabid right) might be a little more effective if you lowered the volume, and weren't quite so apocalyptic all the freaking time.

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

  • Don Christie,

    That they also don't feel the need to remind people that Sir Geoffrey Palmer is a former Labour Party leader and Prime Minister every time he's interviewed

    Well they should. More so when using people like David who is well known in only very limited circles.

    However, the current vitriolic campaign against DPF misses the point completely. David is very open and upfront about who he is and who he supports. I see a lot of playing the man not the ball going on right now which tells me he is being pretty effective.

    The media should be criticised because it is absolutely useless giving is background on their so called "experts" and "panel members". I find it incredibly annoying when the likes of Stephen Franks and others are rolled out supposedly to give an independent view on something they actually have a strong political position on. But it is not the fault of Palmer, Franks or Farrar that their interviewers don't bother giving us some background where it is relevant to the topic at hand.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    so historically this sentence would seem way over the top when people who have histories of multiple violent offending/multiple cyfs intervention and finally kill or maim their child get about 2-4 years.

    In jail. This guy gets nine months' supervision, which means we taxpayers cover his counselling costs. Personally, I'm happy to stump up.

    And I'm really not sure where you get the idea that a typical sentence for child murder is 2-4 years. Coral Ellen Burrows' stepfather got life with a minimum non-parole of 15 years.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    "...I see a lot of playing the man not the ball going on right now which tells me he is being pretty effective..."


    Thats politics, isn't it?

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

  • Deborah,

    so historically this sentence would seem way over the top when people who have histories of multiple violent offending/multiple cyfs intervention and finally kill or maim their child get about 2-4 years

    It's nine months of supervision, including counselling, not a custodial sentence. That doesn't seem like a harsh or onerous sentence me. The concern is not that this sentence is too heavy - it's not - but that other sentences have been far too light.

    I was puzzled about the way the Dominion Post framed the story. It's all set up as an outrage, that someone should be getting a sentence for smacking a child three times. It's not until you get well through the piece that you realise the father lost his temper, and the bruising was sufficiently severe for the mother to take a photo. Did they just buy the Family First line on this? It's especially odd given that a few months ago they were supporting repeal of section 59.

    New Lynn • Since Nov 2006 • 1447 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Beard,

    This helps explain Bob McCoskrie's attempt to ban the words "wanker" and "ass". Doing so would seriously limit our ability to write about him and his cronies.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    I was puzzled about the way the Dominion Post framed the story

    Indeed. I did wonder if the person who wrote the headline, and put the sarcasm quotes around 'guilty', had actually read the article.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • WH,

    Good column by Vernon.

    No amount of Timaru Lady is going to convince me that the guy from Face the Music is a menace to society, although I must admit that his hair did not set a good example for others. You are trying to create a stereotype.

    Word is bond.

    Since Nov 2006 • 797 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Stewart,

    Indeed. I did wonder if the person who wrote the headline, and put the sarcasm quotes around 'guilty', had actually read the article.

    I don't know - people will put quote marks around <i>anything</i> these days. Supermarket signs, airport signs...you name it. (The supermarket signs are my favourite, as it implies strongly that they're not <i>really</i> selling you dairy, meat, or bread products, just sinister substitutes thereof.) They seem to believe that quote marks, rather than implying doubt, are used for emphasis. Or...something.

    The person who wrote that headline seems to be marginally better-educated, but they just confused me - before I read the article I couldn't work out how someone could be found sort-of-but-not-really guilty, as they were implying.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report Reply

  • Charles Mabbett,

    The Sydney pamphlet row is a good little sideshow to the main event in Australia. Not only is the husband of the sitting MP implicated but a NSW Liberal Party state executive member! You'd think these people would know better. There are also suggestions that the leaflet came from Kelly's home. And someone needs to tell them it is Labor's not Labors.

    It's going to be a fascinating weekend. I'll be watching Sky News Australia! Can't wait.

    Since Nov 2006 • 236 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    KevinHicks; After reading this I have very slightly modified my view

    Well that is the whole point of discussion, that opposing parties can listen to each other and come to an understanding. Although there will always be people with differing views those views should never, in a democracy, be based on ignorance of known facts or the dogmatic views of the functionally illiterate.
    The cry from the right on the EFB has been, mainly, on the basis of the belief that the bill reduces the right of free speech but the tactics of the right, including the actions of National in the house is to shout down any opposition to their wants, the fascicle protest at parliament was a case in point.
    The same can be said about Family First child abuse campaign. A law is passed making it an offence to beat children, they shout and scream above all those who support it and then come out saying that "something should be done" well it was and the firs case under that law has had a result that can only be seen as a good thing. The punishment fits the crime, the punishment was "go away and learn to behave in an acceptable manner, at no cost to your self" May I suggest the right wing screamers and shouters go away and learn how to listen and discuss in a civilised manner or even just go to Australia where they believe life is so much better.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Thats politics, isn't it?

    Well, Tom, if that's just the way of the world what the frak are you whinging about? Oh, that's right... it's only bad when the other side do it.

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

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