Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The Disingenuous Press

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  • Craig Ranapia,

    Colin Espiner comes down on the side of Russel Norman being out of line.

    Think he'd have written a slightly different column if Chris Carter had gotten around Parliament with a phalanx of bitch-slapping drag queens to make sure the press pack didn't disturb his serenity with their uppity ways?

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

  • Rob Stowell,

    ... if Chris Carter had gotten around Parliament with a phalanx of bitch-slapping drag queens to make sure the press pack didn't disturb his serenity with their uppity ways?

    It'd make great television. I wanna see!

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    It'd make great television. I wanna see!

    Hold my gold, bitch, Parliamentary Insecurity is getting Foxy Brown on yo ass... :)

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

  • Kumara Republic,

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic,

    Craig:

    Think he'd have written a slightly different column if Chris Carter had gotten around Parliament with a phalanx of bitch-slapping drag queens to make sure the press pack didn't disturb his serenity with their uppity ways?

    Or Shane Jones with a nosebleed-inducing harem entourage?

    Yellow journalists caught on tape with bulges in their pants? Priceless.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Reorientation and Chinese whipsters, pt II

    Colin Espiner comes down on the side of Russel Norman being out of line.

    Colin Espiner's sanctimonious twaddlle yesterday is out of step with the Press Editorial today which backs Russel Norman's right to protest, and that the Chinese were in the wrong (and therefore, I assume, so was Key in his grovelling phone call and McCully with his unhelpful input):

    ... But these economic ties must not obscure the fact that there are differences between us and one of these is New Zealand's strong commitment to human rights, including freedom of speech and the right to protest peacefully.

    Instead of berating those who, like Norman, exercise these rights, New Zealand ministers should have firmly reminded the Chinese that in this country, unlike their own nation, these rights are sacrosanct and must be respected by foreign guests.

    so I guess Colin will be called to the boardroom, to explain why he is off-song with his masters...
    Yeah right!

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel,

    wrong signal to noise...

    Dr Norman said Mr Key's apology was "degrading", while Mr Key defended it that "it's unacceptable that a dignatory of that level can't enter the building without their integrity being compromised".

    Integrity: the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness - yep that's the Chinese Government alright!

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    So, were you thinking Phil Goff would find a spine with a pair of balls attached? Think again

    Labour leader Phil Goff said there mistakes on both sides.

    "The Chinese security guard had no right to seize the flag from Russel Norman. There is an absolute right of peaceful protest in this country that we must uphold."
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    But Mr Goff said Dr Norman could have acted with more restraint.

    "Did Russel Norman behave with the dignity you might have expected of an MP? I think he might have learned from (former Greens leader) Rod Donald's lesson of standing back, giving a bit of space, making the point, but not being confrontational."

    He doesn't really have the courage of anyone's convictions, least of all his own. I'm really getting tired of Key and Goff's "bitch asked for it" tag-team Beijing rim-job. And refusing Norman leave to make a personal explanation in the House this afternoon was a fucking disgrace.

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

  • Lyndon Hood,

    Nah, he meant physical intergrity. The sight of the Tibetan flag causes these people to dissolve. So the security reaction was totally justified.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report

  • Lyndon Hood,

    Again - didn't the delegation go round the back when Rod Donald was there?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso,

    He doesn't really have the courage of anyone's convictions, least of all his own.

    What would those be?

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    So, were you thinking Phil Goff would find a spine with a pair of balls attached?

    It's for reasons like this that I vote Green. They may have a couple of anti-science policies, but at least if they say they have principles, they'll most likely still have them when it's uncomfortable to do so. These things matter.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • Matthew Poole,

    And we're surprised that Goff isn't whole-heartedly supporting Norman because...? This is the same Phil Goff whose views on civil liberties aren't too far removed from those of David Garrett and Garth McThicker, after all. I suspect the only reason he equivocated is because it makes Labour come across as less that entirely fascist.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    John and Phil: Tomorrow, could you guys try not to make me thoroughly ashamed of my government?

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

  • giovanni tiso,

    John and Phil: Tomorrow, could you guys try not to make me thoroughly ashamed of my government?

    I think you'll find that Phil is not part of the government.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    Ex-MP Deborah Coddington displays some worrying 'logic'.

    When my children were little and ran to me telling tales of sibling bullying, my first reaction inevitably was, what did you do to cause your sister's wrath?

    Russel Norman's behaved like a child since he roughed up (yes, if you watch the television footage closely, it's his hands shoving people aside to retrieve the Tibetan flag) security personnel outside Parliament.

    ...

    Norman involved in argy bargy with Chinese security, then complaining to police is the same as McCroskie staying up late to watch naked men then complaining to the Broadcasting Standards Authority.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    By contrast, Q&A producer Tim Watkin examines the distinct purpose of protest.

    But surely the point of protest is to provoke, to confront and to agitate. The goal is be so confronting as to affect change. That's what marks protest as a tactic different from diplomacy or negotiation. To ask a protester to stop being confrontational is to ask them to stop protesting, and protesting is our right.

    As Dr Martin Luther King Jr. wrote during the Birmingham campaign in 1963, not long before he gave his 'I have a dream' speech in Washington, "The purpose of ... direct action is to create a situation so crisis-packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation".

    Norman's hope is that if enough people around the world put pressure on the Chinese government over Tibet, then it will be forced to negotiate.

    ...

    My simple point is that a legal protest was made in a country with a proud history of protest. Kate Sheppard, Te Whiti, the anti-Springbok crowds and others all caused offense to make their case. Norman has every right to make his case as well.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • FletcherB,

    Russel Norman's behaved like a child since he roughed up (yes, if you watch the television footage closely, it's his hands shoving people aside to retrieve the Tibetan flag) security personnel outside Parliament.

    OH MY FREAKIN' LORD...

    Can she not see the OBVIOUS point ?

    Note her own word RETRIEVE... why on earth would he have to retrIeve something already in his possession? (watch the footage as she helpfully suggests... it started off in Norman's possesion)

    Perhaps, he just dropped it, and they helpfully picked it up before he assaulted them?

    Or is Ms Coddington seriously suggesting police need to investigate little old ladies for potentially assaulting bag snatchers?

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report

  • Jeremy Eade,

    Society is not free. Why the surprise? Politics is policed.

    Society isn't free, that was just a physical example of it.

    auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 1112 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    Perhaps, he just dropped it, and they helpfully picked it up before he assaulted them?

    Heh. I'm reminded of Joe's observation upthread:

    Give these types an inch and they'll viciously thrust their groin into some hapless goon's knee.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Jeremy Eade,

    Give these types an inch and they'll viciously thrust their groin into some hapless goon's knee

    I love rugby league too.

    auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 1112 posts Report

  • Jeremy Eade,

    We should have a sin bin system for the countries that are too ashamed or weird or both to face their internal politics. Just red card the bullies but they can replace them.

    auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 1112 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I think you'll find that Phil is not part of the government.

    Granted. I find myself wondering on any given day if he's leading a competent opposition acting as an effective check and balance in a democratic legislature.

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

  • Craig Ranapia,

    BTW, am I having an auditory hallucination or did I just hear Judith Collins allege Russell Norman assaulted a police office on Morning Report? Methinks the silly little jam tart should be challenged to put up (and explain why he wasn't charged at the time), shut up or get a good lawyer.

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

  • Tom Semmens,

    BTW, am I having an auditory hallucination or did I just hear Judith Collins allege Russell Norman assaulted a police office on Morning Report?

    Bill English has run the same line, a disturbing development of this governments favourite Natasha Fuller offensive play - manipulate the evidence and blame the victim.


    Personally I found the logical contortions of this morning's Herald editorial - where John Key is found to be simultaneously perfectly correct and totally wrong - as a grimly amusing development on the Herald's highway to achieving its ambition of becoming our very own People's Daily.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report

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