Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The perils of political confidence

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  • dc_red,

    It's now being strongly suggested that Key said something to the effect of NZF voters "dying out". Which, to be fair, has often been said ... but probably not in "polite company." A nice soapbox for Winston Peters' finely tuned sense of faux outrage has now been provided...

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

  • Steve Barnes,

    Chuck another shrimp on the barby.

    In fact, they found that the pressures to create a stable pair of shrimp was so intense, that any larger group became positively murderous. When they put larger groups of shrimp in a single container, the animals reduced their numbers down to a pair. "Exactly one individual in each triplet and exactly two individuals in each quartet were killed in aggressive interactions, resulting in group sizes of two individuals," the authors report.

    Sound a bit like politics, eh?

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    ...I'm half crazy an offers th' votes to you...
    (it won't be a stylish marriage!)

    Dat dam computer again . . .

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Steve Parks,

    Haven't caught up with this discussion yet, but I found this 3 News item interesting.

    "He says Mr Key’s comparison to News of the World tactics was a “cheap shot” with little relevance to the British scandal."

    Wellington • Since May 2007 • 1165 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Nah, quite. This'll be one they cooked up from ingredients already to hand.

    And still bloody ugly. Yeah, Ambrose does have a past that could most politely be described as "colourful' but the headline promised a lot more - and uglier - than it delivered. Compared to many, he's downright square. I don't know how the fine moral paragons at Stuff would have handled the likes of Tom Driberg - who probably spent more time on his knees sucking off rough trade in public lavs (and trying it on with comely left-leaning literary chaps like Martin Amis and Christopher Hitchens) than he ever did at work on the Daily Express

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

  • BenWilson, in reply to dc_red,

    It's now being strongly suggested that Key said something to the effect of NZF voters "dying out".

    It's exactly what Matthew Hooton was saying on iPredict several times, the night before. Seems the smart money thinks that way, and I've no doubt Key follows the smart money.

    It's also true. They are. That's why the latest incarnation of Peters is much less of a racist xenophobe. It's still in there, though.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    the likes of Tom Driberg

    They'd have been tipped off as to his MI5 connection and studiously avoided the subject.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Hilary Stace,

    http://www.livestream.com/globalrevolution
    Live stream from the police raid on Occupy Wall Street in Zucotti Park. Incredible footage.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to BenWilson,

    It’s now being strongly suggested that Key said something to the effect of NZF voters “dying out"

    Not very bright that John Key, old people are dying out, idiot. The fact is the number of old people is growing, a fact that JK ignores at his peril. Unfortunately, for JK that is, he said he would retire before he raised the retirement age.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • Steve Parks, in reply to Rich Lock,

    A lot of the stills and footage I’ve seen show a number of Joe and Josephine Punter-types sitting at nearby tables studiously attempting to ignore the WTF-ness going on a couple of metres away. Assuming they are punters and not cunningly-disguised DPS officers, this would tend to add some weight to this point. And also undermine the ‘reasonable expectation of privacy’ defence.

    Campbell Live tonight looked at this matter, and that the press were allowed to remain so close and record. They showed one camera operator standing in a spot where he wasn’t cut off fully from Key and Banks, and where earlier another journalist seemed able to take notes. No one told him he had to move. I don't see how you put yourself in that situation and seriously not expect the media that you invited there might not try to record what you're saying as well as record images.

    Wellington • Since May 2007 • 1165 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    The fact is the number of old people is growing, a fact that JK ignores at his peril.

    Which does not straight-line correlate to ignorant racist douche-canoes inexplicably bewitched by the skeevy gigolo of New Zealand politics. Yes, Winston, I despise every atom of your hateful, hypocritical lying gutter trash being. And that contempt is fed by having first-hand how you use and abuse people to feed your ego. Blow me.

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

  • Rob Stowell, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    gawd. not sure what it was like an hour ago, but now messy and heading towards horrible.

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    Blow me

    So, Craig. Not one of your bestest buddies then?.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • DexterX,

    Be mindful that National did not particularly enjoy being in opposition for 9 years and add to this Key probably wants to go one term better than Clark – he is just so great and we need him.

    To stay in Government National may be willing, under Key’s stewardship, to enter into a Left/Right coalition govt including Act, Maori and the Greens.

    Effectively making a party vote for either of these coalition partners a party vote for National.

    The fall out from the billboard vandalism has been a love fest between Key and Norman – it looks to me like they were courting one another - if Key wasn’t a married man I though we might have a sold foundation for a civil union.

    Under a Left/Right coalition govt you could have asset sales, an advance on the introduction of the emission trading scheme, congestion charges, capital gains and a Maori renaissance, welfare reform and the erosion of workers rights etc, etc. All of this all in one bed happily “lying” alongside one another for the next three years with each minor party empowered to do its own dirty work.

    Lots of happy smiling people everywhere marching around and around in circles left, right, left, right – every people happy everywhere happy smiling peoples – First Citizen John Key the First – he is so great a happy smiling guy. He stands up for what he stands up for whatever that is.

    The only losers I can see are the taxpayer and people who are not very well off.

    If this, the Grand Left Right Coalition, eventuated it would show that nothing stands for nothing and no one stands for anything. Which is what I suspect.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1224 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    probably a warm greeting in some circles

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Rob Stowell,

    Al Jazeera seems to have the best coverage of the OWS ‘clean-up’. Shame US media!
    Annnd Sue Bradford had a predictably scornful take on Norman and his ‘dobbing in’ of Green Party 'activists'.
    Less predictably, I found myself agreeing with her. Always liked the Activist
    Greens. Crazy Greens didn’t do it for me.
    And not sure I like the totally reasonable, morally superior, talk to anyone, ever so slightly bland and blue-green Greens either. Hope that’s unfair. Gotta vote for someone :)

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    So, Craig. Not one of your bestest buddies then?.

    Not an affectionate "blow me" with breakfast and a more or less sincere promise to call afterwards. Not at all.

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

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    "blow me" with breakfast and a more or less sincere promise to call afterwards.

    Could we have a cup of tea first, privately of course.
    Is that your manbag on the table?

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • BenWilson, in reply to Rob Stowell,

    There's Mana. It won't be wasted if Harawira gets his seat, which he probably will. They're probably the least likely party to go into coalition with National, and that includes Labour.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Rob Stowell, in reply to BenWilson,

    Yeah, but y'know, tactical voting and all that. I'll be watching whether they look likely to get two in (hovering around the 1% mark at the moment, so not a bad bet.) Annette Sykes (#2 on the Mana list) would be cool.
    Not so sure on Minto (#3). Getting to be ok with Harawira. It's his mum I find... off-putting. And they're keeping her quiet, a blessing in itself :)

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report

  • merc,

    Tactical voting seems to go hand in hand with tactical truth,
    Earlier yesterday, Mr Key said his police complaint was based on principle.
    "What happens when it moves to other high profile New Zealanders having a conversation with their wives about personal issues?
    "What happens if a couple of high profile New Zealanders have a conversation about their son or their daughter being suicidal - a Sunday paper reports that and that child takes their own life. We're at the start of a slippery slope here and I for one am going to stand up and ask the police to investigate it."
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10766325
    The problem with standing on principle here John is that you have not applied one.

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report

  • Roger Lacey, in reply to Ross Mason,

    Ah the old Cone of Silence trick. Should be regulation issue for the DPS.

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

  • merc,

    Tactical voting, http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10766300
    What voting system would stop this need to counter all politician's craven addiction to forms of gerrymandering?

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to DexterX,

    The fall out from the billboard vandalism has been a love fest between Key and Norman – it looks to me like they were courting one another -

    Or, you know, perhaps Norman was sincerely mortified and embarrassed when his EA's partner basically outed himself, acted like a grown-up and Key accepted it in the same spirit? I know it's easy to see the dread hand of Darth Joyce/Crosby Textor/the lesbian-unionist cabal running the Labour Party/whatever behind everything. Sometimes, things are exactly what they appear to be. Really.

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

  • DexterX, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    I don't think it is credible - remorse is only for those that get caught out. But I must say it was well expressed.

    IMHO it is likey that if the partner of the party Leader's executive assistant knew - then it was not a secret.

    Would love to see, but don't expect to, who ordered, printed and paid for the stickers and who drove who around putting them up.

    I feel this issue is low key as Key might just need the Greens should Winston get up and Act fade away. Winston is sitting around 4.5% of the party vote.

    I don't see -

    the dread hand of Darth Joyce/Crosby Textor/the lesbian-unionist cabal running the Labour Party/whatever

    behind this - I see stupidity which is the order of the day/month this election.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1224 posts Report

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