Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: There's a lot of it about

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  • Don Christie,

    But, as everyone is saying, why go so far?

    Not defending it (going so far) but I suspect it *does* have a correlation with the cancerous turn in politics that took place 4 years ago.

    This is where the opposition tried to remove MPs and Ministers time and time again. Somtimes there was good cause, very ofetn there was not. BUT the push back is that in order to survive any Government is now going to have to defend their representatives to the hilt and only abandon that stance at the absolute last point.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report Reply

  • Don Christie,

    Oh shit, and now I realise I have just participated in the same thread as Chuck Bird. Not sure where to go from here.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report Reply

  • Danyl Mclauchlan,

    This is where the opposition tried to remove MPs and Ministers time and time again. Somtimes there was good cause, very ofetn there was not. BUT the push back is that in order to survive any Government is now going to have to defend their representatives to the hilt and only abandon that stance at the absolute last point.

    My suggestion is that in order to survive, MPs don't submit false declarations to Parliament or repeatedly lie to the country but maybe I'm old fashioned that way.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 927 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    @Chuck

    Do you not think that the real reason Labour supports Winston is that Labour is scared Winston goes feral? Ian Wishart repeatedly asked Labour if Peter Davis got out of the US in a hurry on a diplomatic passport.

    The allegation you're referring to is baseless and malicious. If you bring any more Wishart slime here I will ban you permanently.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    To me it seems that Labour is throwing this election away by insanely supporting Winnie when it appears that he is corrupt. I cannot fathom why they are going to such lengths to support him.

    Now I have totally run out of parties to vote for ...

    I'm not about base my vote on anything to do with Winston Peters. I'm annoyed at the way Labour has handled it, but there are much more important things on which to base a voting decision than this.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    This line gets patted out frequently. How valid, though, is it really? Think of the foreign ministers we've had in the past: Goff, McKinnon, Moore, Marshall, Lange, Talboys. You have to go back to Warren Cooper to find a foreign minister who wasn't well respected.

    Sure. But it does seem that Peters has been pretty effective in the Pacific, which is our sphere of influence.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Don Christie,

    Danyl - sure, that wasn't my point though.

    On an happier note, McCain is surely toast now. Letterman tracks a huge lie as it unfolds.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Update: Phil Kitchin has been in touch, and he says he's heard the talk of a private investigator too -- but he's had nothing to do with one, and has been working on the story for about two years, since he was put onto it by Ralston at TVNZ. In that time he's spoken to at least 20 New Zealand First people and been as far afield as Australia. He says the Dom Post had to "rattle our dags" when Owen Glenn's donation become news, but the investigation was very much underway.

    I should note that the person I talked to wasn't anything to do with the Dom Post either.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • simon g,

    there are much more important things on which to base a voting decision than this.

    One would be: not having a Prime Minister who's happy to legitimise Wishart's rag (see current issue).

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report Reply

  • andrew llewellyn,

    Not sure where to go from here.

    Concoct, or parrot some dumbarse conspiracy theory.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Number 8 (which is probably as far as we need to go)

    How many are there? And have they all been asked first? ISTR one minor party where it was news to some of the list candidates that they were running?

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

  • Paul Williams,

    On an happier note, McCain is surely toast now. Letterman tracks a huge lie as it unfolds.

    Excellent, thanks Don. Letterman actually does it well. I think McCain's misplayed this and Obama's capitalising (will be interesting to see how it plays through on realclearpolitics).

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Don Christie,

    One would be: not having a Prime Minister who's happy to legitimise Wishart's rag (see current issue).

    That's number 3 interview. Has Investigate become the mouthpiece of National?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report Reply

  • Danyl Mclauchlan,

    On an happier note, McCain is surely toast now.

    You'd think so, but I thought he was toast when he picked Joan of Alaska to be his Vice President and instead his poll numbers went through the roof. I've given up trying to guess how US voters are going to react to the GOPs inane gimmicks.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 927 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    To those who exult in the fall of Winston, all I can think of is to paraphrase Earl Long - one day the people of New Zealand will elect good politicians, and they won't like it.

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

  • dc_red,

    A bit like Rueben Wiki, Letterman finds some good form at what should be the end of his career.

    But, as always, he takes a long time to say not much, and if he gets a laugh from a joke, makes sure to repeat it. Usually twice.

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

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Those are both excellent points. Yet they didn't sustain that political damage just six weeks from a general election, did they?

    I think a comparison between the smacking law change and support for WP also needs to consider the fact that politicians (often anyway) stand for parliament to change things.

    You might be willing to take a hit on an issue with the public to make the law change. Advancing society and all that.

    I can't see any benefit to match up to the hit of supporting WP. It's either a shocking choice this close to the election, or there's something we don't know.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • slarty,

    will seem rather easy-going to any ordinary citizen who has faced, say, a tax audit

    Section 143B of the Tax Administration Act 1994

    Evasion or similar offence

    1. A person commits an offence against this Act if the person -
    1. Knowingly does not keep the books and documents required to be kept by a tax law; or
    2. Knowingly does not provide information (including tax returns and forms) to the Commissioner or any other person when required to do so by a tax law; or
    3. Knowingly provides altered, false, incomplete, or misleading information (including tax returns and forms) to the Commissioner or any other person in respect of a tax law or a matter or thing relating to a tax law; or
    ......

    4. A person who is convicted of an offence against subsection (1) or subsection (2) is liable to -
    1. Imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years; or
    2. A fine not exceeding $50,000; or
    3. Both.

    Since Nov 2006 • 290 posts Report Reply

  • FletcherB,

    one day the people of New Zealand will elect good politicians, and they won't like it.

    depends what that means....

    elect good people to be our politicians? - what's not to like?

    elect people who are especially good at being a politician?- yeah, I see your point.

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Not defending it (going so far) but I suspect it *does* have a correlation with the cancerous turn in politics that took place 4 years ago.

    Oh, I see... so Don Brash is controlling Helen Clark from beyond the (political) grave? Gee, how about we actually cut all the bullshit and decide everyone is genuinely accountable for their own shit -- including the Labour Party.

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

  • Aidan,

    We've a ways to go yet.

    Oh yeah. A long long long way to go. Troy Buswell is now the West Australian treasurer.

    You can make this stuff up, but why bother when it is provided free of charge by the wide brown land eh?

    Canberra, Australia • Since Feb 2007 • 154 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Sorry for the tangent, but I'll just offer this with no further comment:

    Ex New Zealand First MP and High Commissioner to the Cook Islands, Brian Donnelly, has passed away at the age of 59.

    A family member says he died at midday on Thursday after a short illness.

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

  • Idiot Savant,

    Ex New Zealand First MP and High Commissioner to the Cook Islands, Brian Donnelly, has passed away at the age of 59.

    Suck. He was a good guy, and NZ First's only liberal.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • Jan Farr,

    I'm with RB, I'm sick of it all and really disappointed in the PM in not sacking WP when she had the chance. I simply cannot understand why she hangs on and refused to censure him.

    Ahem. Welcome to MMP.

    Carterton • Since Apr 2008 • 395 posts Report Reply

  • Mark Harris,

    <quote> Ex New Zealand First MP and High Commissioner to the Cook Islands, Brian Donnelly, has passed away at the age of 59.

    Suck. He was a good guy, and NZ First's only liberal.</quote>

    Agreed.

    Waikanae • Since Jul 2008 • 1343 posts Report Reply

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