Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Transmogrithingy

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  • Rich of Observationz,

    I guess John Banks set such a low bar that even Hubbard could be considered to have performed "relatively well".

    But what has he achieved?
    - Rates have gone up a lot, *as well* as water charges (which are basically an extra stealth rate).
    - Queen St. has been dug up. I'm not sure if it will be so nice when finished that it justifies making it a building site for two years.
    - The government had to sort out the stadium debacle, not Hubbard.
    - Hubbard has helped resist us getting a single Auckland city.
    - Very little has been done to limit urban sprawl - about the only council that has done anything in that regard is Waitakere.
    - I guess the only positive side is that, being so ineffective, Hubbard hasn't been able to spend our money on much in the way "grands projets"
    - Plus he's a religious social conservative

    I only voted, very reluctantly for him, because the dumbass electoral system gave a choice of two candidates - Banks or not-Banks.

    Personally, I favour (aside from a single Auckland City) replacing the Mayor by a council chair elected by the councillors - ensuring that council and leader are aligned. (Not to mention cutting a lot of the egotrip out).

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • MikeE,

    When I read that article this morning, all I could think of was one thing - Team America World Police.. when the car Transmorgrifys!

    Then again - I'd be putting my vote firmly behind steve crow.. :-)

    Washington DC • Since Nov 2006 • 138 posts Report

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    Queen St. has been dug up. I'm not sure if it will be so nice when finished that it justifies making it a building site for two years.

    The portion from Mayoral Drive to Wellesley Street is complete and looking really nice. I'm willing to put up with those awful orange barriers for a bit longer if nice wide footpaths are the end result They don't need to be "world class", just nice and wide.

    The Princeton WordNet search defines transmogrification as "the act of changing into a different form or appearance...

    This has brought back a memory from the early '90s. On an episode of the Arsenio Hall Show, a hot chick clad in black Lycra (for it was the early '90s) had picked transmogrification as her word of the week. She used it in a sentence: "I am totally opposed to Iraq's transmogrification of Kuwait." Like, totally.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report

  • Mark Graham,

    A new caring, sharing, willing to listen John Banks? Don't think so.

    Did an interview with him on my show on George a few weeks ago - nothing's changed...Banks Interview

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 218 posts Report

  • Joe Wylie,

    Meanwhile, he was on the radio this morning accusing Hone Harawira of belonging to a "racist" organisation: ie, the Maori Party.

    Definitely the same Banksie who, back in his days as an MP, saw high Maori incarceration rates as an economic opportunity to be exploited by setting up an in-gulag handicrafts-for-the-tourist-market industry.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • LegBreak,

    Hone Harawira should have called Howard a racist dwarf. That would’ve really got him thinking.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report

  • Michael Fitzgerald,

    I love the unedited truth of Hone Harawira.
    A bit of playing the man not the ball but well played all the same.

    Since May 2007 • 631 posts Report

  • Neil Morrison,

    Hone Harawira takes after his mother. I can't help but feel certain revulsion at alpha males beating their chests and calling everyone they disagree with a racist when the central issue is of men preying on women and children.

    Since Nov 2006 • 932 posts Report

  • Andrew Smith,

    Hone is an angry man and always will be probably. A little scary in my book. But I agree with Neil. The central issues are ghastly here and I don't envy the Australian's in trying to deal with it all.

    Since Jan 2007 • 150 posts Report

  • LegBreak,

    Well said Neil M.

    I wonder how Hone would take it if everyone just referred to him as “Mummy’s Boy”?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz,

    The portion from Mayoral Drive to Wellesley Street is complete and looking really nice

    Yes, but I think the real problem is the shops. They're mostly dodgy internet cafes, dodgy fast food joints and the odd chainstore. The bit around Aotea Square is a bit better in that respect.

    I guess this is a general problem when you get retail moving out of downtown (e.g. Oxford St).

    If the street was closed to traffic, maybe we could have more bars and cafes using the pavement area.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Che Tibby,

    in palmerston north.

    nobody envy me...

    >>last three posters.

    sorry guys, wrong. the central issue is not "men preying on women and children".

    the central issue is howard alternately ignoring and undermining aboriginal people and cultures, then declaring war on them to win an election.

    you might want to read this interesting article.

    howard's attitude towards aboriginal people since the 90s is a disgrace. this "tackling the issue" bullshit is just a means an an assimilatory end.

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report

  • Jason Kemp,

    I'm more interested in the SJD album - has anyone reviewed it yet? Graham Reid - anyone?

    I'd like the album but surely someone has heard it?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 368 posts Report

  • Joe Wylie,

    calling everyone they disagree with a racist when the central issue is of men preying on women and children.

    It's racist when you make it clear that you're only interested in black abusers, and paint the problem as being entirely aboriginals abusing their own.
    Non-indigenous abusers have been a feature of the outback since white settlement began. They get away with it because they have little to fear from any Australian government, state or federal.
    http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/07/10/1974148.htm?section=justin

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Andrew Smith,

    Howard is just plain wrong to do this to the Aboriginies. If he had quietly gone about instituting programmes to help this culture, rather than cruel posturising for political gain, I may have respected him. But how hard it is to be a humble servant politician...Hone, Dick, John.

    Since Jan 2007 • 150 posts Report

  • Gareth Jenkins,

    Reminds me of Calvin and Hobbes...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 13 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    you might want to read this interesting article.

    Thanks Che - that Crikey piece is extraordinary. Anyone inclined to give Howard the benefit of the doubt should be sat down and forced to read it.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Jeremy Andrew,

    in palmerston north.

    nobody envy me...

    I'm sure John Cleese is turning green as we speak.

    Hamiltron - City of the F… • Since Nov 2006 • 900 posts Report

  • Tom Beard,

    Hone Harawira has really gone beyond the accepted boundaries of acceptable political discourse: i.e., he spoke the truth.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report

  • Leigh Kennaway,

    Plus he's a religious social conservative

    Yes, Dick Hubbard may be socially conservative, but he's prepared to look past his own background and beliefs. After his gaff with the letter he co-signed on the Civil Unions issue in 2004, he accepted an invitation to visit The Big Gay Out, where he spent a lot of time with a group of gay and lesbian parents. He also accepted an invitation to visit them again during one of their regular playgroup sessions. The Mayor also hosted the celebration marking the 20th anniversary of Homosexual Law Reform last year, held in the Town Hall, and he's attended a few of the partnership meetings with GLBT community groups.

    Having dealth with the previous Mayor and this one, I know who I'd put my money on as a genuine bridge-builder!!

    Western Bays • Since Feb 2007 • 79 posts Report

  • Grant McDougall,

    I predict that Banks will get his sorry arse severely kicked in the mayoralty poll.

    In the 2004 elections here in Dunedin former mayor Richard Walls (like Banks a one-time National MP) stood, claiming that people were feed up with excessive spending, wanted strong leadership, had changed his ways, private polling suggested he stood a good chance and all the spurious, trite cack that Banks is coming out with.

    He came third.

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2006 • 760 posts Report

  • Stephen Judd,

    <i>Hone Harawira has really gone beyond the accepted boundaries of acceptable political discourse: i.e., he spoke the truth.</i>

    There is an old Yiddish saying, that even a blind chicken can peck some corn now and then.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Neil Morrison,

    It's racist when you make it clear that you're only interested in black abusers, and paint the problem as being entirely aboriginals abusing their own.

    Yes it would be but the Wild/Anderson report details all sexual abuse no matter the ethnicity of the offender and providing security in aboriginal communities would act as a deterrent no matter the ethnicity.

    The report does conclude that just as with any community in the majority of cases the victim of sexual abuse knows the offender, they come from the same community. It's hardly racist to point out and deal with something that one would not call racist if it was said about a white community.

    Since Nov 2006 • 932 posts Report

  • Danyl Mclauchlan,

    I love the unedited truth of Hone Harawira.

    His statements about Howard would have been a little more powerful if the Maori Party didn't already have a proud tradition of throwing the racist charge around like confetti.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 927 posts Report

  • Grant McDougall,

    Also, history is completely against Banks winning. The only man to have ever re-gained the Auckland mayoralty is Sir Dove-Myer Robinson in the late '60s.
    As the illustrious Graeme Downes once sung "...he hasn't got a shit-show".

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2006 • 760 posts Report

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