Posts by Richard Aston
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Hard News: Everybody's Machiavelli, in reply to Martin Lindberg,
I just want to know if he was wearing his mayoral cape and hat.
and nothing else of course . Good question but would that make it even more morally reprehensible or just more interesting.
The ever prolific The Civilian took that question right out to the edge -
Grubby grubby politics . Len's actions are just kinda sad really but the actions of the Slater/Palino group were a deliberate and arrogant attempt to short circuit local govt democracy – what fragments remain of it – just to grab power.
Thanks Russell for filling in more of the back story on the real story here. -
Good advice Emma and so very hard to do, the closer you are to the person.
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As Mark Morford, columnist on SF Gate said on his facebook page
" Government shutdown. Everything's free and no more war. Nice." -
One of the side pleasures of a local govt election is the absolutely right out there candidates. Those people who for reasons unknown come all the way back from the far edge of known human consciousness and decide to stand for Mayor.
Introducing Auckland mayoral candidate Jesse Butler who has a simple 6 week programme, I quote direct .Week 1. Open financial books. Media watching. Money/assets secured. Lower rates. Faster services. Executive transparency. Corruption/corrupted gone. Staff pay-rise. Non-sexist/abusive/racist workplace. Increase staff. Promotions.
Week 2. Visit South Korea. Taiwan. Japan. Talk multi-millions. Civil defence. Build infrastructure. Full employment. Auckland living wage? $22 an hour?
Week 3. Public hui. Veto Unitary Plan. Your house rules. Priorities. Mokos. Babies. Children. Mothers. Elderly. Sick. Veterans. Retired. Disabled. New Aucklanders.
Week 4. Gang hui. Truce. Cease violence/crime. Priority. Tourism. Public safety. Rewards? Economic packages. Early releases.
Week 5. Develop land. Crops. Feed Auckland's schools/hospitals. Space. Exercising Auckland dogs.
Week 6. Visit South Africa. Talk multi-millions. Business. Rugby. Netball.
2015? Australasian Super-City. Prosperous. Healthy. Shining. Pumping. First class. NZ's new capital?I was really trying hard to stay with him until he got to “Exercising Auckland dogs.” In week 5 , WTF !
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Hard News: Jonesing, in reply to Jenny Kirk,
Yes – Jones is at home on a marae . I was there, and that aspect was good to observe.
What was not so good – Jones and his TV entourage did not stay for the actual business of the hui. They did the powhiri, had cuppa tea and chat, and left.
The business presentation was about future economic development for the north – a subject Jones as regional development spokesperson for Labour, should have been interested in. Not a good look.That's really interesting Jenny , thanks. I noticed Hone in the background did he stay for the whole hui ?
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At first I kinda liked the relaxed blokey dokey thing that Jones does , it was refreshing but I suspect its an act.
When he showed his wares, I'm with Cecelia on this , I was shocked at his arrogance to woman and especially his total disregard for Greens policies.
His mana withered away at that point.John Tamihere's theory - sorry no link was on the wireless - is he knows that he won't stand a show at the top job but is deliberately positioning himself for a very senior role , promising to bring new voters along with him.
As for Garner and Espiner's overt campaigning on Jone's behalf , that was weird but Garner has strong Nga Puhi connections as does Jones, Nga Puhi have come out behind him strongly.
Did you notice Hone Harawira sitting quietly on the side of the whare hui as Jones was surfing on his own korero?
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Meanwhile back in the trenches ..
A good friend of mine, a senior journalist, is running his own backlash campaign , this from his email
" What I am seeking is an agreement that we will all, with effect from Monday August 5, copy j.key@ministers.govt.nz into every email we send.
Since he is so keen to read them, it seems to me that it is our patriotic duty to assist him. Obviously we can elect to except matters of a private nature; if they want to read them, they can spy on us.
But dentists' appointments; minutes of the tennis club committee meetings; correspondence with TradeMe traders; rsvps, anything. Stuff with massive attachments would be really good.
I expect this to have no effect other than nuisance value. But who knows: with a bit of luck one or two of us might get arrested. Or one of those subversive reporters might get onto it."Be interesting to see if it makes the news on 5 Aug .
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Hard News: The Real Threat, in reply to Bart Janssen,
Bart just want to say thanks for holding this side of the argument , not sure I agree with you but it does make me think .
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I will be interesting to see how the internet community kicks back.
This site Me and my shadow is an attempt to educate people on what data can be gather , where and by whom. It leads to a whole bunch of tools that promise to help you track your digital visibility .