Posts by Paul Rowe

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  • Hard News: The Spiral of Events,

    Craig, it was a genuine question, and really demonstrates how far our estimation of politicians has fallen, not one designed to defend Peters. Your points about Cheney are accepted (I said leaving out personailities cos I wouldn't trust Thatcher's word further than I could throw her scrawny carcass).

    It's quite a lot of fun to light a touch fuse and watch you jump, sometimes Craig, but a considered response from you would be welcome as well.

    Lake Roxburgh, Central Ot… • Since Nov 2006 • 574 posts Report

  • Hard News: The Spiral of Events,

    I think Peters & Clark have missed a trick here. Peters allows Clark to fire him. Clark gets to look principled. Winston gets to fight the election with a bit of distance between him & the government. Peters doesn't have to bring the government down as there's only a few weeks before they rise for the election. Both sides win.

    And to clarify my earlier comment, I don't agree with his politics, and I'd rather see the back of him. If he's a corrupt old hypocrite, the sooner the better.

    Lake Roxburgh, Central Ot… • Since Nov 2006 • 574 posts Report

  • Hard News: The Spiral of Events,

    Glenn still strikes me as more credible

    Leaving aside personalities for a minute. Don't you think a thirty year career as an MP and Cabinet Minister in three separate governments gives you some degree of credibility? Even if you don't agree with his politics.

    Lake Roxburgh, Central Ot… • Since Nov 2006 • 574 posts Report

  • Field Theory: Handle the Scandal,

    #### Quax LOL However the censoring reminded me of Nixon for some reason:

    NIXON: How the [expletive deleted] do I get this [expletive deleted] thing to work here? Testing, testing, one, two, [expletive deleted] three -- Rose Mary, can you hear me?

    WOODS: Yes, Mr. President.

    NIXON: Have the kitchen get lunch ready. The usual -- cottage cheese and ketchup. And get the barber up here. It's only 11 o'clock and my 5 o'clock shadow is already [expletive deleted] out of control.

    WOODS: Yes, Mr. President.

    NIXON: And send in Bob Haldeman. [Sound of door opening, footsteps.]

    HALDEMAN: You wanted to see me, sir?

    NIXON: Bob, did I ever tell you about Nixon's six crises?

    HALDEMAN: Yes sir, you did.

    NIXON: About the time Nixon smashed the Hiss spy ring singlehandedly? They all said, ''Pumpkin papers? Dick, are you crazy? They'll laugh you all the way back to Whittier!'' But Nixon showed them. Nixon showed them all.

    HALDEMAN: Yes sir, you told me that.

    NIXON: Oh. Uh, what's the latest on Watergate?

    HALDEMAN: Well, it's getting worse. McCord and Hunt were involved, and it looks like Gordon Liddy's in on it, too.

    NIXON: That [expletive deleted] Liddy. Nixon has a good mind to dangle him over the world's biggest candle. I think we should just let him hang there and twist slowly in the wind. Look, will any of them talk?

    What's also a bit weird is how he refers to himself in the third person. (Cue The Turnip "Do I not like that?", if we need to link it back to sport)

    Lake Roxburgh, Central Ot… • Since Nov 2006 • 574 posts Report

  • Hard News: Just marketing to the base,

    Reality is that if there were no welfare there would be a great big new workforce available.

    Are you suggesting we had no umemployment in NZ before the Unemployment Act of 1930? Or perhaps we had no starving old people before the first state pensions in 1893? Or that the rise in unemployment from 5,600 in August 1930 to 38,000 in March 1931 was caused by the passing of that Act? Is that why the economy didn't magic up the jobs to employ these people?

    Lake Roxburgh, Central Ot… • Since Nov 2006 • 574 posts Report

  • Hard News: The newest neocon catastrophe,

    In another victory for the Bloggers, my first understanding of what is happeneing came from No Right Turn, not from the TV news. (no surprises there, I know)

    To John Campbell's credit, last night he showed the contrasting way the conflict is being reported in the US versus the UK, which is quite striking.

    Lake Roxburgh, Central Ot… • Since Nov 2006 • 574 posts Report

  • Hard News: Yr Enemies R Stupid,

    I'll figure it out one day. (And he crept quietly away.)

    Please don't go James. When Simon's friend arrives, it'll be worth the wait :)

    Lake Roxburgh, Central Ot… • Since Nov 2006 • 574 posts Report

  • Hard News: Just Some Things,

    As for drummers, I was listening to some Stone Roses earlier today, and have to say that the baggy early 90's shuffle as pioneered by Reni still sounds pretty darn good.

    I always thought that riff was nicked from mid-period Ringo, but I agree, it sets up the whole baggy sound.

    Hasn't it been blocked from CD release by the owners of the name..ie Reed & Cale.

    That wouldn't surprise me, though there is a Forgotten Velvets box set floating around made up of Lou-less Velvets live gigs in Europe. Japanese apparently.

    I wouldn't be surprised if Reed's objection is that Doug Yule's Lou impersonation is so good.

    Bowie tells a story about meeting Reed after a VU gig in NY in 1970 or so and talking to him for twenty minutes, only to be told a few days later that he'd been talking to Yule. Reed had left a few nights earlier apparently.

    Lake Roxburgh, Central Ot… • Since Nov 2006 • 574 posts Report

  • Hard News: Foreign Affairs,

    so my biggest concern for Obama is he is being elected as a change candidate from an electorate with impossibly high expectations. The potential for disillusionment with not just the political process but with democracy itself is high if he turns out to be a failure or has his policy agenda defeated by the U.S. corporate oligarchs.

    An interesting point, given that the US system is set up specifically to stymie major reform. To his advantage (or otherwise), chances are the Dems will control Congress for at least the first half of the next term, so if he does get elected that will work in his favour.

    Lake Roxburgh, Central Ot… • Since Nov 2006 • 574 posts Report

  • Hard News: Foreign Affairs,

    someone needs to do a similar venn diagram for Labour and its acolytes and their scandals, and those of their support parties

    Go on then, Gavin.

    Lake Roxburgh, Central Ot… • Since Nov 2006 • 574 posts Report

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