Posts by Graeme Edgeler
Last ←Newer Page 1 2 3 4 5 Older→ First
-
I'm still wondering why the Dominion Post hasn't been charged with contempt over the publication of the so-called 'terrorism files'
If they're 'charged' with contempt, then the S-G is effectively admitting that it is impossible for Te Qaeda members to get a fair trial, and that all the firearms charges should be permanently stayed.
I think I can see why he wants to avoid conceding that point.
-
A popular vote that included many Republican and independent voters that turned up on the day to vote for Obama. That's the rules and Obama benefits from that particular anomaly.
It's not an anomaly - I'm pretty sure republicans and independents get to vote in November :-)
You're right about the superdelegates though. Most of them are elected (e.g. every member of congress, every member of the DNC). On the whole, they're more accountable than the elected delegates. If an elected delegate changes their mind nothing happens. If a superdelegate does something the people don't like, they could lose their job.
-
Less forgivable, in my view, is National's freakish about-face on support for Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Amendment Bill (No 6) -- whose extension of youth sentences Key declared in his January State of the nation speech to be "long overdue"
freakish about face is harsh. National made very clear when the suggestion of raising the age of full criminal responsibilty to 18 was raised that they were appalled at such a suggestion.
The quote in the speech was (as you note):
Last year, long-overdue legislation was tabled to allow these sentences to extend to six months. National supports this extension and in Government we will, as a matter of priority, pass the legislation to make it happen.
Legislation was tabled, the increase in sentences in the Youth Court is long overdue. National supports that extension ... and will wait until they're in Government to support it.
Why wait until then? The obvious implication to anyone who understands the other bits of the bill is that there is something else in it that National cannot swallow - raising the age of criminal responsibility to 18.
And the impilication is made clearer when you read the preceeding paragraph:
All offenders over the age of 16 are also referred to the adult courts. This, too, should continue to be the case. Labour thinks 17-year-olds who commit adult crimes should get youth sentences. National thinks they should pay with adult sentences.
Now it happens to be a policy position I disagree with - though I wish the increase would also come with an increase in the age for age discrimination in the Bill of Right Act/Human Rights Act. If we're increasing the age of criminal responsibility to bring us in-line with International laws, we might also note that the age of 18 is the age at which anti-discrimination obligations kick in. But the policy was pretty clear - before, during, and after the speech.
It's not unlike Florida democrats :-)
A law went through the Florida legislature - it would require paper records at all elections, it would also move the date of the state's primary's forward (to a date where the democratic party will strip it of all its delegates). They voted for the bill, because they really want paper records this year.
John Key/National is faced with the same question, but is in a different position - they'd like increased sentences now, but not at the cost of vastly decreased sentences for 17 year-olds. Another year before the bill is passed will disappoint, but it won't be the end of the world (which voting against paper ballot records in Florida might have been for the Democrats)
-
I swear I saw BSG series 3 box set at whitcolls
You almost certainly did. It's been out for some time in NZ.
Unfortunately, getting an early R4 release means it lacks all of the special features that the season 3 set gets in the US. The one time they don't screw us on waiting time, they screw us on content...
-
Did TVNZ slip season 3 past me without me noticing?
Yes. Quite a while back. It's apparently not going to be released on DVD in NZ.
-
Hah!
Mystery solved. Not today, not tomorrow, but next Tuesday morning. And TVNZ's online thingee only goes until just before midnight. It should be there tomorrow.
-
I'd reckon a one hour news program has maybe 1000 words of content in it, which would take me less than 5 minutes to read.
I'll start with the obvious question then. Why would you watch a one hour news programme?
Sport ... weather? Not news.
I'm pretty much not talking about New Zealand here either. In recent occurrence I'm talking Katie Couric hosting the news from Iraq over a week, and spending the first 15 minutes of each 22 minute newscast on Iraq. You get something you don't get from the Internet or a newspaper.
-
It's nice that Mr McCully has noticed that I join the fun at the Hero Debate. I've only been doing it for three years.
So you now admit you're a long-time supporter of Labour ... the plot thickens etc.
To be fair to McCully - you supporting Labour via the Hero Debate isn't news until you get something in return. Donor loans money to the British Labour Party - who cares? Donor recieves peerage - news.
-
In the DomPost Top TV Picks this week, Philip Wakefield, lists The Wire as his number 1 pick.
1. The Wire: After being Wire-less for too long, TV2 belatedly resumes the outstanding crime drama from its fourth season (the fifth, and final, is screening in the United States). In focusing on children as the biggest casualty of civic corruption and urban decay, USA Today said this season “triumphs both as art and indictment.”
Tv2, 12.25am, Tuesday.
I can't see it listed on tvnz's on-line schedule, however. Not tonight/tomorrow, or this morning when I'd have missed it, or next Monday/Tuesday morning.
Fiona (or anyone) got the details?
-
c. Stories pinched by Kiwiblog
I haven't seen Letterman in ages, but did anyone else, upon seeing the title of the column, get "Know, know, know, know, know, know, know, know, know, know, know, know! Know your current events!" stuck in their head immediately? He still do it?