Cracker by Damian Christie

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Cracker: Strike Nine (and counting)

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  • Sacha,

    I hadn't gone near Garth for ages - but was pointed at this cracker by colleagues. Comments are really useful too.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel,

    TV One breaks big story...
    Jessica Mutch live tonight, talking about Chris Carter's return to Parliament:
    "Chris Carter still considers himself an ACT MP!"
    Oh dear, either Chris needs another holiday
    or Jessica needs better notes...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    Oh, so that's why Key's using the word "ethical" about Hide now.

    Key's defence of Hide might have looked like a big blunder. But Key was probably left with little choice after Speaker Lockwood Smith delivered a precedent-setting ruling that the Opposition could seek the Prime Minister's opinion of the judgment of a minister on matters beyond his or her portfolio responsibilities because they might be relevant to the Prime Minister's confidence in that minister.

    ...

    Consequently on the defence yesterday, Key sought to deflect Goff's questions, which were now deemed allowable, by noting the Cabinet Manual clearly stated that ministers were only accountable to him for their ethical behaviour, not for their judgment.

    Suddenly Key was trapped. If he said Hide had not upheld the highest ethical standards, he would have had to sack him as a minister immediately.

    The Prime Minister's only option was to declare Hide had complied.

    However he has already praised Hide's good judgement, hasn't he - link upthread.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Oh, so that's why Key's using the word "ethical" about Hide now.

    Here's a thought
    Key doesn't know what to say, He knows how he feels and let's face it ,he does seem pretty normal' almost boring.
    But I don't think normal is acceptable for our PM and I think he knows that.. I think he is bright enough to know what Garrett has done is downright low. As low as it can get, but he is stuck in the middle of his ambitious game and what are you gonna do? It's like a check mate .His way out shows him up for the length he is prepared to go to, for a vote. He is well aware of his choices. He like the others, doesn't care because tomorrow it's just yesterdays news.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Oh, Girth, shuddup, please, we begs you.

    That's a lost cause, but I've got to wonder is there any effusion of douchebag word salad the Herald won't print?

    Still, I did have to smile defending the morals of children staying up well past their bedtimes to watch a show about a male prostitute who (shock! horror!) performs (implied) oral sex on a female client who has a twat only seen if you've got a hair-trigger pause button on the remote. Funny how George forgot to mention that rather important piece of context while denouncing "blind leaders" for their general ignorant degeneracy.

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

  • Sacha,

    And we might expect someone who a week earlier railed in defense of his son with Down syndrome not to conflate bindness with degeneracy. He's a reminder of progress, in many ways.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Sam F,

    Will it make a blind bit of difference?

    Sure it will - all those hits from posting and reading of comments will go towards nzherald.co.nz's stats, enhancing the site's attractiveness to advertisers, and thus Garth's position is further cemented...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report

  • Craig Young,

    Never mind, the Grim Reaper has to visit him eventually. She's taking her time, though...

    Craig Y

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 573 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    And in other news, could someone explain to the media that Hillary Calvert having a brothel as a tenant is not even on the same planet as Garrett? Unless it's paying the rent in P, it happens to be a legal business that, as far as I know, is full compliance with zoning regulations and all applicable labour and health standards.

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

  • Paul Campbell,

    Why are they so upset about her brothel, she has - shudder - a finance company as a tenant as well ... now I'm not sure that shows good judgment . or character at all ....

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    explain to the media that Hillary Calvert having a brothel as a tenant is not even on the same planet as Garrett?

    Or even explain to the hypocritical leader of the Act Party. Oh that's right, they've known about it for ages and they had no problem with it. After all, it was just a harmless prank,
    Rodney is pushing the whole skeletons thing to try to ease his pain.To show the public that it was no big deal. He is a true showman. Show boy dick wad.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • simon g,

    There is no public interest at all in the news that a lawful business operates on a property owned by Hilary Calvert.

    But it is kind of interesting - no, make that delicious - that she is replacing David Garrett, the MP for the Sensible Sentencing Trust.

    Who said this, in 2007?

    "Lowering the drinking age, the prostitution law reform, compensation for criminals and parole are all examples of legislation that has destroyed the lives of many thousands of New Zealand’s young people".

    Yep, you guessed it. A certain Garth McVicar, from the Sensible Sentencing Trust.

    http://www.safe-nz.org.nz/Press/2007moreyouth.htm

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Yep, you guessed it. A certain Garth McVicar, from the Sensible Sentencing Trust.

    That's a pretty feeble mutation of the "exposing hypocrisy" defence. You can't even say Calvert voted against the Prostitution Reform Bill.

    Or even explain to the hypocritical leader of the Act Party. Oh that's right, they've known about it for ages and they had no problem with it. After all, it was just a harmless prank,

    No, Sofie, Calvert renting a property she owns to a lawful and legitimate business (which you and Garth McVicar and the vicar's cat may disapprove of) isn't a "harmless prank". It's her fucking business and it's rather sad that the media thought having an infantile snigger at Calvert's expense was more newsworthy than what's beginning to look like electoral fraud involving dozens -- if not hundreds -- of cases of identity theft. The integrity of our elections are every bit as important as the integirty of our passports.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10675725

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

  • simon g,

    Craig, it would help if you took the time to read what people say before hitting the keyboard.

    First sentence: about Hilary Calvert. Saying the opposite of what you have ascribed.

    The rest: Not about Hilary Calvert.

    ACT prostituted itself (arf) to the SST. This was a fake marriage, full of contradictions, and they should have been called on it long before McVicar's goon got drummed out of Parliament.

    And if Rodney Hide continues to parade ACT as the SST party, he'll just have to keep defending Garth McVicar's brain-farts.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic,

    ACT prostituted itself (arf) to the SST. This was a fake marriage, full of contradictions, and they should have been called on it long before McVicar's goon got drummed out of Parliament.

    And ends up diagnosed with the STD known as hypocritosis.

    Seriously though, I can see a wedge emerging between the prudes and the libertarians within the movement.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Simon: It would help if you remembered Gath McVicar is not now, has never been and never will be a member of Parliament. I'll yield to nobody in my contempt for McVicar and his clot of hobgoblins, but what Hillary Calvert's business interests have to do with that pustle on the arse of the body politic still escapes me.

    Meanwhile, it would be nice if an extensive police investigation into electoral fraud had got as much media attention today.

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

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Er, Craig,Keep ya hair on. My point was that Rodney played the media to show that a genuine business interest was as much as what Garett was pinged on. He is trying to down play the "Harmless prank" that Garrett called it and examples of nothing is what we are seeing. I think it stinks but I also think Hide is letting the media trash trawl the 5th spot on the benches because his ego is bruised. He can't help himself. he is trying to save his arse.I don't give a flying fuck who,or what the new property magnate has for tenants.Still think Hide is a narcissistic twat.imo :)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic,

    The whole point is, does ACT want to be a party of live-and-let-live libertarians, or a party of reactionary Archie Bunkers? There's only one pilot's seat in the cockpit.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report

  • recordari,

    There's only one pilot's seat in the cockpit.

    There's only one cock in the pilot's seat.

    Just sayin'.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel,

    bloody hell...

    ...clot of hobgoblins

    I love that collective phrasing...

    whereas a clot of haemoglobin
    would just be bearing irony...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Sam F,

    Interested parties may want to join Messrs Boscawen and Hide in Auckland tonight, for an evening of dark mutterings about the new foreshore and seabed legislation.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report

  • recordari,

    Interested parties

    This is a euphemism, right? Just trying to work out what for, but have a few ideas.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel,

    dark mutter - isn't that the undertone
    that holds the universe together?
    In space no one can hear you whinge, string theory does allow for carp-all tunnels though...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Sam F,

    Coda

    Peter Tashkoff is crying foul over his expulsion from the Act Party because party leader Rodney Hide attended the meeting at which his fate was decided and voted against him.

    Mr Hide had previously excused himself from board meetings and discussions about Mr Tashkoff because of a conflict of interest.

    Mr Tashkoff has been highly critical of Mr Hide's leadership and has tested the waters among caucus and party members for support for replacing him.

    [...]

    Mr Hide said the motion to hold the expulsion hearing - where he had excused himself - and the hearing were different matters.

    "Once they were going to have a hearing, I considered it sufficiently serious that I needed to be in a position that, as party leader, I was satisfied that it was done appropriately and properly, and to answer questions about it.

    "I didn't go along so much to vote, but to be aware of the issues ... I didn't contribute."

    He admitted to voting, but said his vote was not needed to reach the required majority.

    [...]

    Mr Tashkoff said the episode had ignited informal discussions - inside and outside caucus and the party membership - about a new party on the right.

    "The name being bandied around is the Reform Party ... There are people frantic to start a new party today."

    But he did not think it was the right time and he would revisit the issue in the new year.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report

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