Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: And meanwhile ...

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  • Shep Cheyenne,

    Amnesty Int took to an email campaigned to Obama on 6 Nov 08 to close Gitmo. I'm sure a man raised in Civil Rights had this in his scope already but timing is everything.

    Here's my copy.

    Last night we witnessed a truly historic moment with the election of Barack Obama as the next President of the United States.

    Mr Obama's election signals a new era of change in America - and an unprecedented opportunity to ensure from his very first days in office that human rights are at the heart of his administration.

    Mr Obama said repeatedly during his campaign that it is "time for change". With severe human rights violations occurring every day around the globe, his new administration must show the leadership urgently required to stand up against abuses wherever they occur. He has the authority to turn back the clock and rectify some of the unlawful policies and practices adopted during George W Bush's term in office in the name of national security, including Guantanamo Bay.

    Earlier this year we sent George W Bush orange jumpsuits with thousands of Kiwi signatures on them urging him to close Guantanamo.

    Today we’re asking you to send us your message of support calling for Guantanamo’s closure - we’ll attach it to orange jumpsuits that we’ll send to Mr Obama urging his administration to bring to an end the American government’s seven-year assault on human rights in the 'war on terror' by
    announcing the timeline to close Guantanamo
    issuing an executive order to ban torture and other ill-treatment as defined under international law
    ensuring that an independent inquiry into the USA's detention and interrogation practices in its "war on terror" is set up
    Your messages can be sent to campaign@amnesty.org.nz. For more information on the human rights checklist Amnesty has sent to the President elect, please click here.

    Thank you for taking action at this crucial time. Together we are making an impact.

    Patrick Holmes
    Chief Executive Officer
    Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand

    Since Oct 2007 • 927 posts Report

  • Mark Graham,

    As I mentioned on David's post-before-last, I believe the perception is that she's lazy and not very dedicated. Also, Helen never actually put her in cabinet which is not a supportive move.

    I understand she did a lot behind the scenes but politics is as much about being seen to be doing something as actually doing it and she let herself down/was let down there.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 218 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Incidentally, Craig R, what are your thoughts on the Hoover Institute's Paul Brady, who thinks that the Republicans should imitate the Cameron UK Tories and eschew sock con politics from this point on?

    Brady is right. Sorry, it just strikes me as so blindingly obvious that you can't win with the 'base strategy' any more, and being conservative and being reactionary for reaction's sake are two very different beasts.

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

  • Jim Cathcart,

    Nice to see PA linking to Matt Taibbi. Is this the sign of a new irreverent take on things?

    Since Nov 2006 • 228 posts Report

  • Tomorrowpeople,

    Maybe, but you don't have to be in cabinet to be an effective MP.

    The Craps tables at the B… • Since Nov 2006 • 188 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I think Judith's recent falling into bed with big music

    While I prefer a medley of Al Green, Marvin Gaye and Barry White myself.

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

  • LegBreak,

    Barry White

    Massively overrated.

    Try Isaac Hayes.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report

  • Mark Harris,

    To listen to or to fall into bed with?</innocent>

    Waikanae • Since Jul 2008 • 1343 posts Report

  • Tomorrowpeople,

    Idris Muhammad? David Sancious anyone?

    The Craps tables at the B… • Since Nov 2006 • 188 posts Report

  • Paul Litterick,

    <sings>And no one's getting fat except Mama Cass.</sings>

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report

  • Angus Robertson,

    One question: can someone explain to me what exactly Judith Tizard ddi or didn't do that causes so many people to deride her so much?

    She lost an un-lose-able seat to a nobody candidate, despite being a senior MP and government minister.

    Auckland • Since May 2007 • 984 posts Report

  • Joe Wylie,

    While I prefer a medley of Al Green, Marvin Gaye and Barry White myself.

    Barry White? Songs of the Humpback Whale. Or am I confusing him with Demis Roussos?

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Roger,

    Also, Helen never actually put her in cabinet which is not a supportive move

    I believe that in a Labour government the caucus votes on the 'cabinet' and then the PM hands out portfolios; therefore that is the caucus's decision, not Helen's

    Hamilton • Since Jun 2007 • 179 posts Report

  • Lynda Johansson,

    Re Judith, I listened to Joe Nunweek's interview with her yesterday on the Wire. She seemed pretty relaxed about her situation, although her answers to his questioning on the IP stuff were a little guarded. She did mention that she'd had her locks superglued when she got to the office that morning and that Helen Clark's electoral office had been hit with shit and eggs. Such generous people - someone needs to remind them they were on the winning side.
    Likewise the continuation with the lesbian meme. My daughter has a friend who is a young gay woman, never been particularly worried about her sexuality, but after putting up a rather lovely goodbye and thankyou open letter to Helen Clark on facebook, has been inundated by the most hateful anti lesbian smears from people her own age. She's spent the last few days in tears. These are first time voters. You kind of wonder where it will all end.
    One final point, the group of gay women around Libby Burgess who was the spokesperson for the Herceptin lobby, just wonder how hard it must of been for them deciding who to vote for, with the party willing to buy off their votes around the single issue, also being the one with the supporter base so seemingly misogynist and anti lesbian in particular.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2007 • 14 posts Report

  • Danielle,

    Hey! No dissing of Barry White just because he was... rather large in his later years. (Solomon Burke can't even perform standing up any more, and he's still a badass.)

    And yes, Isaac Hayes was a glorious genius, but Barry also arranged, composed and produced as well as singing, and even if you find the 'sexytimes' lyrics overwrought or silly, the Love Unlimited Orchestra sound as fantastic as any Gamble and Huff-produced Philly Sound things. I am a fan.

    Righto then.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    I understand she did a lot behind the scenes but politics is as much about being seen to be doing something as actually doing it and she let herself down/was let down there.

    But can you list the good works of every other Auckland MP? Danyl's slagging her off this week for going to arts launches -- her job. I get the feeling she couldn't win.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • B Jones,

    The tory boys can't deal with women at the best of times, but one with a savage wit really gets up their noses. Besides, she was a proxy target for the PM.

    Tory boys? I'd start with Mike Moore. He doesn't seem to have gotten over her role the 93 leadership coup judging by his 2007 description of Tizard as Helen Clark's "consort", scare quotes included.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 976 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    She lost an un-lose-able seat to a nobody candidate, despite being a senior MP and government minister.

    The unloseable seat that Richard Prebble lost in 1993, you mean?

    And, er, "senior MP"? Outside cabinet?

    She was one of five ministers or associates to lose electorates on a wretched night for Labour in the seats. Her campaign clearly had problems, and the "nobody" is widely agreed to have run a good campaign.

    I can't quite see how this warrants the bile poured on her before and since the election.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • LegBreak,

    Nothing wrong with Barry W’s weight; I just thought a lot of his stuff had too much cheese in it.

    Hayes, on the other hand, was more adventurous.

    Even if he got sucked in by the Scientologists at the end.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report

  • HenryB,

    John Ansell in his rantings on the Poneke blog accuses HC of being a "liar and thief", adding that "She stole the last election and tried to steal this one".

    He, himself, on his own website confesses: "In 2005 I created the billboards and TV ads that helped the NZ National Party nearly steal what most experts said was an unwinnable election. "

    Are the current rantings a case of sour grapes because nobody enlisted his help to steal this one?

    Palmerston North • Since Sep 2008 • 106 posts Report

  • andrew llewellyn,

    I can't quite see how this warrants the bile poured on her before and since the election.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report

  • andrew llewellyn,

    Oh pooh. I meant to cancel that, not quite being able to put words together in answer to that.

    Anyway, the wingnuts have long hated Tizard. Is there a word that encompasses homophobia & misogyny?

    Not that I have a clue as to her sexuality.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report

  • Tomorrowpeople,

    I would have love to have seen what Ansell's ACT ideas were before they parted ways.

    They may have been something like this:

    Draft #24:
    Proposed Rodney Hide billboard.
    Position: Broadway, Newmarket, opposite 277.
    Size: 6m x 3m.
    Headline:
    "YOU CAN DANCE WITH A STAR.
    OR YOU CAN VOTE FOR HIM" (bold)
    Smaller:
    VOTE HIDE FOR EPSOM. (bold)
    "TWO TICKS AND HE'S IN" (italics).

    Image: pic of Rod in top hat and tales.
    Note to self: call Jane Ussher re photos - done a good job on H.C. and Ray Columbus.

    Suggested billboard colours - leotard yellow.
    Note to self: ask billboard printer if we can get glitter sparkles on the canvas.

    The Craps tables at the B… • Since Nov 2006 • 188 posts Report

  • Eddie Clark,

    Andrew:

    Is there a word that encompasses homophobia & misogyny?

    Kiwiblog.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 273 posts Report

  • Eddie Clark,

    [The above, I'm fully aware, not entirely fair to Mr D. Farrar, but his calibre of commentators, combined with his occasional WHOO TITTIES posts, makes it not entirely unfair, either].

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 273 posts Report

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