Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Circumstance and coincidence

206 Responses

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  • izogi,

    I don’t buy DPF’s complete dismissiveness as for me there are clearly questions here which need answering, but I agree with his comment about the spooky sinister music. When journos have something real, they shouldn’t need to decorate it with such artistic junk which is typically more about triggering an emotional conclusion from an audience instead of an objective one.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 1142 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to izogi,

    but I agree with his comment about the spooky sinister music. When journos have something real, they shouldn’t need to decorate it with such artistic junk which is typically more about triggering an emotional conclusion from an audience instead of an objective one.

    Oath – it also show a distasteful level of condescension towards the audience.

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

  • Euan Mason, in reply to Sacha,

    Yes. It’s one thing for a PM to decline to talk about security matters (as they have all done), but another to flat-out lie instead. Struck me he’s not very good at it either. Should avoid poker.

    This, more than anything else, will keep the story alive. Is he really just a vicarious liar? I doubt it. There will be a reason, and that mystery will arouse the attention of journalists.

    Canterbury • Since Jul 2008 • 259 posts Report Reply

  • MxDEJ, in reply to Russell Brown,

    It also seems to represent a really remarkable degree of disorganisation to have appointed Mataparae to such an important role and then announce a month later that he’d be moving on to be governor general.

    Random thought crossed with a genuine question: Was there some pressing reason to move Mateparae out of NZDF, even if it meant bouncing him in and out of the GCSB?

    Hamilton • Since Feb 2012 • 24 posts Report Reply

  • bob daktari, in reply to izogi,

    I don’t buy DPF’s complete dismissiveness as for me there are clearly questions here which need answering,

    His complete dismissiveness all but screams Campbell is onto something which the story alludes to but hasn't quite nailed yet - I doubt we the public will ever know the real story but like all things sinister and spy related we don't have to, we just need for our representatives to do right by us the voters and citizens of this nation not those of other nations

    As for the alleged lies told by Key - its quite a feat he has with memory, over certain topics he seems to have serious memory impairments (to the point we should perhaps be worried about our countries leader) and yet others complete clarity - all of which adds to the leap to conspiracy theories... which can only be solved by, transparency honesty and openness, that stuff he campaigned and promised when National first came to power under his leadership

    auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 540 posts Report Reply

  • Don Christie,

    at the behest of the US, which wanted to refocus its intelligence activity towards the protection of intellectual property interests

    This is the pattern of everything we have seen coming out of the US for at least a decade. The power they are seeking, and have achieved, over all internet users is scary. It has been carried out behalf of private enterprise. It has nothing to do with public interest or even, good economics.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report Reply

  • Glenn Pearce, in reply to MxDEJ,

    Well they needed a new GG and the Mad Butcher was busy.

    Auckland • Since Feb 2007 • 504 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Key has just been pressed on the issues at Question Time.

    - He has admitted that *both* meetings with Fletcher were organised by his office.

    - But he insists he didn’t discuss the GCSB role at all with Fletcher at the breakfast meeting.

    - Asked about his false statement that Rennie came to him with the proposal to hire Fletcher: "that was my recollection at the time".

    - He “can’t be sure” whether DPMC briefed him about Kim Dotcom on December 14.

    The last one is absurd. He’s been repeatedly pressed on his foreknowledge of Dotcom and insisted he’d never even heard of the guy until January 19. Now he says he hasn’t even checked to see whether he got a briefing on Dotcom from his own department?

    How on earth does he get away with this stuff?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to bob daktari,

    His complete dismissiveness all but screams Campbell is onto something

    that and conveniently leaving out parts of the timeline that don't suit Farrar's spin.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Russell Brown,

    How on earth does he get away with this stuff?

    Damn good question. When someone in a position of power is demonstrably lying, I expect the checks and balances in the system (in this case, opposition and media) to do their fricken jobs and call him on it.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Laurie Fleming, in reply to Pete George,

    So you don't check what politicians say then?

    Wellington • Since May 2014 • 3 posts Report Reply

  • Alex Coleman, in reply to Russell Brown,

    How on earth does he get away with this stuff?

    I dunno.

    But there is a weird standard of proof that in all this stuff.

    Everyone has to make their own call obviously, but for me it comes down to this. We need intelligence services, and they will operate in secret to a large degree.

    I'm ok with that as long as I trust the PM with it. But that trust is where it is, that's where the standard of proof lies.

    I don't care if a journalist 'reaches' to make a point, I don't care if a theory doesn't have all the facts; I don't demand 'beyond reasonable doubt' that the PM lied in order to lose that trust. Once things go bad, it's his job to demonstrate to me that he deserves my trust.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 247 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Question 1 today:

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Idiot Savant, in reply to Russell Brown,

    How on earth does he get away with this stuff?

    By abusing the respect too many kiwis have for his office.

    Fortunately that respect is eroding, along with deference generally, limiting his ability to pull such stunts in future. And the more he does it, the faster it erodes.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • Aidan, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Does he always issue such terse replies or just seeking to deny oxygen/not get caught in lie?

    Is there no mechanism for a "question on notice" or require an undertaking for the PM to actually make some enquiries with departments etc to find out actual information?

    Canberra, Australia • Since Feb 2007 • 154 posts Report Reply

  • Trevor Nicholls, in reply to Euan Mason,

    Is he really just a vicarious liar?

    Key personality traits: dishonesty and premature relaxation.

    Wellington, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 325 posts Report Reply

  • Pete George, in reply to Laurie Fleming,

    Whenever possible. They often don't answer. It's a bit hard finding out what the PM says to the GCSB, any suggestions on how to find this out let me or John Campbell know.

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2011 • 139 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Alfie,

    I expected to see followups this story on our mainstream media front pages this morning. But there's nothing!

    Well there was... This yesterday
    I would consider Scoop to be mainstream these days, they publish the entire press release instead of pretending its a story one of their "journalists" has ritten (yes, I studied the 3 R's at school, I'm pretty good at rithmetic too so I am as qualified as they) like the Herald or one of the other tabloids we have posing as " 'papers".
    To dismiss Campbell's story, as DPF has done, dismisses the fact that most people in this country only read the headlines and fail to see timelines and connections between, seemingly separate stories (excuse the allusion to alliteration, although analysis of average awareness amongst any average adult to add 1+1 avoids accurate assumption, ay?)
    So I was really quite pleased to see the facts laid bare for the voting public. He actually does some good work, that Campbell.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Pete George,

    They often don’t answer. It’s a bit hard finding out what the PM says…

    "Well, I can't tell you about that because I don't know but I will tell you this.... [insert bullshit blaming everything on Labour here]

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __, in reply to Michael Meyers,

    last night's story felt like a Winston Peters-style smoking gun rather than an actual conspiracy.

    Like the Winebox?

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Angela Hart, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    He actually does some good work, that Campbell.

    once in a while

    Christchurch • Since Apr 2014 • 614 posts Report Reply

  • Angela Hart, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    "Well, I can't tell you about that because I don't know but I will tell you this.... [insert bullshit blaming everything on Labour here]

    The question is will this story result in any real change?
    From the posts here it would seem that many of us neither believe nor trust our affable PM. Is that enough to force change?

    Christchurch • Since Apr 2014 • 614 posts Report Reply

  • Ianmac, in reply to Angela Hart,

    Real change Angela? Once people have a belief in someone it is likely to hold firm for a long time. When presented with information that contradicts the belief we tend to hang on and hang on because it challenges us to doubt our original judgement. (Marriage for example.) But once a trickle of doubt creeps in the mind starts doubting then looking sceptically.
    Many people have doubted Mr Key. But his carefully manufactured "Aw shucks" persona papers over the cracks until tomorrow or next week when the trickle becomes a flood. Even for those embedded in loyalty to the Party like Michelle Boag.

    Bleneim • Since Aug 2008 • 135 posts Report Reply

  • Luke Williamson,

    Maybe John Key's office leaked some info to John Campbell to take the heat off Judith Collins. That's just the sort of top bloke he is and shows what a real leader does for his embattled troops.

    Warkworth • Since Oct 2007 • 297 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to MxDEJ,

    Random thought crossed with a genuine question: Was there some pressing reason to move Mateparae out of NZDF, even if it meant bouncing him in and out of the GCSB?

    I see where you are going with that but I see it the other way round. They needed to put someone in there after the “resignation” of this guy…

    Former spy agency boss Sir Bruce Ferguson says Prime Minister John Key must be “smoking dope” for linking failings at the bureau to him and other former directors with a military or defence background.

    Why would he say such a thing?.
    Retired commander signals abuse cover-up

    Last night, Sir Bruce joined a panel on TVNZ’s Media7, seated alongside author Nicky Hager, author of the recently released book Other People’s Wars.
    The controversial book claims military officials have not revealed the true extent of their operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
    During the recording of an online segment, Media7 host Russell Brown asked Sir Bruce what he thought of Kiwi soldiers blowing the whistle on prisoner abuse in Afghanistan.

    Well Russ? What did he have to say?
    Does this go far deeper than we know?.
    Still fits with drone attacks…
    Sir Bruce would have frowned on that, ungentlemanly don’t you know.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

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