Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Criminalising Journalism

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  • Kracklite, in reply to Kracklite,

    adultery

    Actually, as a footnote, anecdotally, to illustrate perfectly the difference between the French and the Americans, Bill Clinton’s response to accusations of adultery with Monica Lewinsky was his infamous finger-wagging “I did not have sex with that woman” whereas Francois Mitterrand, when it was revealed that he had a daughter by a mistress, said “Yes, she’s very pretty, isn’t she?”

    The Library of Babel • Since Nov 2007 • 982 posts Report

  • Kracklite, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    don’t make their editorial judgements by accident

    Again, true (sorry, I really don’t mean to seem patronising). Indeed, they do it because they like a good story because it sells copy, but I don’t care if the Turing Test applies. I don’t care what they think, if they think. If they do something right, then good. As Adam Smith said (well, something like that, more or less, as I remember, paraphrasing far more inaccurately), I don’t depend on a butcher’s charity to provide me with sausages, I depend on his desire to make a living.

    And I’m sure everyone else is sick of listening to me do so, so I’m out for the evening.

    Actually I'm not, ever. I have a Calvinist heritage, so I think that cold showers do me good.

    The Library of Babel • Since Nov 2007 • 982 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Robber Barrens...

    As the Boomers age out of that bracket, crime rates reduce.

    Though criminal acts seem to be increasing in the white collar banker / investment sector, John Key hails from those parts doesn't he?

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • 3410,

    It's an interesting question though: Would FDR's adultery and Churchill's heavy drinking and severe depressive episodes make them both unelectable today? And would the world have been a better place if the media then was more like it is now?

    Actually, I wouldn't care if Key was an adulterer, a heavy drinker, or a depressive, if he was doing a good job otherwise. Because that's his private life.

    I do care if he's asking people to vote for another party, while at the same time planning to rearrange said other party into something quite different from what those people would be voting for. Because that's making a travesty of democracy.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report

  • Terry Baucher, in reply to Keir Leslie,

    Spot on Keir. I'm pretty certain that if the meeting had happened in either Australia, the US or the UK the press would have released the transcript by now, either that or employed lip readers to translate. Even Sarah Palin would blanch at calling in the police a week out from an election. Russell's point that media organisations being raided for reporting on an election is just wrong is unarguable (no matter your personal view of the media)

    Devonport • Since Nov 2008 • 91 posts Report

  • Steve Parks,

    [Once again, I haven’t yet caught up with the comments yet.]

    The nuclear response began on Sunday with that psychotically aggressive press statement by Steven Joyce.

    Another indication of Joyce being overly aggressive is his statement as if it’s fact that the taping was illegal. People with expertise are saying it is actually a tricky call.

    Also, why does he refer to himself in the third person in an article under his byline? Looks goofy.

    Wellington • Since May 2007 • 1165 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to 3410,

    Because that’s making a travesty of democracy.

    That's actually complete self-serving bullshit. I'm going to go vote tomorrow, and probably split my vote. Key is as entitled to solicit "strategic voting" as anyone else (and they do), but what I do tomorrow is not a "travesty of democracy" but "exercising my democratic right, without giving a flying fuck what anyone else thinks about it".

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

  • andin, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    criminal acts seem to be increasing in the white collar banker / investment sector,

    NAh, like most criminals they got complacent and sloppy over time, just took a few years more is all.

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report

  • Idiot Savant, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    That's actually complete self-serving bullshit. I'm going to go vote tomorrow, and probably split my vote. Key is as entitled to solicit "strategic voting" as anyone else (and they do), but what I do tomorrow is not a "travesty of democracy" but "exercising my democratic right, without giving a flying fuck what anyone else thinks about it".

    The travesty isn't split voting, the travesty is soliciting votes for a party which you intend to radically change after people have voted for it. If you did that with an ordinary product, it would be false advertising, and the Commerce Commission would come down on you like a ton of bricks. It speaks volumes about the character of Key and Banks that they think its OK in politics.

    (Really, if politicians don't want us to think they're alllying scumbags, they should try not acting that way for a change)

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Idiot Savant,

    the travesty is soliciting votes for a party which you intend to radically change after people have voted for it

    I guess it's ideologically consistent that private funders should be able to make their pet party do whatever they want. Just no idea why even 2% would vote for it.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I’m genuinely angry about this.

    And I'm not pleased either, but I'm pretty good at being pissed off by more than one thing at a time.

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

  • 3410,

    Because that’s making a travesty of democracy.

    That's actually complete self-serving bullshit. I'm going to go vote tomorrow, and probably split my vote. Key is as entitled to solicit "strategic voting" as anyone else...

    Yeah, not what I said. See I/S' comment.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Idiot Savant,

    The travesty isn’t split voting, the travesty is soliciting votes for a party which you intend to radically change after people have voted for it.

    Oh, you mean (maybe) discussing the probability of a man who has epically failed to meet his own 15% benchmark being rolled? FFS, it would be more shocking if it didn’t come up after months of speculation that just increased with every polling cycle. Please call it feckless, dishonourable or all the synonyms for “generally prickish” you like. But “an affront to democracy”? I know folks around here hate Banks even more than Key, but we’re really scraping the bottom of the hyperbole barrel.

    If you really want to go there, three years ago was Helen Clark a fraudulent scumbag when on Election Night she not only resigned the Labour leadership but announced she would leave Parliament? Something, by the way, she’d repeatedly denied even considering during the campaign.

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

  • Paul Williams, in reply to Steve Parks,

    People with expertise are saying it is actually a tricky call.

    You’re introducing nuance into this situation, shame on you!

    That said, I still think that the ambiguity will likely cause the Police to determine no charge can be laid (that is if Ambrose’s own actons don’t resolve the matter).

    ETA:

    Something, by the way, she’d repeatedly denied even considering during the campaign.

    I thought it classy but there you go.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

  • Keir Leslie,

    Hang on, it would be one thing if it was Banks and Isaacs discussing rolling Brash. It would be deeply unpleasant, and enough to give anyone pause about voting for that snakepit, but basically just part of the desperate world of sub-5% minor party politics.

    What makes me angry is the fact that it looks suspiciously like Act's electoral independence is a complete and utter sham, a fiction made up to keep the voters happy. And that makes me very angry at Key; it is almost Berlusconesque in its mendacity. If Act are merely National's puppet, as I think it is hard to avoid concluding, that raises real questions about the purpose of their continued existence.

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report

  • 3410,

    ... a man who has epically failed to meet his own 15% benchmark...

    Hey, the election hasn't happened yet! :)

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report

  • DexterX, in reply to Pete Sime,

    We should call it - "The Tea Potty Incident" or just "Tea Potty".

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1224 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Paul Williams,

    I thought it classy but there you go.

    So did I – pretty sad seeing Muldoon and Lange after their return to the backbenches. And let’s face it you’re not going to do your best “screw you guys, I’m going home” Cartman during a campaign. But sauce, goose, gander and all that. :)

    And that makes me very angry at Key; it is almost Berlusconesque in its mendacity.

    OK, can I propose adding Berlusconi to Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot and Mugabe on the list of automatic failwhale comparisons to anyone in New Zealand politics?

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

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    I know folks around here hate Banks even more than Key,

    Nope. Banks is always the same. You know what you get with him.Banks is Banks Key on the other hand is the "smiling one". Like a box of chocolates, you never know what you will get. That's what I find dangerous for everyone, Nat supporter and otherwise.
    We rely on our politicians to be truthful.. The man should have been comfortable to comment.It's his job as PM. It's just insulting to everyone. Now the Media are treated with contempt by this complaint right after the Police are given carte blanche on surveillance. WTF!

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

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    If you really want to go there, three years ago was Helen Clark a fraudulent scumbag when on Election Night she not only resigned the Labour leadership but announced she would leave Parliament? Something, by the way, she’d repeatedly denied even considering during the campaign.

    Craig, sometimes people can’t see past your colourful and may I say brilliant use of the English language but…
    Key has already told us that he would resign if National lost the election, something I look forward to.
    Clark was no scumbag, as well you know, John Key, on the other hand…
    When Helen was forced to walk away, as you have to when you are voted out by the other contestant of a reality TV show, she was regarded by many as one of the greatest PMs we have had the fortune to have had. John Key will never be regarded in such high esteem and his cabinet will go down as one of the worst since Muldoon.
    This latest debacle, the teapot tapes (at least they are not being compared to Watergate, yet) will go down in history as one of the low points in NZ politics.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • Keir Leslie,

    OK, can I propose adding Berlusconi to Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot and Mugabe on the list of automatic failwhale comparisons to anyone in New Zealand politics?

    No, I am quite happy to maintain that the fictive nature of Act is similar — although, not, of course, exactly the same — as Berlusconi’s disregard for honesty and integrity in electoral positioning (the use of decoy lists). Berlusconi uses parties as vehicles for himself; here Act are used as a vehicle for National.

    The comparison to Pol Pot and Stalin analogies is both pathetic and offensive.

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report

  • Chris Waugh, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    OK, can I propose adding Berlusconi to Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot and Mugabe on the list of automatic failwhale comparisons to anyone in New Zealand politics?

    No. Berlusconi is not anywhere near close to in the same league as Hitler, Stalin and Pol Pot, and Mugabe is quite a different kettle of fish. Berlusconi may well be sleazy, mendacious and power mad, but he has so far kept within the limits of the particular system and society he wishes to rule, and he never set about exterminating the "enemy of the people", so remains a perfectly legitimate object of comparison.

    And for crying out loud, how can Helen Clark stepping down on losing an election be compared to Key and Banks allegedly plotting the future of Act before an election?

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Chris Waugh,

    No. Berlusconi is not anywhere near close to in the same league as Hitler, Stalin and Pol Pot, and Mugabe is quite a different kettle of fish. Berlusconi may well be sleazy, mendacious and power mad, but he has so far kept within the limits of the particular system and society he wishes to rule, and he never set about exterminating the “enemy of the people”, so remains a perfectly legitimate object of comparison.

    Precisely. Berlusconi may be a cheat, but he’s no homicidal maniac. And another comparison to draw from is the Wisconsin Republicans and the Koch brothers.

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

  • BenWilson,

    Matthew Hooton on iPredict suggested he knows the Epsom voters too well (being one himself), and that on election day they will "do the dirty" (his words), and put Banks in. I couldn't tell if he was shamefaced or smugly happy about voting for someone who claimed on camera not to be able to remember a meeting and then about 40 seconds later suddenly getting total recall when being offered a transcript to actually look at. He actually had the same look on his face as Banks at that moment, ironically. It was a "yeah well, sure, you can have that one, because everyone knows it's all about rorting the MMP loophole, and Epsom voters are smart".

    He then went on to make a very telling comment, which says a great deal, in my opinion, about what I consider to be the biggest flaw in MMP, that electoral representatives are such a huge part of it. He said that Epsom supporters don't need a local representative because they are basically rich enough to look after themselves. I presume he meant "most Epsom voters" and wasn't trying to deny that anyone at all in that electorate might undergo severe hardship at the hands of his preferred party in the next 3 years.

    He also had a brutally honest appraisal about the cunningness of Key's strategy over the tapes, which is that he gets to say "look, I want to talk about the economy", when of course he actually doesn't. Again, this is Hooton's honest appraisal as an openly aligned Nat supporter.

    I'm glad he's being so honest, that's great in a political commentator, but I have to say that after watching 3 weeks of him talking about the Machiavellian tactics of the National party, and repeatedly pointing out that he pretty much agrees with most of the policy of the Labour party, I can't figure out why such an obviously smart person would be voting National in this election, if they really do think that they're doing nothing right for the country as a whole.

    I guess I'm not used to people saying "yeah, it's a class war, but I'm winning so that's all cool by me". It seemed that David Shearer, the other commentator, was also a little disquieted by it, it was hard to disagree with any of Hooton's analysis, and he ended up having little to say, other than that he basically thought that the power blocs were clearly shifting away from the right this time around. It is still going to be damned close, and it will very likely come down to Epsom.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • 81stcolumn,

    "Tea Potty"

    Why let it stop there ?

    Key Potty

    Nawthshaw • Since Nov 2006 • 790 posts Report

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