Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Dial O for Obama

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  • Jan Farr,

    Nicky Hager says, in his response to Matthew Hooton's attacks on the police: 'Hooton gets a lot of space to sound off about subjects like this...' I agree. I find most of his contributions to his Nine to Noon slot with Kathryn Ryan, frivolous or malicious - and almost all, empty. When he was partnered by Peter Harris my sympathies were with Harris, who seemed often driven to the point of explosion with Matthew's off the wall stupidity. Laila Harre seems to have had a calming influence on him - he doesn't sound quite so much like a seven year show off - but interestingly when he was paired with Chris Trotter the other day he also drove him to screaming point. Hooton certainly drives me to utter a few intemperate remarks on the mornings I listen to the right/left debate. Are there no decent right wing commentators who could replace him? Or is 'decent right wing commentator' an oxymoron?

    Carterton • Since Apr 2008 • 395 posts Report

  • Ian Fish,

    Be interesting to get stats from Vodafone on the iPhone sales for NZ. Is everyone switching to the iPhone packages? Is the iPhone the number 1 selling 3G handset in NZ? Wonder why not?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 19 posts Report

  • Emma Hart,

    It'd probably be crass of me to plug the ObamaFox Firefox browser extension, so I shan't.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I can't tell whether the iPhone app is the work of Blue State Digital, the consultants who have helped win the internet battle for Obama and -- the New Zealand Labour Party hopes (according to an intriguing story by David Fisher in the current Listener) will do the same here -- but it seems likely that it is.

    It certainly was a bloody interesting story by David Fisher -- and if it was the norm, then it wouldn't be a coin toss whether the sub gets renewed in the new year. Certainly points up a whiff of hypocrisy in the Crosby Textor/Ashcroft meme being pushed by Labour, doesn't it?

    Anyhow, in the end, it doesn't really matter how many bells and whistles you've got attached to a campaign, if it's painfully obvious they're attached to a jester's cap. Does it? Obama isn't winning because he's got a killer app, but because on the substance over style front he's just not in a contest with McCain-Palin. Domestically, the contest is more even -- just, on the evidence of the last twenty four hours, in a way that's not flattering to either National or Labour.

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

  • Evan Yates,

    When you say :

    the long-unreported story of Fonterra farmers' dirty streams

    Do you just mean on TV?
    We locals have been being educated by our local paper. For example
    this feature in the Waikato Times

    One of my university contemporaries at Waikato University has been researching a method for stopping nitrogen compunds leaching into waterways that basically involved burying sawdust along the sides of paddocks bordering the rivers and streams. Here is a quick reference to Denitrification Walls

    The problem IS being thought about out here in the provinces.

    Hamiltron, Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Nov 2006 • 197 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Do you just mean on TV?
    We locals have been being educated by our local paper.

    And we have the editor on the panel. But this has been going on for years, and we'll talk about why.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    verbwrangle:

    I don't think I'd be any less informed come Monday lunchtime if the whole slot was dumped. And, yes, I'm far from impressed with Laila Harre; and would prefer the Hooton-Trotter idiot tag-team to be restricted to the Sunday Star-Times and their collective blog (which has the novel distinction, thanks to "blog producer" Bryan Spondre, of having more civil and thoughtful comments than the actual posts).

    To paraphrase you, verbwrangle, is the left so brain-dead that the media can't do better than Chris ("Winston is the victim of the political equivalent of gang rape") Trotter for a house lefty?

    And Dennis Welch's 'media' slot isn't exactly adding value to my day either.

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

  • Paul Williams,

    Are there no decent right wing commentators who could replace him?

    I've wondered this myself. There used to be. Perhaps it's a case of the smarter commentators having too much at stake?

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    I even tried the "donate" button on the app, which triggers a phone call to a US number. But the number didn't include the right STD code to dial from New Zealand, so I can't tell whether my call would have been answered by a donation robot or a human. They'll have to get that fixed before we get to voting for President of the New World Order.

    It's not a problem, it's a design feature...

    As a non-American, you're not entitled to donate to Obama.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I've wondered this myself. There used to be. Perhaps it's a case of the smarter commentators having too much at stake?

    Nah, I've developed a theory about both Hooton and Trotter. They're reliably outrageous copy, and even if you think the content is a a black hole that sucks all intelligent thought out of a room, they're articulate to a fault. And available.

    End of line.

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

  • Evan Yates,

    And we have the editor on the panel.

    Whoops. Apologies. I didn't read yesterday's PS. very well, did I?

    Hamiltron, Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Nov 2006 • 197 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz,

    I've loaded the Winston Peters app. It throws out all the Asian components so the phone doesn't work. Does anyone think a cash bribe will fix it?

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    08 Wire does its own take on the PREFU and takes a look at Farrar vs Standard on crime stats, with more argument about the ethics of implying your opponent doesn't care about rape in the comments. I do despair a bit sometimes.

    Reading the latest comments, it appears that I, too, am now an enemy of the left.

    Sigh ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    I've loaded the Winston Peters app. It throws out all the Asian components so the phone doesn't work.

    You say my phone is part of the Gathering Asian Component Tide? Should I send some of it back?

    Does anyone think a cash bribe will fix it?

    I think I already paid that to Vodafone.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • andrew llewellyn,

    thanks to "blog producer" Bryan Spondre, of having more civil and thoughtful comments than the actual posts).

    I have to say, that Trotter's blog musings, pretty much justifiy everything the wingnuts have ever said about him.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report

  • Paul Williams,

    I have to say, that Trotter's blog musings, pretty much justifiy everything the wingnuts have ever said about him.

    He's been much quieter since his initial flurry of hyper-activity whereas Hooton's very active. I know I shouldn't bother, but I can't help but comment on some issues...

    At the risk of offending our host, I'd really like it if a centre-right version of PAS were to start up but I can't see it happening.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

  • Jeremy Eade,

    "Reading the latest comments, it appears that I, too, am now an enemy of the left...
    Sigh ..."

    yeh, but its not all sharing the love here, take craigs first comment.

    .
    "Steve:Pardon me if I pull out the world’s smallest violin. "

    You get back what you put in. I think the rape smear was poor but so is davids consistent abuse of stats to scare the shit out of our fellow citizens.

    auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 1112 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Reading the latest comments, it appears that I, too, am now an enemy of the left.

    Sigh ...

    Do a contra deal with D.VICE (because patriotic pervs buy Kiwi-made!), send 'em the biggest dildo known to man or beast and suggest "the left" go fuck itself.

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

  • Jeremy Eade,

    and suggest "the left" go fuck itself."

    or a deep breath and a prayer for duncan. I thought you were a Christian?

    auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 1112 posts Report

  • Geoff Lealand,

    PS: Also, we can still accommodate punters at tonight's recording of Media7

    Russell: do you have a topic for next week as I could add a Media 7 rercording to a book launch in Auckland next Tuesday?

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report

  • Paul Williams,

    Reading the latest comments, it appears that I, too, am now an enemy of the left.

    Sigh ...

    Come home RB, you're understood and loved... seriously, Rob Salmond's done a good job trying to navigate a middle line but too many folk see life in binary terms.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

  • Jeremy Eade,

    "At the risk of offending our host, I'd really like it if a centre-right version of PAS were to start up but I can't see it happening."

    I see "this" as centre, so sometimes it veers either way, that's why its a decent read. facts are fun.

    auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 1112 posts Report

  • Gareth Ward,

    I'd really like it if a centre-right version of PAS were to start up but I can't see it happening.

    Seconded. A thousand times over.

    I actually think it drives my political leanings too - when there is very little consistent reasoned debate coming from one side of the political spectrum it colours your view somewhat.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report

  • Jan Farr,

    ...is the left so brain-dead that the media can't do better than Chris ("Winston is the victim of the political equivalent of gang rape") Trotter for a house lefty?

    He wouldn't be my choice - we (on the left) have multitudes to choose from. And you, who apparently attempt to occupy some sort of slightly right middle ground, who do you choose as a house middley?

    Carterton • Since Apr 2008 • 395 posts Report

  • Paul Williams,

    I see "this" as centre, so sometimes it veers either way, that's why its a decent read. facts are fun.

    I mostly agree and find the posts and commentary here unbelievably informed and insightful. I don't mean it as a criticism, more a comment on the lack of calm, reasoned and informed writers on the right of the spectrum. I need to give big-ups to Craig though - I appreciate that Craig's perspective is to the right of mine on some, but not all issues, and enjoy both the substance and delivery of his posts. It'd be interesting though, if someone like Dick Griffin started a blog or Gareth Morgan? I read Matt Nolan's stuff from time to time too - he's pretty orthodox.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

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