Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Dirty Politics

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  • Tom Semmens,

    Which is one of their avowed aims.

    The actual aim is the overthrow of democracy, and it's replacement with a plutocracy with a charade of democracy.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Russell Brown,

    David Farrar has now basically acknowledged to me that a call centre worker probably took home the two scripts and gave them to Hager.

    However, he hasn't edited his blog post or commented to that effect on it, and I doubt that he will.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Pete McDowell, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    Amazon e-books can be format converted to drm free .mobi or .epub with calibre plugins if you are worried about having full control over your purchased content.

    Since Mar 2014 • 6 posts Report Reply

  • Luke Williamson,

    This Stuff poll doesn't seem believable to me:
    http://origin-interactives.stuff.co.nz/polling/
    It did at least acknowledge that the undecided vote was 15.4% – way at the bottom.

    Warkworth • Since Oct 2007 • 297 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    Remember how Watergate went down, it wasn't the break in that brought Nixon down, it was the cover up ...... watch very carefully when Key's lips move, what comes out and who's pulling the strings, it's what he does over the next few weeks that will damn him or let him go free

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Keir Leslie,

    It’s delusional, fantasyland stuff,

    But it also speaks volumes about her suitability to be part of a professional society that purports to uphold the legal system and justice for all New Zealanders.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Neil Drinkwater, in reply to Paul Campbell,

    How do we work out how is pulling the strings Paul? Do we have to hack his email for the public good? Maybe we could tortue him- for the public good of course.

    Taranaki • Since Jul 2014 • 7 posts Report Reply

  • william blake, in reply to Paul Campbell,

    Key’s prejudging the book as conspiracy was disappointing enough and his position to continue to wilfully ignore its contents already damns him. He seems to be directly challenging the role of the fourth estate in a democracy, treating the journalist as an opponent.

    Key should know the contents of Nicky’s critique and act or react accordingly, not ‘be in damage controll’. Manipulation of the media and playing fast and loose with the truth is antithetical to a healthy democracy, shows poor leadership and is an ugly and anachronistic part of right wing politics.

    Since Mar 2010 • 380 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    I think the trick is to sit there watching him digging his hole and wait until it's deep enough .... in other words just keep the pressure on until he does something really illegal to try and make it go away

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Richard Aston, in reply to william blake,

    Key should know the contents of Nicky’s critique and act or react accordingly, not ‘be in damage controll’. Manipulation and subsequent suppression of the media is antithetical to a healthy democracy, it is an ugly and anachronistic part of right wing politics.

    But William you are projecting your own moral compass onto Key. If everything in Hager's book is true then why are we so troubled that Key is using damage control and spin techniques to defend him and his party.

    Northland • Since Nov 2006 • 510 posts Report Reply

  • Richard Aston, in reply to Tom Semmens,

    The actual aim is the overthrow of democracy, and it’s replacement with a plutocracy with a charade of democracy.

    Are we there yet Tom?

    Northland • Since Nov 2006 • 510 posts Report Reply

  • Richard Grevers, in reply to SHG,

    This might have been said in the ensuing 350 comments, but here goes:
    When you have a low-traffic website on shared hosting (like 95% of NZ small businesses), your hosting provider diverts email to a separate server (or brigade of servers) called an MTA. Prior to 10 years ago, many shared hosting setups did proces sand store mail on the webserver, but it turned out that big waves of spam email were more likely to overload a server than any website problems. The company I worked for was busy transferring mail to MTAs in 2006-07.
    However, once your website outgrows shared hosting and requires a VPS or a dedicated server (we’re talking $50-$500/month, more for a managed service), you no longer have access to the MTAs. You either have to stump up with more $ for a separate VPS to host your email, or simply take advantage of the email hosting built in to the Control panel of your webserver, which of course gives no warning that this might not be a good thing to do. Setting up an MTA requires a fair bit of nous – there aren’t the click-and-easy solutions that abound for website hosting.

    New Plymouth • Since Jul 2011 • 143 posts Report Reply

  • Chris Waugh, in reply to william blake,

    Manipulation of the media [......] shows poor leadership

    Seems to me there's also been a massive leadership fail in the media. I have not been surprised by any of these revelations, we've all been seeing the signs clearly for quite some time now, even discussing them hereabouts. With apologies to Nicky Hager*, it's actually a bit disappointing that this news has come out this late in this way.

    *Because although I haven't read any of his books, I think he's a superb journalist and we need more like him and Jon Stephenson.

    Oh, and as an aside: Are we seeing the NZ version of a "50 cent gang" popping up around these threads?

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report Reply

  • Keir Leslie, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    Yeah I think the Law Society needs to ask serious questions about her behaviour there.

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report Reply

  • SHG, in reply to Sacha,

    Craig Ranapia: "Slater threatened to blackmail Rodney Hide over "dirty texts"

    Sacha: "That's the claim yes - backed up I expect by evidence."

    Seriously, do you realise how laughably bizarro-world implausible that is? It couldn't get any nuttier if you introduced the Illuminati or TEH MOLE MEN.

    A blogger and a National strategist blackmailing a Minister of the Crown and leader of a political party to force his retirement? Slater and Lusk would have been arrested and sentenced to jail terms in the time it took Hide to stop laughing.

    That Hide-blackmail story is the bit that stands out as revealing "OK, some of this stuff is just plain made-up".

    nup • Since Oct 2010 • 77 posts Report Reply

  • Neil Drinkwater,

    No Chris I don't see any 50 cent gang;) if someone seems to be asking stupid questions just set them right with direct facts.

    Taranaki • Since Jul 2014 • 7 posts Report Reply

  • william blake, in reply to Richard Aston,

    Richard, yes my moral compass points to having a free and healthy fourth estate. if the PM is pre determining his response to a unknown written critique rather than a thoughtful and balanced response to the actual information, we do have a disconnect in this vital process.

    Since Mar 2010 • 380 posts Report Reply

  • Richard Aston, in reply to Chris Waugh,

    50 cent gang

    Oh shit now my paranoia is up

    Northland • Since Nov 2006 • 510 posts Report Reply

  • Brian Murphy, in reply to SHG,

    That Hide-blackmail story is the bit that stands out as revealing “OK, some of this stuff is just plain made-up”.

    Or does it say something about the people discussing the idea, their world view, and morals.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 48 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    (which seems to be pretty dodgy – Lichtenstein address)

    Dodgy, indeed.

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

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Richard Aston,

    Tick it to ride...

    Are we there yet Tom?

    It's a charade...
    not a charabanc!
    ;- )

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Keir Leslie,

    A blogger and a National strategist blackmailing a Minister of the Crown and leader of a political party to force his retirement?

    Isn't that what the Whips' Office does on a regular basis? Sure, it's generally not as rough as the alleged blackmail here, but "senior National Party figures use pressure to force politicians to do what they want" is pretty much a truism.

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Barker, in reply to Keir Leslie,

    What's also a little shocking here is Odgers' professional incompetence. As has been pointed out here already. N. Hager is listed in the Wgtn phone directory by name, address and phone number, and has been for quite a few years. Way to run up your billable hours, Cathy.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2007 • 4 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    A blogger and a National strategist blackmailing a Minister of the Crown and leader of a political party to force his retirement? Slater and Lusk would have been arrested and sentenced to jail terms in the time it took Hide to stop laughing.

    Oh piss off, Hide admits he had to check up with Key first to figure out what he should do. He let Brash in with Banks, Nat men become Nact men. If you can't see that , take your blue tinited shades off.


    Back in 2011 April...

    Hide had said only yesterday that he would not give up as leader. But today he said the reason for that, was he had to speak with the Prime Minister who was overseas.

    Checking with Johnny? Much?

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

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Keir Leslie,

    Does anyone seriously think Cathy Odgers knows people in HK who’d actually seriously pose any threat to a New Zealander’s safety?

    Isn't she known as Cactus Kate because she is surrounded by pricks?.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

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