Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: He even has his Baldrick

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  • Brent Jackson,

    Sarah Flynn wrote:

    I don't consider his move to be a cynical one, rather I believe it's a fair political strategy - but that's my explanation for why the rationale he's offered doesn't bear close scrutiny

    Well said ! Your explanation seems very sound to me.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 620 posts Report

  • Ben Austin,

    So far as I read Copeland was just bringing back the "Future" part of United Future. I had thought the two factions (Dunne vs. the Christians) were quite sundered some time ago and had only stayed together for the status of being "in power".

    I guess the following will happen - either the various Christian groups will unite - that being Field, Copeland and misc. (FF/Destiny?) as a religious version of the Alliance. Or, more likely, they will all do their own thing and remain marginal as per usual

    London • Since Nov 2006 • 1027 posts Report

  • Michael Fitzgerald,

    Kia ora Sonic
    Any idea what "WTFOMGBBQ White kids in Engand are being forced to wear the Bhurka!!!!!" means from your link?
    I think I've got What The Fuck Oh My God B... B... Q...
    Cheers

    Since May 2007 • 631 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    As part of the Vanity Fair interview with Hitchens the interviewer as part of a question says -

    Lawrence Wright says in his one-man show, "My Trip to al-Qaeda," that getting along with women is a large part of what civilization is about.

    Quite an interesting observation.

    It's a bloody cracker. I'm banking that.

    Hitchens is strange. His dutiful defence jobs for the necons are poor - and not just because I disagree, but because he gets so cranky and defensive and tedious.

    Compare that with the light and shade of the Londonistan piece. Sonic, you should give him props for that. It's a good piece of writing.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Wow. Hitch isn't exactly holding back in his new Slate column about Jerry Falwell.

    That's some really good invective.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Anne M,

    I love Hitchens and always will for his "simpering Bambi narcissist" remarks re: the Princess Di hagiographies but he seems to have got a bit ... strange. Anyone or anything he doesn't like is anti-semitic and thus deserves annihilation - Nixon, Iraq, Finsbury park fundamentalists. The reason they are awful is their antisemitism and no more need be said, except for the addition of some of that brilliant Hitchens invective.

    Since Nov 2006 • 104 posts Report

  • rodgerd,

    Hitchens is a expert polemecist, and not afraid to take on what are considered otherwise unimpeachable people and movements (consider Mother Theresa or attacking Fallwell in the States). His actual opinions and understanding of the world are all over the place.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 512 posts Report

  • Mark,

    Still, I've never sen footage of Falwell interviewing a wee kiddie quite like this one:

    Since Dec 2006 • 28 posts Report

  • Zippy Gonzales,

    Iraq's universities near terminal collapse.

    Yes, Iraq is following the fine examples of long-term economic meltdown such as Bangladesh, Fiji and Zimbabwe; namely middle class exodus and intellectual genocide.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 186 posts Report

  • Stephen Judd,

    The reason they are awful is their antisemitism and no more need be said.

    Speaking as a Jew (and one who has lived in the West Midlands and has family in Edgbaston), if someone is preaching in a Birmingham mosque that "the Jews, you kill them physically", then I hope you'll excuse me for finding that awful. I do not wish to be killed, and I do not want other people to encourage the idea.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • 3410,

    Note that the Middle East Media Resource Institute, which hosts this clip, is a Washington-based organisation dedicated to selecting and promoting clips which cast non-jewish Middle Easteners in the worst possible light.

    Some comments about MEMRI from Wikipedia and the complete MEMRI Wikipedia entry here.

    I'm not taking sides, but it's all in the selection, right?

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report

  • Stephen Judd,

    What's the difference between MEMRI cherry-picking exteme statements, and sonic cherry-picking Hitchens?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Ben Austin,

    Well if the religious get their Falwells, Roberts, Sharptons and Bin ladens then I'll take and enjoy my Hitchens.

    London • Since Nov 2006 • 1027 posts Report

  • Nobody Important,

    expat • Since Mar 2007 • 319 posts Report

  • Simon Grigg,

    Israel is a US proxy, washington decides its policy.

    although there are many who would claim the reverse is more accurate

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report

  • rodgerd,

    I do not wish to be killed,

    Especially not for such silly reasons.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 512 posts Report

  • Stephen Judd,

    although there are many who would claim the reverse is more accurate

    And are you one of them? How does that work, exactly?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Finn Higgins,

    What's the difference between MEMRI cherry-picking exteme statements, and sonic cherry-picking Hitchens?

    ... I guess the difference would be that one is cherry-picking one person, another an entire culture. If one person says enough silly things consistently then cherry-picking is - while a bit harsh - still a fairly valid approach because it's engaging with a single person and their views. Nobody is going to think the worse of anybody but Hitchens as a result of it, and he does get to choose what he says. But cherry-picking extremism to represent a culture, nation, ethnicity or religion is another matter, because it draws completely innocent parties into the affair. How would you feel about foreigners making their decisions about engagement with New Zealand based on the collected works of dad4justice and Ian Wishart?

    Wellington • Since Apr 2007 • 209 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz,

    What right in a democracy have the rest of us to tell them to stuff off unless they earn enough votes for 6 MPs?

    Because one MP in their own party has a whole lot more influence than one MP in a party of six. This depends on luck and political alignment of course, but basically they can wind up being part of the balance of power. Do you really think Jim Anderton would be a minister if he was in the Labour caucus?

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Stephen Judd,

    I don't think that's a parallel, Finn, because MEMRI focus on reports from the mainstream press.

    Why don't you have a look and see what you think?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Sonic,

    Hi michael

    WTFOMGBBQ, means what the f*ck oh my god barbeque

    It's a satirical comment on acronyms.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 102 posts Report

  • Kadife Blue,

    I think Copeland has realised that come next election the "Keymister" won't want to be in the same sorry position as the "Donmister" (no friendies to form coalitions with).

    Even though Dunne is fickle and power driven enough to decide to support Key next election that isn't a sure bet. He has after all supported the pinko femme-bots for two government terms now.

    So United Future may lose votes to National in the next election because its supporters don't want to risk another round of nanny state and possible cannabis smoking greenies.

    Copeland has seen the groundswell for National, decided Key is middle of the road enough not to scare of his middle of the road constituency and also perceived the need for a coalition possibility that will clearly side with National. Thus he provides a clear centre-right choice for voters rather than the 'centre-power' choice that is Dunne.

    Since Mar 2007 • 16 posts Report

  • Finn Higgins,

    Stephen, you asked what the difference was and I told you a difference. It was a rather obvious one.

    Now, rather than acknowledging that your initial question was a little silly, you seem to be seeking to change the subject, and in all honesty I'm not sure I've got the time or the energy to follow the topic wherever you feel the urge to take it in the interests of a good debate. Not that I'm opposed to such things, but 48 Hours kicks off tonight and I'm a touch busy with the old fixing, cleaning and checking gear routine right now..

    Wellington • Since Apr 2007 • 209 posts Report

  • Stephen Judd,

    you seem to be seeking to change the subject

    Not as I see it, but then I would say that, wouldn't I?

    Break a (tripod) leg and have fun.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Hadyn Green,

    Yeah Finn,
    what are doing making comments here, go get ready for tonight!
    (^_^)

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report

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