Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Jones: The contender leaves

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  • Raymond A Francis,

    I think it is great that Kelvin Davis will get into Parliment on Jones's retirement, what I would like to know why did the Labour grandees put him so far down the list
    And what is this going to do to Hone's and Dotcom chances
    We live in interesting times eh

    45' South • Since Nov 2006 • 578 posts Report

  • The Ruminator,

    Shane Jones was the Internet Party's mystery MP too. So the whole thing is just ... weird.

    He must've really grown to despise Labour.

    Since Apr 2013 • 54 posts Report

  • Mandy S,

    I am by no means an overly PC, third-wave feminist type. And I am part of workplace where we indulge in some pretty filthy banter, which I enjoy and am fully complicit with....but that guy....was a stone cold misogynist and I am so glad he has gone.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2011 • 15 posts Report

  • Jean Hughes,

    I for one welcome the change. For all he is quoted as a man of the people, I ( a white female feminist) personally think that Shane Jones has portrayed over the past years that he is a man for Shane Jones. While he has every right to leave the Labour Party whenever and for whatever reason, promoting the National party offer of a job (which he says he has not accepted yet) at the same time suggests to me a very high level of pique and personal animosity to the present Labour Caucus. For me though, the much better plus side is: being this far out from the election, it can only be seen as a positive that the Labour Party is turning into a party for the left in a timely way. Thank you McCully and Jones.

    Mangere • Since Nov 2006 • 89 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Hooking up with National...
    Here's hoping Kelvin raises the temperature (and quality) of debate a degree or two...
    ...meanwhile should I head to the Feed thread for the inevitable result of National's 'Fishery-based drifter netting'
    - 'Poached Jones' recipes...?

    ;- )

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to The Ruminator,

    Shane Jones was the Internet Party’s mystery MP too.

    Wowzers. You know that for a fact?

    That would have been unbelievably weird.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Craig Young,

    At least this'll probably stop the horizontal hostility toward the Greens, one hopes.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 573 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz,

    There's a class of Labour politician who joins the party as a young person, not because they have much of a commitment to social justice, but because all their family and friends are Labour and they could not imagine a career in National (despite that being the place their attitudes would best fit).

    They're very popular with the sort of right-wing commentators who'd love a Labour party that could be "trusted" to be National-lite for an occasional term while the real Nats rest and regroup.

    The right isn't really burdened with an equivalent. I don't think Helen Clark ever considered joining National because her parents are farmers. Labour would do well not to be, either.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Jean Hughes,

    he is a man for Shane Jones

    Gordon Campbell agrees:

    Shane Jones has left Parliament in the manner to which we have become accustomed, with self interest coming in first and second, and with the interests of the Labour Party (under whose banner he served) way, way back down the track.

    After listening to Jones this morning, it did all sound very much about what *he* wanted. I know nothing of his 'personal' reasons for the decision. I respect they may have been pressing on him (he did mention his age a fair bit) but the decision could so easily have been announced a day later alongside party colleagues and leader. And/or Maori he supposedly served and led.

    I look forward to an election season with less slagging of Labour's likely coalition partners, and to the return of the very talented Kelvin Davis to parliament. I believe Northland Maori and the rest of us have gained, not lost.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Richard Aston, in reply to Sacha,

    I look forward to an election season with less slagging of Labour's likely coalition partners, and to the return of the very talented Kelvin Davis to parliament. I believe Northland Maori and the rest of us have gained, not lost.

    +1
    Shane Jones is an impressive orator no doubt and could win any dick swinging contest but was it mana or hubris?

    Northland • Since Nov 2006 • 510 posts Report

  • The Ruminator, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Yup. I do know for a fact. Weird aye?

    The whole electorate/list thing came about because Kim misunderstood how NZ politics works. Then that narrative took hold and away you go.

    Also: it was apparently an either/or with Shane or the Mana party...and the Mana party seemingly won.

    Since Apr 2013 • 54 posts Report

  • Danielle, in reply to Mandy S,

    I *am* an overly PC, third wave feminist type and I wrote Jones off after the geldings comment. I won't be mourning him either.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to ,

    how does that add credibility to someone who wants to help run a country?

    it speaks to the tension between Labour's subtribes, stoked by folk like Chris Trotter and Josie Pagani.

    This is a warning call for Labour; very few extra votes will be attracted to Labour because people like Shane are being driven out. And the more people who are driven out of the party, the more the party is dominated by people who don’t even realise there is a problem, let alone what the problem is.

    Kelvin must really confuse her black/white worldview, which seems like a great thing to me. :)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to The Ruminator,

    apparently an either/or with Shane or the Mana party

    share the spotlight with Hone.. ?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel,

    (Dover Samuels) “they talk about red-blooded men, and I’m into sports and standing around in a bar drinking with blokes and things like that …”

    ...manly things, like urinating in the hallway of the Heritage Hotel in Auckland in 2005?

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to ,

    You might call me cynical for asking, but how does that add credibility to someone who wants to help run a country?

    A lot of people think it does. But Davis wasn't even saying that, he was responding to a question about the supposed common touch and whether he shared it with Jones.

    and It is a given that any sort of violence against women and children (or other people) is unacceptable within our community’s today. I would be more impressed with the guys stance, if he actually had a plan.

    Jesus, give the guy a break. He brought it up unprompted, spoke well and declared it a priority on his return to Parliament. I think that's pretty good going in his first interview.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Emma Hart, in reply to ,

    It is a given that any sort of violence against women and children (or other people) is unacceptable within our community’s today.

    No, it’s not. Theoretically, sure, but when the guy is someone you know, someone inside your community? The first thing many people will do – “even” white middle-class well-educated people – is make excuses for him. Stress. Drink. Things she did.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report

  • SHG, in reply to The Ruminator,

    @The Ruminator:

    Shane Jones was the Internet Party's mystery MP too. So the whole thing is just ... weird.

    Shane Jones was not and had never been an Electorate MP. A List MP is of no use to Dotcom.

    nup • Since Oct 2010 • 77 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to SHG,

    Shane Jones was not and had never been an Electorate MP. A List MP is of no use to Dotcom.

    Yeah, we know that ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to SHG,

    from above:

    The whole electorate/list thing came about because Kim misunderstood how NZ politics works.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Pete George, in reply to The Ruminator,

    How do you know for a fact?

    Stuff on Dotcom 28 March: "He repeated his claim that it would be represented in Parliament, whether or not it achieved the 5 per cent MMP threshold for list seats, because a sitting electorate MP would join."

    Vikram Kumar on The Nation, 29 March: "Yup, and part of that is going to be answered. As Kim has said there is discussions going on with a sitting electorate MP"

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2011 • 139 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Emma Hart,

    No, it’s not. Theoretically, sure, but when the guy is someone you know, someone inside your community? The first thing many people will do – “even” white middle-class well-educated people – is make excuses for him. Stress. Drink. Things she did.

    And that was why Davis putting the onus on men who commit the violence was so notable.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Deborah,

    I was listening to that interview, thinking that he was doing very well indeed, and then Davis said this.

    And I’ve been sitting here thinking for the last couple of months that if I should get back into Parliament I really want to make a stand and make a difference and say this is how we as males need to behave towards our women.

    Fantastic. None of the sidestepping thinking that violence somehow just magically occurs, and that there are no perpetrators.

    And yes, of course I know that women can be violent too. It's just so refreshing to see a politician not do the magic-there-are-no-perps dance.

    New Lynn • Since Nov 2006 • 1447 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    John Armstrong faithfully regurgitates Nat lines about the Greens being against economic growth, painted as a black/white battle with the environment:

    Jones, however, may have seen himself ending up as a paralysed economic development minister in a Labour-Greens coalition which saw him having to constantly battle on behalf of any project with environmental repercussions.

    However it is the same mindset we've seen from Jones.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    I'm inclined to go with Paddy Gower's assessment: it has McCully's pawprints all over it. I would not be surprised if the timing was McCully's.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

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