Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: On youthful indiscretions

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  • bob daktari,

    Great insight - I doubt many really care about his dalliance with drugs... if anything it makes him more human but the pig thing is just bizarre

    auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 540 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Rob Fahey reflects on the broader context:

    The ritualised, sexually grotesque nature of Cameron’s initiation sets it apart somewhat, of course; but what’s also different about this kind of ritual in elite circles is the calculation behind it, the power and control it affords, and the self-perpetuating network of influence it creates. Consider this scenario; at elite institutions, those earmarked – by wealth, by title, by connections – for future leadership roles are forced, as impressionable young people, to carry out humiliating acts in order to gain acceptance by an in-group. That same in-group will, over the course of their lives, help advance their career massively in ways both overt and covert; membership of that group essentially secures their success in life. The cost of entry, paid by all members of the group, is participation in humiliating acts; acts which will forever wed them to the group, because should they later act in a way contrary to the group’s interests or desires, their “indiscretions” can be brought back to destroy their careers or personal lives.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Sacha,

    Yeah, this part:

    The cost of entry, paid by all members of the group, is participation in humiliating acts; acts which will forever wed them to the group, because should they later act in a way contrary to the group’s interests or desires, their “indiscretions” can be brought back to destroy their careers or personal lives.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • simon g,

    Lord Ashcroft pops up in the NZ media from time to time, where he is lionised as the hero who saves medals.

    I have never heard his interviewers (Plunkett, Hosking to name but two) ask him about the Other Lord Ashcroft ("And finally, sir, just a couple of questions about your tax status and political manoeuvring and general shit-stirring ...").

    Of course he's generous with his ill-gotten gains, but so was Kim Dotcom, and his free pass has long since gone. No need to wonder why the two are treated differently.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Russell Brown,

    or as he concludes, their balls are in one another's hands. :)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Gabor Toth,

    The first thing that went through my mind when I heard the story on the news this morning was "Black Mirror". A quick scan of the UK media indicates that a few million Brits thought exactly the same thing. Life imitates art.
    The Black Mirror series didn't get much of a look-in in New Zealand but it had a big impact in the UK. The episode in question is called "The National Anthem" (it should be easy enough to find on-line) but note that the Black Mirror series is "not for those of nervous disposition".

    Wellington • Since Dec 2006 • 137 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Adams,

    and that's today's best use of the word

    shelved

    Auckland • Since Mar 2013 • 6 posts Report Reply

  • Robyn Gallagher, in reply to Gabor Toth,

    The Black Mirror series didn't get much of a look-in in New Zealand but it had a big impact in the UK. The episode in question is called "The National Anthem" (it should be easy enough to find on-line) but note that the Black Mirror series is "not for those of nervous disposition".

    Sky channel Soho was quick off the mark, arranging an encore screening of "The National Anthem" last night.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • Alfie,

    Wouldn't you know it... I've been posting in the wrong thread. Many people might see this as youthful indiscretion, but it is relevant because it highlights the superior attitude of the born-to-rule Tory ruling class in so many ways.

    Nobody gives a damn if Cameron smoked dope in his youth, or even if he snorted the odd line at parties. But his government's attitude towards others who do, particularly if they're poor and/or black, reeks of insincerity. Which begs the question, do bestiality and necrophilia trump hypocrisy?

    The business with the pig may well have political overtones and be motivated by revenge, but Cameron certainly hasn't denied it. At the risk of repeating myself, here's a line I posted in the other thread.

    Crosby Textor's usual tactic of using distraction doesn't seem to be working in this case. As one Guardian poster said, 'The problem with the "Look, over there!" tactic is that it doesn't work when the Prime Minister is over there fucking a pig.'

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • John Palethorpe,

    Ahahahaha. Ahahaha. Ahahahhahahahahahahha.

    The simplicity of it "Cameron fucked a pig" is what's dangerous. As an idea it'll stick, he'll be oinked at for the rest of his career. Because basically, it's pretty believable. His Bullingdon antics, the restaurant trashing and general poor baiting, combined with that photo, make it 'the sort of thing he'd do'.

    He can't sue, because he'd need to be in court and have his uni days examined. So it sits there. Like a dead pigs head. On his career. Oink.

    Auckland • Since May 2015 • 83 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Did you, or did you not fuck any pigs whilst a student at Porterhouse?
    Sir, I may once have fucked a pig, but I didn't ejaculate

    or

    I get through seven years without a bank collapsing, do they call me Dave the Financial Wizard?

    I win two elections for the Tory party, do they call me Dave the Election Winner?

    But fuck one pig, and it's Dave the Pig Fucker for evermore.

    I'll get my coat.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • kiwiwolf,

    Far more interesting than the act itself, true or not, is to see the Tory right wing hoypaloy lining up to support Hamoron and try to convince everyone that it is perfectly normal and acceptable to put your todger in a dead pigs mouth, but only if you are one of the wealthy and privilaged. To quote one of his ministers on Twitter "Even if it were true, and it's not, so what" Move along, nothing out of the ordinary here.
    Anyone else and it would be grossly indecent.
    Just look at the muck that has been thrown at Jeremy Corbyn by Camorons right wing extremist supporters.

    Whangaparaoa • Since Sep 2014 • 30 posts Report Reply

  • John Palethorpe, in reply to kiwiwolf,

    Was that Louise Mensch? Ex MP, reduced to a role as a twitter carp.

    Auckland • Since May 2015 • 83 posts Report Reply

  • kiwiwolf, in reply to John Palethorpe,

    Yep she was full of herself leading the defence.

    Whangaparaoa • Since Sep 2014 • 30 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Even though the claim is thinly-sourced and malciously intended, it’s only human to respond with porcine puns

    Up to a point, Russell. But it’s more than a little eyebrow-raising seeing it on Twitter from people who’d be a lot more sceptical if The Daily Mail was publishing allegations Jeremy Corbyn fucked his dinner at a union conference. Especially when the source was a Labour poo-bah with a well-known (and admitted) axe to grind and bury in Corbyn’s head. Or, a little closer to home, every new round in The Herald's endless campaign to drive Len Brown's penis out of office.

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

  • Alfie, in reply to kiwiwolf,

    Just look at the muck that has been thrown at Jeremy Corbyn by Camorons right wing extremist supporters.

    And they called Corbyn a trot!

    (Sorry).

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Alfie,

    The business with the pig may well have political overtones and be motivated by revenge, but Cameron certainly hasn’t denied it.

    And when did you stop beating your wife, Alfie? Helen Clark never denied the insane crap Ian Wishart and his scabby organ threw at her and her husband with monotonous regularity. She never dignified it with any response whatsoever. Don’t think she made a bad call there, and there’s no sane reason why Cameron should do Ashcroft or the Daily Mail any favours either.

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

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Alfie, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    And when did you stop beating your wife, Alfie?

    I'm not Prime Minister, Craig.

    While Ashcroft has deep pockets, if the pig story was really just an elaborate fabrication, the libel payout would be enormous. Do you really think the good Lord and his publishers would set themselves up in that way? I don't.

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • kiwiwolf, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    Brilliant

    Whangaparaoa • Since Sep 2014 • 30 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to Alfie,

    Two past Tory cabinet ministers (Archer and Aitken) have wound up in jail after lying (and/or getting others to lie for them) in libel proceedings.

    You can understand how Cameron might be a bit leery of suing. One never knows when a witness might turn up out of the blue, although the pig is probably organic Waitrose sausages by now.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Alfie, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    You can understand how Cameron might be a bit leery of suing.

    If a similar thing happened in this country, involving the PM and a sheep for example, I reckon our news media would concentrate on the PM calling in expensive lawyers and threatening to sue anyone who republished the "scurrilous allegations". That would tie the thing up in court for several years, until one party was happily retired in Hawaii.

    Or else the sheep would receive a payoff and deny the whole thing.

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • John Palethorpe, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    Tory poo-bah. Former Treasurer of the party, Tory appointed Lord. Ashcroft's inside the Tory fence, pissing everywhere.

    Auckland • Since May 2015 • 83 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to John Palethorpe,

    He can't sue, because he'd need to be in court and have his uni days examined. So it sits there. Like a dead pigs head. On his career. Oink.

    I think you're right. True or not, suing would be disastrous.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Don Christie,

    For me the real story is Ashcroft using his money to try and pervert politics...What is his influence outside the UK? And other than "a senior job", what demands does he make in return for that largesse?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report Reply

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