Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The Finance Campaign

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  • Craig Ranapia,

    Grow up, Herald.

    Jimmy: As I said above, Colin Espiner's post had some interesting stuff in it. But let's be blunt here, I don't think catty asides like Readers of this Auckland newspaper know not to turn to this organ for balanced, unbiased coverage on this particular topic contributed anything much to debate. And, let's get real here, I think various Fairfax titles both here and across the ditch really need to clean up their own act before getting too sanctimonious about overwrought editorial campaigning by a direct competitor.

    And anyone else remember the subject of Audrey Young debut bloggage; or the rather public spanking Fran O'Sullivan handed out to Winston Peters when he (basically) accused her of making shit up? In Colin's position, I'd look both ways when roaming the Press Gallery because it sure seems to me that he took a pretty clear shot at the professional ethics and integrity of the Herald's whole political staff.

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

  • Hamboy,

    <quote>(Meanwhile I've been on hold with Qantas [planning my next international observation] for 8 minutes, they're not coming back are they??)</ quote>
    The computer says, no.

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 162 posts Report

  • Jimmy Hayes,

    I agree with most of your post there, but I don't think you're actually addressing the point I was making, especially by just quoting three words of my post.

    I liked that the Herald did include a true cross-section of response (although this site was a notable and inexplicable exclusion), but their conduct and accuracy over the last couple of days has been disappointing.

    And I'm not judging them in relation to Fairfax papers - I'm saying that 'neutrally' observing that competitors aren't toeing the corporate line, and especially insinuating that this is a bad thing, is real schoolyard stuff. It doesn't matter what other people do - as Garth McVicar would no doubt agree, you're responsible for your own behaviour and no-one else's.

    Since Apr 2007 • 35 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    A damn sight more healthy and dynamic than the feral rat-bastardry that seems to be part and parcel of state-funding of political parties and political campaigns.

    Ah ic. You were being sarcastic.

    I was confused because it was actually a tenable position, that all that glorious fund raising isn't particularly relevant to the democratic process. "How generous is your support base?" is an interesting question. But have I ever learned anything about Labour policy by buying a sausage?

    One purpose I can see that it serves is to at least give you a relative idea of the demographic of the stauch party support. I did finally make the connection that a blue rinse was a political statement.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Emma Hart,

    Oh yes. Wellingtonista and Public Address both have a pending announcement on that puppy ...

    You're printing your announcements on puppies now? Oh the caninity!

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    You're printing your announcements on puppies now?

    All the kids are doing it. Writing messages on puppies (or "pmail") is totally the new Facebook.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    And I'm not judging them in relation to Fairfax papers - I'm saying that 'neutrally' observing that competitors aren't toeing the corporate line, and especially insinuating that this is a bad thing, is real schoolyard stuff.

    I think all that carry-on doesn't really tally with the gravity they're ascribing to their claims, and makes it seems more like a promotional campaign. Woo! Check out our page views!

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I was confused because it was actually a tenable position, that all that glorious fund raising isn't particularly relevant to the democratic process.

    It's not totally irrelevant - just not my bag. A political party is a wee bit more than an ATM cum think tank, people do benefit from social interaction with like-minded folks. (Yes, Virginia, even before 'networking' and Facebook.)

    Don't think I'm speaking entirely out of school in saying Bolger was a wee bit surprised at the reception he got first time round the conference circuit, after the coalition deal with NZ First. So perhaps even the pollies get something out of it - even if they want to give it back ASAP.

    I did finally make the connection that a blue rinse was a political statement.

    It's cruel - you try explaining to a sweet old lady with a raffle book that winning a case of wine is not going to have a happy ending for anyone involved. You end up wishing they'd just sucker punch you and lift your wallet.

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

  • merc,

    ...and we even get hacked!!! We are important still, really, we are.

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I think all that carry-on doesn't really tally with the gravity they're ascribing to their claims

    Yes, and I don't see Exclusive Brethren and American bag persons under every bed either - and wish folks who really are smart enough to know better would stop the apocalyptic ding-battery about anyone who opposes the EFB is obviously only interested in making sure rich plutocrats and their corporate whores can buy elections.

    Thankfully PAS has (mostly) been a little more thoughtful; not many other places are.

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

  • BenWilson,

    people do benefit from social interaction with like-minded folks.

    I'd be pretty bitter if anyone ever suggested banning that...but the sausages guilt trip, what's that about? Where does the democracy part come in there?

    It's cruel - you try explaining to a sweet old lady with a raffle book that winning a case of wine is not going to have a happy ending for anyone involved. You end up wishing they'd just sucker punch you and lift your wallet.

    Pushing addictive drugs and gambling for democracy? Next they'll be getting children to do it.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • 3410,

    Craig:

    'The public'? Oh, you mean a self-selecting sample in a poll where it's possble to vote multiple times? (I know it's possible because I did it.)

    Herald:

    nzherald.co.nz"s technical team has established that a single hacker managed to vote more than 5000 times in a period of about 10 minutes.

    Hmmm. ;)

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    ...and we even get hacked!!! We are important still, really, we are.

    Well, Merc, would it really be too much to ask to give a little credit where credit is due? I don't take these on-line polls seriously to begin with, but obviously the Herald does. Seems to me like a big egg-facial when t over 70% of the votes in your own poll are apparently cast by a single spammer. And do you think, Russell, it might be in order to qualify the citation as it's not really credible at all?

    Obviously, someone thought it was important enough to engage the kind of crap that would be pulling down some serious consequences in a real live election.

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

  • merc,

    My view, as you know Craig (Deborah's blog) is that it's all about ad revenue from the Govt. Social Marketing Budget (really that's what it's called), and it won't be calculated as Election Spending.
    Most of the dough is going to TV, buckets of it.

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Hmmm. ;)

    Heh... the VRWC is a dark and terrible thing but I'm neither patient enough to slap a button five thousand times or geek up some bot that would do it for me. I down load my e-mail without incident and I'm chuffed. :)

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

  • Finn Higgins,

    Let me see: The NZ Herald designs a system which allows somebody to repeatedly send a well-formed HTTP POST to their server and logs the results as a vote in a poll. Somebody votes multiples times, and this is "hacking"? Why, it's positively a design feature...

    Of course, deliberately slanting a poll isn't a very nice thing to do. But seriously, trying to describe something like this as "hacking" is ludicrous. It's a bit like claiming somebody "hacked" your raffle because you let them have any number of tickets they liked for $2 and they took the lot...

    Wellington • Since Apr 2007 • 209 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Oh, and one more thing to think about when complaining about how 'biased' the Herald is:

    An interview scheduled by the Herald with new Justice Minister Annette King was cancelled yesterday.

    She issued a short statement instead: "I am sure that the bill as it is reported back will reflect many of the views of organisations and political parties who have made submissions. The select committee process has been the proper one to hear such submissions, and I am sure the new bill will reflect the majority wishes of an MMP Parliament."

    Which, of course, Miss King is perfectly entitled to do. But, boy, it's a little rich to complain - as The Standard etc. has done - that the Herald is off on some Tory cursade against the government, when the minister responsible for the bill won't front up to a previously scheduled interview.

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

  • dave crampton,

    Meaning they should have got it right the first time, right? Meaning they should have redrafted a new bill earlier on, right and listened to a few people, right?

    I did use the word "debacle" ...

    welli • Since Jan 2007 • 144 posts Report

  • Heather Gaye,

    I don't take these on-line polls seriously to begin with, but obviously the Herald does

    ..which is bloody insidious. It's a bloody internet poll, but the way the herald is trumpeting about it, I'm not bloody surprised that the great unwashed have gotten the idea that it actually means something; "we discovered we'd been hacked, but we can fix it so that our future polls will be 100% representative of the views of the entire country". Ref: bloody blutters ululating over ridiculously-worded anti-smacking polls. Bloody.

    Also, on the subject of the Herald, by boyf bought a paper a few weeks ago and discovered that the main news section appears to be running at about 80% advertising. BLOODY BLOODY!

    Morningside • Since Nov 2006 • 533 posts Report

  • Deborah,

    But, boy, it's a little rich to complain - as The Standard etc. has done - that the Herald is off on some Tory cursade against the government, when the minister responsible for the bill won't front up to a previously scheduled interview.

    Well, yes, but reading between the lines, I got the feeling that she cancelled the interview after the Herald's "cursade" (a highly felicitous typo) appeared. Is the Labour party now punishing the NZ Herald by denying its reporters access to political decision makers?

    New Lynn • Since Nov 2006 • 1447 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    It's a bit like claiming somebody "hacked" your raffle because you let them have any number of tickets they liked for $2 and they took the lot...

    That wasn't hacking. Craig just wanted the blue rinse lady to leave him alone!

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • Deborah,

    I'm just the kind of person who needs to meditate for a couple of hours before going to a party, and a week to recover.

    This article is for you, Craig (tho possibly you have seen it before).

    New Lynn • Since Nov 2006 • 1447 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    That wasn't hacking. Craig just wanted the blue rinse lady to leave him alone!

    And those rapacious leeches would take every penny you have. They're fleshy, perfumed pokie machines in fabulously sensible shoes, I tell you! *sob* (Oh, Gods, I'm going to get such an arse-kicking...) :)

    Is the Labour party now punishing the NZ Herald by denying its reporters access to political decision makers?

    Never heard of a politician who wouldn't prefer your average hack to ixnay the impertinent questions and just transcribe the talking point, and doubt I ever will. All the same, King better get over it pretty fast because access works both ways.

    Meaning they should have got it right the first time, right? Meaning they should have redrafted a new bill earlier on, right and listened to a few people, right?

    Perhaps even listened to a few people who were never going to tell 'em what they wanted to hear. Crazy, no?

    Seriously, this should have been a win-win-win for Labour - and I'd have been the first person to praise a serious package of (IMO desperately needed) campaign finance reforms that nobody 'inside the Beltway' would have been terribly happy with, but still enjoyed broad public support. OK, this can be dismissed as partisan schadenfreude, but it is really hard to feel much sympathy (political or otherwise) for folks who let their paranoia about scarf-wearing weirdos and Amerikkkan bagmentrump every other consideration.

    Also, I guess it's hard to address the issues raised by the AG (especially the pledge card rort) when you sincerely think you did absolutely nothing wrong, and everyone who thinks otherwise is colluding with the evil Tories to steal your precious.

    Partisan hyperbole? To an extent, but I seriously think its not only the right-wingnuts who really have unresolved grieving issues around the outcome of the '05 general election.

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

  • Craig Ranapia,

    This article is for you, Craig (tho possibly you have seen it before).

    Gee, that's wonderful. Thanks, Deborah.

    Haven't see it before - 2003 was a patch when I didn't have a lot of discretionary income for magazines, so The Spectator was it. Jonathan Rauch is great though, and I wish someone would collect his fugitive pieces together in a book.

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

  • simon g,

    It's quite funny seeing the Herald's excitable new campaign heading plonked over their usual news online. The link below is to a standard, pretty predictable "he said, she said" NZPA report, but now enticingly labelled a "Democracy Under Attack Story". It's like those mouth-watering pictures outside bland fast food joints.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/feature/story.cfm?c_id=1501118&objectid=10475834

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report

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