Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The McCully Touch

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  • 3410,

    The studios themselves, in my opinion, are guilty of cultural vandalism of barbarian proportions.

    Like the Beeb. They don't know what they've got till it's gone.

    Frankly, the Italians are the worst for looking after their 'sixties media artifacts. Many of their soundtrack reissues start with a shitty 45 rip because the single version was snipped out of the master tape and lost.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Ah... yes...well, I'm a bit ashamed of that post. It was a cheap shot comparing McCully and Key to dogs.

    Sorry dogs.

    I know standing up for Murray McCully is just asking for a faecal facial, but what other "support" was Pete Bethune expecting from the Foreign Affairs Minister? I certainly hope that if Katsuya Okada.tried to "intervene" in legal proceedings against a Japanese pro-whaling activist in this country, he'd be politely but firmly told to fuck off. At least I'd hope so.

    And Scotty, you might want to think this line through:

    Bethune's tactics may not be to everyone's tastes, but give the guy some credit, because he stands by his principles.

    And the perpetrators of the Rainbow Warrior Bombing were standing by their principles too -- that the interests of the French state security apparatus trumped everything else, not least the life of the man they killed. I'm an old-fashioned girl, but there's some things that don't earn you a gold star for effort.

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

  • DexterX,

    I'm late but after reading Lucia\s blog entry “Protector's Predator's and Prey” it is best ignored as to consider and respond to it is to step into shit.

    Have recently seen two of the best games of rugby in my life the Maoris defeating England and the Abs defeating the Boks on Saturday – The BS that abounds at the moment takes away from those two outstanding achievements.

    Hayden has used the situation, (Brooke, the ambassadorship, the occasion of the ABs Boks clash) to gain attention from which he will likely benefit – it doesn’t appear he was that interested in the role in any real sense.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1224 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    I know standing up for Murray McCully is just asking for a faecal facial, but what other "support" was Pete Bethune expecting from the Foreign Affairs Minister

    I think Pete Bethune's a bit of a dick, actually.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    Hey, Pete Bethune is pro-whale rather than pro-humanity and, given the numbers, I am somewhat supportive. He did go into dangerous waters, and he did prevent Japanese whalers - who were & will be hunting in a sanctuary that is supported by both us & Aus- from killing some of whales they intended to kill. So, well done kai te pai, him-

    I am also well aware of the commercial arm of Greenpeace.

    As for the ANZ government's response to the Japanese intrusion into the Southern sanctuary - whimpish, cringing, and lap-doggish all actually come to mind. Definite, forthright, & principled? Not at all.

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Keir Leslie,

    And the perpetrators of the Rainbow Warrior Bombing were standing by their principles too -- that the interests of the French state security apparatus trumped everything else, not least the life of the man they killed. I'm an old-fashioned girl, but there's some things that don't earn you a gold star for effort.

    Except those aren't really the principles of the Republique Francaise, are they? I mean, the French make this one easy: liberte, egalite, fraternite.

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    As for the ANZ government's response to the Japanese intrusion into the Southern sanctuary - whimpish, cringing, and lap-doggish all actually come to mind. Definite, forthright, & principled? Not at all.

    Cant argue with that now, can you? :)

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

  • Sacha,

    what other "support" was Pete Bethune expecting from the Foreign Affairs Minister?

    When a New Zealand ship is rammed in international waters, yes, I expect our government to take that up forcefully with the nation concerned - especially when they are illegally killing whales for commercial gain in an international sanctuary.

    Instead, what do we get from whimpering little McLapdog? A prompt arselicking for the Japanese, that's what. Followed up with a litte light leghumping.

    It's not just "the legal proceedings" against Bethune but what came before. Some political intervention is called for, and there are ways to do that which don't involve interfering with another nation's internal legal system. The Australian government's actions against Japanese whaling in the Southern Ocean provide a useful comparison.

    And the perpetrators of the Rainbow Warrior Bombing were standing by their principles too

    Oh give us a break. They were professional soldiers/spies. They blew up a ship and killed a man. No equivalence at all.

    I think Pete Bethune's a bit of a dick, actually.

    That's fine too. It's not about him specifically anyway, more about sovereignty and having a government willing to stand up for its citizens and its international obligations, not roll over at the first hint of jellimeat.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Cant argue with that now, can you? :)

    Sure I can, but I have a big bag of coffee to earn. And twelve thousand words on why I want to have the brains of Sergio Leone and Sylvian Chomet in jars on the mantle isn't quite going to do it. Radical squee-ectomy ho!

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

  • Kumara Republic,

    If Pete Bethune is a bit of a dick, that's nothing compared with the pro-whaling protesters calling for him to be 'hanged'. They come across as the hyper-nationalist types who think General Tojo was innocent.

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

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Sure I can,

    Think of your blood pressure.

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

  • Sacha,

    I have a big bag of coffee to earn

    Verily, tis the new economy..

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • ScottY,

    Craig, Sacha responded better than I could on most of the points you raised.

    I think Pete Bethune's a bit of a dick, actually.

    Bethune may well be, but then he's entitled to be just a wee bit pissed off at the way he's been treated.

    A Japanese whaling ship deliberately rammed his ship and almost killed him and his crew (some people would call that attempted murder), and our Government has not only done nothing to protest that action, it appears to have accepted the Japanese version of events.

    I'm sure consular staff aided Bethune as best they could in Japan, as you would expect them to. But at a high level nothing has been done to question the circumstances that led to Bethune boarding the Japanese ship.

    It's interesting to speculate on what would have occurred if Bethune had been an Australian citizen.

    West • Since Feb 2009 • 794 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    If Pete Bethune is a bit of a dick, that's nothing compared with the pro-whaling protesters calling for him to be 'hanged'. They come across as the hyper-nationalist types who think General Tojo was innocent.

    They may well be, though I don't think you can fault the Japanese police for not dispersing protestors with water cannons and tear gas. Can you?

    It's interesting to speculate on what would have occurred if Bethune had been an Australian citizen.

    Well, he's white, media-friendly and middle-class so I'm sure the Schapelle Corby Double Standard would have applied. (If you're wondering what I'm going on about, tell me who Andrew Chan is without hitting Google.)

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

  • Kyle Matthews,

    How many past and present All Blacks have passed their lives able to go out in public without acting like Visigoths with erections at the sight of a pretty woman? Those professional sportsmen who don't treat women like semen spitoons should grow a pair and speak up.

    I read a quote from Michael Jones (one of the other ambassadors) saying that he did not support what Haden had said and was disappointed in him. I suspect there's as many "rugby people" that are annoyed at Haden as are supportive of what he said.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Bethune may well be, but then he's entitled to be just a wee bit pissed off at the way he's been treated.

    A Japanese whaling ship deliberately rammed his ship and almost killed him and his crew (some people would call that attempted murder), and our Government has not only done nothing to protest that action, it appears to have accepted the Japanese version of events.

    I genuinely don't know who was at fault in the incident, but Sea Shepherd has a troubling record of violence, including the ramming of other vessels. I think they're loose units, and I don't like their pointless feud with Greenpeace.

    Damian and I interviewed Bill Watson for the radio show this year, and got pretty frustrated with the gulf between his attitude to Sea Shepherd ramming other vessels (morally necessary) and the Japanese ramming them (attempted murder).

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    many of the fundamentally irrational believe that absolute power comes from the barrel of a Caran D'Ache fountain pen.

    I thought they made Crayons, never mind.
    In other stupid National Govt. News...
    You know when they tell us that we can't afford stuff like decent wages for those involved in Health care and Education at the same time as cutting taxes to the wealthy?. Well Crusher Collins says Prison will bring $1.2b to region. I guess all those Doctors, nurses and teachers spend their hard earned cents abroad then.
    C**TS.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    @Steve: on top of that is the polluters' corporate welfare.

    Crusher Collins' announcement reeks of the Broken Window Parable. What next, will bodyguards become the next Paritai Drive fashion accesory?

    And if we're having enough trouble as it is determining who's innocent and who's guilty...

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

  • Steve Barnes,

    Yes D.R. indeed, Cap 'n' trade or Cap in Hand, it's all the same to me.
    The broken window parable also applies to my argument when you consider that the Glazier would, in all probability, spend his profit in a shop.
    And, oh yes, isn't our Department of "Justice" an embarrassment?. I waited 13 years to receive reparation for an assault and in that 13 years was harassed over a traffic infringement which occurred after the sale of a car (it was parked outside a wreckers yard without warrant or rego. for a few hours) I had to dig up the paperwork at least once a year. they told me I was lucky as most people don't keep records that long, go figure.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Jan Farr,

    I'm sorry I'm so late to this blog. I don't know when I've enjoyed one more! Right on the ball Russell, if you'll the forgive the obvious.

    Carterton • Since Apr 2008 • 395 posts Report Reply

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