Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The perils of political confidence

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  • Russell Brown, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    One might also think Mr. Joyce should be very careful about defaming anyone while wearing his campaign chair hat. He only has the tax-payer picking up his legal bills for defamation actions when acting as a Minister.

    There's zero chance of a newspaper taking defamation action in such circumstances -- or, indeed, at almost any time. Like Joyce himself, the HoS doesn't lack for a platform to put its views,

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to merc,

    you're thinking of National.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Russell Brown,

    There’s zero chance of a newspaper taking defamation action in such circumstances – or, indeed, at almost any time.

    No, you’re quite right. But a freelancer (whose major asset is his professional reputation) might just take exception to having his actions compared to those of a tabloid so egregiously scummy it not only got shut down by a paragon of journalistic hygiene like Murdoch (despite being vastly profitable), but now has a string of former-staffers facing criminal charges. Not exactly risk-adverse conduct from Joyce, who has been round long enough to know that a campaign operative who becomes the story is a bad one..

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

  • merc,

    I was taking my unrelated oblique out for a media stroll ;-)

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    I can’t wait for Cameron Slater to post the full sound recording on his website. I mean, a man who can so assiduously supposedly track down the freelance cameraman involved must surely extend his never ending dedication to exposing the truth to publishing the tape? Surely? Surely?

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I know she is her own woman with her own work, but If she didn't want her conservative views known she wouldn't write about them in the Listener each week.

    What I was commenting on was the cyclic nature of all this. We can't predict how an action in one time and place will come back in another form.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Tom Semmens,

    I think someone who's already been done for contempt (and denied leave to appeal) really might want to avoid a return engagement. I know you don't believe this, Tom, but Slater is not universally adored in National Party circles.

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

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    I know she is her own woman with her own work, but If she didn’t want her conservative views known she wouldn’t write about them in the Listener each week.

    And perhaps you might want to focus on them instead of the repeated snide allusions to her husband -- whose current employment as a senior press secretary to the Prime Minister is the only "National Party link" I'm aware of. Perhaps you have something else you'd like to share with the group, or is it OK to be sexist and patronising as long as you don't like the woman concerned?

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

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    I think someone who’s already been done for contempt (and denied leave to appeal) really might want to avoid a return engagement. I know you don’t believe this, Tom, but Slater is not universally adored in National Party circles.

    So wouldn’t ACT or the Libz be a more natural home for our old friend Whaley? He sounds pig-headedly macro-nationalistic enough for either.

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

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    So wouldn’t ACT or the Libz be a more natural home for him? He sounds pig-headedly macro-nationalistic enough for either.

    Yet another bullet point on my 'Don't really know, don't really care' list. But my experience doesn't bear out the meme that Cameron Slater is the Darth Maul of the National Party. But, of course, I would say that wouldn't I? BWAHAHAHAHA! *twirl mustache, flick cape, and melodramatically exit stage right *

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

  • Rich Lock, in reply to Kracklite,

    I've loved the Roman custom of having a slave ride in the chariot of a general returning in a triumphal procession, whispering in his ear, "Remember that thou art a man."

    I've always wondered about that. Chariot rolls up to steps of forum, General steps off, motions to nearby guard: 'Have this slave thrown to the lions. He's been annoying My Divine Self for the last 20 minutes.'

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Meanwhile, dear Media and Politicians, if you’re so concerned #teapottapes are a “distraction from real issues” why didn’t you dedicate the lengthy airtime you just wasted on said real issues instead? Crazy talk, right?

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

  • 3410,

    Any word from Banks yet?

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to 3410,

    Any word from Banks yet?

    He's declined to comment, which is pretty sensible when this whole imbroglio is now upgraded to "current and ongoing Police investigation".

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

  • merc,

    Banks said Key asked him to tea so it would be impolite for him to make any comment because you know this is about a tea party right?
    I am surprised the media, one outlet did, hasn't remembered that this tea chat thing is an MMP code word for vote this way not that I'm telling you to.
    MMP fail.

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Could it be that Key knows that National's 120 point plan is a fizzer, only about 20 are labelled as "New Policy" and the rest are either "in progress" or "completed".
    Hardly worth headlines so getting this opportunity to shut down any discussion of policy must have either been a godsend or a blatant fabrication of scandal.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    Andrew Geddis on distraction:

    And seeing as National's election strategy is not having to talk about the election, it's far better to have the discussion focused on whether the news media is acting properly than on, well, anything else really.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Gordon Campbell on the core matter of privacy (and media meekness).

    Well, can the same venue be an arena for actions where maximum media exposure is being sought one moment, and then be reasonably expected to be totally exempt from media scrutiny the next – given that the participants are willing to invite the media pack to stand only a metre away behind glass, trying to put devices on the glass to pick up what’s being said, and photographing and filming the conversation in question? As Geddis suggests, can you reasonably invite the same conversation to be seen, but not heard?

    In other words, ‘legality’ or ‘illegality’ is not an obvious black and white matter in this case. Geddis also raises an interesting point as to whether the clearing out of the media from the café was a legally enforceable demand. The media were asked to leave, but their almost total compliance seems to have been purely voluntary. If one person – either accidentally or on purpose – did not consent, it does seem questionable whether that divergence is a legally actionable matter.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Sacha,

    I don't notice anyone gagging Pundit (or anyone else) from talking about real issues to their heart's content. (I'd pay to see anyone try and gimp-up Geddes with a ball-gag, but I don't fancy their chances.) So, yeah, I stand by my contention that politicians and media outlets so damn worried about it have the remedy in their own hands.

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

  • Sacha,

    Attachment

    I know it has probably been making its way around Bookface, but I love this image via the Listener's superb election blog. No idea who the author is.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • merc,

    Yes not NOTW, just mediocre media due to the mortgage conundrum maybe. I read that the freelancer had to work on spec, and I feel the palpable scent of salary fear round broadcast media. Then there's the TV3 conundrum, ay Mr Joyce.

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report Reply

  • Ant Timpson,

    You'd think all large media orgs would have permanent lip readers on staff for this sort of chicanery.

    AK • Since Mar 2008 • 12 posts Report Reply

  • Gareth Ward,

    Even putting aside all the media angles, it's amazing that a PM who has vigourously defended his need for significant DPS protection only recently sat through a highly public and well-telegraphed meeting with a secret black bag containing an active electronic device left centimetres away?!

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Ant Timpson,

    You’d think all large media orgs would have permanent lip readers on staff

    Is that part of the 170,000 jobs being made available? Could be a contender. "Beat the dole queue, Read my lips. you will be in a job,bludger!" ;)

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

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Ant Timpson,

    You’d think all large media orgs would have permanent lip readers on staff for this sort of chicanery.

    Screw that - Bene Gesserit witches FTW! "I will require telepathy..."

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

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