Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The Secret Code

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  • Nick D'Angelo,

    ... while it might not seem that big a deal to the lay observer ...

    Ah yes, we lay observers don't understand the real truth of what is really going on. That's why we need the media to tell us what is going on. So the fact that Goff didn't chuckle and tell Driver "you're not catching me out with that question Ollie, I refuse to answer hypotheticals" must mean that Goff really__ is planting a seed.

    Of course even if __had given ALT a non-answer, and it was a slow news day, the headline would still be GOFF DUCKS QUESTIONS ON LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE!

    Simon Laan • Since May 2008 • 162 posts Report

  • dc_red,

    Paul C - would you buy a used car from this man? ;-)

    Oil Patch, Alberta • Since Nov 2006 • 706 posts Report

  • Paul Campbell,

    well the answer is "I don't know" - as I said to me he comes over as a guy from sales which trips my BS detector - but that may just be from hanging out in that milieu for too long - I can't tell 'till the poker face get laid aside

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report

  • Bob Munro,

    So has anyone here actually met Key - I just can't get a read on him - is he real? acting? what does he believe in?

    Please excuse the familial connection but the political guy at Canta blogged about this.

    The biggest surprise in meeting Key was actually how…small he seemed. Usually with politicians you get a sense they KNOW they are someone important and demand you acknowledge that in someway (see Douglas and the door). With Key, there was no sense that he carried himself as if he thought he was important. From the moment he got out of the car he was friendly, chatty (he and my editor ended up talking about Ali Vs Liston and The Flight of The Concords), and an all around nice guy.

    But he did appear a bit challenged in the coordination stakes.

    So there I am, a little star struck to be meeting John Key, and we’re walking up to the Canta office, up the flight of stairs in the UCSA building when suddenly, BAM, Key trips and falls on the stairs, and comes quite close to hitting his head.
    Awwwwwwwkward.
    So there you have it, the guys a political genius, he’s probably going to win the election, but he can’t quite master the art of walking up stairs.
    Finally, the weakness Labour has been waiting for.

    Christchurch • Since Aug 2007 • 418 posts Report

  • John Morrison,

    because if you don't have a closetful of masks that allow you to function, you're either a saint, a madman or a damn liar

    is a fascinating statement. The people where we live, including ourselves, are really WYSIWYG. There may be hesitancy before they open up, but masks and BS are generally not part of any interaction. Is it a function of geography or what?

    Cromwell • Since Nov 2006 • 85 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    But he did appear a bit challenged in the coordination stakes.

    *sigh* Yes, I found it rather interesting that on Three the most important thing about Boris Johnson's first day as London Mayor was tripping over a riser on his way to the podium.

    The people where we live, including ourselves, are really WYSIWYG. There may be hesitancy before they open up, but masks and BS are generally not part of any interaction. Is it a function of geography or what?

    No, John. It's called being a grown-up where not every thought and emotion has to be verbailised and absolute candour is rather obnoxious.

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

  • Nick D'Angelo,

    It's called being a grown-up where not every thought and emotion has to be verbailised and absolute candour is rather obnoxious.

    Hmmm. Good advice. Maybe I should apply that to my PAS comments ...

    Simon Laan • Since May 2008 • 162 posts Report

  • Steve Withers,

    I was all on board with the media beatup idea and blogged as much myself. Goff could easily stand by his comments on AltTV and come up smelling roses and the media looking silly had he stuck to that. But adding the "at the moment" to his comment reported in the Herald certainly made me think he was putting his own political ambitions ahead of the wider interest of the party he would like to lead. He would only use that short-term description to indicate a short term.....like from here to the election. The doubt he raised is based on a Labour loss...and the timing for such trial balloons was just....well.....awful.

    Thanks, Russell for making that "moment" gaffe look a tiny bit smaller, but it was still a poor show (IMHO) from a would-be Labour leader the day before the Budget, whereas his comments in the AltTV interview made him look genuine and open.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 312 posts Report

  • Steve Withers,

    Then it should be refined to "needia". It's more clear... :-)

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 312 posts Report

  • Steve Withers,

    Far be it from me to give Labour any free campaign advice, but they're really going to have to do a little better than Irradiated Rogergnomes Under The Bed. I really think that's going to work as well as the GOP's latest strategic brainfart -- let's paint Obama as Neville Chamberlain with added melanin.

    Craig, I love that..... LOL!

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 312 posts Report

  • Steve Withers,

    I think the story does the party's election campaign some harm, but it does much greater harm to Goff's chances of ever taking over.

    Bruce: I agree. The "at the moment" changed my perception of what Goff had said on AltTV and of him. Positive to negative in a 'Beach Haven moment'.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 312 posts Report

  • George Darroch,

    Far be it from me to give Labour any free campaign advice, but they're really going to have to do a little better than Irradiated Rogergnomes Under The Bed.

    I suspect however the Labour Party try to paint their opposition, they'll get little traction with the media.

    I'm feeling a sense of deja vu here, as all through 2005 National got a free run from the MSM on not revealing policy, and not having some pretty flimsy policies examined or challenged. Although, keeping policies up your sleeve like cards, and then playing them at the most electorally opportune moment is how "the game" of politics is supposed to be run, isn't it?

    Far be from me to suggest that those presenting themselves as the next government tell us what they actually intend to do. That's conspiracy talk!

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Hmmm. Good advice. Maybe I should apply that to my PAS comments ...

    Why? I don't -- but I'm reasonably certain you've had days when you've just had to put your game face on and deal with the world, when all you want to do is scream and kick the poo out of the driveling fuck-tards who are wasting your oxygen. That happens to me on every other day that ends in Y. :)

    I'm feeling a sense of deja vu here, as all through 2005 National got a free run from the MSM on not revealing policy, and not having some pretty flimsy policies examined or challenged.

    Up to a point, but I'll take a punt and say Labour got more passes than it really deserved too. Let's remember the Ombudsman had to order Cullen to release political embarrasing Treasury costings of Labour's flagship student loans policy. Taking my partisan hat off for a moment, Kudos to the late Chief Ombudsman John Belgrave, but it sure as hell isn't a good look -- I don't recall anything like this happening before, but it's sure all too common for OIA requests to be screwed with on spurious grounds.

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

  • Steve Parks,

    Sofie

    And I thought your new word was well thought out.Will look forward to adopting it if you don't mind?

    Go for it. I'm all about the sharing.

    Wellington • Since May 2007 • 1165 posts Report

  • Steve Parks,

    Russell

    Nice point from Gordon Campbell on Scoop:

    Whenever the media whines in future about politicians refusing to answer their questions, Phil Goff’s interview on Alt TV is a perfect example of what can happen when they do : a beat-up of monumental proportions, not even remotely supported by what was said.

    Hey, I made that point first, right here on PA System! I bet Gordon just saw my post and ran with it.

    Wellington • Since May 2007 • 1165 posts Report

  • Steve Parks,

    Bob

    I think if John Key resigned at leader of the National Party, then the news that Bill English (deputy leader) would be in the running for leader should be non-news.
    You don't think people should know that?
    I guess we have a different idea about what should be reported.
    I'm not going to argue some of the coverage yesterday was not overheated.
    But that's nowhere near the same as saying Goff's comments should not have been reported, and reported prominently.
    That's only partly because of their content. The significance was that someone with as many miles on the clock as Goff was saying them at all.

    By definition the comments were reported - they were made in an interview on Alt TV. But the comments themselves, in context, didn't come close to justifying the way the rest of the media covered (created, really) the story.

    Wellington • Since May 2007 • 1165 posts Report

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