Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Turning the page

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  • Russell Brown,

    Just getting this over on System ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Danyl Mclauchlan,

    Surely the Hollow Men will be all but forgotten once Ian Wishart's biography of Helen Clark brings the Government to its knees next week.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 927 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    What new laws would they wished for? Bag and person checks for everyone who works in parliament?

    I think the Police involvement in this was always going to result in nothing of substance - the inside word I heard was that a disgruntled secretary obtained the emails as she had access to the Don's in-box.

    If that's the case, and Don was stupid enough to conduct business through email that ought not have been, then no new law will suffice to reduce the risk of being exposed for being an idiotically indiscrete lothario simultaneously with leading on a public campaign on morals.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Conor Roberts,

    We can now officially give up on the always-far-fetched-idea that the emails at the heart of The Hollow Men were snatched from the Parliamentary email system by some master hacker.

    So, whodunit?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 57 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    What new laws would they wished for? Bag and person checks for everyone who works in parliament?

    I presumed that the new laws wouldn't alter this case at all, but were simply things that they discovered while investigating the case. Incidental so to speak.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Idiot Savant,

    So, whodunit?

    Cui bono?

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Hosking,

    Cui bono?

    Nah, he's in the clear.

    South Roseneath • Since Nov 2006 • 830 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    __So, whodunit?__

    Cui bono?

    Well that's hard to answer assuming it wasn't Key (who'd be stupid to be directly involved...).

    Perhaps the person had a more personal than political motive? I suspect, but don't know, it was likely a coincidence of benefits for a group and a group dissemination.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Idiot Savant,

    And on a less serious note:

    I've got a theory
    that it's an MP
    a rival MP
    No, something isn't right there

    I've got a theory
    It was a hacker
    Stole all the emails
    Golly what a nightmare

    I've got a theory we should work this out...

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • Danyl Mclauchlan,

    I take it nobody believes Mr Hagar's claim that the material was leaked to him by 'principled conservatives' within the National Party?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 927 posts Report Reply

  • Idiot Savant,

    I take it nobody believes Mr Hagar's claim that the material was leaked to him by 'principled conservatives' within the National Party?

    "Principled conservatives"? I don't think they exist.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Perhaps the person had a more personal than political motive? I suspect, but don't know, it was likely a coincidence of benefits for a group and a group dissemination.

    Well, you could ask Nicky Hagar. I know Russell and I disagree on this, but I think the line between "theft, leaking and whistleblowing" becomes a little clearer when we're allowed to assess the motives and credibility of properly disclosed sources.

    "Principled conservatives"? I don't think they exist.

    Yo' Mama too, Idiot.

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

  • Conor Roberts,

    I take it nobody believes Mr Hagar's claim that the material was leaked to him by 'principled conservatives' within the National Party?

    I'd like to think so.

    Whatever anyway, it's a shame that the MSM did, and will, ignore all the underlying issues Hagar's book threw up - neo-liberal vs. conservative ideological tensions within right-wing political parties, the influence of money in politics and the debasement of our democracy...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 57 posts Report Reply

  • slarty,

    principled conservatives
    military intelligence

    Don't forget: http://www.lawcom.govt.nz/ProjectGeneral.aspx?ProjectID=96

    Since Nov 2006 • 290 posts Report Reply

  • Idiot Savant,

    Craig: that was hardly the jumping on and savaging I expected. OTOH, given that there are no swamp-gas flares around, that's probably for the better.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • Danyl Mclauchlan,

    it's a shame that the MSM did, and will, ignore all the underlying issues Hagar's book threw up - neo-liberal vs. conservative ideological tensions within right-wing political parties, the influence of money in politics and the debasement of our democracy...

    The last two points have been addressed pretty exhaustively by the MSM over the last three years - of course its generally been the government thats been quite rightly in the firing line over these issues and not the opposition. I guess if Labour hadn't bafflingly decided to make elections and election spending an ongoing issue and defining scandal of its third term then the MSM might have paid more attention to Nationals problems. But you can hardly blame the media for that.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 927 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Craig: that was hardly the jumping on and savaging I expected.

    Certainly not up to your usual standard of bad faith invective -- that's worth bringing out the nail file for. Lift your game.

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

  • Idiot Savant,

    Danyl: And OTOH, if Labour hadn't moved to plug the loopholes so devastaingly exposed by Hagar's book, then our democracy would be a lot poorer for it. What disturbs me is that so many people, when faced with clear problems which undermined the integrity of our electoral system, were quite content to let them continue.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    But you know Wellington, rumours up to its armpits and they're not always correct.

    But so often actionably defamatory, which is why they don't usually see print in any way, shape or form. It's always been my view that its a matter of when, not if, some commentator lands a blogger in the hole for a fat cheque made out to Messers Sue, Grabbit and Runne.

    Perhaps leave the cute sin-nuendo to Ratshit Glaucoma, Braindead Saunders and other gossip hags who have large corporates paying their legal bills?

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

  • Don Christie,

    Thanks Danyl for the informative link to Mr. Wishart's forthcoming publication.

    I approach it with some trepidation however as the title, "ABSOLUTE POWER", suggests that this book may be as divorced from reality as his thoughts on evolution, religion, society and just about anything else he cares to pontificate on.

    Maybe someone could inform Mr. Wishart that Helen Clark has headed three minority governments since 1999 and never been close to "ABSOLUTE POWER". I say this only in the interests of Wishart not making a complete dick of himself, again.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report Reply

  • Danyl Mclauchlan,

    Actually Don, I've made that very point to Ian on his blog. His reply:

    Not so, Danyl, previous Prime Ministers were more tightly restricted by constitutional conventions and a more independent public service. The reforms of the past 20 years have seriously weakened the latter, whilst this administration has not even paid lip service to constitutional conventions...

    MMP has not prevented Clark getting much of her agenda through Parliament, by playing one side off against the other on an issue by issue basis...

    So there you have it - Clark has the kind of absolute power where you have to play sides off against each other on an issue by issue basis, which seems like a pretty crummy kind of absolute power if you ask me . . .

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 927 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Thanks Danyl for the informative link to Mr. Wishart's forthcoming publication.

    But no answer to the most important questions: Are the pages two or three-ply? Textured or plain? Scented? Printed with stylish patterns designed to enhance every lifestyle?

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

  • 3410,

    ...Detective Inspector Harry Quinn (what a great pulp fiction name for a cop!)...

    Perhaps the name reminds you of Hank Quinlan, Orson Welles' corrupt Police captain in Touch of Evil.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • simon g,

    MMP has not prevented Clark getting much of her agenda through Parliament, by playing one side off against the other on an issue by issue basis...

    Brilliant! Decide on the book's title, then rewrite the dictionary to fit. But don't stop at the New Language, invent the New Arithmetic too.

    Civil Unions, for example, would have been defeated without the votes of National and ACT MPs. So Clark's "absolute power" includes hypnosis.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report Reply

  • Lyndon Hood,

    So Clark's "absolute power" includes hypnosis.

    Wouldn't it be shocking if Wishart's book actually proved that reptillian rumour.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report Reply

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