Up Front by Emma Hart

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Up Front: Choice, Bro

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  • Paul Williams, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    And what exactly is that certainty based on, Paul?

    Fair question, anecdata? I shouldn't have been so sure. I've not lived in NZ for ten years and not lived in Mangere since the early '80s. Perhaps I'm giving him too much credit?

    Well, as I've said ad nauseum, remember when Fran Wilde handed National the '87 general election?

    Zing!

    If the poor old human spreadsheet had followed whatever flickering inner lights he had, instead of being guided by that dismal troll, he'd be in line for a consolatory knighthood and maybe a High Commissionership, instead of languishing on the worst kind of political skid row.

    You're too kind to him. If he's so lacking in his own conviction, I'll happily hang him for aligning himself with Ansell. I reckon Muldoon was right about Brash.

    I laughed for ages while reading all the jokes about this on Twitter at the time. The best was Jolisa's "who will rid me of this turbulent MP?" Heh.

    I'm sorry I missed that, thanks for retelling it. I don't think even Hamilton West, a place I have no fond affection for, deserves Macindoe!

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Paul Williams,

    I reckon Muldoon was right about Brash.

    What did he say about him?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    Muldoon was very disparaging of young Brash's inability to get the nod for a North Auckland seat. More so, as when he did get a nomination, he couldn't beat Gary Knapp. Brash has never won an election outside of his caucus(es). Dubious honour for, IMHO, an entirely unspectacular MP.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Paul Williams,

    Very foolish idea to put Brash up against a Social Credit candidate! Practically their only strength was arguing against neoclassical economists.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    You could put it that way, I personally prefer the view that Brash is even less appealing that Knapp (the man who locked himself in a portable toilet in parliament as a form of protest).

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Keir Leslie,

    Brash did get chucked under the bus by Muldoon in that election.

    ETA: er Simon, could you lay off the stupid digs at Labour for the moment? I don't want to brag, but we're doing marriage equality right now and it's pretty fucking awesome.

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report Reply

  • simon g, in reply to Keir Leslie,

    we’re doing marriage equality right now and it’s pretty fucking awesome.

    Yes it is awesome. Louisa Wall has been awesome. But you can't have it both ways.

    You say "We're doing marriage equality", but if "we" means "Labour", then the party leader has been a follower. Listen to his wishy-washy distancing here ..

    http://www.95bfm.co.nz/default,206877,labour-leader-david-shearer.sm

    It's been the same in many other media appearances, ever since Obama kicked it off. You can almost hear the advisers whispering "Don't sound too strong on this one! Waitakere Swing!", and the effect is thoroughly uninspiring. Is it so hard to say "I'm voting for equality, and I'm proud to do so"? Every time he downplays it, my heart sinks.

    I acknowledge the Labour leader for allowing the private members' bill to be put in the ballot, and for voting for it (along with most government Ministers). He followed Obama and tied with Key. That deserves a pass mark. But it has been a missed opportunity for Shearer, and I suspect it's been missed for the wrong reasons. Saying you believe in something doesn't have to cost votes. Waffling usually does.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Stewart, in reply to simon g,

    You say “We’re doing marriage equality”, but if “we” means “Labour”, then the party leader has been a follower.

    "We" definitely means "Labour", but "Labour" does not mean "David Shearer and David Shearer alone". You're ignoring a lot of work by a lot of people when you assume that.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Lucy Stewart,

    You’re ignoring a lot of work by a lot of people when you assume that.

    Not all of whom are Labour, with or without air quotes, by any stretch of the imagination. Just saying... Don't get me started on Raymond Huo -- a shiver looking for a spine to run up if there ever was one. At least Sua William Sio could be arsed walking into the NO lobby.

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

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Not all of whom are Labour, with or without air quotes, by any stretch of the imagination.

    Exactly. I normally wouldn't say nice things about almost any of the youth wings, but all of them seem to have taken leadership of their seniors in this issue, and young nats in particular timed their work pretty well.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Parks,

    Wellington • Since May 2007 • 1165 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Steve Parks,

    Whereas Colin Craig is too stupid for this world or any other...

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

  • Chris Waugh, in reply to Steve Parks,

    And for Craig’s latest bit of bigotry:

    I found the Herald's note that Key was wearing a pink shirt a little odd, but I liked how they ended their piece:

    Helensville local Jools Topp, from lesbian comedy duo the Topp Twins, was not impressed either. "Helensville is a cool town and I have never had a problem there," she said. "We could do without hate-fuelled opinions being thrust into our mailboxes."

    And Colin thinks Key is too gay?

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    Whereas Colin Craig is too stupid for this world or any other…

    He should totally finance some Scientology-type movie

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Paul Williams,

    He should totally finance some Scientology-type movie

    Battlefield Helensville? Nose tubes and foiled dreads would so complement Craig's inadevertent campiness.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • simon g,

    Official rules for describing unelected activists:

    When Sue Bradford or John Minto turn up at a protest, they shall be called "rentamob". Even if no money has been paid to rent anyone.

    When Colin Craig pays a lot of money to distribute pamphlets, he shall be called a "party leader". Not "the man who actually did rent a mob to march down Queen St".

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Chris Waugh,

    And Colin thinks Key is too gay?

    I wonder if the RadioNZ newscaster was trying to suppress laughter when reading out the report.

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

  • DexterX,

    Once the man with two first names has stood in a position that adjusts John Key’s gayness to a suitable level - I want to see what his next issue will be.

    "There are people out there who simply don't like to see their prime minister doing things like dancing on stage with transvestites, as he has done in the past,"

    I find Key's dancing droll.

    We have a Prime Minister who sat oblivious to the social reforms from the 1970s onwards and is dead set on continuing the misguided work begun by the Douglas/Lange Govt.

    Key skirts around issues, he is without foundation and soul and it shows.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1224 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Chris Waugh,

    And Colin thinks Key is too gay?

    I don’t know what planet My Evil Namesake lives on, but the people I know who live out Helensville way? Plenty of lifestyle block commuters who are more worried about making the next mortgage payment than Teh Evil Geh Agenda and *cough* eccentric hippy types whose brand of conservatism is very much “leave me the fuck alone, and I’ll repay the courtesy.” A concept I wish My Evil Namesake would wrap his head around.

    Oh, and the idea that it's not hard to find a constituent who doesn't agree with everything (or even ANYTHING) their local MP says or does? Not news but simple reality. Democrazy's a bitch, ain't it?

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

  • Chris Waugh, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    whose brand of conservatism is very much “leave me the fuck alone, and I’ll repay the courtesy.”

    Maybe I'm missing something, but that's what I thought conservativism was supposed to be.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Chris Waugh,

    Liberalism, perhaps. Conservatives don't shy from forcing others to follow their particular beliefs about right and wrong, no matter what century those come from.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    I don’t know what planet My Evil Namesake lives on

    Planet "any publicity is good publicity". It's a sad planet, on which rich people spend huge sums to prove they are hateful dickheads.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams, in reply to DexterX,

    I anything but a fan of Key's but I thoroughly endorse his inclusive approach and capacity for self-deprecation. I don't think its confected either.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to BenWilson,

    Planet “any publicity is good publicity”. It’s a sad planet...

    ...true, I've never understood why people so readily trot out Oscar Wilde's hoary old chestnut; "The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about." when it is so obviously a paean to rampant Narcissism...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    “The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.” when it is so obviously a paean to rampant Narcissism…

    I'm not sure if I'm (a) on the same point as you and Ben or (b) simply deluded (in which case, I'll plead distance induced naivete) but are you both saying Key's attendance at events like the Big Gay Out etc is entirely narcissistic? It doesn't seem that to me. I think him an entirely feckless leader, incapable of voluntarily addressing most of the pressing issues applying to NZ's medium-term future and a person who quite probably does not give a toss about another's sexuality.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

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