Posts by Grant Robertson

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  • Speaker: Part 19: Beating Sri Lanka,

    Rob, don't judge Sri Lanka by this morning. They did not play Vaas, Malinga or Murali. It would be like expecting us to beat anyone decent without Bond, Vettori and Oram. I reckon you should think again about your $50....

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 25 posts Report

  • Speaker: The Re-Branding of Maxim,

    At the risk of being called a pseudo-academic again by Craig, I think the "research report" is a load of crap.

    Firstly the methodological problems of an internet survey run deep. Given this is Maxim I have considerable doubts as to the identity of who actually completed the survey. Secondly the catogerisation exercise outlined in the report lends itself to some very strong value judgements about what people were "really trying to say". Thirdly the questions that were asked were unlikely to throw much light on actual views- except for the very specific one on role of the individual, which as I said in the post is where Maxim want to take this 'debate'.

    anyway, my point is not that there are not a variety of views on the meaning of social justice (be they naturally occuring or forced out), more that Maxim have very deliberately chosen this phrase because it has been associated with the left of politics for so long.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 25 posts Report

  • Speaker: The Re-Branding of Maxim,

    to be absolutely clear- the reference to Section 59 in the first para of the post was merely an example of how one group has framed an issue (quite successfully I might add). Not making any link to Maxim on that debate. In fact their submission on the bill was more of the amending kind.

    The link to Maxim is that I think they are in the business of doing a bit of re-framing and re-branding on 'social justice'. Its a concept that's important to me and my politicial philosophy, and the transparent attempt to highjack it from its common/traditional meaning is the issue I am raising.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 25 posts Report

  • Speaker: The Re-Branding of Maxim,

    my point is not that Maxim are what most people would consider neo-cons, but that this kind of appropriation of language is what neo-cons and the religious right in the US have done.

    and while I could have dropped in an "and" between neo-conservative and religious right, the links and combined activity between them has been the defining dynamic of American politics for the last decade or so, I would have thought.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 25 posts Report

  • Speaker: Students vs Dunedin,

    I have made it a mission to collect great front page ODT headlines over the years, two stand out for me

    "Azaleas Flower in Gardens" ( yes it was the lead)

    "World Stops as Shrek Shewn" ( that is right they laid down arms in Baghdad that day)

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 25 posts Report

  • Speaker: Part 13: Rattue: A Vegetable Stew,

    ah, Bingle you have to understand, half the fun of the romance is in the anticipation. If we went straight for the kiss what would it mean as much?

    your work with Kennedy has gone unrecognised. was it you that told Turner he had the goods? tell me is he still playing President's Grade for Green Island?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 25 posts Report

  • Speaker: Part 6: Why We Lose,

    yep in Post one we indicated who we are and our pedigree, as it were. so check that out for details.

    we are not hiding our collective light under a bush, just absent mindedness, so for the record,

    Part One/Two/Four :Grant (me)
    Part Three/Six: Hamish
    Part Five: Alex

    Also definitely encourage you to check out macca's thoughts at http://blacksnacks.blogspot.com/

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 25 posts Report

  • Speaker: Part 1: Thoughtful,…,

    trust me Sarah they were lonely hours. there was nothing like sitting in a howling southerly in the Rose Stand at Carisbrook, alternating between doing my science homework and watching Kevin Burns eek out a couple of singles an over. There were no drunken morons there- it was just me and the guy in an anorak with his transistor radio turned up loud.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 25 posts Report

  • Island Life: My way or the highway,

    slightly off thread, but how is this extraordinary statement from the Dom Post's sycophantic editorial about Key's speech

    " Whatever the case National can only benefit from reframing its policies in terms that are less threatening to middle New Zealand. The trick will be to re-assure the party faithful that Natonal is still committed to notions like individual responsibility and the belief that the State can't and shouldn't do everything"

    that's right the Dom is actually encouraging Key to lie, and spin his way to victory. We all know framing issues is part of the game, but I thought newspapers didn't like those kind of tricks....

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominionpost/3945561a6483.html

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 25 posts Report

  • OnPoint: D11: Chennai to Bangalore,

    Hey Keith, I see from the Guardian (now how urban liberal does that sound) that Nicholas Stern is going to be there with Gordon Brown. Sidle up to him, and ask what he is doing to make his trip to India carbon neutral. Seriously would be good to get his take on place of NZ in the 'post carbon' economy.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 25 posts Report

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