Posts by larryq

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  • Hard News: How many children with cancer…,

    This is just a beat up. As a rule I ignore stories about how much money Government organisations are spending on non core activities and how many widgets they could fund on a single house/person/bird/tree/. It's just bullshit and the Nats know it. In a years time assuming a National Government, Labour will be saying how rapacious civil servants are under National. It all increases the cynicism many people have for bureaucrats.

    What we should really be looking at is the overall spend on government services and how effective they are compared to the alternatives.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 24 posts Report Reply

  • Island Life: A pig this good you don't…,

    It's that time in the electoral cycle, what do you expect. The chances of journalists, or any one else, accurately adding up all the promises is about nil. What hasn't been said, but Russell hints at, is that National will be dealing with [read to] the other side of the ledger. Might not be as brutal as Ruth Richardson's razor gang, but it will be substantial. The Labour Party lolly scramble will be over. Some stupid things will be cut, as will some good things. Seems like we are destined for a clean out every 15 years or so.

    I just hope the personal attacks aren't as bad as we are seeing in the UK (all directed at Gordon Brown) and the US between Clinton and Obama. I fear it will be as nasty, especially when Culllen realises his career is over. He can be a nasty piece of work - the 'rich prick' stuff will semm mild.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 24 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Spin Spun,

    You're still missing my point, which is more about the unmolested ease with which the spin makes the news columns.

    OK got it, and thanks for responding. I'm impressed. I also like the fact that the political persuasions of both you and David F are explicit and your posts are read with that knowledge. The same can’t be said for Ruth Laugeson but I’d put money on her being closer to your view than David Fs.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 24 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Spin Spun,

    ... the point was the way that (a) such releases make news columns almost verbatim, angles intact; (b) the way news organisations report such a story while avoiding the grim fact of the hollowing out of news-gathering resources, (c) the fact that the majority of the people counted in the story cannot reasonably be regarded as "spin doctors".

    It may be relevant, but how can you be surprised Russell. Politicians have been putting out press releases at slow news times and when the journalists are on holiday in the hope of verbatim reportage since the beginning of time. It just seems to me that you and David Farrar are perpetually balancing each other out with your bagging of National and Farrar's criticism of Labour in equal measure, often for doing the same thing. I guess it works for you both?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 24 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Spin Spun,

    This tit for tat stuff is rather pathetic coming from such experienced commentators as Russell Brown and David Farrar. Putting out press releases attempting to paint the opposing party as profligate is an ancient art, pursued with equal vigor by all parties. If Labour lose the election they will have all of Simon Power’s press releases, and particularly the smarmy efforts of Tony Ryall if he retains Health, to be used against them. Nothing is more certain. Even now National is blamed for everything that goes wrong, after 8 years out of power. It’s just a game, played for the converted.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 24 posts Report Reply

  • Yellow Peril: the identity game,

    A bit worried about the "oh it's all too hard for the NZers" line. I think we can lay off those who identify as ethnic "New Zealanders" when the white-dominated media lays off the "Asians".

    The real problem is that when the census says 'ethnic' people read 'race' and that is very slippery concept. It's time the census came clean and either asks what it really wants to know - i.e. are you & your children one of the underachieveing groups in society, or stay away from race altogether and ask about cultural identity - something that people can answer without getting tangled up.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 24 posts Report Reply

  • Yellow Peril: the identity game,

    It would be easy to classify the 'New Zealanders' as a bunch of old fashioned white racists. I live and mix almost exclusively in the so called beltway with Wellington white liberals (so not exactly a proper sample) and a surprising number of these people classified as NZers, not because they were Brash Orewa suporters, but mainly because they were just tired of the amount of public energy expended in arguing over indigenous ethnic issues. Typically they would be pro the Treaty stuff, OK with their kids learning some Maori, keen supporters of ethnic culture, especially if food was involved.....but just a bit ground down with the emphasis that applies in this country to such issues. Don't be too hard on the NZers, becasue we really don't know what motivated them to self classify as such.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 24 posts Report Reply

  • Island Life: I have aspirations going,

    Of course it was the normal BS political speech, you can't tell me you expected anything different. You must have written your share of quacking speeches DS? Who the hell really listens to them anyway...although I'll never forget that Mike Moore election night speech.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 24 posts Report Reply

  • Speaker: The Hollow Men: Initial Impressions,

    Clarke Wrote:

    weapons-grade stupidity of the National Party strategists who thought that attacking Labour over corruption and credibility was somehow going to work when Brash's mis-steps were hanging over them.

    That's the wonderful thing about politicians (of all persuasions), they are such habitual risk takers that there will always be great copy for journalists and plenty of gossip for Wellingtonians. However, the pledge card thing was such a obvious rort that the labour party needed to be hamered for it. At least brash did the right thing.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 24 posts Report Reply

  • Speaker: The Hollow Men: Initial Impressions,

    methods perfected by the American intelligence agencies to destabilize "unfriendly" regimes all over the world are being used by secretive groups with hidden agendas in their own countries...

    Ridiculous. Let's not forget that:

    1. the Exclusive Bretheren connection didn't help the nats at the last election. I thought it was a bloody stupid decision to risk being tainted by an association with people who are so obviously nutters, and so it proved to be.
    2. NZ is such a small place. It's naive to think that such things can be kept hidden.
    3. We have a long tradition of regularly getting rid of Governments, and hopefully that continues, although it worries me that National don't have an obvious coallition partner, which could mean that we are destined to have smug labour governments most of the time.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 24 posts Report Reply

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