Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: 2014: The Meth Election

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  • nzlemming, in reply to Trevor Nicholls,

    incredible, now you’re channelling “ugly truth”

    Surprise surprise.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell, in reply to Jake Starrow,

    A scout-troup, a 3- ring circus, a death metal band, a battalion of conscripts-

    all take the same inspired guidance in all aspects of human endeavour.

    ?
    No. That's a very narrow view of the world- and of human nature.
    It is, sadly, the predominent view of many trained in 'business management', but it's not even true for business, let alone a country. Generic management skills are mostly tosh, with a helping of arrogance and a side-serve of indigestible data.

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to izogi,

    who are thinking more in a business mindset than a government mindset

    And are spectacularly bad at running it as a business unless, of course, their exit strategy is a buyout...

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Rob Stowell,

    That’s a very narrow view of the world- and of human nature.
    It is, sadly, the predominent view of many trained in ‘business management’, but it’s not even true for business, let alone a country.

    Remember the terminal phase of the fourth Labour Government, where cabinet went into a kind of retreat at an Ashburton motel? An imported 'facilitator' attempted to 'team build' the quarreling factions by introducing a form of role-playing, where they pretended to have survived an air crash in the Canadian outback.

    Of course it didn't work, giving Muldoon the opportunity to snipe "Bring back the touchy-feely man!" from his parliamentary backbench when things shortly flared up again.

    Goofily romantic management-metaphors about achieving through co-operation, with their boys' own scenarios of white water rafting and survival, seem reserved for a cosseted technocrat caste and their betters. Instead the peasants are expected to compete in cutthroat vote-one-another-off-the-island style.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming,

    I just wish some of those "journalists" Rawshark left his stash with had the balls to publish. Ede-Slater must surely be in there, but now that he's off the scene, they're not worried about missing the scoop.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • mark taslov, in reply to nzlemming,

    And are spectacularly bad at running it as a business unless, of course, their exit strategy is a buyout…

    Following the links via Bryce Edward’s Herald piece to Stephen Keys' blog (might be one for the sidebar Russell) and one of his pieces on Chris Hedges, onto the video therein where I encountered the term Inverted totalitarianism:

    In inverted totalitarianism, every natural resource and every living being is commodified and exploited to collapse as the citizenry are lulled and manipulated into surrendering their liberties and their participation in government through excess consumerism and sensationalism.

    Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Mar 2008 • 2281 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to andin,

    Wrong again, Jack Sparrow. Your not too clever are you.

    Give it a rest, please. Address each other's arguments rather than calling each other stupid.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • andin, in reply to Russell Brown,

    My apologises sir

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • izogi, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I went to school with Key and I know the suburb he grew up in (and lived for several years in a state house) – it’s a fairly wealthy suburb pepper-potted with good-quality older public housing and, more importantly, is adjacent to once of the best state schools in the country, Burnside High.

    On a tangent, today's Press appears to have done a thing on "the struggle street John Key grew up on".

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 1142 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Just watched some of the Newstalk ZB leaders' breakfast stream. Key gave a long, lucid answer to Hosking's questions about how the votes will fall in the Maori electorates and elsewhere. He's really not stupid and he's very good at weighing the odds.

    The contrast between that and the evasions and recitations he makes under pressure really is very striking.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Lucy Telfar Barnard,

    He talked about the length of his tongue! I can’t unread that you know.

    Heh, Gettin' past his use by date

    Mr Key joked that the constant demand for selfies had seen the crow's feet around his eyes take a deeper hold.

    "Everyone wants a photo."

    Oh you card ,you ! And all for everyone.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Russell Brown,

    He’s really not stupid and he’s very good at weighing the odds.

    The contrast between that and the evasions and recitations he makes under pressure really is very striking.

    His intelligence doesn't prevent him from behaving as if he's running a 3rd world client state on behalf of his enablers.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Russell Brown,

    lucid answer to Hosking’s questions about how the votes will fall in the Maori electorates and elsewhere. He’s really not stupid and he’s very good at weighing the odds.

    Did he have the questions to be asked before the interview?

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Jake Starrow, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I have to give you the familiar "I couldn't agree more" retort Russell. But I couldn't.
    The difference in body language and manner are marked.

    Since Sep 2014 • 77 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    Interesting how this election is really all about Key. High risk strategy.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    Interesting how this election is really all about Key

    More to the point, ignoring every other politician over any puff piece about Key is taking up TV, Radio, and Media which would be the strategy. Look at his hairline, his wrinkle, his walk to the cafe. Selfies ( I'm cool), so popular , blah blah blah.....just like you and me, blah blah blah.
    The man gambles that he can deflect any criticism , he only needs to open his mouth and they will all come to listen so as long as he sticks to the plan. His interviews seem chosen with complacent reporters. He ignores journalists with harder questions. His strategists are the smart ones.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Jake Starrow,

    But I couldn’t.

    No I couldn't either. Something we actually agree on.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Russell Brown,

    He’s really not stupid and he’s very good at weighing the odds

    Sigh, the man is a money trader, that's wat he does and that's about all. Answering patsy questions that were probably rehearsed during a buddybuddy sleepover "that's a hard one Bobby" ' "yes it is John John. Fnah" .
    Please don't let yourself get suckered too Russ. Just because you built an extension on your house doesn't mean you have to go all middle class and support National.
    :-)

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Just watched some of the Newstalk ZB leaders’ breakfast stream.

    Same. The chumminess of the media pack with Key was astounding to watch. Laughing along with him as if nothing had changed. Need a kick up the jacksie.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • James George,

    Yet here you all are again talking about the two dimensional media creation that is John Key instead of issues around the governance of the Key regime.
    This is what is happening up and down the country as the 'chooks' fall over themselves reporting on the creep's reaction to the revelations about his abrogation of NZ's security to the NSA, such as "How did it make you feel Prime Minister" instead of what the revelations actually mean for a small independent state's struggle to remain a democratic society immune to coercion from much larger outside forces.

    Since Sep 2007 • 96 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to James George,

    You really think we haven’t been discussing the substance of this? Several recent threads, many hundreds of comments, well over 100k pageviews. And informed discussion since before Snowden.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    "People got really wound up about me calling him Dotcom's little henchman. I would have a modicum of respect for the guy if he had the guts to turn up here six months before the election, or six months after. If this loser is going to come to town and try and tell me, five days before an election, staying at the Dotcom mansion with all the Dotcom people and being paid by Dotcom, that he's doing anything other than Dotcom's bidding - please don't insult me with that."

    Sorry John, we forgot it was your job to insult us. You know, saying things like..."The experts are just wrong" , "Laila Harre is a common prostitute" or "David Cunliffe is an idiot" and generally treating us like young whipersnappers with your oh so clever jokes and your bully boy antics. So yeah......., really sorry 'bout that, eh

    Apologies to Stewie Griffin....

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Angela Hart, in reply to nzlemming,

    I just wish some of those "journalists" Rawshark left his stash with had the balls to publish.

    yes, I hope he dispersed the material widely enough that it will be acted on. Can't understand the delay, unless there wasn't much left.

    Christchurch • Since Apr 2014 • 614 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell, in reply to Russell Brown,

    He’s really not stupid and he’s very good at weighing the odds.

    The contrast between that and the evasions and recitations he makes under pressure really is very striking.

    Yep. Gordon Cambpell on the 'two Keys' in charge of the GCSB - the Rt Hon 'can't remember, not quite sure' and the Mr super-onto it.

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • Jake Starrow, in reply to Sacha,

    A handful of recent contributors bemoan the supposedly unfair amount of attention that Key receives from questioners. Specific suspicions such as patsy questions and a lack of hard follow-up questions etc all would have me believe Key is given a very soft ride.
    I suspect the potential veracity of these accusations is sadly sullied by the fact that John Key simply makes far more enticing readership appeal than Cunliffe. In short, Key has x-factor in spades and Cunliffe has none or very close to it. I realise I've strayed in territory where I can expect volleys from every direction questioning the fairness of it all and further evidence of what a corrupted media. But the bottom-line is that exposure given to Key attracts more interest than that given to Cunliffe. Unfair I accept, Irresponsible even? Maybe. But themselves the breaks. When I write about Sonny Bill Williams, I can be certain I will receive at least double the replies as to an article on Richie McCaw. And believe, it's nigh on impossible to ignore SBW just because it isn't fair.

    Since Sep 2014 • 77 posts Report Reply

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