Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Didn't see that coming

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  • Russell Brown,

    And the least inevitable thing ever: David Farrar has a post on Kiwiblog headed Dotcom boasts of hacking a PM and refuses comment.

    I don't think Farrar seriously believes Dotcom is Whaledump. It's just more wholly disingenuous misdirecting.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Bruce Buckman,

    Firstly I don't believe any of the Dotcom is Whaledump rubbish. It's wish fulfillment because it would make a good story and that (without criticism) is what motivates a journalist. I also want the election to get back on track and away from Dirty Politics because its sucking all the air out of the room and we need to hear about a lot more than that in this election.
    But all of that said I think it is naive to blame the media on this one. For better or worse Dotcom was always going to get drawn into the Dirty Politics story and the way for Internet Mana to manage that was to ensure that any public speaking he did stayed on message and that any questions about hacking/Whaledump were politely but firmly dismissed as nothing to do with Internet Mana and then batted away.
    Instead Dotcom, who clearly cannot resist the urge to say crowd pleasing things, drops this into his appearance: "I hacked our German credit rating system and put our Prime Minister's credit rating to zero because I didn't like the guy. You have all figured by now there's another Prime Minister I don't like."
    You can criticise the media all you like for not reporting the rest of the launch or giving a better indication of the crowd and the feeling in the hall but the moment Dotcom said that he guaranteed that it would become the story. Corkery's meltdown was just the icing on the cake. Blaming the media now is just like blaming a dog for eating the steak you just threw at it.

    Since Jan 2012 • 96 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to James George,

    The graphics mob undertook projects for other community organisations who wouldn’t otherwise have been able to...

    This is all good stuff, and stuff that needs to be done cyclically - but always seems to be done sporadically and then left fallow until someone realises it isn't happening and should be - wheel gets reinvented (again)...

    Getting young people to work cooperatively (amongst themselves and the community) with a range of fledgling skills creates opportunities, networks and confidence, hell, even a future...

    Cities/communities just need to give them space, time and respect...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Raymond A Francis,

    Interesting, on the Left we have people joining dots every which way
    But when Dot Com gets up on the stage and admits he hacked the German PM and hates NZ''s PM that's not news because Russell knows DC is not the hacker
    And interestingly Pam's rant seems to indicate she has access to as yet unreleased emails ie she knows which journalists were talking to whaleboy
    Hmm lots of dots there

    45' South • Since Nov 2006 • 578 posts Report Reply

  • Bruce Buckman, in reply to Russell Brown,

    It is also entirely logical politically in an election campaign. Seriously, what else is David or anyone else in National's camp going to do but attempt to capitalise on the situation? John Key has said many many things less stupid than what Dotcom said yesterday and the left has attempted to put deeper, sinister meaning into his words. We do it all the time.

    Since Jan 2012 • 96 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Bruce Buckman,

    We do it all the time.

    Sounds like some kind of of twelve-step program for lockstep liberals.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • A S, in reply to Raymond A Francis,

    I suspect the reason that it isn't a story, is more to do with the fact that KDC's history has been widely reported in the MSM, and his dislike of the PM has been similarly well covered.

    The conclusions Pam reached weren't exactly earth shattering re the MSM, particularly in light of all the @whaledump info highlighting just how much involvement slater et al had with a wide range of journos. Saying that the Journos were tainted by association isn't exactly a shocking revelation, and probably just echoes what a lot of people are saying to each other.

    A good question was raised earlier, if KDC hacking was the pre-determined media slant for the launch story, who has been suggesting this particular slant to the media pack?

    The degree to which our media has been, and continues to be manipulated is something I'd personally be very interested in knowing more about.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2007 • 269 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Suggesting Dotcom is @whaledump is libellous, I reckon, unless one happens to have beyond-reasonable-doubt evidence. The Lange defence doesn't apply to a direct factual accusation of criminal conduct.

    I suspect a number of media sources will be hearing from m'learned friends.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Raymond A Francis,

    Interesting, on the Left we have people joining dots every which way
    But when Dot Com gets up on the stage and admits he hacked the German PM and hates NZ’’s PM that’s not news because Russell knows DC is not the hacker

    No, it's not news because it's not new. It's a story he's told at every meeting on their roadshow. It's on his Wikipedia page, it's been noted in innumerable profiles and interviews and, as I noted, was thoroughly traversed when he was a witness in the Banks case.

    We now have at least four media organisations -- One News 3 News, radio NZ and Newstalk ZB -- framing it as a new admission of criminal activity. It's just embarrassing.

    I don't "know" Dotcom isn't Whaledump. I can't prove a negative. I just think it's really unlikely.

    And interestingly Pam’s rant seems to indicate she has access to as yet unreleased emails ie she knows which journalists were talking to whaleboy

    Wow! That's an incredible leap of logic.

    Corkery called them "glove puppets for Cameron Slater" because she was pissed off about them fixating on the "Dotcom was the hacker" misdirection. To extrapolate that to "Pam Corkery's in on it too!" is just wild.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Andre Alessi, in reply to James George,

    That;s a bit strawman isn't it? There are many other alternatives - reminds me of a scheme I once co-ordinated which was all about getting the huge stack of unemployed artist registration cards 'off the books'...

    I don't have a problem with the kind of scheme you describe, as long as it's limited, targeted and genuinely voluntary. But it's a different kettle of fish when a government makes this kind of scheme standard practice or compulsory for an industry, which is what IMP is proposing.

    Imagine a situation where employers could routinely hire call center workers for below minimum wage on short term contracts to "fulfill a need", for example. It would be sold to the public as " giving new workers experience" even though call center experience is not particularly useful to workers, and the effect would be depressing wages further in what is already a low-paying industry.

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    ""Breaking News: Richie McCaw just texted and said
    'Yes, you can'," he said with a roar."

    One wonders what the question was that Key asked Richie?
    Maybe something like - "Richie, can I mention your name at my party's campaign launch?

    or maybe something deeper like:
    "Richie, If I'm standing in a tackle can I go for the ball?"

    Context is everything!
    especially with an ambiguous message...

    The Nats are only as strong as their weakest link
    perhaps they should more correctly be called 'Team Collins'
    even if she is spending the game on the sidelines, in the sin-bin...

    This comment was also placed at that Stuff site

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Andre Alessi,

    Imagine a situation where employers could routinely hire call center workers for below minimum wage on short term contracts to “fulfill a need”, for example. It would be sold to the public as ” giving new workers experience”

    When did IMP suggest hiring for below minimum wage?

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

  • Bill Patterson,

    Did Dotcom ever add the bit about "and we all know there's another PM I don't like" in his other IMP speeches?

    Auckland • Since Jul 2013 • 6 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    I suspect and this is only a guess but Hone has seen a need up North to give the unemployed youth some direction and speaking to other parents up there ,the idea that their kids could do something, anything once they leave school, is good for them to get work experience. There is very little for youth to do in the country compared to opportunities in the city. IMP are looking to create jobs. Not make slaves.

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

  • Raymond A Francis, in reply to A S,

    Well, as we now know private emails can be hacked and revealed if it is in the "public interest" especially if they are Right wing ones though I note Russell to his credit was unhappy with the release of stuff about Slater's mother

    But imagine the uproar if emails from a real reporter became public and if it was someone on the Left, well I give you Andrea Vance being tracked through Parliment

    45' South • Since Nov 2006 • 578 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Bill Patterson,

    Did Dotcom ever add the bit about “and we all know there’s another PM I don’t like” in his other IMP speeches?

    He has made that quite clear. I'll say it too now .I don't like John Key one little bit. None of him or his smug boat ad either.

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

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Corkery called them “glove puppets for Cameron Slater” because she was pissed off about them fixating on the “Dotcom was the hacker” misdirection.

    And despite her lack of er professional composure I can't really say she is wrong.

    What pissed me off the most about the reporting was the self-righteous and self-absorbed way in which the "news" was reported "a dun dun DUN, reporter was verbally abused!!!!!!" As if he might not actually have deserved some criticism for being so pathetically unimaginative that he couldn't think of a question that hadn't been asked and answered a hundred times before.

    And lets be clear, this is not a situation like that with our PM who apparently is tired of being asked why he allows his staff and cabinet ministers to feed Slater, because unlike the PM where there is a tonne of evidence that his staff did exactly that there is no evidence at all that Dotcom is whaledump and all logic suggests he is not.

    So yeah Ms Corkery didn't do her job - but the reporters she abused totally deserved criticism, yet instead they were lauded as victims - poor babies.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Raymond A Francis,

    Well, as we now know private emails can be hacked and revealed if it is in the “public interest” especially if they are Right wing ones

    It's not especially right wing! The Govt does it when ever they like. They are called the GCSB

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

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Bill Patterson,

    Did Dotcom ever add the bit about “and we all know there’s another PM I don’t like” in his other IMP speeches?

    I'm not sure if he said it exactly the same way in the other speeches, but he has made his dislike for Key known in most speeches. He needs to give it a rest, frankly.

    The fact that the speech is cut off in the news reports before he continues with his point about going straight with the help of his government loan does tend to highlight the Key line in a way that wasn't apparent to the audience in the hall.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Raymond A Francis,

    Well, as we now know private emails can be hacked

    No, that’s still a crime.

    and revealed if it is in the “public interest”

    Yes. That’s well established by legal precedent. Most leaks could be construed as theft of one kind or another, but if they reveal things it is important for the public to hear, the courts pay attention to that.

    especially if they are Right wing ones though I note Russell to his credit was unhappy with the release of stuff about Slater’s mother

    It was intrusive and personal and there was no public interest in it. I thought it showed the difference between the meticulous approach of Hager and the laziness of Whaledump, who didn’t vet what he posted.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock, in reply to Andre Alessi,

    Imagine a situation where employers could routinely hire call center workers for below minimum wage on short term contracts to “fulfill a need”, for example. It would be sold to the public as ” giving new workers experience” even though call center experience is not particularly useful to workers, and the effect would be depressing wages further in what is already a low-paying industry.

    It's not particularly hard to imagine as it already happens (in the UK at least) - zero hours contacts and work-for-dole are both becoming increasingly widespread.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • Raymond A Francis, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    Well if that is true Sofie
    Where are the leaks of Miss Clark's emails calling West Coast voters " Inbred ferals" or from the present Labour Leader to his favourite lawyer?

    I think the Left should think about whose private stuff ends up in public before playing the dirty politics card
    As the facts do not back them up so far

    45' South • Since Nov 2006 • 578 posts Report Reply

  • A S, in reply to Raymond A Francis,

    I don't think looking at this through a left/right lens helps at all. Integrity should be a basic minimum required from all elected representatives.

    All sides should be scrutinised, and where behaviour like that exposed thus far is found, it should be exposed, vilified and sanctioned.

    It is particularly troubling when one of the worst offenders in this whole sorry saga is supposed to be charged with upholding our justice system, and the Minister in charge of our intelligence apparatus is plagued by memory problems and his management of his office is either totally incompetent or criminally sinister.

    Not great traits to have in the leader of your nation either....

    Tolerating this sort of carry on so your tribe stays in power is not an attractive trait, and I for one hope either criminal investigations, or a Royal Commission of Inquiry are instituted to get to the bottom of goings on in the halls of power PDQ.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2007 • 269 posts Report Reply

  • Moz,

    I keep expecting Te Kupu to pop up and give us a round of Whakakotahi or Tangata Whenua (Whakakotahi doesn't seem to be on youtube). Just, you know, while we're talking about capturing the "older activist" market.

    Like SimonG above, I'm starting to wonder who the minor parties have further down their lists, and also taking a gander at the high teens in The Green's list. It would amuse me a huge amount if Labour ended up being a minority player in the coalition government after the election, and it's starting to look as though that's possible. 5 or 6 ManaIP MPs would be very satisfying. Especially if we could get the combo of a green-left win with a loss of Labour deadwood.

    Sydney, West Island • Since Nov 2006 • 1233 posts Report Reply

  • Moz, in reply to Raymond A Francis,

    Where are the leaks of Miss Clark's emails calling West Coast voters " Inbred ferals"

    I suspect they exist only in the fevered imaginations of right wing trolls.

    or from the present Labour Leader to his favourite lawyer?

    Yeah, hevean forfend a party leader actually talk to a lawyer about anything. That could lead to informed lawmaking, and we can't have that.

    Sydney, West Island • Since Nov 2006 • 1233 posts Report Reply

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