Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Dirty Politics

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  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    Well yes. Accusing someone of hacking (a criminal offence) is libellous unless demonstrably true. It’s likely Slater will have to front up in court and produce any evidence he might have.

    Oh, the irony – it burns. There's some weird aside in the Three News lead about claims that Slater threatened to "blackmail" Rodney Hide over "dirty texts". If this the tenor of the thing, I wonder if Hager isn't going to have some 'splaining of his own to do.

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

  • Neil Graham,

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 118 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Russell Brown,

    It’s an allegation of a grievous abuse of ministerial power to help out a mate. And he declares he won’t even ask?

    I know this is probably going to be an unpopular thing to say, but if he did "ask" (whatever the hell that means) wouldn't you be lining up to accuse him of political interference if the outcome wasn't to your liking?

    That said, I just don't understand why she isn't being stood down since she's effectively a caretaker minister until after the election anyway.

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

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Ha. I wonder who posted this a few years back when the story of Slater / Key / Warren Tuckers little OIA game first came out:

    I’ve just listened to Goff on Morning Report, and he really needs to STFU. Dude, you’ve called Malcolm Tucker [sic] a liar no matter how cute you try to be about it, and trying to make Cameron Slater the issue is just pathetic.

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

  • Sacha, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    Slater threatened to blackmail Rodney Hide over "dirty texts"

    That's the claim yes - backed up I expect by evidence.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    I know this is probably going to be an unpopular thing to say, but if he did “ask” (whatever the hell that means) wouldn’t you be lining up to accuse him of political interference if the outcome wasn’t to your liking

    No. I don't see how I'd come to that conclusion.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    if he did "ask" (whatever the hell that means)

    I suspect it means the PM approaches Collins and says something like "Hey, Jude, did you do what that guy says you did?" Then he hears her reply. Then he applies his judgement and understanding of his role as Prime Munster, and acts accordingly.

    If he's grown-up enough.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    Oh, the irony – it burns. There’s some weird aside in the Three News lead about claims that Slater threatened to “blackmail” Rodney Hide over “dirty texts”. If this the tenor of the thing, I wonder if Hager isn’t going to have some ’splaining of his own to do.

    Wut? How on earth is it Hager's fault?

    The plan is documented on pages 68-70 of the book and the very public part of it -- the thinly-veiled threat about Hide's "personal life" -- still stands, I presume, on the Whaleoil blog.

    FWIW, Hager redacts the name of another MP mentioned in the grisly little exchange between Slater, Lusk and Jordan Williams.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Rob S, in reply to Rosemary McDonald,

    First time I've ever visited kiwiblog.
    Reminds me of KFC, Once a decade probably longer between samples and then walk away feeling revolted. As for Whaleoil?

    Since Apr 2010 • 136 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Rob S,

    the dodgiest burger parlour you have ever experienced

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Sacha,

    That’s the claim yes – backed up I expect by evidence.

    Evidence that Rodney Hide sent "dodgy texts" to a young woman, or was putting an allegation of sexual harassment out there just acceptable collateral damage? I think that's a perfectly legitimate question to ask of Hager, whether you like Hide or not. And given Slater's rather irregular relationship with the truth, I don't think it's unreasonable to hope Hager did some due diligence on what he decided to publish.

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

  • Geoff Lealand,

    I would feel a little sympathetic to National and Key if they showed a bit more gumption (as my old dad would say) and publicly severed all links with Slater, dumped Farrar and got a new pollster and, most importantly, demoted Collins to the back benches. David Cameron recently dumped his Minister of Education Michael Gove, declaring him 'toxic' to the Conservatives and politics generally. Key just needs to do the same with this Toxic Trio.

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    On track record, I trust Mr Hager to publish what is warranted and ignore what isn't. I believe he remains untoppled so far by either right or left. That's an enviable record.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Wut? How on earth is it Hager’s fault?

    He decided to publish them. I don't know who else is responsible for what he decided to put in the book.

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

  • simon g,

    I would have thought it was basic professional standards for Radio NZ to treat Jordan Williams as a combatant, not a commentator. I don't believe that he and his like should be "banned", they should be challenged. Vigorously. By Mary Wilson at five, not cuddly Jim at four.

    When the Hollow Men came out, Michael Bassett (on the Panel with Jim Mora, alas) likened Hager to David Irving - specifically and directly. It was disgusting to hear.

    He too was not challenged. Treating guests as chatty chums is Panelitis at its worst. Confrontation is seen as the greatest sin - far worse than falsehood.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    He decided to publish them. I don’t know who else is responsible for what he decided to put in the book.

    No, he didn't publish them. He quoted the messages between the people doing what looked a lot like blackmailing him.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to simon g,

    they should be challenged. Vigorously

    Exactly as Hager did with Farrar yesterday - forcing him to admit that the extent of his involvement with National was well beyond 'party member'.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • "chris",

    Superficial, and possibly already mentioned but in case it hasn’t…

    Key’s earlier response appeared fairly standard:

    "Some of our guys would talk to them in the same way we talk to media all the time.”

    But now that the PM now has admitted to having been in possession of the convicted criminal’s own cellphone number:

    “Mr Key said he talked to Mr Slater three or four times a year, sometimes sent a text message…”

    Weighing the notable omission of the first statement against the revelation in the second, the content of Key’s third version is eagerly anticipated.

    location, location, locat… • Since Dec 2010 • 250 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to "chris",

    "Slater? I'm sure I've heard that name somewhere before. Ede? Nah, can't recall."

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Bevan Shortridge,

    Have seen this referenced on twitter but not here. There is an ebook now.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 122 posts Report Reply

  • Trevor Nicholls,

    Party activists will do whatever they can get away with, and it has ever been so. But employees on the public purse are not paid party activists and should not get away with defending their behaviour by dismissing it as "everybody does it". Can't believe journalists don't see past this false equivalence.

    Wellington, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 325 posts Report Reply

  • SHG,

    Gotta say, a totally unauthenticated email reproduced in a book after being supplied to the author by a totally anonymous source is hardly what I'd call "proof".

    nup • Since Oct 2010 • 77 posts Report Reply

  • Trevor Nicholls, in reply to SHG,

    Gotta say, "everybody does it", "he had no right to those emails", "it's all based on hacked data" is what I'd call corroborative and suggestive. YMMV.

    Wellington, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 325 posts Report Reply

  • Keir Leslie,

    No one's denied the veracity of the correspondence reproduced in Hager's book. If he did forge it, he's up there with Macpherson.

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report Reply

  • Dylan Reeve, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    Evidence that Rodney Hide sent “dodgy texts” to a young woman, or was putting an allegation of sexual harassment out there just acceptable collateral damage? I think that’s a perfectly legitimate question to ask of Hager, whether you like Hide or not. And given Slater’s rather irregular relationship with the truth, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to hope Hager did some due diligence on what he decided to publish.

    Hager's book is about the political machinations of these players. If they, in their own communications, outline this plan then that is the story that Hager is telling.

    Should he have not included the story of this apparent serious interference in the leadership of another political party because to do so would be exposing a unverifiable claim about the leader of that party?

    Auckland • Since Aug 2008 • 311 posts Report Reply

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