Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Dirty Politics

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  • Paul Campbell, in reply to Ross Mason,

    How far from the sea does Southern Cross “own” the cable?? It has to go somewhere across land once it is ashore and…..well…..it can go anywhere after that. Anyone got a map??? Whenuapai maybe???

    Well bugger me!! It was a good guess!! Here it is

    pardon my ignorance of Auckland geography, isn't Whenuapai essentially on the East coast, why would we terminate the Australian cable there? (apart from the obvious Air Force base)

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • mark taslov, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    In fairness to Kim DotCom, Stuff posted a clip in the video here

    He speaks for himself quite adequately and I think you can judge for yourself the omissions in the Herald articles. Having danced around here with you for a moment Craig I totally respect your opinion on this topic and share your concerns on the wider implications to refugees and immigrants. However Dotcom’s case is an exceptional one.

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

  • Dismal Soyanz, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    Again, and with all due and sincere respect, I actually think it’s very important that our immigration processes are not subject to blatant political interference at the behest of foreign governments and multinational corporations.

    Important, yes. But I believe immigration policy (and possible efforts to undermine it) is inherently more transparent and also arguably affects fewer people than mass surveillance by our secret squirrels. Dotcom was a fizzer but I quickly forget about him once it got underway.

    [ETA: but anyway, this really shouldn't be viewed as some kind of pissing contest]

    Wellington • Since Nov 2010 • 310 posts Report Reply

  • mark taslov, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    I think the intemperate smack was unfair and out of order

    You’re right about this too Craig. I should just zip it. Everyone deserves a second chance and David owning up to his involvement with Slater was one of the better things to come out of Dirty Politics. So sincerely, good on you for coming clean there David, and sorry for being so disparaging, I recognise that these issues may very well be beyond your control. I just have an incredibly low tolerance for copy/paste articles. This week more than ever. Perhaps the vitriol is contagious:

    bit of adolescents.

    When in Rome.

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

  • Alfie, in reply to Trevor Nicholls,

    shorter Bruce Ferguson on Campbell Live. I think he left his intelligence behind when he left the service.

    Ferguson just continued the spin on Morning Report. 'Snowden is a traitor... blah... blah... nothing to see here folks. Moving right along.'

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    FWIW…
    I thought the seriousness of Greenwald’s opening excoriation of Key’s behaviour, would have played better without Dotcom’s guffaws welling up in the background…

    FWIW…
    We are on the cusp of great change
    a tipping point, choose your catchment…

    FWIW…

    There’s something happening here…
    When this song is 50 years old….
    John Key will possibly give you a tax cut,
    if he is still in power…

    When this song is 50 years old….
    Every word of it may still hold true,
    it does today!

    When this song is 50 years old….
    we could be 3 years down
    the road to recovery
    and redemption even…
    Everybody look what’s going down!

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to mark taslov,

    You’re right about this too Craig. I should just zip it. Everyone deserves a second chance and David owning up to his involvement with Slater was one of the better things to come out of Dirty Politics.

    No, I don't think there's a need to install a zip anywhere. Though no judgement if that's your bag, :) But, in the end, The Herald and David Fisher fairly reported a legitimate story -- one Dotcom himself had been talking up for months -- & it's not as if Greenwald et. al. have exactly been disappeared in that august organ or anywhere else. Everyone else gets to decide whether they're interested in it or not, in the end.

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

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to mark taslov,

    et tu... utu eh?

    When in Rome.

    I think Key is angling for a fight behind the bike sheds...
    ...all his wittering about clowns, losers and timing,
    just shows he doesn't like being caught out.

    and I guess that strikes a chord
    with many in the population.

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to nzlemming,

    Makes you wonder why Lance Wiggs’ alternative cable couldn’t get funded, eh?

    Sitcom was also proposing to resurrect that project when Gabon shut him out

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    Just noticed that typo. I really did mean to type Dotcom not Sitcom. Some bastard will use that now... grrrrrr

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    I have been thinking that other asre similarities between the Whitlam dismissa and the current situation.
    After Whitlam was ousted the people of Australia elected the opposition party, the Liberals, to power after they had been installed by a foreign power, in this case Britain.
    [[http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/the-real-word-about-whitlam-20130408-2hh5k.html | It seems there was far more to the story.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    Attachment

    totally wired...

    type Dotcom not Sitcom

    them's the circuit breaks...
    But I can see the genesis of your confusion
    Sitcom is in series while
    Dotcom is in parallel
    ...and 'volting' across the system

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Dotcom is in parallel
    …and ‘volting’ across the system

    With the Key Government Resistance is Futile

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    A Modern Prime Minister

    I am the very model of a modern Pri-um-Minister
    I've information political, sec-e-ret, and sinister,
    I know Obama of America, my GCSB's quite fanatical
    It supports his spies though legally its really problematical
    I'm very well acquainted, too, with evil matters political,
    I understand my lies and secrets often are hypocritical
    About the truth I seem to be rather sparing with my views
    Instead I'm calling names like 'hench' and 'fat' with really no excuse
    But really my goal in life this week is simply just to confuse,
    With a week to go voters don't need to be thinking up new views
    In short, in matters political, secret, and sinister,
    I am the very model of a modern Prime-Minister

    I know our mythic history, Muldoon Shipley and Bol-e-ger
    I know my dirty politics, I have my own foot soldier
    My mate Slater does our dirty politics at my bi-illing
    We control the media, with slime we make a ki-illing
    He writes what we want, says the things we really cant
    With venom and bile he puts it forth with our persona-al slant
    And claims it's all from secret tips when it's just our man Ede
    Who's hiding from the world somewhere until he can be freed
    When it's all over we'll let him out and pretend that he's just
    Been on holiday, nothing to see here, move along, no public trust
    In short, in matters political, secret, and sinister,
    I am the very model of a modern Prime-Minister

    with apologies to G&S (I've mangled a few lines)

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    Hex induction for the ohmless...

    Resistance is Futile

    So that's why people turn to the 'pot*'
    to cut back the noise...

    If only they** conducted themselves better...
    and included the Earth in the loop!
    But they are so polarising...
    and the currency trader is amping up!


    *potentiometer

    **The Government
    (any government)
    :- )

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • stephen clover,

    wgtn • Since Sep 2007 • 355 posts Report Reply

  • mark taslov, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    The Herald and David Fisher fairly reported a legitimate story – one Dotcom himself had been talking up for months

    I agree that it is a legitimate story but it begins and ends with Dot Com’s failure to produce more evidence at this time. That’s what happened. I’m skeptical as anyone about the veracity of the email, but what are you gonna do, pick a fight? Lead with the mood you evoked in your interviewee?

    the tycoon turned angry and told the media[…]Internet Party leader Laila Harre tried to close down questions,[…]But it didn’t stop questions,[…]Finally, he appeared to lose his cool and angrily lectured the media

    There’s an element of manufactured sensationalism.

    When Dot Com presented the email Mr Key was politely asked a few breezy questions about the issue and then allowed to go about his business.

    ..I do not believe that to be correct, I have no recollection of the conversation that’s alluded to in that email, there are no records there and the meetings I had were with other people around me so. Look in the end we’ll dig down, get to the bottom of it but we don’t have any record of it.

    In terms of the interest of refugees, immigrants and indeed citizens – and feel free to call me an idealist – but I really believe that the degree of courtesy and intensity accorded to our Prime Minister in this instance could also be afforded to any immigrant, even one who has been illegally spied on, had their home raided and been arrested by armed officers – for nonviolent crime – using illegal warrants, only to then be immediately denied bail and denied (subsequently overturned) the right to sue the GCSB (for spying on him)by our attorney-general.

    In this context, given the stress and psychological impact that these experiences would have on any individual, and given the massive power disparity – despite wealth – between Key and Dot Com, It’s my belief and that the questioning and framing of the issue could occur without recourse to unnecessary provocation and subsequent dismissive emotive framing as has occurred in not one but the two articles linked to above.

    This affected caricature of the “angry tycoon” eclipses the journalism and it in no way enhances a sense that immigration status is not contingent on blatant political interference, if anything it contributes to an impression that those faced with their own immigration/ legal struggles must also contend with a hostile media that will conveniently and almost immediately dismiss allegations of corruption based on the good word of the right white man without any substantial investigation at all, holding the victim to account for lack of further investigation, big on questions but short on independently acquired answers. John Key said other people were in the room, who were they? What did they hear? At least as a starting point.

    Obviously whatever your bias is. But as has been seen in the case recently with our PM, there is always a likelihood that the interviewee’s (taking a leaf from Cunliffe’s rather presumptuous portrayal) state of mind is “not settled”. This is something that can be manipulated to measure with a degree of skill.

    If the narrative that the Herald wants to present is that Kim Dot Com is the angry or unstable tycoon then they’ve succeeded in both articles. If they want to dismiss the email solely on the word of a few very powerful gentlemen then the individual with the most to gain from such a characterization is Mr Key. Whether that enhances our democracy is debatable. But neglecting to mention that this pointy finger guy is angry too in no way adds to any sense of impartiality.

    Just in – 1xangry tycoon and 1xresponded angrily – 3rd paste.

    "I have no doubt that Kim is absolutely truthful about that email.

    “There needs to be a proper process now to investigate that.”

    Asked why Dotcom declined to comment on the email last night, Ms Harre said he’d received legal advice not to do so

    Laila Harre

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

  • nzlemming, in reply to stephen clover,

    Wendyl Nissen comes out swinging.

    Last week I resigned from my regular Friday morning slot on NewstalkZB, which I have been doing for 15 years, because I didn't want to be on the same platform as Cameron Slater, another commentator on the station, while there are allegations that his views involve cash for comment.

    Wow.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Sir, you should, in your current capacity as a galvaniser of words, be inducted into the Hall effect of fame. You should find it an Ohm from Ohm.
    .

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Alfie, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    You should find it an Ohm from Ohm.

    Watt?

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • Alfie,

    Attachment

    You can lead a horse to water...

    But I'm not so sure about sheep.

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Alfie,

    You can lead a horse to water…

    But I’m not so sure about sheep.

    Back in 2005 a Stuff poll had Destiny getting at least 6 MPs.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • CJM, in reply to Alfie,

    Auckland • Since Aug 2014 • 107 posts Report Reply

  • Alfie,

    Eminem is suing the National Party over the unauthorised use of his music in their election ads.

    Oh, the irony. Copyright infringment! Quick... call in the black choppers!

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming,

    Attachment

    I just noticed this in my Facebook feed (some misguided friends have "liked" it. My impression is that Willams and co are intimating that buying elections is a good thing.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

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