Hard News: Dirty Politics
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David Fisher follows up on the Todd Barclay story (discussed earlier in this thread). You'll recall that Barclay was accused of recording private conversations which led to the resignation of three of his staff.
It seems that Barclay "refused to co-operate with detectives" and was never interviewed about the matter. It appears that the 10 month investigation has now been shelved, with Police citing "insufficient evidence".
Does the former tobacco lobbyist really qualify as a prominent New Zealander? Or perhaps he's just a right Dipton.
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linger, in reply to
Or a "Dipton something"?
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So Kim Dotcom knew about the contents of the Hager book a day in advance of everyone else?
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Before it slips down the media memory hole with John Key's departure, let's just remember who vilified who, and the final, undisputed outcome:
Jon Stephenson was vindicated, John Key chucked muck
It's just something to bear in mind as the smear machine starts up again today, with predictable (and largely unchallenged) attacks on the authors (see most media outlets, next 48 hours).
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The government will use blogs run by sycophants like Farrar (who this morning is running a revolting and tasteless line of "nothing to see here, war is hell, civilians die, it was only six look how many died in ww2" argument) to attack the authors while invoking state secrecy and a blanket refusal to discuss the issue.
They'll probably get away with it, given that years of ANZAC day propaganda has indoctrinated the general public to view our tin pot army as fearless and chanceless warriors, rather than the panic stricken muppets we once saw on telly blasting away from their LAV at nothing in particular in an ambush.
The only thing that would blow the government and defence force out of the water would be if one of the un-named SAS troopers the authors say helped them came forward to publically support them.
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Alfie, in reply to
It’s just something to bear in mind as the smear machine starts up again today, with predictable (and largely unchallenged) attacks on the authors (see most media outlets, next 48 hours).
Paula Bennett became rattled and elected to take the low ground on Morning Report today by accusing Nicky Hager of being a "left wing conspiracy theorist".
In the face of what appears to be well-researched evidence that NZ troops engaged in war crimes, the Nats have chosen to double down, close ranks and follow their now familiar "nothing to see here" line.
Morals only apply to poor people.
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At a public meeting after the publication of Dirty Politics, Nicky Hager predicted that John Key would get bored with politics and walk away. He was right there, too.
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Ian Dalziel, in reply to
Paula Bennett became rattled and elected to take the low ground on Morning Report today by accusing Nicky Hager of being a “left wing conspiracy theorist”.
By virtue of her accusation she outs herself as a 'Right Wing Conspiracy Theorist' - which is apparently an okay thing to be....
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I also loved the comments on Morning Report from people saying that Nicky Hager always puts these books out in Election Years - like it was a bad thing, not the brilliant marketing and a vital contribution to the 'national conversation' that it is....
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Alfie, in reply to
By virtue of her accusation she outs herself as a ‘Right Wing Conspiracy Theorist’ – which is apparently an okay thing to be….
Which ties in nicely with her warning to Jacinda Ardern on The Nation last week that she shouldn't aim for the moral high ground, because "I've been there and it isn't very nice."
Bennett's own words confirm that she's more comfortable maintaining the moral low ground. In other words, cesspit politics.
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Dirty Politics rears its ugly head again somone seems to be using Netsafe and the Harmful Digital Communications Act to whitewash the past
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John Farrell, in reply to
That complaint looks odd. Why send a complaint about The Daily Blog to The Standard? Why does the person who sent the email not have a surname, or indicate their position in Netsafe?
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Yes it's odd, and amatuerish is a bunch of ways, I'm not sure if it's bogus and dirty politics in its own right, or just netsafe not being professional in and around their job enforcing this new law
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Staying true to the born-to-rule arrogance we've come to expect from this former tobacco lobbyist, the Dipton kid says he hasn't learned anything from his biggest self-generated ballsup to date. Actually, I'm paraphrasing. The actual quote is "I’ve got no regrets" -- but the attitude problem is exactly the same.
You'll recall the allegations of Barclay bugging staff in his offices, some of the staff resigning and laying Police complaints and his subsequent "I will co-operate fully" statement regarding the Police investigation.
We now know that he didn't cooperate at all and thanks to having friends in high places (can there be any other explanation?) Dipton2 apparently got away with it this time, scot-free.
Can anyone recall other 10-month police investigations which have been dropped because the Police failed to even make contact with the person they're investigating?
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Posted in this thread... because Jordan Williams.
A High Court judge has ruled that a $1.27m damages award to Taxpayers Union director Jordan Williams is too high.
Justice Sarah Katz said a jury's decision ruling former Conservative Party leader Colin Craig had to pay the sum to Williams was a miscarriage of justice.
In a just-released judgment Justice Katz said a miscarriage of justice had occurred, and that jurors appeared to have failed to follow her directions.
"I am satisfied that the damages award is well outside the range that could reasonably have been given in all the circumstances of the case," she said.
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The Dipton kid's illegal recording of staff members resurfaces to bite him on the bum.
Newsroom -- Politicians, police, and the payout
Melanie Reid has been doing some digging and found that not only were top Nats aware that Barclay had broken the law, but a substantial payment to at least one of the staff members involved came out of John Key’s leader’s budget. Is this an appropriate or even a legal use of the leader's slush fund?
While Bill English has previously denied any knowledge or involvement in the affair, Newsroom quotes a text from English saying that "The settlement was larger than normal because of the privacy breach."
I have a feeling that this story has just gained some fresh legs.
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Katharine Moody, in reply to
I have a feeling that this story has just gained some fresh legs.
Unbelievable. And the subsequent threatening phone calls in that electorate. Proof this government is rotten to the core and that rottenness has spread to Parliamentary Services as well as the Police.
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Is "the leader's budget" made up of public or National party money?
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Ah, so it was public money used to hush up a National party faux-pas, with overtones of conspiring to pervert the course of justice.
It will be a test of the media to see if they are interested, or would rather cover the America's Cup, terrorism in Europe and the war of words between Gatland and Hansen.
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Believe it or not Dirty Politics is still running. Martyn Bradbury's bank records, like Nicky Hager's were illegally obtained by the police. Consequently his bank denied him credit because the police had told the bank they suspected Martyn of computer fraud, presumably they thought he was somehow involved with Rawshark.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11911784The police provided no evidence at all for their suspicion.
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Where did the recent leak about Winston's pension come from, you ask?
The Ministry of Social Development told its minister Anne Tolley on August 15 under the "no surprises" policy that it had met NZ First leader Winston Peters about his superannuation payments. The Prime Minister's office has confirmed English's chief of staff Wayne Eagleson was then told by Tolley's office. A spokesperson said Eagleson did not tell English or others in the office.
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Tolley would not be interviewed, but a spokeswoman said she denied the overpayment had been leaked from anyone in her office.MSD and IRD have less obvious motivations to leak this themselves. I guess that leaves Eagleson (who was in charge of the #dirtypolitics apparatus before the last election so the PM was kept at arms length)?
Gee, who knew bad behaviour might persist without any actual consequences for it?
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Joe Wylie, in reply to
Gee, who knew bad behaviour might persist without any actual consequences for it?
The Press's village idiot excuse for an editorial cartoonist seems to be saying that's a good thing.
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Alfie, in reply to
I guess that leaves Eagleson (who was in charge of the #dirtypolitics apparatus before the last election so the PM was kept at arms length)?
"We would have told Bill, but he was busy texting Glynys at the time."
The timing of the leak is important, with English about to head off on a tour of Winnie's Northland electorate. If in some distant and obscure alternative reality Blinglish was truly kept in the dark by the rest of his colleagues, that tells you all you need to know about the way Eagleson and the rest of the cabinet treat dozy old Bill.
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RNZ is reporting that the State Services Commissioner informed Paula Bennett about Winnie's "mistake" under the no surprises policy. And the deputy PM didn't bother to mention it to Bill? Go on... pull the other one.
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