Public Address | Cafe | Hard News: Dotcom: Further news of the unlikely

Sofie Bribiesca

Thu, 24 Jul 2014 19:20:46 +1200

but that KDC has an unhealthily amount of influence.

When questioned about that on BFM last week, he stated if he had wanted to try influence the party, he could have drip fed them money . Instead he gave them a lump sum and introduced the 2 Parties. His belief…

Kumara Republic

Thu, 24 Jul 2014 01:30:36 +1200

Yeh, I get the general feeling that the Big Reveal is going to be double or quits for InterMana.

Double is the unlikely possibility that InterMana will manage to pull a Beppe Grillo, or more realistically at least keep its head above water. Quits is the big embarrassment you mention.

TracyMac

Wed, 23 Jul 2014 22:41:15 +1200

I would much rather that people vote for the IP than not at all. And personally, despite my thinking that Dotcom is just about creating his own publicity machine for his immigration woes, I actually have nothing against the aims of the party at all.

You're right that they're aiming…

linger

Wed, 23 Jul 2014 00:43:45 +1200

Coleman just shattered my bullshit detector. shatted it, more like? *klaxon sounds* overload! overload! core dump in progress …

Chris Waugh

Tue, 22 Jul 2014 16:18:55 +1200

I think Johnathan Coleman just shattered my bullshit detector. Should I send him a bill for repairs?

Stephen Judd

Tue, 22 Jul 2014 13:32:10 +1200

If the GCSB wants to read my spam, they have my commiserations in advance.

That's funny, but the worrying scenario is that they* might read everything else too. From everybody. Or worse, not read it right now, but store it for later analysis, perhaps in the event that it is…

Rob Stowell

Mon, 21 Jul 2014 11:03:44 +1200

I am thinking of voting for someone to represent me in parliament.
None of the above want to do that, apart from the Greens
Back in 1999 I watched Nandor and Sue on TV on election night, and thought: YES! Someone in parliament who actually represents values and ideas and…

Craig Ranapia

Sun, 20 Jul 2014 23:47:49 +1200

If the GCSB wants to read my spam, they have my commiserations in advance.

Sofie Bribiesca

Sun, 20 Jul 2014 20:54:24 +1200

Some bored GCSB drone with nothing better to do…..

Oh. silly Rosemary . Wha? Lil' ol' Public Address? ;)

Sacha

Sun, 20 Jul 2014 20:40:55 +1200

Greenwald is more likely to be a trigger word

Stewart

Sun, 20 Jul 2014 20:35:29 +1200

Some bored GCSB drone

My ears are burning...

Rosemary McDonald

Sun, 20 Jul 2014 20:17:18 +1200

Just inserting a note of caution boys and girls.

I have done a rough count of the number of times the words "bomb" and "bombshell" have appeared in the course of this discussion.

I think, perhaps, that both "bomb" and "bombshell" are words that just might trigger some security alert.…

Russell Brown

Sun, 20 Jul 2014 20:14:41 +1200

To put it quite bluntly, nobody at The Guardian gets to vote in New Zealand.

True. And I think saving it up till Election Day -5 is an act of hubris.

Craig Ranapia

Sun, 20 Jul 2014 20:09:02 +1200

This makes things rather interesting, not least because it guarantees global attention for whatever the bombshell is.

True – and it also raises the stakes significantly if this "bombshell" doesn't do the damage Dotcom thinks it does. To put it quite bluntly, nobody at The Guardian gets to vote in…

Russell Brown

Sun, 20 Jul 2014 18:48:46 +1200

Dotcom announced today that Glenn Greenwald will be in attendance for the dropping of his September bombshell.

This makes things rather interesting, not least because it guarantees global attention for whatever the bombshell is.

Joe Wylie

Sun, 20 Jul 2014 12:43:21 +1200

King Kapisi – adding a bit of gummi bear to Dotcom's machine-made musical Würstchen.

Steve Barnes

Thu, 17 Jul 2014 21:37:49 +1200

I wouldn’t trust him to lie straight in bed.
I think I would still trust him over Key. Key would never side with the "underclass"

Rich Lock

Thu, 17 Jul 2014 19:51:04 +1200

Steve, Sophie – boiler rooms (effectively what he was doing) are illegal in some (most) countries. Even in neocon captial-friendly countries like the US where they are technically not illegal, they certainly violate things like the National Association of Securities Dealers' rules of fair practice. It's usually VERY difficult to…

Steve Barnes

Thu, 17 Jul 2014 16:25:46 +1200

If he’s so keen to splash his money around, perhaps he could pay some to the out-of-pocket investors in letsbuyit.com
Why? if I were to buy shares in a company called “letsbuyit.com” JUST because some guy said he was going to throw money at it I would consider myself stupid,…

Steve Barnes

Thu, 17 Jul 2014 16:06:49 +1200

Who builds the house and digs the garden and and collects the rubbish and tends the livestock and cares for the sick and elderly and disabled?

Who takes the boat out to sea and sets the longline and hauls it in? Cleans the fish?

Who builds and repairs the roads…

Sacha

Thu, 17 Jul 2014 16:05:34 +1200

nothing could be worse than Key

Collins

Steve Barnes

Thu, 17 Jul 2014 16:02:20 +1200

Can anyone explain the hatred for Dotcom?
He doesn’t take money that seriously. Whether it belongs to the “rights holders” in many cases not actual artists, just middlemen and third party bludgers, sorry, respectable interests in the entertainment industry, or those that made fortunes out of getting the jump on…

Sofie Bribiesca

Thu, 17 Jul 2014 12:55:44 +1200

I very much doubt that Dotcom was personally involved, despite it happening on his Twitter feed. When he confronted John Key with his impassioned and highly articulate invoking of NZ’s anti-nuclear history, I was impressed. All of that went out the window, however,

Goodo.
Who was it that hired Corkery?…

Joe Wylie

Thu, 17 Jul 2014 12:09:09 +1200

For everything that he is being picked on for , he seems to have been held to account (except he didn’t credit Joe Wylie’s art that we noticed)
Just before we let that one go, hopefully forever, I very much doubt that Dotcom was personally involved, despite it happening on…

Sofie Bribiesca

Thu, 17 Jul 2014 11:12:54 +1200

If he’s so keen to splash his money around, perhaps he could pay some to the out-of-pocket investors in letsbuyit.com

Um, he got charged with embezzlement for investing in an almost bankrupt company and announcing he was going to put more in ,then didn't. So you think he should pay…

Joe Wylie

Thu, 17 Jul 2014 10:22:48 +1200

If he’s so keen to splash his money around, perhaps he could pay some to the out-of-pocket investors in letsbuyit.com
I'm sure the out of pocket investors would understand that the dosh was needed for more pressing gestures, like this.
Which, btw, took place after he'd been "radicalised" by his…

Rich Lock

Thu, 17 Jul 2014 10:17:10 +1200

At least Dotcom hasn’t done that.

No, but he’s very far from being the jolly larrikin pirate that some seem keen to paint him as, too – he got started via insider trading and embezzlement (he has convictions for both in Germany).

If he’s so keen to splash his money…

Sofie Bribiesca

Thu, 17 Jul 2014 09:42:38 +1200

Can’t see either of those twerps doing ANY of that stuff, day in day out.It would be beneath them.

And is for many here. So I'm guessing to sum up your answers, you think he's undeservedly rich and just a bit fat?
John Key Co. has already proven himself and…

Rosemary McDonald

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 20:35:35 +1200

that’s the future of work. the days of toiling down t’mine are well-past.

Toiling down the mine...hopefully.

Hard graft that leaves one sweaty and sore and calloused of hand?

Not well- past by a LONG chalk.

Who builds the house and digs the garden and and collects the rubbish and…

Rich Lock

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 20:35:11 +1200

Is it me, or is the whole Anglosphere seemingly going down that path?

It would be nice to be able to turn one's back and wish a pox on all their houses. Unfortunately, as the saying goes, just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics…

Rosemary McDonald

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 20:24:24 +1200

Can you point to any Internet Party policies that will help rich people get richer?

No.

Rosemary McDonald

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 20:23:10 +1200

Whereas they still admire Key as the social climber they’re largely unlikely to become.

Sorry...I cannot for the life of me figure out exactly what is the basis for this man's popularity. He isn't intelligent or streetsmart. He has no sense of humour. He takes obseqiousness to new depths when…

Sacha

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 20:20:03 +1200

wealth not made by the sweat of their brows

that's the future of work. the days of toiling down t'mine are well-past.

Rich of Observationz

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 20:11:11 +1200

use their wealth....to make the world a better place for them and their ilk

Can you point to any Internet Party policies that will help rich people get richer?

Kumara Republic

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 19:44:46 +1200

To the Kiwiboil crowd, Dotcom comes across as a born-again champagne socialist with an axe to grind. Whereas they still admire Key as the social climber they're largely unlikely to become.

But what happens when 'temporarily embarrassed millionaires' become permanently embarrassed ones? In an Indy Biz Weekly article many years…

Rosemary McDonald

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 19:16:27 +1200

Can anyone explain the hatred for Dotcom?

Now, where do I start.

Its visceral. My gut roils at the sight and sound of both him and John Key.

I find images of either kissing babies or kuia very disturbing.

They both have equal lack of sincerity, a certain supercilliousness, an…

Chris Waugh

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 18:31:11 +1200

Or that he’s foreign. And fat.

And German. Everybody keeps mentioning his nationality for some reason.

Rich of Observationz

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 17:59:38 +1200

Can anyone explain the hatred for Dotcom?

Is it simply his conspicuous wealth (there've surely been others on the left of politics with personal fortunes?)

Or his past convictions (all of which, I think, would by now by suppressed under clean slate provisions if committed in NZ)?

Or that people…

Rosemary McDonald

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 17:44:19 +1200

I loathe Key, but I think this buffoon anywhere near political power will be worse. In a different way, of course.

It amazes me how people who rightly point out that running a company isn’t like running the nation seem to be giving this circus any credence. I was hoping…

Sacha

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 17:39:35 +1200

No.

full marks for economy. :)

Russell Brown

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 16:32:15 +1200

Useful points from Gordon campbell:

As things stand, the New Zealand extradition hearing will rely on what is called the “record of the case” – which is essentially just a mere summary of the US allegations. Rulings in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court have narrowed the evidence that…

Idiot Savant

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 16:30:48 +1200

and if he is signalling well ahead of time that he plans to release it with the clear intent of damaging the legitimate government of the day and also affecting the outcome of an election then isn't he skating perilously close to the old idea of sedition?

No.

Could this…

Russell Brown

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 16:19:24 +1200

and if he is signalling well ahead of time that he plans to release it with the clear intent of damaging the legitimate government of the day and also affecting the outcome of an election then isn’t he skating perilously close to the old idea of sedition?

No.

bob daktari

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 15:23:23 +1200

Is it me, or is the whole Anglosphere seemingly going down that path?

You're not alone.... naked greed coupled with a complete lack of morals or even the hint of common decency

good times ahead, given the problems we collectively face

Kumara Republic

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 15:13:15 +1200

As to how rotten the NZ political establishment is, I’m afraid living in Australia has rather jaundiced me. Now, their system and most of their pols are rotten. The NZ circus is rather smaller potatoes (although definitely in the process if joining the same train).

Is it me, or is…

TracyMac

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 14:44:52 +1200

I think our entire New Zealand establishment is pretty much rotten to the core and no longer fit for purpose in a modern state.

My alter ego is a socialist anarchist, so do away with "the state", and I'll be right with you. In reality, I'm a bit Churchillian about…

Stephen Judd

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 14:14:03 +1200

I asked him why it is Key’s credibility hasn’t been shredded long ago.

I think for his supporters one of two scenarios is playing out. Please imagine you, like more than 50% of NZers polled, are a Key fan.

Charming Rogue. Key has considerable personal charm, and we all like…

Tim Darlington

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 12:56:12 +1200

So, a US official might have mentioned to the PM how useful it would be for their investigation of Mr Dotcom if he were successful in his residence application. And the PM might have told some lacky to see to it. Maybe it's just me, but that doesn't really strike…

Jon Briggs

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 12:52:22 +1200

I too am finding it difficult to identify a rat I am prepared to swallow

Grant McDougall

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 12:33:04 +1200

I'm surprised that Dotcom is waiting until a mere five days before the election.

Unless his revelation is absolutely massive it'll have no effect one way or the other.

NZ voters tend to make up their minds well before five days beforehand, I reckon.

If he makes a huge revelation…

Craig Ranapia

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 12:06:33 +1200

Politics isn't the place where "He's a son of a bitch, but at least he's our son of a bitch" comes into play disconcertingly often.

Sofie Bribiesca

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 11:50:31 +1200

Trolling was a fine art long before the internet. :)

On contemplation, I did call it a "Brownlee". But you have to admit, to be issued with a holiday as an only sanction does beg the question. The woman's got something.even she admits she's not widely liked on the front…

Craig Ranapia

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 11:33:16 +1200

I have long wondered if this is the real reason that Simon Power resigned. He was Justice Minister through all this and also well informed (unlike the PM) of what was afoot.

Well, apply salt and tequila to taste, but the “real reason” I heard was infinitely more prosaic, kind…

Gary Young

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 11:32:39 +1200

if Kim's actually got hard evidence

Tom Semmens

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 11:30:20 +1200

I loathe Key, but I think this buffoon anywhere near political power will be worse.

firstly, Scott Hamilton had something interesting to say about this attitude back in May, I commend his comparison of Olaf Nelson with Kim Dotcom as thought provoking reading. He summarises:

Olaf Nelson and Kim Dotcom were…

Russell Brown

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 11:19:04 +1200

I guess the think that amazes me (an no one is talking about) is that here the SIS is the FBI’s goto boy for copyright enforcement

Why on earth is the SIS dealing with something as prosaic as copyright? surely their remit is OMG-terrorists and reds-under-the-waterbed

It was the New…

Sofie Bribiesca

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 11:17:49 +1200

I have long wondered if this is the real reason that Simon Power resigned. He was Justice Minister through all this and also well informed (unlike the PM) of what was afoot.

Or if indeed that is what Collins holds over Key now. It is suggested in the House that…

Russell Brown

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 11:16:39 +1200

Actually, bob, I think the Chinese totally would cooperate with the US over IP and copyright issues. Also, remember Hong Kong is an entirely separate and mostly independent jurisdiction.

The level of cooperation is still, I think, far less replicable outside the Five Eyes network.

But otoh, yes, Hong Kong…

BenWilson

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 11:03:12 +1200

The clown with the chequebook might take away the chequebook, too. In which case it will fail for more prosaic reasons. Letting him dance seems to be the least they can do.

Paul Campbell

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 10:57:44 +1200

I guess the think that amazes me (an no one is talking about) is that here the SIS is the FBI’s goto boy for copyright enforcement

Why on earth is the SIS dealing with something as prosaic as copyright? surely their remit is OMG-terrorists and reds-under-the-waterbed

bob daktari

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 10:51:30 +1200

Far enough – my point was the seriousness of the crime might determine the co-operation, or at least the level of, something that doesn't seem to be an issue here to our "star struck" officials – "omg its the FBI"

Chris Waugh

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 10:44:31 +1200

Actually, bob, I think the Chinese totally would cooperate with the US over IP and copyright issues. Also, remember Hong Kong is an entirely separate and mostly independent jurisdiction.

TracyMac

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 10:39:42 +1200

I loathe Key, but I think this buffoon anywhere near political power will be worse. In a different way, of course.

It amazes me how people who rightly point out that running a company isn't like running the nation seem to be giving this circus any credence. I was hoping…

bob daktari

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 10:39:35 +1200

Possibly because this wasn’t a simple extradition case, it was an investigation employing the full apparatus of state. Would the Chinese conduct electronic surveillance on behalf of the US and share the results the way we did?

Perhaps they would, depending on the allegations – the question needs a bit…

Tom Semmens

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 10:19:28 +1200

Internet Mana should be asking themselves whether they’re a serious political party that wants to work in the public interest

They want to see the back of John Key, that is an objective in the public interest.

Craig Ranapia

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 10:09:24 +1200

Quite – David Fisher and Andrea Vance have a lot more leg work to do (and are capable of it) before I buy the vast Hollywood-driven residency honeytrap narrative Dotcom's selling. And if Kim's actually got hard evidence of this, I think the media and everyone else should say this…

Chris Waugh

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 09:44:27 +1200

Would the Chinese conduct electronic surveillance on behalf of the US and share the results the way we did? Would the US allow the Chinese access to NSA tools, the way it did the GCSB?

Fair enough. But, Hong Kong, not the Mainland. Different jurisdiction. And I'm sure both sides…

Tom Semmens

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 08:57:07 +1200

Key doesn’t even pretend terribly hard, let’s be honest

I had a discussion with my flatmate about this last night, I asked him why it is Key’s credibility hasn’t been shredded long ago. He observed that Key doesn’t give shit if you believe him or not, and in the modern…

Matthew Poole

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 08:20:27 +1200

the pollies frantically try to conceal this fact by pretending they are in charge

Key doesn't even pretend terribly hard, let's be honest.

Tom Semmens

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 08:02:23 +1200

There is another possibility worth considering. Everytime – without fail – the viel of secrecy is pulled aside and the workings of our security agencies are exposed they are revealed to be operating with an insouciant carte blanche in relation to what the public might think or what the law…

Russell Brown

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 08:00:23 +1200

Moderately rich, Russell. He’s not even a billionaire, never mind a multi-billionaire, and IIRC his peak worth was only measured in the low hundreds-of-millions. That’s real money, certainly, but he’s not entering the list of NZ’s wealthiest 50 any time soon.

Let's say $250m. That would have brought him in…

Matthew Poole

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 07:47:43 +1200

because he was just really rich.

Moderately rich, Russell. He's not even a billionaire, never mind a multi-billionaire, and IIRC his peak worth was only measured in the low hundreds-of-millions. That's real money, certainly, but he's not entering the list of NZ's wealthiest 50 any time soon.

Russell Brown

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 07:34:28 +1200

There’s probably someone out there who knows the relevant law better than I do, but as far as I’m aware the bilateral extradition treaty between the United States and Hong Kong is still in effect. Why would anyone give the proverbial rat’s arse whether they were lawyering up in Hong…

Sacha

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 07:33:51 +1200

Some prefer people not claiming they're speaking on behalf of some, I'm told

Pete George

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 06:06:03 +1200

Alex, how about I speak however I like and not care about your routine, whatever it is.

If you're on a crusade to get everyone to "just speak for themselves" on political blogs you have a wee challenge. But if you disagree with what I say why don't you just…

Alex Coleman

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 05:15:18 +1200

are some who want Key and National out of Government and don't care how, the end justifies any means. But Dotcom is not trusted by others. And there are some

Hi Pete. How about you drop the cute routine and just speak for yourself?

Craig Ranapia

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 01:25:30 +1200

And there’s also the possible wildcard of the lawsuit-happy Graham McCready getting two Johns in a row.

M'kay, probably a question for another time and thread but how seriously should anyone be taking this?

The case, brought by serial litigant Graham McCready, will use a DVD of Hollywood movie The…

Chris Waugh

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 23:59:21 +1200

as the Snowden affair seemed to illustrate

Totally, totally different. Also, Hong Kong and Mainland China both have sizeable film and music industries who don't appreciate their IPR being stolen. Dotcom would've made a nice, big, fat, juicy rooster to kill to frighten other pirate monkeys. Him being German, and…

Rob Stowell

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 23:12:58 +1200

Puzzles me too. But as the Snowden affair seemed to illustrate, Hong Kong has a lot of scope for denying extradition if they chose. Why they might chose not to extradite in KDC's case. Hard to see anything in it for HK. But China has some sensitivity around copyright infringement…

Kumara Republic

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 22:27:38 +1200

And there's also the possible wildcard of the lawsuit-happy Graham McCready getting two Johns in a row.

Kumara Republic

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 22:01:22 +1200

3 News has Dotcom's bomb threat online now:

That is, if Edward Snowden doesn't spill another bean about NZ.

Craig Ranapia

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 21:55:41 +1200

Actually no. This June 2011 story by David Fisher refers to his intention to settle in New Zealand. He’d been back and forth on visits from Hong Kong, once for two months, but he may well not have settled had his residency not been granted.

This is something else that’s…

Sacha

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 21:51:26 +1200

seems to be the complete opposite

Logic fail. Not mutually exclusive at all.

Pete George

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 21:33:19 +1200

Another side to the story:

The head of Immigration has rejected suggestions Kim Dotcom's residency was approved as part of a United States move to make it easier to extradite him to face charges there.

Dotcom believes US authorities wanted to keep him here to make it easier to extradite…

Rosemary McDonald

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 20:26:13 +1200

Dotcom actually seems less weird.

That kind of says it all...in a nutshell...so to speak.

Rich of Observationz

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 20:11:53 +1200

Something I thought about Winston Peters:

If the "nothing to see here, move long now" brigade is correct, then all the "political pressure" admitted to today amounts to is a desire to attract more well qualified (however you define that) immigrants into NZ.

Before 2003, we had a system that…

Sacha

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 19:37:20 +1200

To be fair, Key didn't really spend his own fortune on becoming Prime Minister

I thought he made a $1,500,000 donation. Not much of his money, sure.

Russell Brown

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 19:05:50 +1200

To be fair, Key didn't really spend his own fortune on becoming Prime Minister.

A better comparison might be with Alan Gibbs, Michael Fay et al pumping millions (often secretly) over the years into the Act Party, or, more recently, with Colin Craig's vanity party.

Dotcom actually seems less weird.…

Rich of Observationz

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 19:02:05 +1200

gaining traction in the Socialverse

A lot of money is spent putting sand under the wheels of the right ideas:
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jul/14/gchq-tools-manipulate-online-information-leak

Pete George

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 19:01:59 +1200

3 News has Dotcom's bomb threat online now:
http://www.3news.co.nz/Dotcom-prepares-to-drop-political-bomb/tabid/1607/articleID/352793/Default.aspx

Rich of Observationz

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 18:59:47 +1200

If you don't like Kim Dotcom or the Internet Party, you aren't obliged to vote for them. It isn't any more manipulation than when someone who was born here decides to spend the fortune they earned in currency speculation on adding "PM of New Zealand" to their bucket list.

Rosemary McDonald

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 18:43:35 +1200

FWIW....Our Leader cares not one jot for New Zealand or our people.
We are all pawns in this rich, privileged, grinning fool's game.

The Jolly German Giant cares not one jot for his 'adopted' country. We are all pawns in this rich, privileged, grinning fool's game.

Any hope that we,…

Craig Ranapia

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 18:42:02 +1200

Dotcom has confirmed today that he will have a town hall event on Monday 15th September and drop a bomb that he claims will discredit John Key

Mkay... I bet Winston is seriously pissed Dotcom is stealing his shtick, and Dotcom better have one up on Peters and actually have…

Pete George

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 18:26:39 +1200

Dotcom has confirmed today that he will have a town hall event on Monday 15th September and drop a bomb that he claims will discredit John Key.

That's a high stakes risk, it could backfire in part.There are some who want Key and National out of Government and don't care…

Russell Brown

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 18:24:53 +1200

Perhaps immigration was looking firmly at .com’s bank account when issuing visas, just like they have when processing other businessmen with dubious histories.

Or the minister was. That's really the best-case scenario for the government at the moment: they overruled the SIS to get residency for a guy with a…

Russell Brown

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 18:21:38 +1200

Russell: Um… would that be KDC or Internet Mana shopping a story paragraph three of Andrea’s own story says Dotcom’s been pushing for a while? Look, we’re all grown ups here perfectly well aware the Press Gallery is being pitched and spun from all sides all the time, but please…

Craig Ranapia

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 17:59:25 +1200

Sources today pointed Fairfax Media to the timing of the Hobbit negotiations and the spy agency U-turn.

Russell: Um… would that be KDC or Internet Mana shopping a story paragraph three of Andrea’s own story says Dotcom’s been pushing for a while? Look, we’re all grown ups here perfectly well…

william blake

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 17:45:41 +1200

I really enjoyed the idea of the tinfoil hat so I have made one and am wearing it now.

Perhaps immigration was looking firmly at .com's bank account when issuing visas, just like they have when processing other businessmen with dubious histories.

William Leander

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 17:29:00 +1200

The emails clearly say that "INZ have enough on his criminal history to not give him PR". And then it turns out that he is a person of interest in an FBI investigation, which should ring further alarm bells. So why on earth is he was he given residency? It…

Russell Brown

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 17:15:10 +1200

there was a conspiracy to lure him to NZ

He was already here when the deals were apparently done. The talk of “residency” means permanent residency, not just being a resident.

Actually no. This June 2011 story by David Fisher refers to his intention to settle in New Zealand. He’d been…

Pete George

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 16:08:29 +1200

A couple of random bits:

Chris Keall in NBR today:
Another factor: Mr Dotcom has long maintained that Prime Minister John Key knew about the January 2011 raid on his rented mansion long before it occurred. I suspect he's going to drop some new evidence on that one shortly before…

Matthew Poole

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 16:01:55 +1200

there was a conspiracy to lure him to NZ

He was already here when the deals were apparently done. The talk of "residency" means permanent residency, not just being a resident.

Pete George

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 15:47:31 +1200

Mega boss Dotcom, founder of the Internet-Mana party, believes US authorities wanted to keep him in New Zealand so it would be easier to extradite him on internet piracy and copyright infringement charges.
He has claimed to have evidence to back up his claims but says he is holding it…

Alastair Thompson

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 15:43:49 +1200

I think there is piles in this that is new in response to the "more of the same" meme which seems to be gaining traction in the Socialverse. It seems to me that the Govt, John Key and Jonathan Coleman are caught in something of a bind.

The current defence/explanation…

Rich of Observationz

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 15:42:26 +1200

Without going fully tinfoil hat, it's possible that a decision was made not to deny residence because to do so would have tipped Dotcom off as to the FBI's interest in him.

Russell Brown

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 15:34:32 +1200

Ah. Andrea Vance follows up. Interesting ...

The Security and Intelligence Service (SIS) withdrew its objections to Kim Dotcom's residency as the Government negotiated a deal with a major Hollywood studio over The Hobbit.

Mega boss Dotcom, founder of the Internet-Mana party, believes US authorities wanted to keep him in…

Russell Brown

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 15:21:32 +1200

The herald has helpfully put all the emails in one place.

It's a bloody interesting read.

linger

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 14:36:21 +1200

All our PM stands for is ... Plastic Man.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7dxmsDRSUI
“No-one ever gets the truth from … Plastic Man”

Greg Akehurst

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 14:33:05 +1200

Has anyone raised the spectre of "plausible deniability"? Or is this an issue that doesn't interest most New Zealanders, to borrow from the Key vernacular?

Josh Petyt

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 14:32:59 +1200

Yes, that's my impression of him too. It may be that his casual nature will finally bring him down but it doesn't feel like that's going to happen yet.

Matthew Poole

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 14:18:11 +1200

You’d have to wonder why the minister responsible for the SIS wasn’t briefed on Dotcom at the time.

Whilst I actually do consider it conceivable that he wasn’t briefed, it’s only because I think Key treats oversight of the intelligence services as akin to having DPS officers shadowing him: I’m…

Euan Mason

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 14:14:38 +1200

Unless they can catch Key out with a direct lie. And he's too smart for that.

I doubt even a direct lie would do it. He's the ultimate teflon PM.

Mark Graham

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 13:40:43 +1200

Sad to say but I suspect the wider electorate will still not care a whim. Do they have a job, is the economy 'booming' (perceptually, at least), is NZ 'on the right track'? they will see Kim Dotcom as a buffoon and Collins/McCully/Williamson's misdemeanours notwithstanding, Key's prevarication, Ryall/Bridges/Brownlee's incompetence -…

bob daktari

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 13:00:29 +1200

this was always a story that had more legs than a creepy crawly thing... if the Prime Minister has, as many believe, been less than honest about his knowledge of Dotcom I bet he and his strategists are rueing the day they decided to hunker down and hope it would…

Dylan Reeve

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 12:58:22 +1200

“it appears the government interest in the success of the [business migration] policy may have been misconstrued as political pressure”

That interpretation seems plausible, but I'd still suggest that is political pressure in that the Minister, ostensibly wanting to make the business migration scheme a success, was basically applying pressure.…

Sacha

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 12:53:30 +1200

"INZ can state unequivocally that there was no political pressure"

I'm sure they were under no pressure to say that either. :)

Pete George

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 12:48:36 +1200

While the "political pressure" phrase has been picked up on with gusto (or disgust) by a number of people this part of the herald article seems to be being ignored:
An earlier statement from Immigration NZ – provided by the SIS – said "it appears the government interest in the…

Russell Brown

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 12:44:25 +1200

You would have to wonder that, yes.

Juha Saarinen

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 12:43:52 +1200

You'd have to wonder why the minister responsible for the SIS wasn't briefed on Dotcom at the time.

Public Address

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 12:43:52 +1200

Discussion from blog post.