Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Everybody's Machiavelli

408 Responses

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  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Tom Semmens,

    It is a function of nature of the Auckland ruling class. Those born into it think it a jape to behave with a lethal buffonery that references the stupidest of the British aristocracy as role models, those that aspire to join it behave in the manner of all wannabe parvenus hoping to be accepted.

    Wouldn't the closest real world match be the Ancien Régime pre-Revolutionary France? Paul Krugman certainly thinks so.

    Such types combine the worst of both old money and new money worlds - the snobbery and entitlement of the former, with the crassness and attention-whoring of the latter.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • FletcherB, in reply to Russell Brown,

    His name’s Dave. I know that.

    There's a lot of Daves... might have to cull the list a bit to narrow it down?

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report Reply

  • Keir Leslie, in reply to Steven Peters,

    Tell that to Paul Findlay; of course standing for elected office makes you a politician, especially standing as part of an organised ticket that explicitly aims to take over the Auckland Council.

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Steven Peters,

    And if she wasnt an employee of the council and therefore not in an employer-employee type relationship, then why is she listed on the Council website

    Auckland Council's advisory panels have no formal influence over the Governing Body, Local Boards or Mayor's Office, and vice versa. Most are unpaid, and most are selected by Council officers* rather than elected by anyone. There is no employment relationship.

    *the Mayor 'appoints' them much as the Governor-General does at a national level, on the recommendation of staff.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • John Farrell, in reply to FletcherB,

    "There's a lot of Daves... might have to cull the list a bit to narrow it down?"

    Nicely done.

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 499 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Well, he is our mayor, and you know his name. I wouldn’t have a clue of the name of yours without going and asking Google.

    His name

    That much puts you ahead of me. I didn't even know the gender.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to John Farrell,

    Is that the famous “south of the Bombays” syndrome we hear whispers of?

    Couldn’t tell you the names of the mayors of anywhere north of Warkworth, either, so I’m an equal-opportunities snob :)

    ETA: not strictly true, either. I know about Lianne Dalziel in Christchurch, and Celia Wade-Brown in Wellington. That's two mayors from south of the Bombays. I'm positively enlightened!

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to "chris",

    the parameters of the Browns' marriage remain undisclosed to date

    I'd say Len was pretty clear about having breached them in his Campbell Live appearance.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Matthew Poole,

    Wayne Brown. oh, wait..

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    Jock Anderson fired for being opinionated in an editorial

    for having the wrong opinion, you mean :)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart, in reply to Steven Peters,

    To me the ‘affair’ isnt the issue (although it will be to many – particularly women, who, incidentally, seem somewhat invisible on this site) – its how and where it was conducted.

    Dear Steven,

    That's pretty fucking sexist.

    Yours,

    A Woman.

    Sorry we haven't been more visible: we were all off at the Women's Meeting deciding what women collectively think. Women are not invisible on this site. See Hebe? She's a woman. It's true there are usually more women participating here than have in this particular thread: perhaps an indication that we care LESS about the affair, not more?

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • "chris", in reply to Sacha,

    I’d say Len was pretty clear

    He seemed to be making all the right noises, but I’d never presume.

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

  • Sacha, in reply to "chris",

    You mean he might have apologised for 'letting down' his wife when they had actually agreed that him being involved with another person was OK? Bit of a stretch, and I'm not convinced he is that good an actor.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Emma Hart,

    You've all been too busy reading the Women's Weekly, admit it. :)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Deborah,

    I don’t want to just look in the other direction and pretend that someone didn’t leave this large stinking mess in the middle of this community.

    And rightly so, Deborah. I carelessly posted a comment that wasn't supporting PAS as a safe space, and a zero tolerance one for racism and misogyny, and would like to apologise to the whole PAS community. (Russell, I'd be happy if you think deleting it is the right call.)

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

  • Tom Semmens,

    I heard on the TV3 news that John Palino has “gone on holiday” overseas and can’t be contacted – I presume to the United States. How convenient! Running away when the going gets tough, John? What a hero. Is this perhaps the standard of accountability you would bring to the mayoralty should you ever win it? Go "on holiday" whenever any unpleasant questions are in the offing?

    I hope you stay away, and takes the unsavoury Luigi with you. I also hope the media don’t let him off the hook that easily.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    WELL DONE CRAIG.
    Pity about another poster here who doesnt realise how offensive he is-

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • "chris", in reply to Sacha,

    You mean he might have apologised for ‘letting down’ his wife when they had actually agreed that him being involved with another person was OK? Bit of a stretch, and I’m not convinced he is that good an actor

    I don’t know, I guess by that token the parameters of my parents’ marriage were a bit of a stretch, perceive that as you will. Again, I’d never presume.

    More importantly, as Len Brown said, it’s an intensely personal issue between he and his family. I’m content to leave it at that.

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

  • Ana Simkiss,

    My reaction to this whole affair has been along the lines of NONONO DO NOT WANT. Don't care where the Mayor gets his, definitely don't want the details, disgusted by the right wing hate machine. Ask me again in a week when all the details are all out, suspect I will feel the same.

    Freemans Bay • Since Nov 2006 • 141 posts Report Reply

  • Ross Mason,

    Note those not disgusted by the above post will be receiving their boarding passes for the B ark shortly in the mail, have a wonderful trip.

    The B Ark had the telephone sanitisers. I think the purveyors missed that ark didn’t they?

    Simply standing for a community board, unsuccessfully, does not qualify for the the epithet ‘politician’.

    Yes it does. A bit less than half of our pollies are on a list – those who don’t put up in an electorate. They don’t “stand” at all.

    "Wewege comes across like a lying inconsiderate bastard.

    Did someone misspell his name – Loo Sewage?

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    Nicely done Craig. I admit to not having noticed yours amid my fury at the troll: spent 10 minutes composing vicious, incisive and witty replies then saying to myself "don't feed, don't feed" and deleting.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Ross Mason,

    Did someone misspell his name

    Wewenge

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to Steven Peters,

    To me the ‘affair’ isnt the issue (although it will be to many – particularly women, who, incidentally, seem somewhat invisible on this site) – its how and where it was conducted.

    As an invisible woman the affair itself is not at all the issue. Didn’t you know that New Zealand women are among the most promiscuous in the world? We’re rather relaxed about shaggery – it’s the sleazy politics surrounding this outing that is concerning. And although Bevan Chuang is an unlovely character, she sure doesn’t deserve what she is receiving, especially from the odious Slater (wood-louse?), the cartoon-awful Luigi Sewage and Stephen Cook.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Hebe,

    And although Bevan Chuang is an unlovely character

    Yeah, and that's something else I'm too fucking angry to be coherent about. The media slut-shaming is offensive enough on its own account, but the dudebros aren't even trying to disguise the metric fuckton of ageism and racism in play. Is it the 21st century yet?

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

  • Lilith __,

    I find this whole business disgusting. Not Brown’s affair, which I care about not at all, but the frenzy of prudish and prurient and self-righteous comments.

    I didn’t realise so many NZers were so neurotic about sex that they would get worked up about this. Providing no-one’s job has been compromised, how is it any of our business? How is it even interesting? Has Shortland St got boring? Have people not got lives of their own?

    As I’ve said elsewhere: public office should not mean someone’s personal life is public property. Let's be grownups.

    Meanwhile, Banks is facing trial for electoral fraud. This is a serious matter, that affects our democracy.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

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