Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Everybody's Machiavelli

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  • Geoff Lealand,

    Mary Wilson currently giving Oiley a bollocking on Checkpoint

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

  • James Butler, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    Todd Scott’s august organ. :)

    Enough of people's organs already.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2009 • 856 posts Report Reply

  • Jacquelyne Taylor, in reply to Richard Love,

    Gobsmacked with all the continued 'furious indignation' being stirred & stoked up by the likes of Duncan Garner today. In particular regarding the 'reference' for Bevan that Len Brown's 'office' furnished her with! ( A person who really has been either a silly girl on so many levels or a willing Suzy Wong. Timing wise what an utter fustercluck).
    Anyway may I please ask a question from the employment experts or others who may know?

    Mr. Key shoulder tapped Ian Fletcher ( his ex school buddy) for a Directorship of the GCSB in very well documented and publicised actions..
    Reaction? Lots of temporary froth but very little longterm frenzy?
    HOW does Key & Brown's 'conflict' and 'aid' differ other than the adult sexual relationship aspect of this from the shitstorm a good few determined 'stirrers' seem to be intent on progressing?

    The fact that Ms Chuang really does not appear to have her known her Left from her Right let alone her right from wrong, and has been dropped from a great height as a 'dead duck' in the middle by all sides, is a salutary warning to all ahead of next year's election? The dots some us have joined this week between the U.S Italian mob and the Chinese job, two Mayors ( one ex) make an interesting picture.
    Didn't realise the CrosbyTextor tactics started this early, but of course they would?..

    Thankyou for whoever has the time to answer my questions. Preferably before the next attempted diversion becomes the 'nu gift news of the slews distraction' of the day! Finding myself in agreement with Michelle Boag AND Matthew Hooten as well as Matt McCarten truly weird..

    But this week surely a gift for this current government. One that should have been about a Simon Bridge(s) too far, a sloppy Energy company investment warning, or a huge hurray that a dishonorable dodgy coalition partner finally about to be dealt to!

    The rest of this 'orchestrated' ugly mess way off the radars of the average, ordinary man or woman in the street, voting or non voting to even comprehend!
    Asked someone to pinch me gently before I post!

    Either way sticking with Defendant Banks' story regardless of who may be comfortable with trying to bury that?
    He made 'trouble' personal yesterday.
    Didn't realise he really IS a woman hater!
    ..

    Auckland • Since May 2013 • 3 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Cameron Slater has just been on Checkpoint, where he accused other people of throwing Bevan Chuang under the bus.

    We’re through the looking glass, folks. Nothing is real any more.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to Russell Brown,

    He was listed as one of several referees and his office confirmed that Chuang was competent.

    Arm's-length test passed.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    Oh well, I’m sure the nigh on inevitable Employment Court action will be covered in an impartial and unbiased manner by Todd Scott’s august organ. :)

    I've heard something genuinely gobsmacking about this. Which would, I presume, come out in an Employment Court case.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I’ve heard something genuinely gobsmacking about this

    Can my gob have a little longer to recover from “Jock Anderson fired for being opinionated in an editorial.” What next: Conde Nast sacking Anna Wintour and Graydon Carter for running too many covers with skinny celebrities in very expensive advertiser's clothes?

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

  • Hebe, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I’ve heard something genuinely gobsmacking about this. Which would, I presume, come out in an Employment Court case.

    Connected with Brown or Palino?

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Jacquelyne Taylor, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Yes Russell I am not sure whether she could have ever realised just how awful this was all going to be, but surely she could have guessed that it wasn't going to go well when others were 'writing' scripts for her..
    As a Mum, I do hope someone sensible in her own family gets her away from NZ and fast now. It's horrible to sense another human being being torn to shreds in public like this. Also beginning to remind me of the Lewinsky case rather than the Christine Keeler Profumo one or 'other women' we studied for a school project a long time back but who were almost always 'damaged' forever in the aftermath
    A macabre puppet show.. Someone shut it down please........

    Auckland • Since May 2013 • 3 posts Report Reply

  • Don Christie,

    "where he accused other people of throwing Bevan Chuang under the bus" and then at the end of the interview went on to throw her under a bloody great battleship.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report Reply

  • SteveH, in reply to Chris Waugh,

    but if Slater and the Herald are so keen to get rid of Brown, then why not focus on his record? I would’ve thought that reminding everybody of that credit card thing and weaving that into a narrative of “Brown the untrustworthy abuser of mayoral privilege”, with a seasoning of “crazy bugger slaps himself live on TV” (or whatever it was that happened) would be a much better strategy for getting him out of office than focussing on Chuang.

    Slater is only interested in muck raking. The Herald did mention the credit card thing, but I'm not convinced they are as dedicated to removing Brown as some have claimed. I think they're interested in perpetuating the story and dragging up Brown's history doesn't do that because it's not news. I think you'll find it'll refocus pretty quickly on Brown if there is any hint of other impropriety by him.

    Since Sep 2009 • 444 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Cameron Slater has just been on Checkpoint, where he accused other people of throwing Bevan Chuang under the bus.

    We’re through the looking glass, folks. Nothing is real any more.

    If patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel, then denial is the last refuge of the narcissist.

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

  • Russell Brown, in reply to SteveH,

    Slater is only interested in muck raking. The Herald did mention the credit card thing, but I’m not convinced they are as dedicated to removing Brown as some have claimed. I think they’re interested in perpetuating the story and dragging up Brown’s history doesn’t do that because it’s not news. I think you’ll find it’ll refocus pretty quickly on Brown if there is any hint of other impropriety by him.

    I think you're right. Their story is now uncovering what happened -- and Slater's certifiably insane post this afternoon accusing them of conspiring with the left will have been noted. I wouldn't be feeling too comfortable right now if I was Stephen Cook, let's put it that way.

    The way that elements of the right have gone on a war footing on this one suggests a fairly high degree of anxiety about the whole business. I pretty much wouldn't rule anything out at this point.

    PS: Cook's "sex website" is no longer a rumour. Confirmed, apparently. Thought I'd leave that with y'all over dinner.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • John Farrell,

    Interesting listening to the outrage from the far end of the country. The ODT managed a short column, on page 4 I think, about Len Brown.

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 499 posts Report Reply

  • orewa1,

    An excellent post. Len Brown, Bev and several others may have sustained serious reputational damage, but the big loser is the so-called Citizens and Ratepayers bloc whose credibility is beyond recovery. Thank God Palermo didn't make it through.

    If there is a new election there is no way I could vote for any candidate with any sniff of their endorsement.

    orewa • Since Oct 2013 • 1 posts Report Reply

  • "chris", in reply to Russell Brown,

    Can we be clear here that this was two adults in a wholly consensual relationship?

    Most certainly, and the parameters of the Browns' marriage remain undisclosed to date. The casualties here, as always, are/ will be the children.

    And his daughters, who spoke up for him

    Personally I found that unnecessary and its publication to be injudicious.

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

  • Alan Perrott, in reply to Russell Brown,

    exactly, but what also amuses me is Slater saying he tried to protect her identity by - oh my gosh, blanking out her name, the devil - while providing enough clues in the text messages for us to get her name within five minutes.
    the claim that any newsroom needed a tipoff is laughable.
    anyway, I think - OK I hope - there will some unexpected consequences from this mess.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 438 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Jacquelyne Taylor,

    Mr. Key shoulder tapped Ian Fletcher ( his ex school buddy) for a Directorship of the GCSB in very well documented and publicised actions..
    Reaction? Lots of temporary froth but very little longterm frenzy? HOW does Key & Brown’s ‘conflict’ and ‘aid’ differ other than the adult sexual relationship aspect of this from the shitstorm a good few determined ‘stirrers’ seem to be intent on progressing?

    In part, at least, because Key has absolute statutory patronage over who sits as Director of GCSB. He is entitled to appoint Bronagh’s poodle’s hairdresser (disclaimer: I don’t know if Bronagh owns a poodle or, if she does, if it has a hairdresser) to the role, should he so choose. Hell, he could have appointed Ben Hana and it would’ve been legal!

    I don’t think there’s any scandal worth being scandalised about in Brown’s provision of a reference for Chuang, assuming she actually was competent for the role, but it is proper for there to be scrutiny because Brown’s patronage extends only as far as appointment of various committee roles. He’s not allowed to meddle in what is meant to be an ordinary employment relationship at the Art Gallery.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to John Farrell,

    Interesting listening to the outrage from the far end of the country. The ODT managed a short column, on page 4 I think, about Len 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.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Alan Perrott,

    exactly, but what also amuses me is Slater saying he tried to protect her identity by – oh my gosh, blanking out her name, the devil – while providing enough clues in the text messages for us to get her name within five minutes.

    The original story’s description of their relative ages helped too. But I confess, I only went looking after Brown’s press statement, which rather radically narrowed the field by saying she was an advisory board member and a local board candidate. Took me five minutes after that.

    But even that was somewhat justifiable, given that the Brown camp was responding to Cook and Slater’s false claim that she was an employee.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Matthew Poole,

    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's Dave. I know that.

    But still, interesting how it's (not) playing out as you head south.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to orewa1,

    It's looking increasingly as if the CitRats have lobbed a political grenade at Mayor Len, only for it to bounce against a parapet and back in their faces.

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

  • John Farrell, in reply to Matthew Poole,

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

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 499 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    It's on the news but it's sort of mixed in with all those ads for Auckland companies that we ignore too

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Steven Peters, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Simply standing for a community board, unsuccessfully, does not qualify for the the epithet ‘politician’. 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 – Home > About council > Representatives and bodies > Advisory panels. Advisory panels “work within Auckland Council”, and the Ethnic Peoples Advisory Panel was established by Auckland Council as a requirement of the Local Government (Auckland Transitional Provisions) Act 2010 (section 86). Information pertaining to them is available from the Manager, Community Development, Arts and Culture Department. They do not seem to be self governing bodies, autonomous from the council, and one of those employment lawyers you mentioned may agree, particularly if these are paid positions ‘within’ the council.
    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.

    CHCH • Since Oct 2012 • 96 posts Report Reply

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