Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Five further thoughts

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  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Dylan Reeve,

    I’m not convinced the foreignness is a *huge* part of it… I think the bigger part is his questionable moral/criminal history (and present) and how conspicuously he was trying to influence the election.

    The fact he isn’t a citizen is certainly part of it, however if everything else were the same but Dotcom had been born in Matamata I think the spin, fear and outcomes would be very similar.

    THIS. Yes, I found the endless sneering references to his nationality and weight obnoxious and offensive (which is pretty much Paul Henry's default setting), it's glib and facile to dismiss all criticism and scrutiny of him as a xenophobic "smear campaign". Especially from people I suspect would take a very different view if KDC had been a very big ticket donor to National and/or Labour.

    And let's not lose sight that The Moment of Truth was being billed for months as the big reveal of irrefutable evidence that Key was a lying liar who was balls deep in baiting a residency honeytrap at the behest of foreign governments and multinational corporations. He didn't deliver, by any rational metric, and it's a tad rich to complain that people noticed.

    Something a little more disturbing (but weirdly amusing) is Lila Harre's oft-repeated spin line that poor Hone Harawira was "ganged up on". What does she think happens in elections? Like it or not, what I'm hearing is that Kelvin Davis just got the basics right in ways Labour hasn't in Te Tai Tokerau for a long time -- reconnected with a lot of flax roots networks, rebuilt up an effective and energized ground operation, and worked his arse off in a huge electorate that's really hard to stay visible in because it's geographically huge and your target voters are widely dispersed.

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

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to ,

    Fair enough -- Greg's rather tacky figure of speech wasn't really worth extending. But I think Labour can quite easily "reconnect with the center" without going full Waitakere Man, so to speak. Then again, I don't actually work on the assumption that "the center" is intrinsically racist, misogynistic and homophobic. It's a false binary that, among much else, sells people short.

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

  • Greg Dawson, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    Less here, more in other forums and media, there is definitely the same Waitakere Man call coming through loud and clear. Tom isn’t the only one.

    And I’m in complete agreement that it’s a false dilemma, which is why it makes me incredibly angry to see it being argued again. Don't think I made my sarcasm clear enough on the earlier post.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 294 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Greg Dawson,

    I am thrilled to see the inevitable calls for Labour to throw the gays, the women, and the children under the bus in order to compete with National.

    God I hope this is just a failure of tone and a lack of sarcasm tags.

    It is worth remembering that in every survey done in the last ten years the centre voters have all support gay rights, womens rights and ending child poverty.

    Moving towards the centre means embracing all those things not throwing them under a bus.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to ,

    I will not be shutting the fuck up about that in the foreseeable.

    +1

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Greg Dawson, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    God I hope this is just a failure of tone and a lack of sarcasm tags

    The latter, as I commented in the post just before you. My bad.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 294 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    National will claim, of course, that the New Zealand public gave them a mandate to do whatever they claim they campaigned on. The public want one year fire at will, the public want no tea breaks, the public want to scrap the RMA and have a developer build a 9 story apartment building between them and the sun.
    The TPPA will be passed without discussion, after all, what is the point of discussing it if we are going to pass it as is anyway?. DotCom will be extradited to the US of fucking eh! and spend most of his life awaiting “trial” Cameron Slater will be given a knighthood and Judith Collins will return as Justice Minister.
    The people will wail there will be a gnashing of teeth and at the end of the day John Key will lie to us all and we shall love him.
    I shall not. I will strive to show the people that their eyes have been stolen, their fingers burned and their tongues cut out.
    I shall despair.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to ,

    And, I will not be shutting the fuck up about that in the foreseeable.

    Like I'd even try to make that happen around here. :) In the end, it's rather unlikely the seat is going to flip on specials so Davies can suck up whatever criticism comes his way, like every other MP.

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

  • Kumara Republic,

    If it’s anything to go by, the decidely moderate liberal Sam Morgan of TradeMe fame tweeted that he voted for the Nats to keep out Kim Dotcom:

    I’m voting National. The prospect of a self-centred German gamer hijacking New Zealand’s election just pisses me off. Go home, you prick.

    In his defence, he subsequently tweeted:

    A Labour vote this election is a bit pointless, Conservatives, ACT, Mana all nutters. So all we’re voting for at this stage is coalitions.

    And…

    Helen Clark was Prime Minister 1999 – 2008. Exact same tenure as I had running Trade Me. I’m not anti-Labour. I am anti-nutters.

    And retweeted:

    Oscar Clamp @singlemaltz · Sep 19
    @samfromwgtn What pisses me off is the subversion of democracy and increasing corruption in this current government.

    On the surface, Morgan comes across as a floating voter. I suspect it also has something to do with a stoush between Dotcom and Rod Drury, the founder of Xero, of which Morgan is on the board.

    For all its dubious accuracy, his Off The Fence result was NZ First, United Future and Maori Party. His response:

    This website is a bit dumb – or I’m a Winston fan and didn’t know it.

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

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    Knew very little about any policy. Was a bit shocked when I told him about the Nats first up legislation to lose legislated tea breaks.

    In a nutshell.Ignorance and misinformation. Regurgitated press releases don't inform on policy unless you have access and Up North, the missing voters didn't have petrol. They don't even travel to get the paper , many don't have a computer and ph credit is a luxury. No buses, no train. As well, only one politician got close to our local pub where any votes could be lifted. Willow Prime was across the road dealing with a complaint from the owner of the Gas Station, she could have popped in for 5 minutes, and Kelvin was busy getting rid of Hone. Sabin knew he'd win so didn't bother either. Most repeated that they didn't think Cunliffe was a good alternative so status quo it is and almost noone thought they would read Dirty Politics. One man had (up from Auckland) ,he wanted to discuss it, his friend left the table,went inside because he has always expressed his love of Key and couldn't listen to anything negative about his Emperor. Ah well. at least these people are easy to understand eh? How about that rugby? Jona and Israel just "lurve" Johnny!

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to James Littlewood*,

    Pretty obvious which party failed to motivate its voters.

    Have you popped out of your comfort zone to see how ,on struggle street people have difficulty getting out to vote. Maybe the bus they campaign in could be an incentive with a slogan ,"get on the bus to get to the polling booth". Make it actually possible for the poor to get there.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    Ignorance

    In its purest form simply a lack of knowledge of just what National planned to do.

    And the fault of that was a campaign from Labour and The Greens that failed utterly to communicate that to the voting public in any way that caused the voters to get out and vote (for Labour or The greens).

    Voting positively and loving NZ was all very well but it failed to explain to anyone why not voting was a bad thing. Meanwhile National voters got out and voted.

    Both Labour and Green campaign managers should be getting a please explain letter followed by a very nice reference for their next employment opportunity.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Rob S,

    build more houses, we’ve done it before and it helped John Key get where he is today.A higher minimum pay to get people off welfare by paying them properly policy.Attack the Nats continually on there economic mismanagement with the Country in debt to the tune of 88 billion and they want to cut taxes and make your kids pay for it later, are they mad?Stay ruthlessly on message.

    This. It would have worked too.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    Meanwhile National voters got out and voted.

    Given the numbers who voted candidate Labour, party National, I’m not even sure what you mean by National voters.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Katharine Moody,

    As I’ve said elsewhere on here and I’ll say it again – Kim Dotcom is a modern genius in the biggest growth area on the planet at the moment – the internet. And look what our Government has done to him. It is shameful. My grandchildren would benefit immensely if this entrepreneur manages to stay here and become a leading contributor to our society in the future.Wake up NZ.Okay, I won’t say it again.

    Well. I'll repeat that here for you. Couldn't agree with you more. I am baffled by the general response to him also.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to ,

    I used to think the Americans where one homogenous mass. Then I realized that was incorrect. They are pretty much the same as us, but I have to say, they do it with more substance.

    Come 2017, with Johnny in charge, you can feel just like one of those Americans. We are small enough to completely control. That's the plan, right? All their ducks in a row.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Chris Waugh, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    I’m voting National. The prospect of a self-centred German gamer hijacking New Zealand’s election just pisses me off. Go home, you prick.

    And some people try to say there was no, or not really very much at all, xenophobia in the opposition to Internet Mana?

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    It is worth remembering that in every survey done in the last ten years the centre voters have all support gay rights, womens rights and ending child poverty.

    Didn't translate to votes. The left bloc covered all those issues.
    Voting should be compulsory. It would stop people voting with their wallets. It would balance the theory that all of the right vote leaving left leaning at home.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Robert M,

    I know Russell was very taken by the 'Dirty Politics' chapter on the Rodney selection process. So what can he tell us about the new MP for Southland, 24-year-old Todd Barclay? After working in the offices of Bill English, Hekia Parata, and Gerry Brownlee, a short stint as 'corporate affairs manager' at tobacco giant Philip Morris earned young Todd the Southland nomination - one of the safest seats in the country, with a 13583 majority on the night. Love to know what was going on there.

    Since Sep 2014 • 2 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Telfar Barnard,

    I just looked him up. He doesn't even look old enough to vote, but he gets handed a safe seat on his first outing? Oh well, guess noone can accuse National of not planning for the next generation.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 585 posts Report Reply

  • Tim Michie,

    In terms of what Labour policy most might've been aware of (if not the details) I think some of negative reaction to the CGT plays into the result.

    Auckward • Since Nov 2006 • 614 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Tim Michie,

    In terms of what Labour policy most might’ve been aware of (if not the details) I think some of negative reaction to the CGT plays into the result.

    Yes, in that, particularly through Cunliffe's hapless grasp of the details, it created exactly the uncertainty the voters didn't want.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Chris Waugh,

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    And I’m in complete agreement that it’s a false dilemma, which is why it makes me incredibly angry to see it being argued again. Don’t think I made my sarcasm clear enough on the earlier post.

    This is upsetting me too. Blairism will destroy that party, and I mean that literally.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to George Darroch,

    Blairism will destroy that party, and I mean that literally.

    Jose Pagani's vision of a grand coalition with National must be the only reason she continues to drag out the rancid carcass of Blair's legacy.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

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