Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Fluency, ease of manner - and Norton Antivirus

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  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to WH,

    . You have to wonder whether a guy who thinks that New Zealanders’ views about fish are a trump card in a debate about constitutional rights really has the temperament for this kind of responsibility.

    No better and no worse, I'd suggest, than the Prime Minister and Parliament that was totally OK with the Electoral Act being retroactively amended - under extreme urgency, no less - simply to avoid a politically inconvenient by-election. Not exactly my idea of a compelling justification for fucking around with electoral law, but you know what? I seem to be in the tiny minority of citizens who gave a shit about that too. If it's true we get the politicians we deserve (and elect) perhaps we need to ask who is really at fault.

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

  • "chris", in reply to WH,

    I thought Key’s comments about snapper, the Law Society and Kim Dotcom were really inappropriate.

    Definitely, but a proportion of politicians will still endeavor get away with whatever they can, always, and if the media is really The Fourth estate it claims to be; i.e. a societal or political force, then one expects them to be consistently capable of dictating terms, at the very least on home turf – in print/on air.

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

  • WH,

    If it’s true we get the politicians we deserve (and elect) perhaps we need to ask who is really at fault.

    I think conservatives are enjoying a period in which rights and constitutional norms don't have quite the restraining effect they once did. Maybe it's due to events like 9/11 and the accretion of cases like Abu Hamza's, which have eroded the currency of rights in political discourse.

    You see this in the US, where Republicans aggressively suppress voter turnout and where the conservative wing of the Supreme Court is deliberately eroding the Voting Rights Act and other landmark legal protections (such as Miranda), and in the UK, where Conservatives have long called for the repeal of the Human Rights Act.

    I don't personally dislike Key, and get the sense that being the Prime Minister must actually be quite annoying. Still, he sets the tone from the top, and he probably shouldn't be doing that with flippant remarks and cheap shots.

    then one expects them to be consistently capable of dictating terms, at the very least on home turf – in print/on air.

    I think it's always going to depend on context. Key made some good points, and you can't expect Campbell to just bang on regardless.

    Since Nov 2006 • 797 posts Report Reply

  • "chris",

    Key made some good points, and you can’t expect Campbell to just bang on regardless.

    I think John Campbell’s “bang” was his undoing, Key was water. As Steviant said:

    "I think people can more easily be coached to handle an aggressive interviewer than they can to simply talk at length on a subject without prompting, because you can distract the viewers by behaving in a way that makes the interviewer seem rude or pushy."

    Key was certainly gifted ample opportunity to make his points. Arguably a degree of flexibility was in order, perhaps even a commercial break.

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

  • David Hood,

    And in the latest from the U.K., Glenn Greenwald's partner detained for 9 hours for questioning under anti-terrorism laws.
    http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/aug/18/david-miranda-detained-uk-nsa

    Dunedin • Since May 2007 • 1445 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to WH,

    C’est dommage..

    …and get the sense that being the Prime Minister
    must actually be quite annoying

    No one is forcing him to be there.
    Heat, kitchens, tolerance, etc….

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • andin, in reply to "chris",

    I think John Campbell’s “bang” was his undoing, Key was water.

    Oh fucking bullshit you've been reading too much eastern literature of late by the sounds of it. Campbell's problem, if there is one, is he is too earnest. Politicians need to be treated with a degree of disdain. They are scum sucking lowlifes after all. Yes they ARE! All dressed up in suits, spouting words they dont really think about. Just looking to cover their arse all the effing time, sucking up to someone? I dont think they even know who most of the time. They are completely unnecessary, there is a better way to do things, but they are all just getting in the way maintaining their position(which they are making cosier by the minute).
    How many fucking arseholes in suits, telling us how wonderful and indispensible they are, do we actually need?

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    What bemuses me about this is that Key could irrefutably say that Governments receive reams (or would that be Terrabytes?) of advice and opinions every day of the week.

    I guess for me this is the bit that defines if someone is a good or bad manager. I don't expect managers to know everything themselves and the same is true of politicians. But good managers will seek advice and heed it. Bad managers make a decision then "consult" until they hear the opinion that supports their decision.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    Don't disagree with a word you've said there, Bart. But I don't think we should be too terribly surprised at politicians disregarding advice they find politically inconvenient, but they can do it without being utter cocks. (I doubt the next Labour Government will be paying much mind to anything coming out of Treasury, but might well be avoiding Cullen-esque mouth-farts about "ideological burps". I also hope everyone has learned their lessons about injudicious attacks on the political independence of politically embarrasing Auditor-Generals and electoral officials.)

    There's been plenty of sharp disagreement with the Law Commission -- which is an advisory body NOT a judicial or legislative one -- hereabouts, that still manages to avoid needlessly troll-ish imputations of partisan bad faith. It's not mad science, Prime Minister.

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

  • Raymond A Francis,

    I wonder if john Campbell's real problem was he thought he was interviewing David Shearer
    Shouting questions that must answered yes or no, petulant "so sue me" came across (to me with my inbuilt prejudices ) as some one under prepared
    It as if he was channeling Andin's rant above

    Politicians need to be treated with a degree of disdain. They are scum sucking lowlifes after all"

    Lets remember who have to get voted in to run the country

    45' South • Since Nov 2006 • 578 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    I think conservatives are enjoying a period in which rights and constitutional norms don’t have quite the restraining effect they once did. Maybe it’s due to events like 9/11 and the accretion of cases like Abu Hamza’s, which have eroded the currency of rights in political discourse.

    You see this in the US, where Republicans aggressively suppress voter turnout and where the conservative wing of the Supreme Court is deliberately eroding the Voting Rights Act and other landmark legal protections (such as Miranda), and in the UK, where Conservatives have long called for the repeal of the Human Rights Act.

    In other words, a law unto themselves. They could do worse than heed the caution of JFK: "Those who make peaceful revolution impossible, will make violent revolution inevitable." Right now that seems to be unfolding in Egypt.

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

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    politicians disregarding advice they find politically inconvenient, but they can do it without being utter cocks

    Sadly they don't seem to even worry about that nowadays. If they can avoid looking bad in the last six months before the election they feel thay can do whatever they like for the rest of the term. And yes I mean both National and Labour.

    I personally have a lot more respect for people who are willing to say "I don't know, let me ask and expert and get back to you" than someone who exudes confidence while spouting nonsense.

    I must be old wanting a genuine statesperson, someone who actually tries to do good, I can't say I'm confident anyone in Parliament today fits that bill.

    And yes the Law commission has impressed me too.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • andin, in reply to Raymond A Francis,

    Lets remember who have to get voted in to run the country

    The last election was more decided by who didnt vote than the other way round. Anyway that's a weasel argument. Elections have become a farce of late.

    he thought he was interviewing David Shearer

    Thats insulting! No he didnt. He was wanting shed some light on the subject but he was dealing with a pathological liar. Maybe he should take that into account next time.

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • "chris", in reply to andin,

    I’d love to know what input was coming from the producer down the wire.

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

  • "chris",

    It becomes the teapot...

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

  • Sacha, in reply to WH,

    I think conservatives are enjoying a period in which rights and constitutional norms don't have quite the restraining effect they once did

    I doubt genuine conservatives are enjoying the lack of restraint on the radical right. Some must be mighty offended - and the Law Commission et al are hardly foaming lefties either.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • andin, in reply to "chris",

    It becomes the teapot

    Sounds even stupider with Bruce Lee spouting it HAH!

    I’d love to know what input was coming from the producer down the wire.

    None of our business

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Graham,

    Christchurch • Since Jul 2011 • 39 posts Report Reply

  • Brent Jackson,

    An excellent continuation of John Key's Norton Anti-virus analogy.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 620 posts Report Reply

  • "chris", in reply to Peter Graham,

    Profound. I love how “a hundredth of a second” became “a nanosecond” in the twinkling of an eye. That would have been a perfect Sci-fi storm if Key hadn't neglected to mention the mighty “flux capacitor” powering this wondrous machine. What a hopeless cunt.

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

  • "chris",

    *Though no more hopeless than the rest of those babbitts standing beside him on this, Contact info here:

    http://thejackalman.blogspot.com/2013/08/contact-mps-voting-for-gcsb-and-tics.html

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

  • nzlemming, in reply to "chris",

    I love how “a hundredth of a second” became “a nanosecond” in the twinkling of an eye.

    Only, it's not what they're doing. It's not what the GCSB does at anytime.

    Also, I'd love to be able to hear the reporter's questions at that conference.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • "chris", in reply to nzlemming,

    Also, I’d love to be able to hear the reporter’s questions at that conference.

    Indeed Mark.

    For anyone with something to share here’s the CSV list of the GCSB voters for emailing convenience:

    peter.dunne@parliament.govt.nz, john.key@national.org.nz, bill.english@national.org.nz, gerry.brownlee@national.org.nz, steven.joyce@national.org.nz, office@judithcollins.co.nz, tony.ryall@national.org.nz, h.parata@ministers.govt.nz, c.finlayson@parliament.govt.nz, paula.bennettmp@parliament.govt.nz, jonathan.coleman@national.org.nz, murray.mccully@national.org.nz, anne.tolley@national.org.nz, nick.smith@national.org.nz, Tim.Groser@national.org.nz, amy.adams@national.org.nz, nathan.guy@national.org.nz, craigfoss@backingthebay.co.nz, chris.tremain@parliament.govt.nz, s.bridges@ministers.govt.nz, nikki.kaye@national.org.nz, maurice.williamson@national.org.nz, jo.goodhew@parliament.govt.nz, chester.borrows@national.org.nz, michael.woodhouse@national.org.nz, david.carter@national.org.nz, kate.wilkinson@national.org.nz, phil.heatley@national.org.nz, louise.upston@national.org.nz, claudette.hauiti@national.org.nz, johnbanks.epsom@parliament.govt.nz, chris.auchinvole@national.org.nz, colin.kingmp@parliament.govt.nz, david.bennett@national.org.nz, paul.hutchison@parliament.govt.nz, drjackieblue@parliament.govt.nz, eric.roy@national.org.nz, tau.henare@national.org.nz, jacqui.dean@parliament.govt.nz, john.hayes@national.org.nz, nicky.wagner@national.org.nz, lindsay.tisch@parliament.govt.nz, shane.ardern@national.org.nz, jonathan.young@national.org.nz, Bakshi.mp@parliament.govt.nz, katrinashanks.mp@parliament.govt.nz, melissa.lee@national.org.nz, sam.lotu-iiga@national.org.nz, tim.macindoe@national.org.nz, todd.mcclay@national.org.nz, jami-lee.ross@national.org.nz, cam.calder@national.org.nz, scott.simpson@national.org.nz, jian.yang@parliament.govt.nz, alfred.ngaro@parliament.govt.nz, paul.goldsmith@national.org.nz, simon.oconnor@national.org.nz, maggie.barry@national.org.nz, ian.mckelvie@national.org.nz, mark.mitchell@national.org.nz, Mike.Sabin@parliament.govt.nz

    Though that Claudette Hauiti address doesn't seem to be working.

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

  • WH,

    I doubt genuine conservatives are enjoying the lack of restraint on the radical right.

    I can't say that I agree with your suggestion that David Cameron, Chief Justice John Roberts and Governor Rick Perry (or indeed John Key) aren't "genuine conservatives".

    Since Nov 2006 • 797 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to WH,

    I can’t say that I agree with your suggestion that David Cameron, Chief Justice John Roberts and Governor Rick Perry (or indeed John Key) aren’t “genuine conservatives”.

    As Sacha was pretty obviously talking about New Zealand, none of the cherries you have picked have any relevance. Thanks for playing.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

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