Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Gushing for Auckland

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  • SteveH,

    <quote > "Banks is a
    cunt. I'm not Banks.</quote >
    Worked for Hubbard.

    Vote for the dick, not the cunt.

    Cue the "dicks, assholes, and pussies" monologue from Team America.

    Since Sep 2009 • 444 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    Oh dear oh dear. I'm firmly in Len Brown's camp and told a close member of my family so yesterday. And had to listen to this much loved very close family member, who is involved with this Council in a capacity that means s/he works with Banks a bit on various stuff, tell me how much the man has changed. I love her/him, but really? I don't know the man, and I still don't believe that he can have changed that much.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    How to keep your hands clean:

    John Key approved the release of the Credit cards. He said little but as expected the MSM really did the work for him.

    I think the release of the historical statements was proper enough, especially given that Goff had made a meal of Phil Heatley's embarrassments. You could just as well say the Greens, who set the whole disclosure thing in motion, were responsible.

    OTOH ... you'd be on safer ground to suspect that some people knew about the tasty bits before others, and possibly took advantage of that knowledge.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    I love her/him, but really? I don't know the man, and I still don't believe that he can have changed that much.

    I actually am prepared to accept that Banks has changed. I couldn't say that of some of the people around him, though. There's stuff going on, I think.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    Don't you think he's playing to win, though, Russell? I get that distinct feeling.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Banks runs his Council even less than Key runs his govt. In both cases, it's sensible to pay attention to those close-by.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    doing a runner...

    Dick Quax

    Did Captain Sanctimony / Quax pay back the cost of that council funded conference fee he couldn't be bothered attending?

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Did Captain Sanctimony / Quax pay back the cost of that council funded conference fee he couldn't be bothered attending?

    No.

    He promised to pay back the $1500, but then had a hissy fit and reneged.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    Can I suggest that that seems to be one of the defining feature of Act people; they get apoplectic about the perceived moral failings of others, but when it comes to themselves there's always some reason why it doesn't apply.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Ashby,

    they get apoplectic about the perceived moral failings of others, but when it comes to themselves there's always some reason why it doesn't apply.

    But, but, Atlas Shrugged. Supermen like that can't let the pifling concerns of the little people distract them from their MISSION.

    Dundee, Scotland • Since May 2007 • 425 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    John Key approved the release of the Credit cards. He said little but as expected the MSM really did the work for him.

    For lack of a better analogy, the 'fourth estate' has devolved into a law firm with a printing press.

    One big problem with democracy at present (and it's not just with the leaders). There's a lot of people who vote in an uninformed way, and sometimes people will - to use a euphemism - cut off their nose to spite their face.

    The air traffic controllers' union in the States openly endorsed Reagan - only for the turkeys to vote for their own Thanksgiving when they went on strike and Reagan sacked the lot.

    I think what Andin refers to as 'democracy' is really a Kiwi version of States' Rights.

    Can I suggest that that seems to be one of the defining feature of Act people; they get apoplectic about the perceived moral failings of others, but when it comes to themselves there's always some reason why it doesn't apply.

    The plagiarism of the Greens' 2008 billboards, anybody? And to rebut such mis-info costs big legal bucks, which they seem to exploit. Do as they say, not as they do.

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

  • Russell Brown,

    Righto, here's the NBR story from Jock Anderson.

    Short version: someone Jock describes as "a person linked to Auckland mayor John Banks" was trying to shop a story claiming that Brown's Volare dinner was a celebratory dinner with Chief Employment Court Judge Graeme Colgan and others to celebrate the birth of a grandchild -- born, apparently, to Brown's daughter from his first marriage, with the father being Colgan's song Tim.

    Trouble is, Brown doesn't have a daughter from his first marriage, the Colgans were not present at the dinner and (I gather) Tim Colgan's baby wasn't actually born when the dinner took place.

    I trust Jock, and I'm glad to see a malevolent source actually outed. Given this, and earlier worthless claims of innocence of certain people around Banks, I think it's beyond doubt that there's a smear campaign being pursued against Brown by someone.

    It's worth noting that this will be why Brown was so worked up in his HoS interview, which took place shortly after the NBR hit the shelves.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd,

    I'm glad to see a malevolent source actually outed

    Outed? Hardly. Anderson's kept the weasel anonymous, so now they can safely shop their next tale to some more gullible journo. Personally, I'd've thought that a source who burned you with a false story would deserve public naming and shaming, but apparently not.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Agreed but still pretty quick to be PM is it not?

    I don't know about that. I know it's not an exactly analogy but let's compare the resumes of two politicians, and tell me who'd you'd vote for in a fantasy American election.

    Behind Door #1:
    Vice President of the United States (8 years)
    Secretary of Defense (4 years)
    Member of the U.S. House of Representatives (10 years)
    White House Chief of Staff (2 years)
    Various sub-Cabinet staff positions (6 years)

    Door #2:
    US Senator (4 years)
    State Senator (7 years)

    If you chose the more experienced candidate, congratulations. You've just chosen Dick Cheney over the incumbent President of the United States. :)

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

  • Nick Kearney,

    Can I suggest that that seems to be one of the defining feature of Act people; they get apoplectic about the perceived moral failings of others, but when it comes to themselves there's always some reason why it doesn't apply.

    Hypocrites come in all party shapes and sizes; they're not peculiar to "Act people".

    Anyway, Dick Quax hasn't been an "Act person" for a long time.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 73 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    I'd've thought that a source who burned you with a false story would deserve public naming and shaming

    Not if you desperately wanted to agree with their lies - check the tone of that story

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Andrew,

    Don't you think he's playing to win, though, Russell? I get that distinct feeling.

    In the absence of a McGillicuddy candidate, I don't think any of them are playing to lose.

    Hamiltron - City of the F… • Since Nov 2006 • 900 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    How to keep your hands clean:

    John Key approved the release of the Credit cards. He said little but as expected the MSM really did the work for him.

    Jesus Christ, I don't know how John Key and Helen Clark tear themselves away from the more wing-nutty corners of the internet. It would do wonders for my self-esteem to be reminded with every tap of the F5 key on my laptop people think I'm a creature of Machiavellian cunning, Satanic malevolence and God-like omnipotence.

    Not if you desperately wanted to agree with their lies - check the tone of that story

    Oh, Sacha -- take it from someone who's actually worked as a journalist that if you burn a source (not matter how much I think, as a civie, that they deserve it) you might as well torch your contact book and see if they're hiring at Burger King.

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

  • BenWilson,

    Craig, I think it's impossible to be all three. I'm not sure if this corollary has ever been named so I'll coin it the Argument from Good . But you could well be 2 out of 3, so you can feel 66.6% stoked.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Oh, Sacha -- take it from someone who's actually worked as a journalist that if you burn a source (not matter how much I think, as a civie, that they deserve it) you might as well torch your contact book and see if they're hiring at Burger King.

    OK, got to fisk my own arse here given that I've been extremely critical of newspapers running stories with no on the record sources, so readers can make their own determination about what agendas might be in play that affect the credibility of the story.

    I had it drummed into me at journalism school that you never ever out a source or lie about an interview being off the record. That said, I would like journalists to be a damn sight more on the ball about being co-opted into other's agendas and respectful of their readers.

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

  • Tom Semmens,

    Trouble is, Brown doesn't have a daughter from his first marriage, the Colgans were not present at the dinner and (I gather) Tim Colgan's baby wasn't actually born when the dinner took place.

    Outed? Hardly. Anderson's kept the weasel anonymous, so now they can safely shop their next tale to some more gullible journo.

    What sort of unbalanced imbecile would try and peddle such an amateurish farrago of easily verified falsehoods in the expectation they'de be run uncritically in a main stream publication?

    Hmmmmmmm.... Let. Me. Think.

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

  • 3410,

    Hypocrites come in all party shapes and sizes; they're not peculiar to "Act people".

    Oh, sure, but I'm noting a tendency. Not that I expect you to agree, but that's my obsevation nonetheless. :)

    Anyway, Dick Quax hasn't been an "Act person" for a long time.

    I wouldn't say that. He stood twice for them a decade ago and - correct me if necessary - remains a member.

    It would do wonders for my self-esteem to be reminded with every tap of the F5 key on my laptop people think I'm a creature of Machiavellian cunning, Satanic malevolence and God-like omnipotence.

    Ah... ... forget it; too easy. :)

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Craig, we're not disagreeing - I'm postulating an absence of motivation to burn said source in the first place anyway.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Nick Kearney,

    Oh, I'll agree if I think you're right, but I think those with very strong principles, political or otherwise, tend to come out on the wrong side of the 'H' ledger when found out. Act people do tend to have very strong principles, whether you believe in them or not, and so when "found out", the come-down is harder IMHO.

    As for "remains a member" - no idea, despite my affiliations. I wouldn't say if I knew anyway for privacy reasons.

    I did see him a year or so ago, but that was at the start line of a fun run and we chatted heart rates, not politics.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 73 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Not if you desperately wanted to agree with their lies - check the tone of that story

    I'll say. It was Brown himself who had to provide the factchecking, for chrissakes.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

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