Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: It's worse than you think

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  • Idiot Savant, in reply to Sacha,

    They publicly lied that his behaviour had been deliberate when we now know they had (undisclosed) access to evidence that it wasn't. Not remotely OK.

    Or, to put it another way: they defamed him. Though I'm sure they have legal protection for that, even when they do it knowingly and with malice as in this case.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report

  • Idiot Savant, in reply to Gareth Swain,

    Can someone explain something to me, please?

    I have read over the past few months about some outrageous behaviour by Key and National in general, but also that Key is polling very highly. So, what is it that's keeping him high in the polls? Someone obviously likes him (or National), so what is it they like?

    A total lack of alternatives. Who can we elect in his place? David Shearer?

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report

  • David Hood,

    "(2) I’m scared of Russell. Very, very scared."

    He has Powers. It's the knowledge, bro.

    Dunedin • Since May 2007 • 1445 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to izogi,

    I'd have to agree about certain people falling hook, line, and sinker for the whole "temporarily embarrassed millionaires" thing. Is it really to do with what Chris Trotter calls "Waitakere Man", or is it a lot more complex than that?

    I suspect also we've been affected by the Great Recession enough for the "battlers" to tread water and blame those below them for the mistakes of the banksters, but not affected enough to blame the banksters since NZ is not directly exposed that much to Wall Street and the City of London.

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

  • Gareth Swain,

    Thanks to Chris, izogi, B Jones, and I/S for those replies.

    Japan • Since Apr 2013 • 45 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Idiot Savant,

    Or, to put it another way: they defamed him. Though I'm sure they have legal protection for that, even when they do it knowingly and with malice as in this case.

    The whole thing's not unlike the old House Un-American Activities Committee, where perfectly innocent Americans had their careers ruined simply by being accused of being Communist sympathisers.

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

  • Graeme Edgeler, in reply to Idiot Savant,

    Or, to put it another way: they defamed him. Though I’m sure they have legal protection for that, even when they do it knowingly and with malice as in this case.

    Malice would defeat any defence they had.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Myles Thomas,

    It's interesting to see even the most National friendly journalists (Tracy Watkin and much of the DomPost) turning on the govt. Interesting that through policy after policy that was knowingly unpopular with the public, this change has come only when journalists' own business is threatened (let's face it, journalists are among the few groups likely to be to be spied on, as has been proved again with the Ambrose revelation).

    And could the huge media stink that has come to pass on the GCSB, an issue most Kiwis care little about, be the reason for the long expected drop in the polls for National? Do we really want to entrust to journalists so much influence over the political direction of NZ?

    Auckland • Since Apr 2011 • 130 posts Report

  • Dave Waugh, in reply to Myles Thomas,

    Interesting that through policy after policy that was knowingly unpopular with the public, this change has come only when journalists’ own business is threatene

    The cynic in me suggests that it will be a very very cold day in hell when the Media's* 1st interest is not self interest.





    * mainstream media mainly.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 98 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Myles Thomas,

    Interesting that through policy after policy that was knowingly unpopular with the public, this change has come only when journalists' own business is threatened (let's face it, journalists are among the few groups likely to be to be spied on, as has been proved again with the Ambrose revelation).

    "First they came..."

    And could the huge media stink that has come to pass on the GCSB, an issue most Kiwis care little about, be the reason for the long expected drop in the polls for National? Do we really want to entrust to journalists so much influence over the political direction of NZ?

    There are signs that the GCSB issue is breaking out of the Beltway and into public discourse. If Shearer and Norman - and especially Shearer - can get their shit together, they'll successfully turn it into a wedge issue. That means painting mass surveillance as digital panty-drawer rummaging and cyber-McCarthyism, to the point where it becomes the new No Nukes.

    Then again, the ramifications of nuclear warhead misuse are vaporisingly obvious. With mass surveillance, it's a lot more polarising and jargon-filled. And I suspect not everyone out there is aware of Orwell's 1984, or if they are, they think it's a training manual.

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

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Andrew Geddis,

    Hackedman...

    “New”?

    but you spelt it correctly then...
    I was riffing on the Russell's 'enless' typo
    :- )

    Andin, got it...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • nzlemming, in reply to Andrew Geddis,

    (2) I'm scared of Russell. Very, very scared.

    You are not alone...

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Lyndon Hood,

    fishing expeditions

    That's what puzzles me about this. Surely a judge had to issue that warrant, what judge in his right mind would issue a warrant for a fishing expidition into what was clearly a trivial case at best?

    Bad enough that the police asked but isn't the point of having the judicial system issue warrants to maintain some oversight over what is essentiallly the police invading privacy?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to izogi,

    To vote against his ability to set the rules is like denying yourself the opportunity to do whatever he did and get $50 million like he did.

    That does seem to be the case.

    Although it doesn't take much reading to discover that he made his money by being the man with the least conscience on the trading floor. Pretty much the definition of the psychopath executive. Fortunately there are very few people willing to give up that much humanity to simply gain power, unfortunately, he has gained power.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Myles Thomas,

    journalists ... turning on the govt

    I have to disagree. The TV political teams seem to spend an inordinate amount of time finding something embarrasing to say about the opposition(s). At the same time as the government is making genuinely bad law the stories we hear on the news are all about how stupid this or that was from opposition politician x or y.

    I get that actually explaining why legislation is bad is boring and well, hard work, but I'm pretty sure some of those journalists are paid a lot more than I am and hard work isn't too much to ask from those who are meant to watch over government.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report

  • Jeremy Andrew, in reply to nzlemming,

    (2) I'm scared of Russell. Very, very scared.

    You are not alone...

    If you've done nothing wrong, you have nothing to fear from Russell

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

  • merlyngriffith, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    And let's not forget this detail either -- the whole incident occurred in a public place to which the PM had invited the media ... the whole thing stinks. As the headline says here, It is worse than we think.

    north of auckland • Since Aug 2013 • 2 posts Report

  • Brent Jackson, in reply to Gareth Swain,

    Someone obviously likes him (or National), so what is it they like?

    The different responses that I have got from the few National supporters that I have ever encountered are :
    - "It's nothing the other lot wouldn't do if they had the chance" (arch-cynic)
    - "They are better for the economy" (head-in-the-sand)
    - "There is no other option" (Labour a bunch of muppets)
    - "The only way to keep the Greens out of power" (Greens a bunch of loonies)

    I think that there are a lot of people out there that hate the bureaucracy and OSH restrictions that have come into existence during the previous Labour government's tenure, and believe that it is all their fault so will vote National forever more. Yet not noticing that National government has introduced plenty of "nanny-state" policy of its own.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 620 posts Report

  • merlyngriffith, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    There are individual journalists who would deliver stories to us that their editors and producers are not permitted to fund. The whole system is dangerously politicized, and how much worse it could have become without blogs such as these and the internettedness we now inhabit.

    north of auckland • Since Aug 2013 • 2 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Jeremy Andrew,

    If you’ve done nothing wrong, you have nothing to fear from Russell

    I suppose maintaining an imperious silence would be more scary, but ... nah.

    The whole"link-whoring" thing puzzles me a bit. I have no problem with people linking to useful and relevant things they've written themselves.

    There is the odd case where someone exploits the forum, but I can deal with that as I see fit, via my Almighty Powers of Moderation.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Brent Jackson,

    Yet not noticing that National government has introduced plenty of “nanny-state” policy of its own.

    It is sometimes hard to believe that the people waving through the GCSB bill are the ones who totally lost their shit over energy-efficiency standards for lightbulbs in 2008.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to merlyngriffith,

    There are individual journalists who would deliver stories to us that their editors and producers are not permitted to fund.

    Fair point.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report

  • Ben McNicoll, in reply to Russell Brown,

    It is sometimes hard to believe that the people waving through the GCSB bill are the ones who totally lost their shit over energy-efficiency standards for lightbulbs in 2008.

    Yeah, but now it's not a woman bossing me around, so nanny-state no longer applies, right?

    That, and of course that nanny state was a talking point meme specifically chosen by the right media operatives (I'm aware of how that's loony language, but how else can you describe them) to dogwhistle for the sexism, but they're in power now, so it's "shut up about the government, harp on about Shearer's lack of support/competence."

    I know I'm preaching to the choir, but it's pretty sickening how effective it seems to be.

    Grey Lynn • Since May 2007 • 115 posts Report

  • 81stcolumn,

    That’s what puzzles me about this. Surely a judge had to issue that warrant, what judge in his right mind would issue a warrant for a fishing expidition into what was clearly a trivial case at best?

    Which would seem to underline the need for extra judicial advocacy in the issuing of such warrants.

    The Ambrose case seems also to make the point that the innocent have everything to fear: Which at a personal level invites the question should we all encrypt and at a public level what would this mean for society?

    Nawthshaw • Since Nov 2006 • 790 posts Report

  • slarty, in reply to 81stcolumn,

    That’s what puzzles me about this. Surely a judge had to issue that warrant,

    Quite a few agencies don't have to ask a judge for a warrant in a many circumstances.

    Like this one.

    Define serious.

    Since Nov 2006 • 290 posts Report

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