Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Madness in Mt Albert

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  • Geoff Lealand,

    By the way I've just voted for PA on the Net Guide web awards

    Me too, but I wish there were fewer commercial categories and more public interest categories.

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

  • 81stcolumn,

    'pose it's too late to start a copyright reform party ?

    Nawthshaw • Since Nov 2006 • 790 posts Report

  • ScottY,

    'pose it's too late to start a copyright reform party ?

    What are you doing? Do you want the Candyman to take this thread over too?

    West • Since Feb 2009 • 794 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic,

    Stop Press:

    The candidates so far (in party alphabetical order)...

    ACT - John Boscawen
    Greens - Russel Norman
    Labour - David Shearer
    National - still tossing up between Melissa Lee and Ravi Musuku
    Progressives - no candidate
    United Future - to be announced ~14 May

    Kind of hedged my bets for Meg Bates tho. Maybe a high list placing will make up for it.

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

  • Kumara Republic,

    PS.

    Kiwi Party - TBA
    Legalise Cannabis - TBA

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

  • Russell Brown,

    And Russel Norman kicks off hostilities. I can't help but think it's churlish to call someone who has spent years running humanitarian operations in the worst places in the world "a grey man".

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso,

    Wow. So he thought he'd establish himself on the national stage as a wanker, did he? Kudos.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Stewart,

    I think Russel Norman has every right to describe Shearer as a 'grey man' - he is Norman's opposition in this byelection and he is effecively colourless to most Mt Albert voters, having been flown in from overseas at the behest of party leaders and not at the invitation of the local electors.

    Or does Labour support mean that all objectivity is lost?

    Te Ika A Maui - Whakatane… • Since Oct 2008 • 577 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso,

    having been flown in from overseas at the behest of party leaders and not at the invitation of the local electors.

    Substitute "overseas" with "Wellington", add that he is himself a party leader, and you're describing Russell Norman. What a great start, that man!

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Stewart,

    I would happily wager that the electors of Mt Albert know more about Russel Norman than they do about David Shearer.

    Te Ika A Maui - Whakatane… • Since Oct 2008 • 577 posts Report

  • ScottY,

    I think Russel Norman has every right to describe Shearer as a 'grey man' - he is Norman's opposition in this byelection and he is effecively colourless to most Mt Albert voters, having been flown in from overseas at the behest of party leaders and not at the invitation of the local electors.

    Or does Labour support mean that all objectivity is lost?

    I object to the portrayal by Norman and others of Shearer as being to the right of the party. David Farrar's mischief-making of last week has been swallowed by the media without any analysis. Judging by Sean Plunkett's performance this morning, even Morning Report has taken the bait. Russel Norman is, as a politician, entitled to take advantage of this perception, but we're also entitled to call him to account for it.

    West • Since Feb 2009 • 794 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Russel Norman is, as a politician, entitled to take advantage of this perception, but we're also entitled to call him to account for it.

    Quite. I've had this conversation with an antsy Green supporter over on The Standard. I think people are allowed to express an opinion on the words Norman has chosen to use.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • ScottY,

    I would happily wager that the electors of Mt Albert know more about Russel Norman than they do about David Shearer.

    Indeed. But being well known isn't always an asset. Otherwise Winston would still be in Parliament.

    The electors of Mt Albert have probably seen Norman on TV or heard his name before, and they probably know that he is a Green Party co-leader. I suspect they know little else about Norman, though. At most he'll draw off enough left votes to ensure a National win.

    West • Since Feb 2009 • 794 posts Report

  • Stewart,

    I'm not trying to push any particular line here, just defending Russel Norman's reference to Shearer being the 'grey man'. I'm definitely a red/green voter and I don't live in the Mt Albert electorate so I don't have an axe to grind over this. I will be interested to see how it pans out as I see problems with Labour's (Goff's?) strategy in ignoring local party stalwarts in favour of someone who could be seen to be "the boss's man". And any implication/inference that the Greens should sit this one out to give Labour a free ride isn't going to cut the mustard after the perceived slights of the Greens during the last Labour term.

    As has been mentioned before, it is up to the voters, no-one else. And I'm sure the post-election analysis will be full of 'ifs', 'buts' and recriminations.

    Te Ika A Maui - Whakatane… • Since Oct 2008 • 577 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    having been flown in from overseas at the behest of party leaders and not at the invitation of the local electors.

    And the article says that he owns a house in Mt Albert and lived there before going overseas.

    By-elections really seem to be down the bottom end of grown up mature politician behaviour don't they (which isn't saying much).

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • simon g,

    having been flown in from overseas at the behest of party leaders and not at the invitation of the local electors.

    Apparently John Key was recruited by the National party president after a stellar career at Merrill Lynch's Helensville branch.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    And Russel Norman kicks off hostilities. I can't help but think it's churlish to call someone who has spent years running humanitarian operations in the worst places in the world "a grey man".

    About as churlish as Phil Goff pretending not to remember Norman's name? Actually, I take it back -- that's not churlish, just childish. Or at least proof that you shouldn't try getting your bitch on Cullen-stylee unless you're Cullen.

    And I'm sorry if it wounds Shearer's ego, but most of us aren't familiar with the upper echelons of the UN peacekeeping apparatus.

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

  • giovanni tiso,

    And I'm sorry if it wounds Shearer's ego, but most of us aren't familiar with the upper echelons of the UN peacekeeping apparatus.

    I seem to recall that one of them set up his office in Bagdad and was promptly blown to smithereens, along with most of his colleagues.

    Damn paper pushers with their cushy jobs.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    I see problems with Labour's (Goff's?) strategy in ignoring local party stalwarts in favour of someone who could be seen to be "the boss's man".

    I'm not sure that's the case. The following (copied and pasted from a thread on The Standard) suggested that the local party has the advantage on candidate selection:

    246. The Selection Committee shall consist of:

    i. three members appointed by and on behalf of the New Zealand Council, at least one of whom shall be a woman, and in the case of the Maori Constituency seats at least two of whom shall be Maori; one of whom shall be a woman.

    ii. two local LEC representatives elected by the LEC, at least one of whom shall be a woman; There shall be two representatives.

    .iii. one local Party members’ representative elected by and from local Party members present at the selection meeting entitled to take part in the floor ballot, elected before the nominees presentations;

    iv. one vote for the preferred nominee selected by preferential ballot by eligible Party members present at the selection meeting.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    About as churlish as Phil Goff pretending not to remember Norman's name?

    The only reports I've seen depicted it as Goff suffering an embarrassing brainfade in the house, rather than an evil plot to "pretend" he didn't know Norman's surname. Do you know something different, Craig?

    And I'm sorry if it wounds Shearer's ego, but most of us aren't familiar with the upper echelons of the UN peacekeeping apparatus.

    And it is part of Shearer's role in presenting himself to the electorate to explain where he's been and what he's done these past few years. I can't see the point of your snark at all. It seems evident that Shearer has been involved in challenging and important humanitarian work in some very nasty places.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    Oh, wow. So a National victory would make A VERY BIG DIFFERENCE ...

    Has anyone else worked this out? It seems germane.

    Until I read The Standard I totally thought you were being sarcastic.

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

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I seem to recall that one of them set up his office in Bagdad and was promptly blown to smithereens, along with most of his colleagues.

    Oh, so that's why Shearer should be in Parliament? Sounds a wee bit too John McCain-ish for my liking... You can have enormous respect for what both men did, but suggest they actually need to bring something else to the table.

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

  • giovanni tiso,

    Oh, so that's why Shearer should be in Parliament?

    No, but making it sound like he's a nobody simply because he hasn't lived in NZ, but rather spent years tucked away in the "upper echelons of the UN peacekeeping apparatus" is equally as strange.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Danyl Mclauchlan,

    I object to the portrayal by Norman and others of Shearer as being to the right of the party. David Farrar's mischief-making of last week has been swallowed by the media without any analysis.

    The reality is it's been established in the media because Labour haven't been doing anything to counter it; the media can't fight Labour's battles for them. Being an opposition party is more than just lying on the ground crying about how 'unfair' everything is.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 927 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    The reality is it's been established in the media because Labour haven't been doing anything to counter it; the media can't fight Labour's battles for them.

    Well, Shearer did his best to counter it on Morning Report today. It didn't seem to make much difference: RNZ led its story with last week's private-armies angle for the next few bulletins.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

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