squabbling over the last laxative

Brilliant – you are on a roll today, sir.

5 Is it Tisch with Mapp behind Brownie?

No, it was Nathan Guy — and who would have thought a high angle and HD would give him a certain vulpine air, which some folks may find attractive but which just makes me want to count my chickens. Lindsay Tish, on…

the editorial position of abject Tory sock puppetry

I knew you'd like it, Craig.

Sofie — you're terrible. You inspired me to tune in the new Freeview enabled television and a couple of hours forced me to the following conclusions:

Good for you Craig.The weather is always a good reason to lounge indoors.
So going through 1-7...
1 Yep, sweaty scenes are rather hot…

There may be objections that this is a link to 08wire, but I thought this article on "why not vote for National?" made a good point.

And it was much fresher when all the laugh lines were being trotted out by Helen Clark and Michael Cullen in the House yesterday.

Herald Editorial takes Key to task for not being sufficiently resolute in his reasonableness

Shit! Someone didn't get the memo (with explanatory diagram) regarding the editorial position of abject Tory sock puppetry to be assumed at all times. :)

Can you tell I am waiting for Parliament TV?

Sofie --…

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/466/story.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10523964

...he seems too anxious to nullify any policy that might be unpopular. He wants to offer the election policies that are pleasant and painless and barely distinguishable from the present.

He is making a rod…

They really need some new parties over there, so do we.

followed by a group hug :)

Are you trying to seduce me, Mrs Bribiesca? :) I'm up for a group hug, but don't you expect me to wash my hair specially.

Craig, I'm sure many others will support my request that you candidly report on the conference at PAS at your earliest convenience!

Now, if I'd had the presence of mind to corner Russell on Friday night I might have finagled the cost of a press registration, but my conference going…

And I don't think it's stretching plausibility too far to suggest that, both covertly and explicitly, the National Party conference this weekend is going to be told over and over again that there's not even a fag paper's worth of room for over-confidence.

Craig, I'm sure many others will support…

And given my thoroughly crap psychic abilities (and lack of access to a TARDIS) I'm not willing to call it yet.

And I don't think it's stretching plausibility too far to suggest that, both covertly and explicitly, the National Party conference this weekend is going to be told over and…

No really, that's what I think. Honest.

I'm sure that's true, but there's this tiresome little poll that actually counts called the general election. And given my thoroughly crap psychic abilities (and lack of access to a TARDIS) I'm not willing to call it yet.

And I don't think it's…

Though I do think 'plum spot' can be put down to hack reaching for fundamentally meaningless cliché, rather than some sinister move by the VRWMC.

I was merely pointing to the crap-nes and lack of info in that particular Joyce article... so maybe basically we agree?

I was not trying…

lobbying in the media?

For some strange reason, folks who are talking up their list placings in the media (or caucus/Cabinet rankings) are seldom satisfied where they end up. Inflamed ego + unmoved object = tears before bedtime. :)

I bet it's just his caring demeanour eh Craig ;)

Group…

And he's nothing of the sort.

No change to the tactics, just the instigation of a Political Personal Rotation Policy.

Explains why he hasn't been on his game of late (this year).

I think the election is already over

That's not true at all, Kyle.

No really, that's what I think. Honest.

I wouldnt call #70 "plum", would you? How does the Herald know its a good spot if they DONT know the number?

Well, Fletch, being someone who finds the shaking babies and kissing hands (or is that the other way round?) end of politics rather icky, I'd find any list-only…

Or I guess the Herald can just make shit up. Would that be OK with you, Fletcher?

No... you've told me something I wasnt aware of.... that the list hasnt been ordered yet.... thankyou. Maybe the herald could have told me that instead?

I thought lists, and placements on them…

Craig can freak out on me all he likes, but I just *know* that little free marketeer-weasel and all his cronies are lying to us about their plans.

Danielle: Oh, why would I bother?

More in depth reporting from the Herald....

That piece on Joyce's "plum spot" on the list.....…

enormous growth in the number of people on the DPB, and where people have been, for want of a better term, breeding for a business

Jesus Christ.

United States, "which has a minimum of two weeks' holiday a year, and the economic prosperity in the US is so much greater…

That piece on Joyce's "plum spot" on the list..... doesnt actually mention WHICH spot it is....

It mentions that it's one of only 5 list-only spots for a National candidate.... but completely fails to mention exactly HOW plum it is.... #1? #70? No…

That's all I get too,and I suspect that they are very good at making money, however I am not a business, I am people!(at least part thereof) I don't wanna know what this guy John shits. I wanna know substance from Nats policy.

Here's a one-two knockout punch that means…

Steven Joyce de-lurks

Woha. Perfect timing. I wonder if he will lead the charge against Winston Peters on the dodgy funding issues?

Talking about that, anyone remember this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNvuRSYgEIg

Islander, I get the impression from what I've read about him so far that Key would have to be good at running a team.

I'll be interested to see what the "visionary" pitch is when the Nats finally say what they plan…

http://www.listener.co.nz/issue/3407/tvradio/4558/election_watch_tv3s_leaders_debate.html

I think the election is already over

That's not true at all, Kyle. Even if Key is the clear favourite to be PM (and currently he is) that's just the headline horse race. There's a huge difference between, say,…

The TV station rightly decided that their stupid graphical response meter shouldn't decide the outcome of elections.

Hmmm, it was still running here in Australia last year... got figure.

I think peter dunne will say nice things to the worm again and become prime minister. It's not about you Kyle it's all about the worm.

I think the worm was killed off after the 2002 election. The TV station rightly decided that their stupid graphical response meter shouldn't decide…

Key as a forex trader is one thing: from experience, he probably does have really good instincts there. (There is, however, that quality – luck.)
Key as a politician, running a team, juggling very complex social scenarios as well as economic ones,…

On the other hand, Herald columnist John Roughan has wood (and that's before the second part of the biography ran):

Shrewd Key must follow his instincts
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/466/story.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10523529&pnum=0

... I felt something close to excitement at…

National isnt offering *anything* visionary/new/hopeful/inclusive.
Just a tired old rich-bastards-club-

Just poppin' in, How does Key have a "I'm my own man" thing goin' on?

Key's response to the questioning on his use of Crosby Textor was to claim that he was his own man and, as leader, set the direction of policy etc and wasn't been told what to…

His nomination is likely to go down poorly with some in National's caucus, who believe he remains tainted from his association with the Brethren and Brash and disagreed with his controversial campaigning methods during the 2005 election.

I'm surprised by this; if Key wanted to stick with his __"I'm my…

I think peter dunne will say nice things to the worm again and become prime minister. It's not about you Kyle it's all about the worm.

His nomination is likely to go down poorly with some in National's caucus, who believe he remains tainted from his association with the Brethren and Brash and disagreed with his controversial campaigning methods during the 2005…

It's still a 5% ballgame. Labour can and have won elections on 40% of the vote

Well barring disaster, I think the election is already over. It'll get closer, but not close.

But that doesn't change the mystery over the strategy.

It's still a 5% ballgame. Labour can and have won elections on 40% of the vote.

It's tight and they're are polling mysteries in Auckland.
Just how much is…

Well that's a pretty sloppy summation of my posts there bud...i…

Labour so far seems to be about resisting that lack of substance (now has traction with media) and pushing the idea that there's a hidden agenda.

I just don't get what Labour is thinking. It looks like a fine strategy for now, but ten weeks from now, when Key is…

I can understand her taking that position, and if Key is really the decent guy he seems then why aren't National simply letting him be himself? Is he getting poor advice?

It's only poor advice if it doesn't work.

I'd guess that National knows that head to head with Helen…

"It comes back to the point – we do not know what this man stands for, if anything, except desperation to win an election. I don't think he can be taken seriously."

…

For me, it's the contrast between "unauthorised" and the ass-licking yawnfest they've produced. If I want that I'll read Women's Day. The most favourable interpretation is taken everywhere except that…

Everyones a boy to me except girls, even Jesus christ.

Craig I get nothing out of…

Oh jesus christ, you are a strange boy.

Jeremy: I've not been a boy for a very long time, and if you want to engage in snide bitchery don't expect a bunch of flowers and a thank you note. That is all.

Oh, Jeremy, you're one of those voters."

I'm trying to pretend I'm in a democracy and better broadband will be very important to an island next to antartica. ..but I know i wont…

Oh jesus christ, you are a strange boy.

Apologies Craig. Obviously that read the wrong way. I thought you were friends with the kiwiblog guy being party members and all.

David Farrar (like Russell) is a very good friend of mine, and has been for a long time. Folks like Cameron Slater, D4J and Redbaiter are not. Anyway,…

]]> Sun, 27 Jul 2008 23:37:39 +1200 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-something-odd-and-unresolved/?p=61082#post61082 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-something-odd-and-unresolved/?p=61082#post61082 Sun, 27 Jul 2008 20:25:04 +1200 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-something-odd-and-unresolved/?p=61081#post61081 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-something-odd-and-unresolved/?p=61081#post61081 "This is a startling admission which suggests that the real John Key is actually the John Key who originally entered Parliament, not the version we see today."

In a nutshell this is the issue of John Key.It could actually be easily solved by asking him his opinions on past National…

]]> Sun, 27 Jul 2008 20:20:11 +1200 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-something-odd-and-unresolved/?p=61080#post61080 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-something-odd-and-unresolved/?p=61080#post61080 "Oh, sod off Jeremy — that's a cheap shot."

Apologies Craig. Obviously that read the wrong way. I thought you were friends with the kiwiblog guy being party members and all.

I was trying to say that bloggers might have a lot more in common than they suspect, taking the…

]]> Sun, 27 Jul 2008 20:06:47 +1200 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-something-odd-and-unresolved/?p=61077#post61077 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-something-odd-and-unresolved/?p=61077#post61077 Anyone hoping that part two of the Herald's John Key piece would be hard hitting must be disappointed. The fawning tone detracts, with classics like:

Key has been a difficult target for Labour to pin down because he is acutely sensitive to public opinion and backs his instincts.

Right. Although it…

]]> Sun, 27 Jul 2008 17:54:23 +1200 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-something-odd-and-unresolved/?p=61076#post61076 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-something-odd-and-unresolved/?p=61076#post61076

But hey, if you think chanting "fire at will" and "secret agenda" is in-depth industrial relations policy analysis

Craig, that's an unreasonably simple characterisation.

Their posts are overtly political, but they're far from insubstantial. They clearly lay out the basis for their views and link to primary data sources, the…

…and we know what crazies look like Craig, they look like your mates mate out in the easter suburbs but hey I suspect probably even he isn’t that bad.

Oh, sod off Jeremy — that's a cheap shot.

Yes, stop decrying Craig.

I/S is a great blogger – agreed. I hope his feelings aren't hurt.

The standard are…

the standard is one of the bravest political blogs in n.z. Thank god someone is blogging for the workforce of new zealand. They're the only blog consistently crunching the numbers....

Oh, take that Idiot/Savant — who I disagree with more often than not, but at least operates on a more…

Um, let's not go overboard there, Paul."

the standard is one of the bravest political blogs in n.z. Thank god someone is blogging for the workforce of new zealand. They're the only blog consistently…

Sherwood was also fearless in his effort to paint the candidate as someone who is "surprisingly down to earth," a phrase that is used a total of 26 times throughout the feature.

The Herald:

Lawson says they met Key once and found him "very nice, down to earth".

…

I don't think I'd call the analysis of the standard robust, particularly the post linked to above.

The serious point is that isn't it just jolly that we're no longer arguing about the fundamental rules governing the economic lives of the majority of our…

I know the Standard is already reviewing their policy more rigourously than I have time to

Um, let's not go overboard there, Paul.

I know the Standard is already reviewing their policy more rigourously than I have time to (plus until we see the full detail, well...) but IR…

According to the Time reporter, work on the profile was often harder than he had anticipated, with Obama at times dodging questions about whether or not he played a musical instrument, and about what Monopoly piece he thought best represented his…

Has anyone linked to The Onion yet? Sometimes in my rough perusal I miss the good stuff.

Excellent link Dinah, a three pointer that cross-pollinates the vocab discussion elsewhere:

Added Sherwood, "It's all about getting the factoids out in the open."

I was getting a bit carried away – I'm new here.

No worries, Kelly, and welcome to PA System. I'm just a bit paranoid with things hotting up around election time.

Thanks, everyone, for spelling arse correctly and making an old pedant very happy!

I've been thinking about this since you brought it up the other day. Y'see, for me, I can't write that word at all. "Arse" to me is the UK usage, where it is a common expletive and…

Thanks, everyone, for spelling arse correctly and making an old pedant very happy!

Crosby Textor sounds like someone's ghetto pimp name.

Oh, there are people who've been here for ages who get carried away all the time ...

and some who are ascorted to a safer environment by nice people in white coats. it's just those stains they leave on the carpet that worry me...

Oh, there are people who've been here for ages who get carried away all the time ...

And come back with duty free cigarettes, endless photos and a bad case of the colonist's revenge. :)

Quite! It's really quite odd for a personality as weird as Franks to be urging people to take him on character. I mean, who's the constituency for that?

Well, you've got to thank whatever God you don't believe in that we have a secret ballot, and Yank-style exit polls aren't…

I was getting a bit carried away – I'm new here.

Oh, there are people who've been here for ages who get carried away all the time ...

I recommend looking at that few minutes of 80s footage from…

Hopefully this week we'll hear more of what he's about.

I was getting a bit carried away – I'm new here.

I guess something I noticed was a couple of refernces to how Key…

this is now keeping me from outrageous fortune

a true martyr to the cause.

It is what it is: a damn solid look at what the guy comes from and what he's about.

minority report.

lol.

all i wanted to say was whoa nelly

this is now keeping me from outrageous fortune

Unauthorised – yes semantics – they dug up his half-brother. ow that's…

Instead of simply noting the obvious, he pretends this is some new virtue – don't ask me what I'll do, ask me about what I am.

"A vicious, nasty little homophobe" is what I remember from his ACT days.

Quite! It's really quite odd for a personality as weird as…

Whoooa there nellys... Lets not get too worked up here.

Kelly, this is your first post at PA System. I'm suspicious. Are you somehow affiliated with the Herald?

As for whether the…

Bullshit, Don

Authorised:

sanctioned by established authority

Which clearly it was.

Unauthorised it wasn't.

Franks was asked about a question of policy and couldn't answer because there is none.

Instead of simply noting the obvious, he pretends this is some new virtue – don't ask me what I'll do, ask me about what I am.

"A vicious, nasty little homophobe" is what I remember…

A five-hundred page policy paper isn't arse-wipe if it gives voters an insight into where a particular party will be starting post-election negotiations with potential coalition partners, and it isn't arse-wipe if it gives the voters a concrete perception of a party's ideology.

And if it's unaffordable and/or unworkable, it…

the auto-da-fé as an instrument of mortification and edification for young and old

Hah! Classy as ever Mr Ranapia.

And Doug wasn't prone to unilaterally writing policy on the fly at cottage meetings either.

Ahhh but that's not the point Craig, the point is that Franks was asked about a question of policy and couldn't answer because there is none.

Instead of simply noting the obvious, he pretends this…

That's the bit that got me. What was he sceptical of? the fact that they had any?

If the subject of law and order came up, I suspect that the problem was the lack of a timetable to re introduce the auto-da-fé as an instrument of mortification and edification for…

The thing is, if an article/book/whatever is "unauthorised" it means that it has been produced without the help and input of the subject. Indeed usually with the subject totally opposing the publication.

Bullshit, Don. I've got on my bedside table Deirdre Bair's award-winning biography of Samuel Beckett, which certainly wasn't…

The CD was released in 2006
(puts foil hat on) This is Crosby Textor at work here. I mean 2006? he hasn't bought a CD since then?

Um, could be — I don't buy a lot of CDs (and the last was over a year ago) because I'm not really…

Polling shows that while mainstream New Zealanders enjoy the musical Cold Players pop group, being seen to support musicians of a local nature may prove to be a more robust stance to take in a chronlogically forward direction.

Our…

I found it a struggle to get through, it was like I was getting over a sleeping pill.

That probably has more to do with the inept writing than the content. What sort of journalist writes, 'the picture that has emerged is of a person of driving ambition and determination…

3410: Cute, but so lame I've taken it out behind the barn and given it a quick exit.

Don't be stupid Craig. You specifically asked about why there was an objection to the fact that this series was being presented as "unauthorised". Many people have shown you evidence that it…

.......... but I think of him as the keyster

And if anyone actually comes up with any evidence — as opposed to assuming — that there's any collusion between the Herald and Key and his staff, I'm concede the point

Who needs collusion to be biased? It's highly unsurprising that media outlets run by large corporations would prefer a…

Last CD you bought?
Albertine by Brooke Fraser.

Hmmmm.

Brooke Gabrielle Fraser (born December 15, 1983 in Wellington, New Zealand) is an award-winning New Zealand singer-songwriter. She is also one of the principle worship leaders of the Christian worship band Hillsong United. Brooke is the eldest of the three children…

Here's your evidence.

3410: Cute, but so lame I've taken it out behind the barn and given it a quick exit. It's a kindness, really. I believe even Clark's done one or two (admittedly highly dopey) vox pops. But I can go you one better, I've got the raw transcripts…

Here's your evidence.

Hard hitting.
And I mean my head, against the wall.

And if anyone actually comes up with any evidence — as opposed to assuming — that there's any collusion between the Herald and Key and his staff, I'm concede the point.

Here's your evidence.

It's psychotic, biased rantings against the EFA lost it all credibility as a respected national newspaper, in my opinion.

Two poo words there, by my count. :)

And talking of Key, the big worry with a man…

Well, I actually find glib knee-jerk cynicism equally worrisome. If you come in assuming that anyone in public life must be a liar, a cheat and an all around shitbag then don't be surprised when you get it.

I don't accept that criticism Craig and I don't think Key's significantly…

A (self-proclaimed) national daily newspaper spruiking a politician is always worrisome regardless of that person's merits.

Well, I actually find glib knee-jerk cynicism equally worrisome. If you come in assuming that anyone in public life must be a liar, a cheat and an all around shitbag then don't be surprised…

Frankly, Shaun, I don't know what the fixation on the u-word is.

I'll tell you what it is, Craig, it's a lie. And a stupidly unnecessary one at that. Given that it made up the banner that led into the article how are we to judge the credibility of the…

But he's such a cypher, Paul. A Hollow Man who is nothing and nobody! I thought that was the consensus regarding John Key – or have I missed something?

If that were true, would that make it ok?

A (self-proclaimed) national daily newspaper spruiking a politician is always worrisome regardless…

This has occurred to me. It's a fine line they tread.

Oh come on... I know it's a little inconvenient to remember, but I'm reasonably confident Bill English would dispute that he ever got the editorial deep throat from The Herald or anywhere else when he was leader of the…

they will have gelded themselves in terms of holding a National govt to account.

This has occurred to me. It's a fine line they tread.

Can anyone tell me when last a newspaper undertook to produce a biography of a current politician, let alone an aspiring PM.

But he's such a cypher, Paul. A Hollow Man who is nothing and nobody! I thought that was the consensus regarding John Key – or have I missed…

it's like discussing a ship's figurehead. This guy is an uninspiring drone and H. Clark is the biggerst control freak since Graham Henry...

yup, with you to this point but then:

...neither has what it takes to give NZ economic policy the necessary kick up the pants…

You'd have to hope that the Herald would aim slightly higher, independent media, inform the public, get the inside scoop, cut through the spin, etc etc etc.

So, Kyle, do you think Ruth Key has some dark secret buried back in Austria, his half-brothers know and loathe their little bro',…

Um, yes. I don't know what you really were after, but I found Brian Edwards' biography of Helen Clark equally... well, dull.

But there's a bit of a difference between the sympathetic biography book that every political leader seems to put out at a strategic moment these days, and an…

john key is the workhorse Boxer, none of the animals would have voted for Boxer, he's the sad f&ck you get to build your windmill, and there's no way that Boxer would ever be a real threat to Napolean Clark.

Please nobody take this as agreement with the above sentiment -…

I don't know how it can be "unauthorised" and have a childhood picture of him. Surely they needed family permission for that?

Frankly, Shaun, I don't know what the fixation on the u-word is. I very much doubt John Key rang his mother and said she'd never see her grandchildren…

But Russell... I thought you were from Timaru? ;)

Ho bloody ho.

Tho I did not read the article.

I did many of the same things as Key did — played hooker in a Burnside club scrum, debated, spoke at the lecturn

But Russell... I thought you were from Timaru? ;)

Compare with Helen Clark, of whom even "respectable" journalists have felt permitted to repeatedly enquire whether hers is a "real" marriage.

I'd question whether anyone following that track was a respectable journalist?

Surely people are fully entitled to choose their own style of relationship? For some it might be roses…

There was some interesting footage of "80s John" on this Sunday's Unauthorised History of New Zealand ...

Paul Casserly is demonstrating what you can do if you enter the TVNZ Archive with your wits about you. Last week's glimpse of the 1972 Compass programme 'How to Win An Election' had…

Was it just me, or did the whole thing seem like it was written with a crayon?

Um, yes. I don't know what you really were after, but I found Brian Edwards' biography of Helen Clark equally... well, dull. Which may prove nothing more than Key and Clark had neither…

Gone Fishin' – A Day with John Key

Sure there is plenty of debate to be had over policy, etc but do we really need a character assasination this early on?