Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Standing up and calling bullshit

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  • Russell Brown,

    I did draw attention to what seemed to be a strong element of political showboating on that trip at the time.

    It seemed a dubious trip at the time -- the fact that he took along his girlfriend at taxpayers' expense makes it more so.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I happen to know Claire and the use of the quote marks implies an undeserved and cheap sneer.

    Oh by Cthulhu's many-angled nutsack, Kracklite -- it's an orthographic convention to throw quote marks around... well, a quote.

    By the bye, I was sneering at NZPA's Maggie Tait - no quote marks necessary. She either couldn't, or just didn't want to, canvas a wider range of opinion. Seems entirely fair comment to wonder if it was a case of picking your expert to fit the angle you've decided on for the story -- because that's never ever happened before in the history of journalism. (That was sarcasm italics, FYI.)

    Yes, Claire isn't exactly talking out her arse on the subject of political marketing and I never claimed she was. But she's not the only person in New Zealand capable of offering an informed view on this advert.

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

  • Kracklite,

    Well by Atropos' shears, it is, as you well know, a common convention to use quote marks in that manner to indicate sarcasm too.

    If that was not your intention, I apologise, but you do use sarcastic ad hominem phrasing rather a lot as a substitute for actual engagement with someone's argument. It's often hard to tell the difference as a consequence.

    The Library of Babel • Since Nov 2007 • 982 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Ah the subtlety of the single (') and double (") quote mark, which like many others I frequently abuse.

    by Cthulhu's many-angled nutsack

    Though not that elequently.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Well by Atropos' shears, it is, as you well know, a common convention to use quote marks in that manner to indicate sarcasm too.

    Fair enough -- but you've been around PAS for a while. If I wanted to pimp-slap an unqualified (or dubiously relevant) rent-a-quote, wouldn't I use something a little more in your face than passive-aggressive punctuation? :)

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

  • dubmugga,

    dunno if its been said cos no way am i trolling thru 10 pages to find out but...

    fuck bill english! as if cheerleeading for the kiwi worker and general populace on public tv will make us forget what a greedy cunt he is for re working parliamentary entitlements to cop an extra few k on his salary

    coincidence ? i think not...damage control ?...hell yeah

    the back of your mind • Since Nov 2006 • 257 posts Report Reply

  • Kracklite,

    Hi Craig,

    well, I've been in hours-long discussions with my PhD supervisors over my use of the word 'essential' as an unsuitable synonym for 'necessary' and appreciated the point they had to make, so a few minutes spent over quote marks is nothing to me.

    The fact is I have a hell of a lot of respect for you because you bring up uncomfortable points and while you are frequently very exasperating, maybe the fact that you are exasperating may be the the point after all. Nobody can ever claim to offer undiluted reason anyway.

    Your use of inappropriate sexual references annoys me, but then again, if you didn't...

    What-ever [twirls hair and blows bubble]. I'd miss it if you didn't.

    Keep it up.

    The Library of Babel • Since Nov 2007 • 982 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Awww. that's rather nice. But I hope, whatever my flaws may be, if I'm going to have a go at someone I'll always spit in their face rather than piss on their back.

    And if I don't communicate exactly what I mean first time, then the odds that the fault is entirely mine are very short indeed.

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

  • dubmugga,

    one last rant on it then i'm done...

    whats the difference between an unemployed defacto couple with kids misrepresenting their situation to WINZ with regards to living together so they can claim separate benefits cos they cant survive on a married couples one and the bill english thing ?

    he's basically claimed to be living somewhere else but staying with his wife in THEIR property of which he signed off (just prior to claiming the mp's accom benefit) as having no pecuniary interest in as he wasnt on the trust deed of ownership despite being entitled to 50percent under matrimonial law ?

    the difference is, one does what they have to do to survive and provide the most benefit to their kids and the other is a greedy poilitician who's disgusting actions in these times parallel unwarranted executive bonuses and have directly effected the current economic crisis.

    no amount of free advertising is gonna distract me from the fact that he is an immoral money grubbing career politician who gives southland a bad name by claiming to be from there.

    haha...i just spotted the banner at the top saying ask bill a question about the economy, maybe someone should ask him my one. then stand up and call bullshit to his face when he answers that he's done no wrong.

    the back of your mind • Since Nov 2006 • 257 posts Report Reply

  • Tony Parker,

    Uh, I didn't read that into it at all. Aren't they mainly interested because of his previous incarnation as "perk-buster"?

    I thought Mike Hosking challenged Hide rather vigourously last night on TV1.Hide's logic though would have my wife's trip paid for by my school next time I go to an educational conference just to maintain our relationship.
    And in other entitlement news I'm not too impressed being told by a certain Maori Party MP that he "doesn't give a shit what New Zealanders think" about his large travel budget.

    Napier • Since Nov 2008 • 232 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Maori Party MP that he "doesn't give a shit what New Zealanders think" about his large travel budget.

    Standard term of phrase I would think. Heard him comment several times with those exact words. Trip to Austalia (taxpayer funded)then tiki tour off track) springs to mind.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Just thinking,

    I still think his girlfriend should be kept out of this.
    That said as an issue of equity a member of the NZDF who dies overseas has the family paid out by the Govt $250000 as compensation. Of course he doesn't get to have his wife travel with him and I'm sure he foots the bill if she meets him halfway when on leave. He also has to take out expensive life insurance which doesn't cover acts of war.
    I was told this by a guy very annoyed to hear Nick Smiths revelation about ACC payments for suicide at $1Mill.

    I thought Hones walk-about in Oz was a good use of his time and made a few good connections. I disagree with him on a number of issues but I love his honesty, he hides nothing.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    I thought Hones walk-about in Oz was a good use of his time and made a few good connections. I disagree with him on a number of issues but I love his honesty, he hides nothing.

    Wasn't meant as a bitch,just that he often comments that way. However he is a representative of the taxpayer so perhaps he could give a shit.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    whats the difference between an unemployed defacto couple with kids misrepresenting their situation to WINZ with regards to living together so they can claim separate benefits cos they cant survive on a married couples one and the bill english thing ?

    None at heart. Though as you say, it seems less likely to be matter of survival for a family with the joint incomes of a senior politician and established GP who are using instruments like family trusts to minimise their tax outgoings.

    just to maintain our relationship

    Funny how these self-made champions of individualism from the right claim that they need extra on top of those generous taxpayer-funded salaries to 'keep their families together'. Very Crosby/Textor.

    Sure there are rorts all round, but some of them are more hypocritical and cynical than others. When accountability is not applied, that undermines some of our national character of fairness and lack of corruption, damaging all of us.

    I hope voters just don't like that, and here's hoping some of the shit stays stuck when it comes to election time. Teflon poll ratings for now though.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Just thinking,

    Sofie - you raise a valid point and it wasn't bitchie in the least. I just like Hones honesty.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    wrought vs rort

    Sure there are rorts all round, but some of them are more hypocritical and cynical than others

    some are just deeply ingrained in the culture,
    a colonial hangover from when all that rort irony was transported to the colonies as ballast (although much of it was later melted down and sent back as part of the war effort!)
    Though once the nose in the trough, it's no great leap to puddling pig iron - hence the ongoing slagging...

    and that was the wreak that was

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Just thinking,

    Another story about evil women and helpless men spending excessive money on them.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3019442/Wife-disputes-hooker-bill

    Where is the snake and apple in this?
    There is plenty of judgemental moralising.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Funny how these self-made champions of individualism from the right claim that they need extra on top of those generous taxpayer-funded salaries to 'keep their families together'. Very Crosby/Textor.

    But don't forget Louise Crome is just a home-wrecking Lolita -- which is very something.

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

  • Sacha,

    Ah, another quality journalistic outing by Ms Meng-Yee. She does call them "the very model of a modern couple" if you were questioning the applicability of 'family'.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Ah, another quality journalistic outing by Ms Meng-Yee. She does call them "the very model of a modern couple" if you were questioning the applicability of 'family'.

    Well, I'd love a peek at the Herald on Sunday style book, and find out when a "girlfriend" becomes a "partner". Perhaps I've got a personal reason for being a hyper-sensitive pantywaist (tm - Finlay McDonald) about it, but Hide's a fair bit older than Crome. Well, my partner is twenty-seven years older than me, and he's no more a dirty old man than I'm some gold-digging slut.

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

  • Peter Calder,

    Re the discussion as to my identity on page 4: Sorry for the long silence which was because I was overseas and never checked back on this discussion after contributing to it. The speculation as to my identity is correct. Of the comments about my comment I have no comment other than to say I thought it remarkable that contributors to Public Address would try to get me in trouble with my employer by telling on me - an interesting approach to debate. For the record, I am not employed by APN: I contract my services to some publications. And since I haven't got into trouble yet for voicing my opinions I may be forced to conclude that the publishers of the Herald are more tolerant of debate than some contributors to this discussion.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 66 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    And since I haven't got into trouble yet for voicing my opinions I may be forced to conclude that the publishers of the Herald are more tolerant of debate than some contributors to this discussion.

    Interesting failure to account for the content of said opinion and to, you know, debate the contrary views. I think you'll also find that the "contributors" you are talking about total one person, and that many rose to your defence on your particular count.

    And since I haven't got into trouble yet for voicing my opinions I may be forced to conclude that the publishers of the Herald are more tolerant of debate than some contributors to this discussion.

    Oh, they seem able to tolerate Gareth George all right, while the other bastion of New Zealand journalism is equally happy to host the debate-busting views of Michael Laws, so I wouldn't get overly excited - racism and bigotry appear to be hardly disqualifying.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Sam F,

    Of the comments about my comment I have no comment other than to say I thought it remarkable that contributors to Public Address would try to get me in trouble with my employer by telling on me - an interesting approach to debate.

    Interesting failure to account for the content of said opinion and to, you know, debate the contrary views.

    This, very much this.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Which brings me to This. James Coe's exelunt Blog, Headhittin the Erald, has suggested we march in favour of those that want to not have to spank prisoners and MPs whilst walking down Queen Street this Saturday.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

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