Hard News: The Mayor's marginal enemies
135 Responses
First ←Older Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 Newer→ Last
-
Ian Dalziel, in reply to
medalling in politics...
AND got this straight back from Dick Quax
I had heard that Theodorus Jacobus Leonardus "Dick" Quax was quick out of the blocks...
...being a competitive runner (and ACT alumni) for so long, it's no wonder he is happy to put the spikes in when astroturfing. -
So at what point does the biased reporting by The New Zealand Herald constitute harassment?
Obviously it wouldn't be smart on LB's part to actually complain but surely there is a point where The Herald steps outside the boundaries of what is legal?
-
Sacha, in reply to
or us readers can complain to the regulator on the grounds of sustained bias and truthiness.
-
Ian Dalziel, in reply to
Bully beef
So at what point does the biased reporting by The New Zealand Herald constitute harassment?
Best get used to it APN has just bought The Radio Network in NZ ie: Newstalk ZB and Radio Hauraki, and Australian Radio Network (ARN).
-
Gareth Ward, in reply to
Obviously it wouldn't be smart on LB's part to actually complain
From the Mayor's office Twitter account this morning, they'll be asking for a retraction on the Japanese consulate threats story. Never happened according to the consulate...
-
Russell Brown, in reply to
From the Mayor’s office Twitter account this morning, they’ll be asking for a retraction on the Japanese consulate threats story. Never happened according to the consulate…
And apparently the consulate has been trying to communicate this to the Herald since yesterday afternoon.
This is just weird.
-
SteveH, in reply to
=== AND got this straight back from Dick Quax
I notice he doesn't actually deny having personal animosity. I think I would have been inclined to tell him "give it up Dick, you lost. Time to move on."
-
A bit sad really Quax has not only marginalised himself but also the needs of those he purports to represent.
-
Russell Brown, in reply to
A bit sad really Quax has not only marginalised himself but also the needs of those he purports to represent.
Yes. He's not representing his constituents in any useful sense. He and the other four are basically deadweight on council.
-
WH,
I trust that this addresses your concerns, Graeme.
I'm not sure you can describe a campaign that is supported by the Herald, the NBR and Kiwiblog as "very marginal".
At the risk of sounding naive, public debate shouldn't generally be led by character assassination. Noone looks back at Tony Blair's government telling the press that David Kelly was a Walter Mitty-type fantasist - or Helen Clark describing the leaders of the Hikoi of Hope as "wreckers and haters" - with a lasting sense of satisfaction.
(FWIW I don't think the mayor should resign.)
-
Sacha, in reply to
They're marginal in the same way the Act party is - tiny support base, magnified by access to resources.
-
Matthew Poole, in reply to
He and the other four are basically deadweight on council.
Which is particularly sad when you consider that Denise Krum, from Tamaki, is newly-elected in place of the very long-serving Richard Northey. She won, as best I could see (as a resident of the ward), on the back of the most expenditure on billboards and concerted use of her school board connections to leaflet-drop the ward. That she'd been the councillor for barely long enough to work out where to sit before signing up behind Brewer and Quax to call for Brown to resign was not at all a good beginning. I haven't heard a peep out of her since, though, unlike her rowdy new compatriot from Howick.
-
SteveH, in reply to
Which is particularly sad when you consider that Denise Krum, from Tamaki, is newly-elected in place of the very long-serving Richard Northey. She won, as best I could see (as a resident of the ward), on the back of the most expenditure on billboards and concerted use of her school board connections to leaflet-drop the ward.
She was certainly more visible than Northey. She also ran a campaign of FUD over the Unitary Plan and the AIA modified flight plan trails.
Incidentally, what are the rules around local election billboards? One of hers is still up beside the Ellerslie-Panmure onramp.
-
david kinniburgh, in reply to
Russell Brown:
Ironically, Stewart has been busy today insisting to the TVNZ reporter that “this isn’t political at all.” Except, of course, that Dick Quax is answering her emails for her.At least Dick Quax replied, and promptly. I've had no response whatever from Ms Stewart. She's paid $44K pa from the ratepayers purse; some response to being challenged about her "cast of thousands" fantasy would have been in order. Clearly she's not yet ready to play in the big childrens sandpit.
Undeterred, I sent off similar EMAILS to both the Herald and Bernard Orsman asking if they background checked the veracity of their copy. Likewise, the vast silence.
All else failing. I wrote to Len B, the object of all this unseemly nastiness. Said that I at least would be happy to welcome both him and his family to the Howick Military Tattoo. Got this back
Thank you for your kind words of support.
It is my intention to attend the Tattoo on Sunday. This is an amazing family and community event that I have enjoyed for many years.
It is very disappointing that people have attempted to play silly politics with it.
Yours sincerely
Len BrownNuff said :-)
-
Craig Ranapia, in reply to
And apparently the consulate has been trying to communicate this to the Herald since yesterday afternoon.
Oh, well – perhaps Shayne Currie might decide to put his big boy editor pants on if he gets a phone call from the Japanese Ambassador asking that they be left right out of this nonsense.
-
I’ll be turning up with a placard supporting LB :-)
Is Len Brown really worth the effort? FFS, if you put yourself in a public position and screw up, would you expect anything different? If LB were the sales rep for DB and receiving upgrades and was having it off with a geisha (Len's words, not mine), this would all be rather irrelevant. It's a cop out to suggest that politicians and people in positions of power should not be called out on their behavior as the opportunity to grasp the spoils is beyond the reach of most. Anyway, why is the guy so revered? Because he says the right things? What has he actually achieved?
-
david kinniburgh, in reply to
Is Len Brown really worth the effort? FFS, if you put yourself in a public position and screw up, would you expect anything different?
Without a doubt Len Brown has been foolish, for which he has been exposed to well orchestrated ridicule, and censured as well. Without a doubt he is now on performance notice as Mayor. Without a doubt the home front will have been fraught and I imagine the scissors will have been carefully hidden. However my beef is with those self righteous citizens that wish to continue an ongoing vendatta of viciousness.
'Let he who is without sin cast the first stone" sort of thing -
Chris Waugh, in reply to
Is Len Brown really worth the effort?
Why don't you ask that question of yourself? Because if any of Len Brown's dodgy actions can be considered corrupt, he's only just barely at the kindergarten level of political corruption. And besides, he's already been called out on his behaviour. Why the need to endlessly, obssessively rehash issues that have been dealt with? Why is it so hard to get a grip, or at least a sense of perspective and proportion, and move on?
a geisha
Whoever it was who came up with that geisha line really needs to educate themselves.
-
Russell Brown, in reply to
Anyway, why is the guy so revered? Because he says the right things? What has he actually achieved?
For all his faults, quite a lot. Simon Wilson’s Metro feature last year is a useful overview.
Basically, Brown inherited a structure and a set of appointed CCO boards that was not to his advantage. But he was able to forge alliances – with nominal opponents both on the council in in central government – that have actually been productive. The speed with which a vision was set for the city is testament to that. He’s also stuck by key projects like the CRL. Otoh, he’s been too willing with compromise on key elements of the Unitary Plan.
Although it has been damaged by the revelations of the past couple of months, Brown's ability to get disparate groups working together should not be underrated. When you look at the dysfunctional attempts at leadership from Brewer, Fletcher, Quax and Wood, it’s pretty clear things in the Super City could have been a lot worse.
-
nzlemming, in reply to
Anyway, why is the guy so revered?
Not so much that he's revered, but that the campaign against him has been so sordid and wasteful of resources that the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
-
Craig Ranapia, in reply to
Is Len Brown really worth the effort?
Yes – because I’m the kind of crank who thinks the media and self-appointed morals cops don’t get to overturn free, fair and credible elections. That doesn't mean anyone is beyond scrutiny and criticism, but it's rather naive to pretend we haven't crossed that line a long time ago.
It’s really that simple.
(And I’m really over the same people hang-wringing about the cost of the very investigation they screamed for. Wonder if the real problem is that the outcome wasn’t to their liking?)
-
Sacha, in reply to
grasp the spoils
ew
-
Sacha, in reply to
things in the Super City could have been a lot worse
John Banks should be sufficient to settle that
-
The whole idea that there is "moral outrage" from Joe Average about LB's behavior is a crock. People don't really care. However, wasn't Brown the promoter of family values and Christian ideals? The charge of hypocrisy is best suited to him. I think that's why people find the guy to be a sleazeball and not worthy of any trust. He takes risks that others perhaps wouldn't because he thinks he can get away with it or he doesn't consider the potential outcomes. If that's what the public wants, that's fine. Len is the one who is made himself the laughing stock and object of mockery.
It was Len who came up with the geisha moniker. I'm sure he was trying to be "sexy", but I am surprised if anyone can't see how that it is potentially demeaning and culturally insensitive. And in terms of his achievements, Auckland has some of the most unaffordable residential property in the world; weak and expensive public transport (even thought it has improved to some degree); and gridlock. Shouldn't these be the core issues that Brown and the council need to work on? Can anyone sincerely say the situation is getting better?
-
Auckland has some of the most unaffordable residential property in the world
But you cannot be seriously suggesting that is the fault of the Mayor?
weak and expensive public transport
And he is having to deal with a central government which holds the purse strings and also has an irrational hostility towards necessary, major public transport initiatives.
Post your response…
This topic is closed.