Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The silence of the public square

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  • linger, in reply to Mark Easterbrook,

    I remember that as the march where we were addressed thusly: “This is not the ‘Lockwood Blows Goats’ march. Maybe we can have one of those next week.”

    But yeah -- all of this is a sideshow. How about some actual policy coverage in our news?

    Tokyo • Since Apr 2007 • 1944 posts Report

  • Mark Easterbrook, in reply to ,

    I actually don't believe John Key is a nice man. There's something really cold and hard and selfish behind those eyes.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 265 posts Report

  • Pete George, in reply to ,

    And that doesn’t bother me, because Kim Dot Com is not a politician.

    Despite claims at various times that he would leave the politicians to run his party he remains the centre of attraction in the promotion of a political party he owns.

    One could quibble over whether he is 'a politician' or not but he continues to be very political, and the success or failure of the Internet Party will be largely due to his massive presence.

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2011 • 139 posts Report

  • 81stcolumn,

    Despite claims at various times that he would leave the politicians to run his party he remains the centre of attraction in the promotion of a political party he owns.

    Mmmm how refreshing, someone bankrolls a political party is transparent about doing so and we are under no illusions as to why. Compared to financial trust driven politicking or good ol' lobbying I fail to see the problem here. At least an informed choice may be made. I remain uncomfortable at the thought that my vote may or may not be competing with the Alcohol lobby or those who measure success in yards of tarmac/concrete. Especially when confronted by structures deliberately designed to obscure their involvement.

    Nawthshaw • Since Nov 2006 • 790 posts Report

  • Jarno van der Linden, in reply to Michael Meyers,

    I was at the Party Party in Wellington where something similar happened. I was a little disappointed by speech that Dotcom made but mostly because there was no substance to it.

    He is more substantive during the current roadtrip (or at least he was in Nelson), talking about technology infrastructure, tertiary education, and moving the economy away from its dependence on traditional primary produce. He also took part in answering many of the questions from the audience about the party and its policies.

    To me it seemed that he isn't just the posterboy, but is actively involved in shaping the party.

    Nelson • Since Oct 2007 • 82 posts Report

  • andin, in reply to Pete George,

    whether he is ‘a politician’ or not but he continues to be very political, and the success or failure of the Internet Party will be largely due to his massive presence.

    Oh .. get over it. The Nats would fail without The Tefloned one

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to andin,

    Oh .. get over it. The Nats would fail without The Tefloned one

    Yes I'm over it . Pete, it's really fucking obvious you don't like , feel threatened, or would love to be a politician yourself. Fact is, Internet Mana are politicians and you didn't make it. Simple really, They are more effective than you. We geddit .You hope they fail. Have a wine. a beer a chill pill, wotevs. Bleating on and on and on is not helpful to you or any of us. You state you have friends, go share with them if you need to continuously repeat yourself. And I dont mean that in a bad way.

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

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Jarno van der Linden,

    He is more substantive during the current roadtrip (or at least he was in Nelson), talking about technology infrastructure, tertiary education, and moving the economy away from its dependence on traditional primary produce. He also took part in answering many of the questions from the audience about the party and its policies.

    Also: he has apparently gone well at a series of Mana-organised meetings in Te Tai Tokerau and elsewhere, an environment where getting it wrong wouldn't be forgotten. Taking the Party Party out of context and presenting it as a typical rally is banal and stupid -- and exactly what TV news did.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Russell Brown,

    an environment where getting it wrong wouldn't be forgotten.

    yes, ask the Waitangi Tribunal about that.. :)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Rosemary McDonald, in reply to Pete George,

    Despite claims at various times that he would leave the politicians to run his party he remains the centre of attraction in the promotion of a political party he owns.

    InternetMana is Mr. Dotcom's (what a silly moniker!) pantomime.

    HE writes the script, sets the stage and runs the show.

    He is the producer, the director AND the star.

    How anyone can take him seriously is beyond me. Can't y'all see he's just toying with an election in a tiny country that means NOTHING to him?

    He'll have his fun....then move on.

    Waikato, or on the road • Since Apr 2014 • 1346 posts Report

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Rosemary McDonald,

    InternetMana is Mr. Dotcom’s (what a silly moniker!) pantomime.

    Almost as silly as Bomber Bradbury.

    How anyone can take him seriously is beyond me. Can’t y’all see he’s just toying with an election in a tiny country that means NOTHING to him?

    He’ll have his fun….then move on.

    Men were executed, women bled
    Beads and fish changed hands and
    Children stayed up late
    Uh huh

    Coloured drums they stretched the night
    There's a taxidermist looking for a fight
    But now he's gone
    Ah yeah, only the stones remain

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Pete George, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    Fact is, Internet Mana are politicians and you didn’t make it. Simple really,

    I didn't make what? I've learnt a lot and had a lot of fun. Do you know what my objectives have been and are? It doesn't sound like it.

    Fact is that Hone Harawira is a politician whose effectiveness so far is questionable, especially compared say the Maori Party that enabled him to become a politician in the first place.

    Laila Harre is an ex politician who had some success and failures - fairly typical in politics. It's not clear who successful her her current attempt at being a politician will be.

    Is Kim Dotcom a politician? He's a showman and a political party "founder and visionary". It's yet to be seen how successful his brand of politics will be.

    They are more effective than you.

    We geddit .You hope they fail.

    Who's 'we'? Whoever you are you're wrong. I don't "hope they fail". I wish we had a more democratic MMP where they could win as many seats in Parliament as their proportion of support got them without having to resort to compromising deals with other parties.

    A curious thing about political forums is how many participants seem unable or unwilling to discuss issues and only seem intent on trying to piss on people they disagree with or don't like. This is a cross spectrum phenomenon. It doesn't seem to be a very successful way to do politics, seeming to reflect frustration and impotence.

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2011 • 139 posts Report

  • Stewart, in reply to Rosemary McDonald,

    Psychic, are you?

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

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Pete George,

    A curious thing about political forums is how many participants seem unable or unwilling to discuss issues and only seem intent on trying to piss on people they disagree with or don’t like.

    Nothing curious about it, Pete. The reason you’ll continue to spend years having the piss taken out of you in any forum that will endure your self-absorbed droning is because you’re the Wing Han Tsang of NZ politics.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • andin, in reply to Pete George,

    Is Kim Dotcom a politician?

    Is that a special breed of humans? The polibeing?? Are they perhaps bred in a special enclosure to stop them being contaminated in some way?

    He’s a showman and a political party “founder and visionary”. It’s yet to be seen how successful his brand of politics will be

    OH do they come in different brands? Is that stamped on their foreheads at birth? Who knew!

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Pete George,

    A curious thing about political forums is how many participants seem unable or unwilling to discuss issues and only seem intent on trying to piss on people they disagree with or don’t like.

    Not unwilling or unable, thing is you beat the same drum about how a different approach is not acceptable and you seem bothered that the guy funding a new Party is German. I believe some of you have decided way before the Internet Mana arrangement that You didn't like him and therefore the dislike has followed through to the Party Party, their alternative approach, and possibly the choice of people in the Party Party. Dotcom wants to help get rid of the Key Govt, (so do I) Mana definitely want to get rid of the Key Govt, the Party Party have formed to try make that happen. Key charges $1500 a plate, Labour sells raffle tickets, the Internet Mana Party have a donor who is fully supportive of trying to get rid of Key. Bring it on I say. Pete you carry on, and see how that goes for ya. Frankly I don't agree with you so carry on carrying on if that's what you want.

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

  • Steve Barnes,

    They came from Overseas with millions in cash, leaving many with little but the shoes on their feet. They persuaded and cajoled and sought attention from serious players, from media, from the people, from the police.
    Using their influence they gained political power in an attempt to rule a small South Seas Country. One a German entrepreneur, the other a Jewish Banker. Who could have thought they would become enemies?....
    Coming to a polling booth near you soon. Kim vs Key, the showdown.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • George Darroch,

    They came from Overseas with millions in cash, leaving many with little but the shoes on their feet. They persuaded and cajoled and sought attention from serious players, from media, from the people, from the police.
    Using their influence they gained political power in an attempt to rule a small South Seas Country. One a German entrepreneur, the other a Jewish Banker. Who could have thought they would become enemies?

    Take your racism somewhere else.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report

  • Rosemary McDonald, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    I believe some of you have decided way before the Internet Mana arrangement that You didn’t like him

    No, some people don't like him. That is our right.

    This dislike is nothing to do with him being German...it is to do with him being an egomaniacal spoilt teenager....with shit loads of money....hence power and influence over the gullible.

    Some of us dislike Key with equal intensity. That is our right.

    This dislike is nothing to do with Key being Jewish, more because he is a banker and an egocentric, shallow person....with shit loads of money....hence power and influence over the gullible.

    Neither is really a Kiwi. And perhaps a discussion should be had one day about what it means to be a New Zealander.

    But neither Key nor Kim qualifies.

    So why does it have to be a showdown between the twain?

    Can't we PLEASE just ignore the pair of them?

    Better still, lock the pair in a cage and let 'em fight it out bare-knuckled.

    Give some of the other candidates a hearing.....

    Waikato, or on the road • Since Apr 2014 • 1346 posts Report

  • Chris Waugh, in reply to George Darroch,

    Take your racism somewhere else.

    I took that as a pisstake. Borderline, perhaps, but still a pisstake. And with all the Godwinning going on left, right and centre, I'm surprised it took this long for anyone to mention the PM's heritage.

    Still, it would be nice to be having an entirely different political discussion.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report

  • Rosemary McDonald,

    Mana's policy statement on Disability

    http://mana.net.nz/policy/policy-disability-issues/

    Excellent.

    Well done.

    Shows a real understanding of many of the more significant issues.

    Would get my vote...if I had one.

    Waikato, or on the road • Since Apr 2014 • 1346 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Chris Waugh,

    I took that as a pisstake. Borderline, perhaps, but still a pisstake.

    How very cromulent of you Sir, 'twas but a matter of fact.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • Hilary Stace, in reply to Rosemary McDonald,

    Why don't you have a vote? Very good policy - wonder who wrote it. But it doesn't specifically mention the repeal of the NZPHDA Amendment Act.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report

  • Rosemary McDonald, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    Why don’t you have a vote?

    Hilary...I am a dyed in the wool skeptic cynic rebel from way back.

    Yes...a person's vote is a precious thing. Too precious IMHO, to waste on the pathetic candidates available...especially in our electorate...(Shane Arden's seat...when he's not on his tractor.).

    There have only ever been two politicians who I would consider to be worthy of voting for...those with intelligence AND integrity, commitment and humility.

    Marylin Waring....not standing...pity.

    Catherine Delahunty...not in my electorate.

    The PHDAct(2) amendment, which removes my right to take an issue of incredible importance and impact on my family's life to the judiciary for review places me in the position of outcast.

    Less than the lowest scrotes in society...child rapists and murdrers have more rights than me....and others in my position.

    Until this is rectified...and yes you're right...no specific mention of repealing PHDAct(2) from ANY party, no promise to reveal the redacted sections of the Regulatory Impact Statement, fromrom ANY of them....I will not be voting.

    I might have if any one party had made rectifying that travesty a priority.

    Waikato, or on the road • Since Apr 2014 • 1346 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel,

    The Greens' Hand... rules!
    apres The Nation

    Excuse me, Mr Craig!
    I'm talking...
    Excuse me!
    Mr Craig!

    Gotta be this election's 'Nek Minnit'©, right?
    or soundbite, at least!
    and that man is no gentleman...
    ...he's fast becoming just a new boy called 'Sue!'


    Panel Beaters...
    Some of them behaved like they
    were still in Parliament (or wannabe),
    and some behaved with dignity...

    Even a wee bit of yer borderline
    argy-bargy over spending (I thought)...
    ... to paraphrase:
    'don't call me 'niggard', Whytey...'

    <...too soon?>

    mea culpa: okay that was a 'Sly' dig,
    I was over-reaching to grasp for a cheap
    and gaudy pun going begging...

    <strike that from the record, and may
    the jury of popular opinion,
    please disregard that.)


    PS: Nectar of the neckties...
    When will the truth come out about how
    decades ago an alien race of chameleonic
    Vampire Butterflies fastened themselves
    to the carotid arteries of Peter Dunne,
    hiding in plain sight! Oh horror, you,
    he's bound in some sad symbiosis.

    One future:
    Be. Hive.

    Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

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