Public Address | Cafe | Hard News: The silence of the public square https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/ en-us Copyright (c) 2026 Public Address Ian Dalziel https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319413#post319413 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319413#post319413 ...nominate oneself, spend no other money, seek no publicity, vote for yourself, and see how many other votes you end up with.
As a control to The Goldsmith Experiment?

]]> Wed, 13 Aug 2014 14:56:33 +1200 Rich of Observationz https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319412#post319412 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319412#post319412 a Communist League candidate

Was the vote split due to better resourced Communist Union and Communist Soccer candidates standing?

]]> Wed, 13 Aug 2014 14:52:30 +1200 Sacha https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319409#post319409 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319409#post319409 it can be politically consequential

Just like the last election. If only all those people who stayed home had wanted the government we got, your theory might hold more water.

Not that I’m insisting everyone should have to vote or that our options for political involvement stop there. Perhaps it’s…

]]> Wed, 13 Aug 2014 14:14:30 +1200 blindjackdog https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319408#post319408 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319408#post319408 But not every election will be like this one, where the centre-left’s search for voters is being aided by a pissed-off millionaire is donating money and charisma to a party/coalition avowedly targeting non-voters of more than one sort....You need a certain confluence of events for non-voting to look like a… ]]> Wed, 13 Aug 2014 13:59:45 +1200 blindjackdog https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319403#post319403 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319403#post319403 But as a political statement, it’s a very quiet and muddy one.

So is your precious vote.

I mean, you may have weighed up all the policy statements of the parties, analysed the likely alliances, considered the polls and perfected an algorithm to help you to optimise your ability to…

]]> Wed, 13 Aug 2014 13:38:14 +1200 blindjackdog https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319400#post319400 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319400#post319400 When people don’t vote out of laziness or apathy, I have no problem with them being told not to complain. .... the right to abstain as a conscious decision.

Apathy is a perfectly reasonable response to an uninspiring political culture.

So it's ok if it's "a conscious decision" but not…

]]> Wed, 13 Aug 2014 13:21:47 +1200 Paul Campbell https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319391#post319391 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319391#post319391 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 11:53:04 +1200 Lucy Telfar Barnard https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319388#post319388 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319388#post319388 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 11:13:01 +1200 Jeremy Andrew https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319372#post319372 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319372#post319372 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 10:16:13 +1200 Brent Jackson https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319357#post319357 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319357#post319357 According to The Electoral Act 1993 (and subsequent amendments) :
144 Deposit by candidate
(1) Every constituency candidate, or some person on the constituency candidate’s behalf, shall deposit with the Returning Officer the sum of $300 not later than noon on nomination day.
(2) The deposit shall be paid in…

]]> Wed, 13 Aug 2014 09:53:02 +1200 Lucy Telfar Barnard https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319333#post319333 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319333#post319333 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 08:59:05 +1200 Russell Brown https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319275#post319275 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319275#post319275 Isn’t that democracy in action? Hasn’t collective non-voting in that respect therefore inspired a political response?

That's actually a pretty interesting argument. But not every election will be like this one, where the centre-left's search for voters is being aided by a pissed-off millionaire is donating money and charisma to…

]]> Tue, 12 Aug 2014 17:50:11 +1200 Hebe https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319264#post319264 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319264#post319264 find something to vote for rather than against

This.

Turning around the confrontational political system in New Zealand will make the biggest difference to our society. Compromise and negotiation to reach a common understanding.

]]> Tue, 12 Aug 2014 16:33:51 +1200 Emma Hart https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319246#post319246 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319246#post319246 Are such papers, whether they’re spoilt or left blank, actually counted? Do they have any effect on the outcome?

Yes, and no. So any paper whose voting intent can't be easily distinguished for any reason is put in a pile during first count, on election night, and the number of…

]]> Tue, 12 Aug 2014 15:39:12 +1200 Kumara Republic https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319241#post319241 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319241#post319241 Yeah, I’ve been enjoying watching from this distance as Kim Dotcom shakes things up like a court jester gone feral.

As in a Beppe Grillo kind of feral?

]]> Tue, 12 Aug 2014 15:33:26 +1200 Sacha https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319239#post319239 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319239#post319239 Tue, 12 Aug 2014 15:29:06 +1200 Chris Waugh https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319234#post319234 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319234#post319234 Are such papers, whether they're spoilt or left blank, actually counted? Do they have any effect on the outcome?

It would be nice to think an electorate could elect "Nobody" if a plurality of the voters thought all the candidates were rubbish, and have that electorate's seat sit pointedly empty…

]]> Tue, 12 Aug 2014 15:07:53 +1200 Brent Jackson https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319230#post319230 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319230#post319230 What annoys me about the “you lose your right to complain argument” is that it denies people the right to abstain as a conscious decision.

If one wishes to abstain as a conscious decision, then you should turn up, get your voting papers, and use them to not vote. That…

]]> Tue, 12 Aug 2014 14:53:25 +1200 Chris Waugh https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319225#post319225 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319225#post319225 The You lose your right to complain argument is so stupid that anyone making it loses their right to have opinions.

No, it has a certain validity. When people don't vote out of laziness or apathy, I have no problem with them being told not to complain. If you've got…

]]> Tue, 12 Aug 2014 14:23:43 +1200 blindjackdog https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319222#post319222 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319222#post319222 Tue, 12 Aug 2014 14:14:10 +1200 blindjackdog https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319217#post319217 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319217#post319217 Right at the moment we've got an alliance of parties orienting themselves specifically (and explicitly) with regard to a demographic of notorious non-voters, and in doing so they're tailoring both their message and its medium.

Isn't that democracy in action? Hasn't collective non-voting in that respect therefore inspired a political…

]]> Tue, 12 Aug 2014 13:58:38 +1200 Ben Austin https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319188#post319188 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319188#post319188 Tue, 12 Aug 2014 11:37:38 +1200 Rich Lock https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319160#post319160 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319160#post319160 FPP sucks, yes

My hobby horse has probably had enough of being chased around the paddock by my bugbear now, so time to shut them both up.

]]> Tue, 12 Aug 2014 09:19:12 +1200 Ben Austin https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319156#post319156 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319156#post319156 Tue, 12 Aug 2014 08:56:55 +1200 Sacha https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319152#post319152 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319152#post319152 it seems a rather pointless exercise when one is in one of the safer tory seats in the UK

FPP sucks, yes

]]> Tue, 12 Aug 2014 07:58:46 +1200 Ian Dalziel https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319151#post319151 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319151#post319151 Message seems to be that stickers encourage engagement.
Something for the adherents....

]]> Tue, 12 Aug 2014 07:58:24 +1200 Ben Austin https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319149#post319149 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319149#post319149 Speaking of which, are any of the parties doing London meetings this election campaign? I saw the Greens were out at a NZ Society organised drinks at the Black Lion a couple of weeks ago, but I've not come across anything else so far.

They gave out a lot of…

]]> Tue, 12 Aug 2014 07:13:43 +1200 Rich Lock https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319148#post319148 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319148#post319148 That's your analogy? Really?

Back when I was single and on the market, if I'd had a pool of less than a dozen partners to choose from, only two of which were actually possible relationship prospects, I'd probably have become a nun. Or chosen a job where I spend 10…

]]> Tue, 12 Aug 2014 05:37:30 +1200 Myles Thomas https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319147#post319147 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319147#post319147 Tue, 12 Aug 2014 05:03:19 +1200 Myles Thomas https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319146#post319146 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319146#post319146 Be less fussy. Non-voters are like those single people who sit on the shelf, waiting for Mr or Ms Right and complain that they never arrive.

If you don't vote you lose the right to complain.

]]> Tue, 12 Aug 2014 04:54:19 +1200 Kumara Republic https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319143#post319143 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319143#post319143 Compelling or scaring people into voting probably isn't going to cut it. And, neither it seems, financial inducements. So at the end of the day, political figures need to give people a reason to vote for them, and they're not doing that job very well.

Among industrialised nations, especially English-speaking…

]]> Tue, 12 Aug 2014 00:21:09 +1200 Rich Lock https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319142#post319142 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319142#post319142 find something to vote for rather than against

"Oh, no, my Lord, I assure you that parts of it are excellent!"

For the record, I vote nearly* every time, but it seems a rather pointless exercise when one is in one of the safer tory seats in the UK.

*I…

]]> Mon, 11 Aug 2014 23:18:49 +1200 Chris Waugh https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319141#post319141 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319141#post319141 Mon, 11 Aug 2014 23:06:34 +1200 Sacha https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319139#post319139 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319139#post319139 for rather than against ]]> Mon, 11 Aug 2014 22:47:07 +1200 Craig Ranapia https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319136#post319136 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319136#post319136 I despair of my friends who don’t vote because this party or that candidate is not quite up to scratch on this policy or that aspirational value. Its a cop out, clever, safe, impressive even, but really ineffective.

To be honest, I do a bit too but can really see…

]]> Mon, 11 Aug 2014 21:25:58 +1200 Rich Lock https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319133#post319133 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319133#post319133 I despair of my friends who don’t vote because this party or that candidate is not quite up to scratch on this policy or that aspirational value.

And what would your suggestion be when none of the parties on offer come anywhere close to aligning with one's personal values, across…

]]> Mon, 11 Aug 2014 20:28:59 +1200 Richard Aston https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319120#post319120 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319120#post319120 I despair of my friends who don't vote because this party or that candidate is not quite up to scratch on this policy or that aspirational value. Its a cop out, clever, safe, impressive even, but really ineffective.

The politicians are all imperfect, just like us, but how can we…

]]> Mon, 11 Aug 2014 15:56:42 +1200 Lucy Telfar Barnard https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319114#post319114 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319114#post319114 Catherine Delahunty depends entirely on Green party votes to return to parliament. You have a party vote.

This, and very much this. Catherine Delahunty has at least a chance of winning Coromandel, since the Greens did manage to win it in 1999, but it’s been National every election since then,…

]]> Mon, 11 Aug 2014 14:49:41 +1200 giovanni tiso https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319108#post319108 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319108#post319108 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.

Curious mismatch with the education policy, which is very light on inclusion, and talks about meeting the learning needs of disabled children in "well…

]]> Mon, 11 Aug 2014 14:09:43 +1200 Angela Hart https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319102#post319102 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319102#post319102 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.


Catherine Delahunty depends entirely on Green party votes to return to parliament. You have a party vote.

]]> Mon, 11 Aug 2014 13:11:23 +1200 Kumara Republic https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319098#post319098 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319098#post319098 There’s a huge chorus of ‘sellout’ but no one asking the choristers what exactly has been sold.

Aside from Sue Bradford who's 'sticking to her principles', most of those who cry 'sellout' appear to be the ones who seem to think that only people who read The Fountainhead or Statecraft…

]]> Mon, 11 Aug 2014 13:02:28 +1200 Rob Stowell https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319097#post319097 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319097#post319097 why do so many people assume Dotcom is “using” Harre and Harawira, and not the other way around?
This bemuses me too. I can't see anything Mana have given up – anything they stand for, or any policy position, or compromise, or promise. There's a huge chorus of 'sellout' but…

]]> Mon, 11 Aug 2014 12:40:37 +1200 Russell Brown https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319096#post319096 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319096#post319096 Personally, I think they’ve been bloody clever.

Mana negotiated three of its candidates in the top four of the joint list, which I think actually hurts the Internet Party's appeal to the youth. That's a bunch of old people — Hone, Laila, Annette Sykes, John Minto — before you get…

]]> Mon, 11 Aug 2014 12:31:34 +1200 Rich of Observationz https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319093#post319093 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319093#post319093 Mon, 11 Aug 2014 12:25:00 +1200 Sacha https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319085#post319085 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319085#post319085 bully her way onto the stage, taking her cue from Mr Craig. ]]> Mon, 11 Aug 2014 11:37:47 +1200 linger https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319081#post319081 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319081#post319081 I sympathise with your frustration, but not voting is self-defeating: it just ensures that nobody in the next government will feel any need to listen to you either.
(Meanwhile, with great timing, PAS provides another pro-voting argument here. )
Please vote.

]]> Mon, 11 Aug 2014 11:12:32 +1200 Mark Easterbrook https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319073#post319073 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319073#post319073 Mon, 11 Aug 2014 09:29:46 +1200 Farmer Green https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319072#post319072 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319072#post319072 he has no interest in { . . .} humanity in general…

Mmm, that seems like quite a broad brush , but that particular characteristic may be more common amongst the political class than we are prepared to acknowledge.

]]> Mon, 11 Aug 2014 08:55:00 +1200 Craig Ranapia https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319070#post319070 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319070#post319070 His sanctioning of the collateral death of a New Zealand citizen at the hands of an American ‘terrorist prosecution’ by missile, shows he has no interest in the Mosaic Laws that underpin the Jewish faith, let alone humanity in general…

Least we forget... a hundred years ago Peter Fraser opposed…

]]> Mon, 11 Aug 2014 08:29:27 +1200 Russell Brown https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319069#post319069 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319069#post319069 No, I did not realize that, and I am not ten years old.

Fair enough: "please don't post that here" might have been better. But I am responsible for what's published here and that conversation was going nowhere good.

]]> Mon, 11 Aug 2014 08:06:46 +1200 Ian Dalziel https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319067#post319067 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319067#post319067 I am Steve(n) too...
Any fool knows John Key's religion is Mammon!!
all else is posturing, and playing to the crowd.
...or is he just putting the 'Ham' in Abrahamic....

His sanctioning of the collateral death of a New Zealand citizen at the hands of an American 'terrorist prosecution' by…

]]> Mon, 11 Aug 2014 07:30:09 +1200 Kumara Republic https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319065#post319065 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319065#post319065 As someone with a Jewish wife and kids I occasionally point out that he's Jewish, mostly because to me it's a point of pride that NZ will elect a Jewish PM without it being an issue, much less a 3rd PM ... elsewhere it might be an issue, but not… ]]> Mon, 11 Aug 2014 02:18:29 +1200 Russell Brown https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319064#post319064 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319064#post319064 So how’s about everybody calms down. No more of this “Jewish Prime Minister” talk, and no more muttering “Nazi” every time Kim Dotcom farts. Let’s please get back to talking sensibly about things that actually matter.

I cannot endorse this strongly enough. This is an irrelevant line of discussion.

]]> Sun, 10 Aug 2014 23:16:49 +1200 Russell Brown https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319063#post319063 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319063#post319063 Mr Barnes, you are on the money.

Steven, the picture is unverified and it’s from the website of an anti-semitic group called the Anti Zionist League. I realise you probably posted it without realising that, but I’ve deleted it and you are not to try and post it again.

]]> Sun, 10 Aug 2014 23:12:31 +1200 Paul Campbell https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319059#post319059 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319059#post319059 Sun, 10 Aug 2014 20:43:36 +1200 Chris Waugh https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319058#post319058 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319058#post319058 Mr Barnes, you are on the money.

I dunno. See, Steve's comment I interpreted as taking people and their muttering of "Nazi" every time Kim Dotcom, who is German, as so many people are so unwilling to let us forget, does something likely to cause even a minor ripple in…

]]> Sun, 10 Aug 2014 18:25:53 +1200 Ian Dalziel https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319048#post319048 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319048#post319048 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…

]]> Sun, 10 Aug 2014 13:13:53 +1200 Rosemary McDonald https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319046#post319046 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319046#post319046 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…

]]> Sun, 10 Aug 2014 12:56:04 +1200 Hilary Stace https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319044#post319044 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319044#post319044 Sun, 10 Aug 2014 12:04:29 +1200 Steve Barnes https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319040#post319040 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319040#post319040 I took that as a pisstake. Borderline, perhaps, but still a pisstake.
How very cromulent of you Sir, 'twas but a matter of fact.

]]> Sat, 09 Aug 2014 23:16:08 +1200 Rosemary McDonald https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319031#post319031 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319031#post319031 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.

]]> Sat, 09 Aug 2014 21:00:35 +1200 Chris Waugh https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319028#post319028 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319028#post319028 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…

]]> Sat, 09 Aug 2014 17:55:02 +1200 Rosemary McDonald https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319027#post319027 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319027#post319027 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…

]]> Sat, 09 Aug 2014 16:23:08 +1200 George Darroch https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319025#post319025 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319025#post319025 __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…

]]> Sat, 09 Aug 2014 14:50:47 +1200 Steve Barnes https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319024#post319024 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319024#post319024 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…

]]> Sat, 09 Aug 2014 12:27:30 +1200 Sofie Bribiesca https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319023#post319023 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319023#post319023 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…

]]> Sat, 09 Aug 2014 11:38:09 +1200 andin https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319022#post319022 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319022#post319022 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…

]]> Sat, 09 Aug 2014 11:30:20 +1200 Joe Wylie https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319021#post319021 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319021#post319021 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…

]]> Sat, 09 Aug 2014 11:16:31 +1200 Stewart https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319017#post319017 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319017#post319017 Sat, 09 Aug 2014 10:10:12 +1200 Pete George https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319013#post319013 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319013#post319013 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…

]]> Sat, 09 Aug 2014 07:44:10 +1200 Joe Wylie https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319006#post319006 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319006#post319006 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…

]]> Fri, 08 Aug 2014 22:05:57 +1200 Rosemary McDonald https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319005#post319005 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319005#post319005 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.…

]]> Fri, 08 Aug 2014 21:52:58 +1200 Sacha https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319003#post319003 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=319003#post319003 an environment where getting it wrong wouldn't be forgotten.

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

]]> Fri, 08 Aug 2014 21:43:34 +1200 Russell Brown https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318997#post318997 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318997#post318997 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… ]]> Fri, 08 Aug 2014 19:26:58 +1200 Sofie Bribiesca https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318994#post318994 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318994#post318994 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,…

]]> Fri, 08 Aug 2014 19:00:45 +1200 andin https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318986#post318986 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318986#post318986 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

]]> Fri, 08 Aug 2014 17:28:37 +1200 Jarno van der Linden https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318974#post318974 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318974#post318974 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,…

]]> Fri, 08 Aug 2014 14:40:02 +1200 81stcolumn https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318970#post318970 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318970#post318970 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…

]]> Fri, 08 Aug 2014 13:56:23 +1200 Pete George https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318957#post318957 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318957#post318957 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…

]]> Fri, 08 Aug 2014 12:28:57 +1200 Mark Easterbrook https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318954#post318954 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318954#post318954 Fri, 08 Aug 2014 12:15:44 +1200 linger https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318935#post318935 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318935#post318935 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?

]]> Fri, 08 Aug 2014 11:05:58 +1200 Mark Easterbrook https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318931#post318931 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318931#post318931 Fri, 08 Aug 2014 10:54:03 +1200 Michael Meyers https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318927#post318927 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318927#post318927 Fri, 08 Aug 2014 10:39:20 +1200 Moz https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318925#post318925 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318925#post318925 That true, I grapple with that as I decide who gets my vote.

I'm more concerned with people who actually associate with criminals and are comfortable with fraud being commited against the electoral system. I leave the Godwin to you.

Not that I'm suggesting that That Nice Mr Key{tm} would…

]]> Fri, 08 Aug 2014 10:33:30 +1200 Pete George https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318913#post318913 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318913#post318913 If they want to be taken seriously, yes.

That could be applied to Dotcom and the Internet party, probably more appropriately.

]]> Fri, 08 Aug 2014 09:55:53 +1200 Pete George https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318912#post318912 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318912#post318912 @ChrisHipkins:

Finally had a chance to see the Dotcom video everyone's talking about. It's alarming. No place for that kind of thuggery in NZ politics

Getting a bunch of people drunk and getting them to chant abuse isn't political leadership. It's thuggery and megalomania intertwined.

I want more young NZers…

]]> Fri, 08 Aug 2014 09:53:53 +1200 81stcolumn https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318900#post318900 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318900#post318900 FWIW:

I remember chanting. – "Fuck Thatcher, fuck the tax, we want our country back !"

I was not drunk (though it may have appeared otherwise), it was broad daylight and I was with a large group of youths. I may regret the conjunction of particular verbs and genders now,…

]]> Fri, 08 Aug 2014 09:35:51 +1200 Sofie Bribiesca https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318890#post318890 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318890#post318890 Fri, 08 Aug 2014 09:24:14 +1200 Sofie Bribiesca https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318887#post318887 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318887#post318887 If you want to call me a National sugar daddy, Sofie, go to

I wouldn't Craig , that would be lowering myself to a John Key standard. Unfortunately also "they did it first" was exactly what the National Government have used for ohh, every excuse to explain their sick behaviour…

]]> Fri, 08 Aug 2014 09:20:17 +1200 Pete George https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318886#post318886 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318886#post318886 Fri, 08 Aug 2014 09:17:46 +1200 Stephen Judd https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318883#post318883 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318883#post318883 Fri, 08 Aug 2014 09:06:21 +1200 Pete George https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318877#post318877 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318877#post318877 Laila Harre:
“When you get a room of a thousand young people together and you give them a political message, then they will respond that young people respond to politics.

“The response that those young people is typical of youth expression, and we’re not about censoring youth expression.”
Pissed people…

]]> Fri, 08 Aug 2014 08:48:52 +1200 Craig Ranapia https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318872#post318872 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318872#post318872 If Key thinks Harre is a prostitute, he can get fucked as far as I’m concerned. He has set the bar on the campaign trail. The “sugar daddy” comment was as low as you can go so Fuck John key ,have to be you,not me!

Key’s “sugar daddy” shade was…

]]> Fri, 08 Aug 2014 08:16:42 +1200 Kumara Republic https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318869#post318869 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318869#post318869 Or perhaps we will see National MPs Godwinning ?

So far, they've invoked Reductio ad Stalinum, and I suspect not just with last year's NZ Power announcement by the Opposition.

]]> Thu, 07 Aug 2014 18:25:44 +1200 Sofie Bribiesca https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318867#post318867 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318867#post318867 I believe the correct chant is:Fuck John Key.Rather you than me!
That'll do

If Key thinks Harre is a prostitute, he can get fucked as far as I'm concerned. He has set the bar on the campaign trail. The "sugar daddy" comment was as low as you can go so…

]]> Thu, 07 Aug 2014 17:24:14 +1200 Mikaere Curtis https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318865#post318865 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318865#post318865 If IMP end up holding the balance of power with Labour and Greens in government I think there’s good cause to have concerns about what that may lead to.

Things like our spooks actually obeying the rule of law ? Key being held accountable for any lies he may have…

]]> Thu, 07 Aug 2014 17:16:04 +1200 andin https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318864#post318864 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318864#post318864 You mean John Voldemort Key?

Yeah, because someone who (whether you like it or not) is still Prime Minister after not one but two free, fair and credible general elections is exactly like a fictional mass murderer.

No! If I may speak for you Judi. She was doing a play…

]]> Thu, 07 Aug 2014 17:15:53 +1200 Carol Stewart https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318863#post318863 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318863#post318863 recommending that NZ emulate Fiji in its approach to race relations! ]]> Thu, 07 Aug 2014 15:47:55 +1200 Rich of Observationz https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318862#post318862 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318862#post318862 everything to do with rhythm and scan

I believe the correct chant is:
Fuck John Key.
Rather you than me!

]]> Thu, 07 Aug 2014 15:40:34 +1200 simon g https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318861#post318861 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318861#post318861 I thought we overthrew fascism in 2008? That's what the Farrar/Boscawen marchers were saying on their placards, anyway. Complete with Helen/Hitler comparisons and such.

But they were saying "fight fascism", not "fight fucking fascism", so that was OK.

]]> Thu, 07 Aug 2014 15:23:17 +1200 Kumara Republic https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318860#post318860 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318860#post318860 Thu, 07 Aug 2014 15:21:28 +1200 Keir Leslie https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318859#post318859 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318859#post318859 Thu, 07 Aug 2014 15:15:06 +1200 Pete George https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318858#post318858 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318858#post318858 But the Internet Party have chosen to promote video of it. Laila seems to have no control over what they put out, and every time it happens it makes her job harder.
Especially the Nazi comparisons.
I'll tell my German friend who was disgusted by the immediate impression they got…

]]> Thu, 07 Aug 2014 15:09:43 +1200 Russell Brown https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318857#post318857 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318857#post318857 Aaand … some footage from an hour before Dotcom got on stage. Guess what the crowd’s chanting.

People can decide for themselves what they think about it, but there really has been some bullshit spouted about this today. Especially the Nazi comparisons.

]]> Thu, 07 Aug 2014 14:59:48 +1200 linger https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318856#post318856 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318856#post318856 Thu, 07 Aug 2014 14:59:03 +1200 Pete George https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318855#post318855 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318855#post318855 It's a new thing in campaign rallies though isn't it?

I suspect if a Colin Craig campaign meeting broke into a similar chant directed at Laila Harre she would be very offended again.

Dotcom (wasn't he supposed to be taking a back seat to the party?), Harre and Harawira can…

]]> Thu, 07 Aug 2014 14:52:44 +1200 Josh Petyt https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318854#post318854 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318854#post318854 I would have thought riffing on the 'off' would have worked best.
i..e. "Fuck off, Phil Goff!"

]]> Thu, 07 Aug 2014 14:52:02 +1200 Russell Brown https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318853#post318853 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318853#post318853 Thu, 07 Aug 2014 14:30:44 +1200 Lucy Telfar Barnard https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318847#post318847 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318847#post318847 Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi is safe

Nope, no one is safe from political attack, the dissers find something to diss on.

Pretty much. Pick the right crowd of 8-10 year olds, give them a name and 5 minutes, and they'll have a chant for anyone. Maybe "Bakshi's Batshit" or something. You…

]]> Thu, 07 Aug 2014 13:45:26 +1200 Russell Brown https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318846#post318846 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318846#post318846 and everything to do with rhythm and scan. “Fuck John Key” has a great rhythm to it; the other two don’t.

Yes. That's why it worked for Home Brew.

]]> Thu, 07 Aug 2014 13:43:21 +1200 Stephen Judd https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318845#post318845 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318845#post318845 think I recall Phil Goff having exactly that shouted at him in the days of student loan protests.

Me too. May actually have done so myself.

]]> Thu, 07 Aug 2014 13:40:17 +1200 Pete George https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318844#post318844 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318844#post318844 Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi is safe

Nope, no one is safe from political attack, the dissers find something to diss on.

Someone recently blamed the wording on political billboards for 'inviting' defacement. That's nonsense, hoarding vandals just work on whatever is there regardless. I don't think any have thought "that face…

]]> Thu, 07 Aug 2014 13:34:29 +1200 Pete George https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318843#post318843 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318843#post318843 In 2011 I was a party candidate (I had been going to stand as an independent) – correct.
Last year I stood as an independent local body candidate – correct.

NZ right – this is a lazy diss, and nonsense.
Recycle themselves as an “impartial commentator” – I haven't tried…

]]> Thu, 07 Aug 2014 13:31:01 +1200 Richard Aston https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318842#post318842 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318842#post318842 Beautifully observed Lucy . The syntax rules for chants is important. You'd think it smart for an unloved politician to change their name to something long and unchantable.
Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi is safe

]]> Thu, 07 Aug 2014 13:27:31 +1200 Lucy Telfar Barnard https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318841#post318841 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318841#post318841 “Fuck Helen Clark” would have different connotations, because fuck is a gendered term. But a crowd chanting “Fuck David Cunliffe”? I wouldn’t j

There's an entirely different reason why people will chant "Fuck John Key" but not "Fuck Helen Clark" nor "Fuck David Cunliffe", and it's got nothing to do…

]]> Thu, 07 Aug 2014 13:14:11 +1200 linger https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318840#post318840 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318840#post318840 I.e., it's OK to have and express opinions about political parties, but not OK to misrepresent or hide relevant political affiliations when doing so.
(obligatory full disclosure: I am not, and have never been, a member of any political party.)

]]> Thu, 07 Aug 2014 12:53:16 +1200 Rich of Observationz https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318838#post318838 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318838#post318838 Thu, 07 Aug 2014 12:32:16 +1200 Keir Leslie https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318835#post318835 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318835#post318835 Thu, 07 Aug 2014 11:46:23 +1200 Pete George https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318834#post318834 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318834#post318834 Thu, 07 Aug 2014 11:42:49 +1200 Sacha https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318833#post318833 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318833#post318833 hypocrite

I doubt this word means what you think it does.

]]> Thu, 07 Aug 2014 11:38:57 +1200 Rich of Observationz https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318826#post318826 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318826#post318826 it's hard to escape from the connection

Only if you're a xenophobic racist.

I have nothing to do with the person named [Mr "bought and paid for" Dunne]

Except for:
It’s well known [Peter George has] been involved with UnitedFuture after they asked me to stand for them in 2011…

]]> Thu, 07 Aug 2014 10:58:13 +1200 Pete George https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318824#post318824 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318824#post318824 The nature of the campaigning is more pertinent than the nationality but it's hard to escape from the connection.

Your link is eleven years old and has nothing to do with this topic, I had nothing to do with it, I have nothing to do with the person named and…

]]> Thu, 07 Aug 2014 10:49:14 +1200 Rich of Observationz https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318823#post318823 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318823#post318823 Mass enthusiasm for a German politician?

What could possibly go wrong?

Hey, why not promote an ideology that regards an entire people as "tainted" and not acceptable participants in civil society.

Better make sure no Russians ever run for office (Stalin), Vietnamese (Pol Pot) or even Australians (Bligh, etc).

And…

]]> Thu, 07 Aug 2014 10:41:23 +1200 TracyMac https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318822#post318822 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318822#post318822 Nice Godwin there from Mr Trotter

:: eyeroll::

]]> Thu, 07 Aug 2014 10:37:49 +1200 Bart Janssen https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318819#post318819 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318819#post318819 Yeah, because someone who (whether you like it or not) is still Prime Minister after not one but two free, fair and credible general elections is exactly like a fictional mass murderer.

While I agree name calling is silly and a waste of time*, I'd also caution against using success…

]]> Thu, 07 Aug 2014 09:44:40 +1200 Pete George https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318818#post318818 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318818#post318818 Dotcom doesn’t appear to have instigated it
Not sure who instigated it at this meeting but looked like a managed crowd and it looked like Dotcom was an integral part of it and reveling in it. And Harawira and Harre are also an integral part of it while the complain…

]]> Thu, 07 Aug 2014 09:36:14 +1200 Russell Brown https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318817#post318817 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318817#post318817 So, if a party crowd like that was being incited to say the same sort of things about a Labour leader or the previous Labour PM, Helen Clark, you’d be quite ok with that too, just exuberant youth having a good old right wing time?

The "Fuck John Key" chant…

]]> Thu, 07 Aug 2014 09:09:12 +1200 Pete George https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318815#post318815 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318815#post318815 Harawira has claimed that Kelvin Davis is cozying up to National.
“National has been directly responsible for driving up unemployment, homelessness, ill health, and poverty for Maori right across the north” said Harawira. “I’m trying to get rid of them and Kelvin Davis and his crew are doing deals with…

]]> Thu, 07 Aug 2014 08:48:30 +1200 Pete George https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318810#post318810 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318810#post318810 “If there’s any truth to what I have seen today, then somebody’s head should roll” said MANA leader and Tai Tokerau MP Hone Harawira.

“I’m gutted, and Maori in Tai Tokerau will be seriously troubled that Davis and his mates are cozying up to the people who have caused so…

]]> Thu, 07 Aug 2014 06:50:51 +1200 Tinakori https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318807#post318807 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318807#post318807 "My only problem with those parties is that they were originally pitched as general get-out-the-vote events, but wound up very much as Internet Party campaign things."

So, if a party crowd like that was being incited to say the same sort of things about a Labour leader or the previous…

]]> Thu, 07 Aug 2014 00:03:21 +1200 Tinakori https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318806#post318806 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318806#post318806 Wed, 06 Aug 2014 23:55:53 +1200 Sacha https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318805#post318805 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318805#post318805 Wed, 06 Aug 2014 23:28:17 +1200 Craig Ranapia https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318804#post318804 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318804#post318804 You mean John Voldemort Key?

Yeah, because someone who (whether you like it or not) is still Prime Minister after not one but two free, fair and credible general elections is exactly like a fictional mass murderer.

]]> Wed, 06 Aug 2014 22:37:27 +1200 Russell Brown https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318803#post318803 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318803#post318803 Should an eyebrow or two start to raise over what is happening with Internet Mana? Is this what Laila wants at the Helensville meeting?

Not a meeting. That's from the Party Party, in the midst of a whole lot of noisy drum 'n' bass and hip hop. People are going…

]]> Wed, 06 Aug 2014 22:34:48 +1200 Rich Lock https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318802#post318802 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318802#post318802 with it all taped down so tight something just has leak out.

Just to clarify: you're still talking about your first bikini waxing, right?

]]> Wed, 06 Aug 2014 22:19:20 +1200 Pete George https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318801#post318801 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318801#post318801 Wed, 06 Aug 2014 20:50:44 +1200 Keir Leslie https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318800#post318800 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318800#post318800 Wed, 06 Aug 2014 20:39:58 +1200 Pete George https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318799#post318799 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318799#post318799 Should an eyebrow or two start to raise over what is happening with Internet Mana? Is this what Laila wants at the Helensville meeting?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=YL4UBS_m23w

She is presumably ok with what is happening at other meetings she is a major part of.

]]> Wed, 06 Aug 2014 19:43:59 +1200 Ianmac https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318798#post318798 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318798#post318798 “I’ll get back to that … ”

Translation: I’m going to ignore the question and talk about what I want to.
Johmn Key's failsafe:
"Lets go back a bit......"
Yeah. Means we go so far back we avoid answering altogether.

]]> Wed, 06 Aug 2014 19:30:34 +1200 Sacha https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318796#post318796 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318796#post318796 ah thanks.

No doubt the same as Penny's lengthy whine at Te Standard. should be blocked as a spammer.

]]> Wed, 06 Aug 2014 17:56:43 +1200 Rich of Observationz https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318795#post318795 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318795#post318795 See Bright’s lengthy, ridiculous comment on Kiwiblog.

I'd rather not.
1. Kiwiblog
2. Penny Bright

[EDIT: Penny's same TL;DR appears on http://thestandard.org.nz/john-key-prepares-for-helensville-debate/.

And I would say that holding a candidates meeting and not inviting all candidates is pretty unreasonable, even if not illegal. ]

]]> Wed, 06 Aug 2014 17:49:30 +1200 Pete George https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318791#post318791 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318791#post318791 It's not unusual for candidates to be excluded from electorate forums if my experience is typical. I've been not invited to candidate meetings presumably deliberately – other meetings manage to contact all candidates.

And media can be very selective of what candidates they include in debates. I took Radio NZ…

]]> Wed, 06 Aug 2014 16:51:51 +1200 bmk https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318790#post318790 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318790#post318790 "I'll get back to that ... "

Translation: I'm going to ignore the question and talk about what I want to.

]]> Wed, 06 Aug 2014 16:39:00 +1200 Russell Brown https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318788#post318788 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318788#post318788 In what capacity is Holly Ryan organising this meeting? Who is she?

Businesswoman, longtime (lifelong?) resident, also running the Christmas Parade this year. I think she deserves the benefit of the doubt.

And I can now see why the link to the meeting notice vanished. It had her mobile number…

]]> Wed, 06 Aug 2014 16:37:47 +1200 Sacha https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318787#post318787 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318787#post318787 do know is..." ]]> Wed, 06 Aug 2014 16:29:27 +1200 Sacha https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318786#post318786 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318786#post318786 Wed, 06 Aug 2014 16:28:46 +1200 Steven Price https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318785#post318785 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318785#post318785 should be in place in debates (sorry, meetings) like this? I say they should instantly eject any candidate who uses the word "desperate" or starts any response to a question with the phrase "let me just say this...". ]]> Wed, 06 Aug 2014 16:19:45 +1200 Will de Cleene https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318784#post318784 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318784#post318784 Wed, 06 Aug 2014 14:40:02 +1200 Hilary Stace https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318783#post318783 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318783#post318783 Wed, 06 Aug 2014 14:26:43 +1200 Russell Brown https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318782#post318782 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318782#post318782 Russell that “original notice for the meeting” has been pulled from the Community Waitakere site buts its still on the Bapist Church’s site

How odd! It was there at 10am.

]]> Wed, 06 Aug 2014 13:52:53 +1200 Judi Lapsley Miller https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318781#post318781 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318781#post318781 There are zero votes to be won from that electorate and good media coverage to be won by getting thrown out for failing to observe an utterly pointless rule like not mentioning the PM's name.

You mean John Voldemort Key?

]]> Wed, 06 Aug 2014 13:51:15 +1200 Mark Easterbrook https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318780#post318780 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318780#post318780 Wed, 06 Aug 2014 13:28:39 +1200 Lucy Telfar Barnard https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318779#post318779 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318779#post318779 this or this combined with this? Though I suspect the result might be somehow more offensive than “twock”. ]]> Wed, 06 Aug 2014 13:24:02 +1200 Richard Aston https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318778#post318778 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318778#post318778 Bapist Church's site ]]> Wed, 06 Aug 2014 13:18:18 +1200 Russell Brown https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318777#post318777 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318777#post318777 What’s the sign for “twock”? Inquiring minds want to know.

I think you combine the signs for "twat" and "cock".

]]> Wed, 06 Aug 2014 13:08:13 +1200 James Butler https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318776#post318776 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318776#post318776 twock

What's the sign for "twock"? Inquiring minds want to know.

]]> Wed, 06 Aug 2014 12:53:38 +1200 Lucy Telfar Barnard https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318775#post318775 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318775#post318775 I wonder if candidates can use signs

Or sign language! Laila Harre could stand there signing “John Key is a lying twock”, and by the time anyone told Holly Ryan, the show’d be over anyway. ’Course, only those who could read sign would understand, but an exclusive joke is always…

]]> Wed, 06 Aug 2014 12:31:55 +1200 Lucy Telfar Barnard https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318774#post318774 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318774#post318774 Wed, 06 Aug 2014 12:28:18 +1200 bob daktari https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318773#post318773 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318773#post318773 Wed, 06 Aug 2014 12:09:14 +1200 Michael Meyers https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318772#post318772 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318772#post318772 Wed, 06 Aug 2014 12:09:01 +1200 Richard Aston https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318770#post318770 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318770#post318770 Helensville has become my electorate , ironically we got moved from David Cunliffe's New Lynn to John Key's Helensville. Its a dilemma cause I never vote National , neither have I had a bikini wax , thanks David for making that rather bizarre but compelling link.

I am looking forward…

]]> Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:57:38 +1200 Russell Brown https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318769#post318769 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318769#post318769 so while the outline of this meeting seems odd… the candidates might actually say something of value to those attending and actually answer the questions posed to them

Yes, I'm trying not to discount the benefits. But i think you can have a useful meeting without forbidding the candidates from…

]]> Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:52:24 +1200 Russell Brown https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318768#post318768 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318768#post318768 I grew up in the Aro Valley although I’m sure I couldn’t afford to live there now. We used to have pretty good candidates meetings.

Including the infamous 2008 flat meeting:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnuQgZaT8eY

I wrote about that here.

]]> Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:49:57 +1200 Tom Semmens https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318767#post318767 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318767#post318767 Political interviews and debates seem to be about shouting over your opponent making snide comments, simplistic point scoring, being plain rude and saying anything that doesn't actually involve policy or often the actual truth

Also called popular democracy in action.

One the beefs I have with this site is it's…

]]> Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:47:40 +1200 Ianmac https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318765#post318765 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318765#post318765 Is John Key willing to stand up proudly for Democracy?
Openness and transparency? Fail
Willing to meet the people? Fail (Except for the chosen ones.)
Willing to be accountable to the people? Fail.
Able to justify his position with valid argument? Fail.

When was the last time we heard John…

]]> Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:40:27 +1200 Josh Petyt https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318764#post318764 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318764#post318764 Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:33:39 +1200 bob daktari https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318762#post318762 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318762#post318762 Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:19:48 +1200 Paul Campbell https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318761#post318761 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318761#post318761 Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:19:04 +1200 David Haywood https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318758#post318758 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318758#post318758 Just waiting while my daughter has her swimming lesson and overhearing a very similar conversation. Essentially: "Gosh I really don't like what the government are doing – I'd vote Green except for the fact that I always vote National."

Now the conversation has moved onto bikini waxing – and my…

]]> Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:03:52 +1200 Sacha https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318757#post318757 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318757#post318757 Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:01:59 +1200 Alec Morgan https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318755#post318755 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318755#post318755 Been to one meeting, Internet Mana Roadshow at Kelston. Unvetted live questions of leaders, local candidates and even Mr Dotcom were permitted and asked. Nice enthusiastic (“yes we can”) atmosphere, like an old time political gathering but with a DJ.

Has National a complete control strategy? The Steven Joyce outburst…

]]> Wed, 06 Aug 2014 10:57:03 +1200 Brent Jackson https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318753#post318753 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318753#post318753 Guest; “I always vote National but I’m not political”.
Me; “Oh, good. If you’re not political, could you vote Labour this time for my benefit.”
Guest; “No. I always vote National.”

But you may have planted a seed of doubt – "Why do I always vote National ?".

]]> Wed, 06 Aug 2014 10:50:09 +1200 Paul Campbell https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318752#post318752 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318752#post318752 does no one remember the days when an election meant a barnstorming nationwide tour of town halls by party leaders? – once every 3 years you got to heckle the guy you didn't like.

The election immediately after the '81 tour was, I guess, it's downfall, National knew they weren't…

]]> Wed, 06 Aug 2014 10:47:10 +1200 Craig Ranapia https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318751#post318751 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318751#post318751 Seems like a dream set-up for Internet/Mana. There are zero votes to be won from that electorate and good media coverage to be won by getting thrown out for failing to observe an utterly pointless rule like not mentioning the PM’s name.

So, don't like the ground rules don't fucking…

]]> Wed, 06 Aug 2014 10:44:07 +1200 Jolisa https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318750#post318750 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318750#post318750 Vladimir: Well, shall we go?
Estragon: Yes, let's go.
(They do not move).

Keep trying, though – you never know.

]]> Wed, 06 Aug 2014 10:25:29 +1200 Danyl Mclauchlan https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318749#post318749 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318749#post318749 Wed, 06 Aug 2014 10:22:03 +1200 Luke Williamson https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318748#post318748 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318748#post318748 Wed, 06 Aug 2014 10:12:42 +1200 Glenn Pearce https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318745#post318745 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318745#post318745 Quite, the locals are getting restless

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11304507

]]> Wed, 06 Aug 2014 09:59:32 +1200 Rich of Observationz https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318742#post318742 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318742#post318742 Wed, 06 Aug 2014 09:56:51 +1200 Jolisa https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318740#post318740 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318740#post318740 Any chance there'll be a live stream of this non-debate? Looking forward to hearing the many creative ways the candidates get around mentioning each other by name. It certainly has a Voldemort-ian whiff about it!

Meanwhile, this is the meeting I'm looking forward to tonight. Word is that the Education…

]]> Wed, 06 Aug 2014 09:51:48 +1200 Craig Ranapia https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318739#post318739 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318739#post318739 Let’s not scorn the value of an actual discussion about policy, or of voters being able to ask questions and be heard. But it’s not hard to envisage the policing of voters’ responses on pain of ejection going horribly wrong.

To be fair, Russell, nor is it hard to envisage…

]]> Wed, 06 Aug 2014 09:51:02 +1200 Public Address https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318738#post318738 https://publicaddress.net/system/cafe/hard-news-the-silence-of-the-public-square/?p=318738#post318738 Discussion from blog post.

]]> Wed, 06 Aug 2014 09:51:02 +1200