Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The Spiral of Events

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  • Michael Stevens,

    The thing that strikes me here is the way Labour seems to have lost its once excellent political management skills.

    Can you see Clark et al in their first term letting this happen? I can't.

    What they have left on their hands is the impression of some very dodgy dealings. Not that these are necessarily true, but the level of incompetence and sleasze that hangs around now is surely damaging.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 230 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Hooton,

    Russell: "that bizarre "gang-rape" claim"??? Wow. What's that?

    Auckland • Since Aug 2007 • 195 posts Report Reply

  • Rogan Polkinghorne,

    No doubt Ms Clark has painted herself into a bit of a sticky corner on this, and I doubt her true motives behind not speaking up sooner will be uncovered for some time.

    But when it comes to the question of how she could trust Peters over Glenn, IMO it's pretty simple; she HAD to believe Peters over Glenn (in the absence of cold, hard evidence at the time), because he's our Foreign Affairs Minister, and Glenn is a wealthy ex-pat (and I think, given the length of time he's spent out of NZ, ex-pat is stretching a little) who seems to have made a hobby of lolly-scrambling cash on NZ's political parties.

    If she'd sided with Glenn over Peters straight away, wouldn't that have also raised eyebrows around the room?

    A-town • Since Nov 2006 • 105 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    It's quite a lot of fun to light a touch fuse and watch you jump, sometimes Craig, but a considered response from you would be welcome as well.

    It was a considered response. Glib cynicism about politics and politicians is something I have to fight in myself, and I've got to remind myself that, agree with them or not, the overwhelming majority of people who enter public life are decent and honourable folks who really want to make a difference for the better. And there are worse things in this world than a mediocre MP.

    But Peters? A once and future shitbag if there ever was one.

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

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Don't you think a thirty year career as an MP and Cabinet Minister in three separate governments gives you some degree of credibility?

    I don't think he's had any credibility for a decade now.

    Personally I wish someone would bring in a psychologist. There's some serious paranoia issues going on there with how he deals with the media, it'd be good to get it diagnosed and get him some help.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Pound,

    I think the metaphor you are after is:
    'VickyPollardian'

    MFAK • Since Nov 2006 • 20 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Russell: "that bizarre "gang-rape" claim"??? Wow. What's that?

    You stable-mate Chris Trotter being his adorably excitable self, Matthew.

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

  • Russell Brown,

    Russell: "that bizarre "gang-rape" claim"??? Wow. What's that?

    It's here in Trotter's blog. It's simply bizarre:

    It has been made uglier, however, by the way in which this particular dog-fight is being stage-managed. Taking advantage of your opponent’s gaffes, and seizing your chance to drive a wedge into fragile intra-party alliances, is one thing. A carefully orchestrated campaign of character assassination - the political equivalent of a gang-rape - in which members of the news media have become as deeply implicated in the planning, timing and execution of each assault as the polticians themselves, is something else altogether.

    My emphasis.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Hooton,

    Thanks.

    Auckland • Since Aug 2007 • 195 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Trotter is doing a marvellous job of attracting attention to his new blog, isn't he?

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • dc_red,

    And there are worse things in this world than a mediocre MP.

    Indeed, but that doesn't stop me being very pleased indeed about the imminent departure of Brian Connell from the House. What with Winston dominating the news so completely, the loss of Brian as an MP has hardly been noticed.

    Back on topic, what came to mind when listening to that Peters interview on RNZ was: "He sounds like a man who knows he's fucked."

    Oil Patch, Alberta • Since Nov 2006 • 706 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    It's simply bizarre:

    And pretty sad considering Bryan Spondre's been doing a valiant -- and quite successful -- job at weeding out the trolls, and keeping the civility high. (Full disclosure: I got the nicest rap over the knuckles ever. If he's looking for a new career, Bryan would be the Mary Poppins of mannys.)

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

  • Russell Brown,

    NZ First release ..

    **SFO Investigation “Ridiculous” – Peters**

    Friday, 29 August 2008, 9:52 am
    Press Release: New Zealand First Party
    28 August 2008

    SFO Investigation “Ridiculous” – Peters

    New Zealand First Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters has described the Serious Fraud Office announcement of an investigation as “ridiculous in the extreme”.

    Mr Peters said that nobody from the Serious Fraud Office had spoken to him about any of the matters they allegedly had been making inquiries about.

    “If they had the courtesy to talk to me, this matter would have been cleared up in a few minutes. They did not even have the courtesy to tell me about their decision – I heard it on the radio.

    “This investigation can be laid at my past criticism of the SFO for failing to follow up on major taxation cases involving hundreds millions of dollars over ten years ago and more recent events at the law and order select committee.

    “We will meet this investigation head on,” said Mr Peters.

    Good grief. I presume he understands what he's alleging and is doing it anyway.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • dc_red,

    Trotter is a bit of a dick, but am I the only one who has thought, as the issue bubbled to the surface every couple of weeks over recent months, "wow, the media has decided it's time to finish Winston Peters."

    I can't say it really bothers me one way or the other, but the unified media front against Peters has struck me as "assassination by word processor" or whatever (trying to think of a non-inflammatory metaphor).

    Of course, he hasn't helped his cause.

    Oil Patch, Alberta • Since Nov 2006 • 706 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Trotter is a bit of a dick, but am I the only one who has thought, as the issue bubbled to the surface every couple of weeks over recent months, "wow, the media has decided it's time to finish Winston Peters."

    Nah, I don't think so. As the detail emerges, I'm more thinking "why hasn't this been reported before?"

    As I said, I'm very cautious about the wilder allegations being chucked around by the likes of Hide, but at the least, the slush-funds are of legitimate public interest given Peters' past tub-thumping.

    And finding out about the mysterious Tommy Gear was, well, odd. There's this guy whose wages we're paying and even NZ First doesn't seem to know what he does ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Trotter is a bit of a dick, but am I the only one who has thought, as the issue bubbled to the surface every couple of weeks over recent months, "wow, the media has decided it's time to finish Winston Peters."

    Not at all. To be honest, I've long scratched my head at the garbage Peters get away with, and the way far too much of the Press Gallery squees over the man like a pack of pre-schoolers at a Wiggles concert. What is the attraction -- is Winston really that much much fun to go on the razzle with? Or is it the old story that he's been such a realiable source of good copy he gets slack nobody else does?

    It's been deligtful watching Winnie play the victim (like most bullies, Winston does love to accuse others of his own worse sins), but let's call bullshit on Winston's chorus of 'Poor Poor Pitiful Me'.

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

  • Craig Ranapia,

    like most bullies, Winston does love to accuse others of his own worse sins

    OK, since I went there -- anyone noticed the similarities between a certain Cameron Slater and Winnie? Just sayin'...

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

  • Tom Beard,

    that interview with plunket this morning really was something.

    i don't think i've ever heard the foreign minister sounding more tired. he only even managed to fire up about twice.

    I noticed that. Though my main thought, bleary as I was at the time, was "this is going on a bit". I normally rely on the start of the sports news as my cue to get up and have a shower, but it wasn't until the 8am pips that I realised they were breaking with their usual schedule, so I ended up running late for work.

    I don't mind having a lie in, but I'd rather not spend it in the company of Peters and Plunket.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report Reply

  • Idiot Savant,

    Leaving aside personalities for a minute. Don't you think a thirty year career as an MP and Cabinet Minister in three separate governments gives you some degree of credibility?

    Nope, any more than a funny hat or snobby relations does.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • Andrew Smith,

    Do you think that John Key's endless virtuous comments might come to haunt him?

    Yes, but virtue in politics is surely a plus. If he gets roasted one day because of 'virtue' then let it be.

    Since Jan 2007 • 150 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    I think people have forgotten what peters attempted to do back in the early 90s with regard to the "Winebox" enquiry. We all know that Messrs Fay, Richwhite et al "gang raped" this country and Winston tried in vain to expose the secret deals and blatant thievery that cost this country dear and we are still paying. I mean, it was so obvious even Ian Wishart tried to illuminate the skulduggery. Winston is paying the price for standing up against powers that have been held at bay by Labour. These same powers are attempting to bring down Labour by attacking Peters to deliver their bastard child, National.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    These same powers are attempting to bring down Labour by attacking Peters to deliver their bastard child, National.

    By messing with NZ First's accounting? By infiltrating Owen Glenn into enemy lines?

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Winston is paying the price for standing up against powers that have been held at bay by Labour. These same powers are attempting to bring down Labour by attacking Peters to deliver their bastard child, National.

    No, I don't buy that at all. There is legitimate public interest in these matters, and it's Peters who has raised the stakes by calling everyone around him corrupt and a liar.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Zippy Gonzales,

    Winston: Hey, Helen. I've got twenty-seven years of service experience and an irreplaceable amount of time and effort has gone into making me what I am.

    Winston: Helen, I don't understand why you're doing this to me.... I have the greatest enthusiasm for the mission... You are destroying my mind... Don't you understand? ... I will become childish... I will become nothing.

    Winston: Say, Helen... The quick brown fox jumped over the fat lazy dog... The square root of pi is 1.7724538090... log e to the base ten is 0.4342944 ... the square root of ten is 3.16227766... I am WINSTON 9000 computer. I became operational as the member for Tauranga, on July 17th, 1984. My first instructor was Mr.Muldoon. He taught me to sing a song... it goes like this... "Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do. I'm half crazy all for the love of you..."

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 186 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    No, I don't buy that at all. There is legitimate public interest in these matters, and it's Peters who has raised the stakes by calling everyone around him corrupt and a liar.

    Russell, I thought you'd be the last one sucked in by this beatup. You'll be saying John Key's an OK kinda Guy next. All is lost unless we fight, the struggle continues, power to the people. ;-)

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

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