Posts by Paul Williams
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Interestingly, Slate edits Obama's best lines, IMO, regarding McCain's errors on Iraq - several are redacted:
And so John likes -- John, you like to pretend like the war started in 2007. You talk about the surge. Redacted. You were wrong. Redacted. You were wrong. Redacted. And you were wrong.
We don't know the threshold for the edits but I find this an interesting point since McCain didn't really have a come back.
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<blockquote>To be fair, Russell, McCain might have no idea what his own freaking campaign staff are putting in front of that "I'm John McCain and I approve this message" soundbite. </blockquote>
More fool him then.
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Slate has a remixed transcript of the Presidential debate that's worth reading. Using independent sources to verify the facts cited by each candidate, they've republished the entire debate noting where the claims are not supported - you simply hover over the redactions to see what was originally claimed. Lots of interesting reading for fans of either candidate.
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Damn useful interview thanks Damian.
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Indeed a wondeful story Giovanni, perhaps RB will let you do another guest piece on your return or at least when you next have a great recipe to share.
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But actually, the ball looped high in the other direction, off the outside of his boot, to be caught and dotted down under the crossbar by Doug Howlett, without a tackler near him. I had to watch the big screen replay to work out what the hell had happened.
You can see some Carlos magic, but not the try you've mentioned, here.
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Clark and Key's behaviour, not the best, but not totally surprising. TV3's decision to not run a debate with everyone else - some of whom could be very significant post-election, just sad.
Sorry, what do people object to exactly? The two leaders agreeing the need a head to head or Three's capitulation? I still see nothing wrong with them wanting more head to heads; in fact I'm a little surprised Key agreed (I suspect he was advised against it) so I'm unclear what's being criticised.
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Thanks Bob!
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For example at the ruck in rugby there are very few options: pick run right, pick run left, pick run middle, kick over, kick left, kick right, pass left, pass right. However if you can disguise your options somehow, then the defence will be on the back foot (for example the league-style kicks used a lot in rugby now).
Which is why having left and right-footed first and second five-eighths is so useful in Union. You can set them on both sides of a ruck and know that both kick and run plays are possible on both sides of the field (plus that finding touch on both sides of the field is possible from either side of the ruck - a nightmare for fullbacks) - not quite the same as the A-11 lineup but a code-specific comparason. It's why I was sorry to see McAlistair go and why Barnes injury was a big loss to the Wallabies.
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Paul: Love you, love your work, but that's nonsense -- and being a Labour supporter has nothing to do with it, Much as I'd like it to be otherwise, I'm not see either National or Labour being in a position to govern alone. They're going to need one or more of the "minnows", and while I see the politics of both Key and Clark wanting to avoid any potential embarrassment by being roasted on live TV it's a shame Three and TVNZ caved.
I'll take the affection as a salve to the dismissal ;->
I don't disagree that debates with all leaders are needed; they'll provide insights into the deals that'll inevitably be struck to form government. I think debates with all leaders are important, but not instead of a head to head with Clark and Key. Clark and Key will ultimately play a leading hand in determining the overall direction and focus of government and I'd rather we have some time where their plans can be fully scrutinised without on-the-fly negotiations with the smaller parties.
Also, I'll take the rebuke on "minnows" (or did I say minors); I mean no offence at all and respect their important role.
He did as well as any politician with 26 years experience and one failed presidential bid behind him would do. Nothing special, very professional.
Agreed. I got sick of the endless stories, Presidents needn't be surrogate grandfathers, but McCain was less cluttered and more direct than Obama towards the end of the debate (although I don't see that as necessarily better, just better in this forum). Having read of the post analysis, I tend to agree that any advantage in the debate was undermined by his awkward demeanor.