Posts by Mark Graham
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Russ - Banks never lets facts get in the way of a political point scoring opportunity - why should anyone else. ;)
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Because, okay, he didn't think gay people deserved basic rights, then he met some and realised he was wrong. Is he going to have to do that with every single other group? He seems... awfully malleable. - post by Emma on p2
Seems to me the sensible thing to do when faced with new, verifiable information that contradicts previously held beliefs is to change your mind. What would you do?
What is this obsession NZers have with 'Strong Leaders' who are bullies, dictators and rigid. And ''Yes!", Craig, I do believe the fact that Banks is a bully, as well as a fantasist, hyprocrite and misleading (convicted of misleading advertising, convicted of using a jetski with his kids without them wearing proper floatation devices - the day AFTER having a go at boy racers...) and I DO believe that is an entirely valid reason to vote gainst him. Furthermore, the fact that he achieved very little except putting sand on Kohi beach and pissing off the great majority of the Auckland citizenry helps.
The first thing Banks did as Mayor as I recall was to build a covered garage in the council car park for his Bentley? Then weasel off a ticket for hooning in the harbour on his jet ski with kids in tow? Then get sued for a shonky honey products business deal?
The only thing you've left out, Merc, is the bogus 'Financial Crisis' he said the city was in immediately after gaining power, then straight away pulling in his old buddy, Bill (Think Big) Birch for a $50,000 consultancy review of ACC expenditure that called for, amongst other things, an end to public art, subsidies for public transport, selling off the Council Housing and airport shares, an end to using green weed control rather than chemical sprays...
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Well - as Russ said, Hubbard has apologised for it. And he only did it once, as opposed to numerous times by Banks.
I know we're on the same side when it comes to Banks - the question is whether Hubbard is anti-gay or not. The fundy thing is a bit worrying but he does seem genuinely guileless and open. Unlike Banks.
And while his personal opinion is not necessarily pro-gay because of his religious beliefs, at least he doesn't "spew hatred" on an ongoing basis.
And then look at his record.
I have new footpaths in my street. New works are happening around the city. Sewage and stormwater seperation are being addressed with more urgency, even if the funding is a bit controversial. There IS heritage protection taking place. Urban design IS being addressed.
Banks talked about getting tough on boy racers. bollocks. Banks got sand on Kohi beach. That's pretty much it.
Hubbard was on my show on George yesterday morning and admitted that the options given to Aucklanders left him vulnerable for Banks to come along and portray things from a rates-increase perspective only, without the resulting loss of infrastructural improvements being addressed. And lets face it, the rich Eastern Suburban wrinklies who vote don't care what the city will be like in 20 years time.
you've got to wonder if he's just politically naive and never really got his head around the difference between local body politics and being CEO of a closely held private company
Contrast Hubbard's dealing with his transition from CEO to Mayor with Banks' transition from National to Local government. Naive both of them may be, but one went down the bullyboy approach, the other seems to have built a consensus (Water protesters notwithstanding...)
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Oops - guess I wasn't the first (but in my defence the System system DID say I was starting the debate)
And that's why Auckland has the Hero parade back, right?
Actually, Emma, the Hero Parade isn't running because of lack of support from Council. It's running because of general incompetence on the financials of Hero Festivals in past years.
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Fuck! Is it a symptom of lack of interest in local body politics that I'm the first one to make comment?
FGS - have we forgotten already what a divisive, confrontational bully Banks is (was and IS still)?
He has consistently misrepresented things and combined with the possibility of another round of CitRats we're just back to where we were three years ago when we tossed the tossers out!
Thank you Russell for reminding us of Banks' and CitRats woeful record.
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An back to the point at hand...who lets Geoff Murphy do this to us? His last movie was tragic - and built on a great premise. The opening gag on Backpackers was embarassing, the dialogue (again for a New Zealand comedy) pathetic. Fuck it, NZers have wit. Why can't more professional comedic writers find it? Even if they have to copy good stuff from overseas?
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I had Bill English on my show yesterday and asked him about this. He sounded somewhat bemused and a bit embarrassed about the whole thing.
Interestly enough, he also said that National will not remove Kiwisaver but may tweak it a bit.
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Bad bastards - almost every boss I've ever worked for and one notable client whose management technique consisted of personal abuse on a daily basis.
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A new caring, sharing, willing to listen John Banks? Don't think so.
Did an interview with him on my show on George a few weeks ago - nothing's changed...Banks Interview
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Except they now have a double dose of The Knowing
One did - she was wired and up for it. The other one decided he couldn't deal with it and went to bed...
Please also let me assure gentle readers that it was entirely accidental and much regretted. Goddammit - the 'shrooms cost me money!