Posts by Paul Williams
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Cracker: RIght On., in reply to Russell Brown,
It would also be perfectly appropriate to simply ask Brash what contact he’s had with the party’s key funders, and which ones backed him. Even if he didn’t answer, there’s nothing wrong with asking about something that’s being alluded to by both friend and foe.
Actually, I think there's bundle of questions about the pressures and inducements circulating around this extraordinary development. There may be a precedent in NZ, I'm not familiar with it, but the only comparable situation that I'm aware of occurred in Qld recently and has been referred to the State's corruption commission on the basis that it may have included offers of post parliamentary offices.
To me, Brash remains the bloke who dissembled on the EBs and lectured Clark about marriage while conducting extra-marital affairs. I am deeply mistrusting.
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Not scream Craig but pointing out that there's more than a hint of racism in Brash's public statements over a number of years.
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His position is that he is not; he just believes everyone is equal which is hardly a racist position
And ignores all the data which shows they're not. Not in terms of health, education, employment etc. So now what? Any number of indicators shows a significant proportion of the nation's citizens are not enjoying the same standard of living as others. Will flat tax, welfare cuts and asset sales fix that?
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Cracker: RIght On., in reply to BlairMacca,
Blair, there is a risk that National will move closer to the centre to try to capture more votes. I’m of the view that National had to do this to win last time. But look at the commentary from the likes of Ansell over at kiwiblog, he sees Brash’s coup as the begining of the end of Key’s National.
Why this fixation with bloody Epsom??
Brash has now provided a safe home for every Nat with a brain and a conscience. Believe it or not, there are quite a few of those. They’ve been dying for somewhere to flee to, and now they’ve got it.
National supporters now have a clear choice: The Cheesy Fake or The Real Deal? When they see this clearly – as even they will in seven months – the little traitor’s halo will shatter as quickly as it formed.
By November, the Scaredy Nats will be rocked back on to their Bill English Memorial Rump of 20%, while the party that embraces their founding principles will deservedly be on 40%+.
Laugh away, but you slowcoaches didn’t see this coming, did you?
Get this man on TV quick.
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Cracker: RIght On., in reply to HORansome,
I read it to; couldn't resist asking if that'd be pre-election or not. Ansell's a little mad in that I've-seen-the-future-but-you'll-not-understand-it kind of way.
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Fascinating politics. Brash's nine-to-noon interview helps to make sense of this, but not a lot.
Will be interesting to see how Key handles this to avoid bleeding votes to ACT without increasing total support for the centre-right. I still think Brash has low-value electability. His legendary "not mainstream NZers" pissed a lot of people off across the spectrum.
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The Prime Minister has, inevitably, dismissed any prospect of an inquiry. We should not let him off so easily.
Russell, I don’t doubt this but can’t see an online statement. Was it in a particular interview or post Cabinet brief? I’m curious to know what reasons he gave? If he has evidence countering the claims, surely he’d produce it. However, if he doesn’t, wouldn’t he be obliged to ask for a specific briefing if not agree to an inquiry.
ETA: Should've read the thread more thoroughly, 3410's comment particularly.
I take it then, it was the comments in the McRoberts item. That's not nearly sufficient IMO. It's possible the journalist's wrong and/or has been misled, but it's simply too important to not entirely resolve it to a reasonable standard. Mateparae's comment doesn't meet that standard in my mind.
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This is a lot to process. If there's evidence to suggest NZ forces inadvertently broke international law, we must examine it further without a concern about who it might reflect badly on.
No one should pretend that the SAS and its political masters weren’t in a terribly difficult position here: the lawlessness of both the Americans and, later, the Afghan security forces presented a problem that was in some ways intractable. But the British found a way: they instructed their forces not to hand over any prisoners. Our leaders sought other means to make the problem go away.
Which were what... perhaps I just have to buy and read the article.
The Prime Minister has, inevitably, dismissed any prospect of an inquiry. We should not let him off so easily.
Key's dismissal is thoroughly inadequate.
I'll not see the Metro article until I can arrange to get a copy in Sydney so will refrain from saying more until at least the Media7 show.
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Recordari, thanks for those links; wonderful stuff. I try to catch any NZ bands touring Australia to hear that distinctive sound in person.
Beached is another highlight from that album. Was there ever another album released, I understood the studio was heavily used?
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I'd hoped to post Submarine Bells, but can't find it anywhere online (Live at Helen's version is particularly brilliant - actually that entire album is).
Recordari, I'm seeing Dylan next week with Paul Kelly. Will be good although the venue, Entertainment Centre, Darling Harbour, is not one I like. I should've gone to Byron Bay festival.