Caption competition
Politics
politicans
GCSB and fabricating the ‘truth’
Someone is trying to fabricate the ‘truth’, but it isn’t Snowden and the people reporting him.
A glitch in the Matrix
Two politicians with very similar names and practically identical, terrible excuses for their lies. But does it mean the honeymoon’s over for John Key?
Worst. Excuse. Ever.
Crunch time for Collins
If Key survives the next few weeks Collins will likely have missed her chance until after the next election.
Embarrassed? Us?
“John Key … hopes he hasn’t embarrassed New Zealand in the wake of the embarrassing saga, which made headlines worldwide.” Ummm….
Worst. Interview. Ever.
On Radio NZ this morning John Key gave an interview that was cringe-worthy, defensive and accidently hilarious. The man is a joke … and not even an original one.
The rise of Collins and the decline of Key
John Key is back in the country and going by his interview on Morning Report this morning has been affected significantly by ponygate. And Judith Collins has suddenly burst back into public view with the obvious goal of seeking a return to cabinet. Or is it that she wants to be the next National leader?
Prosecuting Key
Very wise of Bailey to dissociate herself from McCready, and make her own decisions about prosecuting Key.
(Image from Emmerson in The Herald)
Joyce’s $1,248 taxi ride
Stephen Joyce has spent $1,248 keeping a taxi waiting for him in Sydney for nine hours. The level of born to rule arrogance displayed has been unmatched for some time.
Key on women’s rights
Key dodges women’s rights issues in Saudi Arabia. For obvious reasons really. In other media coverage of ponytail fallout…
(Image from Emmerson in The Herald)
Embarrassed for NZ
Nasty little bloggitses
The Herald today has editorialised suggesting that on the basis of part of a poll Ponygate has had no effect. It also claims that fair minded people are defending Key.
Spot the difference: Nats on capital punishment
One of these principled statements is not like the other.
Gilmore Sutton Key
Don’t be mean to John!
I Fought the Law
A quick look at the legalities of Ponytailgate as it affects the worker, the cafe, the NZ Herald and the PM. There could be court, tribunal and commission hearings that drag on for months, with potential big financial and political implications for the players.
Casual harassment
It was all a bit of fun. Have we become so casual about harassment?
Last Week Tonight on Key
The waitress the bloggers and the main stream media
The Ponygate story provides a fascinating example of the use of social media to break a story. The simple lesson is to tell a story without a political agenda. And the response from the right shows a level of disarray progressives can take heart from.
#casualjohn
Since when was harassing a waitress “casual”? John Key’s “excuse” blew up all over Twitter last night…
A Friend first, and a Boss second, probably an Entertainer third.
“I’m a friendly guy that likes to interact with the public. I do like to have a bit of a laugh and I’m probably the most casual Prime Minister New Zealand has had.”
John Key’s week has turned from drama to farce. David Brent looks good next to this clown.
Our “casual” PM
Pull the other one… ponytails, minimisation and male privilege
From pulling ponytails to police minimisation, there is a deep problem in our country with attitudes towards women and to sexual violence.
Pillock of the week
Although John Key clearly wins the award this week for unbecoming insensitive and bizarre behaviour there is a media figure who did their best to provide him with competition. And it is not Rachel Glucina.
Abusive and creepy
Of all the ways Key could have shot his leadership and his legacy in the foot – this really was the stupidest.
Image from Emmerson in The Herald – definitive.
NRT: National’s hand-wringing on housing
Auckland house prices have exploded again. Houses get more capital gains than their inhabitants do in salaries. So what is the government doing about it? Nothing. They haven’t tried the economic basics.. Capital gains tax to decrease demand, or a building programme to increase supply. Meanwhile National’s landlord MPs laughing all the way to the bank…
Chaos and Mayhem at the Herald
The Herald has responded to criticism of its role in publishing the identity of the victim of John Key’s creepy behaviour by publishing, at this stage, three different responses. What is going on?
Andrew Little entrusted with delivering a Gallipoli medal
It was touch and go at Wellington Airport as the great-niece of a Gallipoli soldier raced to meet Labour leader Andrew Little to get him to deliver a medal to Turkey on her behalf.
National Council of Women open letter to John Key
The text of an open letter from the National Council of Women to John Key about his treatment of waitresses.
International laughing stock
John Key has finally achieved the world fame he has clearly always wanted, but not in a good way. Here’s a roundup of the international coverage of his harassment.
Reaction to harassed waitress story
Some of the reaction from Twitter.
My Little Ponytail
A really strange story has appeared on The Daily Blog. It claims to be a first person account of PM John Key regularly physically harrassing a staff member in his local cafe over the summer. While it may be much ado about nothing, the Prime Minister really should tell NZ his side of the story. Or resign if it’s true.
Update: It’s true. Key’s office has confirmed the harassment.
Parsing John Key
John Key’s recent public response to the news of the likely interception of Chinese diplomatic communications resemble those of a used car salesman rather than those of a New Zealand Prime Minister.
But they do it too …
With revelations that New Zealand has potentially been involved in the interception of Chinese diplomatic communications the questions arise did John Key know about it and did he authorise the activity.
Let Campbell Live entertain you
John Campbell is engaged in the most marvellous fightback in trying to save Campbell Live. But you have to wonder why he is not on a State Channel with robust protection for quality journalism.
Key announces new schools – again
At least two of the four new schools that John Key recently announced had been announced previously. And it appears that one of them has had its concrete foundations already poured.