Open mike 19/05/2020

Written By: notices and features - Date published: - 105 comments
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105 comments on “Open mike 19/05/2020”

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  1. 1

    Where have all the Flowers gone ?

    At the end of last year -1919 – Tourism was rolling in massive money. Indeed the word Billion$ was being bandied around. It was deemed New Zealand's biggest Asset !

    Just two short months later – year 2020 – there was not a penny to be found in the Tourism biscuit tin.

    All I want to know is where did that massive money go in 1919 ?

    And why is the Tourism coterie trying to Crush a decent man – Kelvin Davis ?

    Is he too honest for New Zealand's so called biggest Asset ? Will he dig too deep into the 1919 jar ? dragging
    Lisa Owen silently along full of her abuse.

    1. 2.1

      Did you see Michelle Boag? "Mark, you'd be good!" As a Nat MP, perhaps. I wouldn't go further than that. Being grounded is good, being partisan isn't. Success as a politician comes when you can communicate with most folks easily.

      Toby Manhire made a similar observation to mine (last night): "The most astonishing of all the numbers in last night’s poll wasn’t expressly party-political at all. Echoing the result of Stickybeak surveys for The Spinoff, an extraordinary 91.6% said they believe the government made the right call in putting New Zealand into lockdown for four weeks. That number is the centre of gravity for the rest of the Newshub poll". https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/19-05-2020/simon-bridges-leadership-hangs-by-a-thread-after-mind-blowing-poll/

      That 90% holding up for so many weeks is a sustained political quake. The other poll results were consequences of that huge body of public opinion. That's what the Nats & Mark Richardson are up against. Not Labour.

    1. 3.1

      NZ Herald and verbs:

      "National dropped to 30.6 per cent, the Green Party sunk to 5.5 per cent and NZ First slumped to 2.7 per cent."

      Can you spot the party which is in government, the one which is a margin of error from government and the one which is at historic lows?

      1. 3.1.1

        Arguable. Herald verbiage is to be expected. Someone who thinks National is at historic lows is ignoring the English wipeout due to Bolger/Shipley loathing, 2002.

        I'd go for Greens within margin of error of govt – but only due to Jacinda's thinking (collaboration, any other Labour leader too stupid with the possible exception of Parker).

          1. 3.1.1.1.1

            Fair enough, given his surprise transcendence into big-picture thinking three years back – and good collaboration with NZF/Greens in referendum design.

        2. 3.1.1.2

          No Dennis this is not something to be airily waved away.

          It should have been "National plummeted to 30.6, the Greens were steady on 5.5 while NZF look to be struggling to get 5 per cent".

          The Herald should report the facts.

        3. 3.1.1.3

          Dennis Frank in combination with Michelle Boags massive f/up of not realizing the list vote counts

    2. 3.2

      I'm picking she knows abit about Stockholm syndrome being tangled up with a road like hosking ,but shes got this one wrong.

    3. 3.3

      Next Hawkesby will be saying we all have another mental health diagnosis. She needs to be pulled up on using the term Stockholm syndrome.

      She needed to express her own anxiety, the National Party are in the shit and how she feels about having to stomach a Labour Government for another 3 years. I did read the link as painful as it was.

    5. 3.5

      Hawkesby is a victim of the Stockholm syndrome her and Hosking saying looking at how Sweden is dealing with covid is not damaging their economy.

  4. 4

    Also from Hosking- Boris and Trump are popular. Not keeping up with current polls then. He cites a lot of numbers, but none for those two.

  5. 5

    Quite a few stories like this keep popping up:

    Professor Garner is just one of thousands discovering how tiring COVID-19 can be.

    Scientists are still uncovering the deadly secrets of the virus and the long-term impact for those who recover from the disease is yet to be fully understood.

    In serious cases there are concerns about major organ damage.

    The World Health Organisation states those with less severe cases of COVID-19 should recover within two weeks, and serious cases could take up to six weeks.

    But even patients with what are considered mild bouts of the virus, are experiencing fatigue and breathlessness well beyond the suggested recovery period.

    On a much brighter note NZ had another all zero day with only 45 active cases left. As a country we should take exceptional pride in getting this far collectively. If we can do this, we can face the challenges ahead.

  6. 6

    After the Dunedin chocolate factory went wonkers, they didn't give up and looked for viable alternatives. Hail OCHO. Coping with Covid-19 and giving it whatever it takes.

    https://ocho.co.nz/pages/chocolatetour (Tours are off luv just now, but on-line biz is going full tilt.)

    https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/new-chocolate-factory-opens-in-dunedin-one-year-after-cadbury-closes-its-doors

    Huh to all foreign owners playing us like dice in a bored game. https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/112529623/cadburys-owner-mondelez-sees-nz-business-shrink-29-per-cent

    1. 6.1

      The two Whittaker brothers in Porirua ate their lunch.

      I commissioned an imported moulding machine for them back in the 90's and it was a lot of fun working for Andrew and Brian. Two quite different characters who have worked to each other's strengths to take a small multi-generational family business to a true kiwi success story.

      Actually in that small area around the back of Porirua there were quite a few strong kiwi manufacturing stories. Tough little survivors of the neo-liberal onslaught.

      1. 6.1.1

        I'm sure Cadbury's still has it's place in Pak n Save, but Whittakers is trouncing Cadbury's most elsewhere. Good to see your part in it.

      2. 7.2.2

        Which skin conditions are treated with hydroxychloroquine?

        • Skin disorders caused or aggravated by the sun (photosensitive skin disorders)

        What are the possible side effects of hydroxychloroquine?

        Side effects are uncommon; however, a few people may develop one of the following: rash, indigestion, diarrhoea, headache, blurred vision, cramps or muscle weakness, darkening of the skin, or bleaching of the hair. [my italics]

        http://www.skinsupport.org.uk/conditions-details/hydroxychloroquine

        1. 7.2.2.1

          I heard from a reliable source that the side effects can be obliterated by applying a mixture of pumpkin and carrot juice to the face 3 times daily.

          What have you got to lose?

  8. 8

    Kemrin Begrie – the perpetual truculent adolescent – now on the Epidemic Response Committee calling for asset sales to pay for the larger government deficit due to COVID-19. The amount of cover the deficit will give some future National government to re-implement the neolib playbook is frightening. In truth as Mark Blyth says, we shouldn't 'sweat the deficit' – but the false comparison to household budgets still has hold of the public mind. Grant Robertson will need to be very smart in his defusing of this danger.

      1. 8.1.1

        I'm sure you recall them campaigning on selling their asses and winning an election on said promise.

        Power company shares anyone?

  9. 9

    A helping hand and history will repeat.

    Cellphone location data suggests that demonstrators at anti-lockdown protests – some of which have been connected with Covid-19 cases – are often traveling hundreds of miles to events, returning to all parts of their states, and even crossing into neighboring ones.

    The data, provided to the Guardian by the progressive campaign group the Committee to Protect Medicare, raises the prospect that the protests will play a role in spreading the coronavirus epidemic to areas which have, so far, experienced relatively few infections.

    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/may/18/lockdown-protests-spread-coronavirus-cellphone-data

      1. 9.1.1

        I don't know about other people, but I find this scary. I could be looking in the wrong places, but it seems like progressive Americans just don't know what to do about what is happening in the US.

        1. 9.1.1.1

          Scary and depressing.

          It comes down to the Senate and House this November, moreso even than potus. Dolt45 enables nazi-adjacents (and their adjacant-adjacent fools like this jerk probably is), but McConnel enables dolt45.

          Without another 2018-style wave, it'll get much worse.

            1. 9.1.1.1.1.1

              Not sure on senate. In 2018 dems lost 2 and repubs gained 2, but that was the class 1 stream which was 2/3 dem. The third of senate up for election this year is class 2, which is 2/3 repub and no independents. So this one will be a real test of repub popularity. If dems gain 3 and repubs lose 3, dems un the Senate and dolt45 is lame.

              The dems got the House last time and I suspect they'll do even better there this time.

            2. 9.1.1.1.1.2

              The House is looking fairly good to stay in Dem control.

              I'm fighting a battle to not get my hopes up of the Senate flipping to Dem control, but it's getting harder. At this stage I don't think it's even 50/50 yet, but the trendline is going in a good direction. Here's a reasonable bunch of state-by-state thumbnails:

              https://news.lee.net/news/national/ranking-the-top-10-senate-seats-most-likely-to-flip-in-2020/collection_fc1dd1c0-8a41-11ea-bdcd-3b80be912d70.html#1

            3. 9.1.1.1.1.3

              There is some hope that there will be a shift to the Dems come Nov – its 50:50 at the moment. but some repugs could lose, Susan Collins in Maine, for instance is looking vulnerable

              https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2020/senate/me/maine_senate_collins_vs_gideon-6928.html

              as is Martha McSally in Arizona.

              https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2020/senate/az/arizona_senate_mcsally_vs_kelly-6801.html

              Then again Doug Jones in Alabama who was voted in over the repugnant Moore may not survive. He has toed a pretty conservative line to appease the voters, but it will depend on the votes of women again there, if he is to succeed again.

              But as Andre says – I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much.

              One interesting article I came across today on fivethirtyeight looks at the shift in voting preference of older people across the country. In 2016 they swung mostly behind Trump. But the polls are showing that that is no longer the case and there is a definite swing towards Biden and down the ticket as well which bodes well if it can be sustained. Trumps petulance and ineptitude over this recent crises hasn't helped his chances with this demographic either.

              https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/are-older-voters-turning-away-from-trump/

        2. 9.1.1.2

          Progressive Americans are way too busy sitting on their purity ponies bagging the Democratic party. Meanwhile, repugs are more than happy to assist the tRump crime family consolidate power, ditch any semblance of a cooperative society and transform 'Murica into their version of a laissez-faire republic.

          https://twitter.com/i/status/1262491686963490816

  11. 11

    Is there a reason my comments are not appearing? Have I been put on a ban for some reason?

    [No the machine put you into auto moderation for some reason. Now letting you through – MS]

    2. 11.2

      Actually you are in premod, not the ban list. My note there says troll watch. I'll let you out, but you do seem to be popping up on my radar a bit. Sometimes you bring good debate to the table, other times it just looks like poking at the lefties /shrug.

    3. 11.3

      Because a Moderator had put you in Pre-Moderation and on troll-watch.

      You are still in Pre-Moderation until that Moderator decides you’re behaving yourself.

  12. 12

    I heard today that there will be another poll released at the end of the week via TVNZ. Has anyone else heard the same please?

  13. 13

    My goodness, Ashley Bloomfield is good!

    Asked a 'gotcha' question in the presser – "Use one word to describe Jacinda Ardern," obviously designed to elicit 'political bias,' he paused a moment, then answered, "Can I use two! Prime Minister."

  14. 14

    So despite the scaremongering, hopes, and even wagers by some tories, Level 4 did not see an increase in suicides – actually the reverse is true.

    The coming depression/recession will be tough, but we can do without the political scaremongering.

    1. 14.1

      may or may not be statistically significant. Good to know there wasn't an obvious spike during lock down though.

  15. 15

    This is important for a couple of reasons – suicide rate went down slightly under L4 lockdown rather than up.

    First it reveals the right's preparedness to make stuff up in order to justify their "cure is worse than the disease" message. More importantly, it suggests that a sense of common purpose, collective responsibility, mutual aid and kindness is good for mental health. Much better than being an isolated individual locked in mortal economic competition with everyone else. The danger of course – is that as we go back to that alienating sh*tshow called 'the economy', especially in a deep recession, it will all get worse again.

    Edit: Snap to McFlock above at 14.

    1. 15.1

      will be very interesting if someone does some research on this. I'm not going to be surprised if there are more suicides in places like the US. Ardern's leadership around framing and messaging has served us well in helping build the sense of we're all in this together despite the stress.

      1. 15.1.1

        Life expectancy in the US went up during the Great Depression! Something to do with purpose, diet and a disease prevention discovery.

        1. 15.1.1.1

          And I wouldnt mind betting increased solidarity and an "all-in-it-together" mentality

          Inequities tend to promote self esteem issues and bad mental health outcomes

          My mother had lots of stories of how people helped each other during those depression years, even when they had very little themselves

    2. 15.2

      Í'm pleased to hear it went down and as I recall I thought/hoped on these pages a couple of months ago that that would be the case as the same trend happened in the Second World War and in other times of threat. Sometimes things are just a bit bigger than your own problems.

      I also thought that NZs population would go up slightly if we got the lockdown done effectively, less road deaths , work fatalities, murders and other all-round stupidities would leave more Kiwis alive at the end than at the start.

      What I didn't factor in was 250,000 ( was it? ) coming home in a hurry. Welcome back.

      1. 15.2.1

        I wouldn't be surprised if there's a wee population bump in nine months, either. L4 was boring… 😉

  16. 16

    our missing health minister appears about 1:30 into this, just as well this will get no coverage, and does the Hon. D.Clark read what he said FFS look after the disadvantaged

    perhaps after the recent polling success we could extend the strength of our triumvirate within the Labour Party and that they could seek out some achievers and not allow some desk warmers to bask in the success of our PM

    https://m.facebook.com/WHO/videos/565543234382636/?v=565543234382636

  17. 17

    Big boys playing big boy games.

    China has slammed claims it backed down and Australia had a victory over the probe into COVID-19 as a “joke”.

    In the latest diplomatic war of words between the two nations, the Chinese embassy has lashed out at claims it has backed down over the investigation under international pressure.

    “The draft resolution on COVID-19 to be adopted by the World Health Assembly (WHA) is totally different from Australia’s proposal of an independent review,” a spokesman said.

    Again the CCP blatantly acting to piss as many nations off as possible. And also openly admitting that the investigation they have committed to is totally different from Australia’s proposal of an independent review.

    The fix is in.

    1. 17.1

      Those who choose to believe the WHO recently became a puppet of China have no reason to accept the WHO's future report on Covid-19 – they intend to dismiss findings at odds with their own worldview even before the scope of the investigation is agreed.

      "People are going to believe what they want to believe, regardless of the [factual] information."
      https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday/audio/2018746806/what-makes-us-believe-conspiracy-theories

      1. 17.1.1

        So Australia sticks it's neck out and demands an independent investigation (which is the position I've been advocating for). Over 100 countries sign on.

        Xi Xinping then gets an unprecedented invite from Tedros, widely perceived to be a CCP puppet, to speak to a major WHO conference where China unilaterally preempts an investigation on it's own terms.

        And at the same moment doubles down on a trade retaliation by announcing an 80% tariff on Australian barley. (Which everyone agrees has zero substance and was not even being discussed until a week or so back). Then China pretends it really isn't a retaliation when it obviously is.

        And then smugly states the investigation will not be independent, and only done when China thinks the time is right.

        FFS what part of bad faith, manipulative bullshit don't you get?

        1. 17.1.1.1

          Didn't mean to anger you – IMO your reply validates my comment.

          I believe theories about Covid-19 being constructed in China are batshit – could be wrong, could be right.

    2. 17.2

      And the best is yet to come.

      “Historians love chapter breaks,” said Robert Kaplan, an American foreign-policy expert and former member of the U.S. Defense Policy Board, who this month briefed officials at 10 Downing Street on the potential second-order effects of the coronavirus crisis. “COVID-19 will come to be seen as a chapter break.”

      https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/05/coronavirus-pandemic-second-wave-geopolitics-instability/611668/

      1. 17.2.1

        Yes I am very much afraid so. When people here hope that post-COVID life will be different I'm deeply concerned they will be right, but in ways none of us would wish for.

  18. 18

    Probably.

    https://twitter.com/antihobbes/status/1262541231394963456

    CAMBRIDGE, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–May 18, 2020– Moderna, Inc. (Nasdaq: MRNA), a clinical stage biotechnology company pioneering messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics and vaccines to create a new generation of transformative medicines for patients, today announced that it has commenced an underwritten public offering of $1.25 billion in shares of common stock. In addition, Moderna expects to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional $187.5 million in shares of common stock in connection with the public offering. All shares of common stock will be offered by Moderna.

    https://investors.modernatx.com/news-releases/news-release-details/moderna-announces-proposed-public-offering-shares-common-stock-0/

  19. 19

    Hawkesby thinks we all have Stockholm Syndrome.

    Honestly, how patronising can a person be? She probably tanked National and Bridges' another 2-3% with this idiot column.

    Good times.

  20. 20

    Dang! Newshub asked voters for one word to describe Jacinda and simon, they then formed those words into word clouds. The bigger the font the more often the word was said.

    What a great idea, using word clouds in polls to show the public's perception, awesome.

    Will post a link when it comes up 🙂

    1. 20.1

      Here's the link

      https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/05/national-mps-doing-the-numbers-on-simon-bridges-as-newshub-poll-shows-what-kiwis-think-of-him.html

      The top ten words to describe Jacinda included 'amazing', 'good', 'compassionate', 'leader', 'great', 'strong', 'empathetic', 'capable', 'excellent' and 'awesome'.

      and simon….. 'Idiot' topped the chart, followed by 'don't know', 'average', 'good', 'annoying', 'weak', 'useless', 'unsure' and 'disappointing'.

      1. 20.1.1

        I like how "dickhead" seemed to be in the top ten but O'Brien only highlighted and said 9 for Bridges 🙂

  21. 21

    Air NZ being difficult with refunds – according to Checkpoint.

    Luxon's legacy!

    1. 22.1

      She’s the Washington Post’s Asia correspondent too. What passes for journalism at the Herald must be a terrible shock for her.

    1. 23.1

      Hot Toddy! Actually, as someone who always had an extremely hostile attitude to Bolger, I thought he came across well. Balanced, sensible, seems to have mellowed with age. Wouldn't surprise me if his advice turns out to be more influential than Key's.

      1. 23.1.1

        I listened to his interview on the 9th floor, and he has really had a few changes of mind since he was PM, would probably fit in the centre left of current NZ economic orthodoxy, but is obviously tribal National.

  25. 25

    "In the past the MoW took the positive planning approach to making New Zealand. In partnership with elected representatives they identified projects that would advance the development of the country. The MoW had their own economists who could evaluate and determine how nation-building projects might fit into wider considerations, such as, the economic cycle. The Ministry was at odds with a neo-liberal Treasury, as it could hold its own in economic debates. Given this fight for political-economic attention it is not surprising the MoW was dis-established."

    https://www.interest.co.nz/opinion/105080/brendon-harre-sees-ministry-works-template-how-we-should-develop-our-national

    1. 25.1

      Many government departments had their own economists prior to lab4. Then Treasury said there was an inefficient duplication of roles.

      Then Treasury became pretty much the sole source of government economic advice. A monopoly, one might say…

  26. 26

    Kia Ora The Am Show.

    There is some positive news the worlds carbon footprint shrinks

    That's is cool the virus contact tracking AP.

    Buying New Zealand made that the way.

    That's a great way to raise funds for water shortage solution for South Africa auctioning a famous painters painting.

    Ruby will have a good future as a reporter.

    I say that Our government has the $20 billion backstop money set aside because we don't know the true impact of long the virus effects will last you can't take it back once its spent.

    Ka kite Ano

  27. 27

    Kia Ora Newshub.

    Yes the price of Kai hit the roof during isolation.

    Telcompowder has aspestos in That's not on.

    I don't think that person should be fined for savings the baby whale caught in that shark net.?????.

    Ka kite Ano.

  28. 28

    Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.

    All Iwi should invest in Whare for their Tangata it will good for the tangata and the Iwi may be sheared ownership models.

    Ka kite Ano.

  29. 29

    Kia Ora The Am Show.

    Looks like a nice day in London Lloyd.

    Its good to respect our elderly people.

    The problem with having wealth business people leading a country is they are to self centered to have a great economy you need to take everyone up there economic ladders not just the wealthy.

    Ka kite Ano.

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