A double standard for Saudi Arabia
If Saudi Arabia’s justice system and human rights record is as bad as Amnesty says it is, then this is not a country that we should be seeking closer economic ties with. Why the double standard?
Open mike 28/04/2015
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Miliband ko’s Johnson
Miliband ko’s Boris on Andrew Marr show. Marr opined this might be a foretaste of things to come when Ed is PM and Boris has knifed David Cameron, which Rupert Murdoch thinks likely. Johnson flails and Miliband counter-punches – “don’t get rattled, Boris;” same primary school “but not same secondary school;” on back-stabbing accusations “you can do better than Lynton Crosby.”
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…
Thanks David!
I’m planning to enjoy a day off today – the first “mondayised” public holiday – thanks to the work of David Clark, Grant Robertston, and others in Labour and the parties that supported the Bill. National and ACT voted against this holiday.
Open mike 27/04/2015
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
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
Nepal quake
As is all over the news this morning, Nepal and surrounding areas have been hit by a severe quake.
Open mike 26/04/2015
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
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.
Open mike 25/04/2015
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Anzac Day – 100 years
100 years ago today ANZAC forces landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey. They are remembered.
Image from NZ History.
Daily review 24/04/2015
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standarnistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other.
Welcome to Wealth Gap Tower
A great illustration of the gap between money-rich and money-poor in NZ.
Weekend social 24/04/2015
Weekend social is for non political chat. What’s on for the weekend, gigs, film or book reviews, sports, or whatever. No politics, no […]
Caption Competition
Keep it seemly!
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.
Hip throw to the lions
For once I agree with Mike Hosking – the Hip cafe owners are also losers in the fallout from John Key’s ponytail-pull fetish. But not for the same reasons as Mike. It seems Grant and Brown threw their employee to the lions for quite selfish motives. They appear to have betrayed their responsibility of trust and confidence to their employee.
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.
Campbell Live – Day of Action
Protests in support of Campbell Live, today (Friday) in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. Marvelous!
Open mike 24/04/2015
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Daily review 23/04/2015
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standarnistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other.
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…
Herald’s interview with the waitress – updated
Late night developments, the “hair pull” waitress states that a Herald interview (to be published today) was obtained under false pretences, and she withdrew her consent for it.
Multiple updates on the changing story.
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.
Blogging at The Standard since Election 2014
A brief numbers-y overview of what your honoured authors have gotten up to since September.
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.
Open mike 23/04/2015
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Dear John… UPDATED
UPDATED And another one fingering another little girl’s hair. Not a ponytail but braids. Very brief at 2:15. (h/t ianmac)
Daily review 22/04/2014
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standarnistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other.
Record-breaking Government
Not satisfied with setting records for biggest deficit and largest total deficit over term, the Key government is now going for most deficits in a row. They now look to equal the National government’s 7 deficits from 1966-72. And this is the stuff they want to be judged on…