Going weak at the knees

 

Close Up: Peters fronts up (9:32)

John Campbell interviews Winston Peters   

I was switching between Mark Sainsbury on TV One and John Campbell on TV3-my wife is outa town and she usually watches shorty-so I could watch Winnie in the poo give his latest rendition of the emperor without clothes.

Incidentally, both networks were carrying live interviews at the same time, I know Peters can walk on water but even he cant be at two places at once-or can he? That would explain some of his conflicted behaviour. He actually has a doppelganger!

Anyway back to the interviews.

There was bluster, there was indignation, there were denials, there were lapses in memory, there were attacks on the interviewer and yes there were more lies.

For some reason Campbell's interview got Winston the most riled-to tell you the truth he riles me too, something about the ears-and Salisbury's was calm by comparison.

Skip to the end and wait for it...as if on cue there was that killer smile. On both interviews.

At that point 80 year old ladies all over New Zealand wet themselves with excitement.

Then I thought.

How awful, he just might do it again come Nov 8.

c Political Animal 2008

Conflicted Interests

Further to my piece about John Key's share disclosures this week and his former holdings in Tranzrail apparently making his position as an MP a conflict of interest, there comes info on a more pressing and real conflict of interest 

Jeanette Fitzsimons and her conflicts over shareholdings in several companies associated with her Party the Greens and the Labour Party passing "green" based legislation.   

From The Hive comes this gem:

Remember the $1 billion in funding, in part to subsidise home insulation, negotiated by the Green Party as part of the agreement to vote for the ETS?

Guess who owns shares in the company that makes this product????

This really stinks. Of course it would be too much to hope for One News to pick this up.

A comment on the Hive's post reveals the following:

Jeanette FITZSIMONS (Green, List)

1 Company directorships and controlling interests
Aeolian Property Company Limited – property management
Green Circle Farm Limited – farming
2 Interests (such as shares and bonds) in companies and business entities
Fletcher Building Limited – building materials and products
Cavalier Corporation Limited – wool scouring, carpets
Fisher & Paykel Appliances Holdings Limited – appliance manufacture

REGISTER OF PECUNIARY INTERESTS OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT: SUMMARY OF ANNUAL RETURNS J. 7
23
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Limited – healthcare equipment
Scott Technology Limited – technology
6 Real property
Family home (jointly owned), Kauaeranga Valley, Thames
One-fifth share in relative’s home near Kawhia
7 Superannuation schemes
Green Futures Superannuation Trust
MFL Property Fund

Nothing wrong with owning assets, but holding shares in Fletcher Building (DISCLOSURE: I OWN FBU shares!!) and advocating for the Emissions Trading Tax fraud law is a clear conflict of interest and as The Hive rightly states, mainstream media seem as blind as Stevie Wonder when it comes to its reportage, along the lines of the non event of John Key and his Tranzrail shares.

There is also confusion over whether she still owns Windflow Technology shares and conflicts about over holding shares in that company and Jeanette's pushing to advantage the wacky backy Windmill industry.

Go figure.

c Political Animal 2008

State controlled Internet?

I vaguely remember hearing about this a few years ago but it has reared its ugly head today.

The Labour Government says, "it is moving to plug loopholes which have opened up in media".

We have heard of Helen Clark's antipathy to the media in the past, when they dare to critique her, so I am more than a bit worried about Labour's motives:

But initial consultation has shown more support for having two "converged" regulators, one dealing with economic and access issues, and the other responsible for social/cultural issues such as content.

"Cultural and social issues such as content".

What the hell does that mean?

When you combine the above with this below things start getting a little scary:

Government decisions will also determine whether broadcasters who also put news and other content on the internet should have to meet the same broadcasting standards, and whether those should be extended to other content providers.

Stuff.co.nz

It is scary because when we look at how badly Labour has written legislation over the last 9 years we know that much of that legislation, like the Electoral Finance Act, you could drive several Mac semi trucks through the holes in them.

Meet the same broadcasting standards of content on the internet as in mainstream broadcasting?

That sounds like censorship to me and as a blogger that has me worried.

Labour have already clamped down on criticism of them during an election year with the Electoral Finance Act and that has already had deleterious effects on websites on the net and as the Electoral Commission has said "had a chilling effect on freedom of speech."

Labour don't like criticism, their official taxpayer funded Labour Party Blog, The Standard, shuts down dissenting debate at will and censors some contributors, and I fear that this proposed "plugging of loopholes" by passing legislation to regulate content on the net will have the same modus operandi as Labour's Blog.

It leaves me with a chill down the spine.

It isn't practically necessary, but it seems politically necessary to Labour because I fear, once again, that they want to shut down democratic debate.

c Political Animal 2008

Obstruction of Justice by Labour a desperate move by a dying Government

Lies, cover ups, censuring of witnesses in public and now obstruction of justice.

Is this happening in a criminal case in a kangaroo court in Zimbabwe?

Well, no, we all know it is the Labour Party's attitude and actions to a justice process, in what is the highest court in the land-a Privileges Committee hearing- that makes their support of Winston Peters a look like the corrupt circus that it clearly is.

How far will these group of people go to obstruct natural justice?

Today New Zealand finds out that Parekura "Ill eat anything if it was once alive" Horomia  has threatened one member of the Committee, Pita Sharples, and urged him to vote in Peters favour:

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples today said a government minister, whom he would not name, rang him on Sunday and Monday to pressure the party to vote in support of Mr Peters.

Dr Sharples also said a NZ First staff member arranged a meeting with Maori MP Te Ururoa Flavell, who sits on the committee, to discuss the inquiry.   

Stuff.co.nz

Of course most people know that tampering with the judicial process in this way is a highly serious matter and in a civil court a contempt of court charge can be laid against the offender.

As these are politicians of course there will be no consequences.

Of course this style of politics is well known to the Labour Party, it is practised when they get backed into a corner and desperate.

Many Government and quasi government officials have been bullied out of their positions when their outlook on their job starts to differ from the party line.

Trevor Mallard manhandled Owen Glenn away from Helen Clark earlier this year, so as not to embarrass her over donations made to the Labour Party.

Michael Cullen frequently gets nasty and vindictive because of John Key's success and he has tried to bully him at every opportunity.

This latest desperate attempt at obstructing justice is really a logical escalation of Labour's modus operandi.

As they get more desperate their political maneuvering gets dirtier. Unfortunately it looks like they are going to fight the election in this way instead of with policy and that is a damn shame.

This is from a party that introduced a no-bullying policy in State schools.

What criteria did Helen Clark say the Election was to be fought on?

That's right, it was "trust".

c Political Animal 2008