Fran O'Sullivan Today is Must Read

See here for an erudite description of why Clark's Government is so deep in the poo. And, by extension why her government can easily and comfortably wear the cap of the 'the most corrupt in history'.

O'Sullivan has called for no less than a Royal Commission of Enquiry with three judges in the Chair to get to the bottom of what has become very dirty politics. But it is not just dirty politics - the allegations are of corruption at the highest levels of Government and Opposition. Clark cannot be allowed to make these allegations without offering subtstantive proof - we have moved beyond her making off the cuff statements. So appalling is the State of Denmark we need independent and incontrovertible proof of absence or presence.

I'll paraphrase much of Fran's discourse:

The gutless police force that refused to take legal action over Labour's breach of electoral spending limits because it was concerned at the constitutional effects of a prima facie case.

The delays which ensured that police decision not to take court action against Labour or Beehive officials, because they were concerned about the integrity of last year's election and cynically preventing private citizens taking action before the six-month expiry period under the Electoral Act. Note; if able to take action and if proven could have resulted in jail sentences.

The prolonged Bullying of Auditor-General Kevin Brady over his audit into the misappropriation of parliamentary funds by party leaders, by Labour's Helen Clark, accusing him of smear tactics - an attempt to cower Brady into changing his draft findings.

Unfounded Allegations that National made corrupt cash-for-policy deals with the anonymous donors that stumped up 92 per cent of the party's election funds.

Helen Clark has alleged insurance companies were promised policy deals around changes to ACC. Who were these companies - if any? - that tried to bribe National.

Allegations that the Exclusive Brethren religious sect ran a parallel advertising campaign with the connivance of National Leader Don Brash to dish the dirt on National's opponents and thus given his party a $1.2 million hidden campaign spending boost.

Allegations that the Exclusive Brethren, not content with the election result, tried to get NZ First MPs to break away from their party and force a change of government. And, when spurned, turned their attention to Labour by hiring private investigators to dig dirt on Cabinet ministers from the Prime Minister down.

Clark has ordered the diplomatic squad (whose allegiance is to her - a private police force in the circumstances) to investigate the Exclusive Brethren's P.I.s.

A Royal Commission needs to inquire into whether interests associated with Labour put P.I.s on to Brash and investigate whether those same interests stole personal emails from his parliamentary computer.

Allegations by the Prime Minister of conspiratorial behaviour by everyone who belongs to "golf clubs, accountancy firms, law firms or business circles" in spreading libellous rumours to bring her husband down and vilify their marriage.

Allegations by NZ First Leader Winston Peters that merchant bankers Fay Richwhite, the subject of an insider trading action over dealings in Tranz Rail shares, have contributed campaign funds with strings.

In Parliament two weeks ago Peters claimed that two big New Zealand corporates had bought themselves "political protection" through major donations to the National Party.

"That same party was involved in a long protection racket in respect of Telecom, and that is why it was given free Telecom services and took $1 million," he said.

Peters wants the Ministry of Justice to look into the "$1 million paid by Fay Richwhite to the National Party in order to buy it absolute protection against proper investigation", which he clarified related to the Bank of New Zealand bail-out and the Winebox inquiry into tax dodging.

Turia's refusal to disclose which Labour supporter tried to bribe her party.

Myth That Speed Cameras Save Lives Exposed

New evidence in the UK reveals that breaking the speed limit has contributed to only 5% of road crashes. See here.

The real contributers to crashes are that drivers need to concentrate more on the road rather than on their phones, passengers, music, food, drinks, navigation systems and the clutter of signs - according to the RAC.

I am sure the same results would apply in New Zealand. A crazy driver at 90km/hour on the open road will not trigger a speed camera. I suspect the UK research is proof positive the cameras are revenue raising devices.

All the more interesting is the fact these results are in light of the Motorway limit in the UK being 70mph - a speed that by definition is dangerous in New Zealand. Simplistic answers from simpletons.

"Proof" of the effectiveness of the speed camera policy, from the usual line up of fools; LTSA, Traffic Branch of the Police etc is not fully tested - improved road tolls (or indeed lower average open road speeds) will not be differentiated from the effects of congested roads, improved vehicles (our fleet is getting younger and younger cars have more safety features etc) etc.

How About This for an Idea

Clark's increasingly losing touch - this year has been a nightmare for the one with the self declared sure footed and winning touch. Everything she touches is turning to stone.

I think she is losing control - Cullen and Mallard are leaving her hanging out there. Their schadenfreude is poorly disguised. Clark is hanging herself and the cheers from the white light (ie before the prism turns it all rainbow) of her party are stilted for now. At long last the rainbow fruitcakes are getting it where it hurts. Right in the mouche. Look for a broken prism someone.

The turnaround has been quick and for Clark bewildering.

Clark's "Anger" Spectacularly Backfires

The faux anger and exclusionist langauge of Ms Clark has spectacularly backfired on her and her party. The electorate as a whole have condemned her recent set of lies, obsfuscation and dissembling - witness two recent polls.

Labour and Nats alike have condemned the arrogance and conceit of her and her senior Cabinet members. The reaction is so marked against her that it's difficult to understand what she'll do next. More of the same won't work and and contrition over the stolen money and the Field cover-up are not in her vernacular.

Personally I think they're stuffed. It's a great day for the VRWC. Yay!

And the reason we do not trust Clark and Labour

falsus in uno falsus in omnibus

"false in one thing, false in everything"

A Roman legal principle indicating that a witness who wilfully falsifies one matter is not credible on any matter.

The witness who is wilfully false in one thing (Doonegate, Paintergate, Speedgate, El Jefe Field, Pledge cardgate,...) need I go on?

See what I mean by not wanting pee off the witches on the 9th Floor, by putting your head above the parapet. . .

You can't tell me the killing of this rather innocent little side bet did not have its genesis on the 9th Floor....

See David Farrar's blog where he advises he has been warned by the DIA for offering illegal betting (gambling over the internet is the stitch up) when he gave odds of 9:1 that Labour would be successful with a High Court petition that the Pledge Card spending was legal.

Interestingly there we few takers that Labour would win.

Clark now wanting to re-write the Magna Carta and nearly 1,000 years of Trust Law

Clark in her rage to cover up her theft of public money for her election campaign is apparently looking to use retrospective legislation to legalise the theft. See here.

Not content with just stealing tax payers money she has also decided to prevent private persons from making anonymous donations to election campaigns - citizens use anonymity for many reasons - a powerful one being not wanting piss off control freaks and venal types like Miss Clark. And another thing - by making the donor anonymous it prevents installing the patronage of which Clark complains so lately and loudly. If you don't know who you owe you cannot be accused of giving them special treatment - contrast that with the open and abject posturing and law making Labour does for the Union movement and the Ratana Church.

Clark is going to try to prevent funding through Trusts - how I might ask? As a Trust is in law a corporate person; the Trust as much as anyone else has rights - including donating money to persons/parties etc. I guess we'll have to go back to giving cash. Cash works for Labour: WFF, a larger Army, easier benefit access etc etc

I can see a lot of cheques being written by M Mouse or money being routed through Pay-pal.

Give up Helen - admit you nicked the money.

Confirmation Clark thinks she and Labour are above the law

Two Points and another thing
1. Pete Hodgson on Nine to Noon today stated that if the Auditor-General finds Labour stole the Parliamentary Service funds for the pledge cards Labour will not pay it back. Why? Because we did the same in 2002 and didn't have to pay it back then- isn't that unbelievable?

So, if you get away with it once you are able to keep stealing. The challenge is not to get caught first time?

2. Clark and Labour are using PUBLIC funds to defend themselves against the Molloy action. How venal, crass and self serving is that?

3. Final point - somewhat oblique. Mallard's attack with innuendo in the House on Dr Nick Smith and co was sanctioned by the PM - so the scuttlebut goes. Given it was effectively an attempt to point an adulterous barb at Smith, which is as near to the 'Go Nuclear' buuton it apparently gets in the House; that action might have brought a vile(olent) repost about the PM's own marital arrangements and those meanderings of her 'husband', inter alia. What is Investigate sitting on, I muse? But I digress; my point is this "Is Mallard taking his orders from Cullen", and not the PM. Perhaps it was a macchiavellian attempt to get the Boss - using another force's enfilade?

Predictable Clark Reaction

Typical Helen Clark. She who has been caught dead stealing from the public purse tried today to level corruption charges on Brash and National - alleging National are the corrupt ones. She claimed they received funding from the Exclusive Bretheren, trying to buy the election...she gave absolutely no evidence. There is none.

Contrast this with Clark and her theft of public money - on the record and confirmed by the Auditor-General and the Union movements' direct funding of Labour - for which they receive direct policy support - funding of the ITO's, anti- employer legislation and so on.

Clark is a cheating, conniving, corrupt bitch.

Brash labelling her Government the most corrupt on record is striking a nerve because it is true.

Iranian Mullahs Winning Hands Down

Conclusions Iranian special forces are hard at war in Lebanon are inescapable. Who else could have the level of sophistication to fire the ship to shore missile that disabled the Israeli warship.

What is more worrying is the Iranian hand dealt in Lebanon has ensured the UN has lost the initiative in taking action to stop the Iranian nuclear bomb programme. Clever, devious and ruthless pricks these mullahs. Every step of the way the Iranians have obsfuscated, lied and cheated their way in the international debate while they continued uranium enrichment. The Telegraph has a good analysis. On the eve of the G8 members demanding Iran stop its nuclear enrichment, Hezbollah (the Iranian proxy in Lebanon) kidnaps two Israeli soldiers with a predictable response from Israel. Quick as flash the world takes its focus from Iran to Lebanon. Mullahs 1 - RoW 0.

It may not all be bad for the West. The ferocity of the Israeli attack against Hezbollah AND Lebanese targets (destroying recent infrastrucuture) has meant that the Lebanese themselves (including the Lebanese PM et al) are demanding Hizbollah is kicked out. In that the Lebanese are now at one with the Israelis. That is not an outcome Tehran would have wanted.

News out today that Iranian officials are donkey deep with the North Korean missile programme just add to a general level of paranoia in the West.

These are of course Helen Clark's "benign strategic environment"

Peters Makes a Dick of Himself

WTF happened? There was Sen John McCain making unscripted (But obviously heavily choreographed) generous remarks in support of NZ, when up pops a gnome from the depths of a winged chair (he did look physically out of his depth didn't he?)to cut the Senator short and boot the NZ media about the head. It made for great TV. To add to the confusion Peters then releases a statement that ran counter to what we had all observed in our living rooms - spectacular own goal Winnie....

If you had cared to listen he was trumpeting your FTA plans....Or was the problem McCain had spouted on the outcome of the meeting BEFORE the meeting was held....just making it obvious how much of a boondoggle your ill-explained trivial mission was. Officials had it all tee'd up before you arrived.

Boy are you a disgrace to the tradition of Foreign Secretaries. Rule 1 leave petty politics at home when travelling on Crown business.

Now I for one think each of Guyon Espinor and Barry Soper to be intractable Labour apologists from way back and probably nuclear free wayne kerrs as well but they ar flabbergasted at your antics...

This shambles is of no consequence in the corridors of power in the US (although you will have reinforced to the Senator (the likely incoming US President) how inconsequential NZ is - The damage is at home, and it is done Winnie - no matter what the outcome of your meeting with Condy, you will return as dick of the week.

El Jefe Field Exonerated eh?

Despite the spin of Miss Clark and the delusional ramblings of El Jefe himself the axiom of "absence of evidence is not evidence of absence" applies. None more than in this case. Dr Ingram as good as said it himself - I paraphrase - "...I did not have the power and hence was not able to get certain people central to my enquiries to provide me with answers to questions I sought..."

News National is keeping up the attack with a potential referral to the Police is good news to those of us sick of the dissembling from the Labour Government and because of its mendacity its brutal attacks on all we hold dear in a parlimantary democracy.

US Political Funding Confirmed - into the NZ First Party!!!!

In a spectacular own goal NZ First was revealed in the House as a recipient of party funding from US sources. A Mr John Foote was identified as a major fund raiser for the NZ First Party - Peters was speechless!

Pot, Kettle, Black.

In a related development the US Ambassador to NZ discussed the 'stain' these unfounded allegations have left on NZ/US relations.

It seems for NZ First and Labour any smear is a good smear. Their anti- Americanism is palpable.

Still why are we surprised - These two parties have sent direct government funding to the terrorist group Hamas.

Tell Peters to JFO

The disappointing thing with the non email scandal sourced to Winston Peters has been Brash's pussying with Peters and Mallard. Tell them to JFO.

Ask Peters the source of the photos Helen has on him that have reduced him to simpering poodle - as evidenced by him actively doing Labour's dirty work and launching a limp diversion at a time Labour is on the ropes with the Telecom leak (Cullen or Simpson for leaker anyone?), Taito Philip Field report now in circulation, etc etc.

Ask Peters how his false attack on US Republican Party interests is helping him fulfill his role as Foreign Affairs Minister - How will attacking the power brokers in the US assist NZ to get a FTA agreement? Didn't Winnie opine on his elevation Cabinet we need to get the US relationship normalised? If this is normalisation one wouldn't want to marry Winnie...

Labour and Peters need to be put in their box. Hey Don - refuse to engage after the first salvo at Peters.

Auckland in Top 10 Places to Live

Auckland has placed fifth in an international survey (Mercer Human Resource Consulting in the UK) on places to live.

Criteria included personal safety, the environment and access to health, education, transport and other public services.

I guess transport has a low weighting!

Zurich is the top-rated city and Baghdad is the worst. Second-best is Geneva, with Vancouver third.

Wellington, performed well going from 14th to 12th place. Elsewhere in the Asia Pacific cities surveyed Sydney was ranked in ninth place.

Auditor-General Called in to Housing NZ

Update: TVNZ reports Housing Minister Chris Carter has gone over the heads of his Board at Housing NZ and called in the Auditor-General. Earlier today the auditing was to be done by multi-national firm Ernst and Young.

If the audit is restricted (as reported) to issues surrounding the gagging order agreed by HNZ with a contractor then the public is disserved.

As important is for the investigation to appraise and review all the matters leading up to a gagging order even being considered. What malpractice, misfeasance or malfeasance was HNZ worried the contractor might disclose?

Clark's regime are past masters at calling publicly for an investigation - which never sees the light of day. Remember the Taito Philip Field investigation? I have asked for an independent investiogation and all will be revealed in 10 days was the assurance from Miss Clark. 24 weeks or so later we are none the wiser.

Believe nothing with this lot. Remember Chris Carter is a PM favourite - he will be doing her bidding.

Carter Next Minister with a Scandal

Reports of high level cover-ups at Housing New Zealand will be a headache for Minister Chris Carter.

Apparently senior management has mis-represented progress with budgets and rearranged payments to different accounting periods. See here.

This smells of a Government agency desperately trying to satisfy their Minister - without the resources needed. Given no individual profited - second thoughts - may be it meant they made their performance targets/bonus.

Carter should spend more time in Wellington working with his agencies not roaming around saving sharks and snails and hanging with his buddy.

Plans Advancing to Attack Iran

Columns discussing US options to dismantle the Iranian nuke campaign and effect regime change have popped up here and here.

Significantly the planning seems to be heading towards using tactical nuclear weapons as the only guarantee of shutting the Iranian facilities. The option is discussed because the West knows the determination of the Iranians to get their own nukes is so real and focussed that only nuclear strikes can prevent the Iranians getting their own strategic arsenal. If the Iranians succeed then it is all on. Europe and Israel will quickly face Iranian attempts at hegemony.

As an aside Bin Laden's al-Qaeda would then realise they too have lost the war - unable to advance their plans for a Muslim Caliphate against the Iranian shia led wider polity.

Either the discussion, regarding using nukes, within the Western press is a clever program to scare the daylights out of the Iranians or it is real. Either way things have got serious, very serious.

Bush seems to have concluded Ahmedinejad is hell bent on getting Iranian nukes and only destruction of the facilities will stop him. Bush calls him 'little Hitler' in reference to the earlier name owner's drive to cow the world with strategic weapons.

As I said things have got serious, very serious.

For me I am glad we have President Bush in the White House not a waverer like Kerry or Madame Clinton.

Bully Benson-Pope Backtracks

Reports today that Benson-Pope threatened National Deputy leader Gerry Brownlee in December with exposure of unsavoury dealings as a teacher make interesting reading. Interesting because Brownlee apparently challenged Benson-Pope to release what he had and rather than cowering in fear maintained the pressure on BePop

Result - a big fat nothing.

Conclusion there is nothing on Brownlee.

Brilliant - the bully went off muttering, moaning and grizzling about having to drag his family through it. Shoulda thought about before you told lie apon lie Mr Benson-Pope.

Prior to all this Benson-Pope was Labour's bully in chief in the house.

As Corporal Jones used to say - "they don't like it when you put it up'em".

Is This Confirmation We are Surrounded by Idiots?

Some of the calls to Telecom's Directory Service...

Never Been There But I Thought You Didn't Get to Kiss a Prostitute?

5 Minutes is the limit to kiss an unrelated person in Indonesia - guidelines to the Police in a prostitution crack-down.

Hubris is spelt C-u-l-l-e-n

Dr Cullen has snubbed attending a high-powered forum of trans-Tasman business heavy weights - describing it as a "wailing wall of people pushing their own barrrows"

Included with his none-to-subtle heavying of the Companies Office investigation into the criminal document signing by former Minister Parker - reported here it is easy to see where his hubristic head is at.

He believes that only Government's can solve business problems....

...the politicians are actually getting on with the real business," Dr Cullen said.

Yep, confirmation we are deep in it if Cullen thinks he (and his ilk) is the saviour.

So When Does Nuclear Power Enter the Polity?

On Afternoons with Jim Mora this afternnon (RNZ) he shamed his panelist Richard Griffin into fawning silence for daring to query the lack of discussion regarding nuclear power as an option in New Zealand. Mora said - should I read the flood of emails we received since you mentioned considering nuclear power Richard...

WTF is it with NZ and nuclear power?

We are facing a power crisis - short, medium and long term, many/most think we have climate change underway because of the release from long term sequestration of carbon. Only today Mallard boasted that the electricity crisis was not apon us because (inter alia) he had a stockpile of coal at Huntly (which National neglected to do last time...) ...Good one Trev - that'll help NZ meet Kyoto, stop global warming etc etc.

I know we hate the Americans (but don't know why) - so why not try these guys at Pebble Bed Modulators Reactors for safe nuclear power - this is a South African Government initiative.

Think of the brownie points at the UN Helen. Nice one?

Safe, low scale, using safe processes that have passive safety systems built in to the reactor and hence avoid human decision-making and intervention. This style and scale of plant can be located close to the demand sites. ie no need to run HVA cables up the North Island - just put it in Mt Albert.

South Africa faces increasing demand of 20,000MW by 2025 on top of their installed capacity of 39,000MW. They seem to be on to what needs to done to avoid a burning fossil fuels. We don't. We won't face the decisions or discussion and close our ears to anything that is not wind, sun or rain operated - all of which we have bugger all of at the moment.

Cullen Creaming It

News the Crown Operating Surplus is over $6.6Billion and $2.7Billion ahead of forecast or budget for the 8 months ended february 2006 will surprise no-one. Dr Cullen is presiding over a continual rape of the working classes. He is hard out re-distributing the hard work of the workers - and loving it.

Meanwhile Auckland is screaming out for infrastructure investment in roads, railways and rolling stock. The power sector is way under-invested and hospital waiting lists disappear out the wazoo.

For the lefties out there - don't tell me the surplus is up because corporate profits are up - those profits are subject to withholding tax - on behalf of the shareholders and completely topped up to the highest marginal rate.

Kathryn Ryan to Host Nine to Noon

News that Kathryn Ryan, RNZ's Political Reporter will host Nine to Noon is a yawn. Here's hoping she sees (seizes) the chance to (re)define herself as an independent commentator. We need to get back to the excellence of Maggie Barry, inquisitorial, bright, interesting and getting all the main players on an issue to comment. The recent host was underwhelming, wore her liberal colours openly and badly and was just too opinionated.

Update / announcement here:

Great Lines from Gareth Morgan

Reading of the beggars plaguing Gareth after he announced he was giving to charity his investment in his son's company Trade-me made funny reading.

It is sad to think our fellow countrymen badger him for a handout. This is clearly a well trod path.

"My advice from other well-heeled people was to watch out for provider capture. There are a lot of wide-mouthed frogs out there, all living off the hog. It's a corrupt industry, second only to insurance."

This was reference to the Charities fundraising industry.

Wide-mouthed frogs - Brilliant.

Benign Strategic Environment eh?

The PM's continuing expostulations that we live in a benign strategic environment have been laid bare with the SIS's Annual Report to parliament. The SIS reports NZ harbours experienced jihad warriors and Al Qaeda sympathisers with links to extremist organisations.

Hopefully the reported low numbers are correct and the surveilance of the SIS will keep them in check.

Electricity Commission Competent?

Despite months of denials the Electricity Commission (charged with the planning and regulatory framework to keep the lights on) has confirmed what everyone else knew - they did not have handle on the risk of shortages this year.

I'll bet that there has been Ministerial pressure on the Commission for months to play down the risk - now the pressure has got too great. Ministers (although an atheistic lot) have been praying for rain.

Check out the Electricity Commission Board - look political to you? Cullen's former economist, and a Christchurch City Councillor bring a definite tinge to the Board.

This Board will have the very best advice and knowledge in the country on storage levels, demand figures and total capacity. It defies logic that the Board has been led astray by management not blowing the whistle for months and made a bold call...that the rains would come.

I think the Commission decided today they had been subborned for too long and had only their credibility to protect - hence today's late announcement.

My contacts in the McKenzie country told me months ago the lakes were very low and the storage graphs have consistently confirmed that. On top, old hands were moving stock out in the autumn because in their signs it was going to be low on feed (ie no rain).

I was up there last week and Pukaki and Tekapo are very low.

The only water going out is to meet Waitaki flow rates.

What on earth did the Commission think was going on when all the generators were banging about the state of storage. It is in their interests to predict demand and supply so they can maximise sales. They run very sophisticated models. As does the Commission. A key variable is the Waitaki system - you can check storage there with an eyeometer.

First we knew there was a poor 2005 winter snow season - the low melt was not followed by rain. At that point alarm bells were jangling from most circles. Except, the body charged with security of the electricity supply was saying there was no need to worry; huh?

Another Government agency in the hand of the PM and her cronies.

Clark Caught

Transcripts over at Scoop reveal the extent of the PM and her department's enquiries regarding former Minister David Parker at the highest level of the Companies Office. MED and PM Dept CEO's talking with Companies Office CEO about Parker absolutely stinks.

Rt Hon HELEN CLARK: Mr Parker has, of course, kept in touch with the leadership of the Labour Party. There has, I understand, been communication from the Companies Office to the head of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet about the pace of the inquiry. I do not want to comment on what may have occurred in those conversations, but I am satisfied that Mr Parker is keeping his leadership in the loop

Keeping the leadership in the loop - you bet!

Hon Bill English: Can I take the Prime Minister’s statement to the House today as confirmation of rumours and allegations that personnel from her department contacted an officer of the Companies Office last week, and that that officer of the Companies Office provided written advice on the Companies Office view of Mr Parker’s declaration; and does she regard that as appropriate behaviour for a member of the Prime Minister’s department and for a statutory officer responsible for making a decision about whether to prosecute a senior member of her Government?

etc etc

The pervasion of Labour Party political pressure throughout the Public Services gets murkier and murkier. Is there no department that she and her cronies have not subborned?

David Farrar reports that Ian Wishart has been informed the MED and Companies Office lawyers are attempting to show that as Hyslop was bankrupt he was not actually a shareholder - pinhead, dance I say.

And, in any event if that is the case the lawful agent for the bankrupt was the Official Assignee - as Parker knows because he had communed with him previously on this precise matter AND the Assignee had signed the neccessary papers. Parker made a conscionable and conscious decision to avoid getting the necessary shareholder resolutions.

David Farrar also reports that it was after the high level intervention of her Department with the Companies Offfice that she performed her U-turn and then openly speculated Parker would be cleared and if so would come back as a Minister.

Al Qaeda Focussed on Establishing a Muslim Caliphate

Al Qaeda is infiltrating countries surrounding Israel, aimed at preparing different bases to attack the Jewish state as Jordanian journalist Fouad Hussein (Author of "Al Zarqawi: Al Qaeda's second Generation") explains. Hussein states Al Qaeda's final goal is to establish an Islamic Caliphate in seven phases see here for more detail.

Interestingly, the third phase called "The Rising" advocates heavy attacks against Israel because it will then force the world to acknowledge al Qaeda as a major power, and negotiate with it. This phase should last three years and allow Al Qaeda to infiltrate Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.

Hussein says that Zarqawi has noted:

...very likely collision between the United States and Iran over the nuclear issue is going to help reach that goal because Iran is going to be less focused on exerting its control on Syria and Lebanon.

Interesting times. A benign strategic environment, not.

Something Rotten in the State of Denmark (Christchurch)

News Mayor Garry Moore has had to force expressions of support from all Councillors for the Christchurch City Council CEO comes hard on the heels of the shambolic and appallingly executed programme by the City's investment manager (CCHL) to take over the publicly listed Lyttelton Port Company and sell a controlling interest in the Port operation to Chinese company Hutchison Whampoa. Hutchison have taken fright - waiting until CCHL sort out their shambles.

This is apparently the latest in a long line of recent shockers from out of CCHL and Christchurch City.

Clark At Her Imperious Best

News tonight that Clark has said Parker will return to Cabinet and the post of Attorney-General if he is not prosecuted by the Companies Office is a carefully aimed dart - straight at the Companies Office.

Clark is putting the Companies Office on notice that she sees no harm in Parker's admitted lawbreaking. This is pressure from the highest level. In any other form it is the C word. Corruption.

Parker admitted serial falsifying of statutory records. His resignation was voluntary. Having said that, all commentators, including Clark said he had to go.

The resignation was from his Ministerial posts - because he betrayed the position he held. It was not a sentence for wrong-doing - that is still to come - after the conviction.

There is no way back - without a complete examiniation through the prosecution process. He can only come back by being exonerated by the Courts. Exonerated, not discharged or diverted, exonerated.

Prediction: Microchipping Dogs Will go the Way of the Fart Tax

Confirmation after today's Cabinet meeting by Clark that there is 'one rule for dogs' is an arrogant response to a widespread view that her government has it in for business and farming.

Seems it is OK for bikes/quads and tractors to be unregistered on farm but not dogs. As usual with Labour there is no equity in their decisions when business is involved.

A farmer on the weekend said any dogs that bite humans get the bullet - simple. No need for a chip there. He also said that a farm dog is so busy and getting exercise that biting humans is the last thing on the dog's mind.

Hopefully Benson-Pope will get the first chip 000001. Following his rabies shot.

Government Ministers at Centre of Driving Our Talent Out

A senior scientist has taken issue with the ineptitude displayed by Pete (Slugger) Hodgson in addressing climate change issues. In the words of the scientist - the Government's policy is chaotic. In his words "Pete Hodgson stuffed it up".

As if this is not bad enough - I listened to Dr Jim Salinger the Climate Change apologist at NIWA on moaning report today - banging on about how the 20th Century was typified by consistently rising temperatures as a result of CO2 and global warming.

Salinger ignores the cold facts:
In the 60's and 70's the scientific community was talking of a coming Ice Age - yep that's right all you Values Party fanatics
The increase over the whole of C20th was 0.5C! See here

There is now considerable disquiet at the accuracy of the UN intergovernmental climate change model, viz;

- (at a recent conference) Hans Von Storch was adamant that paleo-climate researchers must make their data available. He showed a chart suggesting that recent temperature trends were highly correlated to the level of unemployment in Germany (upstaging Steve who later showed a chart relating temperature trends to an index of dot.com stock prices)

Real doubt as to the accuracy of temperature recording 100 years ago

(as the conference droned on) Cuffey also asked most of the presenters whether the science was such that we could determine the average century-scale temperature 1000 years ago within 0.5 degrees centigrade. Every presenter said ‘no’ – except for Mann who claimed we know the average century-scale temperature 1000 years ago within 0.2 degrees centigrade.

etc etc

A Home Invasion I Approve of

Aaron Bhatnaghar's team at C&R Now have acquired the lapsed domain name for Action Hobson.

Oh Irony Thou Art So Sweet.

They're All Doing It

News Deputy Prime Minister Prescott accepted loans (from property developers) of 3.5Million pounds for the UK Labour Party three months prior to allowing a mega shopping centre to be built in Croydon will do little to help Blair. One of the developers was on the list of potential peers who were blackballed (unheard of in modern times) because or probity concerns.

The loan news will just confirm how low the Labour Party has dropped. When two fingers (a reference to the Gins he served as a steward on the Cunard Line before becoming famous - and known now as Two Jags) Prescott is spruiking for Labour they must be in the shit.

Saw "Good Night and Good Luck" Last Night

A good movie. Most compelling thought was the parallels with our own Winston Peters. He operates exactly as McCarthy did. Same MO

McCarthy, initially refused to reveal any of the names on his (laundry) list of 205 people he claimed were Communists, but was eventually compelled to do so - as it turned out, there weren't 205 names on the list, and the majority of the names that were on it had nothing to do with Communists or Communism.

Dr Cullen heading down the same path with his oft spoken, but hitherto unrevealed 'dirt file'

Talks to Bring Clive Woodward Back to the RFU are Well Advanced

Confirmation that the RFU has been in discussion with Sir Clive regarding returning to Director of Rugby (including the England side) is good news for New Zealand.

In typical Woodward fashion he wants the top job. i.e. Above the England Coach and a with Main Board seat.

We recall four things about Woodward.

1. He was blessed with talent in his World Cup side that followed him blindly. He was extraordinarily lucky the AB's tripped up (badly) in the semi with Australia.
   
2. He did not coach his team - the team ran itself after several up and down seasons. If you stick at something long enough it comes off. That man ain't a coach.
   
3. He took complete control of the Lions (same as he asking for the England job (including from schoolboy rugby up - I might add) and made a pig's ear of it.
   
4. Remember all the talk about - best prepared sporting (ie not just rugby) side to ever leave Great Britain. No detail left untended. Budget was all he asked for. etc etc.

Seen it all before?

Yep - me too. Same outcome I think as well. He will meet his Waterloo in France in 2007.

Have a laugh go read this:

Unease Following Harmeet Sooden's Rescue

I must say while the family are joyous and rightly so there are many aspects of this case that leave me very uneasy.

1. In the wake of the rescue - colleagues of Sooden are quoted as saying it was the US and Bush that got Harmeet 'into this mess'. Well hello - Sooden went to Iraq under his own steam with his own agenda months AFTER Saddam was toppled. To blame Bush is hypocrisy and misguided.
   
2. Not one word of thanks to his rescuers - risking their own lives. Remember Sooden and his mates put themselves at risk travelling to Iraq - on their 'peace' mission. This story now picked up by the UK press - see here.
   
3. I see today TVNZ are coughing up for the travel and accommodation of Sooden's father and brother-in-law. These people who have used the media widely to keep Sooden's incarceration in the public eye have now blocked access by TV3 - given their lucrative arrangements with TVNZ. Not exactly New Testament behaviour or thinking by the travellers.
4. Worse - Sooden and his mates are refusing to assist the rescue group with intelligence on the hostage takers - intelligence that might prevent a similar incarceration and could lead to the rescue of others.
   
5. The impression is this refusal is not some form of Stockholm Syndrome - it is Sooden's group's policy to not cooperate with foreign soldiers in Iraq. Of course Sooden was not a foreign soldier...Onward Christian Soldiers and all that...
6. Usefully the international Press describe Sooden as a Canadian. Good - make sure he stops there on the way out of Iraq. Call it home Harmeet. Call on the troops that risked their lives to save you.
   

Is Dunedin A Breeding Ground for Labour Crooks?

David (Pinocchio) Benson-Pope - serial bully, proven liar and mendacious sophistrist, prima facie assaulter.
Pete (slugger) Hodgson - prima facie assaulter
David (it was only a mistake (5 years running)) Parker - document falsifier

No wonder Dr Cullen left town and sought solace on the list.

Parker Must Hate Clark (but he'll hate his Dunedin colleague more)

Interesting isn't it. Clark coulda, woulda, shoulda, sacked David Benson-Pope on several occasions. At any time, for his unconscionable lying in the House. As we all know she didn't. In fact she turned on his accusers.

Roll forward a week or three and David Parker has to go - I think he deserves all he got - but in any event all political capital had been expended on the scoundrel Benson-Pope and none was left for Parker. If you had a choice of the two - Benson-Pope wouldn't make the list.

Clark has done a massive disservice to her colleagues and crucified the wrong man through acts of omission and commission.

Clark Grizzles There Was a New Style in Politics

And she did not like it

Well Helen nor do we.

And, with a big Hat-tip to David Farrar here is your new style:

David Parker - resigned for false official returns
Lianne Dalziel - resigned for lying
Dover Samuels - stood down over personal issues
Marian Hobbs - stood down for claiming out of Wgtn accommodation
Ruth Dyson - resigned for drink driving
David Benson-Pope - stood down for bullying and lying allegations
Helen Clark - should have stood down for painting forgery
John Tamihere - resigned/sacked for various misdeeds
Taito Philip Field - when does he come onto the block for corrupt practice
Harry Duynhoven - not eligible to stand as he was not a citizen. H1 conveniently backdated the law to fit.

Yep - Helen you promised new standards - we don't like 'em.

And Another Thing

Admitted fraudster David Parker has decided that while his fraud was too hot to remain Attorney-General it was not sufficiently pungent or execrable to give up his Ministerial warrants as Minister of Energy or Minister of Transport.

Do the crime do the time David.

Interesting Clark (and Parker) are confirming there are several standards for Minister's portfolios. Some allow fraudsters, bounders and chancers; other just bounders and chancers; some are the preserve of chancers only like D B-P.

So Who Do You Believe?

Chris Carter
...Carter ...told the Weekend Herald his instinct was to protect the environment.

Helen Clark
...She said the decision was not made on instinct and Mr Carter received a large amount of advice from officials which would have guided his decision. ...

NewstalkZB

Oh 'Tis Such Fun - I am Wallowing In It

Prima Facie Clark today on 1ZB:

Asked about the allegation on NewstalkZB this morning, Helen Clark said: "I'm not going to start a public inquiry every time Investigate magazine decides to smear somebody, which is every month on average".

Perhaps she should take more care...

I think her scandal sheet is averaging above one per month.

What a scalp - an Attorney-General no less. He will now be dog tucker because he lost his seat last election. No way back from there.

Any news on the replacement? I guess it will be the mean mouthed history teacher, if only pro tem. Look what happened last time he got distracted when H1 made him A-G and he played at Lawyering - he lost focus in his real job. We got the chewing budget, tax cut promises from the road builder Mike Williams and other nonsense.

Bring It On.

Hubris has overtaken her - the rout is on.

Vive la Revolution!

Irony thou 'ist so Sweet

Clark must be livid.

One minute she is defending her Attorney-General by denigrating Investigate magazine and denying any requirement whatsoever to investigate the allegations it contained - despite of course the magazine producing actual Companies Office records...

Next minute the Attorney-General does not follow the Labour Cabinet Manual - the one that says, lie, lie, and lie again and if that does not work deny, deny, and deny again; and resigns admitting his errors.

A great day for the VRWC

ps Brash scoring points on the Pledge Card as well tonight.

Finally a Labour Minister With Integrity

News Attorney- General Parker has resigned will be greeted with glee by the VRWC. Finally a Minister who has the guts to face up to his responsibilities as a Minister and resign when his actions have been found to be less than the standard expected.

Parker has been found falsely filing documents with the Companies Office while a Labour MP. See here for the story

Good on him for resigning before one sun set on the story.

Parker's quick action shows what craven crooks inhabit the rest of the Clark Ministry. Starting with David Benson-Pope, including her prima facie self H1, Philip Field, paintergate, doonegate, speedgate etc etc.

Another Labour Con Trick

To avoid the usual odium accompanying a Government's plans to track its citizens via ID cards Labour is pulling the oldest trick in the book.

Announcing an initiative to reduce violence and child homicide, David Benson-Pope (a well experienced expert in the child abuse arena) has agreed to consider ID cards for kids.

The notion is to track the kids at school - what has happened to taking the roll? Then following up the truants - then, that morning. Two occasions of truancy, notified to parents and the parents are truants as well on the third. Sheet home the accountability.

The problem is not with schools it is with parents - too busy, too uninvolved, too spineless...as I have blogged here, and here. The child murders do not happen at school Cindy and David. They happen in homes (or more accurately houses) - and another thing, Lillybing was a toddler as were many of the other atrocious killings. School tagging would not sort that.

In a thoughtful post Lucyna discusses the traps inherent on relying on computer databases to sort out child abuse. As she points out databases track information, not people. The big error will be for the various agencies cooperating now, to think the computer will make the connections. The connections are made by people thinking and doing their job.

Interested managers and staff with the right understanding of what needs to be done AND THE INTERESTS OF THE CHILDREN AT THE CENTRE OF WHAT THEY DO can do wonders, with or without a fancy computer system.

In all the tragic cases of children falling through the cracks (as DBP puts it), everytime there was more than one government agency with sufficient knowledge of the case that could have taken some direct action and prevented the tragedy.

Classic Labour (non)Solution

In a knee jerk response to text bullying Minister Maharey has aked the school review organisation ERO to add 'anti-Bullying Strategies' to the organisation's checklist.

Be aware ERO reviews a school every three years - early childhood education centres are four years.

This will take years for ERO to review school policies, set new standards and check compliance.

Maharey knows that. A bullied child at Intermediate school may have left one year before the next ERO review. That is no solution.

In any event it is not a school problem - the key issue with text bullying is the bullying at school follows the child home and into their home. There is no safe zone.

This is a parenting problem. See my earlier blog.

As usual with Labour they try to make it an institutional problem/solution - the problem is parents not facing up to their responsibilities and dealing with the bully in their midst. (sounds like the Labour government doesn't it) - witness David Benson-Pope.

Government Proposal to Charge Auckland Harbour Bridge Tolls of $6

A Government paper launched today by Transport Minister Parker and Finance Minister Cullen recommends 5 proposals to ease Auckland congestion:

Among the ideas promoted:

A harbour bridge toll of $6
A congestion charge to enter an Ithsmus cordon $3
A CBD charge $5
A charge on public and private parks in the city $10

So why is Auckland singled out for special treatment?

This is iniquitous - seriously so.

Why or how has Winstone Peters scored a new, additional bridge in Tauranga at no additional cost to users. Buy off that's how.

What about the overbuilt (in relative terms) highway system in the South Island - deserted /unused highway for miles. Taxpayer provided.

Will the government devote the funds needed to actually make a viable rail passenger system in Auckland. It is starving it of capital.

Labour Engulfed by Loans Row

Maybe we won't see Helen Clark's pin-up boy here shortly afterall - seems Blair has been running a Peerage for Loans scam. This story seems to be getting legs fast. The deal is that loans to party coffers are not required to be disclosed. Only donations need get mentioned.

It raises a good question in my mind. Given the NZ Labour Party's propensity to copy all it can from its British alter ego - Pledge card anyone? - has the NZ Labour Party got around to raising funding in a similar anonymous way?

Get Carter

Housing Minister Carter (boy he gets around) won't throw state tenants out of their houses once they no longer need the subsidised accommodation. Whale Oil has the facts.

Carter says the reason they are in the house is because the National Government (ed: 9 years ago) introduced market rentals and he won't throw anyone out of 'their' house.

Two key points:
1. As Whale Oil succintly points out it is not their house.
2. It was the disestablishment of market rentals that makes it possible for the tenants to remain in subsidised accommodation long term. Only the landlord - ultimately the Minister, can change the game.

If market rentals with a housing supplement had remained the policy the tenant would find a house in keeping with their income because the (lowering) supplement (as income improved) would encourage the tenant to satisfice. This would free up a state house for a more needy state beneficiary.

As usual Labour do nothing substantive to help the needy - they only know how to make ideological rants. They also know only how to tell the needy that the reason their needs cannot be accommodated is because National had some policy 9 years ago.

As I say Get Carter.

Turkeys Vote For Christmas

A Bill to reduce Parliament to 100 members has passed its first hurdle. NZ First's Barbara Stewart was supported 61/59. Our resident democrats, Labour (50), Greens (6) and United Future (3) were agin its introduction.

Tanczos said it would lead to an unrepresentative Parliament - certainly I agree dope smokers would struggle to make it. Not sure society goes backwards at that point. He cited two lawyers; a Lab and a Nat who made an 'immeasurable contribution legislation at the select committee stage." Well Nandor - best you promote a few lawyers up your list if they are so necessary.

Rickards Has Not Learnt

Was Clint Rickards' decision to wear police uniform to court, in contravention of well established Police procedure, merely a mistake or was it demonstrative of the way the man works. Calculated to intimidate.

It looked to me to be demonstrative of the pressure the complainant claims Rickards put her under - she said she had no choice because he was a Policeman and twice her size. In other words did Rickards try to do to the jury what Nicholas claims he did to her - intimidate. Freudian I suggest. Or perhaps he is more of a Kant.

Another Underarm?

Barely a fortnight has passed since Dr Cullen met with his "great colleague" Peter Costello to discuss trans-tasman integration and relations. We were assured that all was rosy.

How do we equate undying and principled love with today's announcement (which has come out of Australia) that from June all unpackaged fresh produce from NZ exported to Australia will need country of origin stickers or labels. This is the Aussie government's response to Aussie farmers complaining NZ farmers produce at lower costs and are displacing their product in shops!

So much for a common market.

What has Cullen achieved in 9 years at the helm of CER? Nothing. He gets dicked everytime.

Prediction - the apples will never make it while we have Labour in charge. Especially now they have axed their most effective trade minister - Speeder Sutton

Benson-Pope Off the Front of Stage (for now)

National has eased up on Benson-Pope. Probably good strategy. I think there will be new information to come to light. Easing back now will leave weight in reserve for next time. Presently it would look like kicking a man while down. What is important is that Benson-Pope is officially now a lame duck. Shooting him would be a mercy (for him and those he tormented) but Clark won't - she will come to rue the day.

Anyway there is more sport with Chris Carter - who I suspect does not have the wit to stay out of serious trouble. I suspect there are plenty of sleepers in his portfolio - showing lack of due process, helping himself to things/baubles (or for his mates) that are not his etc. He reputedly has what some might call a reckless or risky (que?) lifestyle and I suspect it will carry on into his work. National should get Nick Smith out of it (because Carter will always dredge up Smith's time in the portfolio as a smoke screen) and put a proper attack dog onto Carter. Careful analysis of his decisions will quickly reveal breaches of natural justice and due process. He is not a careful man.

Text Bullying is a Parental Problem As Well

The recent discussion regarding TXT bullying following the tragic death of a child in Putaruru has brought parent's into the spotlight. Tapu Misa writes today that busy parents ("too busy, too distracted, or too spineless") are also culpable. I agree. Last week our daughter was off on School Camp. The very clear (ie explicit) instructions were that the children were not to take cellphones or iPods on camp. The school insisted there was no need for that equipment. We complied, despite a very grumpy daughter.

What actually happened - many (most) took phones. The school disciplined those (few) they caught - but there was no campaign to root them all out. The school hid behind privacy rules and said they could not search a pupil's belongings. Puhlease. No need to search just up the sanctions:

For me - I would amp it up as they got on the bus.

"This is your last chance - handover the phone. If it is found your parents can collect it at the end of term.

Inform the parents of a child pleading parental consent - "XXX said you said the phone could go on camp - we are disappointed that you ignored the school's direct and written request.

Unsurprisingly and disappointingly many parents did not take the opportunity to wean their child off a constant diet of TXT. One said - "I know they are not allowed phones, but I've let .... have her's - oh well". How ignorant is that?

As Tapu says: There are too many parents wanting to be Cool Mums or Cool Dads and not acting as responsible grown-ups.

Carter's Canniving Canard - Caught Conning No-One

The Government's Minister - Chris Carter has been telling porkies (probably a very insulting reference given his Arabic "mates") regarding where his support for going nuclear at Whanga comes from. Carter's dissembling was uncovered within one session in the House - the only support he could quote was emails running at 2:1. Emails it was proved he and his lying mates generated and worse for him - evidenced his decision to axe the Marina was taken three days before the Envirionment Court had released its decision. Carter did not have the guts to prorogue the Court - he waited while the applicants and the Court itself wasted (still) more money before he launched his pre-meditated and pre-conceived money shot.

Is there a more abusive Minister holding the GG's warrant? That man has no shame. Best thing he could do? - prove the Great White is no danger by swimming with one.

Another al-Qaeda Attack?

Chat amongst al-Qaeda operatives is at levels last seen prior to 9/11. David Farah posts on his blog. While the signs are there that the bad guys are working themselves into attack mode - it is not clear who or what the target is and whether they will be successful. Around the time of 9/11 an enormous amount of (now seemingly) obvious intelligence was either discounted or not acted apon. That is no longer the case.

We are safe down this end of the globe - F69 is breaking up, Chris Carter is saving Great White Sharks and chatting to his boyfriend on his cellphone while downloading the Air New Zealand flight schedule; meanwhile the friend of all teenage girls Benson-Pope is awarding pay rises to all beneficiaries in his ward.

Antique Media Suckered by Labour

David Benson-Pope releases a pay rise for all beneficiaries on Sunday night - a slow news night. No scrutiny.

Chris Carter proposes Monday to save the Great White Shark - lead news item at 6 pm and the Late news.

Why does the Liberal Left Lose Objectivity?

A great fisking in The Daily Telegraph regarding the supposed brutal treatment of a British detainee at Guantanamo Bay.

"Moazzam Begg is an innocent victim of American brutality". That was the way the British-born former Guantanamo Bay detainee presented himself this week as he toured television and radio stations to promote a book he co-wrote with the former Guardian journalist Victoria Brittain.

But Begg's account is starkly at odds with the signed statement he gave to FBI agents while held in Afghanistan after his capture in February 2002, a copy of which has been obtained exclusively by The Daily Telegraph. In the statement, which US officials insist was not obtained under duress, Begg admits to having attended three separate al-Qa'eda terrorist training camps in Afghanistan where he learnt to fire AK-47 rifles and rocket-propelled grenades and use primitive explosive devices.

U2 Boo Hoo

Staggered by today's news that the U2 Concert on St Patrick's Day is postponed sine die. Fuck.

Received text regarding postponement and the surreal moment returning from lunch at Eden Park to see a Billboard on New North Road for the U2 concert - "We'll be here With or Without You" - Fair trading action coming up.

Spot the Fraud

Law-abiding South African family emigrates to New Zealand - find work in Whangarei. Find better work in Auckland - move there. Update Immigration a little late on change of address and employer - Immigration say only solution is to return to SA and re-apply for NZ Residence!

Ahmed Zaoui - sneaks to New Zealand and lies about past. Draws extensively on legal aid and welfare to the tune of $2million. Does not work. Claims life in danger in Algeria but would return once it was safe. Algeria -declares amnssty of previous 'freedom fighters' eg Zaoui - Zaoui no longer wants to go home. GOvernment taking no steps to kick him out.

Moral of the story - as usual with Labour (publishers of The Double Standard) as the Government - never tell the truth, cheat, lie and dissemble and maintain a firm hold on the public teat while trying to get your back legs into the trough. The law-abiding if slow get crushed.

Carter Confirms Conceit

In a widely telegraphed decision Conservation Minister Chris Carter has confirmed his view that he is above the law.

Carter's extraordinary decision is peppered with self serving selective sops to minorities.

The most disquieting aspect of this sorry saga is the ease with which Carter overturns days of hearings by experts to a tribunal populated by professionals.

I think this is the apogee of the Arrogant - Labour Party

Carter the king of the cellphone bill and the NZ politician with the record for spousal air travel - Wadda guy

Will this be the Apogee of Labour's Arrogance?

Rumours that Conservation Minister Carter will veto the recently approved Whangamata marina abound.

Presumably the rumours arise from the Labour kite flying - or as another has put the strategy -

"Throw it on the porch and see if the cat licks it up"

The Environment Court decision was arrived at after extensive, voluminous and precise hearings where all points of view would have been canvassed and all parties had formal opportunities to make 'their case' .

This dear reader is the fundament upon which our legal system exists - transparency and access.

It is vital that Ministers of the Crown support both the process of law and its outcomes.

It would wrong for Carter to decide, unilaterally, to overturn a decision of the Court. This was no small matter decided in an afternoon. If Carter does veto he trivialises our legal system.

The rumours are Carter is planning to veto the development on grounds the proposed marina is an exclusive activity. The action of veto could not be more exclusive - especially if it comes after extensive, public, moderated court hearings.

By its nature Carter's veto would be exclusive. He would be making a decision without all interested parties making representation to him. He is narrowing the ambit of the available analysis.

Importantly he placing himself above the Courts.

The reason we have a Court process is to ensure, all points of view are aired. The merits are assessed according to the law and judgement reached. The Court has determined on the Whangamata Marina - Carter should leave it well alone.

Benson-Pope Given Patsy Opportunity by TV One

Close-Up tonight gave Benson-Pope an easy ride. Sainsbury let BePop make the agenda. The issue, ignored by friend Sainsbury is this:

Benson-Pope has repeatedly lied in the House. Why? Why? Why?

That is the issue.

Benson-Pope is trying to turn on his accusers - he has only himself to blame - none of the allegations have been shown to be false - every enquiry has come up with either prima facie proof or corroboration by other parties.

This man has Ministerial Warrants - the House is the only check and balance on unbridled abuse of power. Benson-Pope's, Clark's, Maharey's and Goff's support has an unbelievable stench about it.

The Clark administration is rotten if they cannot see the issue is integrity not what Benson-Pope did as a teacher (reprehensible as it was/is)

Spot the Difference

"My actions were within the law of the time" - Saddam Hussein

"I operated within the policy of the school at the time" - David Benson-Pope

Pay It Back Helen Like Pete is Asking Focus 2000 to Pay it Back

Great isn't it. Pete Hodgson is requiring a company to pay back $2.5Million in overcharges. Good on ya Pete - (though I smell a major scandal brewing here).

The same Pete Hodgson who masterminded Helen Clark's Pledgecard pillaging of the public coffers to the tune of $400,000 - subsequent to a direct call from the Auditor-General that the spending was not justified.

Dio the right thing Helen - Pay It Back

Labour is ducking, bobbing and weaving - they cannot hide - it was a rort of public funds. All the more so because it was a conscionable decision taken at the highest levels of the Labour Party. Hodgson as Strategist would have been front and centre on that along with Mike Williams and Helen Clark.

As we come to expect from Labour - do as I say not as I do.

Chewing Gum Stuck to Cullen's Heel

News today that Dr Cullen is thinking about dropping the chewing gum sized tax break will come as no news to most. The world's most cynical Finance Minister dropped a large hint yesterday that dropping the carbon tax meant he would need to drop the tax cut. What a load of balderdash. That man has no shame and the hide of a rhinoceros. The carbon tax was always a loser and so was his tax break. He comes across as a petulant dick.

Timely Reflection on the Douglas and Richards Reforms

Today's polemic in the NZ Herald by Doug Myers is thoughtful and timely. It makes a very good read. See here. Well worth the read.

A great line regarding the National Party, and I paraphrase, as never an active agent for reform...
...nor has it ever been especially interested in promoting freedom but rather a "soft porn" version of socialism.

Hear, hear.

There you go Rodney - that's your cue.

Government on the Run

So early in the term and already Clark's mob are in defense mode - it is not a good look.

TVNZ unravelling by the day. They have completely shafted that organisation. The best Maharey could do today was claim they had saved it from being sold off. Some rescue. Private enterprise with the right set of incentives and controls is probably best placed to deliver public broadcasting objectives. As usual with socialists they confuse ownership with service delivery. Now we have the lunatics running the asylum.

Telecom - saw the Government off two years ago - now Clark is declaring she will change the regulatory framework to enable to NZ to catch-up in broadband. Where has she been these past two years. Australia has broad band at 7 times the speed of NZ for half the cost. Who has any confidence Clark and her lapdog Cunliffe can deliver. Cunliffe who cannot even put a wetsuit on the right way round for a craven photo-op - see today's Sideswipe for a photo.

Auckland Transport
In December 2003 the Labour Government announced new governance arrangements for (re)building public transport infrastructure, facilities and services in Auckland. Governance was to be simplified by eliminating one regional body and replacing it with two - ARTA and ARH under the control of the ARC.

The results have been shambolic - now the Government proposes another additional body, Auckland Passenger Rail Reference Group (APRRG) to provide "a more formal mechanism for resolving differences" among the Auckland Regional Transport Authority, Ontrack, the government agency controlling the rail tracks, and Land Transport New Zealand, the government funding agency.

What a friggin joke. Labour don't want Auckland's roading fixed. They want the notion of progress and an electorate beholden to the Government for a few more crumbs.

Just for the record - Labour's President, Mike Williams, sits on the Boards of ARTA, and Transit NZ (whose charter states... "the Board of Transit New Zealand directs both overall policy and funding allocation).

The government is now grizzling that the panacea for Auckland, a regional petrol tax, is not generating the expected funding because high petrol prices have reduced consumption - duh! I see markets prices do work eh? No mention of the higher GST receipts I might add...

What William's has done is this - used his pivotal positions and information flows to subvert roading projects to ensure Labour's control of key urban electorates outside Auckland. Transit's long term plan nationally, had 17/20 highest priority projects in Auckland. William's intervention saw the number funded in Auckland reduced to 3. ie he leapfrogged 14 other less deserving projects. He bodgied the numbers/process to get other regions into the trough. Result - Labour elected. See here for another example of the tentacles Williams has spread.

Just Pay It Back Helen

Helen, the money you nicked from the taxpayers needs to be paid back. Now.

It was nearly half a million dollars.

Putting up a smokescreen about the the Exclusive Brethren ignores the facts - You nicked those funds from the taxpayer. Your actions were a premeditated raid on the public purse.

The Exclusive Bretheren paid for their pamphlets with their OWN money.

Any comment about lack of clarity around spending guidelines is utter tosh. You were told by the Auditor-General before the election that this type of spending could not be classed a legitimate spending. You ignored that - with your usual arrogance, conceit and imperiousness. This was a premeditated assault on public monies.

And another thing - because you also nicked similar funds in the previous two elections without sanction does not make it right. You owe that money back as well...

Pay It Back

Brash Brilliant

The reported speech of Brash in the House yesterday shows some telling hits on the Government. Best line - "Pay it Back" - Good to see the other scandals being reported as well - Corngate, Paintergate, Doonegate.

Methinks the Government have just witnessed the turning point with the Antique Media. Clark's imperiousness, and her and her Government's propensity for bold talk and no delivery has finally received a fisking by the old media. The people have had enough and the tide has turned.

Good to see Brash make a good fist of it in the House - he and his party will be the better for it.

Interesting to see Darren Fucknuckle and co left with only braying from the sidelines. He can smell the stench of a decaying government and knows how close he was to not making it this time. Next time he will be dog tucker - destined never to make Cabinet.

Images of the Prophet are Widespread - in Islam

Following the hat-tip of Gateway Pundit - I went to Freedom for Egyptians...There she has linked to an archive of pictures of the Prophet Mohammed - (printed in the middle centuries) after his visitation from the Angel Gabriel. ie the life stage the West is demonised for publishing his image.

As I have been saying the hypocrisy is breath taking.

This is part of a bigger plan - the radical islamisation of the West - another plank in the takeover. We have to hold our nerve and push back.

Story Teller Found

Great post over at Sir Humphrey's AL has the story on the cartoons - they were published in Egypt October 2005 - no reaction at all from the Muslim world. The current furore has been absolutely manipulated by radical islam to demonise the West, instill fear and put up a smokescreen to divert attention away from Iran's atomic program expansion. The program has been lapped up by the antique media and their idiot mates on the Left.

Interestingly though, even the usual suspects in the antique media are now questioning the story, its origins and the intentions. Linda Clark today seemed sceptical - many can see that the free press we talk about is the choice to choose to publish without fear or favour.

Miss Clark and her camel boy al-Carter miss the point - not publishing because of threats is the reason to publish.

Perhaps we have a turning point - the rads have overplayed their hand. Same happened in the 16th Century - they were driven out of Europe then - the West can do it again.

We should tell the Iranian embassy to JFO.

Story Teller Needed

Characterisations/Plot? so far:

• Militant Group Hamas wins election in Palestine
• Democracy breaks out in Iraq
• Key protagonists in Iraq (al-Zaqawi) driven out of Iraq to Iran
• Iran ramps up nuclear rhetoric and boots out IAEC inspectors - begins uranium enrichment
• Islamofascists take offence to cartoons published 5 months earlier
• Muslims take to the streets burning and pillaging as a 'reaction' to the offensive cartoons.
• Iran continues provoking the west and particularly the US.

Is is just me or is there a linkage - reports today show Government coordination in the protests - particularly Iran and Syria

Muslim Hypocrisy Stinks

What have we come to when Ministers and Prime Ministers kowtow to extremism.

With breath taking hypocrisy Muslims, including one Javed Khan, invoke threats or the threat of threats to prevent newspapers from publishing the Mohammedan cartoons, first aired in September 2005.

The hypocrisy is this - New Zealand is a free society - freedom of expression is paramount and a foundation stone. Khan's mentioning of threats to NZ is the anti-thesis of that freedom. His and his ilk's calls for censorship are as repugnant as the cartoons themselves.

What is wrong is not that news media in NZ chose to reproduce the vulgar cartoons, but that the muslim brotherhood has ignored the absolute right of the media to make its own choice as to the appropriateness of the material it reproduces.

The Labour Government's response is not beyond reproach. It is sad, but Oh So Predictable...

They have quickly slid in behind the muslim view. What would have been more appropriate would be a call for tolerance, a reinforcement of freedom of expression in New Zealand, noting its secularity and probably most importantly commentary that the very legislation the Left are wanting to introduce throughout the Western World (ie democracies) - the 'hate crime' legislation making it a crime to utter (or think) an alternative view to or about minorities - would be (paradoxically) available against those making barbarous statements...

For example:

Last week, Muslims marched in the centre of London chanting "Freedom go to Hell!"

I paraphrase the Daily Telegraph

...Is this not an abuse of the freedom of protest and freedom of assembly that are foundation stones of British democracy. Yet, even as they exploited these hard-won liberties, they were calling for them to be abolished...

yep, I think so.

Or what about this...again from the Daily Telegraph

The protesters in London with their disgraceful slogans - "Behead those who Insult Islam", "Britain you will pay - 7/7 is on its way" - have made it all but impossible for a genuinely free debate on this issue to take place. All such debate is now being carried out in the shadow of murderous intimidation.

This has been a disgraceful week for most in Government in the West. Most have become craven apologists with little wit or leadership.

The Iranian's Have Nukes Already

Following a hat-tip from Lucyna and my own hunch I went shopping. Seems the Iranians have already 8-12 nukes. 3-4 obtained from Kazahkastan and 3-4 from Ukraine. See here for the detail.

This story is not getting traction with the ancient media (ht Adolf) - where as it should.

It makes it easier to understand why the Iranians are provoking the US, Europe and Israel.

They know there is only limited capacity and capability for military action at present - better to provoke a limited response and in the settlement post war the Iranian regime is strenthened.

See here: from here

If his sources are correct and Ahmadinejad is leaking that Iran has nuclear weapons, it would appear he is intent on creating a crisis now! Many believe Ahmadinejad is setting a trap for the west because western military action at this time would likely be of a limited nature since the west is unprepared for a full scale occupation of Iran. Such a confrontation would likely end in a negotiated settlement leaving the regime in power, but would also likely include internationally agreed to security arrangements with the regime, a very dangerous proposition indeed

Finally the Truth from Ahmed Zaoui

Zaoui featured tonight in a TV One advertisement; standing outside Mt Eden Prison.

Saying..."It's all about me"

Yep, right this time Ahmed. It's only ever been about you and your jihadist mates.

Truly Bizarre is Right

I was staggered and stunned to hear on last night's late TV News that the Government had sent officials to Japan to advise traders and Japanese investors not to invest in the NZ bond issues - known as uridashi bonds.

WTF is going on when a Government with an open economy tells investors not to invest...particularly foreign investors. Normally countries/economies of our size are begging for foreign investment.

As John Key said it is truly bizarre when the NZ Government behaves like this.

The problem is the interest rates are so high Japanese investors cannot ignore them.

The solution is lower interest rates. To do that the Government's contribution should be to reduce its own monopolistic activities crowding out the private sector and further free up the economy (so we have real competition) from the vast state owned apparatus still in place (all the major energy generation bar one is state owned).

The state owned electricty sector should be floated - piece by piece - that would give something for foreign investors to mull over and would give the NZX a big fillip.

Finally and its a biggie - reduce taxes Michael. Better you let the people have their own money than making them go to those nasty foreign banks and borrow.

Alasdair Thompson of the EMA has had a brain freeze today if he supports the Government intervention. He knows better...another week at the beach or are you still at the beach?

al-Qaeda Dead Named

Among the dead in the Predator attack in Pakistan was the son-in-law of the al-Qaeda second in command, al-Zawahri, Abdul Rehman Al-Misri al Maghribi. Maghribi was responsible for al Qaeda's media department.

As I said earlier - good intelligence - good execution. Good guys 4 - Bad guys nil.

Another was Midhat Mursi al-Sayid 'Umar, an expert in explosives and poisons who carried a $5 million US bounty on his head under the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Rewards for Justice programme.

The FBI says 'Umar ran a training camp at Derunta in Afghanistan and since 1999 had proliferated training manuals containing crude recipes for chemical and biological weapons.

The third man identified was Abu Obaidah al Misri, al Qaeda's chief of operations in Afghanistan's eastern Kunar province, where US and Afghan forces regularly come under attack from militant groups.

Pakistani Intelligence is said to be still trying to identify a fourth al Qaeda member believed to have been killed in last Friday's airstrike.

Bollard Should Attack Ministers For Profligacy

News today that two new gaols being built under Damien O'Connor's stewardship are over budget by $141 Million should appall us all. This is an extraordinary overrun.

Clearly things are out-of-control in the Government. For one of the prisons the overrun amounts to $153,000 per bed!!! That's the overrun not the cost.

When considered in the context of Chris Carter's out of control cell phone bill and his vast travel account manoevering his man about the country for weekend trysts it is safe to assume Labour see the taxpayer's as cows to be milked.

There is no sense of accountability at all. Alan Bollard is best to direct his guns at out of control Ministers - that is where he can effect quick change. Get the Government out of our lives and stop them making up ludicrous nitpicking laws which are foist on ever eager Councils to implement and rate. It is the monopoly and oligopolistic suppliers that are driving inflation. Not mum and dad buying a renter or moving to a better suburb.

I should add - it usually the Government owned Kiwibank that is leading the rush to have the lowest rate to lend mortgage money....not those nasty foreign owned banks.

'El Jefe' Field Report Delayed Further

News today that the Beehive (Floor 9) confirms the Ingram Report into the extra-ministerial and property development activities of the Labour Member for Mangere and former Labour Minister is delayed at least a month will surprise no-one.

This is standard issue for Helen Clark and her Government. The model (being faithfully followed) is: Promise an quick and fulsome report. Delay, delay, delay - release at an appropriate moment behind a smokescreen of something else.

The longer this goes on the more likely it is that Field is a gone-burger. Clark is waiting to find a good time to execute him. This will bring her mate Charles Chauvel to the House. A dandy if ever I saw one.

Al-Reuters Confirms Al-Qaeda Members Killed at Pakistan Village Airstrike

Very late in the piece Al-Reuters finally reports the truth behind the airstrike. It says Pakistani officials have confirmed Egyptian members of Al-Qaeda were killed and that Al-Zawahiri (also an Egyptian) was expected at the house for the evening. There is no confirmation Al-Zawahiri was not killed. Some bodies were quickly removed to another place. Apparently there is DNA analysis going on - by who and on who and with what material is not known.

As I blogged yesterday - the intelligence was good and the mission execution was excellent.
Perhaps now Northern tribesman Jewellers will choose their dinner guests more carefully and keep their wives and children out of town when bad guys come calling - particularly those with a price on their head.

The pity is the blogosphere is 36 hours ahead of the MSM - where do you go for your news?

Zaoui's Group Alleged to be Behind the Massive Italian Terror Operation

As I blogged earlier the NBR alone in NZ has covered the story from Italy about a major Al Qaeda affiliate group planning a massive global terror campaign.

The conspirators are Algerians - members of GSPC the major armed militant organisation in Algeria. This group is also often referred to as GIA, Ahmed Zaoui's old mob. (GIA is the terror group Zaoui was convicted of heading by the French and Belgian courts). For proof/reference go to the oracle itself Amnesty International - haha. Cannot duck that one boys.

Wikipedia has a good summary as well.

Methinks the SIS were/are on to something - be great to have a linkage with Ahmed Zaoui in old footage meeting his buddies Yamine Bouhrama, Achour Rabah and Tartaq Sami - the conspirators.

NBR (a non Daily) Alone Carries Story Regarding Italians Preventing a Major Terrorist 'Spectacular'in the US.

The NBR carries the story here revealing the superb action by the Italian authorities in breaking open a conspiracy to mount a major terror action in the US. A key element was wiretaps. The plan was devastation on a scale greater than 9/11.

Two points are very interesting:

1 - The Mainstream media have ignored this - especially in the US. Presumably it does not fit the stories and editorials against the Bush Administration's plans to tap the 'phones of US citizens. The media are trying to generate a ground swell to impeach Bush for 'spying on Americans'. Bush meantime is proving every day his focus is on taking whatever steps are necessary to prevent Americans from being blown up by Al Qaeda - particularly on US soil.

1b - In NZ the story was broken by a weekly - interestingly a conservative, and some might say rightwing publication.

2 - The Conspirators were Algerians - I wonder whether our resident Algerian subject of hagiographic lefty love was previously (is) associated with these Algerian conspirators. More on this in a later blog.

A postscript is Tony Blair has advised MP's in the UK he favours making MP's (along with the rest of the populace) subject to wiretaps - any previous understandings of privilege or bans will go.

Al Qaeda Fighters Killed in Pakistani Attack

I caught the briefest mention on the late TV News last night that 4-5 'foreigners' were killed in the remote villlage attacked (allegedly by Predator fired missiles). As we all know 'foreigners' in those parts is code for Al Qaeda. Nothing in the mainstream media today following the brief mention last night that Al Qaeda was there and done.

This story obviously does not fit the MSM view of the world where the better story is ''CIA cocks up missile attack and kills innocents". The New York Post - in direct contrast to their Democrat loving, anti-anything Bush, pro-islamist, counterparts across the river at the NY Times, report the deaths of Al Qaeda fighters and that Al-Zawahiri was invited to the establishment but sent Aides at the last minute. Seems the intelligence was good and the good guys did the bad guys. It is a pity our press did not keep up. Preferring the anti-US - CIA are buffoons line.

Hat-tip and help Adolf

Fran O'Sullivan on Fire

It has been a pleasure to read Fran O'Sullivan's columns in the NZ Herald in 2006. Long may she continue. She has been apposite and has really taken the fight to the Government, particularly key ministers and bureaucrats - notably Bollard.

Fran's 'New Year Resolutions' was very good - a good agenda for the Government if they chose to follow it. Today's message to Bollard is timely and to the point. The sooner he stops jawboning the general economy and aims squarely at the out of control government sector the more likely we are to have a soft landing.

The tragedy in all this - Fran O'Sullivan's columns are suscriber only.

Update: Hat-tip Premium Content carries the story...

Sorry Helen Tone Wants Your (coveted) Job

President Clinton has endorsed Tony Blair's suitability for UN Secretary-General, available once Kofi Annan retires 31 December 2006. In a remarkable continuance of the 'third way' they co-authored, the pals are sticking together. This spells doom for Helen Clark's thrust at the role. What a sad end for the south pacific franchisee to the 'third way' (basically poll the people and give them what they think they want, while railing at tilted windmills) - Clark won't have the gravitas of Blair or the patronage of President Clinton. Perhaps Sue Kedgely can ask her old boyfriend Kofi to put in a good word for Helen.