Feeling the pressure
Labour are showing signs of feeling the pressure as they cope with scandal after scandal and a backlash against the smacking ban bill. Watch this video (thanks to Whale Oil) from Parliament today as Steve Maharey says “fuck you” to National MP Jonathan Coleman. TV isn’t allowed to play the unedited footage on air as it would breach broadcasting standards – and this is the Broadcasting Minister. Maharey claims it was a “slip of the tongue”. Yeah Right.
And last week Trevor Mallard was dispatched to the press gallery to complain to them that the gallery are not sycophantic enough biased against the Government. This did not go down well with some journalists especially as Trevor’s diplomacy saw him ending up in a heated argument (could be clearly heard in other offices) with TVNZ Political Editor Guyon Espiner. TVNZ’ was castigated for not having given the PM’s Washington trip enough positive coverage.
The PM got incredibly positive coverage of her trip. I even said on Good Morning TV that it had been very successful. God knows how positive it would need to be, to meet the Government’s requirements. They must be looking at the Chinese model of reporting with favour.
No wonder Jordan continues to make posts wailing and wailing. Can I please urge anyone out there who is a swinging voter, who is not a party loyalist, to go read the first post especially, but also the second. And also all the comments if you have time.
April 4th, 2007 at 10:05 pm
You know you are loosing an argument when you resort to language like that.
There would not be an MP in the house which hasn’t thought the same thing, but you are really loosing your grip on the situation when you blurt it out live on TV.
Imagine if an All Black did that after a loss. They would be roasted.
April 4th, 2007 at 10:06 pm
I’ll think you’ll find i have roasted him, good and proper.
April 4th, 2007 at 10:17 pm
They are definitely losing it. The nasty and personal attacks are up on John Key somewhat, this latest Smarmy incident, Trevors outburst in the press gallery, Cullen also becoming more vile. They are a humourless bunch of arrogant socialists who cannot understand why their support is leaving them. (and worse going to National)
On top of this they have run out of ideas and steam – They are crumbling.
I believe this is the reason for Jordan’s “waaa waa waaa National are Nasty” posts. Wait and see National are Nasty as the plan B that labour have come up with (sounding out first on Jordan Blog for reaction.
April 4th, 2007 at 10:19 pm
This arrived today at the Bat Cave, Steve has been fobbing me off since I approached his office for assistance when he was Minister of Social Services early in 2002 and every year since concerning my sad estrangement from my own flesh and blood children. I hope you are proud of your Mr Maharey, as you are a disgrace to New Zealand. I could swear at you but I will not lower myself as I believe in personal power – bring it on .Its time the public knew how silly you are !!
Without prejudice
Office of Hon Steve Maharey, MP
Parliament Buildings
Wellington
29 March 2007.
Dear Mr B
Thank you for your letter of 12 February 2007 requesting about which school your daughter J is attending.
The right to be given information relating to the education of your two daughters has to be consistent with the Privacy Act 1993 and any Court rulings that have determined whether or not it is permissible to release the information.
As you have stated that your children are Court protected, it is not appropriate for the Ministry of Education to provide you with the information you have requested. It is necessary for you to obtain legal advice if you wish to access the information you have requested.
Yours sincerely,
Steve Maharey
Minister of Education.
April 4th, 2007 at 10:26 pm
David Farrar says – “Can I please urge anyone out there who is a swinging voter, who is not a party loyalist, to go read the first post especially, but also the second. And also all the comments if you have time.”
Don’t forget David Farrar that there has also been a discusion of this issue on your very own blog. I would have thought that you would have pointed that one out first! Here:
http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2007/04/waa_waa_waa_waa_waa.html#comments
Also: It has been pointed out in the comments section of this post:
http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2007/04/marginalising_those_who_disagr.html#comments
that you are quite willing to accept the label of being ‘morally bankrupt’. Therefore – I feel it is necessary to point out to readers that they should be skeptical at best of any moral position that you, or, indeed, any other person proven to be morally bankrupt, choose to take.
April 4th, 2007 at 10:34 pm
*sigh* I think there’s another more serious point to be made.
Maharey and Mallard should be perfectly well aware that both RNZ and TVNZ are covered by the The Broadcasting Act 1989. This act does not prevent politicians from laying complaints with the broadcaster in the first instance, or the Broadcasting Standards Authority, alleging breeches of the applicable code of conduct.
If the Ministers need a refresher course, the BSA has a useful and informative page on how to do so, and the grounds on which a complaint can be made, at http://www.bsa.govt.nz/complaints-intro.php
However, I doubt they’ll bother because displeasing the Government of the day is not considered a breech of broadcasting standards.
April 4th, 2007 at 10:35 pm
idiotboy – “morally bankrupt” that’s a bit rich from you -learn balance .
April 4th, 2007 at 10:38 pm
I note that Jordan has closed down comments. Typical pinko. When the heat goes on they run for cover.
Lets chip in and buy the filthy pinko a one-way ticket home. Woosy cry-baby.
April 4th, 2007 at 10:51 pm
dad4justice – i thought we were mates??!!
April 4th, 2007 at 10:52 pm
idiotboy, proven to be morally bankrupt, in my book, would involve more than you declaring that DPF is, and him not bothering to respond, or to delete your comment. In fact, not deleting your comment I would suggest is an indicator in the opposite direction. And since your comment was one in a stream of drivel, I am not surprised DPF didn’t respond.
April 4th, 2007 at 10:58 pm
Crikey, Labour is in trouble. “Fuck you” Steve.
April 4th, 2007 at 11:19 pm
Idiotboy – my not bothering to correct your ignorance means just that. Now if you want to be taken seriously go and do some research and also check out the acceptable use policy for this blog.
April 4th, 2007 at 11:48 pm
Anyone got [deleted by DPF - please do not solicit personal details on this blog] residential address and telephone number? We would be happy to post it…..
CYFSWATCH
April 5th, 2007 at 2:10 am
fuuuck question time is a fucking waste of taxpayers’ money. does anyone know what Coleman was saying immediately after he asked the question as he was sitting down?
April 5th, 2007 at 6:08 am
Don’t be too tough on Jordan, he is only obeying orders.
April 5th, 2007 at 6:14 am
Billboard for next election
Statement across top:
“People who Disagree With Us”
Labour side:
“Wreckers and haters”
“Chinless scarve wearers”
“Extreme right wing fundamentalists”
“Beaters and thrashers of children”
“F… you”
National side:
“To be treated with tolerance and respect”
April 5th, 2007 at 7:10 am
I seem to recall that in the Christine Rankin court case she alleged that Maharey had sworn at her. He denied this, saying that he didn’t swear.
April 5th, 2007 at 7:14 am
“…it is not my practice to swear in professional meetings.”
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/news_politics_story_skin/52210
April 5th, 2007 at 7:37 am
Great clip Whaleoil, but you could have done with most of the whiny text (you all doth protest too much about Jordan).
Plunket’s comment was unwarranted and stupid – I’m sure there’d be seven shades of shit flying here if a broadcaster had signed off an interview with a senior National MP by musing on whether his subject was “racist”, without the chance for reply – but Maharey’s subsequent threat to go to the board was equally unwarranted and stupid.
I’m also a little struck by the irony that Maharey’s tormentor in the House made his own headlines not so long ago by being an abusive jerk to a member of the public.
April 5th, 2007 at 8:06 am
And David, are you the same David P. Farrar who recently took exaggerated offence at the mere implication that he’d posted something racist – and summarily banned the commenter concerned?
http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2007/03/priceless_1.html
Tiny bit rich, don’t you think?
April 5th, 2007 at 8:32 am
The most irritating thing about Jordan is the way he pretends to be some sort of independent, one man band, Labourite think tank.
I firmly believe he operates under remote control, merely told what to ‘discuss’ by an upper echelon of Labour Party spin meisters. The sad fact is that this sort of obsequious sycophancy is the only way to advance one’s career in Labour these days. And to think, Douglas, Prebble, Lange, Moore & Bassett joined Labour because, back then, it was seen to be the party of EQUAL OPPORTUNITY – not the dictatorship and party of privilege it is now.
April 5th, 2007 at 8:39 am
Plunket’s comment was unwarranted and stupid – I’m sure there’d be seven shades of shit flying here if a broadcaster had signed off an interview with a senior National MP by musing on whether his subject was “racist”, without the chance for reply -
Hum… First, I’d note that Steve Maharey has the same recourse to the Broadcasting Standards Authority and RNZ’s own complaints process as anyone else. No more, but certainly no less.
Second, do you really want to argue that Don Brash wasn’t called a racist – and worse – with monotonous regularity on National Radio, and not always with a right of reply either?
While we’re talking about little ironies, Maharey and Mallard have their own histories of *ahem* dishing the bitch from behind the skirts of Parliamentary privilege – where, of course, the people they’ve smeared have precisely ZERO recourse.
Methinks Messers Maharey and Mallard doth protest too much. And it’s beyond “unwarranted and stupid” that they’re trying to monster the staff of state broadcasters in the way they did – it’s not only totally out of line, but it’s dumb politics as well. Just ask the late Robert David Muldoon if you’re psychically inclined.
April 5th, 2007 at 8:47 am
Russell – I have never said Maharey did not have the right to complain about what Plunket said. I would have done the same. But for the Broadcasting Minister of all people to threaten to go to the Board instead of the BSA is wrong, as you acknowledge.
Also if you are going to get comparisons valid, I only banned Danyl for saying it on my blog. It is almost a daily occurence for National MPs or supporters to be accussed of racism, dog whistle politics etc. I bet you Maharey himself has accussed National MPs of racism or similiar words.
Maharey has every right to be annoyed at Plunket. But he blundered by threatening to go to the Board and the Opposition has every right, indeed a duty, to hold Maharey to account for his threat of illegal intervention. And Maharey could just apologise for making the threat while stressing he was upset, but instead he well makes himself look like a dick.
April 5th, 2007 at 9:04 am
stan said..
“..does anyone know what Coleman was saying immediately after he asked the question as he was sitting down?..”
my reading was it contained the word ‘fuck’..
phil(whoar.co.nz)
April 5th, 2007 at 9:05 am
stan said..
“..does anyone know what Coleman was saying immediately after he asked the question as he was sitting down?..”
my reading was it contained the word ‘fuck’..
phil(whoar.co.nz)
April 5th, 2007 at 9:11 am
Phil can read – wonders will never cease.
April 5th, 2007 at 9:19 am
Craig:
Hum… First, I’d note that Steve Maharey has the same recourse to the Broadcasting Standards Authority and RNZ’s own complaints process as anyone else. No more, but certainly no less.
Absolutely my view: take a ticket and stand in line with the rest of us, Steve. I think the phone call was actually a much worse look than the blurt in the house.
David:
Russell – I have never said Maharey did not have the right to complain about what Plunket said. I would have done the same.
And yet you’ve posted twice on the matter without thinking to say so? Again, if Plunket had concluded an interview with any National minister in such a fashion you’d have been very loudly outraged, with a choir of outrage in support.
But for the Broadcasting Minister of all people to threaten to go to the Board instead of the BSA is wrong, as you acknowledge.
Yep, no argument from me there.
But I’m surprised that you all are still going on about Jordan’s unimpressive “nasty party” posts. It’s not like Jordan’s party hasn’t been described in equally unpleasant terms on a more or less daily basis on this and various other blogs (and, indeed, in the comments on his blog that you’re urging people to read). It seems like a pretty tedious sort of flame war.
April 5th, 2007 at 9:20 am
Not only can he read, but he can read lips as well. Double wonders
April 5th, 2007 at 9:41 am
Russell – If Maharey had not made his method of complaining the story, I would have done a post just on what Plunket had said. But yes I should have made that point anyway and will do a post on that later today.
As for Jordan – look we all do posts that in hindsight we regret. But I was amazed that instead of regretting the post, Jordan is proudly defiant and things that sort of stuff helps him or Labour. The only reason I posted about it again is because Jordan did. The irony is he says I am thin skinned about his posts. On the contrary I love them when they are that bad.
April 5th, 2007 at 9:45 am
looks like whaleoil has been shut down… anyone know anything about that?
April 5th, 2007 at 9:56 am
Nice to see Russell Brown chipping in here and giving DPF a reality check.
April 5th, 2007 at 10:40 am
Russell, you appear to be a little slower than usual today. It was Maharey who referred to Botswana – remember? Why he referred to Botswana is anyone’s guess and Sean Plunkett had every right to wonder whether there were racist undertones behind Maharey’s comment. As soon as Maharey had put his foot in his mouth, he should have realised the comment about Botswana was dumb and insulting to all those schools that use the Cambridge exam.
Oh, and I managed to get banned from your site for merely disagreeing with you. You’ve really got to learn to be more tolerant.
April 5th, 2007 at 10:50 am
From the TVNZ’s report on the issue last night.
“Maharey made use of his extensive vocabulary saying “f…you” to National broadcasting spokesman Jonathan Coleman”.
Extensive vocabulary indeed! It makes you wonder whether he’d smack a child if given the chance.
April 5th, 2007 at 10:55 am
It makes you wonder what he would say to a child if he got a chance and lost his temper.
April 5th, 2007 at 11:00 am
…check out the acceptable use policy for this blog.
There’s an acceptable use policy? Oh, so there is…
Things to be wary of…
* grossly offensive personal attacks
* posting off-topic
* un-necessarily obscene language
Good to see everyone adhering to those rules!
April 5th, 2007 at 11:17 am
I would just like to say that I think that there is nothing wrong with “that sort of language”, especially when politicians use it. It is actually very positive when they do use the words they feel like saying to express ideas with out regarding what people’s response would be. Lets not forget people that these are JUST WORDS and that WORDS cannot harm us. Don’t be afraid, nervous or get angry with politicians when words like these are used in parliament – embrace them! This helps us understand them better and helps them get their point through faster and clearer.
The case of Steve Maharey is of no importance and he doesn’t deserve the bashing that he is getting from every one around the country. He merely said what he felt and should be entitled to freedom of speech just like the rest of us.
April 5th, 2007 at 11:27 am
What rubbish alon.
The institution that is our parliament deserves a certain level of respect and that includes the requirement that the supposedly intelligent people who have been elected to represent the people of the country show sufficient self control and awareness that they exhibit certain standards of dress, behaviour and language consistent with that respect.
I will accept that the parliament (certainly at question time) has become more of a cesspit with behaviour more remeniscent of Lord of the Flies over recent years as the Government has declared itself increasingly non-accountable to answer questions, but that is not an excuse to accept a further deterioration in standards.
“The rest of us” do not necessarily share your desire to use language that is a poor excuse for an adequate vocabulary so please do not use your own limitations in an attempt to categorise the population at large.
April 5th, 2007 at 11:30 am
I would just like to say that I think that there is nothing wrong with “that sort of language”, especially when politicians use it. It is actually very positive when they do use the words they feel like saying to express ideas with out regarding what people’s response would be. Lets not forget people that these are JUST WORDS and that WORDS cannot harm us. Don’t be afraid, nervous or get angry with politicians when words like these are used in parliament – embrace them! This helps us to understand them better and helps them get to their point through faster and clearer.
The case of Steve Maharey is of no importance and he doesn’t deserve the bashing that he is getting from every one around the country. He merely said what he felt and should be entitled to freedom of speech just like the rest of us.
April 5th, 2007 at 11:31 am
I am disgusted at this Mahairy man’s use of a rude word. It is an insult to our glorious Anzac dead, who fought for our freedom without ever once resorting to a cuss, an insult to our glorious All Blacks, who TV lip-readers will have detected saying “Golly Gosh, I have dropped the ball!”, an insult to our farmers, the glorious backbone of our country, who respond to their Toyota mishaps with a hearfelt “Bother!”, to Lord Edward Hillary, who “knocked the blighter off”, and above all, it is deeply offensive to the saintly servants of the nation, our glorious media.
These are the role models we need, not Mr Steve Chadwick and any other EVIL potty-mouthed politician. HOW DARE HE!
Yours, Outraged of Onehunga, No Life, NZ.
April 5th, 2007 at 11:45 am
Heres another take on Jordans post
Almost word for word….
http://big-news.blogspot.com/2007/04/nasty-party-in-2004-then-chairperson-of.html
April 5th, 2007 at 11:47 am
Heres another take on Jordans post
Almost word for word….
http://big-news.blogspot.com/2007/04/nasty-party-in-2004-then-chairperson-of.html
April 5th, 2007 at 11:49 am
Good to see National are getting better and better at holding this tired an corrupt government to account. Question time today looks to be interesting with two questions aimed at Smarmy and one important question to :
2. KATHERINE RICH to the Minister of Education: What, if anything, did he learn about education standards from his visit to Botswana “to progress international education opportunities”?
4. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Minister of Justice: Has he completed the review of the electoral finance regime; if so, what specific changes to the Electoral Act 1993, if any, will he be proposing?
8. Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN to the Minister of Broadcasting: Does he stand by his statement to the House yesterday, “That is what one does by making a formal complaint: one complains right to the board of Radio New Zealand.”; if not, why not?
Bill English’s question (and answer will be very interesing. National has not been consulted about the electoral law reform, and Michael Cullen has already signalled that he has no intention of doing so.
Significant changes to the electoral system must have broad political support. Labour is continueing to treat the public with contempt by refusing to speak with all parties in Parliament on an equal basis. This is another sign of a very desperate yet corrupt Labour Party who will do anything to remain in power. Quite simply they cannot be trusted – and if they can’t be trusted then why would anyone vote for them.
April 5th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
Peter mck;
Don’t hold your breath wating for answers. Questions will be addressed, but not answered.
April 5th, 2007 at 1:19 pm
I wonder if Maharey got a smck on the bum for using bad language when he was a child – I mean chronologically.
April 5th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
Alon
“Lets not forget people that these are JUST WORDS and that WORDS cannot harm us.”
Oh yeah, and what if a National type had uttered that word in Parliament.
And what about the “n” word or “q” word and various other “incorrect” words. Just words eh?
April 5th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
ALON is right, I think some commentators are being a bit tough on Maharey. He is only reflecting his own upbringing and the manner in which he is bringing up his children.
April 7th, 2007 at 9:50 pm
Ah come on lads, its just a word and hes simply a human. Not appropriate, but far too much is being made of this.
We have all used it, inappropriately!
So much energy has been wasted debating this.
You only have to watch question time to see the waste of space there.
In fact .. MR BROWNLEEEEEE .. MR BROWNLEEEEEE it goes on and on.
