A Government that thinks they are above the law
September 22nd, 2008 at 1:28 pm by David FarrarThe implicit attacks on the Serioud Fraud Office Director by Clark and Cullen (and Peters) are really final proof that this is a Government that thinks they are above the law. There is a very disturbing pattern of abuse directed towards senior officials who ever draw attention to the fact someone in the Government is breaking the law.
Here’s five examples:
- Helen Clark attacked the Police for the investigation of her for forgery in Paintergate
- Labour attacked the Chief Electoral Officer for stating the 2005 pledge card was an election advertisement and referring them to the Police
- Labour and allies launched a sustained campaign of vilification against the Auditor-General for whistle blowing on their illegal use of taxpayer funded parliamentary budgets
- Just last week Jim Anderton attacked the Electoral Commission for referring him to the Police for a possibly illegal election advertisement
- The refusal of Clark and Cullen to express confidence in the Director of the Serious Fraud Office while the SFO is investigating one of her Ministers on serious or complex fraud allegations
Now consider this. The evidence the SFO seemingly gave to the Privileges Committee was that one of Helen’s Ministers lied to the media, lied to the public and gave a false statement to the Privileges Committee. This is an incredibly serious thing. The only reason it isn’t perjury is because they never swore their statements under oath.
Labour resent being held to account by the laws of this land. Whenever laws are broken they attack the law enforcement agencies. This goes well beyond a third term born to rule attitude. It is a sense of entitlement and being untouchable that is repugnant.
The NZ First President is reported to have complained to the Police about the SFO. This is a media stunt designed to hide the fact that the evidence the SFO is meant to have revealed is devasasting for Peters and Henry’s credibility. The NZ First President should in fact be thanking the SFO – he was one of those who knew nothing about the Spencer Trust before they shed light on it.
Related posts:
- PM has not read report!
- Clark confirms Peters stays regardless of Privileges
- Why no decisions by Police on electoral breaches?
- Peters safe
September 22nd, 2008 at 1:32 pm
So, if National win the election, the SFO will be able to do their job fully, and Klark Kullen and Winston will most likely all be jailed right?? Sounds like a scenario I could live with.
Vote:September 22nd, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Roll on Nov 9th. A new dawn, a new beginning and an end to this madness.
If Labour aren’t happy with the law, why not just change it like they did last time – eg. Election spending.
Vote:September 22nd, 2008 at 1:42 pm
I bloody hope so!
Vote:September 22nd, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Suggest we all get our complaints for misfeasance in public office rather to lodge on 9th November.
My list is so long its difficult to know where to start. Most of the current Cabinet the former Solictor General the current Solicitor General the former Police Commissioner the current Police Commissioner
Gosh its going to be a busy time
Vote:September 22nd, 2008 at 1:56 pm
If its really as serious as you lot claim, which i very very much doubt it is, the more and more you carry on the less credibility you have, maybe you should do something about it? over throw the government or something? oh wait, no one else gives a fuck.
Vote:September 22nd, 2008 at 1:58 pm
On the complaint to the police about the SFO’s evidence, see my recent post for some of the problems:
> LAWS179: “Tit for tat – the SFO and the privileges committee”
[DPF: Ta - have blogged that. Had not though of the privilege and contempt angles]
Vote:September 22nd, 2008 at 2:10 pm
The truth of the matter is that the government *is* above the law, because there is no law that constrains the government, and any laws that do protect us from the government (e.g. Bill of Rights) can be removed if the government finds them inconvenient. In comparison the USA has a Constitution ratified by the citizens which is the law that controls the government, i.e. the people have some control over the government.
In NZ the 1986 Constitution Act (a complete misnomer) severed all ties with the UK and granted absolute sovereignty to the government: this was a theft of sovereignty because the Queen cannot grant independence to a government, she can only grant independence to the citizens (the citizens are the subjects, not the government). By Passing this Act the governmment lost its right to rule – it was voted in under the old system – and should have resigned after calling for a referendum on a constitution and a new governmental system. They failed to do so, their reign is illegal, they have no right to levy taxes or to enforce law, and there is no law that controls the government. Queen Helen is fact, not fiction.
This isn’t conspiracy theory, this is the opinion of high-level constitutional lawyers.
Ultimately there are only two ways for the citizens of NZ to control the government: revolution or coup d’état.
http://www.kiwipolemicist.wordpress.com
Vote:September 22nd, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Mike – your view then. Can you find any evidence of the Govt acting ‘above the law’? If no, how do you refute DPF’s examples. If yes, now do justify such behaviour?
Vote:September 22nd, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Sniff Sniff. Is that a the smell of a smokescreen from the burning of muddied water?
Looks like NZF and Teh Party are laying it on thick all over the place in the hope of retreating under cover.
Vote:September 22nd, 2008 at 2:14 pm
“……..oh wait, no one else gives a fuck.”
Sadly, you are right. Shame on us.
___________________________________________
When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.
When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.
When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.
When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I wasn’t a Jew.
When they came for me,
Vote:there was no one left to speak out.
___________________________________________________
See past the words and consider the concept , then figure it out.
September 22nd, 2008 at 2:15 pm
# Mike (153) Vote: Add rating 0 Subtract rating 0 Says:
September 22nd, 2008 at 1:56 pm
“If its really as serious as you lot claim, which i very very much doubt it is, the more and more you carry on the less credibility you have, maybe you should do something about it? over throw the government or something? oh wait, no one else gives a fuck.”
Yeah, Russians and Venezuelans don’t give a fuck either, they just keep voting for the mesmerising (to stupid people) leader. Here’s to a resounding demonstration, come November, that Kiwis are not as stupid as Russians/Venezuelans.
Vote:September 22nd, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Well said David.
Vote:That’s what struck me this morning when I noted both Clark’s comments on the priviledges committee and cullen and the SFO.
I said as much this morning in my post ‘It’s all about Her.’
And even better you found other cases where Uncle Helen and others find themselves in trouble with the law and Liarbour bitterly attacks and undermine the law enforcement agencies as best they can.
They are indeed arrogant. They are indeed corrupt.
This election is about trust. It’s all about her and how Dear Leader puts herself and her government above the law.
September 22nd, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Bagging the Privileges Committee process is also out of order. What confidence can people have in Parliament if the processes meant to keep all parties accountable are dismissed by the Prime Minister. Claiming it is tainted by politics suggests a kind of George Orwell meets Lewis Carroll scenario.
In terms of lawlessness it seems Winston Peters has free reign – have we forgotten his charitable act of donating misspent election funds to the Starship hospital rather than to its rightful recipient?
If I were strategising for National I would say make the agenda a two horse race – A vote for any minor party is a vote for the absurd circus where the tail wags the dog and Winston Peters is the ringmaster – if I might mix metaphors for a moment
Vote:September 22nd, 2008 at 2:17 pm
CraigM:
Famous quote of Alexander Solzhenitsyn:
“We didn’t love freedom enough…….we purely and simply deserved everything that happened….”
Vote:September 22nd, 2008 at 2:22 pm
the irony Fairfacts Media is that over the past 9 years Clark has perfected the concept of the presidential style and now this focus on her is going to be the downfall of the Socialists and their poodle Communist Greens.
Rather than the old style NZ politics where the Party and its polices was the ficus with the Leader being supported by the spokespople and speaking on their portfolio area we now have just the Leaders doing it all.
And for Clark this means her in the spotlight to be reminded of her actions and inactions over the past 9 years.
She has no where to hide and no where to run. She is exposed for the con artist she always was.
Vote:September 22nd, 2008 at 2:27 pm
I’m all for a revolution.
Who’s in? Show of hands.
Vote:September 22nd, 2008 at 2:29 pm
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4701288a1861.html
I think this is a sign.
Vote:September 22nd, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Do you really think so gd?
You know her for what she is, and I know her for what she is, and most of the people on this blog know her for what she is.
We are but a few voices amongst the cries of the multitude.
Do you really, honestly believe that most of the voting public see her as we do?
I wish they did, but I suspect that, unfortunately, they don’t.
Vote:September 22nd, 2008 at 2:34 pm
joegreen – agree wholeheartedly. I have been saying for some time now that the only way to get rid of the Labour government, if that is your wish, is to party vote National.
Vote:September 22nd, 2008 at 2:40 pm
You are certainly right. Labour are above the law, and while they continue their campaign of replacing key government staff with labour appointments things will only get worse.
There are no standards in politics anymore. Labour have completely changed the rules of acceptability in politics.
I wonder, have things ever been worse with respect to political accountability ???
Vote:September 22nd, 2008 at 2:50 pm
I think I’ll go and bash someone with a megaphone, then if I can show I’m a labour party member (with the right connections of course), I’ll be immune from prosecution.
Works for some.
Vote:September 22nd, 2008 at 2:58 pm
What is it about this Government, I shake my head yet again. The sooner they are gone the better. They are a pack of blame avoidance experts.
Vote:September 22nd, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Excellent summation of the situation David, one of your best!
The more the polls hurt the more vile our PM becomes.
I note she is also keen to bag Fonterra today if it means she may bag herself some extra points.
This interference by Labour and NZ First into the SFO to disguise their lies and corruption is now obvious for all except the blind to see.
Vote:September 22nd, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Fuck, dream on guys.
Looking at the stupidity that abounds on the mainstream blogs, manifested as support for the corrupt old dyke, and the number of people professing to be bored by Winnocent Peters.
Would you get bored of looking for the dead mouse if your house stank to high heaven?
What happened with Lidell this morning anyway? Did Cullen tell him to behave?
Vote:September 22nd, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Christopher IMHO the citizens are starting to awake and the polls reveal this
Rather than the gap to the Nats closing and the smaller parties benefiting as in past MMP election I see the minor parties vote getting smaller as more and more of their fringe supporters move to the Nats or the Socialists.
Again IMHO the ratio will be 2 nats 1 Socialist as these people see a 2 horse race a USA Presidential style battle with her in the Red corner claiming Trust me i know what Im doing and him in the Blue cornere saying Time for a Change.
I think we could see a 90 and a bit point score for the Blue/Reds with the Greens getting back just and Maoris providing the overhang
Nefarious Your comment re Cullen to Grant L reminded me of the Austin Powers Oh do behave!!!!!!!
Vote:September 22nd, 2008 at 3:39 pm
BTW wreck 1080 One of the 1st things a Nat governemnt should do is change the rules on senior civil servant, SOEs directors and related organisations governance.
The existing appointees to continue serving at the new governments pleasure.
And all appointees to submit their resignations uopn a change in government. At least that way you wont get the white anting we see now when theres a change
Vote:September 22nd, 2008 at 3:42 pm
John Keys first act as PM had best be to pull Helen and co’s passports.
Theres a reckoning coming.
Vote:September 22nd, 2008 at 3:54 pm
I want a Royal Commission of Inquiry into Corruption. Set it up in at the same time as Key articulates a 10+ year plan for NZ, and then ensure the stench of Labours corruption is released for all to smell progressively over the next 5-7 years. That should keen the filthy socialists in check while we try to rebuild NZ
Vote:September 22nd, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Well all the lefties having to go out and get jobs is certainly going to eat into their blogging time getstaffed so there’ll be reduced bitching.
Vote:September 22nd, 2008 at 4:02 pm
# Murray (1517) Vote: Add rating 5 Subtract rating 0 Says:
September 22nd, 2008 at 3:42 pm
John Keys first act as PM had best be to pull Helen and co’s passports.
Theres a reckoning coming.
Youd support Obama doing the same to Bush and co?
Vote:September 22nd, 2008 at 4:07 pm
# Nefarious (177) Vote: Add rating15 Subtract rating 0 Says:
September 22nd, 2008 at 2:27 pm
“I’m all for a revolution.
Who’s in? Show of hands.”
BELIEVE IT OR NOT:
“During an online poll at the national newspaper Aftonbladet, almost half of the readers voted “yes” to a question of whether a civil war is possible in Sweden.”
http://gatesofvienna.blogspot.com/2008/07/civil-war-in-sweden.html
Vote:September 22nd, 2008 at 4:10 pm
I’m trying to post a LINK to the comment above, and it is swallowed up in moderation. It is contained in a posting by the blogger “Fjordman”, entitled “Civil War In Sweden”, if you want to Google it.
http://gatesofvienna.blogspot.com/2008/07/civil-war-in-sweden.html
Vote:September 22nd, 2008 at 4:10 pm
http://gatesofvienna.blogspot.com/2008/07/civil-war-in-sweden.html
Vote:September 22nd, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Hey mike this big slice of get fucked pie is all yours.
Bush hasn’t tried to dismantle my democracy or remove my speech recently.
Try and focus, the days of blaming the last National Government and Bush for everything are long gone. Clark answers to us.
And senator Obama isn’t going to do dick. President McCain would probably frown on some newbie grandstanding like that.
Vote:September 22nd, 2008 at 4:40 pm
“Hey mike this big slice of get fucked pie is all yours.”
After the Monday I have had, that just made me piss myself laughing. Thank you.
Vote:September 22nd, 2008 at 4:48 pm
No Murray don’t pull their passports, sooner the bastards piss off the better we all will be. Who needs that old slag moaning and bitching for the next ten years. Let them go overseas and fuck other peoples lives up. It might do these tossers a world of good to actually earn their own money instead of been gravy sucking pigs .
Vote:September 22nd, 2008 at 5:32 pm
No Murray don’t pull their passports, sooner the bastards piss off the better we all will be.
I’m hoping they piss off to some currupt socialist Nivarna. Then piss off the Grand Pooba ….
Vote:September 22nd, 2008 at 6:00 pm
I have one small piece of bad news for all that hope key will start something new. That is power. Key is not the only person in the national party and once those behind him get their hands on the levers they will slowly start to favour their interests. I always remember Roger Douglas writing about the elite using their privilege to their advantage and the free-markets biggest impact on those who benefited. Even DPF is after your tax money for faster internet to his benefit. Land owners who oppose the confiscation of their land for “national good” projects will be quickly removed and resources like water will be handed over free to certain groups.
I want labour gone I also want the culture that is our supposed government gone as well just I look at national coasting along and think “Rudd government kind of like a lion rubbed in hippo poo smells different but under the shit same old elite.
And really if Key’s name appeared on a painting he didn’t paint would he step down?
Vote:September 22nd, 2008 at 11:33 pm
Hi getstaffed. The Royal Commission of Inquiry is a good idea. It should look at every sleazy thing Labour First have done from writ day 1999 to writ day 2008. I can’t see John Key coming up with a 10+ year vision though. That would be far too much like hard work for Labour Lite. Their three golden rules are: Don’t rock the boat, power at any price, and say no when the boss does.
Vote:September 23rd, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Key is just a stepping stone kiki.
He may not know it yet but to most of us he just a move in the right direction, not the destination.
Vote:September 23rd, 2008 at 11:16 pm
Kiki, I don’t think Key is arrogant enough to sign a painting he didn’t make. Helen would because she is “above the law” and didn’t even think about what the consequences would be not to mention the value of the painting (worthless) as time went on. Instead of apologizing and admitting her mistake she attacked the police and then demanded the name of the person was who made the formal complaint. The police gave it too her which is illegal in itself. . . I know what you are saying and yes we all would be corrupted with power to some extent but that is why we have elections every three years. Helen is way out of control.
Vote:September 24th, 2008 at 1:30 am
The EFA was the straw that broke the camels back.
Vote: