Mutiny in the ranks?
November 2nd, 2008 at 10:00 am by David FarrarThe latest revelations about Winston and Ross Meurant, have led to some of his own MPs talking about their concerns.
If NZ First did not have Winston as Leader, there would be some MPs there that I would like to see return to Parliament. But as the price of having say Ron Mark or Peter Paraone back is to have Winston back, it is far too high a price to pay.
There is actually room on the political spectrum for a socially conservative but economically centre-left party. But again not with Winston. Anyway what has been reported:
On the campaign trail yesterday, only Prime Minister Helen Clark was still openly standing by the NZ First leader. She refused to retract previous expressions of confidence in Peters, saying the allegations were a matter for NZ First.
But they are not. He is her Minister of Racing. He forced her Government to splash out money on the racing industry, against official advice. There is considerable documented evidence that this advocacy was motivated by private donations to both NZ First and Peters personally as part of a strategy to attract money.
How the Prime Minister can say this is no issue for her, and she still has confidence is a classic case of see no evil, hear no evil.
National and Act have already ruled out sharing the Government benches with NZ First. And yesterday, Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said she would have great difficulty sitting around the Cabinet table with Peters, unless he was cleared of the new and serious accusations.
That’s a step in the right direction Jeanette but she has left herself wriggle room. Peters is not around the Cabinet table at the moment – he is Minister outside Cabinet. I remain unconvinced that if Helen can only form a Government with the Greens and NZ First, and that NZ First demand Winston remains Foreign Minister (outside Cabinet) that Jeanette and the Greens would turn down an opportunity to be in Government.
Yesterday, Ron Mark said he had warned Peters about his involvement with Meurant: “I have no relationship with Ross, other than advising Winston he should have nothing to do with him.”
This was very good advice that Winston should have taken. But he didn’t. And I hope Ron looks at what Meurant advocated to Peters, looks at the sceret money they have received (that I am sure he knew nothing about previously) and realise that Winston not just ignored Ron’s advice but he implemented Meurant’s strategy.
The fact that Ron is willing to publicly say he advised WInston off Meurant is significant. Now someone should ask Winston why he ignored his MPs, what did Meurant actually do for him.
November 2nd, 2008 at 10:27 am
Can someone explain to me why the Peters/Meurant story wasn’t run on TVNZ news?
I expected to see it leading or at least in the first 5 mins of last night’s news, but it didn’t even get a mention.
The lead story was instead about the National Indian MP who may or may not have made a job offer that didn’t eventuate into a job.
What’s up?
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 10:29 am
Poor Winston.
Vote:Couldn’t happen to a nicer arsehole.
November 2nd, 2008 at 10:32 am
Razork,
Go to:
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/816462/869443
Lodge a complaint or a query, that’s what a lot of us did last nite.
The more ppl who moan the better!!
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 10:33 am
“On the campaign trail yesterday, only Prime Minister Helen Clark was still openly standing by the NZ First leader. She refused to retract previous expressions of confidence in Peters, saying the allegations were a matter for NZ First.”
Sounds like a bit of mutiny in the Labour party might be called for too. First of all tho, they need to find someone with the spine to speak out against the sisterhood. Among the politically correct craven worshippers of the Progressive movement that dominate Labour, an impossible task.
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 10:36 am
This is nothing, wait for the post election shit fight and scapegoating festivities.
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 10:40 am
Redbaiter:
Give it time and it will happen. the Goff faction will be sharpening their knife’s about this time next Sunday. The Helen Clark faction who have held sway in the Labour Party will be getting nervous.
Hope the next leader is Cunnliffe. He’ll be just wonderful!
Vote:lol
November 2nd, 2008 at 10:42 am
“The more ppl who moan the better!!”
Right of course, but as someone who has made a career of expressing my feelings to the mainstream media, let me tell you that they are unashamed and not the least apologetic over their behaviour. They know very well what they are doing, and they will not change course because of criticism. They are political agents, and they are working for the cause. All who complain are naturally categorized as from the enemy camp.
Of course complain, but do not be deterred from the real objective. These Chavez style leftist bastards need to be put right out of business.
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 10:47 am
RB:
Apart from for propaganda reason’s I cannot see why the state needs a TV network and bloody Radio station.
You can be assured Guyon Espiner doesn’t vote (said so that in an interview a while back) so he must be impartial!!
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 10:51 am
“Hope the next leader is Cunnliffe. He’ll be just wonderful! lol”
Agree. Just the kind of arrogant fuckwit the Labour Party need to lead the party even further into the political desert. When I watched Question Time, Cunnliffe was always the most sneering arrogant and unforthcoming politician on show. He has no appreciation whatsoever of the fact that he is accountable to the people of NZ, and IMHO is a typical product of the soviet style nomenklatura system that is the basis of the Labour Party’s organisational structure. He knows what is best for us, and we need to shut up and let him do it. Ugh- repugnant socialist apparachik.
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 10:51 am
Where is hulun going to retire to?
a) Mt Eden
b) Central Otago
c) Norway
d) some WHO junket
(please be norway)
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 10:55 am
“You can be assured Guyon Espiner doesn’t vote (said so that in an interview a while back) so he must be impartial!!”
Absolutely no doubt. When the headstone is placed on the grave of NZ journalism, Espiner and his partisan mates at TVNZ should have their names engraved in letters twice as high as anyone else’s. Shameless frauds.
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 10:56 am
Expat they big into death metal in Norway. She might fit into some satanic cult and feel at home.
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 10:58 am
Redbaiter look at the thread about Winston and Racing. TVNZ and Mould will have a lot of emails to clear in the morning. I also know of lots of others outside the blogsphere that have finally had enough and also laid complaints.
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 11:04 am
Norway is very big on whaling. They’ve continued commerical whaling under their own management system since the IWC moriatorium (or ban as it’s now called) while remaining an IWC member. (Like Japan and Iceland, they took out a reservation against the moriatorium. Unklike Japan, they never withdrew their reservation.)
I can’t see that Helen would be overly welcome there
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 11:10 am
Hulun does a lot of hiking in the Fjordes there.
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 11:10 am
“Redbaiter look at the thread about Winston and Racing.”
Yeah, I have. Its great that people are speaking out and more importantly, fighting back. I just make the point that in my own experience of complaining widely and profusely to such media outlets in faxes, emails, telephone calls and letters, they are always unrepentant. Try speaking to them, and you will discover that they are almost universally of the progressive political persuasion, and, like most Progressives, totally intolerant of any opposing viewpoint.
I read this morning of the US university professor who admitted that he had travelled around tearing down McCain/Palin signs from people’s lawns. This is an example of what they are. Whereas we see their actions as unprincipled and a gross abuse of their position, they see themselves as endowed with the truth, and needing to bring us enlightenment. They’re brain fucked. You’ll never get through to them. TVNZ (TV1 and TV2) have to be shut down. TV3 has to be boycotted by viewers and advertisers. Its the only way. Just turn the scum off.
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 11:15 am
“Where is hulun going to retire to?”
Very good q.
I wonder if Helen knows herself. Her whole life’s been politics, now it’s all over.
NZ ambassador to China/Nth Korea ??
Kevin Rudd speaks Mandarin. She could be his personal PA and learn the lingo.
Do you get the queasy feeling though, she’s on a first name basis with Vladimir Putin. Late night ph calls in bed with offers of a commission in the Warsaw pact.
It’s all so vivid.
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 11:18 am
Lindsay Addie:
Thanks for the info. on TV contact site. I’ve just asked them to explain their omission. Hope lots of others join in.
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 11:25 am
LOL Putin would run a country mile to escape her, unlike Clark, Putin is actually held in high regard by his countryman after his presidency.
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 11:27 am
Here’s some phone numbers if anyone can be bothered to ring and complain about the fact that TVNZ and TV3 are having Winston free zones at 6 o’clock each night!
TV1: 09 916 7000
TV3: 09 377 9730
Hat tip to the person at no minister who found these numbers!
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 11:28 am
Chthoniid
In the time it takes to fly to Norway the PM’s position on Whaling would become more pragmatic. She would come up with some BS about cultural sensitivity being something she is well aware of coming from NZ. Don’t for one moment think her positions on such issues are her own, they are simply what needs to be said to achieve the goal.
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 11:38 am
Hulun has lost the goal part – its all about power now.
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 11:39 am
Perhaps, I think her goal IS power.
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 11:42 am
she does need to get a life but i cant see it. she will go off to the UN/WHO and exist in an ultimately pointless beauraucratic position before going back to NZ to take a up a academic post and weasel onto some SOE boards.
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 11:43 am
I posted these last nite on another thread but here they are again for anyone who wants to contact journo’s about the lack of coverage of Peters latest follies:
Guyon Espiner guyon.espiner@tvnz.co.nz
And for our favourite Fran fran.mold@tvnz.co.nz
Let’s not forget Hunky Dunky dgarner@tv3.co.nz
Barry Soper’s email is barrysoper@newstalkzb.co.nz
Rob Hosking at NBR is rhosking@paradise.net.nz
Granny Herald’s Audrey Young is audrey.young@nzherald.co.nz
John Armstrong is john_armstrong@nzherald.co.nz
Paula Oliver is paula.oliver@nzherald.co.nz
Fran O’Sullivan is fran.osullivan@xtra.co.nz
NZPA is parliament@nzpa.co.nz
Radio New Zealand try clare.pasley@radionz.co.nz
For the Dom-Post we have Tracey Watkins tracy.watkins@dompost.co.nz
Again they’re from no minister
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 11:50 am
Most of the predominantly left wing scum calling themselves journalists in NZ, those progressives who use their position to shape public opinion to the benefit of socialism, and other Generals in the Gramascian (progressive) army can be contacted one way or the other. TV One, TV Two, NZ On Air directors, TV3, Radio New Zealand, producers and presenters of programs like Breakfast and Close Up, Paul Holmes and other progressives on Newstalk ZB, journalists in the Dominion and the NZ Herald and their editors, (often by email contacts on their articles) the Parliamentary Press Gallery.
I returned to NZ from overseas in about 2000, just after the Labour Party’s election. I was appalled at what had happened to NZ, and the rigidity of the progressive political movement that was abroad in the country. I observed it had an almost unbreakable grip of steel on society. I resolved to do what I could to change that. I have done a little in local party politics, but considered that I could make the most difference just by writing and speaking out.
In most cases, the ice merely needs to be broken by anyone with the courage to speak the truth. People are thoroughly intimidated in NZ by political correctness, a social disease that has crippled our democracy. But once they hear one person saying what they truly think, they too will speak out. The left will try hard to stop you (I won’t bore you with what they have tried to do to me) but pay them no regard. If there is one thing the left hate, its the free and open expression of opinion. Why? Because they know it will destroy them. In the end, the truth will win. Speak out.
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 11:52 am
I must say I feel as though I have been transported to an alternative quantum universe where Winston and Meurant etc don’t exist.
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 11:53 am
Heres hoping.
Well H1 will be buying off media outlets quicker than you can legislate to put in the EFA.
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 11:55 am
Lindsay Addie
As you say Lindsay, keep those complaints rolling in.
Remember: As persons in the Service of the Crown, Close-Up have disadvantaged the Voter at the Expense of the Corrupt Labour-led Government by ommitting to publicise the Meurant- Peters corrupt actions.
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Lindsay Addie
I have just complained to the list of media reporters who are favouring a corrupt Labour-leed Government.
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 12:21 pm
On Agenda this morning Peters was asked about this story by Vernon Small and John Roughan:
http://tvnz.co.nz/content/2253484
Sounds like he threw his usual infantile tanty!
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 12:25 pm
LINDSAY………It seems to be a repeat of last election. The news outlets were all presented with proof of how Peter DOONE was forced out of office by deliberate lies, a week before the election, and all conspired to keep it hushed up in order to maintain Liabour in office.
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Baxter,
That’s what I think too.
Though I do think that Peters is dog tucker anyway.
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 12:37 pm
DPF said: “I remain unconvinced that if Helen can only form a Government with the Greens and NZ First, and that NZ First demand Winston remains Foreign Minister (outside Cabinet) that Jeanette and the Greens would turn down an opportunity to be in Government.”
You put too much faith in the integrity of the Greens. They are no better or worse than any other party. You say you “remain unconvinced” like they probably won’t be in Government if Winston is close by. Come on, they will definitely be there. You say Jeanette’s comment leave “wriggle room” – it’s more than that: it’s her way of saying she WILL be in govt with Peters, but at the same time avoiding any talk of potential future association with him before the election. Classic politician-speak.
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 12:42 pm
http://www.decision08.co.nz/Default.aspx?TabId=216
I’m not suggesting what to ask but TVNZ are not moderating the questions to the Leaders for the next debate
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Winston was very bizarre this morning on TV.
He flatly denied having asked for the use of a Helicopter at any time, because there is no way he would ever go campainging
by using a helicopter ever. Helis are for deer hunters!
Mr Dom Post reminded of a Helicopter being used by Winstion in the S. Island, he recalled Nelson, Blenheim and Picton.
Winston said that that was incorrect he used a helicopter at the last election but only for the west coast constituencies!
He lies like a flatfish, and doesn’t even flinch when his lies find him out, on camera.
He can’t be mentally fit for office.
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 1:55 pm
I hear NZ Breweries are bringing out a new beer. Its labelled WINSTON PETERS DRAUGHT.
But its really only the same old LION BROWN.
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 2:06 pm
The poodle will be in the shit if the Dom-Post have more information to reveal….
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 2:38 pm
I have heard the Dom Post will be releasing an actual tape-recording of Meraunt talking to Peters tomorrow.
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 2:41 pm
tknorris spake thus:
It will be funny to see The Poodle’s reaction if that happens!!
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Every Party has Ross Meurants in their caucus. Uncontrollable missiles. Mores the point Winston was too thick to see it coming. Meurant – lost his job of Under-Secretary in the Boldger Government because of his refusal to resign as a Director of the Prok Bank (Russian ‘mafia’? controlled based in Vanuatu); formed the so called Right of Centre (ROC) Party; changed its name on a whim to the ‘Right on Centre’ Party and bombed out big time come the election. Then hawked himseld around a political fixer.
Meurant and Peters are one of a kind. All for one – guess who?
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Yeah right David. He knows absolutely nothing about the people he works alongside, nor what they’re up to. Even in a small party consisting basically of a handful of people (not like, say, a large caucus of Nats or Labourites where it’s entirely possible a backbencher would be left in the dark) there’s never any talk round the water cooler. And nor does the boss ever let anything slip after a few too many whiskies of an evening. It’s all a complete mystery, I’m sure.
Gullible, much? Or just worried that if you point out his myriad character flaws he’ll hide behind privilege and make a few disgusting allegations about you, too?
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Rex W,
A serious question.
What is Winston likely to do and how will he react if the Dom-Post has more information about these latest allegations?
He’s frankly starting to look a bit stressed to say the least.
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Will the melons form a government with the poodle man in it, in a bloody nano second, for the Melons to claim otherwise is pissing into a gail. It’s about power, fuck the principles.
After seenig the poodle this morning on agenda you would have to ask yourself “would I buy a used car from this man, hell no”.
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Lindsay: You’ve pretty much see Winston’s full gamut of emotions – anger, petulance, and more anger
What you need to understand about Winston is that he desperately needs to be liked, in the same way that other “natural” politicians – Clinton or Blair, say – needed to. They’re drawn to politics in great measure because of the self-affirmation it provides.
Sure he doesn’t mind enemies – indeed he thrives on having them. But he needs to feel the majority of “ordinary NZers” like him, even if they don’t vote for him. To be turning up to public meetings and finding 25 people there would be soul destroying. But the other facet of his character is that he can never admit to being wrong, so of course there must be a reason other than his own actions why people are turning their backs on him – an evil cabal of business people, a media conspiracy etc.
Winston is a complex personality and it requires people aware of those nuances, and with strong personalities of their own, to keep him on the straight and narrow. When Michael Laws was handed the reins of the party the first thing he set about doing was purging it of everyone of an independent frame of mind so as to gain complete control for himself. People of principle were replaced by lackeys, topped up with a few who’d bought themselves a political career. When Laws left, there was nothing to fill the vacuum, so Winston’s personality expanded to fill it, and has been running out of control since.
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 8:13 pm
I always wondered about Laws. He strikes me as a man driven by ego rather than principle.
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Christ when the hangers on are trying to distance themselves from the coat-tail that got them their jobs you know for sure that Winstons tossers are doomed.
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 10:09 pm
Lee: In that case, you’ve been struck correctly (as it were).
Vote:November 2nd, 2008 at 10:18 pm
Rex W, thanks for the comments.
I think Peters may become completely irrelevant this week. The perception that he won’t make it into the next Parliament is growing and he will have trouble getting any traction in the media. This is made worse by the US Presidential election.
For far too long he has behaved like Oscar Wilde did at his trial. He thought he was clever and wouldn’t get caught out. Peters seems to try to do the same.
The next government doesn’t need politicians like Winston any longer the challenges the new administration face are going to be many and Peters isn’t a detail person.
Vote: