Goff on alcohol theft
I’m reluctant to politicise the alcohol theft issue, because while it is Labour this time which has the stupid staff members, there have been plenty of stupidities done over the years by staff from all parties – including myself! Of course theft is at the more serious end of the scale.
But I find myself slightly annoyed by Phil Goff’s response. Now generally I think Goff is making good judgement and calls, but Stuff quote him:
Labour leader Phil Goff said the staffers’ actions were “totally unacceptable”.
“I deeply regret that that action was taken. It is perhaps a message for young people at Christmas functions – watch how much you drink and remember you will be accountable for your actions afterwards.”
Umm, I hope Phil is not suggesting all young people steal things when they have had a few drinks.
And I am not even sure blaming what happened on alcohol is a good idea. They were loading the wine into a car. So either one of them were sober enough to drive, or they were also going to be drink driving.
Phil also said:
Mr Goff said he did not know the individuals personally.
But the Herald reports:
Aidan Smith was arrested after allegedly being caught taking the wine to a car outside Wednesday night’s party, which was attended by Prime Minister John Key and a collection of other ministers and senior MPs.
Smith was still working as Labour MP Pete Hodgson’s assistant yesterday. He is due to leave that role soon to work for the party’s finance spokesman, David Cunliffe. He has previously worked in the party’s research unit.
He is listed as working in the Research Unit, which is part of Phil Goff’s leader’s office. Now one must take Mr Goff at his word that he has never met Smith, but all I can say is that in my experience it would be very very rare for an Opposition Leader not to know all of his office staff. In fact often they will know most of the MPs secretaries also. Its unclear whether he was Hodgson’s secretary, or a researcher working for Hodgson (which makes him part of the Leader’s Office).
As to the four involved, I had a degree of sympathy initally based on an assumption it was an opportunistic fit if stupidity. You’re the last people at a party and there is a box of wine, and you think hey it is paid for anyway, we could have drink it anyway, and hate it to go to waste. Now don’t get me wrong – that is still wrong, but I can understand with some empathy how that may happen. But according to the Herald it was very calculated:
A group of up to four people, also believed to be Labour staffers, were seen acting suspiciously as they came in and out of the party, which was held in Parliament’s Doidge room and spilled into the area outside.
Press Gallery chair Vernon Small of the Dominion-Post and deputy chair Jane Patterson say they tracked Smith to the carpark.
It is believed that the group of four were taking full bottles of wine from the bar then smuggling them individually out the gate and up to the car.
A partygoer claims to have seen one making fake phone calls as an excuse to go in and out of the party.
If this is correct, that is pretty inexcusable. Now it is possible the accussed denies the events, so I won’t comment further than this for reasons of natural justice. But if the above account is accurate, that makes it very serious.
December 19th, 2008 at 10:50 am
This is what you get when their political role models have spent the last 9 years teaching them that it is:
* Acceptable to commit fraud by signing paintings you never made
* Good to appear oblivious to reality when cars are speeding at 150km/h, as long as you don’t get into trouble
* Demonize religious minorities for political gain
* Steal money from the tax-payer to buy elections
And so on and so forth. This is what Labour have imprinted on their supporters.
December 19th, 2008 at 11:05 am
Pascal it was “redistribution”!!! These are the peoples heros.
At least that will the be the press release. Not sure how much coverage it will get along those lines given that the MSM seems to have a lot of these “journalist” guys working in it.
I told my brother it stealing alcohol from journalists was like pissing on a statue of the virgin in a cathedral. He said it was more like stealing a baby from a rottwieler. He’s a journalist so I defer to his inside knowledge.
I’d also ask if Phil would be taking such a laid back approach if someone had broken into his car and stolen $400 from his wallet.
December 19th, 2008 at 11:07 am
“Now one must take Mr Goff at his word”
Why?
December 19th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Goff has made another gaff, as he is immune to telling the truth because he has been injected with the liarbour virus.
December 19th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Phil Gaff the future former leader of the labour oposition at the begining of what are known as the wilderness years for that party.
That boys is only opening his mouth to change feet these days.
December 19th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Whats done is done, what will be interesting is how Philin Froth and Liarbore handle this. I wonder if the socialists have learnt anything after their defeat. Will it be business as usual or will there be an effort to show “leadership”. I shall not be holding breath.
December 19th, 2008 at 11:28 am
When Goff says ““I deeply regret that that action was taken.”, does he mean
* that Labour Party staff members acted stupidly and dishonestly, or
* that Labour Party staff members acted stupidly and dishonestly and got caught, or
* that Labour Party staff members acted stupidly and dishonestly and got caught, and the Police became involved, and it hit the papers?
It could be any of the three!
December 19th, 2008 at 11:29 am
It is only a small step from legalised theft (i.e. taxation) to illegal theft. In this case, the perpetrators had good examples to follow when it comes to ripping people off.
December 19th, 2008 at 11:31 am
A spokeswomble for the Labour Party spoke on condition of anonymity:
“Given we’ve waaaay overspent our election budget and are going to get done for that, plus the fact that we don’t have access to the Treasury safe anymore means a diktat has come from on high that we have to steal as much piss as possible otherwise it’ll be BYO at the Labour Christmas Party. Last time that happened we all had to drink Tasman Bitter or $3 bottles of sherry and ended up in hospital.”
December 19th, 2008 at 11:31 am
but all I can say is that in my experience it would be very very rare for an Opposition Leader not to know all of his office staff
He HAS only been leader for ten minutes.
[DPF: But the staffer has been there for two years. And when you become leader normally the first thing you do is get to know the staff, and decide who keeps their job]
December 19th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Danyl “but all I can say is that in my experience it would be very very rare for an Opposition Leader not to know all of his office staff
He HAS only been leader for ten minutes.”
Come one Danyl. Some consistancy. You lefties are already blaming National for al the country’s economic woes and forecast budget deficits, and Key HAS only been leader for a month.
December 19th, 2008 at 11:38 am
I’m a leftie. I haven’t blamed National for the country’s economic woes and forecast budget deficits.
December 19th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Thats what heppens when you don’t read the memos and miss the meetings Ryan.
December 19th, 2008 at 11:40 am
Those Labour staffers turned up late to the party, kept to themselves, hung around the Doidge Room when there was no one else in there and were sneaking in and out the gap in the fence in the alleyway. I thought they were preparing an entry for a VIP. I saw this type of behaviour a few years ago when Helen was PM. Helen and Heather Simpson entered after Benson Pope left. Seems like these Labour staffers get trained in such clandestine activities, not that they are any good at it.
DPF, a quick question. What is your opinion about people who attend these types of function and take photos with their cellphones of drunk journos and politicians? I saw one guy doing it the other night. I wonder if he also was recording conversations? I wonder what will surface!
[DPF: I think it is very rude to take a photo of someone at a social function without their permission]
December 19th, 2008 at 11:58 am
I hear Labour have tables the Alcohol theft retrospective valididation bill this morning. It’s OK when Labour do it.
December 19th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
What amazes me ( yes I know..) is that the wine was said to come from the US embassy.
Did the press gallery hit up others to get free frog for their function.
The poor US taxpayers, with their debt- before this year -being doubled under George Bush ( not like NZ which has had a 50% reduction in the debt under labour) having to pay for for this is outrageous.
I know Condi is busy , like just before 9/11 and the ‘determined to strike’ report which she barely read, but this sort of excess should stop
December 19th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Free frog you say?
December 19th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
BURT!!! Alcohol REDISTRIBUTION Bill. Dammit don’t make me say it again.
Clearly these journalists had a profusion of wine wealth and others had to go sober. This is a social injustice that labour are proud to rectify.
December 19th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Just checking:
Yup, Liarbore are still corrupt and we hate them.
Nothing new here then…
December 19th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
I don’t charge an appearance fee, I just turn up.
December 19th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Why am I not surprised that the theft occurred by Labour people. They have proven themselves to be stupid, immature and dishonest. All the excuses does not change the fact that this is barefaced theft.
No longer will their Labour Party membership be a passport to immunity from the police.
December 19th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Look on the bright side. First it was a theft of whole election by the top brass, now is a some cases of wine by a few party minions.. next it’ll be labour party member’s kids raiding the supermarket gummy bears bulk-bin. Things are improving!
December 19th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
What a telling contribution from ratbaiter.
Sub intelligence body part.
December 19th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Must be a slow news day – I can’t get even a semi about this.
December 19th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
I’m trying to get a grasp on the scale of this outrage: are we talking 10 bottles of good aussie red, 40 bottles of NZ white or 100 bottles of Don Julio?
December 19th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
When Goff says ““I deeply regret that that action was taken.”, does he mean
* that Labour Party staff members acted stupidly and dishonestly, or
* that Labour Party staff members acted stupidly and dishonestly and got caught, or
* that Labour Party staff members acted stupidly and dishonestly and got caught, and the Police became involved, and it hit the papers?
It could be any of the three!
INVENTORY……..He could also be referring to the Police taking action against Liabour members and stooges, something they have studiously avoided for the past decade.
December 19th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
“( not like NZ which has had a 50% reduction in the debt under labour) ”
Youre such a fuckwit Jacob. Read how much expense and cost has been hidden by Labour until now and how high our debt will rise based on Labours policies. You should be ashamed. It makes be wonder whether you are actually a NZer
December 19th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Isnt it wonderful how the Socialists/Communists have kept on digging themselves a bigger and deeper hole since the Glorious 8th November.
From the pompous Clark (I am a popular and competent Prime Minister) of a few years ago to this.
And so much more to come Like the revelations from the Truth and Retribution Committee that Cullen was told his madcap WFF student loans etc would ruin the country Like Dysons mad cap extentsions to ACC coverage would ruin the country.
It will all be revealed in the fullness of time and Ratbiter and the other Socialists supporters will continue to remain in denial unable and unwilling to face up to the reality of their corrupt mates
December 19th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Ratbiter (374) Vote: 0 4 Says:
December 19th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
“Just checking:
Yup, Liarbore are still corrupt and we hate them.
Nothing new here then…”
Hey Rat – I don’t normally agree with you but you are right on the money here – when did the Holy Revelation bless you?
December 19th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Jacob van Hartzog:
Gross debt to increase from under 20% to a massive 33.1% (and maybe 38.6%) by 2013. Thanks to Labour. Pull your head out of Labour’s ass. You might find the view refreshing.
December 19th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Dr Cullen was said to have slurred
We came as guests, left as thieves, drink that
December 19th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
I suppose all this ranting about Goff means that you rightwingers will accept that John Key is guilty by association next time any National Party staffer does something wrong.
[DPF: I have not said Goff is guilty by association. I think his comments were regretable where he seems to trivialise what happened as being just due to being youthful and drunk. I also am surprised that the staffer concerned was at work the next day, considering he had been charged]
December 19th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Who’s blaming Goff Harpoon?
December 19th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Next time John Key trys to make excuses for a fuck up we’ll certainly… oh wait hes never done that.
December 19th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Nothing in Goff’s quote indicates he was making excuses.
December 19th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
No, I’d say he’s warning them not to.
As always, blaming the drink doesn’t wash with anyone. But acting like a stupid fool after you’ve had some drinks is extremely common, so warning people not to get so drunk that they act like a stupid fool and commit crimes is sensible advice.
As for ‘not knowing them personally’, that’s one of those extremely vague phrases a politician will use to distance themselves from someone without actually lying. There are over a hundred people in the company I work for, and I’ve been introduced to almost all of them, but that is not the same as knowing them personally. I’ve even spoken to some of them at length, and yet I’d still say I don’t know them personally. I only know them professionally. It’s plausible that Goff has the same relationship with these folk. I don’t know if that’s true, I’m merely replying to the ‘he must know them if they work in his office’ line.
There’s a difference between “Personally, I don’t know them”, and “I don’t know them personally”. I wouldn’t be surprised if Goff wants us to read it the first way, whilst of course the second way being what he really means.
As you say, DPF, it’s not the crime of the century, and it’s not excusable either.
December 19th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
JVH. It’s very easy to reduce debt when you do it by not only not paying the bills but by failing to declare them when the bank asks you to do a SOP. That’s effectively what your SOB Cullen has done. So far, it’s possible to see some ten billion dollars worth of unpaid bills. How much debt did your Fiscal Fool Sonofabitch pay off over nine years? Was it much more than ten billion?
December 19th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Correct Ben , what a Gaff, it’s a bit like Miss Klark saying she didn’t know the car was traveling at 100mph.
December 19th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
I found a couple of photos of Aidan Smith. Find them here:
http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v310/64/51/1040649071/n1040649071_1688443_4094.jpg
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v346/179/88/1418702141/n1418702141_95682_654.jpg
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=95698&op=1&o=global&view=global&subj=1040649071&id=1418702141
Here is his Facebook profile:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1040649071&hiq=aidan%2Csmith#/profile.php?id=1040649071&v=photos&viewas=728781648
[DPF: Smith is a common name and you have the wrong person. I know what Aidan looks like and they are not him]
December 19th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
I have been hoping for years that some Labour Cabinet Parliamentary staffer who gets sacked for some offence like this, or for leaking documents, or such like, then brings an action against his “employers” and successfully gets awarded a handsome sum in damages because his employer didn’t cross all the t’s and dot all the i’s under the very employee protection legislation that Labour themsleves are responsible for.
Same goes for any Trade Union sacking a staffer.
Karma happening to Socialists is just so sweet…….
December 19th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
PhilBest,
Unfortunately in this case it will have to be Parliamentary Services that screws up for your wish to come true. Nonetheless there is probably some justice in this dickwad being foist on the Labour opposition for years to come by someone in PS with a sense of humour. They can live with the prat and his idiot attitudes and drunken behaviour. Just the sort of researcher the Financial spokesperson needs I would say!! Plenty of fun asking Cunners who is running the show in his office to come.
December 19th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
‘Oh come on, its not theft. It wasn’t really owned by any one person and it was bought for people to consume and enjoy… so what’s the problem? No harm done. The spirit of the thing is what counts. Typical right wing response calling it theft and all that.’
Pretty much sums up Labour’s approach to appropriating other people’s property.
December 19th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Murray (or rather his journalist brother) suggests stealing alchohol from a journo:
One it was guarding, or a plump juicy one it was in the process of eating? If the latter, I’d definitely agree. But I think the real scandal was uncovered by bearhunter on the earlier thread on this topic: What the hell was leftover booze doing at a journalist’s piss up?! And these Gallery people call themselves real journalists!!
Why in my day when the booze ran out we’d have been clustering round Winston trying to inhale as he exhaled…
December 19th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
From the stuff story:
“One of the men was detained and arrested at the scene, allegedly with over $400 worth of wine in his car. He has been charged with theft.”
So let me get this straight – drunk person takes alcohol that doesn’t belong to them. Who posting here can honestly say they’ve never done this?
P.S. even if you can’t remember doing it you probably have.
[DPF: They smuggled out 30 bottles of wine, one bottle at a time, while the party was still going. Good to see there are no limits to the sort of behaviour Roger Nome will defend so long as someone from the left does it.
December 19th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Philbest:
“I have been hoping for years that some Labour Cabinet Parliamentary staffer who gets sacked for some offence like this, or for leaking documents, or such like”
And there ladies and gentlemen, is why philbest doesn’t have a girlfriend.
December 19th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Goff must be very proud of his team here.
The Standard seem ever so sensitive. Bless.
Just might be one of their number, that gets ever so thirsty.
December 19th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
It is perhaps ever so easy to gloat … and when I reflect back at some of the things in my dim past I should not.
But what I think should really piss Goff off big time is that this sort of thing cements in the public mind an impression of Labour as dishonest … individually not fair but collectively yes and that should be a worry for them.
And if Labour thinks the public hasn’t noticed (nothing more than a Beltway issue) then they are more ‘up’ themselves than I suspected.
December 19th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Where is the booze now?
December 19th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Like always this is yet another media blow up, and a chance for Tory supporters to get on their high horses. In this case however, the people in question went too far. Taking a few bottles of wine at the end of the night is something we could probably turn a blind eye to. But taking over 30 bottles of wine which I have been told was taken, is stepping over the line.
Although to link this act of carelessness fueled by alcohol opportunism and end of the year spirit to the Labours time in office, is a bridge way, way too far. I know for a fact that Labour MPs would neither condone or let this happen, if one had known about it. And in no way does this represent Labours way of thinking in any shape or form, as some Torys are trying to suggest.
December 19th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Lee, that was something else your wife mentioned.
David, stop being such a bloody goody two shoes and call it like it is. This was not someone helping themselves to a few drinks. It was premeditated theft committed at parliament by public employees.
December 19th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Rex send us a text 0432644918
December 19th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Press Gallery Chair Vernon Small e-mailed me the following (useful) comments that he has given permission for me to blog:
“We did not go out and solicit donations of anything – in fact that has been a particular issue with me that we don’t. But if people who attend want to bring along some to augment our stocks we are grateful.
The US embassy wine; from memory they donated a couple of dozen this year, with their names on it – so not very secret. Some of the similar quantity they donated last year which was left over was put out.
To my knowledge that was the only wine or beer or food or plates or glasses or anything else at the party that was not bought or hired by the gallery executive at the going rate from supermarkets etc.
None was paid for by the taxpayer.
If the blogger(s) who objects to us holding the party in the Doidge Room and an outside alley way – where we can set up a BBQ – I am more than happy to receive his actual name to ensure he does not gain entry to the party next year and suffer the same indignity. I wonder if he was on the list of invitees this year or was a gate crasher.
As far as I can ascertain two of the staffers who were allegedly involved in the heist are executive assistants and two are from the research unit. I have no idea who they are known to.
There was an incident some years ago of one dozen bubbly being lifted and loaded into a taxi as a guest left. It was caught on security camera and reported to the gallery the next day. The person was contacted and he returned it (less the bottle he gave to the tax driver – though he added a 12th bottle of something else to the returned amount). Interestingly he was invited to Wednesday’s party and was a model guest.
I don’t think a complaint was made to police in that incident which was seen as alcohol-induced opportunism and stupidity.
In this case it struck deputy chair Jane Patterson and I that what we saw was so calculated and such a breach of our hospitality that we called the police. We would have done that whoever it was and from whatever party – or otherwise … especially since Jane’s own personal chilli bin was in the car when we checked it out.
Maybe an example of three cases and you’re out.
Jane and I have received a letter of apology from one of those involved.
Cheers
Vernon Small
Press gallery chair
PS For those who think 30-odd bottles of wine at a cost of $400 is dangerously cheapskate-ish, about half was Lindauer at about $7 a bottle. Very responsible treasurer, we have.
December 19th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Rex, don’t – Bok actually sends my internal sociopath-detector off the scale.
December 19th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Just goes to show, no honor amongst thieves.
December 19th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
“Three cases and you’re out” – well put.
Heather Roy says it best:
“For the really hard to buy for, alcohol is often a good staple gift over the festive season – a fact obviously not lost on some Labour researchers this week. A number of Labour staffers are now in the gun for attempting to pilfer wine from the Parliamentary Press Gallery Christmas Party – possibly an attempt to cut down on Christmas shopping costs in the midst of a recession of Labour’s own making?”
December 19th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Philbest. If somebody works for a Cabinet Minister, they don’t work for Parliamentary Service; they work for the Department of Internal Affairs, via Ministerial Services. About half of those employees are on ‘event based employment agreements’, with the job termination ‘event’ being either:
(a) their minister stops being a minister (election result, death, resignation, sackling, etc)
(b) the pleasure of their minister.
(b) means the minister can wake up one day and say top themselves, “that bloke Phil – I don’t like him any more, so I’ll fire him”. Said minister can merely email the boss of Ministerial Services and sack the poor blighter. Such sackings are not uncommon, as i know a couple of people it has happened to. But there is no comeback, as ministers are totally within their rights to … wait for it … fire at will.
It’s ironic that Labour’s leading lights are railing against National’s 90-Day Fire At Will Bill (quite rightly), whilst for the past 9 years, they have had such a right to fire people at a moment’s notice with no possibility of PG comeback. And not just for 90 days, but throughout a person’s employment in the Beehive. I wonder why that’s never mentioned?
Also, Wellington is a small town, and anyone attempting to object loudly to their sacking would be on the front page of the Dompost quick-smart. Not a good look if you want to find new employment, since employers tend to frown on a job applicant who badmouths their previous employers.
December 19th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Vernon
Perhaps the fact that you had a dozen and a half bottles of Lindauer left at the evening vouches for the quality at $7 a bottle. There’s something wrong when the bubbles are left over to steal in the first place.
Little wonder it’s been reported by Busted Blonde that you are all bloody grumpy. As I would be if I was limited at a staff function to $7 a bottle bubbles. You poor bastards.
I (almost) feel sorry for the Gallery and have suggested that in the future if the Government wish for positive stories to be written about the country that they drown you all in far more salubrious piss than on average $11.11 a bottle worth. I would never dream of taking a journo out and offering them Lindauer. Even those ones with left-leaning tendencies. It’s the ultimate in disrespect.
Merry Christmas
CK
[DPF: A minor clarification: The bottles were not stolen after the party finished. They were taken during the party, while many people were still there]
December 19th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Big D remarks:
“Taking a few bottles of wine at the end of the night is something we could probably turn a blind eye to.”
This is an affront to common sense and any notion of justice. An offence does not become any more excusable when the scale of it is reduced. What kind of example are we setting by condoning the actions of those who ‘only’ steal ‘a little’? Theft is theft, period. The wrongfulness of an act does not become diminished by its magnitude.
Furthermore, calling this an “act of carelessness” is a bit rich, not to mention a reckless understatement. Theft is an offence that contains both the actus reus and mens rea elements. There is always intent in theft. I have never heard of someone ‘accidentally stealing’ something.
If carelessness exonerates a perpetrator, then perhaps there should be defences for ‘accidental rape’ and ‘accidental murder’ too? Don’t be so blind, Big D.
And for the record, Vernon Small (above) commented that what he and Jane Patterson witnessed “was so calculated and such a breach of our hospitality that we called the police”. When something is calculated, it is never accidental.
Why is it that when the Left commits breaches or acts of wrongdoing, it’s always inadvertent? Goodness me…is the Left so bereft of accountability and individuals capable of possessing personal responsibility?
December 19th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
“Bok actually sends my internal sociopath-detector off the scale.”
You ain’t got any kind of detector you arrogant fool. You’ve never been right on one issue you’ve ever tried to debate here, and being the amoral slimy smearing coward you’ve always been you wouldn’t have the faintest idea about sociopaths.
Let’s get a few things straight. Phil Goofs words are just typical distortions. One- the perps are not “young”. They’re adults. Two- that they were affected by alcohol has nothing to do with it. This was clearly just a cowardly attempt at theft. Three- This whole scenario typifies the rank hypocrisy of the left, who daily lecture people here and elsewhere on what they can do and what they can think and what they can say for the good of the collective, whilst they steal from us without a qualm of conscience.
Socialist scum. Possessed of such utter conceited arrogance they would presume to preach to us all as to how we should live, while they behave themselves as nothing but common criminals.
December 19th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
“We won. you lost, drink that?????”
December 19th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Roger Nome is back. School girls of Dunedin can walk the streets without fear while he’s online…
December 19th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Guys leave nome alone. He is simply a product of his upbringing. It’s not his fault. Limited gene pool etc.
December 19th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
OMG I sent Bok a text before reading roger’s dire warnings! Quick, fellow Kiwibloggers, rally round. I’ll need at least two of you to come with me if I ever go to meet him… one to hold my hand and one to spy from a distance. And at least another two back at base with details of where we’ve gone, and a list of emergency numbers to call if we don’t ring in every half hour.
Oh, and thanks to Vernon Small for confirming my recollection of yesterday… there was a previous incident of plonk theft from a Gallery party, the innocent recollection of which prompted llyodois to call me “one of the biggest idiots commenting in the blogosphere”. I wonder if he was the original plonk pincher, such is the poor boy’s sensitivity on the subject?
December 19th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
nome
I can honestly say I’ve never done it.
It doesn’t matter they were Labour staffers though it does bring personal satisfaction that Labour employees are still so willing to show what a pack of thieves they are while trying to look innocent.
It wasn’t theirs to take. Would they raid the cellar of one of their mates after a party just cause some was left over? Dickheads.
Ultimately it doesn’t matter who employs them. Charge them. Hang them. Make an example.
December 19th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Most normal people’s attitude to Theft.
Theft is theft, you can’t be a little bit pregnant!!
Slimy machivelian bastards.
December 19th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
roger nome said “Rex, don’t – Bok actually sends my internal sociopath-detector off the scale.”
roger – my bullshit detector is working overtime!
And Rex – do what you bloody well want. The do-as-I-say-but-not-as-I-do merchants have been voted out of office, but the message is a bit slow getting through to some of them!
December 19th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
The usage of the words “totally unacceptable” is nowadays used to describe everything from jay-walking, shoplifting, dumping rubbish in forbidden places, wanking in public, spitting on footpaths, to infanticide and axe murdering old ladies.
May we please have a return to the time when we could actually describe the difference, in terms of acceptance, between one or the other. Funny how nobody does wrong or bad things anymore. All actions are totally unacceptable now and it means nothing. Nick some booze, murder an old lady …both totally ” unacceptable.” Is that all that our language will now allow?
December 19th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
The substandard/labour research unit – the gift that keeps giving and giving and giving!
Merry Christmas!
December 19th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
Yeah, DPF, sure that isn’t THE Aidan Smith, but this is:
http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/?q=content/wine-heist-thief-identified
Vernon, the Doidge Room is a key part of the Press Gallery history, and the BBQ was a great idea, but the weak point was security at the rear of the premises which provided the opportunity for the thieves. I do hope these idiots don’t effect the enjoyment of the event next year, except for the gatecrashers of course!
December 19th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
I still can’t see what is wrong with stealing alcohol,
December 19th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
Roger Nome returns… How do you like those apples…
We can expect a steady stream of cockwaffle from now I guess.
Theft is theft, if all of the these people are not charged we can all assume it is business as usual at police hq and nothing has changed.
Phill Goffs first instinct was to waffle, obfuscate and make excuses. Claiming to not know this twat is a bare faced lie at worst and typical labour weasel words at best.
What a stellar year the lap bloggers and there mates have had.
December 20th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
The ‘Aidan Smith’ photos and facebook page that Straight Shooter has linked to are of a Napier boy who has just finished Year 13.
Maybe these links should be removed as he is nothing to do with the ‘Aidan Smith’ of this post.
December 20th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Humour, Max. Humour.
December 20th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
“PS For those who think 30-odd bottles of wine at a cost of $400 is dangerously cheapskate-ish, about half was Lindauer at about $7 a bottle.”
Labour Party staffers went to such alleged lengths and risk to nick LINDAUER …. BLOODY LINDAUER!! Perhaps we need to get a collection underway for these poor impoverished souls.