Brown endorses Williams?

March 31st, 2010 at 1:08 pm by David Farrar

NewstalkZB at 8 am reported Len Brown saying supportive things about Andrew William’s bid to be on the new Auckland Council. The item said:

Len Brown is showing his support for Andrew Williams intention to stand for election onto the new Council. …

Manukau City Mayor Len Brown says he has worked well with Mr Williams in the past through the Mayoral Forum, and knows he has his community’s concerns at heart.

They also reported John Banks refused to comment – a much wiser strategy.

So far then, Len Brown has endorsed or said supportive things about both Sue Bradford and Andrew Williams being on Council.Is there anyone he won’t endorse?

I mean this is just after Williams puts up on his Facebook page a photo of Rodney Hide as Hitler (H/T: Whale).

Yes this image really is on the Mayor of North Shore City’s Facebook page – placed there by him.

Do I really need to even mention how offensive this is to actual survivors of the Holocaust. You might expect this behaviour from an anonymous troll on the Internet, but not from the Mayor of a major city.

And this is who Len Brown is supporting for Council – because he didn’t want to risk having Williams attack him, if he refused to say nice things about him.

This is one of the criticisms I hear about Brown. From all accounts he is a very nice guy, and quite personable. Someone you would find hard to dislike. Many people I know, from both National and Labour, say Len is a really nice guy.

But the criticism is whether he is tough enough to handle the job of being the inaugural Mayor of the Auckland Super City. You have to be able to sometimes call a spade a spade.

The job will involved both standing for 1.3 million Aucklanders to the national Government, but also being able to run a Council focused on regional issues and not be captured by the parochialism of the past.

And this is why Andrew Williams is unsuitable, in my opinion, for the Auckland Council. Even if you put aside his abusive and ranting style, he is also unsuitable because he seems only concerned with his local area – not Auckland as a whole. Of course you want ward Councillors to represent their communities, but you most of all want them focused on decisions that are good for Auckland as a whole.

It is almost impossible to see how anyone can think Williams would be a constructive member of the Auckland Council, and it does call into question Len Brown’s judgement, that he is effectively endorsing Andrew Williams.

Tags: Adolf Hitler, Andrew Williams, Auckland Council, Len Brown, Rodney Hide

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010 at 1:08 pm and is filed under NZ Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

91 Responses to “Brown endorses Williams?”

kowtow (4,405) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 1:16 pm
But would he look good in lederhosen?
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kowtow (4,405) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 1:18 pm
And after politics maybe as an extra in The Producers.
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kowtow (4,405) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 1:18 pm
For goodness sake don’t mention the war.
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m@tt (498) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 1:19 pm
“They also reported John Banks refused to comment – a much wiser strategy.”
Isn’t that everything that is wrong here. Strategy and superficial rubbish trumps substance over and over again.
God forbid that Banks might actually have to reveal his true thoughts or feelings.

Congratulations on being part of the problem.
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Murray (8,832) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 1:24 pm
Dammit I’ve already written one submission today, now i have to file a complaint about this as well. Its gettign hard to get any work done.

maybe i should go on the dole and become a tax papeyer funded activist.
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David Farrar (1,738) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 1:24 pm
I think Banks refusal to comment makes it quite clear he does not endorse him and he is adopting the wise stance of if you can;t say anything positive about someone, don’t say it.

I can’t believe that deep down Len Brown really thinks Williams should be on the Auckland Council, yet he has been willing to say things which act as an effective endorsement.
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Murray (8,832) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 1:27 pm
Williams shouldn’t be let out in public without a minder and some one to pick up his poopy and bag it.

The boys a moron.
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Barnsley Bill (855) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 1:28 pm
Williams is an absolute disgrace. We have moved beyond him being a drunk boofhead to a point where the label racist can be added to this vile man.
On the topic of Len Brown.
He committed electoral suicide the day he endorsed Sue Bradford.
I imagine Banks has all his prayers directed at that woman being the deputy mayor in waiting on a brown ticket.
Imagine the billboards.
Picture of Bradford gurning into the camera and the caption ” Vote Len Brown and Sue Bradford will be one (very unreliable) heartbeat from the Mayoralty.”
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GJ (327) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 1:29 pm
Murray; I agree, Auckland doesn’t need him!
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Bevan (3,951) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 1:33 pm
Even worse in this ‘Williams Saga’, Brian Rudman actually devoting his column in the Herald to defending the drink driving mayor!
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Rachael Rich (200) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 1:35 pm
Not defending the clown as he put up the image, but this is not his own work. It was a submission to him for the new council logo from some other dickhead.

If anyone else performed like Williams in any job they would have been goneburger long ago. We all need Employment Act-free elected jobs!
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RRM (7,227) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 1:35 pm
I am sure that political leaders throughout history have had private thoughts that are not PC. In the good old days, you were blissfully unaware of them. But now, thanks to the magic of Facebook, angry little online bitches like whale Oil can [rightclick+save image as] and use them to try to make hay.

I know serious Jews take Nazi jokes seriously. But it’s Facebook for goodness’ sake! Hardly a front for his policy manifesto. Get a life, haters.

I clicked on Whale Oil’s link to Andrew Williams’ Facebook page, and what did I see?
“Andrew only shares some of his Profile information with everyone.”
No Hyde/Swastika image that I could see… that appears to be public exclusively on Whale Oil.

If this is REALLY about the offensiveness of the image, then who’s spreading bad taste Nazi jokes, and who’s merely posessing them?

[DPF: It is on his wall, not his profile!]
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lyndon (321) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 1:38 pm
rom an anonymous troll on the Internet

I would like to join DPF and whaleoil in deploring people who reproduce images that make nazi comparisons.

[DPF: There is a difference between putting them online to promote them because you think they are funny and want people to see them, and reporting in a disapproving way on the image]
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Barnsley Bill (855) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 1:44 pm
RRM. As usual. You are wrong. If you are actually logged in to Facebook the pic comes up straight away. He has full public access to his page as long as you are logged in. His privacy settings are not switched on at all. Anybody with a facebook account can see every rambling utterance since he joined.
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George Patton (300) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 1:44 pm
RRM – I had a look. In fact it is publicly available. Click through to WOs link and then click on “Wall”. It’s all visible to the public.
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RRM (7,227) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 1:45 pm
[lyndon]: “I would like to join DPF and whaleoil in deploring people [like DPF whaleoil] who reproduce images that make nazi comparisons.”

^^^ Fixed that for you
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RRM (7,227) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 1:49 pm
Barnsley & George – curious! I was logged into facebook the whole time, and yet it was as I described.

Trying again…

Nope, still Friends only. No access to the wall. You two must be mates of his?

What Whale Oil has linked to on his site is a SCREENSHOT of the facebook page with the image. Presumably either Whaleoil is a friend of Williams’, or else Williams has changed his FB security settings since this all blew up…
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Nick (536) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 1:52 pm
Williams has spoken on this. He has called it:

“Trivia and unsubstantiated garbage.”

He went on: “

I was at home asleep the time the image was put up so it couldn’t have been me. My wife will verify that. Look, okay. I was not at home asleep. I was at the pub.

Or maybe I was at a council meeting?

Does it really matter? Look, this stalking has to stop. I have bigger fish to fry. I have nothing but utter contempt for David Farrar. His rape and pillaging of my Facebook page has to stop.

I might have put that image up, who knows. Women can do it too if they like.
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George Patton (300) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 1:55 pm
RRM – clearly there is something wrong with your FB setup.

I am not a facebook friend of Williams. Yet it comes up for me. click on “Wall” at this link

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?v=wall&ref=ts&id=100000730042669
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Barnsley Bill (855) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 2:03 pm
Ditto George.
I wonder how our race relations conciliator feels about this?
As he is “friend” of Andrew Williams on facebook perhaps he could have a quiet word in his ear. And Nicki Kayes people need to be a bit more careful about accepting all friend requests as well. Looking at the collection of usual suspects which seems to include every Labour dropkick in the country it is amazing to me that the completely blue North Shore were conned into voting for this drunk, racist lefty.
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OliverI (124) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 2:03 pm
I’m not a big fan of Andrew Williams, and empathise with him in regards to media chasing him with his kids at home, but this? I genuinely thought it was a joke until I followed the link, it is offensive and abhorrent and clearly highlights that Mr Williams does not understand the responsibility that comes with being in public position.
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RRM (7,227) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 2:04 pm
Again – nothing. No “Wall” FB tab available at that link either.

Are you a friend of a friend perhaps?
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davidp (2,729) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 2:05 pm
Doesn’t work for me George, even when using your link. There is no Wall tab. It does show his “friends” tho, which include Paula Bennett, Nikki Kaye, Melissa Lee, and Wayne Mapp who should all be ashamed of themselves. And Neelam Choudary, who probably only friended him because she was a nervous little wall flower who couldn’t say “no”, and would now like Phil Goff to help her unfried him. And just about every Labour and Green MP.

Andrew Williams policy on leaky buildings: If you build a fence around your building, he won’t be able to leak on it.

[DPF: I think you will find many MPs have a policy of accepting all requests to be Facebook Friends. That is different from them asking someone to be their friend]
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mpledger (419) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 2:06 pm
Banksie statement might be the best way to play the game but it’s the least honest.
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Nick Kearney (536) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 2:12 pm
Williams is also a Justice of the Peace (JP). That “title” should be removed forthwith.

There are ways to do that through the Minister of Justice and/or the Governor-General. I urge all of you to complain to either/all.

There is doubt whether he can be removed as a JP when he is still Mayor, as the JP title goes with the office of mayor.

But do it anyway.

Thanks,
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Pete George (17,596) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 2:15 pm
I’m logged in to FB and can only see limited info on Williams too. No sign of this image.
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Ryan Sproull (5,541) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 2:24 pm
I’m a friend of a friend, and can see it. I have another account that isn’t, and can’t see it. Mystery solved.
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George Patton (300) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 2:24 pm
Gawd – must be a friend of a friend thing.

You are not denying it is there though are you Pete?
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JiveKitty (869) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 2:30 pm
I think he’s changed his privacy settings now? Which is probably for the best given the stupid shit a lot of people are inclined post to their Facebook profiles and with him being a public figure apparently lacking in self-control or forethought with regard to his actions, given his public position. I say “apparently” because that’s how it appears to me. It is a personal opinion, not being stated as fact.

My advice to Andrew Williams: 1) Get a media manager or someone who can give you an image makeover. Your public image is poor and you aren’t doing anything to improve it.
2) Avoid drinking more than one or two glasses of alcohol in public and don’t urinate in the street. Drinking any more and/or urinating in public will fuel the public speculation that you have a drinking problem.
3) If you do have a few drinks, make sure you have a sober driver. While you may not have been drunk, driving after drinking makes you look irresponsible. It sends the wrong message to the public.
4) Don’t post responses to stories about you on weblogs. It just gives them more credence and fuel, and makes you look like a plonker.
5) Stop ranting about Rodney Hide and accept the reality that the super-council is going to happen. You’ve lost that battle and to continue makes you look like somebody who can’t accept reality and work constructively within its constraints.
6) Keep your mouth shut unless discussing council business until you get a media manager/someone who can give you an image makeover. Your opinion about anything else doesn’t matter and too often it seems you don’t reflect upon your words before you say them.
7) If you use other social networking tools, make their privacy settings “friends only”.
8) If you have a weblog, stop using it until you get a media manager/someone who can give you an image makeover.
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Ryan Sproull (5,541) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 2:31 pm
I’m a friend of a friend, and can see it. I have another account that isn’t, and can’t see it. Mystery solved.

Note: by “it”, I mean his Facebook wall.
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bchapman (646) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 2:32 pm
He’s running for the North Shore ward, of course he is going to be parochial. They’re the one sthat vote for that ward. How else will you get elected? If thats the reason you don’t like him DPF, its a pretty poor one. To be honest North Shore is not a particularly well run council, have a look at the mess they made of the Albany mega-centre, I’d worry about the records of the candidates before resorting to junk journalism and Facebook crap.
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Jeff83 (758) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 2:35 pm
Prefer to judge someone by their policies and their past performance than this sort of circus sideline issue.
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Pete George (17,596) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 2:38 pm
I’m not denying it’s there, just can’t see it. Something like that couldn’t be a setup, although did someone else post it?

I’m denying I’m a friend of a friend though
I wouldn’t want to have a friend linkage to anyone posting crap like that.
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Fale Andrew Lesa (473) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 2:44 pm
Stop being such a drama queen David, Len Brown makes it quite clear that he supports the politics of this individual: I doubt that you can attach him to the NAZI/Hide case.

This man has supported a number of significant policies, his politics is professional and his conduct has always been of a high standard – surely this was what Len Brown was referencing?

No big news here, just a shallow blogger’s attempt to create something out of nothing.
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Nick Kearney (536) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 2:46 pm
This man has supported a number of significant policies, his politics is professional and his conduct has always been of a high standard – surely this was what Len Brown was referencing?

Name the significant policies, and explain the high standards of behaviour.
Thanks,
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James Stephenson (1,462) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 2:48 pm
I’d pay good cash money to watch a jackbooted Rodney kicking the shambling bum Williams down Hurstmere Road…
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Grant Michael McKenna (1,126) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 2:56 pm
I support Williams standing, because anything that divides the left is good….
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Nick Kearney (536) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 2:56 pm
Andrew, cat got your tongue?

You should be able to reel them off.
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Adolf Fiinkensein (2,446) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 3:05 pm
Goodness me. Taking of incompetent nazis, Williams bears a striking resemblance to Ernst Roehm. Remember him?

Can you just see the team next year? Williams, Bradford, Brown and God knows who else.

Williams and his Brown Shirts, Bradford and her Red Shirts with Brown wondering who got away with his shirt.
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Inventory2 (8,804) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 3:13 pm
@ Fale Andrew Lesa – if you publish an image without any adverse comment, you endorse it. That is what Williams has done here, and it once again shows an appalling lack of judgment.
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RRM (7,227) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 3:18 pm
Rodney does look kinda tough sporting a Hitler toothbrush though…
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lyndon (321) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 3:56 pm
There is a difference between putting them online to promote them because you think they are funny and want people to see them, and reporting in a disapproving way on the image

Actually, I wasn’t talking about this image.
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black paul (124) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 4:04 pm
I don’t get it. Is it offensive to compare people to Hitler because:

a. he was a bit of a dictator
b. he was a bit of a fascist
c. he was a bit of a racist
d. he was a bit of a mass-murderer
e. he was a bit gawky looking

Serious question.

[DPF: No it is not a serious question. Once again you are trolling]
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LeftRightOut (622) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 4:12 pm
I’m with you, black paul. This taking offence at anything culture shits me right off.

DPF Says “Do I really need to even mention how offensive this is to actual survivors of the Holocaust.”

I say, DILLIGAF?

If holocaust “survivors” want to take offence, let them. But for FUCK’S SAKE, can we please stop being offended on behalf of people we don’t even know.

[DPF: Well I do know some, but more to the point I never got to know the members of my family who were killed in the Holocaust so don't fucking tell me I have no right to be offended]
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lyndon (321) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 4:12 pm
Anyway, to move on from the (rhetorical) ad hominem, I notice the Sunday Star-Times seemed to be reflecting the sentiment with the pic accompanying http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/business/3477183/Erecting-a-new-dysfunction

The sentiment would seem to be widespread.
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LeftRightOut (622) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 4:29 pm
[DPF: Well I do know some, but more to the point I never got to know the members of my family who were killed in the Holocaust so don't fucking tell me I have no right to be offended]

I take it from your wikipedia entry you are too young to be a holocaust survivor, so I find your taking offence at not getting to know people who were born and died before you were born laughable. There’s a helluva lot of people all around the world who did not get to know ancestors due to war, or to other more mundane reasons such as migration.

But hey, if you want to be offended by trivia, go right ahead, but how aboutr personalising the offence? How about saying YOU find offence, not that you are claiming offence on a bunch of other, mostly dead, people.

[DPF: You are being a pillock. There is no dispute many people get offended by trivial comparisons to the Nazis and the Holocaust. This is not something I have invented. And frankly end of this dialogue]
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JiveKitty (869) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 4:31 pm
@black paul: Maybe it was because he was a sensitive man who wanted to be a painter? No, I think it’s because he was a man whose policies and beliefs caused many atrocities such as mass-murder to be committed, and in recent history too. As such, most comparisons are usually hysterical and unfounded, and possibly hurtful to the communities affected particularly as the scars are still relatively recent (and the communities harmed still exist as relatively homogenous groups)?

I’ll note it doesn’t really offend me when someone is compared to Hitler, but it does (unless it’s an appropriate comparison) make me give much less credence to whatever the person using the comparison is saying. (Unless the comparison is apt) when one feels a need to engage in such hyperbole, it often means that there is little substance to the position they are stating/believe in/whatever.
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George Patton (300) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 4:36 pm
Leftrightout – you are a prize knob.
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George Patton (300) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 4:39 pm
The Herald editorial today sums it up – Williams is unsuitable for being a Mayor. This facebook post of his serves to remind us that in addition to hitting ambulance workers, being abusive, making rude texts, drinking too much and more, that Williams is simply a fool and hurting the interests of the people he is supposed to be serving.
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black paul (124) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 4:40 pm
It is a serious question David. I suspect that the answer most reasonable people would pick would be (d) as it’s not generally considered good form to compare people to mass-murderers. I’d be interested to see what people think though.

It’s very important to examine the reasons for our shock or offense. The ability to do so is part of what makes us human. Otherwise we may as well just blindly bounce from one preconception to another, learning nothing, in the manner of a fly.
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Ryan Sproull (5,541) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 4:40 pm
Hitler seems to bring out the worst in people. Who knew?
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Barnsley Bill (855) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 4:41 pm
Okay everybody. I will take one for the team.
Leftrightout. If you cannot see how most normal people would be offended by having their face morphed into a hitler face with a swastika background and see that the offense is compounded by the fact that it was published by an elected offcial then you are either A STUPID CUNT or just take immense pleasure being an anonymous lefty troll who would seem willing to eat as much shit as your masters on the left decide you should eat.
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black paul (124) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 4:46 pm
@JiveKitty, that’s pretty much my response too – I tend not to take people seriously who make such comparisons – especially when there’s no valid comparison to be made – but I find it difficult to understand the outrage that others (including DPF) exhibit.

@Barnsley: that’s a reason for Hide to take offense. It doesn’t explain anyone else doing so.
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Barnsley Bill (855) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 4:54 pm
Putting aside Davids weapons grade fiscal prudence, he is of Jewish descent. Your (probably faux) inability to understand why he might get offended where the nazis are concerned marks you out as no better than the other idiot.
A mayor of a major NZ conurbation comparing somebody else to the architect of the genocide of millions of people should cause outrage in all of us.
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George Patton (300) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 4:55 pm
I see that Williams has removed the image from his page. That’s probably because the image was in good taste and reflected his superior judgment as an elected representative of North Shore residents.
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Barnsley Bill (855) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 4:57 pm
It came down around 90 minutes ago. but not soon enough to stop tv3, stuff and the herald getting the screen shot directly from his facebook page.
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Inventory2 (8,804) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 4:59 pm
@ George Patton – perhaps. It could also be because he’s been caught with his pants down again (sorry for the mental picture that may create for sensitive readers). It’s gone beyond the blogosphere too; Larry Williams led his drive-time programme on Newstalk ZB at 4pm with a slap-down for the Mad Mayor.
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JiveKitty (869) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 5:01 pm
Furthermore, I think the offense has been taken because it is an elected official and public figure posting this to his Facebook, which apparently lacked the security settings to make it a private post amongst friends. This effectively meant it was an elected official and public figure posting this in what is, or was, a public forum. It shows a lack of professional conduct, and at its root this is about a professional issue he has, I think (Super-council in Auckland: in simple terms, think of it as a merger to gain greater efficiencies through economies of scale and him as the head of a merged department). It is unacceptable behaviour for an elected official and public figure to engage in such hysterical and potentially offensive – to Rodney Hide and those communities affected – hyperbole about any issue, but particularly a professional issue, so publicly.
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lyndon (321) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 5:15 pm
“And in fact as people well know satire is satire, not a serious comparison…

I’m quite happy to say that I do not believe [Rodney Hide] intends to invade Poland or do anything else in that vein. And I don’t think anyone thinks [Andrew Williams] was seriously suggesting it.”

http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2005/08/todays_tom_scott_cartoon.html

More broadly, if you’re getting as far as outrage then considering the balance of godwinning over the last few years I really do think you’re being selective.
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JiveKitty (869) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 5:42 pm
If it were funny, perhaps. (Yeah, I realise humour is subjective.) But Andrew Williams seems to have a personal agenda against Rodney, and posting it comes across as petty rather than because it is a piece of good and/or relevant satire. Furthermore, even if it were funny, it would still be an ill-advised public comment relating to his professional issues.
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RRM (7,227) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 5:57 pm
[DPF: Well I do know some, but more to the point I never got to know the members of my family who were killed in the Holocaust so don't fucking tell me I have no right to be offended]

I didn’t realise this – wow.
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black paul (124) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 6:02 pm
@Barnsley, don’t be facetious. I’m of Irish descent. Can I pretend to be horrified whenever I see a union jack?

On your (and JiveKitty’s) other point I tend to agree – it’s probably best to stay away from references to things nazi altogether when you’re in public office but this is more of a pragmatic consideration than a moral one.
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philu (13,393) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 6:05 pm
yeah..and i had relatives that died fighting him..(hitler..that is..not hide..)

(it is a good likeness..tho’..eh..?..)

phil(whoar.co.nz)
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dad4justice (7,339) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 6:06 pm
Is Chrome Domes girlfriend a feminazi called Eva? I bet he stands on a stool to kiss her.
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philu (13,393) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 6:11 pm
and actually..dpf..given yr family travails at the hand of a far-right/fascist regime..

..why the fuck are you a natty..?

..they are fascist-light..y’know..

do you need a political science 101 lesson..?

you don’t see the screaming contradictions..?..ffs..?

phil(whoar.co.nz)
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dad4justice (7,339) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 6:13 pm
phool my grand ma was a german and my pet cat can goose-step.
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philu (13,393) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 6:20 pm
you don’t see the headline..?

“..holocaust survivors’ descendant swerves right..”

..says..”i have no historical-memory..”

..and it is a good little ‘earner’..eh..?..

i ‘run campaigns’ for them..

..and they pay me lots of money..

..eh..?

..that was then..this is now..”

but seriously..wouldn’t you think that holocaust-victim descendants would have a lefty sorta default-setting..?

and..given ageing trends..you’ll veer even more to the right..the older you get..

..eh..?

and that dosen’t ‘spook’ you at all..?

as to where yr eventual destination might be..?

phil(whoar.co.nz)
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philu (13,393) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 6:24 pm
dad..my son is half-german..his great-grandfather died in a russian prisoner of war camp..

it was an ugly time..that devastated many..from many places..from many races..

(but that is not meant in any way to negate/diminish the vileness/monstrosities inflicted on the holocaust victims..)

but really dpf..the victim-card..?

(‘holy last-defence..!..batman..!”..)

phil(whoar.co.nz)
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peanut (139) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 6:25 pm
RRM,

So, it makes a difference because DPFs got relatives who died in the holocaust?

Your comment is so disgusting and unempathetic to the memories of the victims of Hitlers tyranny.

Williams should be sacked by the govt, same as the Ecan were. He is a disgrace.
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dad4justice (7,339) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 6:26 pm
phool no chance Rodney Chrome Dome would be a nazi soldier ’cause all politicians are gutless wimps who suck on the socialist tit.
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boredboy (237) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 6:28 pm
This latest incident serves to prove what an amateur AW really is.

Peeing in the bushes, drink driving and things does show a lack of judgement but not knowing how to operate fb is a good example of someone who goes off half-cocked without a clue.

Image notwithstanding; if someone is not sophisticated enough to set their fb account to block public display of certain images, they are not sophisticated enough to help run a town.
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philu (13,393) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 6:32 pm
you don’t see your ongoing attempts at spin/manipulation/out-right lies(against the greens esp…but not only../”unprincipled-campaigns’.

..(once again..yr own words..)..

…for the rightwing parties..

as having more than a touch of the goebbels..?

..that’s what he did..didn’tyaknow..?..

demonised minorities/the weakest..inciting irrational hatred against them..?

y’know..!..just like you do with/against sole-parents..eh..?

..seeing any echoes yet..?

phil(whoar.co.nz)
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big bruv (11,202) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 6:38 pm
Some of the below the belt anti semitic (directed at DPF ) comments in this thread defy belief.

As usual most of them come from the left wing scum who cannot put aside their hatred for anybody who does not share their fucked up political views.

Ever week I see another example of why we must ensure these narrow minded and vicious bastards are kept from power for as long as possible.
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RRM (7,227) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 6:57 pm
[peanut]: “RRM, Your comment is so disgusting and unempathetic to the memories of the victims of Hitlers tyranny.”

Peanut, WTF comment of mine are you talking about?

My 5:57 quote of DPF is DPF giving someone else a bollocking, not me; and my 5:57 comment is quite genuine, if you can get your head around that..

And you (unlike a lot of other people in this story) are a troll, just dying to take offence at something so that you can chirp up. Begone.
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s.russell (1,291) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 7:53 pm
I did not hear the NewstalkZB report, but from what is stated on DPF’s original post this smells like a typical media “twist the story 90 degrees to make it more exciting” scenario.

Brown says Williams cares about the community. Fine, and probably true. But that is not an endorsement. It is just being polite, and perhaps damning with faint praise.

Brown says he has worked well with his fellow mayor IN THE PAST. Fine, and probably also true. But that is not an endorsement. Interpretation ditto.

Maybe he said somthing else more to the point that I don’t know about, but it seems to me that “showing his support for Williams’ election” is a gross exaggeration on the part of NewstalkZB, and shoddy reporting.
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philu (13,393) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 8:03 pm
“..He committed electoral suicide the day he endorsed Sue Bradford.
I imagine Banks has all his prayers directed at that woman being the deputy mayor in waiting on a brown ticket.
Imagine the billboards.
Picture of Bradford gurning into the camera and the caption ” Vote Len Brown and Sue Bradford will be one (very unreliable) heartbeat from the Mayoralty.”..”

as usual with the rightwing bullshit usually peddled here…

the truth is far from the above..

how d’yathink bradford earned the respect of so many ..from all parties..?

that’s right..!..sorry..!..you don’t ‘think’..eh..?

..you just carry on being farrars; bitch..eh..?

helping him spin the lying-campaigns..eh..?

except..he gets money..you don’t..muggins..!

phil(whoar.co.nz)
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peanut (139) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 8:27 pm
Get a life RRM,

This blog belongs to anyone who wants to comment, not just the right wing jerks like you who are trying to be intellectual.

Your comment “I didn’t realise this – wow” was so condescending and derogatory. “Wow”, ffs is that all you can say about the holocaust? Wow?

And btw, I am not a troll, I have been blogging here for quite some time, with substantial comments. So why dont YOU stop being a troll?
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philu (13,393) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 8:52 pm
“..comparing somebody else to the architect of the genocide of millions of people should cause outrage in all of us…”

you mean like..tying clark/labour/greens to gulags/secret police..?

and great leaps forward..?..

and cultural revolutions..?

is it this to which you refer..?

barnsley bill..?

(didn’t i just squash you on another thread..?..)

phil(whoar.co.nz)
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philu (13,393) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 9:00 pm
bbill..

did you just call someone “..A STUPID CUNT..”..?

oh..!..hang on..!..you’ll be ok..!..eh..?

that’s ‘cos yr arightie..eh..?

now..were i to call you “..A STUPID CUNT..”..?

y’know what..?..demerits..coming down the line..!

so..of course i can’t call you “..A STUPID CUNT..”…

‘just cos i wd get demerits..eh..if i called you “..A STUPID CUNT..”.eh..?

(and that’s pretty much the only reason..eh..?.

..why i don’t call you “..A STUPID CUNT..”.eh..?.

..those pesky demerits..

..are you clear on that..?

phil(whoar.co.nz)
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RightNow (5,370) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 9:02 pm
god you’re a stupid cunt phlu
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philu (13,393) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 9:06 pm
now..if you were called..’leftnow’..?..

..whoar..!

eh..?

and..cd u just take the 9.00pm..

and scrub out b.b’s name..and substitute yr own..?

..ta..!

phil(whoar.co.nz)
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Put it away (2,887) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 9:10 pm
Peanut, your ‘argument’ is basically “it takes one to know one”. Is that really the best you can come up with ? No wonder you’re worried about intellectuals…
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RKBee (1,344) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 10:09 pm
Seriously Auckland don’t you have any decent mayoral candidates..
It looks like a walk in the park for Banks..
I’m starting to think a few Maori board members.. wouldn’t be so bad.

If these Auckland representives are a image of Aucklanders.. then Auckland is looking really sick.
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black paul (124) Says:
March 31st, 2010 at 10:13 pm
What the faux-outrage shows up is a fundamental misunderstanding of the comparison being drawn.

The likening of Hide to Hitler is obviously not meant to imply that Hide is, or would like to be, a genocidal murderer. That would be offensive and probably inaccurate.

The comparison being made, very clearly, is that Hide and the “little dictator” are both, well, little dictators. (whether this is true or whether you agree is irrelevant to the point)

This is not a complex concept – that comparing one trait doesn’t imply a comparison of all other traits. I find it difficult to believe that intelligent people can’t get their heads around it which is why I suspect that much of the “shock” is probably pretence.

An example: If I say “Robbie Williams? Bleh – just like Elton John”

Did I call him a homosexual? Is that a slur against all homosexuals? Is that a homophobic remark?

No. I just mean their music sucks and they have similar voices.

[DPF: Thanks for confirming you are a troll with your phrase "probably inaccurate". Your credibility has just disappeared.

Or maybe you would like to post under your own name and have people say things like "It is probably inaccurate that you may molest kids one day"]
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Biomag83 (94) Says:
April 1st, 2010 at 2:52 am
I agree with you David, but then you had to put that little comment about the holocaust and how this is offensive to survivors of it. You would think that Hitler and World War 2 was simply about the bloody Jews
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Pete George (17,596) Says:
April 1st, 2010 at 7:50 am
Sorry again – over Hide cartoon

Except that he doesn’t appear to be sorry, it is a typical politician’s Claytons apology.

“It’s funny. I thought a few of my friends would want to see it, so I put it on.”
“But I’ll take it off if people are offended.”
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Murray (8,832) Says:
April 1st, 2010 at 9:11 am
I do enjoy the speed with which the left will jump to the defense of their use of fascist imagry but utterly shit themselves at the sligthest hint of it ever being directed at them.

National SOCIALIST Party.

Well done guys, you are always there to remind us why our father and gradfathers went to war to stamp out shit like you.
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RRM (7,227) Says:
April 1st, 2010 at 10:23 am
[peanut]: “Get a life RRM, This blog belongs to anyone who wants to comment, not just the RIGHT WING JERKS LIKE YOU”

ROFLMAO

Yeah peanut, I’m pretty right wing.

Begone, Troll.
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ephemera (563) Says:
April 2nd, 2010 at 8:53 am
David, would you have been less offended if Hide was likened to Mao Zedong instead?

Mao killed 36 Million people, and you had no trouble camparing him to Peter Dunne during your billboard campaign.

Not trolling here, just pointing out the obvious; that it was you who set the murderous-dictator precedent writ large.
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black paul (124) Says:
April 2nd, 2010 at 11:49 am
“[DPF: Thanks for confirming you are a troll with your phrase “probably inaccurate”. Your credibility has just disappeared.”

No David, I phrased it as such because I don’t claim to know what’s in another man’s mind. Perhaps I should have said “extremely unlikely to be at all accurate”. In the same sense it is true that I probably won’t ever molest kids but that is not at all relevant to the discussion.

@Murray: The National Party are not nazis but they do seem to have socialist tendencies. I wouldn’t read too much into the similar names, especially as there is a translation involved.

@ephemera: Yes it does seem odd that some evil genocidal maniacs are fine for offhanded comparisons and some aren’t. I don’t know what DPF’s criteria for choosing between them is though.
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ephemera (563) Says:
April 2nd, 2010 at 2:03 pm
@black paul

Either DPF doesn’t care about the deaths of millions of Chinese people at the hands of a tyrant, or he is simply feigning moral indignation over the Hide/Hitler thing. Perhaps both?

I’m quite maddened by the shallowness of the politics at play, regardless.
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