More on Laws
March 8th, 2010 at 9:40 am by David FarrarI blogged yesterday on how the Herald on Sunday front page headline gave a false impression about Michael Laws.
Leonie Brookhammer (Laws’ wife) has put out a press release (Whale has it here) as the HoS story was so misleading.
An extract:
I have no wish to expose my private life to more media scrutiny, and I did not wish to answer personal and offensive questions from Auckland journalist David Fisher over the past couple of days. But today’s ‘Herald on Story’ story misrepresents my personal situation and is full of inaccuracies.
Over the past five years, and since Michael has been mayor of Wanganui, our family and our personal life have been the subject of ongoing malicious rumour and hurtful gossip. These rumours appear to come from the same sources and are always at their worst in election years.
Michael has a very high profile and has taken the lead, on behalf of Wanganui, on a number of controversial issues. As a result, our house and our family have been personally targeted by anonymous cowards who regard any association with Michael to be fair game.
Our daughter Lucy’s diagnosis of leukemia, and the associated complications and treatment, has placed enormous stress on us and particularly myself. I have not slept properly in the last three years.
The rock throwing incident – which showered glass all over my childrens’ bedroom in the early hours of the morning , and came when Michael was representing majority opinion on the spelling our city – continues to have ongoing effects. I lie awake listening for the next incident. …
It is also not fair for the media to imply there was a domestic violence incident that required a Police call to our house earlier this year. It was not. Michael is not that kind of person, abhors violence and has never lifted a hand to myself.
But that kind of malicious story is being regularly fed to media to discredit him. And both my family and myself are considered fair game in making that happen.
The press release really speaks for itself.
March 8th, 2010 at 9:45 am
Andrew Geddis had something to say about the Herald’s actions too – he questions protecting media freedom when they come up with this sort of rubbish.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 9:52 am
You know Michael
Court action in the morning.
Bit it is a daunting prospect for the rest of us.
Unless you’re a recidivist, the court room can certainly be seen as the least bastion of defence for the normal citizen.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 9:57 am
The link doesn’t work anymore because it has been set to ‘private’, but you summary gives a lot of good information, thanks DPF.
I really like Michael Laws’ show and I am a regular listener. Occasionally he is a bit arrogant to callers who he calls stupid etc and writes off, but I think this all adds to the show (although I would hate to be on the recieving end of his tonge hahahaha).
I think Michael Laws is a real voice of sanity in this country and I honstly think that if he ever decided to get back into national politics he would clean up. People would swarm to join any political movement which involved him. Bear in mind also that this man is no immature raving loose cannon with no idea how the real world operates. He is an established politician with a long track record.
Can you imagine a political party which had the balls to say and act on even half of what we hear every day on Michael Laws’ show?
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 10:15 am
Its starting to look like there was some threat (from outside the family – probably anonymous) to the family and thus the police were called – which was the absolutely correct thing to do.
And I agree totally with Dave Manns comment. Laws is a fresh bit of sanity.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 10:22 am
An ambitious man in desperation huhh, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander…
Vote:Shall we pity him for his daughter? What about the outright mental and emotional abuse he has imposed on others?
March 8th, 2010 at 10:23 am
Also – how did the paper (who almost certainly dont have a reporter in wanganui) find out about the police? Do we have a situation where the police are contacting the newspaper maybe? little brown envelopes as a reward possibly? nothing would surprise me.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 10:23 am
Maybe he was targeted by an alien ship!!!
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 10:26 am
What I’d like to see is Less on Laws.
Not a voice of sanity at all, Dave Mann and barry, but an arch-bigot who dog-whistles to racism by not even being prepared to respect and accept the correct spelling of the city of which he is Mayor.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 10:34 am
You’re an asshole Tassman. the kind of gutless prick that would think tossing a rock through a sick childs bedroom window in the middle of the night is a political statement in fact.
Good to see you earning your pay taod and mouthing the party slur while claiming a moral high ground from a position of minority support. You’re an arch bigot with contempt for the mojority will of the people of Wanganui. In fact there a special names for people who seek to rule from a minority position.
They’re not nice. A lot like you and your fringe loonie party in fact.
Oh and as an aside the Maori portion of my family are from Wanganui and they have no interest in your H other than where you cram it. They can speak for themselves and have no use for you self appointed jiminy crickets either. so you can shove your racism dog whistle toad. Way to address the issue. Everything is about non-commies being racist.
There actually isn’t anything you leties will not defend as acceptable if you think you can spin a justification. You have no principles, no empathy and are morally bankrupt.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 10:48 am
Murray, the spelling of a place name is not a matter of public opinion. It is either historically correct or it is not. Same with science – you delude yourself if you think something becomes correct just becasue the majority believes it to be correct. With that reasoning we would still all believe God created the Earth and all that is on it in six days. Oops, some still do, don’t they.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 10:48 am
Take it easy Murray! Dont let the Law effect take the better of you. He has not only shown up but now you, at least keep some things private…
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 10:56 am
“Murray, the spelling of a place name is not a matter of public opinion.”
Historically wrong. Research Bangkok.
“Same with science – you delude yourself if you think something becomes correct just becasue the majority believes it to be correct.”
No, what matters is the opinion of disinterested scientists. Biologists, soil engineers, botanists, as long as they are in the group called “scientists” their names can be added to any list of authors to make it appear there is consensus. Or at least, enough agreement to shout down any and all dissent.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 11:12 am
During a recent Cooks Straight xing I found myself in the company of two gentlemen whose whole presentation suggested a strong element of Maori genes. It turned out that one was Wanganui born and raised and the other went to a settlement on “The River” for his school years. In over three hours of a wide ranging conversation there was zero use of an “h” in the pronouncing of the name of the river or the city. I was a party to the conversation.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 11:13 am
While he sometimes has something worthwhile to say I generally don’t like Laws, he seems arrogant, self opinionated and an attention seeker.
But I think the Herald article and attacks on his family and home are totally unacceptable. His public service and public profile are fair game, but his family should not be threatened.
Having said that, if my job/s and profile put my family at risk I’d think seriously about what my biggest priority was.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 11:15 am
Toad…. You are 100% correct. Laws is a obviously racist. Despite 450 years of Maori literature, novels, maps, civic documents and historical texts where W(h)anganui has always been spelt correctly, this arrogant person has the bigoted effrontry to push his own bigoted barrow. Worse than this, he also claims to have the support of the majority of residents in W(h)an(h)ga(h)nui(h).
Oh wait…..
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 11:15 am
Laws is indeed voice of sanity on many issues because he follows logic and evidence. The best examples are where he suggests reciprocal obligations on those receiving WINZ payments – for instance, compulsory pre-school, Plunkett checks etc. More recently his support for tubal ligations or vasectomies for CYF abusers is sensible and would have a measurable impact on this terrible problem.
In 50 years when the numbers requiring CYF intervention is much higher and crime rates have increased people will see that Laws was ahead of his time.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 11:36 am
toad said
I nearly died laughing.
1. Spelling of place names. Tell me toad, is is Wintancaester, Winchester or Whincester? Or Londinium or London? Or Eidyn gaer, Edineburg or Edinburgh? Spellings change. Arguing for the Wh spelling on historical basis is stupid.
2. Same with science – you mean like how AGW becomes correct because the majority of political appointees believe it to be?
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 11:37 am
Toad>Murray, the spelling of a place name is not a matter of public opinion. It is either historically correct or it is not.
Quite right Toad. Historically, the capital of the UK is spelled “Londinium” and it is outrageous that public opinion has corrupted this to “London”. I’ve also seen “Poneke” used as a Maori name for Wellington Harbour, and I’m glad you’re with me in forcing Maori to use the formal “Port Nicholson” without corruption.
As for Whanganui, the early settlers must have had a tough time trying to use phonetics to spell names when the locals didn’t have a written language. They thought they did a good job given that those locals pronounced the name “Wanganui”. But of course the historically correct aspect they missed is that at a later stage someone would codify rules for Maori spelling that wouldn’t align with the pronunciation used by the Maori who lived in that area. So later history trumps earlier history and, of course, the people who live there now don’t matter.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 11:47 am
I’ve learned to take David Fisher’s articles with a pinch of salt.
Vote:His writing is often sensationalist, and excessively embellished with exaggeration.
March 8th, 2010 at 11:47 am
@gravedodger 11:12 am
That is because in the Taranaki/Whanganui dialect, “wh” is pronounced differently from other dialects. More like “hw” than “f”.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 11:56 am
” Having said that, if my job/s and profile put my family at risk I’d think seriously about what my biggest priority was.”
Man, I try to stay out of these threads, but IMHO, you are one astonishingly evil POS.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 11:58 am
Hwanganui, then?
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 12:06 pm
unaha-closp, nho nhot aht ahll yhou ahre chompletely whrong ihts nhot “Hwanganui”, ihts whahnhghahnhuhi – dhont yhou khnow AHNYTHING?
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
So therefore Toad, you are actually stating that the city called FONG-UH-NOO-E (Phonetics old chap, phonetics) is actually supposed to be pronounced HWONG-A -NUI – no ‘F’?
Now isn’t that interesting?
Seriously, and believing that you are a ‘Citizen of Good Intent’ who has the ‘National interest at heart’ (or so you would have me believe, and who am I to know any different?), have you thought to tell the New Zealand Geographic Board of this astounding fact and actually visit HWONG a nui to tell a certain Mr K Mair anjd his acolytes of your discovery (and of course BCNZ TV3 and everyone else in broadcast media) – if only as a public service, because evidently they have all got it wrong.
I hope that you actually have been able to (or are at least going to) because if what you say is actually correct, there are a lot of people in the last administration who are going to look very, very foolish for having got it wrong. Perhaps even DL will need to be advised (where’s Phil got to?)
Please, oh please, tell me that you’ve done all these things (or that you are going to ‘reveal all’ about this mistake imminently)- the good citizens and merchants of HWONGanui city will be so very very grateful (and, IMHO, so will Michael).
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 12:14 pm
Toad>Murray, the spelling of a place name is not a matter of public opinion. It is either historically correct or it is not.
Moving away from ye spelling of place names, I’d like to congratulate Toad on taking a stand on historically correct spelling. I’ve seen a tendency for modern people to shorten “programme” to “program”. Outrageous! We should enforce ye historically correct spelling of programme in NZ. Everyone else in ye world might talk about a “computer program”, but we’ll lead ye way with a return to “computer programme”. It might be like ACC and ye ETS and no one will follow us, but we can experience ye same smug satisfaction that Greens do in their lives.
And what is up with ye word “the”? The historically correct spelling is “ye”. I’m with Toad and ye Greens on this: Fuck public opinion! Ye only proper spelling is ye historically correct spelling.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 12:32 pm
[Pete George]: Having said that, if my job/s and profile put my family at risk I’d think seriously about what my biggest priority was.
[Redbaiter]: Man, I try to stay out of these threads, but IMHO, you are one astonishingly evil POS.
Quelle Hysteria much, Redbaiter? When you have a family to look after, you DO consider their welfare. In everything. Or at least, sane people do. Would I put my little daughter in jeopardy in order to further a slightly better future for f*cking Wanganui? HELL NO.
{And big old BS in advance to your sneer about cowardice / so typical of the left etc. The sum total of your political heroism is some anonymous comments on politcal fanboy websites.}
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 12:38 pm
Be all this as it may, this stupid argument about Fonganooey is irrelevant to the fact that a huge percentage of the time Michael Laws makes a whole lot of sense and is supported in his statements and views by a huge percentage of the people who hear what he says.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 12:47 pm
” Quelle Hysteria much, Redbaiter? ”
While the violent cowards assault Mr. Laws and his family in the night, other sneaking cowards play their part publicly in this typically Stalinist/ left wing attempt to silence someone they see as an outspoken political opponent.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 12:59 pm
I don’t know if you know of Sproull’s Law, but you must be familiar with his lesser known Second Law. People with login names like RRM should not make accusations about anonymous commenting on blogs for fear of being taken for a prat.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 1:04 pm
^^^ Look who’s talking. Search for “Brian Smaller” and what comes up? A series of Kiwiblog, Macdoctor and Whaleoil threads. Kettle: Pot, how black thou art.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
[Redbaiter]: Man, I try to stay out of these threads, but IMHO, you are one astonishingly evil POS.
[Redbaiter:] “other sneaking cowards play their part publicly in this typically Stalinist/ left wing attempt to silence someone”
LOL
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 1:14 pm
” LOL ”
Yes, I know I make you laff. That is why almost every post from you directed at Redbaiter is dripping with malice.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 1:18 pm
The problem is that Redbaiter is on to me, he found my birth certificate and knows I am actually Karl Marx reincarnated. That is why he relentlessly pursues me using any methods he can think of to discredit me, to save you all from my evil subliminal indoctrination. Or I guess it must be something like that. He probably thinks he can see my commune from his house.
He is also aware that I can read tea leaves. The bags are a bit too dunked.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 1:19 pm
Dave Mann (347) Says:
March 8th, 2010 at 9:57 am
I think Michael Laws is a real voice of sanity in this country
Can you imagine a political party which had the balls to say and act on even half of what we hear every day on Michael Laws’ show?
I concur!
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 1:20 pm
Dave Mann
450 years of Maori literature????? What? where? titles please.
The printing presses were set up where, paper was manufactured where?
If you are going to comment less shit more fact
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 1:20 pm
Toad – “the spelling of a place name is not a matter of public opinion.”
How can you sleep at night knowing that “Zealand” is mis-spelled. I urge you to launch into action to have it corrected to the historically correct Dutch spelling “Zeeland” ! It’s only the opinion of four million New Zealanders perpetuating this racist anti-Dutch insult !!!!
Vote:Grow a brain please. There are hardly any cities or countries in the world that are spelled or pronounced the same way they were 500 years ago. Language changes constantly, and the change is driven by public opinion, in other words the language is determined by the people who speak it.
March 8th, 2010 at 1:23 pm
Since the recording of words on paper spelling typically lags pronunciation changes, sometimes by centuries. Ask any kid trying to learn spelling.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 2:21 pm
Shouldn’t it be something like Niuew Zeeland or something like that? I would settle for comon usage.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 2:23 pm
So there was no written language…
Vote:The locals pronunced it differently than the WH sound, but whitey Toad decides he, she knows better.
Do the greens just make shit up as they go along?
March 8th, 2010 at 2:26 pm
Back to W(h)anganui, when the issue is the NZ Hooerald’s distortion of the relationship of Laws and his partner.
However, it would be rational to expect more changes now that TVNZ and Government departments have adopted the Whanganui spelling, and doubtless Hawea with a macron (once there have been tens of thousands of Government spending on how civil servants can key in a macron on their PCs).
We await Roma for Rome, Venezia for Venice, Firenze for Florence, Munchen for Munich, Koln for Cologne, Rheinland for Rhineland, Geneve for Geneva, Muskova for Moscow, Goteborg for Gothenburg, København for Copenhagen etc etc.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 2:28 pm
I have tried posting a response to RRM but for some reason it won’t show. My apologies in advance if ten copies of it suddenly inundate this thread. The jist was the RRM is a creepy Google stalker it seems, hunting out posts I have made on other blogs and sites. Ohhh – how terrible of me. But I post under my own name, something that someone with the login RRM seems to think of as ‘anonymous’ posting. He forgot to mention that I also post at theminiaturespage.com, recipes.com, lythia.com, travellerrpg, fusiliers.net and sjgames under my own name as well.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 3:38 pm
Dave Mann says:
Yeah… ummm… best not look too closely at what that record involves, eh Dave? Bit of trouble with public money and a survey conducted by Laws’ company in Hawkes Bay and an inglorious exit from there. Bit more trouble with documents signed by the elusive “Antoinette Beck”. Still more trouble over explanation offered to Parliament for the foregoing, and another inglorious exit from there. Being handed a party polling 30% and destroying it – 13% by the election shortly thereafter, 3% by the time yet another inglorious exit was made from there. And that’s just the highlights.
You’re conflating the rather odd makeup of Wanganui with that of NZ overall, Dave. Not a snowball’s chance in hell… through the groups of female street performers I’d line up at every stump speech to reenact “Spartacis” with a slightly different twist would add colour to the campaign… “I am Antoinette!! No, I am Antoinette!!!…”
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 3:45 pm
“Despite 450 years of Maori literature..”
Fiction of the highest order.
There is no such thing as Maori literature. Unless, you have unearthed a book titled “How to cook people from other tribes”. An incunable, maybe?
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 4:16 pm
@Manolo and Pauleastbay: I’m under the impression he’s taking the piss, and subtly pointing out that claiming some historical spelling with an “h” is a fairly farcical idea. Feel free to correct me if I’ve interpreted you incorrectly, Dave Mann.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
***You’re conflating the rather odd makeup of Wanganui with that of NZ overall, Dave. ***
Of course, liberal elites hate the white working class makeup of provincial NZ towns.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 5:04 pm
I think Laws is a first class prick and have said as such on a number of occassions. He deserves to be rountinely criticised for his in/actions and intolerances and indulgences. However, it appears his critics have entirely overstepped the mark if they have done what Ms Brookhammer states. It’s inexcusable no matter what you think of him. Attacking his family home is reprehensible.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 5:51 pm
Hey, what’s Maori for Frogboy? How many h’s are there?
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 5:53 pm
Pete: Having said that, if my job/s and profile put my family at risk I’d think seriously about what my biggest priority was.
Im sure you would like that wouldn’t you?
Probably your buddies that went and vandalised Laws home
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 6:00 pm
Hurf Durf, It would be Tutai Taniwha.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 6:06 pm
mike tan, can you justify that accusation at all? Did you misunderstand what I meant or are you just trying to be a nasty bastard?
All I was meaning is that I would put my family’s safety first. And I deplore anyone putting Laws’ family at risk and involving them in any public issues he is a part of.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 6:11 pm
You are utilizing criminal activity to benefit your political ambitions and quite frankly it makes me sick to even think about it.
The addition of a “face saving” disclaimer fails to take away from the sentiment so clearly expressed in your post.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 6:12 pm
” And I deplore anyone putting Laws’ family at risk and involving them in any public issues he is a part of. ”
Of course you do. Deplore deplore deplore. That’s you for sure.
In other words, what he’s brought on his family is a good lesson to anyone else who might likewise think of standing firm against the suffocating influence of the Progressives. As they grow more and more desperate at a slow public uprising that threatens to see an end to their tyranny.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 6:16 pm
Clutching at straws to discredit the man so they target his family, probably had a meeting where they identified them as Laws “achilles heel”. Its just terrible on so many levels..
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 6:18 pm
“You are utilizing criminal activity to benefit your political ambitions”
That’s quite an accusation – can you be specific about how you think I am doing that?
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 6:19 pm
If its any consolation Pete, im not referring to you exclusively, my opinions are targetted at the wider demographic that you seem to be a part of.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 6:23 pm
It would be ideal for the Progressives if Laws resigned
Agree or Disagree?
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 6:24 pm
“You are utilizing criminal activity to benefit your political ambitions”.
That is a specific accusation of me breaking the law for political reasons. Now trying squirm out of that by trying to link me to some undefined group is as bad.
What wider audience do you know I am a part of?
Depends on who you mean by “Progressives”.
Vote:Resigned from his mayoralty (I have no interest in W(h)anganui)?
Resigned from his radio job (I never listen to it)?
March 8th, 2010 at 6:27 pm
You are either misinterpreting the quote or you are intentionally distorting it
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 6:28 pm
Accusing one of utilizing criminal activity for their own benefit is entirely different from accusing one of directly commiting a crime themselves
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 6:30 pm
You haven’t answered how you think I’m utilising criminal activity for my benefit.
And you said this: “Probably your buddies that went and vandalised Laws home”.
Can you back that statement up at all?
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 6:35 pm
“If my job/s and profile put my family at risk I’d think seriously about what my biggest priority was”
This is clearly not only an expression of your own opinion but a thinly-veiled attack on Laws by bringing into question his personal priorities. You are a master at crafting text where on the face of it it seems like you are just “chiming in” but in reality you are pushing an agenda, in this case specifically, you are calling for his resignation in light of the attacks on his home/family.
If Laws resigned it would be a huge victory for you and your leftwing idealogy, this is an indisputable fact.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 6:35 pm
Toad, Toad, O where art thou Toad? The one time I suggest that you have actually have a ‘wonderful idea’ you vanish
Was it something I said? Was it the suggestion that you actually go to WHONGanui and tell Ken Mair and Mr Laws what you had found, or was it when I suggested that DL should be told about your findings?
Oh Toad, and you were doing so very, very very well . . .
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 6:42 pm
I will conceed that it was a poorly worded comment, if you would so kindly allow me to retract, this is what i was trying to express:
Whilst you may not personally know or support these criminals, the fact remains that if their cowardly actions have brought Laws even a tiny step closer to throwing in the towel, then they have either intentionally or unintentionally aided the political opposition, which you seem to be a part of.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 6:44 pm
“If Laws resigned it would be a huge victory for you and your leftwing idealogy, this is an indisputable fact.”
It isn’t a fact. I repeat, Law’s resigning would have no effect on me.
I have a mixed ideology. Just because I disagree with a few nutters here doesn’t mean I am their opposite.
“If my job/s and profile put my family at risk I’d think seriously about what my biggest priority was”
Who would not do this if they cared about their family? I’m sure Laws has considered it. He could do many things other than resign. For example he could be less of an arrogant antagonisng prick. He could work more with different groups rather than operate on an us-and-them mentality. He could settle for reduced ratings for his radio show.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 6:44 pm
I hope the HoS puts up a paywall to spare us it’s dribble
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 6:46 pm
I note the lack of a rebuttal to this statement:
“This is clearly not only an expression of your own opinion but a thinly-veiled attack on Laws by bringing into question his personal priorities. You are a master at crafting text where on the face of it it seems like you are just “chiming in” but in reality you are pushing an agenda, in this case specifically, you are calling for his resignation in light of the attacks on his home/family.”
“Who would not do this if they cared about their family? I’m sure Laws has considered it. He could do many things other than resign. Like stop expressing his opinions”
Right?
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 6:46 pm
Ok, that’s a lot different and less accusatory.
Why would anyone who opposes Laws politically be responsible for criminal acts against him? That would be a large chunk of New Zealand.
Do you accept part responsibility for any criminal acts carried out by any rightie?
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 6:52 pm
The responsibility lies only in the hands of those who commited, planned and supported the criminal activity.
Im not saying that you are responsible for the actions, what im saying is that you are clearly milking the incident for its political “value”.
“Do you accept part responsibility for the criminal actions of righties?”
So are you conceeding that the criminal actions on Laws property was likely comitted by lefties?
I do not support or condone criminal activity by anyone be they left or right, nor do i try and further my own ambitions through the results of their actions.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 6:54 pm
I have told you twice already, I have no interest in Laws resigning or not.
You are trying to misquote me. As far as I am concerned Laws can express his opinions however he likes. But like anyone else if he thrives on stirring people up and putting people down there can be consequences (that may or not be justified).
I don’t regard any criminal act of violence against him or his family as justified.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 6:57 pm
Cheers, Banana Llama.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 6:58 pm
Your clearly fibbing yourself, just look at everything you write about him, go to the mirror and ask yourself
“Do i have interest in Laws resigning or not?”
Then come back here and tell us what happened.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 7:04 pm
Fourth time – I don’t give a stuff if Laws resigns or not, from the council or from his radio job.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 7:08 pm
So you Pete George, have no problem, qualms or issue with a Mayor, who you believe to hold a “us vs them mentality”, who you believe to thrive on division and hatred, who you believe to be a “arrogant antagonisng prick”
You have no issue with whether or not he resigns?
If your believe your own opinions then this seems to indicate that you place little value in New Zealand and those who govern it
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 7:27 pm
Mike and Pete – is it possible to get a room on Kiwiblog? If you were 14 year olds I’d think you were doing that strange kind of flirting where you try to ‘hit’ each other to have some physical contact. Just saying…
You are both fairly intelligent men (albeit with different politics) and well, I actually enjoy reading your posts when you’re not attacking each other.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 7:45 pm
Haha the lady ref steps in. What next on kiwiblog!
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 7:58 pm
I haven’t been attacking mike, just questioning his attack on me.
It’s up to the people of W(h)anganui who they choose as mayor, it’s up to Laws whether he stays or goes, I have never thought of him resigning.
What has it got to do with what value I place on New Zealand? It’s only one small city up north of no consequence and of little interest to me.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 8:07 pm
If you genuinely have such strong, radical issue with Laws and his modus operandi then you would be actively calling for his resignation.
This i would have no issue with, its veiling your true intentions behind creatively engineered statements that results in me holding little to no respect for your position.
Its a far stretch to believe that you “dont really care” about his status as Mayor (considering your deep contempt for his actions).
Either you are playing devils advocate and secretly applaud the man or logic is a foreign unknown concept to you
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 8:13 pm
banana pyjama – your spelling of tutae is shit.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 8:15 pm
Jeez mike, I don’t like Laws but his resignation (or not) has nothing to do with me. It is up to the people of W(h)anganui.
All but one mayors in NZ have nothing to do with me. I’ve never been a fan of John Banks but I have never thought of calling on him to resign. Nothing to do with me. It’s up to each city and town to decide for themselves. I have not heard of any mayors being called on to resign and then they resigned. It doesn’t seem to be something that happens in NZ local body politics so I have never thought about it.
Do you like all local and national politicians? If not do you actively campaign for any of them to resign? If not, why not?
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 8:18 pm
Pete – I support your call for Laws to resign and I think you have an ally in Mike.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 8:24 pm
Rex Widerstrom at 3:38 pm
Hmmm…that makes sense!
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 8:25 pm
Bob R says
Wow. I’m a member of the elites?! I feel quite special now. Thanks Bob. I grew up amongst the working class (brown and white) in Wainuiomata and come from working class stock (both parents factory workers all their lives). So I’d have to hate my own origins, family and friends to fit your flippant, dismissive put down. And I don’t.
As for the “liberal elites” not taking kindly to Laws, I doubt the good provincial farming stock of Hawkes Bay would like being called that, Bob, and they ran his dissembling ass out of town.
Are you Antoinette, Bob?!?!
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 8:28 pm
Well how about taking a consistent approach then Pete?
You sure seem to have a passionate position for someone who Laws has “nothing to do with”
Bar HC, there has never been a local or national politician who i disliked as much as you dislike Laws and if there was i would certainly be campaigning for their resignation.
The difference between us is that i strive to mantain consistency and transparency.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 8:28 pm
Toad, what I am hearing from you is that evolution has been scientifically proven. Now your a scientist as well as a communist.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 8:32 pm
edited because its irrelevant to the thread
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 8:35 pm
You seem to be consistently pushing for something that doesn’t matter.
Is Mike Tan your real name? Why are you so interested in Laws? (Much more interested than me it seems)
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 8:36 pm
Toad! You lerned jackp sumping!
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 8:41 pm
It does matter Pete, if there weren’t people to call “bs” on people who are obviously (likely paid) spin doctors , our civilization would have collapsed a long time ago
Its actually the name of a soldier who rescued my family from tyrants not too dissimilar from the ones you pledge support to
Transparency and consistency with your debates and arguments means not hiding behind rhetoric and coming “balls out” with what you are trying to express. It has nothing to do with mantaining annoymity on the internet, for personal reasons or otherwise.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 8:52 pm
“on people who are obviously (likely paid) spin doctors ”
Are you trying to imply that’s what I am?
“tyrants not too dissimilar from the ones you pledge support to”
Who are they and when have I pledged to support them?
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 8:58 pm
Are you trying to imply that’s what I am?
No, i am implying that its what you are coming across as
Who are they and when have I pledged to support them?
Neo-communists, i conceed that im unsure of the exact point in time that you decided to support them, but i think its safe to say it happened sometime within the last 50 years.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 9:00 pm
(This is embarassing! Pete, let him off the hook. Admit to something. Anything!)
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 9:16 pm
Lets stop wasting productive hours debating topics where the positions of those concerened are generally too concrete for rational analyis and consideration.
Believe it or not i actually dislike the right also, if anything im on the sidelines watching the chaos, still awaiting for that entry point where young, fresh and rational minds can enter the landscape that is swamped by the sour grapes and tounges of today. I have woken up to the reality that its likely ill die before i see such a reality.
In my opinion, Laws is among the best representation of the thinking of the new minds, but like someone else stated, it will be many years before everyone acknowledges that he was well ahead of his time.
This is not to say that him and i see eye to eye, just that hes closer than the others.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 9:20 pm
Its meant to read “by the sour grapes and tounges of yesterday”
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 9:31 pm
“mike tan” – I have never been a member of, paid by, nor have I represented any political or media or public relations organisation here or anywhere – all the comments I have made here are my own opinion (except for the occasional stir) or have been presented as quotes.
I have never been involved in or supported any form of communism – simply, I don’t think it works. I don’t know of any neo-communists, I’m not familiar with the category. The closest connection to communism I am aware of is an ex brother-in-law’s father was in the Socialist Unity Party (I think) – I met him maybe a couple of time but never talked to him about politics.
I’m mainly an optimistic positive person, but on a debate blog that won’t always come across, it’s hard to argue about happiness and success.
I think Laws represents old rednecks more than fresh young minds. I don’t disagree with him on everything, nor do I have any animosity towards him, I just don’t like his style, I don’t agree with some things he says and don’t like the way he says them.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 9:39 pm
If by “represents old rednecks” you mean he is delivering conservative family views (which are shockingly absent in modern youth culture) then i agree with you completely, that is precisely what he is doing.
When i note the similarity between Laws and the “young minds” atleast the ones i have myself encountered, i am referring almost exclusively to his style of presenting his opinions in a “in your face” straight off the chopping block manner.
I admire that he doesn’t hide behind rhetoric or fear the stick of political correctness
In all honesty i know very little about you and have barely read any of your 4,000 posts here, i simply jumped to that conclusion based on your position in regards to Laws himself, for this i offer you my sincerest apology. It was not right of me to make such an assumption with such little substance.
Again, let me clarify and emphasise that i know too little about you to be able to make an accurate assesment of your political idealogy and it was wrong of me to jump the shark like that.
Im done here, gf wants me to watch some stupid movie, good night to all.
Vote:March 8th, 2010 at 10:06 pm
You forgot the H Hugh, Maori spelling and all.
Vote:March 9th, 2010 at 6:41 pm
##Bob R says
***You’re conflating the rather odd makeup of Wanganui with that of NZ overall, Dave. ***
Of course, liberal elites hate the white working class makeup of provincial NZ towns.##
Rex Widerstrom (2468) Says:
Wow. I’m a member of the elites?! I feel quite special now. Thanks Bob. I grew up amongst the working class (brown and white) in Wainuiomata and come from working class stock (both parents factory workers all their lives). So I’d have to hate my own origins, family and friends to fit your flippant, dismissive put down. And I don’t.
As for the “liberal elites” not taking kindly to Laws, I doubt the good provincial farming stock of Hawkes Bay would like being called that, Bob, and they ran his dissembling ass out of town.##
My comment wasn’t very clear, but my point was that there isn’t anything particularly odd about the make up of Laws’ electorate. It seems that many educated liberal commentators tend to look down on the ‘provincial’ attitudes of those who were against the name change, and are mystified why Laws was re-elected. Your dismissive comment that they are “odd” seemed to typify that condescending attitude.
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