Today's quote comes from blogger Cactus Kate. Writing under the heading The Taniwha on The Roof, she concludes her post thus (with our emphasis added):
If asked if I believe in religion the first thing I will say is no, followed by a comment that people can believe what they like. It is a topic one can't win debating with true believers so I don't bother.
The difference is that religious minorities are not in 2012 in New Zealand asserting a non-existent right in wind, rainwater or the natural extension, air.If a small group of Maori who are embarrassing all sensible Maori have rights they should assert them through law. Not hide behind the skirt of a Taniwha to brown mail others. Everyone knows that the Taniwha can be removed with an increasingly large payment of cash.Political leaders who wish to one day be considered a Prime Minister should not be entertaining even a thought that mythical creatures alongside monsters, Smurfs and Gargamel may actually be believable and/or real.The only Taniwha that Shearer should be worried about is the large one behind him with a surname of Cunliffe.He's currently up a roof somewhere having a wee chuckle with his mates at what an accident prone doofus he has as a Leader.
The last two paragraphs are especially pertinent. Parliament resumes today, after a one-week hiatus. John Key is own his way back from APEC via Japan, and won't be in the House this afternoon.
Labour should be launching a full-on assault on the Government this afternoon. But instead David Shearer is being questioned about a thesis he wrote 25 years ago, and some rather odd views that he has recently expressed to Patrick Gower from 3News.
Is it any wonder that David Cunliffe is smiling? You couldn't make this stuff up.
24 comments:
3 posts on the taniwah issue, KS.
How desperate are you to try to find fault in David Shearer? More to the point, how silly are you to pursue this issue, where it's clear you have missed the point altogether. I expect you'll realise at some point, how 'light' this non-issue is, but will be bound to keep digging, as there is nothing coming from National that you can highlight, their performance at the monent being as poor as it is.
Cactus Kate has the issue wrong as well, and that'll soon be shown to be the case. Weak, attack politics, misplaced in this case, and lame.
You're really thrashing this triviality for some reason. Have you been instructed not to try and defend the government's actions anymore? I mean you haven't been doing a very good job there, so getting obsessed with rats and mice nonsense is a far safer bet.
"David Shearer has got this one exactly right."
https://beefaerie.wordpress.com/2012/09/11/taniwha-and-belief/comment-page-1/#comment-9764
@ Edward and Kristen - Labour should be all over the Nats like a cheap suit today. But they won't be, because there are too many internal issues.
"Labour should be all over the Nats like a cheap suit today"
Should they? I suppose that's because of the failure of the nats on so many fronts (I won't list them we all know what they are) but instead, you insist, Labour has 'too many internal issues'.
What a load, Keeping Stock and one that you are happy to try to push. This attempt to divert attention from the real problems national has to some contrived, trivial issues for the opposition party, cheapen you and make you look craven.
You've been exposed here, but exhibit no self-awareness or contrition. Not your proudest moment.
That's your opinion Parrot, but I don't share it. Labour has any number of fronts on which to attack the Government; asset sales, child poverty, employment; education; take your pick. But the in-fighting in Labour goes on, and they've actually slipped a couple of points in the latest Herald poll.
And don't take my word for the in-fighting in Labour; check out The Standard!
Hope the snow stops soon.
"Labour has any number of fronts on which to attack the Government; asset sales, child poverty, employment; education; take your pick."
So you agree that the government a failing abysmally on any number of fronts. Any advice for them about what they should do? Sack Joyce?
Probably easier for you if you continue obsessing about the opposition and try and manufacture little stories.
No; I don't agree that the Government is failing abysmally Edward. But those are all issues where there is a clear difference between the government and the opposition, and they are areas where a competent opposition would naturally focus.
Is the Labour opposition competent? The jury is out on that.
Where do you find such average comments people KS?
Kristen should read the thesis if she can stay awake that long
Quite so on both counts Cactus. I must print myself a copy of Mr Shearer's thesis and keep it beside my bed in case I suffer from insomnia and need help to get back to sleep!
Kate and Keeping Stock
Could you please provide a link to John Key's thesis so that I might read that?
I'll bet it's quite the opposite of David Shearer's!
Thanking you in anticipation.
Kristen
Just goes to show how bereft of vision the National Party and its supporters are that they have orgasms of excitement over this nonsense even as the Nation goes down the toilet – the best and brightest of the young leave for greener pastures as they should.
"Where do you find such average comments people KS?"
You reap what you sow. If you cut and paste exceedingly mediocre posts from an exceedingly mediocre blogger (does anyone actually read Odgers' blog anymore?) the consequences are obvious. You need to find your own voice.
Here's a challenge to you Edward; set up your own blog, where you can post whatever suits you. It takes time and effort, but the results are worthwhile. If a technical neanderthal such as myself can navigate his way around Blogger, it should be a doddle for an EOE (expert on everything) such as your good self Edward.
Go on Edward; accept the challenge. I'll even get you started with a post linking to your blog once it's up and running. Anyone can run down the efforts of other people; making the effort themselves is a different kettle of fish.
"Anyone can run down the efforts of other people;"
Like David Shearer's thesis, you mean?
Not just David Shearer's thesis Old Cath; I suspect that just about anyone's thesis would help me to sleep. Academic works are not my preferred reading topic!
I don't mean to press you but you have been casting aspersions on David Shearer's work and opinions. I wonder how you cannot see that you are doing the very thing you chide Edward for?
You're probably right Old Cath, but there is a subtle difference between questioning the thinking of the man who could be our next Prime Minister and an anonymous commenter indulging in banter with an anonymous blogger who has no aspirations whatsoever to either be the PM OR to write a thesis!
In the meantime, Edward's gone quiet. I can only hope that he's working on the blog I challenged him to set up!
You're a tough critic Old Cath. As for the welfare reforms; stand by for a post later in the day that will NOT quote any/all of Farrar, Slater and Ludemann, who are quoted infrequently here, but who always receive attribution, which is not always the case in the blogosphere.
"It's worrying though, that many supposedly-intelligent commentators cannot understand the difference between believing something is true, and respecting a person's right to believe something is true."
Scott Yorke can see what's going on, Keeping Stock, where you cannot.
http://www.imperatorfish.com/2012/09/what-did-he-do-wrong.html
Thanks for that Poster "Y"; you've saved me from having to blog about Scott's post which presents an alternative view to mine. I would have upset Old Cath had I been forced to cut and paste extracts from it!
What is it about snow that brings on an infestation of bloglice.
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