Thursday, March 24, 2011
Not cool
Men in positions of power/authority need to be careful who they socialize with in private and semi-private contexts, for fear of vindictive and attention-seeking behaviour on the part of young associates. And of course, for the inability to resist a chance to get their end away, a la Bill Clinton.
The alleged incident may amount to no more than an unwanted advance, with no hint of force, which is well short of criminal behaviour, but it's still so uncool.
First, it speaks to an inability to draw a line between public duties (speaking at a comedy debate) and acceptable public socialization (with a large group at the Matterhorn), and going on a late-night bender with teenagers before taking one back to a private residence ... and not even your private residence in the early hours, but that of a sleeping senior colleague.
Second, how much disrespect does that show for your host? You're a former minister and current MP and you can't spring for an inner-city hotel room for the night?
And then after things go south (or not), the senior colleague's house is searched by the cops looking for "evidence" (of what, a giant black dildo?)
Don't socialize privately with young people when you're 32, don't bring them back to a private residence, and be wary of young "hangers-on" who might have ulterior motives. Honestly, it's not rocket science - behave like a responsible professional, not a horndog teenager.
The public will take a very dim view of this whole thing, and the overtones of predatory sexual behaviour.
Labels: giant black dildo, otaki
Saturday, March 12, 2011
ACT releases new energy policy
Nuclear power features prominently in the energy policy released by ACT deputy leader John Boscowan today.
"The opening up of valuable land within the Christchurch urban limits presents unheralded opportunities to site one or more new stations."
New Zealanders would have to "get past" their unscientific fears of this technology, and the unfamiliar sight of massive concrete cooling towers, Mr Boscowan continued.
"A serious uranium mining initiative in our National Parks system, combined with a network of nuclear power stations, will give New Zealand the chance to become energy self-sufficient."
He was also critical of Prime Minister John Key, saying National had failed to reduce "RMA red tape" in order to let contractors "get on with the job of building reactors as quickly and cheaply as possible."
When asked by a member of the audience whether anything could possibly go wrong, Mr Boscowan answered with a resounding "no", before denouncing the questioner as a "lilly-livered, Green party voting, global warming alarmist with an anti-growth mentality and a fundamental lack of trust in New Zealand's number 8 wire, she'll be right philosophy."
Labels: Act, earthquakes, religious nutjobs
Friday, March 11, 2011
Reelaxxx
Friday, March 04, 2011
Who's got the Power?
by chuck z
Sure he's a conservative from Palmerston North, but if there was a 'Politician Idol'-type reality TV show to find the best national politician, Simon Power would pip Grant Robertson in the final after seeing off Key, Parker (or Goff) and Joyce in the semis. A bit of a blow to the quality of our political management then, that he's leaving politics.
This generation's Minister for Everything is leaving ostensibly of his own accord, according to his personal plan, having done what he wanted. For a guy with so much power, the fact that he's giving it up freely just confirms that he's the guy you wanted having that much power, as it seems not to have corrupted him.
But what gives in National? First 'future leader' Katherine Rich gives it all up, then 'other future leader' Power does the same. Now the only other 'future leader' left in National's top ranks is another fucking multi-millionaire - Steve Joyce*.
The good leave. McCully the puppeteer, 'Rile' the Nasty SOB, Smith the whinger and Collins the executioner all stay. (To think that half that list aren't even honest enough to exit the closet speaks volumes.) Oh well, the leaders don't lead National anyway, Muzza does, and he won't go anywhere until he's staked through the heart.
*(In Joyce's defence he's not like that other multi-millionaire leading the Nats because 1) he's a committed NZer, having been here his entire career, and 2) he made his money by himself, starting small, taking his own risks and building up astutely over the years. That is far different from that Key guy who had his career overseas, and was good at gambling with other people's money, speculating on other's success while being an ultimate corporation man and never producing anything of value apart from his kids.)
Labels: john key, muzza mccully, national, politics
