Tag: John Key

Ah, flag it: the NZ flag referendum is a failure of leadership, not civic engagement

I had not considered writing about the infernal flag referendum because I do not have any great interest in either of the flags currently on offer, nor the four on the first ballot. However, what I do have a great interest in is politics and the smoke bombs being hurled by commentators in the last… Read More Ah, flag it: the NZ flag referendum is a failure of leadership, not civic engagement

grahamcameron1 Comment

Loving our enemies is how we can love Waitangi Day

With the approaching National Day of Flagellation, aka Waitangi Day, our media and politicians have gone into overdrive to ensure we are all well-prepared for the actual day with a dousing of cynicism, suspicion and rage. The appointment of Hinewhare Harawira as a trustee on Te Tii Marae – through an entirely legal, well scrutinized… Read More Loving our enemies is how we can love Waitangi Day

grahamcameron

Ferguson, the SIS, IS & Kōhanga Reo: signs of an incoming storm for the 1%

It’s been a bad news week so far. The Ferguson Grand Jury has decided that Darren Wilson, the US policeman who shot an unarmed black youth, Michael Brown, will not stand trial for that shooting. This has led to two nights of community protests that have been caricatured as ‘riots’ and ‘looting’ by mainstream media,… Read More Ferguson, the SIS, IS & Kōhanga Reo: signs of an incoming storm for the 1%

grahamcameron5 Comments

Key plays up ISIS to betray our freedoms for a Security Council seat

John Key’s deliberately murky statements about New Zealanders who want to be “foreign fighters” and who are sympathetic to ISIS in late September have now led to a Cabinet briefing today suggesting legislative changes that will put us more in line with our allies and will no doubt lead to Key’s signposted decision to join the… Read More Key plays up ISIS to betray our freedoms for a Security Council seat

grahamcameron

Dirty Politics: it’s not about getting rid of them, but getting rid of the us & them

Since the release of Dirty Politics, my timelines in various media have been full of activists and party workers from the Left enjoying the discomfort of the National Party and forlornly encouraging people to vote to get rid of them. Their contention is that some combination of Labour, Greens and Internet Mana will be a… Read More Dirty Politics: it’s not about getting rid of them, but getting rid of the us & them

grahamcameron3 Comments

Nicky Hager’s Dirty Politics: Why John Key will be pretty relaxed about that

Critics and supporters alike spend an inordinate amount of time talking about John Key’s smile. But it’s the eyes that have it, not the smile. The eyes are the secret to his success. But more about that later. I’ve read a lot of Noam Chomsky over the years and I was lucky enough to hear… Read More Nicky Hager’s Dirty Politics: Why John Key will be pretty relaxed about that

grahamcameron5 Comments

In the battle for control of NZ, Key and Cunliffe wave their phalluses at each other

At Auckland’s Big Gay Out, in a surreal moment, John Key claimed he would “definitely win” a game of beer pong against Labour leader David Cunliffe. “Wouldn’t be any doubt about it,” the PM said. David Cunliffe responded in kind, claiming “I could, I’m sure – if the moment arose – drink him under the… Read More In the battle for control of NZ, Key and Cunliffe wave their phalluses at each other

grahamcameron