Hope you are right about an imminent end to this war which can be categorized as WWIII. One positive outcome for NZ is the investment in LnG will not proceed and kiwi will .make better use of natural resources
In a display of power and intimidation in the UK Trafalgar Square was taken over and the king saw fit to wish "everyone" a happy Ramadan. As did "our" PM.
Appeaser in Chief, Aussie's Albanese, got monstered by the Muslims while groveling at a Lakemba mosque yesterday. He looked utterly pathetic.
I think the current crop of Western leaders are personally terrified of them.
They need to. National and ACT's Coalition agreement at the start of this term said they were ending co-governance.
Like me, many will not be voting for them if they don't keep their word before the election. I'm sick to death of these pricks that don't keep their word. And now co-governance is on the way to control our water. Where can we find politicians with guts to sort this s__t out?
Hope you are right about an imminent end to this war which can be categorized as WWIii. One potentially positive outcome for NZ is the investment in LnG will not proceed.
It is my humble opinion the USA (Trump) has been induced into this war by his wish to distract the public from his, and his wife's links to Epstein. Shades of the face that launched a 1000 ships except it's now missiles. Lets hope he and Netanyahu keep their fingers away from their nuclear weapons.
The US Dems have tried everything and repeatedly bent the law to get Trump
They had the Epstein files when they were in power. Do you think they wouldn't have used any dirt they could find (or imagine into existence) on Trump?
"Humble opinion" a euphemism for fact free claims is it now?
If Bondi and Dump know he's innocent, instead of Bondi refusing to give straight answers to questions from Congress, why not allow the remaining files out unredacted for all to see. What an ideal way to see what the truth is. Refusal to do this means certain people are being protected
In this case it's a deflection - pretending complete nonsense that is intended to promote a false narrative is merely "opinion" doesn't excuse it.
Much like this: "Lets hope he and Netanyahu keep their fingers away from their nuclear weapons"
Now what's that doing there?
The regime's goose is cooked, it's gone to meet its maker, pining for the fiords; what could possibly motivate a nuclear attack by the liberation forces?
The Shi'ite's in charge believe in the need for an apocalypse to usher in the return of the "Hidden Imam" and a global Muslim caliphate.
We would be better off hoping they don't have, and never will have, The Bomb.
“The problem isn't that Johnny can't read. The problem isn't even that Johnny can't think. The problem is that Johnny doesn't know what thinking is; he confuses it with feeling.”
Luxon is a mediocre little man unwilling to address the serious issues facing New Zealand society, in particular racial separatism/chauvinism, and our economy, especially our productivity death spiral. He should get out of the kitchen if he can't stand the heat.
Bravo Gary, bravo. Kissinger may have meant well but his appeasement of bullies may have set us all up a bit perhaps? And Jimmy certainly f***ed up on this one..
Appeasement is weakness at the moment when the decision to stand up to a bully is rationalized away. The only guarantee to follow such a decision is that the bully will only double down, and push their perceived advantage until they have subjugated their intended target. The invention of a criminal category of " hurt feelings", is one recent attempt to deter people from challenging the behaviour of those who seek to undermine our civil liberties, and free speech.
Well said Gary I totally agree with everything you say.
The National coalition partner in the current govt got my electorate vote last time under false pretences. They have done very little to reverse the mess created by the previous bad actors. The blatant Maori racism continues a pace, and the bloated civil (dis)service continue to grow out of control stamping all over our rights as they go. At the same time the massive taxpayer funded waste continues unabated. The National Party has forfeited my vote in 2026 unless they give me reason for hope.
Why, ACT and National's Coalition agreement states they would end co-governance. Instead, co-governance is increasing with Maori set to control water. They need to keep their promise before the election or they'll be missing out on a lot of votes.
Fair critique. I suspect ACT has had to concede much ground cos Luxflakes is so weak. The Treaty Principles Bill is a prime example. Winnie is all hot air and could have supported that Bill too. I respect Seymour’s integrity and can’t see a better option. But yes, they need to be stronger.
You are so right about appeasement Gary, which in NZ is typified by avoidance of necessary confrontation. How quick people are to declare "all good" when it isn't, and "it is what it is", when really it is what we make it.
National's failure to stand up for democracy is projected into stark relief by its rejection of the Treaty Principles Bill, which was really just a reiteration of what was written in and intended by the 1840 Treaty. In setting the Bill to one side with no explanation, National was effectively signalling its support for the activist's unwritten neo-Treaty based around fabricated, key principles, active protection, co-governance partnership and self-determination. Also, although Luxon clearly ruled out co-governance at a national level, the implication was that it is ok at a local level, a far cry from the basis on which the Coalition Government was elected. Whilst that could be said to be a policy of "appeasement" to me there is a significant aspect of ideological "agreement".
Thank you Gary, I totally agree with your view of the growing control in NZ, last year's career denying action by the Real Estate Institute being one. Now we see other professional bodies requiring their members to think and act in a certain way, the latest being the Nurses body and the Medical Council, or so it appears.
I may be wrong but your words on Iran suggest had military action been taken years ago the current conflagration could have been avoided. Yet I'm old enough to remember that the arrival of the Mullahs and the expulsion of the Shah in 1979 was greeted with enthusiasm by many Kiwis; TV commentator David Exel, a fiery speaker for the overthrow of the Shah, was just one.
There is another way of course, perhaps harder, but more lasting and bloodless, turning enemies into friends. That happened in post war Europe. French Foreign Minister Schuman and German Chancellor Adenauer accepted the Christian message of forgiveness as an answer to the centuries of war between their countries, setting up the Coal and Steel Community of the early 50s. This uniting action led gradually to the healing of hate and bitterness, to the EEC and to today's European Union. The seeds of what might be seen as a miraculous change in people's hearts was reported in an article just last week, 9 March, by Kiwi expat Jeff Fountain -
Those well meaning evangelicals are being rather naive, extending an olive branch to psychopaths never works.
The problem is Islam, they don't do forgiveness, don't believe in the divinity of man or the sanctity of life and loath the west and her beautiful religion.
The Muslims emigrating to the west, despite being offered every accommodation are far from becoming united with their hosts. They are united against it.
Gary, what you write about Iran and the present military conflict is largely fanciful.
Both the US and isr__l have been planning exactly this conflict for 30+ years. The leaders of both countries have signalled exactly this, time and time again.
Consequently we really shouldn't put any credence on the anti-Iranian propaganda that we have been fed, which is of course intended for the purpose of controlling our minds to rally behind their aggressive, unjustified and illegal actions.
Therefore, the parallels that you draw about 'free thought' and 'democracy' are speculative, at best....
Watching world news daily this past 14 days surely is evidence that USA version of events is propaganda. Starting with the sneak targeted bombing attacks while Iran was engaged in diplomatic meetings with the US and culminating a fortnight later with Iran showing the world that Trump’s statements about control of the Hormuz Strait and world oil supply security is at best wishful thinking
Words can mean many things. David. You say six nations have pledged to help opening the straits and you link to an item at MSN.
However that s not what was reported.
United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, and Japan, all of whom expressed their “readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through” the strait.
Pledged to opening is not the same as contributing to appropriate efforts etc etc>>
Beware the propganda game.
The 6 nations have appeased Trump with a somewhat meaningless statement.
Time will of coures be the arbitor of this situation
"Those well meaning evangelicals are being rather naive, extending an olive branch to psychopaths never works"...- Hitler was a Christian evangelical and I'm sure you will agree a psychopath. What is Trump in your opinion
Where did you get the idea that Hitler was a Christian?
He hated Christianity, and lamented that Germany wasn't Islamic. All that "turn the other cheek" stuff wasn't for him. The Nazi's recruited and armed, with the help of the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, a division to capture and murder Jews.*
President Trump is certainly a remarkable and singular character, I'm not about to give any sort of psychological assessment beyond that. Those that know him personally say he is warm and caring and he has helped raise a lovely family.
Pretty sure there was a fuss about Hitler and the Pope at the time . I would suggest your faith in Tr..p is misplaced especially now he's put NZ in economic peril
Gary, you talk common sense. Our politicians have lost theirs. National particularly are lost in their "reading the room". Why is the most pressing question they need to answer.
If only previous National voters would recognise that NZFIRST is the only party with the courage and the know-how to start fixing this. We can cry about all kinds of issues at election time, but if we don't treat the preservation of our democracy as the highest priority then all the other issues will simply fade into insignificance in the face of the corrupted Theocracy we seem to be slowly edging towards. Very good piece of writing Gary.
Where has the UN been, as the Iranian situation evolved, from bad to worse, and then worse again?
Did they have anything to say when Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman, died on September 16, 2022, in Tehran after being arrested by Iran's morality police for allegedly violating hijab rules?
Did you see the UN are now promoting last Sunday as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia?
I think Trump was right that they're passed their use-by date!
Yet NZ still contributes funding.....
Sadly, I don't think enough (esp the young) people understand or appreciate the difference between Churchill Vs Chamberlain.
Hope you are right about an imminent end to this war which can be categorized as WWIII. One positive outcome for NZ is the investment in LnG will not proceed and kiwi will .make better use of natural resources
In a display of power and intimidation in the UK Trafalgar Square was taken over and the king saw fit to wish "everyone" a happy Ramadan. As did "our" PM.
Appeaser in Chief, Aussie's Albanese, got monstered by the Muslims while groveling at a Lakemba mosque yesterday. He looked utterly pathetic.
I think the current crop of Western leaders are personally terrified of them.
Will National declare Co-Governance the affront to Democracy in NZ that it is…..?
They need to. National and ACT's Coalition agreement at the start of this term said they were ending co-governance.
Like me, many will not be voting for them if they don't keep their word before the election. I'm sick to death of these pricks that don't keep their word. And now co-governance is on the way to control our water. Where can we find politicians with guts to sort this s__t out?
Hope you are right about an imminent end to this war which can be categorized as WWIii. One potentially positive outcome for NZ is the investment in LnG will not proceed.
It is my humble opinion the USA (Trump) has been induced into this war by his wish to distract the public from his, and his wife's links to Epstein. Shades of the face that launched a 1000 ships except it's now missiles. Lets hope he and Netanyahu keep their fingers away from their nuclear weapons.
The US Dems have tried everything and repeatedly bent the law to get Trump
They had the Epstein files when they were in power. Do you think they wouldn't have used any dirt they could find (or imagine into existence) on Trump?
"Humble opinion" a euphemism for fact free claims is it now?
If Bondi and Dump know he's innocent, instead of Bondi refusing to give straight answers to questions from Congress, why not allow the remaining files out unredacted for all to see. What an ideal way to see what the truth is. Refusal to do this means certain people are being protected
IMHO is short hand for "in my humble opinion" which prefaces a respectful submission even if the recipient is undeserving
In this case it's a deflection - pretending complete nonsense that is intended to promote a false narrative is merely "opinion" doesn't excuse it.
Much like this: "Lets hope he and Netanyahu keep their fingers away from their nuclear weapons"
Now what's that doing there?
The regime's goose is cooked, it's gone to meet its maker, pining for the fiords; what could possibly motivate a nuclear attack by the liberation forces?
The Shi'ite's in charge believe in the need for an apocalypse to usher in the return of the "Hidden Imam" and a global Muslim caliphate.
We would be better off hoping they don't have, and never will have, The Bomb.
Nope - try harder David. You have your opinion and I have my fact based thoughts
“The problem isn't that Johnny can't read. The problem isn't even that Johnny can't think. The problem is that Johnny doesn't know what thinking is; he confuses it with feeling.”
― Thomas Sowell
By George I think he's right tho your name is David
Luxon is a mediocre little man unwilling to address the serious issues facing New Zealand society, in particular racial separatism/chauvinism, and our economy, especially our productivity death spiral. He should get out of the kitchen if he can't stand the heat.
Bravo Gary, bravo. Kissinger may have meant well but his appeasement of bullies may have set us all up a bit perhaps? And Jimmy certainly f***ed up on this one..
Appeasement is weakness at the moment when the decision to stand up to a bully is rationalized away. The only guarantee to follow such a decision is that the bully will only double down, and push their perceived advantage until they have subjugated their intended target. The invention of a criminal category of " hurt feelings", is one recent attempt to deter people from challenging the behaviour of those who seek to undermine our civil liberties, and free speech.
Well said Gary I totally agree with everything you say.
The National coalition partner in the current govt got my electorate vote last time under false pretences. They have done very little to reverse the mess created by the previous bad actors. The blatant Maori racism continues a pace, and the bloated civil (dis)service continue to grow out of control stamping all over our rights as they go. At the same time the massive taxpayer funded waste continues unabated. The National Party has forfeited my vote in 2026 unless they give me reason for hope.
Party vote ACT seems the logical choice if you care about freedoms & equality…
Why, ACT and National's Coalition agreement states they would end co-governance. Instead, co-governance is increasing with Maori set to control water. They need to keep their promise before the election or they'll be missing out on a lot of votes.
Freedoms and equality?
What a bad joke.
Fair critique. I suspect ACT has had to concede much ground cos Luxflakes is so weak. The Treaty Principles Bill is a prime example. Winnie is all hot air and could have supported that Bill too. I respect Seymour’s integrity and can’t see a better option. But yes, they need to be stronger.
You are so right about appeasement Gary, which in NZ is typified by avoidance of necessary confrontation. How quick people are to declare "all good" when it isn't, and "it is what it is", when really it is what we make it.
National's failure to stand up for democracy is projected into stark relief by its rejection of the Treaty Principles Bill, which was really just a reiteration of what was written in and intended by the 1840 Treaty. In setting the Bill to one side with no explanation, National was effectively signalling its support for the activist's unwritten neo-Treaty based around fabricated, key principles, active protection, co-governance partnership and self-determination. Also, although Luxon clearly ruled out co-governance at a national level, the implication was that it is ok at a local level, a far cry from the basis on which the Coalition Government was elected. Whilst that could be said to be a policy of "appeasement" to me there is a significant aspect of ideological "agreement".
Nice Ron, spot on.
Appeasement is the energy for bullies. History tells that.
And when it's allowed to go too far, bullets.
Yes Graeme.
Psychopaths see appeasement as proof of their superiority and that you deserve to suffer and die for what they see as contemptable weakness.
Thank you Gary, I totally agree with your view of the growing control in NZ, last year's career denying action by the Real Estate Institute being one. Now we see other professional bodies requiring their members to think and act in a certain way, the latest being the Nurses body and the Medical Council, or so it appears.
I may be wrong but your words on Iran suggest had military action been taken years ago the current conflagration could have been avoided. Yet I'm old enough to remember that the arrival of the Mullahs and the expulsion of the Shah in 1979 was greeted with enthusiasm by many Kiwis; TV commentator David Exel, a fiery speaker for the overthrow of the Shah, was just one.
There is another way of course, perhaps harder, but more lasting and bloodless, turning enemies into friends. That happened in post war Europe. French Foreign Minister Schuman and German Chancellor Adenauer accepted the Christian message of forgiveness as an answer to the centuries of war between their countries, setting up the Coal and Steel Community of the early 50s. This uniting action led gradually to the healing of hate and bitterness, to the EEC and to today's European Union. The seeds of what might be seen as a miraculous change in people's hearts was reported in an article just last week, 9 March, by Kiwi expat Jeff Fountain -
https://evangelicalfocus.com/window-on-europe/34025/re-armament-or-moral-re-armament
Is this perhaps a way more of us could explore?
Those well meaning evangelicals are being rather naive, extending an olive branch to psychopaths never works.
The problem is Islam, they don't do forgiveness, don't believe in the divinity of man or the sanctity of life and loath the west and her beautiful religion.
The Muslims emigrating to the west, despite being offered every accommodation are far from becoming united with their hosts. They are united against it.
Gary, what you write about Iran and the present military conflict is largely fanciful.
Both the US and isr__l have been planning exactly this conflict for 30+ years. The leaders of both countries have signalled exactly this, time and time again.
Consequently we really shouldn't put any credence on the anti-Iranian propaganda that we have been fed, which is of course intended for the purpose of controlling our minds to rally behind their aggressive, unjustified and illegal actions.
Therefore, the parallels that you draw about 'free thought' and 'democracy' are speculative, at best....
Where is the evidence to support your contentions?
In every aspect of government. Just open your eyes.
Watching world news daily this past 14 days surely is evidence that USA version of events is propaganda. Starting with the sneak targeted bombing attacks while Iran was engaged in diplomatic meetings with the US and culminating a fortnight later with Iran showing the world that Trump’s statements about control of the Hormuz Strait and world oil supply security is at best wishful thinking
Another six nations have pledged to help with the re-opening of the Straits of Hormuz.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/6-us-allies-step-up-to-reopen-hormuz-as-iran-conflict-chokes-global-oil-lifeline/ar-AA1YZLTG
Words can mean many things. David. You say six nations have pledged to help opening the straits and you link to an item at MSN.
However that s not what was reported.
United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, and Japan, all of whom expressed their “readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through” the strait.
Pledged to opening is not the same as contributing to appropriate efforts etc etc>>
Beware the propganda game.
The 6 nations have appeased Trump with a somewhat meaningless statement.
Time will of coures be the arbitor of this situation
David George you say
"Those well meaning evangelicals are being rather naive, extending an olive branch to psychopaths never works"...- Hitler was a Christian evangelical and I'm sure you will agree a psychopath. What is Trump in your opinion
Where did you get the idea that Hitler was a Christian?
He hated Christianity, and lamented that Germany wasn't Islamic. All that "turn the other cheek" stuff wasn't for him. The Nazi's recruited and armed, with the help of the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, a division to capture and murder Jews.*
President Trump is certainly a remarkable and singular character, I'm not about to give any sort of psychological assessment beyond that. Those that know him personally say he is warm and caring and he has helped raise a lovely family.
*https://www.jewishrefugees.org.uk/2024/01/palestinian-collaboration-with-the-nazis-extended-well-beyond-the-mufti.html
Pretty sure there was a fuss about Hitler and the Pope at the time . I would suggest your faith in Tr..p is misplaced especially now he's put NZ in economic peril
Gary, you talk common sense. Our politicians have lost theirs. National particularly are lost in their "reading the room". Why is the most pressing question they need to answer.
If only previous National voters would recognise that NZFIRST is the only party with the courage and the know-how to start fixing this. We can cry about all kinds of issues at election time, but if we don't treat the preservation of our democracy as the highest priority then all the other issues will simply fade into insignificance in the face of the corrupted Theocracy we seem to be slowly edging towards. Very good piece of writing Gary.
100%, thanks Gary
Where has the UN been, as the Iranian situation evolved, from bad to worse, and then worse again?
Did they have anything to say when Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman, died on September 16, 2022, in Tehran after being arrested by Iran's morality police for allegedly violating hijab rules?
Did you see the UN are now promoting last Sunday as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia?
I think Trump was right that they're passed their use-by date!
Yet NZ still contributes funding.....
Sadly, I don't think enough (esp the young) people understand or appreciate the difference between Churchill Vs Chamberlain.
National taking a stand requires their leader to have a spine. He doesn’t.
Luxon was very disappointing his election campaign was one big fat lie