The Briefing Room: AM Edition, 14 August 2007

Prime Minister Helen Clark appears to be taking a political pounding over the Electoral Finance Bill currently before Parliament. With the weekend's political poll showing National still holding a commanding lead, the party's Deputy Leader Bill English has been landing more punches, telling Clark she has only herself to blame for the mess as a growing community voice starts to rise against the Bill. The draconian legislation would give the State the right to silence ordinary free speech and political discussion and lobbying in election year.

New figures show little improvement at the child welfare coalface. A six year old Taranaki girl in CYF care has been moved to nine different homes in the past year, whilst an 11 year old boy from Christchurch has moved 11 times. As National's associate welfare spokeswoman Anne Tolley points out, kids need routine.

What is it that young testosterone-fuelled males need? As the country debates yet another boy racer death over the weekend, I was reminded of an article Investigate ran two years ago where the blame is actually laid on the feminisation of society. How, you may ask? Well, as Paul Ham wrote, it has a lot to do with the female urge to nurture and protect, manifesting itself in society now there is much greater female political influence, versus the need of young bucks to prove themselves, to themselves.

It is Islam Awareness Week in New Zealand, a chance for all of us to have the warm fuzzies about the Religion of Peace. Or is it? Debate has broken out about Islamic intentions on a number of blogsites, while in the US and in Australia there is growing controversy about the spread of Islamic schools and the fundamentalism associated with them. This is the key question. How far should Western tolerance extend towards an intolerant religion?

Meanwhile the Global Warming debate is about to embarrass Newsweek magazine. After a huge cover scare story this week aimed at ridiculing "climate change deniers" (as if they can somehow be equated with the Flat Earth Society), the magazine is about to publish a scathing critique of its own coverage in next week's issue. Does liberal hand-wringing and self-flagellation truly know no bounds?

Apologies for the infrequent posting - print deadline called me away.

Comments

[usabikes]

An American friend said recently:~

"Since the introduction of airbags to cars, I have argued (only somewhat
tongue in cheek) that the steering wheel should contain not an airbag,
but a shotgun shell. I believe we would then have more careful drivers
and the reckless ones would take care of themselves. This is one reason
why I like motorcyclists better than the general population;
motorcyclists tend to accept responsibility for their own actions.

It comes down to whether one believes it is better to protect people
from themselves, or encourage them to improve themselves so as not to
requre protection."

Self-reliance is part of manhood, we're not helping if we try to undermine this.

[robk]

usabikes

Reminds me of a skit by English comedian Carot - thinks a guy driving his car might drive more carefully if the airbags were shaped "like a great 'airy bum".

To avoid being plunged into it "let's drive reeealy slowly, shall we? No hurry! We've pleeenty of time!"

I guess you had to see it...

[Derek Benning]

The "scathing critique" of Newsweek's story on the DGW denial machine is from Robert Samuelson, who along with George Will, has provided sterling AGW denial from within Newsweek's pages. Doesn't make the guy any less deluded.

[fugley]

Well, I am one of those lefties you often deride, but unlike many who post here, I follow the science.

take a look at this-

http://denisdutton.com/cooling_world.htm

[AcidComments]

Not to mention the recent call in Indonesia for a single Muslim State.

---------------------------

Some 100,000 Islamists have
met in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, to press for the re-establishment of a caliphate across the Muslim world.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6942688.stm

http://www.rttnews.com/sp/breakingnews.asp?date=08/12/2007&item=9&vid=0

[dad4justice]

Oh great fugley is back talking about his belief in hip science . A prima facie idiot .

[fugley]

dad, science does not require "belief", it simply requires the ability to observe, learn, question and test.

I have observed you here, have learned you are an idiot, questioned why I learned that, tested my theory of dad4idiocy and found it proved.

[dad4justice]

Fugley I am tired, as I just had huge day on kiwiblog , must rest and read my Bible . Another battle against evil another day . The Saints are getting restless !

[dad4justice]

You cannot win the war fugley as the blood of Christ has unleashed the power of the Holy Spirit .

[baxta]

I guess the Guardian must be a right wing rag then.

[peasant]

lol @ fugley vs d4j.
Two cartoonish characters, a parody of extremes, could almost be the same person! :o)

[Sam Finnemore]

Be careful about what you say regarding d4j. I've heard he calls people Rosicrucians on the internet.

:O

[dad4justice]

Never let a chance go by Sam to stick that knife in the back.
Whatever goes .