Ask not what your country can do for you, DPF…

Written By: - Date published: 1:02 pm, November 14th, 2007 - 63 comments
Categories: dpf, election funding - Tags: , ,

davey220.jpg Interesting to see National Party blogger David Farrar is inciting his readers to start a political party to bypass/oppose the Electoral Finance Bill. Even more interesting is the fact that his rabid hoard are already calling for him to be its leader.

Here at The Standard we couldn’t agree more – if anyone has the political nous and experience to run such a thing it’s DPF. After all he is one of the founders of Kill the Bill, is probably the most vocal pundit on the issue and, as Tane points out, he’s probably able to get the 500 people he needs to register a party out of his KB readers alone.

So we’re asking you David, if you’re reading this, to put your money where your mouth is (so to speak) and to start this political party you speak of. The only real question is what to call it. I’m sure some of the folk in our comments section can kick-start that brainstorming session…

And if you need a bit more of a head-start here’s the link for registering.

63 comments on “Ask not what your country can do for you, DPF… ”

  1. Robinsod 1

    Ha! – hilarious. But it raises a valid point about walking the talk. Oddly, I’ve just been having the same argument with Lee.

  2. Robinsod 2

    Oh and my pick for the name is the Democratic Association for the overthrow of the Dark Forces of Klark. Or perhaps the Exclusive Billren…

  3. Long time listener 3

    I always thought the New Zealand Herald needed a political wing… for some reason they were always rather cautious about directly jumping into bed with the National Party – perhaps DPF can be their new great white hope?

  4. Robinsod 4

    So Ltl, you’re suggesting “the NZ Herald party”?

  5. Benodic 5

    Wasn’t DPF complaining just the other day that Hone Harawira was being irresponsible for advocating that unjust laws should be broken? And now he’s encouraging people break the EFB because he thinks it’s unjust?

    There’s a word for that kind of behaviour, and it begins with a letter that looks a lot like a rugby goalpost.

  6. It’s different when they are doing it remember!

  7. Nih 7

    There does seem to be a lot of suggestion and agreement to fraud going on over there.

    I think they should call themselves the Partisan United Sans-Socialist Youth For Another Republic Today!

    Also Robinsod, whats your email address? You’re one hard person to pin down.

  8. Matthew Pilott 8

    I propose that DPF include Golden Showers in his party’s mandate. These are, apparently, still illegal under NZ law. Given he’s using the pettiest examples (most of which will probably not be illegal inder the bill, let’s wait before getting all blustery about it, people), I think this ‘piddling’ issue will fit in nicely 😉

    The party could then be called the “Electoral Shower Golden Finance Hollow Party”

    Hehe captcha is officially the schizznuts – “Slump National”.

  9. Brownie 9

    Well done on the pic guys – very good

  10. Robert owen 10

    Its like you’ve take a snapshot of his dreaming .apart from the lack of a nubile 18 yr old wench on his arm

  11. Robinsod 11

    Nih – it’s mickyporton[at]hotmail.com Oh and just to stay on topic: It could be called the “not the national party party (no really we’re not!)” It might be a bit long to put on bumper stickers though…

  12. Nih 12

    I reckon you should go with my one if you’re worried about length. It shortens down to a good acronym.

  13. Tane 13

    I can’t think of a name right now, but I reckon Dad4Justice would make a fine shadow minister for women’s affairs. Hell, he’s even got the political experience:

    http://republicans.org.nz/meet-the-republicans/candidates/peter-burns/

    Redbaiter for deputy leader?

  14. Matthew Pilott 14

    Redbaiter should be the Minister of Womens Affairs.

    http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2007/11/nz_5th_best_for_gender_gap.html#comment-364206

    What a charmer.

  15. Nih 15

    Is it legal for a man with 14 criminal convictions to be in a political party?

    I know one thing is for sure: he’d be the weakest link if they ever got any steam up. “Our members may not visit their children without a security guard present and are schizophrenic”.

  16. Robinsod 16

    Nih – pure genius, can I post the link? But I’ve noticed the moderators have disappeared now so there might not be a lot of comment moderating. I have a sneaking suspicion that getting me banned for life might have been the only reason they were invented.

    Tin? Foil? Hat?

  17. r0b 17

    Clearly any such party would need the acronym “DPF”, so here are a few possibilities:

    David’s Party First
    Don’t Pick Farrar
    Don’s Pure Fundamentalists
    Desperate Party Faithful
    Dogged Partisan Freakshow
    Dodgy Political Flakes

  18. Robinsod 18

    Ooh, ooh, I like the second to last one!

  19. Tane 19

    Dodgy Political Funding?

  20. r0b 20

    PS – IP for minister of Hollow Propaganda…

  21. r0b 21

    Tane – “Dodgy Political Funding?”

    How did I miss that one!

  22. Tane 22

    Or you could call it the EFB Party – as in ‘Elections are For Buying’

  23. Long time listener 23

    Sorry to bring down the tone, but I can’t resist: “Eligible Fat Bachelors”.

    Ouch.

  24. Benodic 24

    I see they’re having a wee cry over at KB.

    http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2007/11/some_electoral_finance_bill_ideas_for_election_year.html#comment-366684

    And DPF’s doing his best to push his silly post down the page with a yawn-inducing youtube clip of some dude’s coin collection and a two-liner quote from Audrey Young. I almost feel sorry for the guy.

  25. Robert owen 25

    good apart from the “Eligible”
    bit

  26. Lee C 26

    “Ha! – hilarious. But it raises a valid point about walking the talk. Oddly, I’ve just been having the same argument with Lee.”

    Yes robinsod. You ‘walk the talk’. If that means picking up on my submission to the Select Committe against the EFB and holding the spelling, vocabulary and grammar to ridicule. You also made some negative remarks about how well it was researched.

    I will grant you that small point it [my submission to the Select Committee against the EFB] was a lame showing I take responsibility for that. However,
    I’d never done anything like that before, so will do better should I need to in future.

    As for playing the ‘poor working class boy’ card, perhaps it is disingenous of me (even though I am).

    My suprize about this whole thing is: this (the VDS) is supposed to be the ‘good’ side – you know, stand up for the little guy and all that?

    What I can’t understand is how the world appears to be upside down?

    You have the kiwiblog. You can go there and engage in debate, propose views which run counter to the party line, and sometimes it gets heated. so be it.

    But the VDS is so full of ‘bile’ it beggars belief.

    My point is, once upon at time (maybe I am getting senile) the ‘left’ were the first to congratulate, encourage, support the little guy when he took a stand against the huge monoliths. When a government tried to deprive people of their liberties, it was the ‘left’ side of the debate which came to the party and went out on the streets.

    If people wanted to become more politically aware or active, it was the left which would foster them and take their cause up because the little guy didn’t have the resources to do it himself, and could do with the help.

    But not here. In this upside down world, if I want representation to oppose corrupt lawmaking, I have to go to the right of the spectrum. Join the KtB movement, because the left is politically deaf. Then I will have to endure the ridicule of the ‘left’ for joining an organisation which is only filling the vaccuum the left have allowed to form.

    In this world, if you want the assistance of the ‘left’ on this serious issue of constituional reform, you are shown the door and told in polite terms to basically ‘Go f**k yourself” The left have totally abandoned their initial belief system, and have sold out completely.

    What, because a law is proposed by a ‘Labour’ Government it cannot possibly be wrong?

    Did you leave your brains at home the day Helen was elected?

    I also have to question WTF was going through your tiny mind that you have to trawl through the Select Committee report looking for people you might recognise so you can use that as a means to ridicule them?

    I mean is your argument for the EFB so weak that you are reduced to that, given that by your own admission you coldn’t even see the point of making a submission to the Select Committee in the first place?

    So, when you ridicule the anti EFB movement, and the likes of DPF – bear in mind this situation was it was of ‘the left’s’ making, in many ways.

    That is a point for debate, not an invitation for the goon-squad to start with the invective (remember that other great virtue of the ‘Left’ – debate?)

  27. Benodic 27

    Lee the left have always stood for not allowing a minority to abuse their wealth and the privilege, whether it’s through employment protections, the welfare state or controls on election spending.

    The definition of advertising spending (which is what the fear campaign is based on) is being fixed in select committee. No one wants to stop you from expressing an opinion.

    The real battle, which National and DPF are well aware of, is over third party caps, transparency in donations and counting election spending from January 1st. These are all solid social democratic objectives, and if you think they’re somehow indicative of creeping dictatorship then you need to get yourself some perspective.

  28. Benodic 28

    Oh and Lee, can you try to keep the length of your posts down a bit? Being concise is a virtue.

  29. Peak Oil Conspiracy 29

    Lee:

    What’s VDS? Sounds like a horrible variety of veneral disease.

  30. Long time listener 30

    Meanwhile over at bileblog DPF’s making fun of Karen Carpenter’s anorexia, which she died of.

  31. Matthew Pilott 31

    Lee, just one point – your views are the ones in opposition to the majority here – don’t be surprised you get shouted down.

    Try the same at KB and you’ll get it a lot worse – you don’t see it because you’re generally in agreement with them. In fact I suggest you open your mind, ignore any left/right bias you may have and read through KB – I think you’ll find the invective and ‘bile’ a helluva lot worse over there – it’s just not directed at you!

    You’re also focussing on a single issue, and my view (that others at this site may or may not share) is that the bill will do a lot to stop organisations wielding undue influence, purely due to their financial means. There’s not a lot more undemocratic than that. Blanket statements about the left based upon this don’t mean a lot, or contribute a lot to any debate.

    Finally I would like to point out that when I argued with you yesterday, you called me a wanker (or perhaps said ‘wankers’ in general).

    So please consider your actions, a rational debate will degenerate very rapidly when those types of words are bandied about (for example, I possibly replied with the phrase ‘right-wing idiot’ – not very nice of me sorry, but ask and ye shall recieve)

  32. r0b 32

    When a government tried to deprive people of their liberties, it was the ‘left’ side of the debate which came to the party and went out on the streets.

    If people wanted to become more politically aware or active, it was the left which would foster them and take their cause up because the little guy didn’t have the resources to do it himself, and could do with the help.

    For the first time I’m moved to wonder if there is some home for Lee C after all. Yes, the left is the home of activism and debate.

    But – and it’s a big but – that doesn’t mean jumping on every hysterical beatup that comes along! Clearly the EFB was drafted hastily and in its original form it has faults. These have been pointed out in public feedback to the select committee, who are moving to correct the faults.

    Now we wait and see what comes out of that process. Call me a quaint old optimist (or a Liarbore hack – whatever you like) – I’m prepared to wait and see patiently. Others (DPF et al.) would rather use this time to drum up hysteria, as it suits their anti government agenda. They’re pretty good at it too.

    But have a little faith in NZ’s democratic mechanisms eh? Let’s see the final form of this legislation. If it turns out to be an evil attack on free speech, then I’ll join you on the barricades comrade.

    (And if it turns out to reasonably constrain the power of covert money to buy elections, then I’ll applaud.)

  33. Santa Claws 33

    “Lee, just one point – your views are the ones in opposition to the majority here – don’t be surprised you get shouted down.”

    Well, we know not to expect any sensible comments from you then Matthew. Sheesh, what waste of space you are.

  34. Nih 34

    Nih – pure genius

    It’s so true.

    can I post the link?

    Not just yet. It’s preferable that only like-minded people have access. I’ve held off passwording it for convenience. Save it for when you want to spring irrefutable proof of something on someone.

    But I’ve noticed the moderators have disappeared now so there might not be a lot of comment moderating. I have a sneaking suspicion that getting me banned for life might have been the only reason they were invented.

    Exactly. I think it’s time for a return to the battlefield, only with a few extra tricks up your sleeve. Ideally just let it run for a couple of months though.

  35. Matthew Pilott 35

    Santa, shouted down doesn’t constitute rabid abuse – I meant that there are likely to be plenty of strongly opposing views. Sorry if you were not able to understand that correctly sugar, I’ll dumb it down next time 😉

    You kind of illustrated your own point with that though, making an irrelevant comment and then calling someone else a waste of space. Try and be more constructive next time yeah…

  36. r0b 36

    I’ve been reading a bit of Kiwibog lately (my weak constitution can only take it in small doses). And I’ve noticed Santa actually trying to hold some people to account over there – whale for his unsavoury activities, even DPF for misquoting Helen Clark.

    So – there are hidden depths to Santa I feel. Here’s a rare “Santa – good on ya”. If only you would display a but more balance and reason at The Standard.

  37. Nih 37

    So – there are hidden depths to Santa I feel. Here’s a rare “Santa – good on ya”. If only you would display a but more balance and reason at The Standard.

    I saw this too and agree. Maybe the proximity of Christmas is ungrinching him.

  38. Long time listener:

    You’ve got a lot of nerve to refer to kiwiblog as bileblog. This is just a matter of hours after several of the Standard’s posters and commenters referred to other people as “paedophiles” and “apologists for child porn”.

    Tane, does your domain host realise you’re allowing this site to host such invective defamation? For that matter, does the EPMU?

  39. Tane 39

    Prick, you really must stop lying. No author on this site has ever called anyone a paedophile. One commenter did last night and their comment was deleted. For someone who’s quick to accuse others of lies and defamation you’re doing a pretty good job of it yourself.

  40. the sprout 40

    oooh oooh PLEASE can DPF start a party. i still think the NZ Herald Party is the most subversive and educational, but any of the above suggestions are good too.
    can we set up a seed fund for him to start the party? i would happily donate $50 to their cause. what can we do to get more traction on this wonderful idea?
    let’s see just what a man of his word he really is.

  41. Lee C 41

    Rob your trust in NZ’s democratic process is laudable, and so is your patience.
    you can’t have it both ways, though, if you trust in the democratic process,, you have to welcome debate.
    I see the words ‘hysterical’ and ‘rabid hoards’ (sic) employed to describe the alternative views, and that is where I begin to be suspicious of the agenda of those who use this kind of rhetoric.
    It’s like saying, in case people can’t think for themselves, we’ll whip up an emotive storm.
    It begs the question what is being hidden?
    Yes I am a one issue kinda guy. I work on one premise; our democracy has been hard-won (mostly by the left) and I would hate to see it betrayed (by the left, or right).
    Of course National have an agenda. But to the shame of the left, they are th only ones who have really picked up on the danger the EFB represents. If you check my opinions, you will see I have been similarly critical of the Nats and their supporters for being too ‘patient’.
    I have also noticed that when I have asked most supporters of the EFB what it is they disagree with about it they usually reply something like “It’s not perfect, but will be fixed at Select Committee.”
    I do not share their optimism, and I prefer to deal in specifics. And for future reference, I’m not biased, I ‘ll start a fight with anyone I disagree with. Trust me on that. ps I apologise for name calling anyone.
    Remember the phrase: ‘Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely’ it was designed to be a warning, not as a criticism.

  42. No, Tane, I did not say you called anybody a paedophile. A commenter called somebody a paedophile, another one claimed that I supported child porn, and you refused to acknowledge that either was wrong, and refused to censure any of the parties involved.

  43. Oops..
    Guess who is in the crap with his employer…
    Lynn Kelvin Prentice…….. best have a look at whaleoil and then perhaps the sits vacant.

  44. Robinsod 44

    Hey Bill you sociopath – you’re kidding yourself bro. If Whale goes through with this it’ll shine a light on all of your psychopathic filth. I reckon it could be quite a good thing. I’d imagine all you little righties will be desrerately deleting from your blogs. Ain’t google cache a wonderful thing?

  45. psychopathic filth! you write like you have eaten a thesaurus and having become constipated are now reduced to crapping out alphabet soup .Robinnome, I retired before 40 you numbskull, who is going to terrify me into desrerately (your spelling) deleting from my blog? The barista at my local cafe? My broker? My gardener?
    I can only assume that Lynn Kelvin Prentice is not monitoring his site tonight because if he was surely the sub standard would have disappeared by now…

  46. r0b 46

    Lee C – “Rob your trust in NZ’s democratic process is laudable, and so is your patience. you can’t have it both ways, though, if you trust in the democratic process,, you have to welcome debate.”

    Well surely, debate is necessary. If the public isn’t seen to care, then anything can happen. There is, however, a difference between debate, and the kind of language and tactics being used by some of those criticising the draft EFB.

    “I see the words ‘hysterical’ and ‘rabid hoards’ (sic) employed to describe the alternative views, and that is where I begin to be suspicious of the agenda of those who use this kind of rhetoric.”

    And when I see the words like “vile”, “corrupt” “desperate”, “power at any cost”, “death of democracy” and so on employed to describe draft legislation, then I begin to be suspicious of the agenda of those who use this kind of rhetoric.

    “It’s like saying, in case people can’t think for themselves, we’ll whip up an emotive storm.”

    Exactly! Nicely put.

    “I do not share their optimism, and I prefer to deal in specifics.”

    Well, we’ll know soon enough I guess, whatever emerges from select committee will be well scrutinised I’m sure.

    “I apologise for name calling anyone.”

    Well spoken.

    “Remember the phrase: ‘Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely’ it was designed to be a warning, not as a criticism.”

    And it is a good warning to be sure.

  47. Robinsod 47

    Bill – when you say retired you do mean “was institutionalised” I hope.

  48. Robert owen 48

    What is to me is interesting
    is the nutjobs
    Whaleoil
    D4J
    Redbaiter
    Barnsley Bill
    Isolent Prick
    I’m sure I missed a few
    Are so so so Angry.
    We on the left get pissed of over injustice and knowing what dirty tricks the Tories pull.
    But its not the centre of our being
    those guys are consumed by hate I consider them very dangerous.
    When as looks likely, the Left retain the Goverment benches next year these guys are going to fucking explode
    Very frightning, to much obsessive hate and anger with nowhere to go

  49. Nih 49

    You know how it goes. As soon as they start revealing what they think is socially advancing ‘personal information’ to back up their stupid opinions, you know they’re a nobody.

  50. Robert owen 50

    Fucking Mad as a meat axe

  51. the sprout 51

    if only they could get girlfriends.

  52. Robert owen 52

    If only I could get a girlfriend

  53. Amateur Scrabbler 53

    Boom! The New Zealand blogosphere drama explodes out of control?

  54. Camryn 54

    Robert Owen – Surely you can see that it seems exactly the opposite from the other side? Replace tories/righties with reds/lefties and make it about clinging to power rather than trying to seize it, and that’s exactly how Tane, Roger Nome, Robinsod, etc sound to those righties you listed.

    I wouldn’t actually worry about either side’s pent up anger though. People talk more extremely on the internet than they would in person. All the bluster from both is just virtual bluster.

  55. Robinsod 55

    Camryn – I agree there’s a lot of piss and vinegar behind internet comments but I’ve had several threats of violence directed at me by rightwingers (I don’t take them seriously but I’m not taking any risks – that’s why I like my anonymity). I’ve never seen similar threats made by anyone on the left of the spectrum.

    I’ve also not seen the left engage in the kind of “Lesbian feminazi cabal” invective that is standard vocabulary on the right (or the kind of bullying that Whale enacted on James Sleep).

  56. r0b 56

    Surely you can see that it seems exactly the opposite from the other side? Replace tories/righties with reds/lefties and make it about clinging to power rather than trying to seize it, and that’s exactly how Tane, Roger Nome, Robinsod, etc sound to those righties you listed.

    Camryn, surely you can see that there is a qualitative difference between political views that you disagree with (Tane et al.) and persons with serious emotional issues (d4j et al.).

    Blogs contain plenty of vigourous debate from both left and right, but I think Robert’s point is perfectly valid. For some reason, at this time, there are a small number associated with the right who seem to have anger problems.

  57. the sprout 57

    rOb you are really a bit too kind.
    anger problems are just the tip of the arseberg.
    there are also obviously misogyny problems (i guess women mostly laugh at them, or are frightened by them), homophobia problems (fear of people just like them), neophobia (fear of novelty and change), xenophobia (fear of people different to them), megalomania, delusions of entitlement, delusions of superiority, delusion of knowing what they’re talking about… the list goes on.

    it is good to see the fascist bloggers getting so rattled though, it is very encouraging.

  58. So, Robinsod, are you saying that you missed the invective yesterday, which saw several of the Standard’s regular commenters defame WO, DPF, and myself?

    Didn’t seem to me like you’d missed it, since you commented on the issue. Looks to me like you’re lying again, Robinsod. That’s very hollow of you.

  59. the sprout 59

    nice to see Whaleoil had since had his fat fucktard arse flensed by Mr Prentice’s reply, including an offer to help with legal action against Whaleoil.

  60. So, Sprout, you’re managing to contradict your fellow Standard-bearer. Here Robinsod says: “I’ve also not seen the left engage in the kind of “Lesbian feminazi cabal” invective that is standard vocabulary on the right”.

    Yet you refer to WO’s “fat fucktard arse”.

    How hollow of you, Sprout.

  61. Nih 61

    “Flense” is definitely my favourite word when it comes to being proactive about people like whaleoil and IP.

  62. the sprout 62

    yes guilty as charged IP, i do think WO is a fat fucktard and i’m really nasty.
    which is why i’m not a Standard bearer. the people who write here not only know the words professionalism, sanity and restraint, but they actually demonstrate it daily, unlike IP/WO/DPF/D4J – some of whom may have heard of the words, but none of whom show it.

    but i know you’re a stickler for staying on topic IP, so wasn’t it wonderful to see just what a shitter WO really is when faced with calm reason! clearly he isn’t entirely hollow if he’s that full of shit.

    i presume it was an attempt to deflect attention from having a DPF Party. come on Uncky Dave, show us what a big strong intelligent eloquent man you are. put your money where your mouth is. i am happy to donate seed money for your campaign.

  63. Robinsod 63

    Impotent Punter – You’re lack of logic is… nah, actually I can’t be fucked… Get back to work loser.

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