October 31, 2004
NZ OPTION BLOCKED
Reader Jim McMahon, of Wellington, New Zealand, writes: "You've really hit the jackpot this time ... an item in 'The Last Word' from this Saturday's edition of the Wellington Dominion Post":
Tim Blair, who struggles to write a satirical column in Australia's Bulletin magazine, reckons the anti-Howard bunch are so dispirited over the election result they are threatening to emigrate here. Blair likens this to as close as you can get to committing suicide while still registering a pulse. But he threatens to come too if he doesn't win a journalism award next year. Sorry mate, we don't want you.
Not wanted in New Zealand? I'm ... what's the opposite of "devastated"? Actually, I'm quite fond of New Zealanders, and I meet a great many of them, on account of living in Sydney.
Posted by Tim Blair at October 31, 2004 02:20 AMTim -- reminds me of all the Eurotrash who delight in telling us how bad America is while living in NY, LA and even Texas... just try getting them to go back...
Posted by: richard mcenroe at October 31, 2004 at 02:55 AMAs a New Zealander, that's nice to know. You'd be more welcome than the Not Happy crowd. Frankly the only thing more annoying than a whining leftie is a whining leftie with an Australian accent. You can keep them.
Besides, we already have enough of those types as it is. They're called The New Zealand Government. :(
Posted by: Whig at October 31, 2004 at 03:03 AMYears ago I spent about six months hitchhiking around Australia and New Zealand picking up the odd job and here and there. I remember one night in a Wellington pub being lectured to by a Kiwi leftie on how wonderful and advanced New Zealand government and economics were compared to the brutish U.S., so I asked why, if this was the case, so many of his countrymen were living and working in Australia. He didn't seem to have a snappy comeback for that.
Posted by: Randal Robinson at October 31, 2004 at 03:15 AMI don't get the "struggles to write" bit. Do this people watch you banging on the keyboard when you do your column or is this just meaningless waffle?
Posted by: Quentin George at October 31, 2004 at 08:35 AMhahaha
yes i saw that too, the dom has turned into a bunch of sad lefties, i believe that the anonymous last worder (a subby with delusions of being one day promoted all the way up to assistant under-deputy reporter) was attempting condescension.... ah those ignorant right wing death beasts!
fortunately in our socialist paradise, journalists get paid something like the dole, and invariably sell out and become PR flacks as soon as they become vaguely competent.
still any publicity is good publicity, proves that the subby reads you and is well aware that no-one knows or cares who they are.
Posted by: gazzadelsud at October 31, 2004 at 10:07 AMWell, ovuh huh at Nuh Zilund, wid bi huppy to wilcum all yuh cumminists siking rifuge frum thu disputic Howard rigime.
Sorry, just channelling the spirit of Hulun Cluck, PM of New Zealand
Posted by: TimT at October 31, 2004 at 10:35 AMBTW, how long, I wonder, before somebody makes a sheep joke...?
Posted by: TimT at October 31, 2004 at 10:36 AMI know two Kiwis, and they're both hard left, corporation-hating, anti-war, progressive-transnationalist types. The lectures from one of them I used to get on how much better NZ was than the rest of the world, how much better Kiwis were as people because they spent several years living abroad, etc. bounced between amusing and annoying. Fortunately, that one is returning to his native land soon, where the time difference will make it unlikely that I'll have to deal with him on a semi-regular basis again.
Posted by: Tom Ault at October 31, 2004 at 11:11 AMAuckland...... Sydney's most eastern suburb.
Posted by: Shaun Bourke at October 31, 2004 at 11:17 AMTimT — New Zealand is a sheep joke, a timid herd depending on the fierce dogs outside to protect it and bleating their complaints at the same time...
Posted by: richard mcenroe at October 31, 2004 at 11:41 AMRichard, I imagine The Whig and NZ Pundit might have something to say about that...
Posted by: TimT at October 31, 2004 at 12:17 PMWe have too many sheep in this country, and they all vote for Hulun Cluck.
Brother, can you spare an air force combat wing?
Posted by: Whig at October 31, 2004 at 01:20 PMBTW, how long, I wonder, before somebody makes a sheep joke...?
Baaaaaa!
Posted by: Quentin George at October 31, 2004 at 08:07 PMNew Zealand is kinda like Australia's answer to our Canada, isn't it?
Posted by: Aaron at October 31, 2004 at 09:15 PMvastated - the opposite of devastated for future reference
Posted by: andrew at October 31, 2004 at 09:15 PMQuentin, maybe that should be ...
BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH, HUMBUG!
Posted by: TimT at October 31, 2004 at 09:23 PMTimT, what the flock are you talking about?
Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 1, 2004 at 01:00 AM