Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics

Tuesday, 2 August 2005, 7:13 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
LEAD STORY: Goff Picks Up Mallard's 'Knocked On' Foreign Policy Attack
SCOOP IS IN THE HOUSE
NZ LEAD: Will Tax Cuts Be Used to Complete 1990s 'Unfinished Business' ? -
PM's Press Conference On Streaming Video For The FIRST TIME!
Slandered Iraqi's Seek Face To Face Meeting With Winston Peters -
Conservation And Good Food Mark Mr Zaoui's Two Years As A Refugee -
MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:
William Rivers Pitt Chokes On The Bolton UN Appointment
MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

SCOOP COLUMNS:
Torture: Bush Says He Is Shocked & Then Does Nothing
Ivan Eland Considers The Politics Of An Iraq Withdrawal
MORE SCOOP COMMENTARY:

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics)
Westpac To Mallard: Commentary Independent Of Other Bank Interests
Goff Welcomes Dismissal Of Prisoner's Claim
Federated Farmers Unimpressed With Driving Age Proposal
MORE POLITICS HEADLINES:
POLITICAL COLUMNS:

Goff Picks Up Mallard's 'Knocked On' Foreign Policy Attack

[1] Today during the final question time for this Parliament Labour Whip Jill Pettis asked Mr Goff a question related to Dr Smith's United States sojourn last year. Mr Goff then read out, under parliamentary privilege, the guts of a conversation Dr Smith had supposedly had with United States officials last year. "Dr Smith, quote, asked whether it would be worthwhile for a United States think-tank to assist with a public campaign in New Zealand following the National Party's study review. See... Goff Alleges National Sought US Help With Policy [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0508/S00029.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0508/S00029.htm

SCOOP IS IN THE HOUSE

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0508/S00063.htm

NZ LEAD: Will Tax Cuts Be Used to Complete 1990s 'Unfinished Business' ? -

[1] Acclaimed New Zealand documentary maker, Alister Barry, has been following Donald Brash's career for nearly two decades. Mr Barry considers Dr Brash wants massive tax cuts in order to create a "strategic deficit". “Strategic deficit” refers to a political technique used by President Ronald Reagan and his new right budget director, David Stockman to downsize the state. See... Don Brash and the “Strategic Deficit” [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0508/S00023.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0508/S00023.htm

PM's Press Conference On Streaming Video For The FIRST TIME!

- Today Scoop in collaboration with R2.co.nz [1] offers readers a first in New Zealand media - full access to the weekly PM's Press Conference, via streaming video. Helen Clark discusses the speeding motorcade issue, and faces a series of questions regarding coalition deals. The PM also comments on New Zealand First leader Winston Peters’ accusations that dangerous people are living among New Zealand’s immigrant community. See... Scoop Video: PM's Post-Cabinet Press Conference [2]

[1] - http://www.R2.co.nz
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0508/S00016.htm

Slandered Iraqi's Seek Face To Face Meeting With Winston Peters -

Matt Robson said today that Amer Salman and Omar Ali have a legal opinion for a leading Queen's Counsel that solid grounds exist for them to sue Mr Peters for defamation. His media release of 31 May is not covered by Parliamentary privilege. "I understand that legally Mr Peters does not have a leg to stand on. The only thing stopping his victims seeking justice is the cost of mounting a case - upwards of $200,000. See... Peters Won't Meet The Targets Of His Attacks [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0508/S00048.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0508/S00056.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0508/S00062.htm

Conservation And Good Food Mark Mr Zaoui's Two Years As A Refugee -

Algerian academic Ahmed Zaoui marked two years on Monday since the Refugee Status Appeals Authority (RSAA) deemed him a legitimate refugee. The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service had earlier deemed Mr Zaoui a risk to New Zealand's national security, issuing a risk certificate against him. See... Ahmed Zaoui Marks Two Years As A Refugee [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0508/S00015.htm

MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0508/S00027.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0508/S00023.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0508/S00022.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0508/S00036.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0508/S00037.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0508/S00035.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0508/S00011.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0508/S00010.htm

William Rivers Pitt Chokes On The Bolton UN Appointment

- Bolton, undersecretary of state for arms control during Bush's first term, had his nomination as UN Ambassador stalled by Senate Democrats for several months. Bolton, it has been revealed, not only treats his underlings the way Tamerlane treated India, but was a central figure in the manipulation of WMD evidence to justify the invasion of Iraq. It was Bolton who played traffic cop for the false Iraq data coming from the Office of Special Plans. He is, basically, the worst possible human to send to the United Nations as the representative of the United States. See... William Rivers Pitt: Something to Choke On, Again [1] MORE:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0508/S00025.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0508/S00020.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0508/S00040.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0508/S00032.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0508/S00030.htm

MORE INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0508/S00041.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0508/S00038.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0508/S00037.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0508/S00036.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0508/S00035.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0508/S00034.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0508/S00031.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0508/S00029.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0508/S00027.htm

Bush Says He Is Shocked & Then Does Nothing

- After the grotesque torture photographs emerged from Abu Ghraib prison in April 2004, Bush said, "I shared a deep disgust that those prisoners were treated the way they were treated." He vowed the incidents would be investigated and the perpetrators would "be taken care of." See... Cohn: Bush Defies Military, Congress on Torture [1] MORE:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0508/S00024.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0508/S00039.htm

Ivan Eland Considers The Politics Of An Iraq Withdrawal

- In Iraq, like everywhere else, if things don’t add up, it is safe to assume that politics is involved. Although the insurgency in recent months has worsened, Gen. George W. Casey, the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, astonishingly claims that ... See... Ivan Eland: The Politics of Troop Withdrawal [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0508/S00019.htm

MORE SCOOP COMMENTARY:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0508/S00022.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0508/S00028.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0508/S00027.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0508/S00021.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0508/S00026.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0508/S00018.htm

Westpac To Mallard: Commentary Independent Of Other Bank Interests

- We were disappointed to read Hon Trevor Mallard’s comments today regarding our Chief Economist’s analysis of the Labour Party’s proposed policy regarding student loans. Westpac Economics provides economic analysis and commentary for a target audience of Westpac customers who are active in the financial markets. Issues that are covered are those that our economists consider are likely to have an economic or financial impact, including proposed fiscal policy. See... Westpac Responds To Education Minister's Comments [1] ALSO:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0508/S00027.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0508/S00021.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0508/S00006.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0508/S00032.htm

Goff Welcomes Dismissal Of Prisoner's Claim

- The first Court ruling made under the Prisoners' and Victims' Claims Act confirms the legislation will stop prisoners being paid compensation in all but the most exceptional circumstances, Phil Goff said. See... Goff welcomes dismissal of prisoner's claim [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0508/S00040.htm

Federated Farmers Unimpressed With Driving Age Proposal

- Increasing the minimum driving age would disadvantage thousands of responsible teenagers for no benefit, said Charlie Pedersen, President of Federated Farmers of New Zealand (Inc). See... Knee Jerk Reaction Not The Solution [1] MORE:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0508/S00033.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0508/S00025.htm

MORE POLITICS HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0508/S00055.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0508/S00051.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0508/S00049.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0508/S00046.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0508/S00044.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0508/S00041.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0508/S00056.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0508/S00050.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0508/S00054.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0508/S00043.htm
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0508/S00053.htm

POLITICAL COLUMNS:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0508/S00017.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0508/S00001.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0508/S00019.htm

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

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