Sunday 7 July 2019

Is Ash Sarkar "sassy"? Or just disgusting? (Jul. 8, 2019)

Morrissey1.2
Ash Sarkar is "sassy", you say. If that word now means "cowardly, craven, ready to recycle vicious government lies", then you are correct. 
On the other hand, if the meaning of the word remains what it has always meant, then your descriptor for her is utterly inappropriate.
Ostensibly ‘alternative’ Novara Media’s Ash Sarkar – who has published numerous opinion pieces in the Guardian and Independent, and who is a favoured guest on flagship BBC shows like Daily Politics, Question Time, the Andrew Marr Show and Newsnight – tweeted:
‘Just sayin’ it’s possible to think that Julian Assange is a definite creep, a probable rapist, a conspiracist whackjob *and* that his arrest has incredibly worrying implications for the treatment of those who blow the whistle on gross abuses of state power.’
Sarkar revealed the depth of her knowledge when she wrote:
‘His arrest today came *after* the investigations into rape and the Swedish arrest warrant were dropped.
‘That doesn’t mean he’s innocent of those charges.’
Anyone who knows anything about Assange knows that he has never been charged. But Sarkar’s damning comments on a leading truth-teller facing the wrath of the US state, play extremely well with the ‘mainstream’ gatekeepers selecting BBC guests and Guardian contributors. Sarkar deleted the tweet smearing Assange, not because she regretted her appalling comments, but because ‘ugly stuff defending sexual assault itself has been turning up in my work inbox’ from ‘men’.
https://novaramedia.com/2019/04/15/julian-assange-and-the-problem-of-solidarity/

      • ‘Just sayin’ it’s possible to think that Julian Assange is a definite creep, a probable rapist, a conspiracist whackjob *and* that his arrest has incredibly worrying implications for the treatment of those who blow the whistle on gross abuses of state power.’
        That statement is clearly and objectively true, so it's not obvious where you're drawing the descriptors "cowardly, craven and vicious" from, other than unsavory corners of your own id. 

        • Morrissey1.2.1.1
          The bullshit about him being a creep, a rapist and a whackjob should be a clue as to her cowardice and her dishonesty.
          • Psycho Milt1.2.1.1.1
            It's a clue that she may not agree with Morrissey on the subject, nothing more.  "Disagrees with Morrissey" is not a synonym for "cowardice" or "dishonesty."
            • Morrissey1.2.1.1.1.1
              "Disagrees with Morrissey" is not a synonym for "cowardice" or "dishonesty."
              That's true, Milt. What makes her a liar and a coward is not that she might disagree with me, or with Julian Assange himself. What makes her a coward and a liar is her recycling of vicious government-sponsored lies about Julian Assange.
              • "Vicious government-sponsored lies" is your opinion, and you're calling her a coward and liar because she may (it's not clear from the tweet) disagree with that opinion.
                It helps if you don't start from the position that your opinions are objective facts – many logic fails can be avoided by that one simple technique. 
                • Morrissey
                  "Vicious government-sponsored lies" is your opinion,
                  It's a reasoned opinion; unlike Sarkar with her brutal recycling of smears she's read in the Grauniad and heard on British State/Murdoch broadcasting, I actually care about the truthfulness and the effect of my words.
                  and you're calling her a coward and liar because she may (it's not clear from the tweet) disagree with that opinion.
                  If she disagrees with it—which, considering she otherwise presents as an intelligent and critical thinker, she no doubt does—then why did she repeat those disgusting smears? The only possible reason, presuming that she is a rational person who is skeptical of the British government's machinations, is that she was afraid of stating outright what the facts of the matter are, i.e., that Assange is in captivity because he is indeed a journalist who exposed massive crimes by the institutions trying to destroy him.
                  • If you did actually care about the truthfulness and effectiveness of your words, you wouldn't continually present your personal opinions (eg "brutal recycling of smears", "disgusting smears") as facts. 
                    • Morrissey
                      Okay, she recycled the smears in a caring fashion, and the smears were actually quite classy, and as unimpeachable and rigorous as that Christchurch police case against Peter Ellis.
                      Still leaves her looking rather cowardly, however.
        • Gabby1.2.1.2
          Morpissey scorns the truth when it clashes with his knowledge of how things should be.
          • Morrissey1.2.1.2.1
            What "truth" are you talking about Gobby? Are you going to start raving about his cat now?
  1. Dennis Frank2
    "President Trump’s approval rating has risen to the highest point of his presidency" according to the latest ABC News / Washinton Post poll – but the polling finished July 1st, so it doesn't endorse his claim that the American revolutionary army took over airports in 1775 (134 years before the first airport was built).
    "Trump has slipped up in making historical references before. He referred to Frederick Douglass during a 2017 Black History Month event as if he were still alive, even though the famed abolitionist died in 1895. He also claimed that President Andrew Jackson was angry about "what was happening" with the Civil War, although Jackson died 16 years before the war began."  https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-trump-revolutionary-war-airport-memes-20190705-story.html
    He could be competing for an honorary degree in historical revisionism, eh?  Historical revisionists are normally leftist academics, of the anti-imperial persuasion, so pitching for their vote at the military rally on July 4th could be seen as a recruiting move to get more patriots on board.
    And "the survey shows a clear majority of Americans continue to oppose impeachment proceedings.  The new poll finds 59 percent of Americans saying the House should not begin such proceedings".
    • Morrissey2.1
      Dennis, do you think his "base"—whatever that actually is—cares or even understands that he spouted that ridiculous anachronism? After all, many of them think the world is just a tad over 6,000 years old, and that the moon landing was a hoax.
      • Dennis Frank2.1.1
        Yeah Morrisey, much of his base is permanently out to lunch.  Those that are true conservatives yet educated and erudite are always the rightists with the most leverage on the right of centre.  The ones you refer to are vastly greater in number in the USA, yet they are merely voters. 
        The ones to watch are the opinion leaders in the establishment (traditionally more right than left, yet a mix).  Such people support Trump when he's useful, but are likely to withdraw that support when he becomes a liability.
        • Morrissey2.1.1.1
          How much more outrageous do you think he might get, Dennis?
          • Dennis Frank2.1.1.1.1
            I've done some background reading on the guy to ascertain his potential for a second term.  His style has always been outrageous – deliberately so.  The question of mental illness is the hinge.  We can't predict how that may trend.  Others may be better placed than me to opine on trajectories of dementia…
  2. Geek elections ……… 🙁 🙁 but predicatable!   (As were the Indian elections for that matter).
    • oops! the case of the missing 'r'
      I'm thinking come 2020, the Left will scrape/glide in for a second term, but that voter turn out will remain abysmal, and we'll still be pontificating as to why that is whilst preparing for a 2023 defeat, still unable to actually get our shit together.
      This morning's Nine2Noon/from the Right, and from the Left (with Mills rather than the slightly-less-from-the-Right Williams) was QI. Some valid points "On Both Sides, On BOTH sides….. tremendous, phenomenal, etc).
      Bloody shame Jonathan Boston's team came up with a few ideas AFTER the election, alongside a few others that have been banging their heads against brick walls for the past few years. Although I understand why they couldn't. Although we could have had another one of those committee things, perhaps given it the acronym CAMEL  and staffed it with a load of  Horse riders fresh from a UK fox hunt,  and parachuted in for the task. They could even give us a few more linguistic platitudes for the pollywantacracker and departmental headhoncho to spout
      And @ Dennis Frank (above or below – can't be fucked looking which right now), although you might be correct in suggesting targeting the 'middle' to win elections is the way to go, we shouldn't be pretending we'll solve issues and the plight of those at the edges, or indeed those who've given up on participating in our democracy as long as we do.
      • Dennis Frank3.1.1
        we shouldn't be pretending we'll solve issues and the plight of those at the edges, or indeed those who've given up on participating in our democracy as long as we do
        It's an important point.  I'd prefer you to view it with more optimism.   smiley
        Whereas most centrists are simply there by default (unable to identify with left or right) a portion are principled and either opinion leaders or political activists.  That is to say, they wield more influence as a group than their numbers suggest.  Why?  Because transcending polarity is both sophisticated thinking and a sign of intelligence.
        Need it defeat ethics or conscience?  Of course not!  It's readily deployable alongside both, as a political stance.  I'm not even slightly interested in resiling from support of GP policies, for instance.  Doesn't mean to say I'm sufficiently stupid to insist they are implemented in coalition govt.  All I ask is for the GP leadership to demonstrate a little more expertise…

      • Andre3.1.2
        oops! the case of the missing 'r'
        It's also quite interesting pondering exactly what might be "predicatable" from that election. Unless there's also an extra "a".
        • OnceWasTim3.1.2.1
          True  🙂
          I'll get up a little later tomorrow
          • In Vino3.1.2.1.1
            Actually. I think it about time the geeks did have an election to nominate their leader and spokesperson..  Note the gender-neutral thing.  Mankind – sorry – Personkind has a long way to go in achieving the ideal nomenclature.
  3. Sacha4
    Illustrating the impact of the new disability family care funding policy:https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12247412
    Christchurch woman Gillian Kney, 73, who has arthritis and looks after her husband Franz, 78, who has Parkinson's disease and dementia, said being paid to care for Franz would make a huge difference.
    "It would improve our standard of living. It would mean I didn't have to call on my daughter all the time, and she has a young family and owns a business and works six days a week, and she does a lot of work for us and I wish I could reciprocate in some way.
    "The biggest bugbear of all is transport. At this point we don't have enough for taxis."
    • Rosemary McDonald5.1
      If I had to choose one advocate to get the ear of the Current Mob in order to effect a change in attitude towards poverty it would be Susan St. John from CPAG.
      I'd have her on speed dial if I were the PM and truly desired Wellbeing for my people.
    • greywarshark5.2
      A cheap shot but it isn't entirely wrong – perhaps not a surplus but a sir-plus.   As most of the triumph for the surplus is likely to come from males, and most of the angst about lack of money is likely with females.
  4. Rosemary McDonald6
    On Natrad this morning was an interview with advocate Jane Carrigan who has been supporting Diane Moody and her significantly learning disabled son Shane Chamberlain through a couple of legal actions.
    https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018703096/disability-care-funding-changes-give-false-hope-family-carers
    Predictably, they are not impressed that yesterday's announcement regarding the much fought for fix of the stinking mess left by the Previous Incumbents of disability support services provided by family carers does not include an overhaul of the Needs Assessment process.
    The Appeal Court judges had this to say…
    Postscript[90]
    We make two additional points. First, we note that this is the third occasion on which a dispute between the Ministry of Health and parents who care for disabled adult children has reached this Court. We hope that in the future parties to disputes over the nature and extent of funding eligibility are able to settle their differences without litigation.
    Second, we have referred to our unease, which is shared by Palmer J, about the complexity of the statutory instruments governing funding eligibility for disability support services. They verge on the impenetrable, especially for a lay person, and have not been revised or updated to take into account the significant change brought about by pt 4A. We hope that the Ministry is able to find an effective means of streamlining the regime, thereby rendering it accessible for the people who need it most and those who care for them.
    Some of us felt more than a little better that these august and intelligent fellows struggled to understand a system that has blighted the existence of disabled Kiwis and their families.
    To say that some of us have a less than constructive relationship with our NASC (Needs Assessment and Service Coordination) office would be merely hinting at the frustration many of us have encountered. 
    Both Peter and myself have got off the phone from our NASC in tears.

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