We salute you, Mickey!
“Another setback in Michael Laws’s campaign to get his face on the $5 bill.”
Michael Laws’ shameless attempt to muscle in on the VC limelight prompted a spate of send-up stories from LawsWatch resident wits who posited that naturally, Taranaki’s tornado headlines must have been hard to resist by the talkback mayor who sees opportunities for self-promotion in the most unlikely places. A sample of winning comments by our anonymii:
"Wanganui needs to have a tornado or two of its own, Mayor Michael Laws said tonight.
AND
Mayor Laws said Council would take action to ban tornados from the CBD. "They are urban terrorists. The previous Council's attitude to tornados was to pretend they didn't exist. They misled Wanganui and this new report from Larry Mitchell will show that they in fact covered up hundreds of tornados. Not this mayor."
STOPPRESS:
Word from Guyton St is that they've lost their nerve about putting the Heart of Wanganui out to referendum in conjunction with the October election and they're retreating to Feb-March 2008. After almost three years of shambolic spending and mayoral meddling the stark political reality is that not even SpinMeister Laws and his tame Guyton St spin machine could turn that turkey into a vote winner.
67 comments:
Well done to the Tornado terrorist posters - very funny! Thanks for the chuckles. :-)
Margaret Campion in today's Chron. does such a good job of exposing stupid Mickey's ignorance of Wanganui history. He's a worthless fuckwit, and it shows.
Sacre bleu. Not only the Listener is taking the piss about Wanganui’s national embarrassment but now the DomPost is putting in the slipper.
In an editorial titled “Beware running presidents” today’s DomPost reminds their readers about the days when “Wanganui’s scrawny mayor” terrorised Parliament in his lycra shorts and was “arguably more frightening” than Ruthless Richardson plodding round Oriental Bay. Someone needs to point out to the DomPost that Wellington may have been spared the vomitous little creep of late but sadly, Wanganui has not!
“… France's dastardly new right-wing president, Nicholas Sarkozy … has not outlawed croissants, watered down the wine or pasteurised the cheese. It is worse than that. He has introduced the barbarian practice known in France as "le running" to the presidential palace.
Habitues of New Zealand's Parliament will understand the consternation King Sarko I, or Speedy Sarko as he has now been dubbed, is causing. It is not that long ago that they were subjected to the daily sight of Wanganui's scrawny mayor performing pre and post-run calisthenics in a pair of skimpy green Lycra shorts on Parliament's front steps. That was when Michael Laws was an MP.
The sight was arguably even more frightening than coming across his then-National Party colleague Ruth Richardson plodding around Oriental Bay flanked by members of the Diplomatic Protection Squad.
Loser Laws needs to do his homework re: VC winners associated with Wanganui... there's another one he forgot to 'use'.... and this one has a great-grandchild living in Wanganui... OH!!! such an opportunity for the w*nker to miss.
There is some info on him at the Museum, but Laws is too busy destroying the museum to notice such intormation I guess.
From a website:
Leslie Andrew was a lance corporal and just 20 years old when he carried out the actions at La Basseville, then a tiny Belgian village just a few kilometres from Messines, which resulted in the Victoria Cross.
Born at Ashurst between Woodville and Palmerston North in the Manawatu on March 23 1897, Leslie Wilton Andrew grew up in Wanganui, where his father was a headmaster. He attended both Wanganui Boys' High School and Wanganui Collegiate before starting work with the Railways Department as a clerk.
Good evidence of the failure of Vision’s “economic miracle” from Bob Walker of all people in the latest Vision City Press. Seems the real estate market has died, and council sources tell me building consents have dried up (and not just because of the price gouging that Mickey and his boys are up to). Face it, Vision has strangled Wangas to death.
Speaking of Right Royal French Fuckups … nice to see Queen Dotty handing out free apple trees to the peasants today. “Let them eat apples,” eh Dot, while the tumbrels roll to pick up you and your Vision mates.
Interesting that the Admin and Finance Committee will be discussing "commercially sensitive issues" relating to Montgomery Reserve in the confidential part of next Thursday's meeting.
Looks like they have already decided to sell it and are just working out the price.
So much for public consultation
It looks as though the Visionaries plan to do the 'reject the proposed salary increases' bit again.
These guys need some new material!
This from Brooke Howard-Smith in the Sunday Star Times magazine:
q. "Would you wear mascara for a special occasion?"
a. "No. I know I'd look prettier but Michael Laws and Michael Jackson have killed it for everyone."
That's right Brooke: neither the transvestite look or the "whatever Michael Jackson is" look work very well for anyone.
Golly, this must be a record even for Mickey Mayor, being dumped on three times in the same week by three publications with the biggest mass readerships in the country: The Listener, Dompost and his very own Sunday Star Times.
What happened to the grand plan, Mickey. After your latest three years of public wanking you're the butt of derision in the mainstream press.
No wonder you're laying low! Fancy being too humiliated to even do your usual wanking on this blog. Get used to it, old son, you've done your dash.
Laws Slams Taranaki Selfishness
By JOHN MASLIN
Mayor Laws today slammed what he called "these Taranaki election stunts". "Tornados, flash floods, it's clearly a plot to take the limelight away from me, I mean Wanganui."
Mr. Laws has his own electoral secret weapon though, guaranteed to see him on the front page every day. "These Glasgow bombings clearly point out the problems at Wanganui hospital. Al Quaeda operatives could be working there right now and all the media can talk about is the weather???"
Mr. Laws went on to say that Cr. Murray Hughes would be heading up a working party to root our these Doctor bin Ladens, "and if there turn out to be none, well perhaps we may need to send him to Pakistan to bring some back with him. After all, he's the Travel Agent!"
You would think ML's comms people would keep him up to scratch with the VC research. What exactly do those people do?
I work at WDC and you will get no complaints from me about ML turning up in bike shorts. Green would be a nice change to his usual black.
I work at WDC and you will get no complaints from me about ML turning up in bike shorts.
****
Hey, Mickey's bum boy ... hope your shorts are matching green with holes in the right place .. and that you still manage to concentrate on screwing the books for the waterfront, splash centre etc. Go Lycra Boy! Mickey loves ya!
I work at WDC and you will get no complaints from me about ML turning up in bike shorts.
Hey Muzza, good to have you on board old chap!
You would think ML's comms people would keep him up to scratch with the VC research. What exactly do those people do?
Oh they just push the "publish" button whenever he drops a bit smelly brown press release in their laps. They wouldn't even cut it in an absorbent nappy contest,!
Brink back the Spin Fairy, I say... so, Julian, how about it?
Dot dot dot.
incomingsecretmessagefromagentmuzza
"It's hot. Urchins everywhere. Good markets. Man tried to sell me a rug. So I hit him. Then they took off my burka. Please transfer my commitee chair fees to this account (No. deleted) Allah Ahkbar!!!! I met someone here and he's even more persuasive than Michael, peace be upon him."
Spin Fairy living and loving happily in Wgtn it seems. Pity as it is another loss to Wangas.
Good to see Rob Vinsen coming out and saying it in today’s Chron. Mickey may be grooming Randhir (sickos usually groom kids not 73 year olds but Randhir has about as many clues as a three year old) but someone needs to spell it out for the gullible voters and keep spelling it out till October 13th!
It's interesting that the image of Mickey on the $5 actually looks older than dear old Sir Ed does now. Just shows that climbing mountains keeps you young and fit whereas climbing the north face of your own mountainous ego (located somewhere up your own rear passage) every day accelerates the aging process.
Good to see Laura Sutherland exposing Phillida Hater-Bogan as a lying dirtbag. Is it Vision policy to lie and lie and lie? Yes.
The subject of my letter in todays Chron is relevant to any taking an interest in the upcoming Mayoral election. I would like to see others express their views publically about the reasons some people enter into the Mayoral race. Take Ray Stevens, for instance, he only needed 1200 votes to get elected in the Rural Ward - now he needs more than 6000. I am sure that he thinks that throwing his hat in the Mayoral race will lift his profile. Randhir was always proud of how little it cost him to get elected - I well remember him once quoting that he had only spent $600 on one election campaign when others had spent many thousands. But , if Randhir was elected this time he would be about 76 at the end of the term. I think that irrespective of the current encumbent a mayor should be at least capable of three terms. Will Randhir be our first 80 year old Mayor.?What do you think?
Wanganui deserves a clear choice between Vision lies and a representative Council. That racist clown Mickey wouldn't have a shit show of winning a two horse race. Ideally he needs at least four other candidates to get his sleazy carcass re-elected. So yeah, Rob, I think you're right. As for the "three term" theory, I think we'd benefit from continuity, but first we have to get rid of the destructive incompetent incumbent.
I work at WDC and you will get no complaints from me about ML turning up in bike shorts. Green would be a nice change to his usual black.
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Welcome back Ngaire. Do you take a pay cut now that you only do 3 days a week at WDC?
Oh they just push the "publish" button whenever he drops a bit smelly brown press release in their laps.
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Yes. But then you'll see the press releases in quotes. They cannot change the words offered up by someone speaking as ML and not representing the Council
building consents have dried up (and not just because of the price gouging that Mickey and his boys are up to). Face it, Vision has strangled Wangas to death.
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Building consent fees have rocketed, parking fees (outside of Vic Ave) have gone up again for the 2nd time in recent times, my rates demand will contain "levies"
Thanks for making me "better off" Vision
Rob if Randhir wants to stand for Mayor why are you giving him a hard time? He might win and he might make a good Mayor. Who cares how old he is. Give the man a break. If you're so worried, why don't you stand for Mayor yourself. Go on Rob, put your money where your big mouth is.
Um, no, I'm not ML.
Responding to Rob Vinsen -
You are a dirt bag. My father is the director of a publicly listed company and he is 75 years and as competent as any man half his age and more competent than most. Playing the age card is like playing the race card. If you are a true John Martin supporter then you will not expose your public prejudices again and you deserve everything coming your way.
I am not convinced Randhir for his age is the smartest strategy, Rob. The mayor may have a transparent policy but doesn't John Martin need to win the mayoralty on his own account rather than as an anti-Laws candidate? If he stays an anti-Laws candidate then Laws will win.
The mayoralty is being over emphasised by people here. The councilor positions are more important because if we get a majority around the table it does not matter if Laws is mayor. He will not be able to do anything.
"John Martin...If he stays an anti-Laws candidate then Laws will win."
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What a crock of shit. John Martin isn't the "anti-Laws" candidate. How typical of a Vision supporter (on this blog) to casually spread lies. Are they all deceitful scum?
On the other hand, if by "anti-Laws" you mean polite, competent and committed to a Wanganui where all are welcome, perhaps JM is just the ticket.
I think RV's asked a legitimate question. I think his point about publicity is valid also. People are jumping on the mayoral bandwagon because they know that corrupt low-life Mickey will do his best to bend the election spending rules without breaking the law. They can't compete with his money, or his level of corruption, but they can coat-tail to get their names in the paper with his. Another perversion of democracy brought to you by Vision Wanganui.
Anonymous said...
"John Martin...If he stays an anti-Laws candidate then Laws will win."
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What a crock of shit. John Martin isn't the "anti-Laws" candidate. How typical of a Vision supporter (on this blog) to casually spread lies. Are they all deceitful scum?
On the other hand, if by "anti-Laws" you mean polite, competent and committed to a Wanganui where all are welcome, perhaps JM is just the ticket.
2:03 PM, July 10, 2007
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I am NOT a vision supporter but if you don't think John Martin is perceived around town as the "anti-Laws" candidate then you are not living in Wangas!
Randhir is very popular and stands a better chance than John Martin of winning but JM will split Randhir's vote. Shouldn't JM stand down and coordinate the alternative candidate behind Randhir. JM could stand for Council, and Randhir woould only do a term and then JM could take over.
Am I the ONLY person who sees this as the obvious (and winning) strategy?
Good debate seems to be emanating from me raising the issue of Randhir Dahya's age. Some gutless anonoymous abuse about "ageism" has to be expected - but leaving Randhir aside, what is a desirable age for a leader of the community ? Do you think the the next National or Labour leader will be over 70 ? And look at previous Wanganui Mayors - Reg Andrews was 25 years at the Council, 9 years of which he was Mayor. His son Orme tells me that he was 75 when he retired - about the age Randhir wants to commence his Mayoralty. Ron Russell( I believe our best Mayor of recent times) was 54 when he started his three terms in 1974. He once told me that three terms ( no longer) is the ideal mayoral tenure. Do we want a series of single term mayors? , or do we look for candidates that are young enough now to complete a reasonable stint at the mayoralty.
I believe that Randhir is popular enough with voters to win another council seat without resorting to running for the mayoralty as well
Wanganui Mayor Michael Laws today announced that he would run election campaigns for all mayoral candidates in the run up to the October election.
“Running only the Vision candidates’ show simply isn’t enough of a challenge for a man with my media nous and marketing talents,” he said. “There are enough tricks up my sleeve to provide plenty of excitement for the citizens of Wanganui during the next three months and efficiencies will be achieved if we run the election my way. It will be more democratic too.”
Mr. Laws’ first act in his new role as Controller of the Election was to grant Mr. Rob Vinsen the titular ranking of Campaign Manager for John Martin. “I’ll still be calling the shots though,” Mayor Michael said.
Mr. Vinsen reacted to his appointment with bemused pleasure. “Last week I was named Head of Research, now I am Campaign Manager…looks like the sky is the limit.”
Can we talk about Randhir’s bargain yet?
Rob Vinsen said:
Some gutless anonoymous abuse about "ageism" has to be expected
***
Except that it's only anonymous here, of course, where the gutless anonymous mayor lurks. When he orders the gutless editor of the Chron to run his lying responses in the very next issue he actually puts his name to them.
So why does Mickey get away with bullying his way to instant replies in the letters when it seems others have to wait days if not weeks?
KEEP ON PUSHING,ROB!YOU ARE THE MOST COURAGEOUS WRITER WE HAVE IN THE PAPER AND ON THE BLOG
JOHN MARTIN HAS MUCH MORE TO OFFER THAN RANDHIR AS MAYOR-R WIL BE RETURNED AS A COUNCILLOR-EXPERIENCE WILL BE USEFUL-BUT ONLY JOHN M CAN OFFER A STRONG,FEARLESS CAMPAIGN
HE AND ROB WON`T BE DEMEANED BY ML`S CONSTANT PERSONAL ABUSE VIA THE `CHRON`
EVENTUALLY WORD WILL GET ROUND TO THOSE THAT DON`T READ THE LETTERS-OR PAY RATES-THAT ML IS AN EVIL BASTARD
THE REST OF US ALREADY KNOW THAT
You better believe it.
Michael Laws WILL run the mayoral campaigns of all the contenders because he is the issue and he glories in that knowledge. That's why he won last time: he made himself the issue and then all the press coverage was either pro or anti.
ml doesn`t have to be the issue
it depends how well john reveals himself as honest and honourable that counts.
people need to be more involved this time round and not be befuddled by charisma-another word for viciously dishonourable but with charm-as i was
Does it not strike the habitues of this blog that's it is weird to call the mayor names for personal abuse, but then to personally abuse him and anonymously?
I like the mayor because he owns his comments and I think thats what frightens people here. That they couldn't front him because he is too bright and articulate for them. He made mincemeat of JM and the other contenders at the 2004 election debate that I attended and hosted by Grey Power.
Let's piss the Chronicle really off. Call their editor a lying turd: that should work! Now why don't we boycott the rag completely.
if you don't think John Martin is perceived around town as the "anti-Laws" candidate then you are not living in Wangas!
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wikipedia calls this kind of statement "weasel words". Who "perceives", "anon?"
Oh, just in case you're the mayor, I'd like to ask you a question:
"Your Worship, when you're looking in the mirror, do you prefer oil or water based lubricant?"
So why does Mickey get away with bullying his way to instant replies in the letters when it seems others have to wait days if not weeks?
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Why be corrupt if you can't corrupt someone? When the Chron stepped in Michael Laws they forgot to wipe him off their shoes.
Michael you are so two faced. Your letter this morning regarding Randhir is a load of your usual bullshit.
Some of us know what you think of Randhir and it certainly is not what you put in the paper, in fact it's exactly the opposite.
Randhir if you read this blog take it from me that Mickey is being nice to you because he knows that if you stand for Mayor you will split the votes and Mickey then has a better chance of winning..
The Chronicle is corrupt?
Do you know what the word means?
You people need some serious therapy.
Is it true that there have been three resignations from the Buiding Inspectors?
Putting up the price of building consents is a fairly odd move for a district which is supposedly trying to attract development,if we had anything like a coordinated economic development plan then the effect on development of shortsighted measures such as this would be easily highlighted.
Similarly tourism, the industry has been effectively sidelined and the complete absence of any kind of strategy to attract visitors means we are seen as a joke nationally.
All the boardwalks, swimming pools, airport refurbishment etc etc in the world wont make any difference, everywhere in the country they are tidying up tired infrastructure, the difference is that most are part of a strategic plan to attract both vistors and new residents away from the main centres.
We simply do not have any sort of plan in place to do either of these.
This is the kind of ability to think strategically rather than 'on the hoof' that I will be looking for when voting for a new mayor and Council, it wont matter to me if they are 75, 55 or 35.
Copycat Dot talks in her column about the documentary on Maori TV tonight being about Wanganui. As if!
Remember River Queen? This movie wasnt about Wanganui either but she tried hard to claim that as well.
Jumping on the bandwagon has become her favourite activity of late, tornados, apple tree giveaways at the River Traders,
for me I prefer to see some sincerity before I decide who to vote for.
But is ML actually standing again? He hasn't confirmed that yet. His chron letter says: "He (Randhir) deserves the opportunity to contest the mayoral election and, if I were standing, would clearly be my principal opponent."
"If I were standing.... " Perhaps he isn't after all.
Brink back the Spin Fairy, I say... so, Julian, how about it?
So Julian, who are you on to now? How many employees before you are disciplined?
Welcome back Ngaire. Do you take a pay cut now that you only do 3 days a week at WDC?
5:59 PM, July 09, 2007
The way she smiles all day, I think her pay has increased.
"viciously dishonourable"
She's got you pegged, Mickey. Articulate you may be but all you ever articulate is lies. I think a course of neuroleptics would be perfect for you.
Looks like Mickey's lifted the rock the Parkinsons have been hiding under for the last year or so, and they're back in the letters rooting for MickeyMayor.
So where's Bob Wanker then? Any theories about him being sidelined would have to consider whether he's been backing Dotty, wouldn't it?
Wanganui will soon be developing its own oil and gas reserves in a multi-billion dollar venture involving Montgomery Reserve, Mayor Michael Laws said today.
Reacting to the news that Invercargill is set for a huge windfall from exploration of Great Southern Basin, Mayor Laws rubbished his southern counterpart Tim Shadbolt and said “watch this space, I’ll show him up for the phony he is”.
“Shadbolt may have made me look like a complete plonker on that dancing show but when it comes to gas I’m going to blow him out of the water.”
Our plan to issue exploration rights to the Montgomery Reserve to Murray Hughes’ travel company may be in the secret part of tomorrow’s meeting agenda, but that’s because I want to time the announcement for Monday’s issue of Woman’s Day.
“Those moneyed elitist art supporters on St John’s Hill have got it coming to them now. This will not only pay for the Boxing Day concert and the waterfront, but I’ll be able to build Queen Sally’s Taj Mahal after all.
“Listen, this will really put me on the map.”
The Chronicle is corrupt?
Do you know what the word means?
__________________________________
Well the Chronicle journalist who said "I feel like a cheerleader for Council" certainly does. Newspapers are meant to be unbiased (I know it's an unattainable dream) but when their own staff make statements like that, I'll take their word over any anonymous Laws-wanker.
joan street said
`i am using my own name so will be in the line for abuse!
but many of the vision candidates from 2003 will remember ml`s scathing remarks re randhir.
he was viciously scathing about most of the other councillors too.
yes,michael,i know i wasn`t elected blah!blah!blaH!
what poster of 9.59 today says is THE REAL CRUX OF THE MATTER
Has anyone noticed that Mas's bylines have dried up - and so have Mickey;s "media releases". Just goes to show that Mas needs you, Mickey!
Anonymous said...
The Chronicle is corrupt?
Do you know what the word means?
__________________________________
Well the Chronicle journalist who said "I feel like a cheerleader for Council" certainly does. Newspapers are meant to be unbiased (I know it's an unattainable dream) but when their own staff make statements like that, I'll take their word over any anonymous Laws-wanker.
1:32 PM, July 11, 2007
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I work at the Chronicle and I want to say whoever posted this BS is a liar.
We used to think LW was a positive force for Wanganui but we don't think that any more because the hate has corrupted this blog's soul.
whoever posted this BS is a liar
_____________________________
Funny, that's what Mickey always says about people who hold differing opinions too. I wasn't lying, or anything like it, merely passing on a remark. In the unlikely event that you really do work at the Chron, perhaps you should consider that people can hold differing views, and further, that your intolerance of opinion that differs from your own makes you little better than that lowlife the mayor.
We used to think LW was a positive force for Wanganui but we don't think that any more because the hate has corrupted this blog's soul.
..............................................................................
I think your reading too much into this blog, it's just a bit of fun to mock a weird little man with no where to go.
anonymickey said
"...the hate has corrupted this blog's soul"
Actually, anonymickey, apart from you in your various guises, this blog seems to be populated by people who love Wanganui and are desperately sad about what's happened. Because the truth is that the mayor's hate has corrupted this town's soul!
hate has corrupted this blog's soul.
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anon here has clearly been at the communion wine. The blog's soul, you say, "anon"? Bit of a drama queen aren't you? Are you Mickey, the world's first transvestite mayor?
anonymickey said:
I work at the Chronicle and I want to say whoever posted this BS is a liar.
++++
Funny how this anonymickey (who works at the Chron - NOT)sounds exactly like the frequently posting anonymickey who "works at the Council" (ie in the mayor's office). Can they possibly be related?
I just think it's sad that Mickey has been unable to get another job, he's mayor and that the end of the road.
I do or don't (you decide!) work for the Chronicle and there seems to be some confusion. Perhaps the sarcasm inherent in the 'cheerleader' statement has been missed?
The Press Council's Statement of Principals (section 7) make it clear that the Chronicle is entitled to adopt a forthright stance on any issue. They can advocate for a particular candidate or party if they like.
It's very difficult to stop them doing this - that's the power the media wields.
John Maslin has made his position very clear through his highly biased coverage of Michael Laws. That's his choice. And, hey, he actually DOES work for the Chronicle.
the 'Heart of Wanganui' project – and its constituent parts – will go to district-wide referendum in February/March next year. But the projects will compete against other intended capital works to determine their public and funding priority. Those other projects include the Events Centre/Velodrome and the redevelopment of Kowhai Park.
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The betrayal of Wanganui's arts community is complete.
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