0 Quote of the Day - 18 July 2014

Toby Manhire isn't buying Kim Dotcom's latest conspiracy theory; he opines:

But while many will struggle to believe the Prime Minister didn't know about Kim Dotcom, it is not at all implausible. The case against him is built on inference and circumstance. Moreover, he has repeatedly given his word that he didn't know. He has staked his reputation on it. If Dotcom has evidence that he did know, it will automatically become a resignation matter.
And that is why, for all the theatrical appeal, it is unreasonable and wrong for Dotcom to withhold this supposed evidence for a climactic campaign spectacular. A big reveal in the final week of the campaign doesn't only lend weight to perceptions the internet-Mana hydra is a Dotcom plaything, that the political party and the Dotcom defence are two sides of the same bitcoin. It also denies New Zealanders information they deserve to know.
If Dotcom can prove that the Prime Minister has bare-faced lied, over and over, the democratic imperative is that he do so now. If Key is not fit for office on September 15, then he is not fit for office today. Dotcom should cut to the chase. Otherwise, the assumption has to be that the great Dotcom bombshell is an enormous political bluff.

Let's not forget that it was only a matter of just over a month ago that Dotcom was offering a $5m reward for anyone who could concoct come up with evidence against John Key. He didn't have the evidence then, despite having claimed to for two years, and we don't reckon he has it now.

But if he DOES have the evidence, he should reveal it up immediately, not wait until a large number of early votes have been cast in the General Election. Voters deserve to have any information BEFORE they cast their votes.

So our message to Dotcom is simple; put up, or shut up.

0 The most sincere form of flattery

"Weird Al" Yankovich has been parodying hit songs for many years. Some work, and some don't.

But we love what he's done to Lorde's Royals; check this out:

The latter part of the song is especially pertinent, with all the conspiracy theories doing the rounds at the moment out of the Kim Dotcom camp. Perhaps Weird Al could make a hat for the Large German Gentleman to wear as he plays out his bizarre fantasies about conspiracies which apparently go all the way to the Oval Office.

But anyway Lorde shouldn't be too unhappy. They say that imitation is the most sincere form of flattery!

0 Conspiracy 101; Dotcom channels Peters

We know that Winston Peters visited Kim Dotcom's rental house in Coatesville last year. We now know the reason; Peters was taking the Large German Gentleman through a crash course in Conspiracy 101.

The Herald reports on Dotcom's latest fantasy:

Kim Dotcom is challenging government minister Jonathan Coleman to explain why he didn't block his application for residency after learning of an FBI investigation into him.
Dotcom claims Immigration officials broke their own rules to grant him residency in a ploy to lure him to New Zealand so the FBI would have an easier time of extraditing him on criminal copyright charges.
There were denials from the Government yesterday of interference in Dotcom's residency after emails between SIS agents in 2010 cited "political pressure to process this case". The claim was made 90 minutes before the spy agency lifted its objection to the tycoon's residency.
Dotcom said it was hard to believe then-Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman was told of the FBI investigation on October 28, 2010 - the day his residency was decided - and then didn't move to block it.
"Why in the world with that knowledge would the Minister of Immigration not intervene and say this is going to be a bad look for us knowing there is an investigation and a desire to extradite.

[They would say] we can't give this guy residency just because of the money ..."
He claims a decision to work with the US to get him into New Zealand for easier extradition was behind the decision.
Dotcom said his bid for residency should have failed because of Immigration NZ rules which automatically put applications on hold for six months if those seeking entry are under "investigation".

This is fanciful stuff from Dotcom, and from his biographer David Fisher who moonlights as an "independent" NZ Herald journalist. 

It was Dotcom who applied for New Zealand residence, via his agent David Cooper from Malcolm Pacific, the country's leading immigration consultancy. 

And it was Mr Cooper who convinced Immigration New Zealand to overlook pending convictions for share-trading offences in Hong Kong.

But most significantly, it was Mr Cooper delivering ultimatums to Immigration New Zealand on behalf of his client as 3News reported on 14 March 2012:

Internet tycoon Kim Dotcom threatened to withdraw his residency application and take his money elsewhere unless New Zealand immigration authorities met his deadline, new documents reveal.

Dotcom, who faces internet piracy charges in the United States over his file-sharing website Megaupload, was granted New Zealand residency in 2010 in exchange for investing $10 million in New Zealand under the Immigration Plus category.

Documents released to the Associated Press show Dotcom set a deadline for immigration officials to approve his application, with a threat that he would otherwise move to Australia or Canada.

On October 26, immigration manager Gareth Grigg sent a memo to a colleague, saying he had been advised by Dotcom's immigration agent David Cooper that "Mr Dotcom wants a decision on his application by 1 November 2010 or he will walk away".

Despite Mr Grigg's warning that "Mr Dotcom may be seen to be controlling the processing of his application" or receiving special treatment, Dotcom's residency was approved on November 1.

For Dotcom to now claim that he was lured here under false pretences is so bizarre it defies belief. And he is essentially arguing that he ought not have been approved for residence in the first place; a point with which we find agreement!

Perhaps the easiest way forward now would be for the Immigration New Zealand to admit that Dotcom ought not have been granted residence, revoke his residence permit, and serve him with a removal notice. If Dotcom doesn't think that he should have been given residence in the first place, then he would have no grounds to appeal the revocation!

In the meantime, Dotcom should leave the conspiracy theories to Winston Peters. And David Fisher should stick to writing Dotcom's publicity material, instead of pretending to present a neutral, accurate version of events to readers.

0 So how did that "truth come out" Kim?

Kim Dotcom was bullish when he headed to the District Court (again) a couple of weeks ago; check this out (lifted from Whaleoil):

He wasn't so bullish yesterday when Judge Nevin Dawson handed down his decision; Stuff reports:

A summary of the FBI's case against Kim Dotcom has been made public in a District Court decision released today.
It alleges the German millionaire knowingly infringed copyright, monetarily rewarded other people for doing so and made more than $175 million in the process.
Judge Nevin Dawson lifted the prohibition order on the FBI's case against Dotcom, which the Megaupload founder had hoped to keep secret.
At the centre of the argument is a document called the "Record of Case", a summary document from more than 22 million emails obtained by the FBI.
The summary of the FBI's case was released by a United States district judge to potential victims at the end of last year.
The summary is no longer subject to prohibition orders in New Zealand.
In it the FBI alleges Dotcom, who with Mathias Ortmann, Bram van der Kolk and Finn Batato is charged money laundering and copyright infringement, made US$25m (NZ$18.3m) through online advertising and US$150m through premium user subscriptions on the Megaupload site.
The "Mega Conspiracy" also rewarded users who uploaded copyright information by paying a total of more than US$3m through e-commerce site PayPal, it said.
The FBI alleged that Dotcom was aware of copyright infringements and had received emails from copyright owners, including Warner Brothers, to take material off Megaupload.

And Dotcom has every reason to not feel bullish. Judge Dawson saw this legal challenge by Dotcom for what it was; a stunt; check out this passage of the learned Judge's decision, especially para 49:

Kim Dotcom is in danger of becoming a latter-day Winston Peters, though less well-dressed; a conspiracy theorist par excellence who over-promises and under-delivers. 

He has repeatedly promised to bring down the PM, just as Peters swore black and blue that Judith Collins would be gone by Monday two weeks ago; and of course, she hasn't. And John Key is still the Prime Minister, whilst the date of Dotcom's extradition hearing draws ever nearer.

And for those interested in the Record of Case now that it is no longer suppressed, here it is:

   Mega Evidence by Eriq Gardner

 Make your own judgment on whether or not US authorities have established a prima facie case against Kim Dotcom and his fellow accused. That is what the Judge who hears the application for extradition will base their decision on, not all the other extraneous matters.