0 Idiot/Savant on the presumption of innocence

Every now and again the planets align in such a way that we agree with something Idiot/Savant at No Right Turn has written.

Today is one of those days. Under the heading Time to defend the presumption of innocence Idiot/Savant blogs:

I accept that rape cases are difficult to prove. This change will make them remarkably easier. If Labour gets its way, there will be a lot more convictions for rape. And a lot more of them will be of innocent people. We presume innocence because we believe it is far better for the guilty to go free than for the innocent to be punished. Labour clearly does not believe that any more.

A party which does not believe in and will not defend the presumption of innocence does not deserve your vote. All they deserve is your contempt. If they retain this policy, you should not vote Labour.

In its haste to appeal to female voters, Labour has overreacted. The policy proposed by Andrew Little will create far more legal problems than it will solve, and it highly likely to result in innocent people being jailed. 

In the meantime, it will be interesting to hear what other parties, and especially the Green Party think of Andrew Little and Labour's proposal. There may yet be other parties to add to Idiot/Savant's "do not vote for" list.

0 Quote of the Day - 16 June 2014

We don't often agree with Idiot/Savant at No Right Turn, but one is seldom left in doubt as to his opinion. And he has launched into the Labour Party this afternoon; under the headline Dear Labour, I don't work for you I/S opines:

So, following this morning's post about David Cunliffe's finding his spine on Iraq, I received an email from Rob Egan, "Senior Strategic Communications Advisor" in the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, who assured me that Cunliffe didn't focus group his position and that "the release was not delayed pending “testing” but was released as logistics allowed."Right, so Cunliffe isn't a focus-group led mollusc, just so useless and lacking in political instincts that he can't say what he thinks on an important issue without having to effectively retract his original position within 24 hours. Glad we cleared that up. Meanwhile, there's this bit:

I realise that the speed of social media means that misunderstandings can arise rapidly, and that part of the value of blogging is that it captures reaction quickly and without mediation, but I would really appreciate it if get in touch with me about any serious concerns you have such as this. You can reach me by phone or email most of the time.

To which I've already tweeted my response: Dear Labour: I don't work for you. I don't work for anyone. I voice my own views. If you don't like them, you can go fuck yourself.

Once again, David Cunliffe has given different responses to the same question on different days. Idiot/Savant may not have been right about Labour's use of focus groups with regard to troops to Iraq, but he is right on the money in criticising the mixed messages from the party's leader.

One day we may find out what David Cunliffe really stands for.