So what happened to the opposition?
In Labour’s case I think it was Goff’s super-conservative, zero-risk leadership style. If he opposed the CERRA and denounced it as a power grab then the government would have accused him of abandoning the people of Canterbury. Risk. Risk. Risk. It might have cost him popularity in Christchurch going into the Mayoral race and by-election. Canterbury based Labour MPs might even have crossed the floor – and then Goff’s leadership looks even weaker. It’s typical of modern-day Labour that not a single MP broke ranks and defied the most ineffectual opposition leader I’ve seen in my lifetime.
Once Labour supports CEERA the Greens are in a terrible position. The media would have ripped them to pieces: ‘The only party to vote against the struggling people of Canterbury citing some silly nonsense about a dictatorship – when even the Labour Party supported the bill unanimously.’
But the Greens are a small party – they don’t have to worry about widespread public opinion. Their voter pool overlaps with Labour’s and the Labour supporters are incandescent with rage about their party betraying them. People who are angry about the CEERA have nowhere to take their vote.
Sure, Paul Henry would have told mean jokes about the Greens and John Armstrong would have written a withering column but they don’t speak to potential Green votes. To use an old cliché their vote was worse than a crime – it was a mistake. When they inevitable abuses roll in they would have been the only party in a strong position to condemn them.
Meanwhile, back in the real world Christchurch had another night of aftershocks – they seem almost calculated to cause as much psychological trauma as possible.
Like Chris argued before – Goff doesn’t really have the courage or integrity to go to-to-toe against John Key and this incident just shows it.
Remember that the only MP to not vote for the CERRA bill was Chris Carter – a man who stoodfast his principles and was the only house MP not to vote for the bill.
Comment by citizensforcarter — September 17, 2010 @ 8:03 am
But National will slip up one day and when they do Labour will be coiled and deadly (like a tigger), ready to decisively not act. And by god those Nats are quaking at the thought, now that’s what I call the ultimate deterrent.
And what’s that slippery skin shedding sound? Is it Russell and whatshername quietly slithering over to the snake kings palace?
Brilliant to see realpolitiks at work.
Comment by leon — September 17, 2010 @ 8:05 am
watching the Greens avoid responsibility for their actions hasn’t been pleasant.
Labour long ago lost interest in putting forward coherent arguments having equated popularity with populism. They’re still trying to stir up trouble over the SFC bailout which dishonest.
but still, Cunliffe can channel Ram Dass.
Comment by NeilM — September 17, 2010 @ 8:23 am
“Worse than a crime – it was a mistake”. Leave out the value judgment and you’re spot on. It was a mistake, though it’s surprising how many commenters are treating it as a worse crime than Brownlee’s, or Garrett’s, even. Luckily, the Green’s are very good at learning from their mistakes and they will do so this time.
Comment by southernrata — September 17, 2010 @ 8:45 am
it’s surprising how many commenters are treating it as a worse crime than Brownlee’s, or Garrett’s, even
Brownlee et al benefit from the liberty of low expectations.
Comment by Pascal's bookie — September 17, 2010 @ 8:52 am
I find the idea of coiled tiggers pretty scary.
Comment by Helenalex — September 17, 2010 @ 9:21 am
You’re thinking of Trevor “Tigger” Mallard. I feel very very ill now.
Comment by leon — September 17, 2010 @ 9:23 am
Coiled Tiggers are pretty scary but I think of Labour at the moment as more of a coiled Pooh.
Comment by philonz — September 17, 2010 @ 9:35 am
Does that make P Goff = Mr Hanky?
Comment by leon — September 17, 2010 @ 9:40 am
“Most ineffectual opposition leader I’ve seen in my lifetime”
Big call when we have Bill English when he was opposition leader? Or Helen Clark 1993-1996? Or Jim McLay (who!)?
Comment by Frank Sobotka — September 17, 2010 @ 12:08 pm
Meanwhile, back in the real world Christchurch had another night of aftershocks – they seem almost calculated to cause as much psychological trauma as possible.
When you say calculated do you mean an earthquake weather weapon used immediately after SCF collapsed so the manipulated citizens of kiwi land quickly morphed from angry tax payer to compassionate fellow citizens?
Comment by Stew — September 17, 2010 @ 12:41 pm
earthquake weather weapon
If you cross your eyes and highlight every third word of Danyls posts between two arbitrary dates I just made up, you can see a brewing conspiracy involving the New World Order, Private Banking, the HAARP reasearch facility at Gakona, SCFin and the ‘quake.
Chem trails?
You ain’t seen nothing yet, bitches.
Comment by Phil — September 17, 2010 @ 1:32 pm
How does one go “toe to toe” with Slippery John Key? He is always checking out every opinion before
deciding he has one.
It is a very smart tactic.
There is no target for Goff to attack.
It also makes it very difficult to woo back all those disenchanted ex labour party voters.
Wooing back disenchanted voters is not helped by revelations of free loading globe trotting MPs.
Comment by peterlepaysan — September 17, 2010 @ 8:33 pm
I’ve created a facebook group about this issue, all welcome:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=140135796031103
Comment by Jeremy Harris — September 17, 2010 @ 8:54 pm