Comments on: How David Shearer can shore up his leadership

By: Dan

Dan — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 10:54:47 +0000

This is all a ploy to draw attention to Labour, so the election is only there’s for the taking in 2014. Cunliffe would be stupid to challenge Shearer when he knows that no-one wants him to be leader apart from himself.

By: Ben Wilson

Ben Wilson — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 10:43:52 +0000

It’s amusing that there is a strong MSM attack on Shearer, which they’re trying to blame on the blogs (many of which have not liked him, sure, but many also do). In this: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10848097 Trevett manages to make a story in which there is not a single skerrik of evidence of any leadership coup in the offing, into something that sounds like Shearer is being attacked by Cunliffe and if he doesn’t discipline him, he’s weak. The only facts in the story are that Labour has changed it’s internal policy to enable a leadership challenge to be forced by a smaller number than before, something that the membership wants, it would seem.

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 12:16:28 +0000

Just act like Sue Bradford in her curly years trying to charge through picket lines pent full of outrage and emotion, Mr Shearer, and you’ll be fine.

By: e-clectic

e-clectic — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 17:49:02 +0000

Watching the news last night and the press pack interview Shearer was illuminating. Either he hasn’t been schooled properly in handling media or he just doesn’t have it. Standing there and simply saying in a passive, fed up looking way that there is no challenge just doesn’t cut it. He has to set the agenda!

“Challenge? I’ll tell you what the challenge is. There are kids going to school without breakfast, schools being closed unnecessarily in Christchurch, a pending educational disaster in Charter Schools, mismanagement of MSD, skyrocketing unemployment and John Key holding the portfolio of Minister of Emigration. That’s the challenge. That’s the challenge that we face and that I and my team are focusing on.”

He has to lead the conversation. Dare I say it, watching some Winston Peters interviews could be instructive.

By: peterlepaysan

peterlepaysan — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 10:32:24 +0000

Aw, c’mon, you mean being noticed and having something to say?
Do not blame Shearer..

That whole caucus is to blame.

I sincerely hope this conference reduces that bunch of egotistic mutual wankers to 20% in leadership stakes.

Maybe real people might return to voting for a real political party that has something genuine to say to them.

Labour’s azure blue is at the same end of the spectrum as as National’s true blue. The NZLP are a bunch of losers too scared to take on the Nats.

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 10:26:16 +0000

To clarify: Clark, the most manipulative and controlling politician ever to set foot in Parliament, set a benchmark. Three terms. That’s it.

So by giving Shearer one term and then putting Robertson in and hoping for three terms, they can potentially have twelve years of power.

If Robertson only manages two, then there will still be enough fringe support for him in 2023 that will mean that the National Government elected that year (led by Simon Bridges) has to form a coalition with two other parties.

I’m talking large parties (Green and New Zealand First), which means large concessions, which means another two terms for National at best.

Purely coincidentally, wasn’t Labour’s original mascot a wolf in sheep’s clothing?

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 09:46:42 +0000

I reckon so. One term and then Robertson’s in.

By: nommopilot

nommopilot — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 09:28:07 +0000

@30 ha! no, seriously? I can never tell if you’re joking…

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 07:51:45 +0000

Maybe he will be PM for one term and then Grant Robertson will take over.

By: sammy 2.0

sammy 2.0 — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 07:04:25 +0000

Do people really not get it? Maybe my comment @19 was too subtle.

I’ll make it clearer. There is NO “Shearer-ite” majority. He has no faction. No base. Maybe Goff, Twyford and one or two others have personal friendship, but that’s all he’s got.

The Labour caucus can only change the leader once (more) before the election. Otherwise it just looks like a terrible mess (see Palmer/Moore, late 80′s).

So … if Shearer is dumped now, Cunliffe could get the job – and keep it till the election. The ABC faction can’t let that happen. So the “placeholder” must stay for a while longer. Until Grant can step up, but – crucially, get this – in the role of saviour, not backstabber.

David Shearer is not there to lead Labour for the next two years, and then a term in government, and beyond. Anyone who thinks he is must have the same grasp of political reality as Donald Trump.