tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post1383512627545680478..comments2024-03-28T21:25:08.138+13:00Comments on Bowalley Road: No Mandate For CynicismChris Trotterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09081613281183460899noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-72804704297906051012011-03-29T08:11:34.844+13:002011-03-29T08:11:34.844+13:00Whatever happens re the leadership I think we are ...Whatever happens re the leadership I think we are looking at a Labour Party Vote of 20@ or lower on election day.pdmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13011861811163633347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-29777094261404319302011-03-29T02:53:14.187+13:002011-03-29T02:53:14.187+13:00"If all that matters is climbing to the top o...<i>"If all that matters is climbing to the top of the greasy pole, then increasingly the only skill that ambitious Labour politicians will seek to master is how to ascend."</i><br /><br />That has already been the situation for the last 20 years Chris. You highlighted the undignified scrabble for safe electorate seats by Twyford, Fenton and Beaumont in your 'Waitakere Man' postings.<br /><br />Rogernomics purged the left from the Labour party (most quit in disgust, including you, right?), so when Douglas and Prebble quit to form ACT, the residual Labour was ripe for takeover by the venal, lazy timeservers. Sadly, since these timeservers reached a critical mass, they have snowballed to now comprise virtually the entire Labour caucus and party machine.<br /><br />The inept Goff is left trying to manage a nearly talentless pack of factionalised backstabbers who care only for their sinecures. <br /><br />Twyford has been the only one to show some spark over the Auckland supercity, but even then he and Labour offered no alternative. Shearer should by now have been spokesperson for something and helping Goff, but he has done nothing it seems. Dyson, Street, et al couldn't even muster the effort to raise a white flag...<br /><br />And Goff's office seems shambolic. This may not be surprising - isn't John Pagani running it, and wasn't he one of Anderton's anti-democrats in the final days of the Parliamentary Alliance? <br /><br />Cap that all off with the obvious antipathy between Goff and President Little (can't talk to each other about the most damning scandal in years to hit Labour ?@#?).<br /><br />The left should flame Labour hard and constantly to eliminate it at this election as a viable alternative, then we can build up real socialist/green/indigenous alternatives. I say that reluctantly, but we can't change Labour when it is rife with talentless timeservers - they self-replicate with faction stacking selections (like in Manurewa and Mana).<br /><br />Changing Goff won't help Labour unless Labour publicly renounce liberal capitalism and push for at least some worker's rights. Not just pretend they are different to National with smoke and mirrors. We're not fooled.<br /><br />Labour's first test is to ensure they block Tizard from returning. She epitomises the evil Labour you describe.<br /><br />Mad Marxist.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-58162097770046257052011-03-29T00:38:34.034+13:002011-03-29T00:38:34.034+13:00Parker's just another hopeless choice to keep ...Parker's just another hopeless choice to keep the seat warm for the return of Helen. He looks like a clerk and about as sexually exciting as that middle aged delivery boy Gareth Hughes. It has to be Cunliffe with Shane Jones as deputy. They should strike now and take Daziel, Dyson, Yates and the thing from Rotorua off the list. Rule by the Mary English kitchen cabinet and Actors is a fast track to IMF government. Regardless, eject Goff.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-61393807236714383182011-03-29T00:28:19.516+13:002011-03-29T00:28:19.516+13:00I'm in two minds on the leadership-change issu...I'm in two minds on the leadership-change issue. <br /><br />Like ak (above), long-time Labour Party activist Lynn Prentice (at The Standard) argues changing horses at this late stage would constitute little more than electoral suicide. Voters, he suggests, would see desperation, disunity and panic.<br /><br />I can certainly understand this line of argument.<br />But, then again, it's pretty obvious that a new leader might also be perceived as a refreshing, viable alternative, unencumbered by past mistakes. Could, indeed, be a game-changer.<br /><br />My gut feeling is Labour probably don't have anything to lose. They're pretty much stuck on 30-34% support in the polls (arguably their core-vote, or close to it), the Left bloc as a whole are anchored somewhere around the 37-42% mark. They're left pinning all their hopes on a significant post-Budget (or perhaps Election-Campaign ?) swing, a successful Winston Peters revival and a compliant Maori Party.<br /><br />And, of course, as speculation over the leadership continues to mount, Goff looks more and more to the Electorate like a lame-duck, simply entrenching the problem further.<br /><br />As you say, Labour MPs have an absolute duty to make this election a real contest. I've heard of parties sleep-walking to victory but at the moment Labour seem to be sleep-walking to defeat.markusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-9987392392096847612011-03-28T22:39:49.650+13:002011-03-28T22:39:49.650+13:00Political coups are brought about to secure party ...Political coups are brought about to secure party unity, security and electoral success. There is no consensus other than Phil must go within caucus. <br /><br />Perhaps the mentioned aspirants should focus on the election and the economy. That is the priority. A week is a long time in politics is not only a cliche but a truism.<br /><br />Long live Phil, the Labour Party and Godzone.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-85787315018524818082011-03-28T17:43:58.001+13:002011-03-28T17:43:58.001+13:00Buried in your good piece is:
"A Labour party...Buried in your good piece is:<br />"A Labour party which begins to be perceived (justifiably or unjustifiably) as morally compromised will attract the votes of fewer and fewer New Zealanders. And a caucus driven by nothing more than personal ambition is bound to become increasingly reckless in its internal jockeying for power."<br /><br />"Personal ambition" drove Parker to join Labour- he was promoted to be a National candidate but it was his ambition to get into politics; has a broken his marriage on the way. <br />Hughes- a different story- Labour wanted to get a younger style, forgetting, that Hughes had done nothing in his life, like hard work on the chain, killing lambs- that is the stuff of former, passionate Labour MP's.<br /><br />Coupled with this, is the rise of career politicians such as Helen C and and Phil G, both who have little experience of life as, "ordinary New Zealanders".<br />Sad - was a paid up member of the LP for a number of years - a spent force, me thinksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-46614106864551400652011-03-28T16:56:08.508+13:002011-03-28T16:56:08.508+13:00You're joking. Electoral suicide at this stage...You're joking. Electoral suicide at this stage, which is why the media and rightie commenters can hardly hide their glee at such panic-pants tripe: it's the "vibe" that matters, and changing horses now would be fatal. In case you hadn't noticed, Julia <em>didn't</em> get away with it, and the Keyster rode home on nothing more than the gray stability of "everything Helen said and over $50 a week". Yes, Goff should've stood down gracefully at least 18 months ago, but it was too late even a year ago.<br /><br />And call me old-fashioned but if I ever get accused of something and strongly declare my innocence, I quite like the idea that my leader <em>won't</em> immediately scream it from the rooftops, but rather hope for prompt police action and an early decision on any prosecution: and contrary to the curren opinion among "lefties" here and elsewhere, I think Jo Public concurs. <br /><br />And if that immediate rooftop-"front-footing" and "sound political judgement" had resulted in anything other than a media deluge of "Goff hangs popular MP out to dry" and "Labour airs dirty linen early" then I'll eat my naive little cap.<br /><br />What defeats the left every time is infighting; and the naive belief that the media is neutral. <br /><br />What the working people of New Zealand will never forgive - or understand - is another disgusting round of "sword-drawing" in election year and the consequent, inevitable, gleeful media roasting that will follow.<br /><br />akAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-46314496844899345102011-03-28T16:30:53.249+13:002011-03-28T16:30:53.249+13:00Chris Trotter. I heard you on national radio on F...Chris Trotter. I heard you on national radio on Friday afternoon. I want to say what a well expressed and wise commentary you made on the Foreshore and Seabed thing. And your concern for our future as a country. And for justice. More strength to you. And my very best wishes.The Field of Goldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00198031456340592151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-1706972558710725232011-03-28T15:58:59.787+13:002011-03-28T15:58:59.787+13:00I find it hard to disagree with anything you'v...I find it hard to disagree with anything you've written here, Chris. They need to bite the bullet.ajnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-67559485893359674782011-03-28T15:50:28.216+13:002011-03-28T15:50:28.216+13:00Islamic fundamentalism is not the problem, relgiou...Islamic fundamentalism is not the problem, relgious extrememism and neoliberalism is. The West needs to stop supporting middle eastern dictators so it can get cheap oil and arms contracts.<br /><br />The West by bombing middle eastern civilians is playing into the hands of religious extremists of every kind.<br /><br />I look forward to a labour party that is for the many, not the few, that fights for social and environmental justice. That has a solutions based approach to the many crisis we face today.<br /><br />Parker, Chavel, Robertson, Twyford, Ardern and so have the skills to make labour a party of great leadership. Market fundamentalism has failed, time for a new approach.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-81031125587716585572011-03-28T14:49:13.214+13:002011-03-28T14:49:13.214+13:00I agree, Labour need to show some fight:
"R...I agree, Labour need to show some fight: <br />"Replace him - and make a real contest of this year's general election."<br /><br />and what we don't need is the jaded negativity of the likes of Judith Tizard ("Tizard said she had "some unfinished business" and it would also be nice to say "stick it up you" to those who didn't want her back.")Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-6046676190727099382011-03-28T14:13:54.931+13:002011-03-28T14:13:54.931+13:00"(Key and his colleagues represent a view of ..."(Key and his colleagues represent a view of the world that is fast disappearing everywhere except among the rump rightists of the Anglo-Saxon world) "<br /><br />Our own local questions of Key's viability aside, I'd disagree with that broad statement; the Right, far from being a rump, is increasing in size in the West, and will do so even more as the Middle East shakedown, seemingly benign in its origins, eventually reveals its true face - which will be Islamic fundamentalism. Only then will the REAL lines be drawn.WAKE UPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09136292620916207019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-47526219815373184072011-03-28T13:45:09.612+13:002011-03-28T13:45:09.612+13:00I think David Parker should be the new labour lead...I think David Parker should be the new labour leader. He has a strong grasp of environmental and economic issues, and is dedicated to social justice. He could win in a fight off between himself and Bill English. Bill is stuck supporting the funding of Southland and Otago lignite plans that Brownlee backs, and is supporting the motorway madness of Joyce, and all of the public service cuts and privatisation plans.<br /><br />David Parker, and another high performer could bring labour to victory, and more importantly perform well in the hot seat.<br /><br />As a former climate and energy minister, Parker with David Cunliffe and Jacind, Chavel and Twyford etc could create policy that is just, ecologically grounded and robust.<br /><br />The time for real leadership is here. Key doesn't have it, and labour and the greens have good leaders... Step aside Goff.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-25843407952622101232011-03-28T13:24:44.493+13:002011-03-28T13:24:44.493+13:00For a start I vote in Otaki, and what if Hughes ha...For a start I vote in Otaki, and what if Hughes has committed no offence? Nathan Guy will now easily win the seat, and the local mistakes National has made over roading will not translate in the party vote, unless it goes to NZ First. This is a sensitive area, especially for those bright and shining 18 year olds who have gone to university and been fortunate to avoid incidents (and being heterosexual helps).<br /><br />This is all so dodgy, what is Goff to do, maybe he should have flown off the handle at Holmes yesterday. Getting to Chris's issue, who can realistically replace him, given that Annette King is also compromised. Yes, I would be keen to see the Labour Party represent the poor and vulnerable, but I gave up thinking that a long time ago. Besides exercising the electorate vote for Labour, can we get back to talking about a genuine left wing party again?<br /><br />At least the followers of Bowalley can move off abortion and bullying as topics.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com