tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post7872631921599432227..comments2024-03-29T17:12:19.648+13:00Comments on Bowalley Road: Truth Or Dare: Why David Cunliffe Needs To Come Clean With The Labour Left.Chris Trotterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09081613281183460899noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-23587388707872824282014-06-05T00:46:45.139+12:002014-06-05T00:46:45.139+12:00It's really not difficult Chris. The Non voter...It's really not difficult Chris. The Non voters last time round are not going to suddenly get out and vote Labour because Labour has 'embraced' the Greens and Internet / Mana.<br /><br />The centre voters who might switch from National to Labour are not going to suddenly get out and vote Labour because Labour has 'embraced' the Greens and Internet / Mana. In fact they would probably more likely stick with National rather than think about greens and internet / mana in government.<br /><br />NZFirst voters are not going to suddenly get out and vote Labour because Labour has 'embraced' the Greens and Internet / Mana.<br /><br />Centre Labour voters might indeed switch to National if they see Labour getting too cosy with the Greens / Internet / Mana although you'd hope not.<br /><br />Green / Internet / Mana voters are not going to suddenly vote National because Labour isn't getting cosy with their parties before the election.<br /><br />In summary, Labour has absolutely nothing to gain from getting to close to the other left leaning parties before the election. It does however potentially lose votes if it 'embraces' these other parties before the election. No brainer really. There's no point in having a nice unified left block before the election if that block doesn't get enough votes to govern.<br /><br />The only places Labour can gain votes from are from previous National voters and from previous non voters. It won't gain votes from either by cuddling up to the Greens/Internet/Mana before the election so strategically they are doing the right thing.<br /><br />In saying that, I do however think they could gain from the previous non voters by being a bit more obviously 'left' and proud of it but that could come at the expense of the middle ground. decisions decisions...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-68442369716941152232014-06-04T22:18:08.996+12:002014-06-04T22:18:08.996+12:00Im sorry Chris, this is bullshit. Labour can't...Im sorry Chris, this is bullshit. Labour can't stitch up deals with the greens and imp - that will scare the shit out of the centre voters. Its too late to try and motivate the 'missing million' into voting. The only route to power for a labour led govt is to orientate somewhat towards the centre voters. Let the greens and imp grab the voters on the solid left ground. Labour WILL get this country moving again with properly leftwing policies if they win. Mark my words. He knows the madness of economic ultraliberalism and the need to make a rupture with it mark my words.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-16563254340287674442014-06-04T21:11:41.869+12:002014-06-04T21:11:41.869+12:00"Nurse! Nurse! Trotter is out his bed again a..."Nurse! Nurse! Trotter is out his bed again and taken his angry pills!"<br /><br />Teasing aside I don't think I've seen you this irate or maybe frustrated.<br /><br />Drawing a long bow here I have a suspicion that Cunliffe is a clever chap and clever people are often poor strategic thinkers as they can deal with stuff on the fly as it hits them. <br /><br />It's common to see a major personality with strategic thinking backed by a very clever chap or chapess or vice versa. Clark was a force of nature and she had plenty of smart support. Cunliffe seems to be running solo.<br /><br />He's the boss so the buck stops with him but he just doesn't seem to have the appropriate support from appropriate others within the caucus. .... and again possibly drawing a long bow but such divisive behaviour does seem to be the scourge of Labour over the years.<br /><br />One could argue that he's not organising or has alienated his support but it seems just as likely that there is no 'get in behind for the greater good' move within the caucus.<br /><br />One of my favourite quotes "Anyone can make a mistake but truly f******g up is a team event"Scousernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-18129967384934293152014-06-04T15:07:54.914+12:002014-06-04T15:07:54.914+12:00Repost with edit :-).
First time ever I think I&#...Repost with edit :-).<br /><br />First time ever I think I've agreed with Brendan. First 2 sentences anyway. On the other hand national is hard left? God helpus some people wouldn't know a left wing if it bit them on the bum.Guerilla Surgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03427876447124021423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-16844456685656989542014-06-04T14:17:17.814+12:002014-06-04T14:17:17.814+12:00This comment has been removed by the author.Guerilla Surgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03427876447124021423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-17153904048156603862014-06-04T13:26:42.648+12:002014-06-04T13:26:42.648+12:00On current polling, a government of Labour, the Gr...On current polling, a government of Labour, the Greens and New Zealand First is an outside numerical possibility. <br /><br />However, a government of Labour, the Greens and Mana would require an astonishing rise in in across-the-board support for Mana. This strategy is only valid if Mana somehow absorbs all of New Zealand First's existing votes (which won’t happen). As transferring all existing votes from NZ first to Mana can't possibly occur, the only other way the strategy could work would be for Mana to bring in so many new voters that a Labour, Mana, Green group would enlarge the voting pool and dwarfing the existing numbers supporting National an NZ first. <br /><br />With Honi Harawera being extremely unpopular with main stream New Zealanders and the lowest polling constituency candidate in Parliament - this groundswell seems highly unlikely.<br /><br />Assuming Labour does reject NZ First to instead embrace Mana, the current voting numbers for National and New Zealand First (1.25 million odd votes) will have to be dropped to represent no more than about 48% of the total vote. If NZ First and National retain their numeric support levels it means the Mana / Green / Labour block will somehow have to increase their combined pool of votes to around 1.7 million. In the previous election the three parties could only muster 894,000. If we assume that the existing numbers voting for Labour and the Greens remains constant, for National and NZ First to be relegated to a combined electoral share of only 48%, Mana will have to bring in about 800,000 odd new votes - itself eclipsing the Labour party in popularity! Not a bad accomplishment for a party that’s been unable to solidify support above the 1% level! <br /><br />These number games with Mana cannot bring about a Labour Government.<br /><br />How wise can it really be for Labour to publically embrace the Internet Mana Party? The number of votes that need to be found for Labour to not rely on NZ first to form a government is impossibly high. The Realpolitik at is that Mana doesn't offer the numeracy required for Labour to form a government whereas the potential alienation of NZ First (and a great swathe of New Zealanders) by aligning with Honi provides a certain path to defeat.Lozhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12064567381918975446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-36736318034853019572014-06-04T12:19:12.974+12:002014-06-04T12:19:12.974+12:00I agree with Brendan, they are one and the same. N...I agree with Brendan, they are one and the same. National have gone left as well under Key, almost hard left.<br /><br />Will Winston save us this time around? yeah, right...<br /><br />Both major parties are a joke, they don't listen to referendums and only care about the people's voice at election time. Sack the lot of them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-87325981042573695932014-06-04T11:39:50.601+12:002014-06-04T11:39:50.601+12:00He is too watery, like Key, going with perceived p...He is too watery, like Key, going with perceived populist opinion and trading votes for policy, and policy making on the hoof.<br /><br />Cunliffe comes across as aloof and disengaged, but also power hungry. A major let-down, they should have gone with Jones, the man of the people and far more up front.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-82383276471494188222014-06-04T11:33:26.805+12:002014-06-04T11:33:26.805+12:00Chris
If Labour joined National in a 'grand c...Chris<br /><br />If Labour joined National in a 'grand coalition', from a policy perspective, would anyone notice the difference?<br /><br />They have been pitching their tents in the same camping ground for decades.<br /><br />However, if it kept Mino et al employed safely outside of parliament, then most New Zealanders would welcome the move, possibly even those people of good will who reside on the political left?<br /><br /><br /><br />Brendan McNeillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02741263914308842497noreply@blogger.com