Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: So long, and thanks for all the fish ...

362 Responses

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  • Lucy Telfar Barnard,

    LOVE the title… (no apology necessary.)

    Otherwise:

    David Shearer seems a genuinely decent man who has been out of his depth in a party leadership role but clearly has a contribution to make yet.

    This describes exactly my view on Shearer. I just wish he'd stepped aside early enough to give someone more effective the Opposition leadership going into the GCSB debate.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 585 posts Report Reply

  • Idiot Savant,

    David Shearer seems a genuinely decent man who has been out of his depth in a party leadership role but clearly has a contribution to make yet.

    I think he'll make a fine foreign affairs or aid minister.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • MxDEJ,

    Surely the way to wrap up an underwhelming leadership would be with the less enthusiastic title "So short, but thanks for both the fish".

    Hamilton • Since Feb 2012 • 24 posts Report Reply

  • Scott A,

    The timing's pretty shoddy, and while there is never a good time for a leadership change this one should've been made some time ago.

    And who next? Bryce Edwards thinks Cunliffe / Robertson is "pre-determined." Sounds reasonable?

    The wilds of Kingston, We… • Since May 2009 • 133 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Idiot Savant,

    I think he’ll make a fine foreign affairs or aid minister.

    Ambassador to Washington should Cunliffe deliver on his promise to repeal the GCSB legislation? The high point of Bill "genuinely decent man who has been out of his depth in a party leadership role but clearly has a contribution to make yet" Rowling's career was holding that post during the nuclear free Lange era.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Telfar Barnard, in reply to Scott A,

    I don't know about reasonable, but it's certainly what I'm hoping.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 585 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Scott A,

    And who next? Bryce Edwards thinks Cunliffe / Robertson is “pre-determined.” Sounds reasonable?

    If they have stopped seeing each other as rivals, that would be a powerful combination.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    If the new voting rules deliver someone the old guard faction doesn't like I've been rolling around in my head how far fetched it might be to imagine a scenario where the revanchist Rogernomes pack a hissy fit and split away from the party. After all, most of them are in safe electorates and they may fancy their chances as cross bench Peter Dunnes under MMP.

    And who next? Bryce Edwards thinks Cunliffe / Robertson is “pre-determined.” Sounds reasonable?

    It unites the two biggest factions. With all those PI voters who Labour need to get to the polls in 2014 needing some convincing, Labour electing a gay Wellington based machine politician as leader would be a disaster. Robertson needs to understand being deputy PM in 2014 beats being leader of the opposition forever.

    Don't discount Andrew Little as deputy though if the party decides to go to war with the Rogernomes.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    Too optimistic to think that Jacinda could be the deputy?

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Telfar Barnard, in reply to Tom Semmens,

    After all, most of them are in safe electorates and they may fancy their chances as cross bench Peter Dunnes under MMP.

    They may be in safe Labour electorates. It doesn't mean they're in safe Personal electorates. Still, would be interesting to watch.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 585 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Idiot Savant,

    I think he'll make a fine foreign affairs or aid minister.

    He would be a stand-out in the role of Minister of Foreign Affairs (which also encompasses the aid portfolio), particularly given McCully's destructive tenure. It'd give him lots of scope to be out of the country, keeping him out of the bear pit, and his background suggests he's got a real handle on how to run that kind of ministry.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens, in reply to Geoff Lealand,

    Labour took a chance on a raw player with Shearer. I reckon the party will be looking for a safer pair of hands this time.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd,

    Shearer's own political principles, ideology if you will, were never clear to me, though he came across as a good and decent person.

    The NZ public for better or worse wants leaders and prime ministers who come across as tough on TV and radio, and who can speak confidently impromptu. A great PM needs much more than those qualities, but as long as they are essential, Shearer could never be a successful leader.

    I agree he would make an excellent cabinet minister with a heavyweight portfolio.

    On the whole, I think I'm happy with this, but most interested to see who the contenders are. The leadership selection process is new and untried.

    One way for caucus to game this I guess is to only put forward one candidate and hope the membership takes a hint...

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    And who next? Bryce Edwards thinks Cunliffe / Robertson is “pre-determined.” Sounds reasonable?

    I don't know Cunliffe, but I think right now Labour needs someone who can take on Key head on - in the house and in debates/TV. Robertson could do that, there's a strong hint of Lange in him in several ways.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart, in reply to Stephen Judd,

    The NZ public for better or worse wants leaders and prime ministers who come across as tough on TV and radio, and who can speak confidently impromptu.

    This is where I start to feel like a weird sort of cuckoo-bird. Because yes the latter, absolutely, but the former? I’d rather have a leader who seemed like s/he could listen. Who could build coalitions around policy to get stuff done. Who seemed bright, not cocky.

    I’m not Labour, I don’t vote Labour, and I’m clearly not typical of The Public. But I’d really like to see Robertson/Ardern. Cunliffe seems too much like trying to beat Key on his own Cocky Smug ground. And you won’t.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • The Ruminator,

    Can someone explain the popularity of Ardern? I haven't really seen her do anything spectacular. I have no doubt of the potential, but has she delivered yet? Robertson the same actually.

    Since Apr 2013 • 54 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to Tom Semmens,

    all those PI voters...gay Wellington based machine politician

    Because everyone from the Islands is a god-bothering homophobe incapable of independent thought who gets their voting instructions from the pulpit on Sunday? Really?

    When is Labour going to get over treating ethnic and social groups as voting blocs?

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    Mind you, now is a good time for a membership drive.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to The Ruminator,

    Can someone explain the popularity of Ardern? I haven’t really seen her do anything spectacular. I have no doubt of the potential, but has she delivered yet?

    Smart, organised, ambitious, articulate, conversant with Labour principles. But yeah, I think she needs to be Minister of something first.

    Robertson the same actually.

    He spent a lot of time near the seat of power as #2 in Helen Clark's office. He has a very, very strong understanding of government. I'm not sure whether "New Zealanders aren't ready for a gay leader" is actually true, but we may find out.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Michael Stevens,

    A good man, a decent bloke, probably would have been a very good PM, but couldn't do it as leader of the opposition.

    Cunliffe Leader, Ardern Deputy.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 230 posts Report Reply

  • TracyMac, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    Thank you for saying this more politely than I would.

    Too reminiscent of Trotter's "gayz != workers" in terms of pigeonholing.

    Canberra, West Island • Since Nov 2006 • 701 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd, in reply to Russell Brown,

    New Zealanders aren’t ready for a gay leader

    ... who met his husband at the rugby.

    I don't think GR would have any worries on that front.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • The Ruminator,

    I'm not sure whether "New Zealanders aren't ready for a gay leader" is actually true, but we may find out.

    Well I'm ready for a gay leader. If he's the best leader. But I think in terms of squaring off against Key, Cunliffe's the best bet.

    Since Apr 2013 • 54 posts Report Reply

  • Keir Leslie,

    When is Labour going to get over treating ethnic and social groups as voting blocs?

    Er, Labour kinda picked a lesbian for Manurewa that time, dunno if you guys have heard of her? Tom’s views are not those of the party.

    Also, Caucus won't game this. And Roberston/Ardern is the leadership team of my heart.

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    Because everyone from the Islands is a god-bothering homophobe incapable of independent thought who gets their voting instructions from the pulpit on Sunday? Really?

    It already doesn't matter. They're not going to vote Labour anyway, because of marriage equality. Remember?

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

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