Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Jonesing

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  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Danyl Mclauchlan,

    Oh, here’s a nice quote:

    I think a David Shearer led Labour Party will pose more of a threat to National, than any alternative leader.

    David Farrar in the Herald, back in late 2011.

    Which if anything demonstrates that Farrar knows a turkey when he smells one.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    The Young Labour Twitter account has been publishing the candidates' answers to questions on universal student allowances, female representation, and decriminalising abortion. Note Robertson's "conservative" answer there...

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Martin Brown,

    Isn't this all about doing a multi-week, US Primary style election in which the candidates are not just talking to the party, but to the wider voting base? To show them the party is alive, has options, take the chance to humanise the candidates. A pseudo election campaign really. A practice run run on personalities and policies. Instead of just doing it behind closed doors in a few hours as usual.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2013 • 137 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to TracyMac,

    oppression Olympics

    bravo

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Keir Leslie,

    The party doesn’t write policy by fiat of the Leader, so it’s not appropriate for leadership candidates to be making policy on the hoof.

    Reckon.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Martin Brown, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    When you're drunk and tired, you make simple mistakes like that. Sheesh.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2013 • 137 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    And Guyon Espiner has responded to the criticism.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Cameron, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I feel like part of the critism remains unaddressed, mainly that the irritation at the other two candidates not playing the media game spilled over into the story (hence the focus on Cunliffes call). For me, it really came across as quite unabashed bias.

    It surprises me that the fact that repeatedly it has been mentioned that Clarke, Key etc have allowed media into their homes, and yet that was when they were running for PM. I'm not convinced they should be under the same "obligation" in a primary.

    Christchurch • Since May 2013 • 15 posts Report Reply

  • Keir Leslie,

    To expand: there's two things here. One is the functional aspect, which is the massive democratisation & opening up of the Labour leadership. This is still an internal party issue, however. It's also massively important. It's what gives you Young Labour quizzing leadership candidates.

    There's also a non-funtional, theatrical aspect, which is the way in which, as a result, the leadership race is now a story. Which is integral to the whole thing, but does, sometimes, have to be subordinated to the functional, the-party-decides part.

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Pour, moi?

    The gravy train is a real disappointment

    Don't worry, your gravy boat just came in...

    ;- )

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell, in reply to Sacha,

    But since parliament votes on bills put before it, not necessarily Labour Party policy, it’s nuts to vote on a leader and not know where they stand, don’t-ya-reckon?
    ETA: that's a good part of the beauty of this process.

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Russell Brown,

    And Guyon Espiner has responded to the criticism

    National fears Jones because he could take votes off them by moving Labour to the centre.

    How much closer to the centre does Espiner think it can get?


    [edit] and that's a metric fuck-ton of self-justification, IMHO.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    I want one! :)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace, in reply to Sacha,

    Sacha, have you seen this good blog post on the Hardship Olympics? (Disability related)

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Rob Stowell,

    Not sure what you mean. I guess it might be relevant to that wider public perception but the caucus leader doesn't make policy any more than they set strategy (which is where I fear Labour's problems will remain no matter who is fronting them).

    Good to see more open discussion, anyway. Sad that many of our newsrooms now seem unprepared to get beyond the 'game' of it all.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    Thanks. Four Yorkshiremen territory. :)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Cecelia, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Having genuine character is important because a large chunk of the electorate rely on an 'intuitive feel' of politicians, rather than an intricate grasp of the policy detail.

    Priceless

    Hibiscus Coast • Since Apr 2008 • 559 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell,

    Having watched the item .... it'd be more honest if they'd also talked to his ex-wife and seven kids. Since it's sposed to be 'warts and all'.
    Yeah- the implication that because Shane and his (new) partner invite TV3 to a bbq (without any of their respective kids?) while the other two are more respecting of their families' privacy, they are somehow 'hiding something' is mean-spirited as well as ludicrous.

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    ...conspiracy theory [that National support Jones because they know he'd be a useless leader] is absurd

    So the National Party's various flacks are supporting Jones because they really feel he'd be the best leader for Labour. Yeah right. (as they would say in Jones's no doubt favourite ads for shite beer).

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

  • Keir Leslie,

    I don't think that party members (or affiliates) are voting blind. I think that one rather revealing thing is that the actual electors commenting here at PAS seem to have a pretty clear grip on the candidates and process.

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    So the National Party’s various flacks are supporting Jones because they really feel he’d be the best leader for Labour. Yeah right. (as they would say in Jones’s no doubt favourite ads for shite beer).

    OK, Rich. Here's a crazy idea, perhaps they do in perfect good faith. Not an opinion I share, FWIW, but the world's funny like that. Meanwhile, I'm pretty sure you and everyone else around here -- remarkably few of whom will be current members of the National Party - are going to have an opinion or two when Key shuffles on back down the greasy poll. You won't actually have any influence over the outcome, but I'm pretty sure you'll appreciate not being presumed to be a trolling Labour party hack. Yes?

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Keir Leslie,

    Also, can I just say that while there's no enemies on the left etc, there's something deeply funny about committed Green/Mana supporters darkly muttering about the ulterior motives of Hooten/Farrar/Odgers et al.

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report Reply

  • simon g,

    In Guyon's response he says:

    It's worth noting that Don Brash, Helen Clark and John Key have all done these pieces. In fact former Labour leader Phil Goff was forever trying to tell the public more about his life (his wife, his parents, his sons, his love of motorbikes) in order to humanise him.

    Well, yes. Memorable highlights that I'd rather forget include Holmes asking Peter Davis about the couple's sex life, and Don Brash's wife gazing adoringly into his eyes, shortly before leaving him. As for Goff, he finally became "humanised" in the last election campaign, when he showed some passion for politics that seemed sincere, as opposed to the earlier PR stunts that didn't.

    Now, I would rather lose several limbs and organs than ever vote for John Key, but one thing he (or maybe Bronagh) gets my grudging respect for is the invisibility of his family. Until his daughter did something racey in Paris (no I haven't seen the pics, they were "Most Popular Topic" on Stuff, which is all the info you need to ignore them) I couldn't have picked her or her brother out in an ID parade, and I'm betting most voters couldn't. We know more about the Obama offspring than the Keys'. Of course Key does heaps of fake-bloke nonsense by himself, but that's him being a dick, not his family being dragged along to bolster his "humanity".

    Guyon Espiner has done some good stories on 3rd degree (Ureweras, fracking) but this wasn't one of them.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Keir Leslie,

    I don’t think that party members (or affiliates) are voting blind. I think that one rather revealing thing is that the actual electors commenting here at PAS seem to have a pretty clear grip on the candidates and process.

    Indeed.

    I also wound up by chance at the birthday drinks of a friend of a friend. He and his wife were Labour Party members, and they were really up for the hustings meeting at Western Springs the next evening.

    He was planning to ask questions of the candidates, but given how long the birthday drinks went on, I suspect he may have contented himself with being there :-)

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Danyl Mclauchlan,

    Also, can I just say that while there’s no enemies on the left etc, there’s something deeply funny about committed Green/Mana supporters darkly muttering about the ulterior motives of Hooten/Farrar/Odgers et al.

    I don't know how committed a Green supporter I am, given that I voted for them once - last election - and Labour like, five times. I just think its funny that National's strategists are telling Espiner they're 'afraid' of Jones, when during the last leadership debate one of their strategists claimed they were 'afraid' of Shearer, who turned out to be a disaster.

    Incidentally, going back through the pundity around the 2011 Labour leadership contest, Cathy Odgers thought Shearer was rubbish and that Labour should pick Cunliffe who she felt was clearly the superior candidate.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 927 posts Report Reply

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