Public Address | Cafe | Speaker: David Shearer: The one that went away

Lynn Yum

Mon, 12 Dec 2016 21:28:30 +1300

One thing I want to point out is that not only is South Sudan dangerous, UN has a chequered history in South Sudan, with allegations that UN Peacekeepers either failed to stop abuses or perpetrated abuses themselves, see e.g. this. So David Shearer as the head of UN peacekeeping mission…

FletcherB

Mon, 12 Dec 2016 13:37:11 +1300

Thank you for this post...I agree with it, and would have also been prepared to take that risk (of Shearer being a good PM).

But I'm reminded of another Leader of the Opposition who had similar failings in public.

He seemed thoughtful and able to see the grey between the…

andin

Sun, 11 Dec 2016 10:49:17 +1300

Wow! as a distant voter you never really know a person if they are only in the political sphere and that is all that is reported. I wish Mr Shearer bon chance in his travels, I wish I was able to do as much as he. Need any helpers?

tussock

Sat, 10 Dec 2016 15:22:38 +1300

People being thoughtful is difficult to distinguish from people telling lies.

It's that little pause. After they start speaking.

Certainty, even of the nihilist kind where nothing matters, doesn't look at all like lies. It's what makes a talented liar, a certainty that they are not lying, at least for…

Kumara Republic

Sat, 10 Dec 2016 04:26:17 +1300

Which is the more dangerous of the two right now, Syria or South Sudan?

simon g

Fri, 09 Dec 2016 17:11:05 +1300

You must have through it terrific when John Key appointed a Chief Scientific Advisor

I think many of us did. But that was in the innocent, hopeful time, before we learned how Keyism works.

Announce appointment = get good headline. But when said appointment speaks up (on anything from climate…

Tinakori

Fri, 09 Dec 2016 16:41:36 +1300

"thought"

Tinakori

Fri, 09 Dec 2016 16:41:19 +1300

You must have through it terrific when John Key appointed a Chief Scientific Advisor

Bart Janssen

Fri, 09 Dec 2016 16:12:12 +1300

Just another comment – as a scientist it really was neat to see a leader who took the science portfolio. I get the feeling that had he ever become PM it might have made a subtle difference to his priorities.

Martin Brown

Fri, 09 Dec 2016 14:33:36 +1300

Tom Hanks, surely. I think he was PM material and a shame they double-tapped him. Plays guitar too, as I recall.

simon g

Fri, 09 Dec 2016 14:01:44 +1300

It's a fair and welcome tribute from Simon Wilson to Shearer the man, but I'm afraid Shearer the politician is far from blameless in his own leadership failure. When Goff stood down, Shearer allowed himself to be the creature of caucus, specifically of the old guard (King, Mallard, etc). That…

Bart Janssen

Fri, 09 Dec 2016 13:23:08 +1300

An unfortunate reality of modern media and politics.

Agreed. Doesn't stop me hating it though.

Also I have to say I think it has a lot to do with just how bad some political systems have become.

But I have no idea how to fix it.

Konrad Kurta

Fri, 09 Dec 2016 12:53:16 +1300

The media’s inability to present anything other than trite meaningless soundbites …

There I fixed that for you

Touché. An unfortunate reality of modern media and politics. He seemed at home as far as informed dialogue and discussion were concerned. Knowledge and understanding aren't the zeitgeist, unfortunately. See: US election.

Bart Janssen

Fri, 09 Dec 2016 12:06:28 +1300

his inability to connect with the public via concise media soundbites

The media's inability to present anything other than trite meaningless soundbites ...

There I fixed that for you

Bart Janssen

Fri, 09 Dec 2016 12:04:39 +1300

I thought it was worth the risk.

I agree. Because what we have been trying for the last decades has simply not been working.

We've tried the politicians. The ones who bully and blackmail and buy their colleagues in order to achieve power and then can only imagine getting more…

Emma Hart

Fri, 09 Dec 2016 11:36:05 +1300

Actually, staying with movie stars, it’s tempting to think of Shearer not as Firth (way too buttoned up) or Willis, but as Jimmy Stewart in Vertigo. Confused about the true nature of the world he finds himself in but determined to help. Determined, moreover, that his own decency will save…

Konrad Kurta

Fri, 09 Dec 2016 10:39:30 +1300

I think you've hit the nail on the head. For the short time I produced his show at Planet FM, he always came across as a non-politician. He seemed real – in precisely the way David Cunliffe didn't when he appeared on the show. Nuanced, as you say. And he's…

Barry -

Fri, 09 Dec 2016 09:31:39 +1300

I knew it wasn't going to work out when he made the speech criticising the ACC recipient working on his roof. I understand it is appealing to the centre and bene-bashing was working well for National, but it was a good way to alienate the left.

So I hope his…

Hilary Stace

Fri, 09 Dec 2016 08:51:09 +1300

David Shearer spoke to a packed public meeting in Khandallah, Wellington, at the time of the Gaza crisis in September 2014. He was very impressive. He is obviously more at home resolving international conflicts than dealing with local politics.

I remember many years ago when he first stood on the…

Joshua Arbury

Fri, 09 Dec 2016 07:48:25 +1300

Excellent article. I got to know David not longer after he became an MP, probably through Waterview Connection stuff. He was always keen to listen and learn and I do think he would have been a terrific PM.

He also said to me once (probably around 2010) that he found…

Public Address

Fri, 09 Dec 2016 07:48:25 +1300

Discussion from blog post.