Kia Kaha

Written By: - Date published: 1:57 pm, June 21st, 2014 - 132 comments
Categories: labour - Tags:

David Cunliffe’s message to members and supporters (repost from email)

It’s been a tough couple of days for everyone in Labour, but I have been greatly heartened by the messages of support that my Caucus and I have received from members and supporters.

As I’ve stated in many media interviews over the last 24 hours, I stand by my word and we will not be distracted from our mission to help build a better New Zealand for everyone.

What has been made very clear by our opponents is that this will be a tough election campaign. They would like nothing more than for this election to focus on smears and insinuations. However I have immense faith in the people of New Zealand to recognise what really matters in this election and to vote for positive change.

That’s positive change that only a Labour-led government can deliver. It means making sure every New Zealander has the opportunity for a secure, well-paid job, that every Kiwi has a warm dry home and has home-ownership in reach, and that our kids are given all of the opportunities they need to thrive and prosper.

Our party has been galvanised by recent events. National’s attempts to destabilize us have failed – our Caucus has been unified and resolute and party activists have stayed on the front foot making phone calls, knocking on doors and getting Labour’s message out to the public.

We know that we have a hard road ahead of us, but we also know that this election is shaping up to be down to the wire and that every vote will count. We cannot afford, New Zealand cannot afford, for us to be distracted from our duty of making real fundamental change for good.

I know we can do it this September. Together.

Kia kaha,

David Cunliffe
Labour Leader

PS, we’re preparing for the biggest, best Congress ever. There are still tickets available. To reserve your seat, click here.

132 comments on “Kia Kaha ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. karol 1
    21 June 2014 at 2:28 pm

    Thanks, David.

    I have my criticisms of some aspects of Labour’s policies, and of the way some things have been handled in the past.

    However, I have been impressed with the way you have fronted this week and, along with your caucus, stood strong against, what are unfounded smears aiming to destabilise Labour and the left generally.

    You say you are learning, but you and your team seem to be learning quite fast.

    • Ronnie Chow 1.1
      22 June 2014 at 9:55 am

      Millionaire businessman Donghua Liu spent more than $150,000 on the previous Labour government, including $100,000 on a bottle of wine signed by former prime minister Helen Clark at a party fundraiser.

      The embarrassing revelations are contained in a signed statement from Liu, which the Herald on Sunday has obtained.

      God Cunliffe is clean as a whistle.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 1.1.1
        22 June 2014 at 10:00 am

        It’ll be listed in his accounts as a donation to charity. Show me the money.

  2. Clemgeopin 2
    21 June 2014 at 2:38 pm

    A good letter.

    It is time for Lanour to release policies one by one and give plenty of publicity for all the previous and coming policies; Policies that will make the voters sit up and take notice; Policies that will benefit all the voters and the country; Policies that are fair to all and for the long term good of the country economically, socially and environmentally; Policies that negate the negative policies of this present narrow visioned stupid government; Policies that will make New Zealand a trail blazing independent, visionary and great nation once again; Policies that help reduce the evil of the ever increasing wealth and income gap; Policies that will make us all selflessly batting for each other in society; Policies that help us become truly happy, proud and patriotic to the country.

  3. vto 3
    21 June 2014 at 2:44 pm

    Good for you Mr Cunliffe..

    You know one thing on people’s minds in cold mid-winter Christchurch – power prices and power outages. How are people supposed to keep warm when the power goes out or people cannot afford to heat their homes sufficiently?

    How do they keep warm? What happens is that they don’t keep warm, and then they die prematurely or suffer avoidable health problems.

    It is appalling that the responsibility for keeping them warm has been tossed into the hands of people whose sole concern is profiteering, namely the investors who bought the power companies. How on earth are those interests supposed to line up? Eh? …

    … the interests of people who merely want to make profit and the interests of people who are forced by law to use electricity to warm themselves in winter do not line up. The system is fatally flawed.

  4. swordfish 4
    21 June 2014 at 2:51 pm

    Vicious smear campaigns can often backfire. Let’s hope there’s a backlash among decent people against this carefully-orchestrated hysteria of the last few days. Already, the reputations of one or two journalists lie in tatters…

  5. infused 5
    21 June 2014 at 3:02 pm

    The only reason they are standing behind you is that there is no point rolling you before the election. It’s already game over.

    • felix 5.1
      21 June 2014 at 3:11 pm

      The only reason they are attacking you is because they know you can win.

    • vto 5.2
      21 June 2014 at 3:11 pm

      Its game over for those who cannot afford to warm themselves properly over winter because of the policies of your sick lot. Do you even care about that?

    • Skinny 5.3
      21 June 2014 at 3:22 pm

      The game will be over for you wingnuts infused. I predict 200-250,000 previous non voters will be coming out in Sept.

      How do you think the anouncement of a 19% rise in power prices is going to go down?
      Also Key pushing for a smaller group from the original TTPA countries. Your great leader is sucking up to the Yanks by towing this line and promoting an American view, who know getting agreement from the likes of Japan simply won’t happen.

      What a suck arse slimy Key is. It wouldn’t surprise me if he had dual citizenship, what a disgusting corporate sellout!

      • Will@Welly 5.3.1
        21 June 2014 at 4:03 pm

        Obviously a monumental cock-up in MBIE, releasing that figure. 19% increase in electricity is something National just can’t explain away, and given that ‘returns’ are set to soar under market forces, this does not bode well for the average household.

        • Skinny 5.3.1.1
          21 June 2014 at 5:24 pm

          As winter bites so will the backlash (especially if there is a few cold snaps) when power consumers really notice higher prices due to our assets being flogged off.

          During the assets sales petitioning I had plenty of people signing and saying they had voted National but not this election due to our asset sales. Couple that with those people who despise America unpopular habit of pushing spy legislation, invading other Countries and American multi national corporates trying to force trade agreements. John Key has really messed up by floating the idea of a smaller TPPA. Labour need to come out strongly opposing any such brainless notion of pandering to ‘America’s oneway corporate agreements.’

      • infused 5.3.2
        21 June 2014 at 6:43 pm

        How much did the price of power go up under the last Labour govt? What did they do about that?

        • Skinny 5.3.2.1
          21 June 2014 at 7:32 pm

          That was so yesteryear fool!
          ‘Former National voters remember the last time this shit happened.’
          The power shop is an idea people like, and Winston Peters is talking a complete buyback. So you sit back and enjoy the rugby and just think England is National and cry in your drink to the hammering they are about to get 🙂 Give it to them the AB’s !

          • infused 5.3.2.1.1
            21 June 2014 at 7:55 pm

            So yesterday huh. Labour wonders why they don’t connect with voters.

            Don’t watch rugby either.

            • One Anonymous Bloke 5.3.2.1.1.1
              22 June 2014 at 10:06 am

              Did wage inflation match power price rises? I’d hate to think you were only presenting one half of the equation as a feeble attempt to muddy the waters.

    • Clemgeopin 5.4
      21 June 2014 at 3:37 pm

      They are standing behind him because they know he will make a good and strong Prime minister who will implement many great Labour policies of vision and fairness for all in society and not just for the wealthy and privileged which is the real agenda of National and ACT with token social fooling policies for political expediency. Come over from your dark side and be a part of the coming change.

    • Nakiman 5.5
      21 June 2014 at 4:17 pm

      Mike Williams says Cunners will be rolled after the election, nobody wants the job before the election.

      • infused 5.5.1
        21 June 2014 at 6:45 pm

        Rinse and repeat of Shearer.

        • felix 5.5.1.1
          21 June 2014 at 8:52 pm

          Shearer never fought an election. You guys just really really wanted him to.

          • McFlock 5.5.1.1.1
            21 June 2014 at 9:21 pm

            nope.

            No matter who it is, tories want people thinking the Labour leadership is incompetent and being plotted against by the Labour caucus. And if the tories can encourage self-loathing labourites to cause enough internal aggravation that the leadership make more mistakes, all the better for the tories.

            Tories would throw the same drivel at Jesus if he were leader of the Labour party. Friendly relations with a roman centurion, lots of guys hanging around, no documentation that the lepers weren’t faking…

      • poem 5.5.2
        22 June 2014 at 5:58 am

        Not true Nakiman.

  6. fisiani 6
    21 June 2014 at 3:14 pm

    Iceberg??? What iceberg?

    • vto 6.1
      21 June 2014 at 3:18 pm

      The icebergs formed inside the homes of people who cannot afford to heat their homes thanks to the nasty mean and callous policies of you and your arseholes. Do you even care about that?

      • fisiani 6.1.1
        21 June 2014 at 3:28 pm

        The newly insulated state homes homes you mean? Insulated by a benevolent government.

        • vto 6.1.1.1
          21 June 2014 at 3:51 pm

          Fail.

        • The Al1en 6.1.1.2
          21 June 2014 at 4:40 pm

          Especially the ones insulated by landlords, who now factor in the cost of their contributions to the tenants,who can’t afford to turn on the 2400 heat pump because of it.

        • Tracey 6.1.1.3
          21 June 2014 at 6:13 pm

          glad to see you and national support green party initiatives. hope for you yet

        • redfred 6.1.1.4
          22 June 2014 at 7:43 am

          19% Yes National are paying off their rich mates that brought Electricity companies. Mum ada my ass, rich fat cats.

          19%!

    • felix 6.2
      21 June 2014 at 3:21 pm

      Good to see you’re still putting so much time and energy into the anti-Cunliffe effort.

      It must be very important to you.

      • fisiani 6.2.1
        21 June 2014 at 3:31 pm

        Cunliffe is just the captain. I don’t think changing the captain at this stage would save Labour.

      • fisiani 6.2.2
        21 June 2014 at 3:43 pm

        Cunliffe is just the captain. I don’t think changing the captain at this stage would save Labour. When a poll starts with a 1 in the next few weeks will you start counting the seats in the lifeboats. Ladies first as per the secret man ban thus bye bye male list mp’s even David Parker

        • swordfish 6.2.2.1
          21 June 2014 at 4:04 pm

          @ Fissy

          Hush up now, Honey-Child. You know very well that a public backlash against your utterly corrupt, sinister, Machiavellian* little Party has begun.

          As for the latest Fairfax/Stuff-Ipsos, I notice even the Dominion Post editor has dropped a broad hint that she believes it may be an outlier / rogue. Meanwhile, the Roy Morgan released on the same day continues to be assiduously ignored by Tory Tr*lls and MSM alike. The RM suggests the Nats are down 3 points, combined Lab+Green up 2, broader Left Bloc up / Right Bloc down.

          *(Well, I say Machiavellian, but that implies a cleverness that this nasty little smear campaign quite frankly just doesn’t possess. Inept might be a better word).

    • swordfish 6.3
      21 June 2014 at 3:24 pm

      The Iceberg, Fissy, of a public opinion backlash – a backlash against a vicious and rapidly unravelling Tory Black Ops Smear Campaign.

      Can we assume you’ll go down with the ship ?

      • Colonial Viper 6.3.1
        21 June 2014 at 3:35 pm

        I think the furious back peddling in the MSM is due to snap internal polling showing the NATs that the public was not liking their approach at all

        • swordfish 6.3.1.1
          21 June 2014 at 3:47 pm

          Yep, Own Goal territory. Key makes a habit of scoring a particularly spectacular one each Election…2008 Tranz Rail,….2011 Cup-of-Tea Saga,….2014 Counter-productive Black Ops Campaign that’ll come back to haunt him. The fucker will never learn.

          • Colonial Viper 6.3.1.1.1
            21 June 2014 at 3:56 pm

            Gotta hand it to Key and his minions though, all timed for when he was out of the country, organised with the most possible upside for National all going well, but the least possible downside for him if the plan went south, which it has.

            Got to appreciate competence and risk management in play.

            • David H 6.3.1.1.1.1
              21 June 2014 at 11:00 pm

              “Got to appreciate competence and risk management in play.”

              But as usual when getting ahead in the ‘game’ TricKey just couldn’t shut the fuck up and stop gloating. And makes English Look like a fool. Then Woodhouse disengages what little brain he has opens his big mouth and inserts both feet 3 times. No wonder the country has gone to hell in a hand basket!

        • The Al1en 6.3.1.2
          21 June 2014 at 5:16 pm

          I’m looking forward to the next couple of weeks with interest. I’m particularly looking forward to JK reverting to form, saying he doesn’t recall seeing that particular emal/letter/memo/report and he can’t recall meeting/speaking/calling/lunching/golfing with anyone who could have given him the information about over a hundred thousand dollars from Liu. That will be funny.

          Of course, his highness has been in Washington playing politics at our expense with many a free meal and down time to get his routine ready for next sitting days question time. If he’s got anything I’d expect it will come out in response to Q1 under parliamentary privilege. If DC is teflon, then the exchange could well be the election result right there. Who ever comes out on top will win it September. DC wins and not only does he have credible back in buckets, JK’s last days end up with his in tatters. Coordinated attack from from the Greens, mip and winston if he’s not had one too many for lunch, and a couple of patsy questions from tim macendope aside, it’ll be riveting stuff.

          But then JK could have nothing and he’ll have to claim he heard a whisper but can’t remember from who.
          Win win for me.

          • ffloyd 6.3.1.2.1
            21 June 2014 at 8:05 pm

            Chinese whisper?

            • The Al1en 6.3.1.2.1.1
              21 June 2014 at 9:40 pm

              I think what has really happened here is somebody in the nats got all 08 Williams with themselves, like when he went to Australia to get the dirt on honest John and returned home with nothing.

              If there isn’t a game called Chinese rumours there should be.

  7. ffloyd 7
    21 June 2014 at 3:34 pm

    It was evident immediately the letter was published that this was a beat up and a smear campaign. Key totally dismisses the intelligence and political nous of the average New Zealander such is his monumental arrogance. And he forgets that we have all seen this before in his orchestrated attacks ably assisted by the majority of the media against Phil Goff and David Shearer, so this has been expected that this is the way key would attack again. This time it is not working. Even a couple of Herald journalists are actually doing their jobs properly and not buying into this. Now the country can see key for what he really is and DC and the Labour Party for what they stand for, which is rescuing NZ from the septic tank that key has dropped us into. DC and Labour are getting some brilliant air time and they are using it superbly. It is said that ‘if it doesn’t kill you it can only make you stronger’. Well Labour is looking strong!!! Well done.

  8. Will@Welly 8
    21 June 2014 at 3:37 pm

    David, if we appear to be critical, it is because we expect better.
    Six years of being held ransom, lied to, the hopes and dreams of a once proud nation being stolen away. What the people want is their trust restored.
    Michael Joseph Savage, Peter Fraser, Norman Kirk, offered people hope.
    Deliver that, offer them a ray of hope, that there are jobs, real jobs, better pay, decent, affordable housing, then maybe people will believe in you.
    When it comes to education, only the rich want charter schools. And as for health services, no cuts to frontline services – yeah right – ask those on waiting lists who keep ‘dropping off’.
    Key & co will lie and attempt to tarnish you right up until election day – that is a given. The best reaction is to tell snake oil to put up the evidence – repeat that mantra enough and people will soon realise who the liar is.
    We desperately need change. Three more years of this administration, and New Zealand will no longer belong to those born here.

  9. Colonial Viper 9
    21 June 2014 at 3:41 pm

    Time to force Labour off centre and towards the left, methinks. He’s got to come firing back with strong gutsy controversial policy and an alternative narrative to National.

  10. ianmac 10
    21 June 2014 at 3:48 pm

    Good wishes David because when you go well so will all those on the so-called left. I too like the way that you stood firm against a wicked onslaught.

  11. chris73 11
    21 June 2014 at 3:57 pm

    I realize now that I’ve been wrong, I thought the low polling of Labour was a good thing for National but now I see that its ackshully a good thing for Labour

    http://imperatorfish.com/2014/06/19/victory/

    • swordfish 11.1
      21 June 2014 at 6:41 pm

      Oh, I see, it’s my fault, is it ? Ohhhhh, of course. There I was thinking it was your fault because you’d been left in charge, or Manuel’s fault for not waking you, but all the time it was my fault ! Oh, it’s so obvious now, I’ve seen the light. Well, I must be punished then musn’t I ? You’re a naughty boy, swordfish, don’t do it again !.

  12. Jack 12
    21 June 2014 at 4:14 pm

    It was a Smear Campaign from wow to go however the average kiwi only gets half the story and only believes what the press tells them, it is a particularly nasty dangerous form of politics National and Key are playing at with the NZ Public.

    Unfortunately the average New Zealander does not have the time or the ability to read between the lines of all this nonsense and drama going on in the media.

    When are we going to get some responsible Press who are going to analyse policy properly and give us some accurate professional reporting rather than their own personal dribble depending on the colour of their cloth?

  13. anker 13
    21 June 2014 at 4:29 pm

    I have total faith that David Cunliffe will make one of our best PM’s ever.

    I hope this dirty smear back firers and NZ see it for what it is.

    John Key and National have no vision to improve the lives of ordinary NZders. John Key just does deals and he will and has sold decent people short. David Cunliffe has a fantastic grasp on the issues and how the economy works. John Key does……………deals and more deals. There is no real vision to make this country great again. Our great moments like being nuclear free and standing up to the American’s (Lange) are gone with this govt. Key has weakened and agreed to whatever the Americans want.

  14. Jim47 14
    21 June 2014 at 5:28 pm

    The backlash has surely come as it was labour who started the smear attacks went on and on now the chickens have come home to roost.
    And to make statements like I have seen on this post by some of you that the average New Zealander hasn’t the intelligence to see what is happening is surely going to encourage them to vote labour.

    • mickysavage 14.1
      21 June 2014 at 6:01 pm

      But Jim do you understand the difference between a Minister interfering in a police prosecution and an MP forgetting that he had written a letter 11 years ago?

      • Clemgeopin 14.1.1
        21 June 2014 at 9:21 pm

        And that too was on behalf of a new immigrant that was going to invest heavily in New Zealand. Cunliffe was just an ordinary constituent MP then and not a minister. Cunliffe did nothing wrong or illegal his office spelling the name of the new immigrant as Lui in lieu of Liu.

        The curious doings of cabinet ministers Judith Collins and Maurice Williamson are serious conflict of interest and dodgy and questions definitely deserved to be asked. In fact, they were so serious that the Prime minister asked one of them to go away and keep a low profile for a while and the other fellow was asked to resign! Serious? Yes, definitely!

      • poem 14.1.2
        22 June 2014 at 5:46 am

        No Jim and those like him dont understand, he cant see past pinoKEY’s nose.

      • realist 14.1.3
        23 June 2014 at 1:33 pm

        Yes I think most get that.. What is on show here is the hypocrisy of it all.. Had Labour have stuck to the point way back when, and not try to play pretend that they are as pure as the driven snow then this wouldn’t have eventuated..

        This “smear” is but a retaliation… those that draw the comparison between Maurice and David do so out of ignorance or they do it to try and discredit just how murky their dealings have been (and presumably still are)..

        This site is here for you all to reinforce your own strongly held believes, no matter the truth.. there is a lack of perspective that runs through these pages that is beyond belief.. You will of course find the same on the pages of the right leaning blogs.. The saddest part of all of that is that the “common people” that you tend to all moan about being ignored are as much ignored by Labour as they are by National. David is as much of a “Rich Prick” as John is.. but of course you dont want to see it/admit that it is so.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 14.1.3.1
          23 June 2014 at 1:37 pm

          So now you’ve demonstrated your feeble grasp on logic by attacking the messenger, you can always redeem yourself by voting on policy instead.

          • realist 14.1.3.1.1
            23 June 2014 at 1:56 pm

            the messenger? this is beginning to sound more cultish by the second.. are you suggesting that you (the left) have the exclusive grasp of the truth here? If anything I am what you would call a swing voter..

            Labour have not to date given me any confidence whatsoever to vote for them.. Love to vote on policy.. still waiting really, on either side

            • One Anonymous Bloke 14.1.3.1.1.1
              23 June 2014 at 1:58 pm

              You attacked the messengers on both sides. Hence the option of judging on policy rather than superficialities.

              Can’t you find any policy statements from Labour or the other left-wing parties? Try their websites: Google is your friend. Unless your entire contribution is offered in bad faith, that is.

              • realist …
                23 June 2014 at 2:01 pm

                oh how witty…

                • One Anonymous Bloke …
                  23 June 2014 at 2:13 pm

                  Oh how insincere. You almost come across as one of those messengers you were bagging a few moments ago.

                  I tell you what, I’ll be charitable and give you some help.

                  Green policy.

                  Labour policy.

                  Mana policy – you may have to cross-reference that with IP policy.

                  There you are, lots of substantive details to sink your teeth into with that shiny good faith curiosity of yours.

                  I would have included National Party policy, but there isn’t any detail (sad but true), because they know what a vote-loser it would be (true).

                  • realist …
                    23 June 2014 at 2:23 pm

                    true because youve said it so it must be right?

                    fact is I have been through Labours policy.. I wont bother with the other two as im not that extreme in my beliefs.. In DC Labour dont have a leader to bring about an election win (sad but true) my fear is that they dont have anyone else within the ranks that would deliver them one in 2017 either… time will tell

                    The other issue for Labour is that the Polls suggest that whatever way a Labour win would be cobbled together that they would have to give too much say to the Greens and also now Mana/Internet… that scares the hell out of middle NZ. (true) if Labour could poll in the high 30s and push into the 40s and be a credible opposition then the minority parties would wield less influence and perhaps be palatable as an option.. at present they are not… that leaves me with the decision of who to vote for… John Key or in reality not Hone and Kim…

                    • One Anonymous Bloke …
                      23 June 2014 at 2:28 pm

                      ….still waiting…

                      …I have been through Labour’s policy…

                      You see? It took you less than an hour to reveal your true nature: insincere, dishonest, manipulative.

                      A perfect expression of National Party values and zero personal responsibility. Contemptible.

                    • McFlock …
                      23 June 2014 at 2:35 pm

                      You you don’t read their policies, how do you know a party is extreme?

                      If you’re prepared to vote for Key, why do you “fear” Labour might not have a leader to win in 2017 (lol)? You do realise that if party policies were interchangeable, there’d be no point in voting regardless of who was leader?

                      🙄

                    • One Anonymous Bloke …
                      23 June 2014 at 2:41 pm

                      Both the statements I quoted are lies: the mendacious wretch hasn’t read the policy at all, and still knew it existed.

                      A horrible thought just occurred to me: what if there are no better wingnuts? 😈

                    • freedom …
                      23 June 2014 at 2:45 pm

                      ” I wont bother with the other two as im not that extreme in my beliefs”
                      thus proving how insincere you are in talking about truth

                      realist, you seem to be a card carrying member of the ‘i want to know new things but won’t do anything that helps me learn’ club

                      let me tell you a little tale

                      I have had one particularly nasty thorn in my friendship paw for many many years and he is an old hard arsed bigot and it is always a hell of a battle any time we meet up, but over the last few years I have been giving him no free passes and calling him up on the bs he spouts about politics and people and all the associated crap we all deal with. He is very free with his opinions about what he wants and who he thinks is at fault and if you are brown or different chances are you copped responsibility for all of it.

                      Despite this I would persevere because in his heart he is actually a decent guy. He had plenty of good ideas about how it should be but still he drank from the kool aid every single day.

                      I would keep telling him that there is one party in particular that has all the policies he personally called for. So after getting sick of my badgering he finally went and read the policies I had repeatedly pushed on him and to his absolute stunned mullet amazement, he is now a proud supporter of the Mana Party.

                      He is a retired gent of hardcore attitude but as I just said, he is now a Mana supporter. Why? because he read the policies instead of regurgitating CT stained propaganda.

        • Clemgeopin 14.1.3.2
          23 June 2014 at 1:53 pm

          I am a Labour party supporter and I am not against rich pricks per se, but against rich pricks and rich prick parties like National and ACT that have policies that help to keep increasing the income and wealth gap between the wealthy and the rest, policies that favour the rich and the powerful at the expense of the rest in society, policies that make it harder for the poor and the less privileged able to look after their families with meeting even basic needs or hope of truly improving their lot. It is both amazing and sad that you and about half the people in this country do not see this in their pursuit of their selfish greed and callous attitude.

  15. fisiani 15
    21 June 2014 at 5:52 pm

    Bring back Shearer.

    • felix 15.1
      21 June 2014 at 6:02 pm

      Yeah he was much easier for you guys.

      • poem 15.1.1
        22 June 2014 at 5:50 am

        Thats why the nats want him back. I dont think john key is looking forward to the debates with Cunliffe.

        • felix 15.1.1.1
          22 June 2014 at 9:02 am

          Yep, and Key knows he can’t get away with all the ugly screeching and spitting that he does in parliament where no-one much is watching.

          • poem 15.1.1.1.1
            22 June 2014 at 7:58 pm

            Exactly, hence the latest smearmongering campaign to discredit and undermine Cunliffe.

    • swordfish 15.2
      21 June 2014 at 6:17 pm

      Bring back The Gormless Fool formerly known as oleolebiscuitbarrell.

      He may have been a Tory, but at least he was a bit of a laugh. Tory Tr*lls just aint what they used to be.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 15.2.1
        21 June 2014 at 6:20 pm

        +1

        We need better wingnuts. These ones are nothing more than a chorous of tiresome parrots all trying to get their lines out first.

      • David H 15.2.2
        21 June 2014 at 11:20 pm

        Yeah Ol’ gormless was a Tory, but at least he had 2 things going for him.

        1. He was funny.
        2. He could string a few words together and make a coherent statement, unlike the Trooools we get now.
  16. Jim47 16
    21 June 2014 at 6:06 pm

    Micky savage
    It has nothing to do with the letter it has to do with cunliffe and labour going after national for accepting donations from a rich man from china when they themselves did the same .
    Hypocrisy .
    That’s the talk in the street.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 16.1
      21 June 2014 at 6:14 pm

      No, that’s you putting your ear to the dogshit on the pavement. Labour went after National when Judith Collins failed to declare a massive conflict of interest, diverted Ministerial resources for personal gain and tried to cover it all up. Then Labour went after National because Maurice Williamson interfered in a police investigation, and John Key accepted that he had to resign.

      No doubt you will either be able to link to “labour going after national for accepting donations from a rich man from china”, or you’ll take personal responsibility for your deceitful behaviour and withdraw and apologise.

      (Nah – I made that last part up – you have no personal responsibility and your ethics are in the gutter, because you’re trash).

    • Tracey 16.2
      21 June 2014 at 6:16 pm

      yea make sure you are clear jim its not about ethics honesty or integrity cos you guts abandonedcthat in 2005

    • Tracey 16.3
      21 June 2014 at 6:18 pm

      are all john keys neighbours on the street? a party?

  17. Tracey 17
    21 June 2014 at 6:14 pm

    key words david

    labour led govt. your united caucus is a start. for the sake of all tge left parties who want this govt gone

  18. Jim47 18
    21 June 2014 at 6:23 pm

    Your reply is typical of what labour has to offer.
    Personal abuse .
    No substance.
    For goodness sake say something that would make me want to vote labour.
    I was brought up labour.
    My grandfather helped establish labour.
    He would have nothing to do with it today.
    The person that sighns on as mickysavage is so far removed from the man my grandfather who new Savage talked to me about.

    • mickysavage 18.1
      21 June 2014 at 6:40 pm

      Jim if you are going to troll the site please learn to post your comments in the right place. If I had a dollar for every right winger who said they were brought up labour …

      • swordfish 18.1.1
        21 June 2014 at 6:58 pm

        It’s amazing how many Tory trolls have trouble understanding the complexities of using the Reply button. Still, I guess they need to learn to walk before they can run. Clearly, for them it is, indeed, Rocket Science.

        • Anne 18.1.1.1
          21 June 2014 at 8:11 pm

          A brief, simple version for their almost non existent attention spans and low level cognition.

          rightwingers are less intelligent than leftwingers

          • David H 18.1.1.1.1
            21 June 2014 at 11:27 pm

            So that’s why the do the same ol’ same ol’ year after year.

          • fisiani 18.1.1.1.2
            21 June 2014 at 11:51 pm

            I take it you do not understand that National are NOT RIGHT WING. This is an American study and NATIONAL fits happily within the Democratic tradition.

            • Clemgeopin 18.1.1.1.2.1
              22 June 2014 at 12:10 am

              Bull Shit. National are very much a right wing party with Tory agenda of primarily being for the welfare of the wealthy, the corporates, the bankers, the casinos, the Hollywood mugfuls, the monopolies and the millionaires. Look at their recent track record in Asset sales, Tax cuts of billions of dollars each year to primarily help the wealthy, the increase in GST that affected the poor the most, the rampant disregard for freedom and privacy laws, the GCSB snooping, support of USA for illegal non UN sanctioned wars and methods of war, the increasing gap between the wealthy and the poor, the callous environmental policies to name a few.

              Why do you think that the big corporates, big vested interests and the wealthiest in the country give big donations to National while Labour gets only small donations from ordinary people and occasionally some bigger donations from a few wealthy people if it is lucky.

              Don’t be fooled by their keeping some of the excellent social policies of the previous Labour government’s for political expediency to fool the gullible to think of them as ‘nice’ non rightists. Hope you are not one of those gullible fools that has fallen for their trickery.

            • Francis 18.1.1.1.2.2
              22 June 2014 at 8:55 am

              Says more about the American Democrats than it does about National.

              • Colonial Viper …
                22 June 2014 at 8:07 pm

                Correct – secret courts, secret law, mass surveillance, drone strikes, guantanamo bay, banker bailouts, actions against journalists and whistleblowers the list goes on and on.

        • freedom 18.1.1.2
          23 June 2014 at 2:52 pm

          The reply button is a pretty complex action without thumbs and they have to wipe all the spittle of their screen to see the mouse but of greater concern is how many of them simply cannot spell.

      • Clemgeopin 18.1.2
        21 June 2014 at 9:33 pm

        I can kind of believe that a lot of these selfish tory-minded RWNJobs were once Labour voters when they NEEDED Labour policies to help them progress. But then once they get some wealth, some of them lose their noble values, get selfish, ungrateful, disloyal and drift towards National and ACT. And not only that, these bastards want to pull the ladder up so that other less fortunate or less privileged in society can’t progress.

        • Anne 18.1.2.1
          21 June 2014 at 10:06 pm

          Paula Bennett

          • Clemgeopin 18.1.2.1.1
            21 June 2014 at 11:22 pm

            May be..
            Judith Collins and/or her family?
            John Key and /or his family?
            Roger Douglas and/or his family
            Richard Prebble and/or his family

        • David H 18.1.2.2
          21 June 2014 at 11:33 pm

          Key got his start in life, education, housing, and all at the expense of the Taxpayer and his was an Immigrant family.

          Bennet ? was just another loose woman who got caught. (fell pregnant) Solo Mum, but was clothed, housed, and educated, at the Taxpayers expense.

          Maybe the taxpayer should send them a bill for all this largess. Now that they can afford to pay for it.

          • Clemgeopin 18.1.2.2.1
            21 June 2014 at 11:45 pm

            And the Maori party Labour turn coats who are now disgracefully supporting, propping up and kissing the backsides of National. What a shame!

    • One Anonymous Bloke 18.2
      21 June 2014 at 6:55 pm

      Jim47, why would I want you to vote Labour?

      You got called out for telling lies: if you really wanted to get back at me you’d post the link I challenged you to, but you can’t, and what’s more, you can’t even take personal responsibility for it.

      I apologise for letting my insults detract from your pathetic demonstration of National Party values.

      PS: speaking of National Party values, your grandfather may have passed on some good traits. One or more of your other ancestors obviously carried the low-IQ distended amygdala genes though.

  19. Jim47 19
    21 June 2014 at 7:55 pm

    I did wouldn’t publish.
    So did it the other way.
    Typical left.
    Dosent work

  20. Ronnie Chow 20
    21 June 2014 at 9:20 pm

    Good God , it must be that new short back and sides with the Brylcreem cowlick.He sounds convincing . To quote Lenin. in front of whose preserved remains I have personally laid a wreath ,
    “To accept anything on trust, to preclude critical application and development, is a grievous sin; and in order to apply and develop, “simple interpretation” is obviously not enough”

  21. Charlieboy 21
    21 June 2014 at 9:36 pm

    Wouldn’t you love to see what Obama would do if Labour won the election. No golf with Jonny, bugger! Worth a vote for Labour just to see the back flips, and u-turns in the U S state department.Visit, what visit.
    And don’t forget the GCSB paper shredders running white hot into the night.Ah the panic.Go on,vote Labour and let the gnashing of Tory teeth and the tearing of toupees begin,wot fun.
    Take back our country!

    • Clemgeopin 21.1
      21 June 2014 at 9:53 pm

      How true and exciting!

      Would be fun to watch Key frantically clearing his ‘top drawer’ and other ‘dirty tricks’ files.

    • David H 21.2
      21 June 2014 at 11:38 pm

      And for that reason alone some NACTS would probably vote Labour just for the fun.

  22. freedom 22
    21 June 2014 at 11:07 pm

    one more step of the journey done
    another step ahead

    after all, that is how you reach new destinations

    Kia kaha Mr Cunliffe

  23. Wyndham, George 23
    22 June 2014 at 3:17 pm

    Kia kaha David Cunliffe
    Tories will do everything and anything to hold onto power.
    Has always been that way. Will always be that way.
    Keep doing the right thing.
    Your job is to give a vision of a future led by a Labour Government.