The momentum of expectation….

Written By: - Date published: 12:20 pm, August 26th, 2013 - 115 comments
Categories: accountability, david cunliffe, democratic participation, Economy, human rights, labour, Social issues, sustainability, telecommunications, vision, workers' rights - Tags:

Grant Robertson  seemed to grab the early attention by announcing he is standing for the Labour leadership first.  However, Cunliffe seems to be taking a more considered approach.  Expectation is mounting – news is dripping out that he intends to make an announcement in his electorate at 2.30pm this afternoon…. there’s a certain amount of tension developing around this: surely he will stand….. or won’t he?

The MSM reporting on the launch of the leadership contest, had most jonolists stating that Robertson was the early frontrunner.  But on what evidence?  The vote is to be by the wider membership, and Robertson’s support seems to be largely with some of his caucus colleagues.  It has not yet appeared in any popularity polls.

Andrea Vance and Vernon Small on the expected announcement from Cunliffe this afternoon:

David Cunliffe is expected to throw his hat in the ring this afternoon for the Labour party’s leadership.

The leadership race was sparked by David Shearer’s surprise resignation on Thursday, following stubbornly low polls for the party.

Deputy leader Grant Robertson put his hand up last night, and Shane Jones has now also confirmed his intention to run.

Auckland sources said Cunliffe’s announcement was likely at 2.30pm in New Lynn but so far he has not confirmed that.

The MP has played a careful hand so far, leaving it to his rivals Robertson and Jones to come out of the blocks early.

The momentum seems to be building for Cunliffe after a TVNZ-Colmar Brunton poll yesterday showed him with with almost three times the support of his nearest rival Robertson on 10 per cent. Jones was slightly ahead of Robertson on 11 per cent.

There are also signs that the so-called anti-Cunliffe faction in the caucus is waning, with some leading lights now indicating they have an open mind on who would be the best leader.

I will be watching the leadership contest, not just to see who will win, but how they will win.  I am hoping Cunliffe’s caution is showing a well-planned approach, while keeping in mind that it could be a platform for, not only the 2014 election, but for how a Labour-led government will be managed.

Disclaimer: I am a Cunliffe electorate voter, for reasons I explained here.

Cunliffe’s webpages here, showing a certain amount of awareness of the importance of digital communications.

I will update this post later after the anticipated announcement.  I will be looking to see how it is pitched and managed.

[Update] “new hope, new vision, new beginning”, is the slogan the above linked Stuff article is now attributing to Cunliffe’s bid. The updated article now says (h/t Bunji):

Cunliffe will hold a media conference at his New Lynn office at 2.30pm to announce his bid, which includes the slogan “new hope, new vision, new beginning”.

So far, the considered approach seems worth the time taken.

[Updates….]  Surrounded by women, especially Pasifika women, Cunliffe announced he is standing for Labour leader. Iain lees galloway and Nanaia Mahuta signed the nomination forms.  Paddy Gower lead the media questioning, trying to show himself as a touch and challenging Jonolist  journalist.  Sue Moroney, Louisa Wall, Carole Beaumont in support.  Moana Mackay and Su’a William Sio caught in traffic on the way from South auckland, sent support.

Report from New Lynn, coming up….. (and I’ll see if any of my pics are publishable).

Report from New Lynn:

I wasn’t sure if I was going to be allowed into the announcement, but I just joined behind the group of people walking with Sue Moroney and I was in, to a very crowded room.

Cunliffe arrives

Cunliffe arrives to make announcement

After arriving, Cunliffe is greeted by Pasifika women

After arriving, Cunliffe is greeted by Pasifika women

Cunliffe delivered his speech, seated.  he was emphatic, and animated

Cunliffe delivers speech

Seated, Cunliffe delivers speech – animated, decisive, a lot of smiles.

Mahuta and Lees Galloway sign the nomination forms

Mahuta and Lees Galloway sign the nomination forms

Cunliffe was pretty good at responding to difficult questions.  Gower challenged him over living in a rich street, his “arrogance” etc.  Cunliffe said it was up to his caucus, under the newest rules, to select a deputy.  Asked if, under the STV system he would endorse either Robertson or Jones, Cunliffe said that’s up to voters.  However, he did say more than once, that Robertson should have a senior position.   No mention of Jones in the senior team.

Cunliffe said it was very unlikely that a Green MP would have the finance portfolio in a Labour led government – pretty much ruled it out.

Asked if a Cunliffe led government would raise taxes, Cunliffe said that it would be possible, but he wouldn’t commit to details.  He said that Labour was for a progressive tax system, and those who gained a big share of money should pay a fair share of taxes.

A journalist stated that Cunliffe had shifted from the right of the party in the Clark government, to being championed by the left. Gower asked if Labour would take a Labour government to the left.  Cunliffe said “left” was a matter of interpretation.  He would implement core Labour values – support for hard working Kiwis, and those on low incomes, as well as decreasing the wealth/income gap.

Asked what his message was to John Key, Cunliffe said something about him looking forward to packing his bag for a long stay in Hawaii.

Cunliffe painting left of photo below:

Cunliffe painting

115 comments on “The momentum of expectation…. ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. One Anonymous Knucklehead 1
    26 August 2013 at 12:28 pm

    If he stands, I think allowing time for Robertson and Jones’ candidacies to sink in was a great strategy. Several lacklustre media appearances later…

    The momentum of expectation indeed.

  2. Takere 2
    26 August 2013 at 12:35 pm

    Well after listening to Shane Jones this morning … I think he’s the right man for the job to get kiwi’s to realise that the Gorrilla is really a monkey! He is the only candidate amongst the frontrunners to be able to tap into the 880,000 of potential voters! Going after the 5% of swing voters will only get the party to come in 3rd at the next election. Remember, the labour party hierarchy aren’t that good at maths. Shearers polling of about 33% is better than the 27.5% in the 2011 election. Cunliffe won’t change that. He won’t bring in the vote from the biggest potential voter pool. If the front bench had got off there collective arses and done some work, the party might not be in this position?

    • weka 2.1
      26 August 2013 at 12:39 pm

      For every disenfranchised vote Jones brings in, another leaves or stays away (women, voters who want Labour to go with the GP or actually win the election, anyone who finds him an offensive, dominating boor).

      • Takere 2.1.1
        27 August 2013 at 8:37 am

        Cunliffes announcement yesterday was an absolute embarrassment! Tell him to pull out now! That kind of performance bumbling through like an amature will just scare voters away in droves! Something labour can’t afford. Jones & Robertson is the only choice now.

        • Tracey 2.1.1.1
          27 August 2013 at 8:49 am

          Yup, Jones announcement was much more polished and full of how he will change the country.

          He’s lucky NZ has grown up so much, haven’t seen a single discussion of his race in the way I have seen discussions about Robertson’s sexuality. He sure is lucky those who oppose him have more maturity than he. Example calling women “geldings”.

          Of all the people I have seen posting you seem to know the most about Jones. Can you outline for me what he stands for and what policies he supports for NZ? Specifics please.

          This is fun, how will we know who won this cool new game?

    • Ant 2.2
      26 August 2013 at 12:41 pm

      Doubt Shame Jones is going to get people out to vote.

      • lprent 2.2.1
        26 August 2013 at 12:47 pm

        He never has before. Why should he start now?

        • Takere 2.2.1.1
          28 August 2013 at 3:27 pm

          So much for unity in the Labour party aye?

          • lprent 2.2.1.1.1
            28 August 2013 at 4:33 pm

            I’d thought that I’d made my views about Labour’s predicament perfectly clear already – “Why I will party vote for the Greens“. I may be still be a member because I haven’t bothered to cut off my VFL but I’m more than a little uninterested in that they’re belatedly addressing the complete screw up in Wellington.

            The fact that Shane Jones was still in the caucus is a symptom of the underlying problem and I’m not inclined to stop pointing out the problems. The NZLP still hasn’t really addressed them yet…

          • Tracey 2.2.1.1.2
            28 August 2013 at 4:39 pm

            I’m not a labour party member so can’t contribute to unity or disunity within it.

    • Pete 2.3
      26 August 2013 at 1:30 pm

      Jones is damaged goods, and we all know it. Too much of a pal to Sealord, too dismissive of Labour’s natural coalition partners. Not a friend to women.

    • Boadicea 2.4
      26 August 2013 at 1:34 pm

      Jones was awful on TV this morning. Instead if talk g to people he us actually talking to his own reflection in a mirror.
      He was pompous, arrogant , dismissive , rude.

      Lousy body language too. Bad posture and kept closing his eyes.

      If that is the best spoiler the ABCs can throw up, they are fucked.

    • North 2.5
      26 August 2013 at 3:53 pm

      Takere – congratulations on the robustness of your support for Shane Jones. As admirable as it is it is patently inadequate to prove your claim re 800,000 potential voters which claim cannot be distinguished as better than wishfulness. You talk like Jones is some sort of working class hero – yeah right. Further, who are you to say what and to whom Cunliffe’s appeal will be ?

      Tell me……..why would Key and the tea partiers who sit behind him not make unconscionable use of that little bit of baggage Jones (like it or not) carries ? Why would they not ? Performance in the House is vital. Jones would be constantly mocked and thus hobbled. Shearer’s bank account was nothing compared to what that spectacle would be.

      Finally, your comment about the front bench getting off their collective arse. Ummh……I believe that latterly Jones has been closely associated with the front bench. Cunliffe has not.

      • Takere 2.5.1
        27 August 2013 at 9:00 am

        North, and that hasn’t happened to date? … and Jones has dealt with it every time. It’s good to go through the motions because eventually for some with a brain, it becomes a non-issue but for the few that have nothing better to do and don’t get out much, it gives them something to moan about. There’s a saying about poms? You are petty/pathetic North is all I can say. Take your pick?

        Harvard rings a bell?? Cunliffe, when has he worked in a working class role?? Ummm, never. His mum & dad pulled him out of state school because he was too scare of the maoris, so they sent him to a kiddie fiddler school.

        And this is the guy you think can unite the party & the country?? Get a grip.

        880,000 non votes. Look it up at the electoral commission website, its not hard to find.

        Front bench, exactly! You wouldn’t know who they were because of their absenteeism even when key was lobbing them an easy issue to deal with so Jones stepped up. Unlike most.

        • Tracey 2.5.1.1
          27 August 2013 at 9:19 am

          Was my question too hard?

          You speak scoffingly of Cunnliffe and use Harvard attendance as an example.

          Didn’t Jones go to Harvard?

          I am trying to find out the working class roles Jones has had but so far he seems to have been a career bureaucrat with a stint as Chair of Sealord (altho not mentioned in his LP blurd) where he (apparently) oversaw Ukranian getting jobs over locals, including Maori.

          This from the labour party website.

          “Shane Jones was born on 3 September 1959 in Awanui, Northland. His tribal links are to Te Aupouri, Ngai Takoto and he has Welsh and Dalmatian heritage.

          Local elders raised money to send him to board at St Stephens College in Bombay. From there he went to Auckland and Victoria Universities to study politics.

          Between 1988 and 1990 (when he was 29-31) Shane set up the Maori Policy Unit at the new Ministry for the Environment and later did a year in the PM’s Department under Geoffrey Palmer. With four children in tow he then spent a year at Harvard completing a Masters in Public Administration degree on a Harkness Fellowship.

          He returned home in 1992 just as the Maori Fisheries Settlement deal was being completed and was appointed to the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission. He took over as chair in 2000. His task was to get approximately 70 iwi to agree on how to divide up the fisheries assets. This was completed in 2004 when the distribution legislation was passed.

          Shane entered Parliament in 2005. Before being promoted to Cabinet in November 2007 as Minister for Building and Construction, he was chair of the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee He was re-elected to Parliament in 2008 and is a member of the Transport Select Committee, and Finance and Expenditure select Committee. Shane is spokesman for Regional Development and Māori Affairs and associate spokesperson for Finance.

          Shane’s interests include sport, reading, gardening and spending time with his family.
          “

          • karol 2.5.1.1.1
            27 August 2013 at 9:24 am

            Didn’t Jones go to Harvard?

            Cunlife acknowledges he has climbed the “ladder” and acknowledges his background, while saying he won’t be pulling up the ladder for others.

            Jones tries to pass himself off as working class smoko guy and tries to pretend he doesn’t have a Harvard background.

            Spot the difference.

          • Takere 2.5.1.1.2
            28 August 2013 at 3:29 pm

            Thanks for posting Jones history ….. I didn’t know you knew him so well. Thats great stuff to know.

        • Greywarbler 2.5.1.2
          28 August 2013 at 5:31 pm

          takere
          he was too scare of the maoris, so they sent him to a kiddie fiddler school.

          You sound as if you would be better shouting your comments from the side of a rugby field. You don’t impress me as being able to discuss the issues when coming out with coarse remarks such as ‘kiddie fiddler’, You and Jones are of the same mind perhaps.

    • Rodel 2.6
      26 August 2013 at 6:56 pm

      Takere
      Nice try but really amateurish.

      • Linz 2.6.1
        26 August 2013 at 8:25 pm

        I agree. I think Takere is a Nat stooge.

        [lprent: Mildly nuts under her/his various handles back to 2011 – but that is pretty normal. But unlikely to be a Nat stooge. ]

        • Takere 2.6.1.1
          27 August 2013 at 9:31 am

          Arrhhh no I’m not. Here’s a story for you to get your fragile little heads around ….. when I was little, my mum & dad use to take me to see my grandad campaigning for the labour party in Papakura in the 70’s. Rain or shine on the hustings all around Hunua, Papakura railyard, Puke on market days, Sundays ect ….. he’d speak to the Working Class, Maori & pakeha from the back of an old bedford flat deck truck through a PA or even by shouting so everyone could hear. People would turnout in their work clothes or dressed up before going to church. Working Class actually meant Working Class then! Not the lot the party have now! So for all you twats wanking on how great Cunliffe is and how bad Jones is … have look at yourselves?? Working Class? You wouldn’t know what a hard days work is if you saw it!
          This party is nothing like what it should be and under Helen it still didn’t return to its roots. Cunliffe isn’t Working Class!
          It needs a new chapter & Cunliffe isn’t the one to write it.
          Jones & Grant would be a great ticket, both highly intelligent, both able to tame the gorrilla in the house and on the hustings too as well as on the TV ….. they could both pour on the pressure to have key crack more and more, Cunliffe can’t do it, he lacks confidence and doesn’t have the character or tenacity needed to engage the opposition and make them look foolish on lamestream tv where unfortunately many voters get their lead from.

          Cunliffe wins, that’ll be the end of the labour party because the unions can’t deliver/turnout a decent percentage jump in votes needed and they won’t be coming from the Nat’s or the Greens. Labour will bleed.

          • Tracey 2.6.1.1.1
            27 August 2013 at 9:47 am

            Why do you think Jones is working class? Icant find anything to point to him being working class?

            John Key was brought up in a state house, does that make him working class?

            • Greywarbler 2.6.1.1.1.1
              28 August 2013 at 5:50 pm

              takere
              As for bringing the working class back into the Labour government what about Andrew Little? Merely having a working man leader won’t be enough to help working people into jobs and better pay and houses and a good working economy.

              If working people really had nous they wouldn’t have sat back and left the middle class take over. Your father showed it requires a lot of work outside of working hours to really support and grow the political party. Perhaps less time at the pub and riding round in 4WD would be needed from working men. And then taking an interest in the rest of the country, not just how much each silo union was getting for its members would have ensured the continuation of a smart and honest Labour serving all ordinary people and encouraging the big employers too.

              Now we need people like Cunliffe who know how to match the wide boys in NACT, and have judgment about what good for the whole country including both pakeha and Maori. When it comes to a good honest Maori Hone Harawira will I think match your expectations. And he could match your buzzwords too, if you went nose to nose.

          • karol 2.6.1.1.2
            27 August 2013 at 9:56 am

            I make no claims for Cunliffe leading a brand new direction for Labour. I have said in other comments, he is the best of the current crop of Labour MPs to lead them right now. If he wins the leadership, I don’t propose to give Cunliffe or any other opposition leader or MP a free ride. Democracy means continually holding our politicians to account.

            Jones has little in his record to show he’d be a good leader. Robertson has a stronger record and would make a better leader than Jones. Robertson will be valuable on Labour’s front bench and/or as deputy. However, he is too neoliberal for me and, one of the reasons I am still looking at party voting Green or Mana.

        • Takere 2.6.1.2
          28 August 2013 at 3:30 pm

          No I’m not a stooge or a Nact stooge.

      • Takere 2.6.2
        27 August 2013 at 9:05 am

        Haha Rodent. I can learn lots from you I take it? With a contribution like this, it’ll take some time? Haha!

  3. weka 3
    26 August 2013 at 12:35 pm

    “I will be watching the leadership contest, not just to see who will win, but how they will win.”

    Spot on Karol.

  4. Redbaiter 4
    26 August 2013 at 12:37 pm

    C’mon Damien.

    O’Connor is real Labour.

  5. weka 5
    26 August 2013 at 12:41 pm

    “Cunliffe’s webpages here, showing a certain amount of awareness of the importance of digital communications.”

    Comparing Cunliffe’s website with Labour’s tells us much about who might be best to lead a win in the next election 😉

    • weka 5.1
      26 August 2013 at 12:42 pm

      Ooops, I take it back (links on Cunliffe’s aren’t working properly. Can someone tell them?)

    • Bill 5.2
      26 August 2013 at 12:47 pm

      Erm…I’m getting a ‘password protected’ pop-up. Oh well….

      • Colonial Viper 5.2.1
        26 August 2013 at 1:16 pm

        Looks like some launch co-ordination is going on 🙂

        • weka 5.2.1.1
          26 August 2013 at 1:55 pm

          Now the whole site is down. How hard would it be to put a front page holder in place and then work on the site out of public view? Not a good look Team Cunliffe.

  6. Lanthanide 6
    26 August 2013 at 12:47 pm

    Don’t forget this important site: http://catsthatlooklikedavidcunliffe.tumblr.com/

  7. vto 7
    26 August 2013 at 1:19 pm

    Maybe Cunliffe will do what Robertson did and let a numpty take the leadership into a doomed 2014 election thereby opening up a more certain option for himself in the 2017 election.

  8. Chooky 8
    26 August 2013 at 1:37 pm

    Labour needs a lean mean machine…and the 50% women vote ….. to WIN against Key and Nact !

    This rules out the flabby egotistical wannabes of Jones and Robertson…each dragging their own bags of liabilities to the polls.

    There is no more time!…Labour cant afford any more mistakes and muckups in choosing the next Leader !…

    It is the NZ voter who counts in the winning for Labour! ….not caucus machinations!

    The next Labour leader has to be Cunliffe ……(and ideally to grab the women vote… Ardern as Deputy).

    ( Note the panic already in Nact spin master Matthew Hooton’s voice at the prospect of Cunliffe as Labour Leader!…….. This says it all!)

    • Tangee 8.1
      26 August 2013 at 1:44 pm

      I agree since we are trying to promote women in Parliament so it would be great to have a woman as a Deputy and who better than Adern.

      • Bill 8.1.1
        26 August 2013 at 2:22 pm

        Keep seeing Ardern’s name pop up and it confuses me somewhat. Isn’t she very much a part of the (oh – let’s not talk of the past) ABC cabal?

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 8.2
      26 August 2013 at 2:20 pm

      Grab the women? Wouldn’t you be better off supporting Jones?

      Badum chh! 🙂

  9. tracey 9
    26 August 2013 at 1:39 pm

    Takere… how bout jones for deputy.

  10. SHG (not Colonial Viper) 10
    26 August 2013 at 1:42 pm

    Cunliffe’s webpages here, showing a certain amount of awareness of the importance of digital communications.

    Site 401 and unavailable. That “certain amount of awareness” must be pretty small – not even a placeholder page. Noobs.

  11. Roflcopter 11
    26 August 2013 at 1:57 pm

    ”new hope, new vision, new beginning”

    Seriously? That’s the best he can come up with?

    [lprent: Use blockquote or italics/em for quoting. Don’t use bold, it is too noisy (which is why moderators use it – we need you to see our notes). It is a tossup if it is easier to just ban people using it to excess (ie forcing us to waste time correcting it) or to disable the ability for comments to use b/strong.

    This is the third one I’ve fixed today. Personally I lean to the banning option – it is more *fun* ]

    • Roflcopter 11.1
      26 August 2013 at 2:07 pm

      no probs, saw it in the editor post, thought it was generally ok…. will switch.

    • weka 11.2
      26 August 2013 at 2:11 pm

      “Use blockquote or italics/em for quoting.”

      The blockquote html isn’t that obvious. I’ll do a test now.

      The blockquote html isn’t that obvious. I’ll do a test now.

  12. tracey 12
    26 August 2013 at 1:59 pm

    Please post yours in 6 words or less

  13. Colonial Viper 13
    26 August 2013 at 2:15 pm

    Come on down to the New Lynn electorate office if you can!!!!

  14. Treetop 14
    26 August 2013 at 2:16 pm

    Cunliffe has the confidence to make a clean break from the Clark era and to sort out any caucus member who thinks they can recreate the Clark years.

    • Bill 14.1
      26 August 2013 at 2:25 pm

      That would be my sincere hope. The thirty odd years of destructive bullshit allied with a penchant for a collective sticking of the head in the sand has to end. It would have been better to have happened 20 years ago, but now we have to settle for there being no better time than right now.

  15. yeshe 15
    26 August 2013 at 2:42 pm

    tvnz news just confirmew he is standing — HURRAY DAVID CUNLIFFE !!!!!!

    • veutoviper 15.1
      26 August 2013 at 2:48 pm

      Great! I was wondering whether he was not going to stand due to the silence. And like what he said.

  16. jaymam 16
    26 August 2013 at 2:49 pm

    with Nanaia Mahuta as deputy??

    • veutoviper 16.1
      26 August 2013 at 2:53 pm

      As discussed in other various places on TS in the last few days, the Deputy position is not in the equation at present – the Deputy will be chosen by the Labour Caucus after the election of the new leader.

    • Chooky 16.2
      26 August 2013 at 3:46 pm

      @ jaymam…..Nanaia Mahuta would be great as Deputy also …need to have a woman to inspire the woman vote….an added advantage that she would also inspire the Maori vote

      • jaymam 16.2.1
        26 August 2013 at 5:07 pm

        Jacinda Ardern is a woman too, and would get more votes I think.
        Labour should encourage the Maori roll voters to vote for their choice of candidate and party vote Labour.

      • Takere 16.2.2
        27 August 2013 at 9:53 am

        Chook, you’ve got to be joking? She’d have to do some work??

        • Tracey 16.2.2.1
          27 August 2013 at 9:55 am

          and you advocating Jones and accusing someone else of laziness???

          • Takere 16.2.2.1.1
            28 August 2013 at 3:35 pm

            That is an affliction them bloody Nga Puhi have …. you can’t help that. I’m sure theres plenty of other labour party MP’s that are lazy …… most of the front bench and the tail end of the MP’s on the list.

  17. Ant 17
    26 August 2013 at 2:51 pm

    Watching the conference: off the bat he’s awesome.

    Can there be any doubt that he should be the leader?

  18. AmaKiwi 18
    26 August 2013 at 4:14 pm

    I was at the announcement as Cunliffe demonstrated again he is a political pro.

    Damn. My vacation from politics through the 2014 election was just cancelled. The historic battle between Key and Cunliffe has commenced.

    For the sake of future generations, we must not lose.

    • karol 18.1
      26 August 2013 at 4:16 pm

      Yep. Cunliffe seemed to handle it effortlessly. And he obviously has a lot of local support.

      I thought it was a historic moment to experience.

      • Ray 18.1.1
        26 August 2013 at 4:45 pm

        Excellent work and pictures karol
        Be interesting to see how network tv cover this tonight

      • AmaKiwi 18.1.2
        26 August 2013 at 4:55 pm

        David’s electorate committee and local support is strong enough that in the 2014 campaign they will be able to deliver safely New Lynn for Labour while he is campaigning around the country. His LEC has a lot of experienced talent

        Helen had that strong an LEC, too. Cunliffe is thorough.

  19. lurgee 19
    26 August 2013 at 6:48 pm

    new hope, new vision, new beginning

    Oh, puke. It’s going to be one of THOSE contests. All very Blairite and nuLabour.

  20. Murray Olsen 20
    26 August 2013 at 7:31 pm

    David Cunliffe standing for Labour leader has given me some hope, not because I think Labour will solve all our problems, but because the broad left needs a stronger Labour to get rid of the sadistic bunch of Tories running us into the ground. For the life of me, I cannot understand how anyone can promote the terminally bland Robertson or the priapismic Sealord Jones as realistic options.
    We need Labour to lead a government with a strong Green/Mana component, which means we need a leader who shares at least some values with Green and Mana. Robertson’s economic policy, as stated by him, is to not intervene in the market. Well then, fuck off to ACT. Jones’s policy, as demonstrated by him, is to chat with the blokes in the smoko room about the last porn video he got off to. Well, Mr Slave Sailor Jones, the smoko room has moved on since the 1960s. What a bloody shame you haven’t.
    In the meantime, we keep organising, educating and fighting. We will not run, either to the hills or to Hawaii.

    • Colonial Viper 20.1
      26 August 2013 at 7:49 pm

      There’s a fucking electoral storm a comin’ I feel it in my socialist bones.

      • yeshe 20.1.1
        26 August 2013 at 8:50 pm

        Cue Queen soundtrack at end of marvelous day ….

        “Thunder and lightning, very very frightening …. “

    • the pigman 20.2
      26 August 2013 at 7:49 pm

      Murray, there is little point painting the other candidates in such broad(ly negative) strokes. Although it might be a step too far to expect this contest to be a clean and uniting experience for Labour, ripping into the others so viciously straight off the bat is exactly what Shyster Smile n Wave DunnoKeyo wants you to do, and he’s telling the media all about it.

      Don’t play into their memes, for once.

      • Murray Olsen 20.2.1
        26 August 2013 at 9:58 pm

        How do you unite with someone who thinks slave workers on fishing boats is a good thing? Or that the market is sacred? I’m more interested in a rebirth, a cleansing. The trash needs to be put out. It can be dumped in the bin along with John Key. In this case, I’m not a fan of recycling.

        • red rattler 20.2.1.1
          26 August 2013 at 10:34 pm

          Pigman, you must not be noticing the way this contest is being set up with Robertson trying to keep the ABC at the top and Jones playing the spoiler. This is a desperate attempt to stop Cunliffe blocking with the members to take control of the party away from the Rogernomic rump.
          Because they know that they won’t win the party members they are insulting them by launching their campaign using the media to shift the contest from the party to ‘middle NZ’ where personality politics and bullshit talkback memes fly around.
          They know that Cunliffe will win the party, and a strong minority of caucus.
          He will also win the ranks of the unions. Assuming that the delegates stick to their mandates, he will also win the unions.

          Cunliffe did the opposite. He staged his launch in the heart of his electorate.
          Having a solid number of the best MPs representing young, female, Maori and PI in support did a lot to shift the ABC ‘populist’ framing of the contest back to the party ranks.
          Gower had to ask his gutter press questions in front of enthusiastic electorate supporters.
          This allowed Cunliffe to show that this is a contest to be staged for labour enthusiasts not for opinionated media stars to bullshit the public.
          Garner on Radiolive was so chagrined that Cunliffe had upstaged the media that he had a fit of pique on his program.
          Both the launch and the media followup made Robertson and Jones look like cheap self-promoters.
          That is already a victory for Cunliffe.

          • the pigman 20.2.1.1.1
            27 August 2013 at 12:24 am

            If you were asked, could you identify the members of the so-called ABCs as a faction within caucus? It has been attempted by many (especially Bomber), but I don’t think it cuts so cleanly since there appear to be 3 factions, the one that was promoting Shearer was the largest, and the one around Robertson is the smallest.

            In this construction, those who previously touted Shearer in 2011 (the “Rogernomic Rump” you spoke of, Goff et al.) appear to now be touting Jones as their best shot. Those around Robertson (who were previously thought to include Lees-Galloway – clearly not given he signed Cunliffe’s nomination form) are a relatively small faction in caucus. If Goff n co. do indeed stick with Jones (as suggested by the back-slapping surrounding Shearer’s resignation) then I don’t think it’s as simple as you say.

            Anyway, one thing for sure is that, whoever is elected at the end of this process (and I am on record as firmly supporting David C) will have the work with the rest of the Labour caucus, so the less heat you try to stoke up, the lower chance of burning bridges that will be needed later on.

            • red rattler 20.2.1.1.1.1
              27 August 2013 at 11:28 am

              The ABC faction is the one around Shearer of which Goff is the elder statesman and Robertson the point man. That’s why its called the ABC. Or more to the point, anything but (membership power over the) caucus!
              Most of Shearers votes will switch to Robertson because he stands for the Blairite Continuity. Neo-liberal lite by bureaucratic beltway rules OK.
              Jones supporters are the rightwing. His task is to keep the talkback rednecks personalising their attacks on Cunliffe to make Robertson the compromise ‘unity’ candidate.
              That’s why its not all about Cunliffe but about the members as I pointed out.
              Your idea that post election unity is important overlooks what is at issue.
              Its not about diplomacy, that can only weaken any move to the left.
              Its about policy and the support of the membership to continue to take their party back from the Blairites.
              Labour’s ACT throwback to increase the age of pension eligibility has to be thrown out.
              The living wage is a good start.
              The CGT has to have some real bite.
              Get rid of tax evasion.
              Getting rid of the crony capitalist regime and the new gentry has to start now!

        • Takere 20.2.1.2
          27 August 2013 at 10:14 am

          Murray. The irony is? Its a working class party and yet none of the MP’s have done any real work?? Including the union MP’s. They’ve talked themselves into positions of power by manipulating the workforce in the sectors they’re from. They got their tertiary education paid for from the fee’s workers have paid for membership and in return get f…kall except a bunch of dead-weights sitting on cushy MP incomes! How sad. Oh how times have changed and the definition of “Work” too.

          • Tracey 20.2.1.2.1
            27 August 2013 at 10:23 am

            Including Jones who you are championing. In fact after being asked numerous times to state what he actually stands for and how he can be regarding as working class, you have been completely silent. Why eschew the opportunity to put some facts on the table about him?

            Jones got his scholarship to Harvard through US interests…

            • Takere 20.2.1.2.1.1
              27 August 2013 at 10:28 am

              Nah tracy, you’re just a bigoted bias moron …. thats all. Maybe you should get to work and help your partner out while you’re up to bugga all … do some housework even.

  21. Tracey 21
    27 August 2013 at 10:26 am

    “Born in Tatong, Victoria, Australia, Savage first became involved in politics while working in that state. He emigrated to New Zealand in 1907. There he worked in a variety of jobs, as a miner, flax-cutter and storeman, before becoming involved in the union movement. ”

    It was also a very different world he grew up in.

    It is VERY hard for warehouse workers and miners and others viewed as “working class” to get into politics other than through a union.

    Apart from anything else many are working long hours and trying to cover big mortgages and bills…

  22. Takere 22
    27 August 2013 at 12:06 pm

    What more can I say?? Cunliffe really is a moron. He should’ve just asked Grant to write one for him? http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11114681

    • Colonial Viper 22.1
      27 August 2013 at 12:10 pm

      Simple operational hiccup. Probably a clipboard/cut and paste error between documents. Nothing to it.

    • Tracey 22.2
      27 August 2013 at 12:17 pm

      and your spelling improves again. I think you keep forgetting the role you are playing on this site.

      • felix 22.2.1
        27 August 2013 at 12:22 pm

        It’s not easy keeping up 5 or 6 appearances at a time.

      • Takere 22.2.2
        28 August 2013 at 3:38 pm

        And what role might that be …. I’ve forgotten? It’s obvious tracy hasn’t worked much in her lifetime. Probably spent most if not all of her time getting educated off backs of the working class. But hey, thats what some pakeha’s do and have done to workers, exploited them and used them to advance themselves.

        • the pigman 22.2.2.1
          28 August 2013 at 7:02 pm

          What is a “pakeha’s do”? Pimms on the lawn and a bit of punting? Let’s not go nuts with the cultural and gender stereotyping just yet.

          Rather than a pissing contest about who has done the most “real work” in their lives, hard luck stories and candidate smear, why don’t you just get solidly behind your guy and let readers know how he will champion working class interests, employment rights, etc., because his narrative currently has some big gaps.