Much ado about nothing

Written By: - Date published: 12:23 pm, May 15th, 2012 - 39 comments
Categories: labour - Tags:

So, Cunliffe was invited on The Nation. He said, yup but not if leadership nonsense is raised. Garner agreed. Then the leader office said it should be Parker as Finance spokesperson this close to the Budget. Cunliffe agreed. And this is meant to be some huge ado? Get real.

Cunliffe’s just trying to do his job, as he does very well, and trying to keep from standing on Parker’s toes – always tricky when he’s been finance spokesperson and naturally more outgoing than Parker. But there was no telling off of Cunliffe for his well-received speech the other week. And there’s no leadership contest going on.

Everyone who knows Labour’s rules knows a new leader has until the compulsory vote in the first caucus of next year to prove themselves. Even if they wanted, no-one could get 60% to support a motion for a leadership vote beforehand, so why would anyone bother? Everyone’s best interest is served by knuckling down.

What we’re seeing is Labour’s MPs just being themselves and those dots being connected into a fantastic picture that ain’t there, all premised on the flimsy basis that Nash gave up the CoS job to concerntrate on his kid and winning Napier in 2014.

39 comments on “Much ado about nothing ”

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  1. TightyRighty 1
    15 May 2012 at 12:48 pm

    No what we are seeing is the external realities of internal conflict. Shearer feeling threatened and lashing out, anyone who isn’t a complete fanboy calling it or what it is and cue zet trying to spin it as nothing. Where is TRP to now use this as evidence that nothing is happening as opposed to Chris trotter and Brian Edwards

    • Te Reo Putake 1.1
      15 May 2012 at 12:58 pm

      I miss you too, TR. Hugs!
       
      Zet is on the money; there is nothing but wishful thinking behind this beat up. Seriously, does Shearer strike you as the kind of guy to ‘lash out’? Bear in mind that the other Tory meme is that he’s a softy Goffty in disguise, nice guys finish last etc.
       
      Much as C/T, Farrar etc would like there to be a leadership challenge, there won’t be, both for the reasons outlined in the post and because there is no apetite for it in caucus anyway because they are doing fine at the moment. Why would Labour need to change? The polls are on the improve, Shearer has made modest traction, the NACTM Gov’t is doing its best to burn off their support and Key looks and talks like a man who’d rather be somewhere else.
       
      To quote Bill Hayden, a drover’s dog could win this election. And Shearer is much smarter than the average huntaway.

      • TightyRighty 1.1.1
        15 May 2012 at 1:47 pm

        What about Chris trotter in the press thus morning? His works are published and I cant think of a bigger labour party fanboy. I could almost see his tent pitching itself as he spoke about cunliffes speech. I think he’s on the money, as long as it is distributed fairly away from those who earn it to those who do SFA but still want it.

        • ghostwhowalksnz 1.1.1.1
          15 May 2012 at 2:09 pm

          Fanboy ?
          He spends more time outside pissing into the tent than the reverse

          Meanwhile Key is firing blanks over the heads of the media, in an orchestrated appearance on ZB.
          Leighton Smith , now theres a fanboy

          • TightyRighty 1.1.1.1.1
            15 May 2012 at 2:13 pm

            Trotter loves the labour party and what it is supposed to be an stand for. Your only miffed as he criticises it in its current form.

            • Te Reo Putake 1.1.1.1.1.1
              15 May 2012 at 2:24 pm

              Trotter who? I vaguely remember a mediocre union official of that name from two decades ago who went on to become a rent a quote for the media whenever they wanted someone from the ‘inside’ to criticize Labour, despite his complete lack of connection with the party, its MP’s, its officials and its members.
               
              Is that the one you are referring to?

              • TightyRighty …
                15 May 2012 at 4:26 pm

                And Brian Edwards? Is he a nobody in labour too? Or is it that you wish so hard you were one of the cool kids that you diss the cool kids to anyone who’ll listen in the hope that you’ll be mistaken for one yourself?

            • Deano 1.1.1.1.1.2
              15 May 2012 at 2:41 pm

              Trotter doesn’t love the Labour Party. He left it over 20 years ago.

              • The Baron …
                16 May 2012 at 1:32 pm

                Ah, yeah, cos he hated Rogernomics. Him and what, about 75% of the Labour Party has left since then?

                So are you saying that true Labourites are the ones that stuck on even through that? I wouldn’t have picked you for a Neo-Lib, Deano – but hey, one shouldn’t typecast or make stupid statements about others’ motivations, should they.

      • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 1.1.2
        15 May 2012 at 3:04 pm

        “there is nothing but wishful thinking behind this beat up.”

        Trotter and Edwards are wishing Shearer would go?

  2. TightyRighty 2
    15 May 2012 at 12:48 pm

    No what we are seeing is the external realities of internal conflict. Shearer feeling threatened and lashing out, anyone who isn’t a complete fanboy calling it or what it is and cue zet trying to spin it as nothing. Where is TRP to now use this as evidence that nothing is happening as opposed to Chris trotter and Brian Edwards

  4. Pete George 4
    15 May 2012 at 1:00 pm

    The interview thing will soon blow over, it would have faded already if TV3 hadn’t kept it going for the fourth day in a row. There can’t be any good scandals to get their teeth into at the moment, like “leaked” meeting minutes.

    And Cunliffe will carry on wondering where the heck he fits in, with any perceived hint of leadership ambition amplified.

    And Shearer will (hopefully) keep building his authority and support within the Labour Party, with any perceived hint of uncertainty amplified.

    • Jackal 4.1
      15 May 2012 at 9:38 pm

      It would have faded already if TV3 and rightwing bloggers like Pete George hadn’t kept it going for the fourth day in a row. FIFY

      Today, the NZ Herald reported:

      Mr Key appeared on talkback host Leighton Smith’s show after cancelling his weekly interview with TV3’s Firstline this morning, without giving a reason, according to host Rachel Smalley on Twitter.

      I heard that Steven jackass Joyce thought that Bill blowout English said that Key looked like crap in the morning and he didn’t think Rachel Smalley was acshully very hot anyways. Off you go then… start spinning.

  5. Rupert the Beer 5
    15 May 2012 at 1:03 pm

    Prior to winning back the treasury benches in 1999, Labour had a problem with economic credibility. In response, there was a strategy to get Michael Cullen commenting on everything that was remotely related to the economy. Cullen went on to be one of New Zealand’s most successful Finance Ministers ever.

    Labour is again stuck with the economic credibility problem, and I don’t see David Parker anywhere.

    Maybe Russell Norman will be the Finance Minister in the next Labour-led Government?

    • Fortran 5.1
      16 May 2012 at 11:17 am

      Russel Norman has always said that in a coalition government he want’s Finance (and deputy PM).
      We could do worse, with Turei in Social Welfare.
      Would get things moving again.

      • Bob 5.1.1
        16 May 2012 at 11:31 pm

        The only possible way we could do worse the Norman as finance minister would be if Hone was finance minister! Have you seen what the Greens are doing to the Aussie finances? They are in the pooh up to their top lip and we are next if Norman gets anywhere near the books

  6. Dr Terry 6
    15 May 2012 at 1:16 pm

    Thus we complete the circle – “much ado about nothing”. I hope people will say something only when they have something to say.

  7. captain hook 7
    15 May 2012 at 1:30 pm

    this is what happens when the press employ naive juveniles and then ask them to cover complex issues.
    new zealand has many more things to worry about than this sort of piffle.
    this is not the washington beltway where navel gazing is more important than the issues.
    this sort of reporting or non-reporting is the sort of stuff that american cable teevee uses to smear candidates and obscure the debate.
    where is the politics here?

  8. captain hook 8
    15 May 2012 at 3:11 pm

    the thing is that David Shearer is the leader and he will be the next PM in 2014 if not sooner when you know who spits the dummy!

    • Vicky32 8.1
      15 May 2012 at 6:50 pm

      the thing is that David Shearer is the leader and he will be the next PM in 2014 if not sooner when you know who spits the dummy!

      Yes!

  9. ad 9
    15 May 2012 at 3:33 pm

    Wishing doesn’t make it so. The collective “we” of Trotter, The Herald, TV3 (multiple times), Whaleoil, The Standard, Bomber, Brian Edwards, Williams, QueenOfThorns, Kiwiblog and multiple others says, irrespective of something called a fact, that something moved in the earth because there was a visible fracture. Don’t have to call it an earthquake. Just looked and sounded and felt and quacked like one.

    Whatever success is gonig to look like, a media earthquake reverberating around is not, in fact is the opposite, of being an effective, on-point, devastating Opposition. That’s the responsibility of the Leader. Still waiting for that after this weekend.

  10. tracey 10
    15 May 2012 at 3:50 pm

    meanwhile the pm is moaning about the media but claiming hes not moaning and criticising a paper that gives prominence to national aplogist david farrar.

    • ghostwhowalksnz 10.1
      15 May 2012 at 4:31 pm

      His minders have scolded him for going ‘negative’ so he has tried to patch together the broken eggshells and say ‘It wasnt me’

  11. deemac 11
    15 May 2012 at 4:39 pm

    surely the question is why a programme would ask someone other than the finance spokesperson for a discussion on finance? not seeking to stir, surely? I thought the media was supposed to report the news, not try to create it.

    • ghostwhowalksnz 11.1
      15 May 2012 at 5:00 pm

      Once before the election in 2008 Key was asked for an interview on economic policy which went ahead.

      But the surprise was that English turned up with him as his chaperone.

      Essentially, before 2008 Key was out of his depth when discussing detailed economic policy

    • Pete George 11.2
      15 May 2012 at 5:01 pm

      I thought the media was supposed to report the news, not try to create it.

      From my limited first hand experience, and from what I’ve seen, media often come up with a story idea and then seek material to go with it. They will edit interviews to fit their story plan. It’s happened to me, where someone was interviewed, then I was interviewed. The resulting item was short edits of both of us interwoven with the voiceover story.

      You can also often see it on Twitter an Facebook, where journalists seek people who fit their assigned story of the day. So the “news” often consists of preconceived stories with amateur actors. An example of finding a story (11 May)

      @hdpaONENEWS 1.25PM
      Should schools ban girls hugging each other?

      @hdpaONENEWS 4.46PM
      Righto then. There IS a school that’s banned hugging. I’m filing a report for the news.

      And if you want to know what will be on the news tonight:

      @hdpaONENEWS
      Thank you @nowscottjackson for letting us interview you about your money and your house.

      Mortgage interest rates? That was yesterday’s news, so likely.

      • Pete George 11.2.1
        15 May 2012 at 5:23 pm

        Confirmed:
        @ONENewsNZ
        Tonight on ONE News at 6 – home loan rates keep tumbling. We look at the sting in the tail for would-be investors.

        Funnily the profile of @nowscottjackson
        Actor, Corporate Goon and Poser. Not at the same time. Never say no to life and always do what makes you happy. Soon to be NYC bound

        • Colonial Viper 11.2.1.1
          16 May 2012 at 12:07 am

          The funny thing is, 3 months ago banks were trying to convince people to lock in higher fixed term rates, saying that interest rates were looking to creep up later in the year.

          Fucking corporate liars.

    • Ant 11.3
      15 May 2012 at 6:36 pm

      “surely the question is why a programme would ask someone other than the finance spokesperson for a discussion on finance?”

      Maybe they just want someone who knows their stuff, or has an actual position on the economy – or a f*cking opinion on anything for that matter.

  12. ochocinco 12
    15 May 2012 at 5:13 pm

    As a Labour voter, all I can say is: really?
    Cunliffe’s speech raised no hackles? He wasn’t allowed onto the Nation because he himself chose?

    I seldom point at ol’ Bomber Bradbury, but he’s as left as they come (absurdly so IMHO) and he’s said the same thing that Farrar etc have: Cunliffe’s been muzzled

  13. handle 13
    15 May 2012 at 11:57 pm

    So why did Parker not front?

  14. captain hook 14
    16 May 2012 at 1:38 pm

    why are you here dude when you are not needed?

  15. AndrewK 15
    17 May 2012 at 12:50 am

    As a member of the Mana movement I would not be surprised to see Cunliffe stomped on by the Labour hierarchy for openly criticising the sacred cow that is neo-liberalism. The introductory spiel for this thread reeks of desperation. Those who prevented Cunliffe appearing on The Nation have committed a spectacular PR disaster, I imagine that there are many in the Greens and Mana who appreciate the effort of the Labour right to steer that party further away from more potential supporters.

    You can tell things are grim when the so called ‘party of the workers’ is chasing National party voters.