Work life balance

Written By: - Date published: 8:22 am, July 20th, 2014 - 172 comments
Categories: david cunliffe, john key, workers' rights - Tags: ,

So David Cunliffe is now being criticized for having a short break with his family during the school holidays.

David is somewhat unusual for a politician. He is happily married to Karen who he has been with for decades and has two sons. His family life is important to him and he recently did what many kiwi families did and had a short break away.  He is the leader of the Labour Party, a party that was formed to protect and enhance workers lives, so trying to get a bit of work life balance should not be thought of as a negative thing.

It is not as if he was the only politician to do this. Amongst many others John Key was in Hawaii and Jonathan Coleman was also away. Their absence meant that they were not able to adequately respond to the incredible disclosure this week that political pressure had been put on the SIS to allow Kim Dotcom to stay in New Zealand but I did not see their absence criticised in the main stream media.

And it is not as if David was not working at all. For instance here is an article about him campaigning with Clutha Southland’s candidate Dr Liz Craig and meeting the Queenstown Lakes District Mayor and Councillors.

To be honest I prefer if David takes the odd break. He has this habit of overworking himself and he is much more effective when he is not overtired.

And I must admit that I am getting tired of the media repeating attack lines rather than reporting the news. The repetition of the line that Labour’s chances would improve if Cunliffe was not leader has been shown to be statistical junk yet they still repeat it. Hell, based on the question asked I would be more inclined to vote National if John Key was not leader although the chances of this occurring would be practically rather than absolutely zero.

And to the unnamed Labour MP in the story the less about you I say the better.

So Fairfax how about you play your part and report on the issues that matter and apply the same rules to both parties. Our country’s future is at stake and we need to have balanced cover and proper consideration of the important issues as well as a system that respects politicians being able to spend time with their kids.

172 comments on “Work life balance ”

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  1. idlegus 1
    20 July 2014 at 8:40 am

    the stuff poll is ridiculous too, so far more ppl would not vote labour if cunliffe was not the leader, wtf does that even mean? i was just thinking i hope someone is doing a bit of a tally of negative stories towards cunliffe compared to key, i thnk the numbers will quite telling, considering cunliffe gets a negative story every 2 days. even the morning bozos on the sound radio station, a station that used to pride itself on only playing music, have anti-cunliffe rants every morning. it actually made me go & donate some money to the labour party, & i will do now every week until the election. the right still fear cunliffe, otherwise why the negative stories.

    • big bruv 1.1
      20 July 2014 at 9:08 am

      The right fear Cunliffe?

      You’re joking. He is the best thing that ever happened to us.

      • felix 1.1.1
        20 July 2014 at 9:33 am

        …and that’s why you spend no time at all attacking him. 🙄

        • big bruv 1.1.1.1
          20 July 2014 at 11:19 am

          Felix

          I attack him because he is without doubt the most unlikable person to ever grace the political stage in this nations history, and I must admit, that I really enjoy rubbing Cunliffes nose in it.

          Do I fear him?, hell no. The man is a gift to the right and one that I hope keeps on giving for some time to come.

          Had you not been so ideologically blind you would be able to see that if you had kept Shearer then you would be odds on favourites to win come the 20th of September (thanks to the undemocratic MMP system)

          • swordfish 1.1.1.1.1
            20 July 2014 at 11:43 am

            Nah, Little Bruv. Despite a good deal of bullshit to the contrary, Labour was, in fact, trending down with Shearer (everyone from you to our local milk monitor, lurgee, to dear old hockey sticks Jane Clifton have got this entirely wrong. It’s what happens when you prefer to shoot off at the mouth rather than go back and actually check the polling record).

            We’re also beginning to see a number of journos in the MSM suggest that Labour has been falling ever since Cunliffe took over. Reality: Throughout the last 4 months of 2013, Labour did better under Cunliffe than it ever did under Shearer, averaging 4 or 5 points higher than Shearer was managing when he resigned. Even this year, Labour under Cunliffe was doing mildly better than under Shearer until very recently.

            And Shearer, of course, would have been annihilated in the leadership debates. But then, of course, you’re already well aware of this, little fella.

          • felix 1.1.1.1.2
            20 July 2014 at 11:46 am

            If anything you said was true, you’d be plumping for Cunliffe and talking down Shearer.

            But it’s not.

            So you don’t.

            You dumb fuck.

          • One Anonymous Bloke 1.1.1.1.3
            20 July 2014 at 11:46 am

            Big Bruv prefers Capill or Garret.

          • anker 1.1.1.1.4
            20 July 2014 at 12:10 pm

            What is unlikable about Cunliffe???

            IMO people like Muldoon was one of the most unlikable people. Rude and aggressive.

            What on earth would make you say Cunliffe is the most unlikable. And please give examples, don’t just use labels like Mathew Hooton did on Q and A this morning. I understand he said Cunliffe had a narcissistic disorder. He should be sued for that. He is not in the position to diagnose that.

          • Dialey 1.1.1.1.5
            20 July 2014 at 12:37 pm

            I see big bruv that you are just indulging in the random character assassination techniques that Nicky Hagar identified in The Hollow Men, empty words from hollow men with no substance or basis in reality.
            For those who haven’t seen or don’t remember, its worth a relook to see what is really happening all over again. Here’s the link to the subsequent documentary clips

            http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/the-hollow-men-2008

          • tinfoilhat 1.1.1.1.6
            20 July 2014 at 12:51 pm

            “…….because he is without doubt the most unlikable person to ever grace the political stage in this nations history,..”

            What a silly immature comment, all that we can conclude is that you have very little knowledge of NZ politicians over the last century or so.

    • deep throat 1.2
      20 July 2014 at 12:34 pm

      this is getting creepeier and creepier.
      on the op-ed page of the SST this morning is the supposed inside dope on DC and then on page 11 is an ad for some guy who looks like Norman Bates.
      Did he say he would only take a full page if they did a smear on DC?

  2. Ant 2
    20 July 2014 at 8:42 am

    It’s risible how regularly this “unnamed MP” damages his own party, it shows such utter contempt and disregard for its members.

    • David H 2.1
      20 July 2014 at 9:11 am

      Unnamed? They had Goff King and Shearer ALL named.

      A lot of MPs are really f….. off about it,” he said. “They are all working hard up and down the country, and f…… Cunliffe is on holiday. Guys like [Phil] Goff and [Annette] King and [David] Shearer, these guys really want it badly and they are working like their lives depend on it. And I think they are a little incredulous about what the guy is doing.

      http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10287781/Skiing-holiday-puts-Cunliffe-on-slippery-slope

      Personally if they are all bent out of shape, then they should fucking resign, and let someone in who WANTS to win the seats.

      • Stephanie Rodgers 2.1.1
        20 July 2014 at 11:37 am

        The thing is, by naming all those other MPs it rather neatly narrows down who the MP-doing-the-talking is.

          • Tom Jackson 2.1.1.1.1
            20 July 2014 at 1:00 pm

            I found the idea of it being Mallard slightly odd judging by his recent behaviour. He seems to love campaigning and to be enthusiastic about Labour’s policies.

        • The Lone Haranguer 2.1.1.2
          20 July 2014 at 4:30 pm

          Your witch hunt presumes that there is a real live breathing MP out there saying this stuff.

          Who can prove that the “journalists” involved werent just interviewing their laptops and making this crap up?

          I would have thought that any MP making comments like that would be at some risk of being “outed” and given MPs self preservation instincts, they wouldnt turn on Cunliffe unless they knew the knife was already in his back.

          I think its all a bullshit fabrication

          • Stephanie Rodgers 2.1.1.2.1
            20 July 2014 at 8:30 pm

            Journalists may “interview their keyboards”, but when they do it’s more likely to be phrased as “some within the Left are concerned” or “it’s been said that”. In this case there’s a specific, lengthy quote from a source. I’d be very surprised if it were spun out of whole cloth.

            And it’s not a “witch-hunt” to wonder who the source of a public, petty anonymous quote is.

            • Colonial Viper 2.1.1.2.1.1
              20 July 2014 at 8:45 pm

              Well, a “witch-hunt” is not really the point, just part of the process. It’s a political burning at the stake which is required here, and I think the Labour Party need to find and sanction the MP responsible to the full extent that the constitution allows.

              Mercy may be granted if a sufficiently grovelling apology on camera is delivered, saying sorry to Cunliffe, caucus colleagues and the larger membership.

              • Murray Olsen …
                21 July 2014 at 1:55 am

                Mercy? Nope. Treachery at that level should not be rewarded with mercy. Cunliffe should demote all the ABCs, just to encourage the others.

    • Puddleglum 2.2
      20 July 2014 at 9:16 pm

      “unnamed MP”?

      The article consistently refers to a “party insider” or “senior party insider” so it’s not 100% clear that it is referencing an MP.

      Having said that, there is this quote:

      “”We will be having a talk to David at caucus about his work ethic on Tuesday. We’ll be letting him know he’s got two months to turn this around, and we’re backing him and right behind him but he’s got to lift his game.””

      That does suggest an MP but it’s not conclusive.

      I don’t really have any clue who would be saying this sort of thing – just reading the tea leaves – but whoever did say it to a journalist and was happy to be quoted to that extent clearly is not interested in there being a Labour-led government after 20 September. He (and it explicitly says ‘he’ in the article for the insider) as good as told people that Cunliffe is not PM material:

      “The insider believed Cunliffe’s decision to go on holiday showed he didn’t have the qualities to become prime minister.”

      Anyone truly interested in the fortunes of Labour and, in particular, Labour MPs – as the ‘insider’ claims to be – could not possibly think that this little chat with a journalist was a good idea.

      Completely disingenuous or completely stupid.

      The most obvious explanation is that it was a deliberate act of sabotage. After all, it was in response to something that the public were unlikely to think was a ‘gaffe’, or even unusual or, for that matter, anything at all that might jeopardise Labour’s chances in the election. Instead, the outburst was triggered by a 3 day holiday that had barely caused a ripple – until now.

  3. Saarbo 3
    20 July 2014 at 8:43 am

    From a political point of view, Cunliffe’s holiday is not nearly as damaging as this “insiders” little rant, this is a continuation of the lack of discipline of some of our caucus members who should just shut the fuck up. Im not sure if it is helpful us going here and adding any fuel to this. Clearly the most damage to Labour comes from the little “insiders” who leak shit to the media and the media then pay back their “insiders” by continuous negative slanted stories against Cunliffe. I suspect that David Cunliffe has too much integrity to play these stupid little games…the irony.

  5. TightyRighty 5
    20 July 2014 at 8:55 am

    Criticising the member who would say what every employee would say if there boss went on holiday right before a crucial pitch? You want the business, you have to get it before you rest.

    Trust MS to come out and try and polish a turd for Cunliffe. You honestly expect that government should just be handed to you with no scrutiny?

    • Tom Jackson 5.1
      20 July 2014 at 11:09 am

      And if he’d worked solidly the whole time, there would be articles attacking him for neglecting his family.

      Just wait. I’ll bet the media put pressure on Labour to dump him this week. It’s been in the mail for some time.

    • anker 5.2
      20 July 2014 at 12:49 pm

      TR @5 the more critical pitch is the debates against Key your moron.

    • Foreign Waka 5.3
      20 July 2014 at 1:17 pm

      You absolutely wrong. Think about it. 50% of voters are women, most would argue that it is preferable to have a man in charge that knows of priorities in ALL situations. One of the most important ones: being there for the kids. This is what counts, not the smear campaign that is being instigated by those wannabees.

    • Murray Olsen 5.4
      21 July 2014 at 1:58 am

      So what exactly have you said about Key going on holiday for two weeks, constipated moran?

      • David H 5.4.1
        21 July 2014 at 8:14 am

        I hate to tell you this but it’s Moron..

        Moran is an asteroid and they can’t get constipated.

        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10372_Moran

      • TightyRighty 5.4.2
        21 July 2014 at 9:11 am

        Key is the incumbent, riding high in the polls. Also, National are effective without Key. i.e. they don’t act up when the teacher is out of the room. Labour have all their hopes pinned on cunliffe, who is languishing in the polls, out of touch with real New Zealand and can’t manage his own caucus. the differences are so stark that any meaningful comparison about the impact of holidays and who should and shouldn’t take one is impossible

  6. veutoviper 6
    20 July 2014 at 8:57 am

    Thanks MS for this post. I was ropable this morning when the first thing I read was the Stuff article on Cunliffe. I was even more ropable when I then read a certain comment on Open Mike here suggesting that Cunliffe was not out putting up billboards.

    Yesterday, none other than Patrick Gower took a Instagram photo of Cunliffe putting up his first billboard and posted it on his Twitter account.

    http://t.co/zsWoze48z9

  7. Ad 7
    20 July 2014 at 9:00 am

    The man actually fell down flat with the flu for most of those three days – anyone could ask him or Karen.

    And OMG if Labour politicians don’t have the courage to come out and front themselves to the criticism, they probably won’t mind if every Labour MP publishes their full days diary, every day if the year, for media scrutiny, just like he does. So we can all see their exact productivity for the taxpayer dollar they are taking.

    I don’t see too many people working as hard as DC. I am heartily sick of the disunity.

    • Colonial Viper 7.1
      20 July 2014 at 10:03 am

      The man actually fell down flat with the flu for most of those three days – anyone could ask him or Karen.

      Which is of course as we all know, a sure sign that he needed the break. The weeks leading up to election day are pretty much a 24/7 workload and I am glad that DC got a spell off with his young family. I think some others in caucus who now have adult kids have forgotten completely what its actually like to be raising young children.

    • ianmac 7.2
      20 July 2014 at 11:00 am

      Is it possible that the insider is none other than Cameron Slater? If the insider was really an insider he/she should be excommunicated painfully and instantly with no appeal. He/she says about 20 MPs are going to tell David what they think of him at Caucus on Monday. Really?

  8. big bruv 8
    20 July 2014 at 9:00 am

    Cunliffe is being attacked by his own caucus Micky. While I do agree with those who say that Labour is totally out of touch with the people of NZ one would have to say that on the issue of Cunliffe’s unpopularity the caucus are very much in agreement with most Kiwis.

    • KJT 8.1
      20 July 2014 at 12:10 pm

      Did a poll, did you?

      Cunliffe is very popular in my circles, even amongst the businesspeople.

      The feeling is that the neo-liberal has beens, in Labour and National, have done enough damage and are holding Cunliffe back.

  9. SPC 9
    20 July 2014 at 9:00 am

    One of the most telling comments ever made by a politician was by John Key back in 2005, when as National Party Finance spokesperson he said that the purpose of their tax cut alternative to WFF, was that it encouraged people to be at work on Saturday mornings rather than watching their children play sport. As if this was an unproductive use of their labour.

    This more than anything else is the guiding ethos to the policies his government rolls out.

    The human being as an economic unit for maximising profit for invested capital.

    • Andrew 9.1
      20 July 2014 at 10:07 am

      link please.

      • SPC 9.1.1
        20 July 2014 at 11:39 am

        It’s hard finding links back to 2005.

        But while looking I found this.

        In 2003 he suggested that MPs should look at the United States, “which has a minimum of two weeks holiday a year, and the economic prosperity in the US is so much greater than New Zealand’s”.

        http://www.thehollowmen.co.nz/commentary/key.shtml

        • KJT 9.1.1.1
          20 July 2014 at 12:11 pm

          As opposed to Key, who has about 6 months off.

        • KJT 9.1.1.2
          20 July 2014 at 12:20 pm

          Shades of Gina Rienhart enjoying totally unearned millions while claiming Australian workers are paid too much and have too many days off.

          Ignoring the fact that the US economy is collapsing under the weight of too much money in too few hands.

          • Colonial Viper 9.1.1.2.1
            20 July 2014 at 12:28 pm

            And Key also thought we should have followed Ireland’s example in becoming a low tax global financial hub. Key is a well paid shill for the 0.1% and the bankster community.

            • KJT 9.1.1.2.1.1
              20 July 2014 at 12:33 pm

              Just as well National were out of Government for that 9 years.

              Their policies worked so well for Ireland, of course!

              Just as well the collapse of Ireland, was enough to slow down the delusional bunch of thieves, that are John Keys National.

              Keating’s regulation of our banks, and Cullen’s refusal to borrow for tax cuts, (Policies which National would have reversed) saved us from the worst of the GFC.

  10. anker 10
    20 July 2014 at 9:00 am

    I have commented recently a few times on the comparison of negative stories about Cunliffe versus Key. There also a mountain out of molehill thing going on re coverage of Cunliffe. One small rather insignificant thing gets blown up into a mountain. Key’s “mistakes, lies, brain fades completely minimized.

    As I pointed out in another comment, Peters made two clangers (claiming he had info that could bring Collins down and the Chinese buying Huka Lodge). But that was not given too much air time. Certainly nothing like that disgraceful stuff poll “which of Cunliffe’s clanger’s is the best or worst”.

    I have thought the bias against Cunliffe and pro Key would make an excellent MA thesis topic, but hell that would be academic!

    ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO PEOPLE? e.g. has anybody got some time where we could scan the newspapers and tally up what we already know, find an ethical journalist and publish it (I am struggling to think who this would be of course). I can’t think of one single journalist who has been pro Cunliffe. The thing that really galls me is when “left wing” commentators trash DC as well. Gordon Campbell, who I normally respect needs to take a good look at himself for his article in the Wellingtionian of DC apology.

    • phillip ure 10.1
      20 July 2014 at 9:43 am

      @ anker..

      “..ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO PEOPLE?..”

      one outlet where you cd have effect is in the comment-threads of those stories that so annoy..

      ..sometimes @ whoar i have linked to crappy stories..urging readers to speed-read said crappy-story..

      ..but to linger in the comments-thread..

      ..’cos that is where all/any entertainment is to be found..

    • Rosie 10.2
      20 July 2014 at 10:32 am

      Hi anker. The anti Cunliffe / pro Key, minimising our govt’s major f up’s/ maximising the opposition’s little nothings or completely manufacturing them is frustrating beyond belief. It’s getting unbearable and I wonder if complaints made are falling on deaf ears. Is our democracy just a big joke, a game for the editors of our newspapers?

      And, yes I was also really disappointed with Gordon Campbell’s column in The Wellingtonian a few weeks back. It’s particularly frustrating that those who are normally on to it like Campbell throw down the road spikes to create havoc for a campaign that is otherwise charging ahead with positivity and momentum.

      So what to do you ask.

      Personally I simply don’t have the time to document all the anti Cunliffe pro key articles and lay formal complaints. I’ve only managed to lay one informal complaint with Fairfax over a particularly appalling article about Cunliffe’s” top 10 gaffe’s”. It read like it was written by some drunk tr**l who was having a laugh on a Friday afternoon.

      What I AM doing however is getting around to mostly everyone I know and asking them what their thoughts on the election are, are they voting, who for etc? I’m doing this to encourage people to get out and vote but also to gauge people’s reaction to the media and see what messages they are taking on board. I can tell you, they are soaking up the BS like sponges and it takes quite a bit of talk to get the clear and true message across.When they get it though, the attitude does a 180.

      What has been alarming is the number of Labour voters who have said to me “Labour are over”, “We’re gonna lose”, “It’s gonna be another three years of Key”. These are a small sample of actual quotes.It’s not just a Labour perspective though. I’m getting that from Green voters and NZ First voters.

      It seems there are a number of Standard commenters who are making formal complaints, big ups to them! The media can’t go unchallenged on their BS.

      I think as well we need to be having real life conversations with people. It’s time consuming and takes a bit of effort, combatting the spin one person at a time, but it’s essential, and as I’ve seen, works.

      Finally, re a study of the media framing. There’s got to be students doing this. It would be a meaty topic to sinks one’s teeth into.

      Sorry for the long rant.

      • anker 10.2.1
        20 July 2014 at 12:19 pm

        Thanks Rosie, I am working for the L P. And I will try talking to people more. Its just hard when even Labour people and the likes of Gordon Campbell and Chris Trotter buy into it to.

        This morning I noticed Steve Braunias had a secret diary of David Cunliffe and I normally enjoy him, but I couldn’t bear to read it. Its like everybody is joining in kicking him to the ground and they just keep on kicking. It is undeserved and undemocratic. And NZders will be the losers if we lose him.

        The shit he has had to put up. Whale Oil stalking him having pics of him buying shoes, Hooten, claiming he has Narcissistic PD. The gaffes thing. I was furious when I saw that.

        • Foreign Waka 10.2.1.1
          20 July 2014 at 1:07 pm

          The labor party might be lucky if they wont get into power as it looks increasingly so that the economy is going into a downward spiral as the situation in the east deteriorates and Europe changes its trade laws. The milk solids are down by around 8% and that is a lot (!) and the farmers have not paid down their debt during the sunshine years. Brace yourself for more sales of large farms to foreigners and consolidation in that sector. Once Christchurch has most of its rebuilding done and Auckland stagnates (maybe not housing, but lets exclude his for a moment) NZ will be were it all was 5 years ago. And it will be National who will have to answer for that.

        • Rosie 10.2.1.2
          20 July 2014 at 1:54 pm

          Talking with people is the most immediate way of counteracting the spin, even if it does seem like a mammoth task in light of the daily berating David Cunliffe receives.

          You’re so right, it is undeserved, so completely undeserved and undemocratic. For the sake of the country it’s critical we vote a left coalition government in, and the media are pulling out all the stops to prevent that from happening. I keep asking myself why.

          As for David himself he deserves a standing ovation for all the shit he has to put up with.. He doesn’t have the luxury that Key has, who not only gets away with murder but can call the media knuckleheads when it suits him.

          Some of us have waited a long time for such a leader (I remember meeting him and shaking his hand in 2005 when I was working in Blockhouse Bay, up in Akld when I lived there. He was campaigning. It struck me that he was at ease talking with a shop girl like me. I also noted his sincerity and ability to listen and wondered if he would make a leader one day) David Cunliffe is the reason I am voting Labour again. (Lol, there’s others, but the choice of him as leader cemented it for me)

          Now we are here, and that leader has been democratically chosen it is frustrating beyond belief to have our chances threatened by a vicious media agenda.

          • blue leopard 10.2.1.2.1
            20 July 2014 at 1:57 pm

            +1 Rosie

          • Olwyn 10.2.1.2.2
            20 July 2014 at 2:29 pm

            +1 Rosie. It seems as if there are people in NZ who cannot abide the slightest obstacle to the rape and pillage of this country, whose wishes the media take very seriously. I take heart from South Australia, where I visited a relative in March. There was a state election on, and all of the polls and papers predicted a Tory landslide. The final result was a narrow Labour victory. I too am door-knocking, talking to people and so on.

            • Rosie 10.2.1.2.2.1
              20 July 2014 at 3:29 pm

              That it is a heartening outcome, despite the odds for South Australia Olwyn. We can do it too 🙂

              If we do, the media machine in NZ, inc APN, Fairfax, Mediaworks etc will fall into a collective gasping and choking fit, crying in a heap on the floor and wailing “oh where did we go wrong!”

          • anker 10.2.1.2.3
            20 July 2014 at 7:35 pm

            100+ Rosie.

    • Tom Jackson 10.3
      20 July 2014 at 11:19 am

      ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO PEOPLE?

      Not a lot. You just have to take it. A healthy dose of stoicism would help immensely in the coming weeks.

      The solution is brutally simple. Those who engage in these attacks do so because there are no consequences. If I were the Labour Party, I would bide my time and when next in government introduce a massive public broadcasting bill. One part of this bill ought to be to bring all state news organisations together in a website that would compete with the Herald and Stuff. Since it’s all moving online anyway, it’s not like there has to be a publicly funded newspaper, but that is what it will be. Even if it only gains a moderate audience, it would go some way to damaging the others’ business, and they won’t like that at all.

    • Dialey 10.4
      20 July 2014 at 12:50 pm

      I did a very quick little count over a month of the articles that allowed comments or not. The result was twice as many articles on John Key did not allow comments as those on David Cunliffe, it’s as if Stuff were putting a little cocoon around the PM to prevent any negative perceptions being broadcast

    • Rodel 10.5
      20 July 2014 at 4:33 pm

      anker- To counter the cheap shots of the propagandists we should make some facts known to all New Zealanders.
      David Cunliffe is relentlessly portrayed as a failure by the right wing media propagandists in New Zealand- The venom from propagandists is akin to the “Ditch the Bitch” posters that Helen Clark had to put up with but his list of achievements suggests that he is far more qualified to be Prime Minister than John Key could ever be.

      As a teenager his intellect was recognized by a scholarship to study the International Baccalaureate in Wales. He then went on to gain a BA with first class honours at Otago University.

      He worked as a diplomat for some seven years gaining a diploma in Social Sciences with distinction.

      As a Fulbright Scholar he attended Harvard University (John. F. Kennedy School of Government and Harvard Business School) gaining a Master of Public Administration.

      In his younger days he played rugby and while in Wales he helped build a sea rescue boat in which he with others patrolled the coast.
      He has worked various jobs: in a chip shop after school to help his family, later as a student planting bushes, and then in a shearing gang, and after graduating from Harvard he worked for 4-5 years as a business consultant with Boston Consulting group in Boston and Auckland.

      In 2008 he was conferred as an Honorary Fellow of New Zealand Computer Society for his significant contribution to the ICT sector

      David Cunliffe has been an Associate minister of Finance, Minister of Immigration, Minister of Communication and Information Technology, and Minister of Health.

      I suggest that with Cunliffe’s range of experiences in occupations, qualifications and academic achievements, New Zealand will be far better off with him as Prime Minister than with a Merrill Lynch money trader and as a family person and genuine New Zealander he is a lot more likeable.

  11. SETI 11
    20 July 2014 at 9:01 am

    Yeah, I mean it’s not like there’s yet another new poll showing mid 20’s support that would demand every day is maximised to try and win the election, and minimise any long term damage that could eventuate from a such a trouncing. Campaigning is overrated anyway.

  12. TightyRighty 12
    20 July 2014 at 9:03 am

    @SPC got a link for that telling comment?

  13. SPC 13
    20 July 2014 at 9:08 am

    So tighty righty says that only the bosses/those in power are entitled to holidays.

    And big bruv says that the ABC faction is trying to be popular with Kiwis who do not support Labour by turning on their own leader.

    Do they see their bent to leadership sacrifice in tough times as a way to demonstrate their capability for political opportunism and thus earn the public’s trust/confidence in their talent for government?

    What a totally inept shower.

  14. Ad 14
    20 July 2014 at 9:09 am

    Big Bruv I’m not sure if you have staff, but I have plenty of deadlines and projects to meet, yet I still made sure that everyone I could got three or four days off last week.

    I’m not sure why David Cunliffe has to be less of a human being than John Key. See any National Party MPs criticising John Key for not putting up billboards personally?
    Thought not.

    • BM 14.1
      20 July 2014 at 9:13 am

      He’s the challenger, Key is the incumbent, he’s proved himself, Cunliffe hasn’t.

      • TeWhareWhero 14.1.1
        20 July 2014 at 9:35 am

        Key certainly has proved himself – but not in a good way.

      • anker 14.1.2
        20 July 2014 at 9:45 am

        Bm @ 14.1 So people aren’t entitled to take time out from work until “they have proved themselves”……………………..I hope your not an employers

        • BM 14.1.2.1
          20 July 2014 at 10:13 am

          Cunliffe is the boss, Labour is his company and it’s floundering on the rocks.

          How would you feel if you worked for a company and you knew it was in the shit and your job was at stake and the boss decided he’d fuck off for a skiing holiday?

          Be honest, you’d be wild

          • Ad 14.1.2.1.1
            20 July 2014 at 11:25 am

            If any board begrudged the Chief Executive three days leave for working that hard that long, be honest, the shareholders would see it and sack the board.

            And yes, Labour members are the shareholders.

          • anker 14.1.2.1.2
            20 July 2014 at 1:08 pm

            BM@ 14.1.2.1 I would feel pleased and re leaved if my boss took a break when he could so he was able to come back rested. The hard yards are ahead. It is a good time to take time off. It seems that at least Cunliffe has been contactable while on leave. Not like Key.

  15. BM 15
    20 July 2014 at 9:10 am

    It basically boils down to the fact, David Cunliffe is not leadership material.

    And that’s not an insult to David,you either have it or you don’t and unfortunately for David he doesn’t.

    • anker 15.1
      20 July 2014 at 9:42 am

      BM@ 15……………..”David Cunliffe is not leadership material”.

      Really? I guess that’s in your opinion.

      He was head boy at his high school. This position inevitably goes to a young person who has shown leadership potential

      He won a scholarship through merit to the Alantic College in Wales. His peers (who were there on merit i.e. bright kids) voted DC the most likely person in their year to become a world leader.

      I think I would trust these views rather than yours.

      • Naki man 15.1.1
        20 July 2014 at 11:52 am

        There is a difference between head boy and PM. 90% of the population don’t want Cunners as leader. Not even his own MP’s like him.

        • anker 15.1.1.1
          20 July 2014 at 12:58 pm

          Naki Man at 15.1.1 Your colleague BM didn’t say PM, he said Cunliffe’s not leadership material. He gave no evidence to back this up, so its only his opinion. I gave evidence that supports DC leadership potential.

          90% of the population not wanting Cunliffe as a leader means nothing. Norm Kirk who IMO became one of NZ greatest leader’s, at one stage when in opposition only polled 6% as preferred PM. He went on to be truly great as acknowledged by many world leaders both while he was alive and when he died. Even Muldoon acknowledged him as one of the two politicians he respected, the other being Holyoake. So I give no credence to opinion polls re popularity.

    • ghostwhowalksnz 15.2
      20 July 2014 at 10:32 am

      Seem to remember his recent write up in the Herald, teachers at his school remember Cunliffe.

      When the same info about Key came out a few years back, NO ONE from his school days remembered Key AT ALL.

      When Key came back to to Nz and started making waves, it was because he was splashing cash around ( this was the cause of a major party row at the time as Slater the party president was caught out by Boag his successor in not passing all the money on.)

  16. anker 16
    20 July 2014 at 9:15 am

    I have just read the article about a Labour MP criticizing Cunliffe and as much as I believe the existence of the ABC’s, I am not sure that this rant is really credible.??? I am highly suspicious about it. It sounds made up to me.

  17. Tsubasa 17
    20 July 2014 at 9:16 am

    You’re a bit of a massive apologist for Cunliffe’s BS, Micky.

  18. Clean_power 18
    20 July 2014 at 9:23 am

    I have to doubt the quality of the advice given to David by McCartten. Is Matt a Mana mole or what?

  19. Ad 19
    20 July 2014 at 9:29 am

    The ABCs just further unified the membership against them.

    • David H 19.1
      21 July 2014 at 9:42 am

      It’s about time they resigned and let some new blood in. But they won’t, they would rather sabotage the election just so they can stick their snouts into the trough for another 3 years.

  20. anker 20
    20 July 2014 at 9:30 am

    TSubasa @17 There is nothing to apologize for about Cunliffe. The apology needs to come from the very biased msm.

  21. TightyRighty 21
    20 July 2014 at 9:34 am

    @spc you idiot. Read my comment again. If the boss goes on holiday right before a crucial pitch, the employees would rightly be pissed. That’s not leadership, and Cunliffe should know this.

    • Judge Holden 21.1
      20 July 2014 at 9:50 am

      Key’s on holiday. His caucus must be pissed.

      • Mary 21.1.1
        20 July 2014 at 12:59 pm

        Yeah, but the biggest surprise is that not one National MP has shown disdain publicly about this at all, not even anonymously! Not one! Now there’s loyalty for you, eh?

      • Enough is Enough 21.1.2
        20 July 2014 at 2:51 pm

        Why would they be pissed with 50% plus support he is pulling?

        • Murray Olsen 21.1.2.1
          21 July 2014 at 2:11 am

          Kiwis say “pissed off”. Are you a seppo sent over to help Key give the country away?

          • Enough is Enough 21.1.2.1.1
            21 July 2014 at 8:56 am

            Well done! Yes that is exactly what I am here for.

            Please explain more Kiwisms to me. Start with “seppo” you racist fool.

            • Murray Olsen 21.1.2.1.1.1
              22 July 2014 at 12:41 am

              Seppos aren’t a race. You’re too bloody thick to try to explain anything to.

          • TightyRighty 21.1.2.1.2
            21 July 2014 at 9:13 am

            nice, lead with the anti-immigrant back hander. “kiwis” don’t say pissed off exclusively. they often use the two words independently of each other. isn’t there a NZF conference you should be attending for the free lamingtons and sausage rolls?

            • Murray Olsen 21.1.2.1.2.1
              22 July 2014 at 12:45 am

              Anti-immigrant? Nah. More like a foreigner on a fixed term contract for the purposes of helping Key do away with our sovereignty.

              As for you, Constipated Moran, you just pop in with cut and paste garbage from Blubber Boy. What a pitiful existence.

  22. Ad 22
    20 July 2014 at 9:36 am

    BM re leadership, the first duty of leadership is to lead yourself and your family.

    That it Key’s standard, and it is Cunliffe’s.

    The only leadership failure here is that of the unnamed MP who chose to break caucus confidentiality and make a deliberate and undermining media story.

    • Weepus beard 22.1
      20 July 2014 at 9:57 am

      Can’t see any reference in the Kilgallon article to the insider being an MP. Just says insider, repeatedly. The insider does not even name MPs who are upset. There are no facts in the article at all as far as I can see.

      • ianmac 22.1.1
        20 July 2014 at 11:15 am

        But the insider claims that at least 20 MPs are pissed off. How would the insider know that while Parliament is in recess? A ring around perhaps? Or did Cameron just guess?

        • Colonial Viper 22.1.1.1
          20 July 2014 at 11:17 am

          these will be the same MPs who have forced Labour into a semi-neoliberal “the market will deliver if we just structure it right” tact and are wondering why it’s not appealing to the voters.

        • kenny 22.1.1.2
          20 July 2014 at 11:56 am

          Agreed. The Stuff article says ‘Labour Party insider’ – does not say Labour Party MP!

          More lies and anti-Labour rubbish.

    • Anne 22.2
      20 July 2014 at 10:03 am

      Unnamed MP? According to Mike Williams on Q&A there’s nothing to indicate he’s an MP. He could have been a Labour Party activist. Admit I haven’t seen the article yet so am going on Williams’ word.

      I’ve had a gutsful of this undermining of Cunliffe. It’s now got to a very serious stage. Labour must stand up and thunder its disapproval. Cunliffe must stand up and thunder his disapproval. No more turning the other cheek. Matthew Hooton took advantage of it this morning to make the most scurriloius attack thus far on Cunliffe. He described him as having “a narcissistic disorder”. My god, listen to who is talking!

      Even Dr. Raymond Miller stood up for Cunliffe. He pointed out, with some anger in his voice, words to the effect that “the constant attacking of David Cunliffe is getting beyond a joke. No matter what he does or says he’s attacked for it”.

      A couple of days ago, I reported a conversation I overheard in a cafe between two older women. It is precisely this constant attacking of David that is giving these ‘less informed voters’ the wrong perception of the man – a perception planned by Key and his cohorts (Crosby/Textor included) the moment he became the leader of the Labour Party.

      • Chrissy 22.2.1
        20 July 2014 at 10:12 am

        un-named mp? well, he did say ‘we’ when referring to caucus meeting on Tuesday, so I guess that’s that.

        What he’s done, of course, is shit on every single Labour person out there working their arse off to get as many into parliament as poss. I dont care if the Leader took a final breather ahead of the intense election campaign. But I do sure as hell care about this bullshit.

        The voters understand a holiday. They dont forgive this kind of self destructive shit so easily.

      • Ad 22.2.2
        20 July 2014 at 10:14 am

        David Cunliffe also has a team at his own electorate that have been beavering on quite happily with the campaign while he does the leaders’ job of roaming across the country. So he has had sufficient leadership-growing capacity to enable leaders to emerge underneath him that get the job done.

        Billboards went up, massive campaign headquarters servicing the Auckland western hub, huge phone canvassing effort for months, fundraisers continuing, and after personally putting up a billboard yesterday afternoon, shouted the team drinks at New Lynn’s Black Salt Bat. Like a leader should.

        Sincerely hope the MP that complained has that kind of leadership capacity around him. If they intend to be a challenger in future, they are going to need it. DC has it in spades already.
        And I back him.

        • Anne 22.2.2.1
          20 July 2014 at 10:28 am

          All the more reason why Cunliffe and his supporters should blow their own trumpet Ad. Also, all the more reason the Labour Council and Caucus should stand up publicly and say enough is enough. If they do it in the right way there are votes to be won over… many NZers won’t like the kind of underhand game the Nats and their media acolytes are playing. But first they need to come out into the open about it because most voters have yet to recognise what is happening. I know of intelligent people who are believing the rubbish.

          It might be obvious to the likes of us, but the majority of people don’t take the same interest in politics and therefore they’re ripe for manipulation.

          • Colonial Viper 22.2.2.1.1
            20 July 2014 at 10:37 am

            Yeah I know smart people around the place, LAB supporters, saying…surely Grant Robertson would’ve been a better choice. The anti-Cunliffe stuff is slow, but it is gradually corrosive. And you are right, not one more iota of it should be tolerated.

          • anker 22.2.2.1.2
            20 July 2014 at 1:43 pm

            Anne 1000+

        • Colonial Viper 22.2.2.2
          20 July 2014 at 10:35 am

          +100

      • lprent 22.2.3
        20 July 2014 at 10:53 am

        Unnamed MP? According to Mike Williams on Q&A there’s nothing to indicate he’s an MP. He could have been a Labour Party activist. Admit I haven’t seen the article yet so am going on Williams’ word.

        Wrong. The quote was

        “We will be having a talk to David at caucus about his work ethic on Tuesday. We’ll be letting him know he’s got two months to turn this around, and we’re backing him and right behind him but he’s got to lift his game.”

        The ‘we’ has to be someone at the caucus meeting. The only people apart from MPs at the caucus are the party secretary Tim Barnett, and probably the president Moira Coatsworth. I can’t see either of them making this type of unnamed attack.

        • swordfish 22.2.3.1
          20 July 2014 at 11:04 am

          “…a senior party insider…”

          So we’re not just talking some obscure backbench ABC newbie, here.

          • Stephanie Rodgers 22.2.3.1.1
            20 July 2014 at 12:29 pm

            Mallard has said it’s not him on Twitter (CV gave a link above). And it’s more than likely not Goff, King, Shearer or Cosgrove unless the insider likes speaking about themselves in the third person …

          • David H 22.2.3.1.2
            20 July 2014 at 10:28 pm

            Take yer pick Goff, king, Chippy or Mallard. My money’s on Chippy.

        • Weepus beard 22.2.3.2
          20 July 2014 at 11:07 am

          It sounds like the royal we to me and something that Kilgallon has inflated. Why would Kilgallon not just say MP if it was an MP? It would make the story sound even better.

          Say you are right though, who can you see making this type of unnamed attack?

        • Foreign Waka 22.2.3.3
          20 July 2014 at 12:45 pm

          “Letting him know that he has 2 months to turn this around”? I think the labor party has some members that need to be reminded that it is them who need to turn around and frogmarch out the door… yes, keep walking and don’t stop. How dare to have such conversation towards the boss and to top it all off, 10 week before election. This looks to me like sabotage.

          • deep throat 22.2.3.3.1
            20 July 2014 at 12:49 pm

            my money would be on the SST taking norman bates’ money for a full page ad only if they told lies about David Cunliffe.

        • Hami Shearlie 22.2.3.4
          20 July 2014 at 5:43 pm

          But isn’t David Cunliffe in Nelson on Tuesday? If it was an MP wouldn’t they know when he would or wouldn’t be there if they wanted to haul him over the coals? Something doesn’t smell right about this. Are Fairfax taking a leaf out of Granny Herald’s book and deciding to just “make things up”??

          • lprent 22.2.3.4.1
            20 July 2014 at 6:21 pm

            Alternatively they just screwed it up.

            The NZ Herald probably didn’t make facts up. They didn’t check what they had. What they had was Nationally fabricated crap.

            • Anne 22.2.3.4.1.1
              20 July 2014 at 7:12 pm

              When you say Nationally fabricated crap I presume you mean crap fabricated by National. Such as… putting the story out there for some fool reporter to pick up on and run with it? In the event of such a scenario I would agree with Ianmac who suggested Cameron Slater.

              According to our lovable rogue (sarc) Patrick Gower, senior Labour MPs flew to Auckland today for a crisis meeting. A spokeman claimed it was a pre-scheduled campaign strategy meeting. I’m inclined to believe the latter but can’t rule out the former.

              • lprent …
                20 July 2014 at 7:26 pm

                Who knows? Who cares?
                You simply don’t screw around with leadership 63 days from election day. If there are such Morans, then we will deal with them as a party.

                But surely you’d have to be a dickhead in the order Cameron Slater to think that it would be feasible.

          • Weepus beard 22.2.3.4.2
            20 July 2014 at 6:27 pm

            Here is Steve Kilgallon’s work email address off the Stuff/SST site. Anyone else want to ask him about it?

            steve.kilgallon@fairfaxmedia.co.nz

          • Kiwiri 22.2.3.4.3
            21 July 2014 at 1:45 pm

            I have just read that Cunliffe will be on the Nelson Mail/Stuff online Q&A ‘live’ @ 4.30pm today, with the chat box open from 3.30pm:

            http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/10290443/David-Cunliffe-live-chat

            And also publicised on his Facebook page:

            https://www.facebook.com/david.cunliffe.labour

    • David H 22.3
      20 July 2014 at 5:22 pm

      And I would not want to be that ‘insider’ when the Labour Caucus meets, because they will be pissed at the bad press from a self serving little toerag.

  23. Mike 23
    20 July 2014 at 9:44 am

    He will have plenty of time to spend with his family from September 21
    9 weeks away from something he has wanted all his life, falling further behind in the polls, with the party and caucus and party fragmenting – he takes a week off?!

    ‘Ready to Win’ indeed

    • swordfish 23.1
      20 July 2014 at 10:56 am

      “…Falling further behind in the polls…”

      Well, no. Labour is 2-3 points higher in the latest poll (Herald-Digi) than in the other 2 polls of July. Also higher than their rating in one of the June polls and equal with their rating in another.

  24. deep throat 24
    20 July 2014 at 9:51 am

    I see somebody has turned up the heat under the dancing fleas this morning.
    hop hop hop little fleas.
    you just foaming at the mouth because as much as you profess adherence to the principles of democracy you would rather have a right wing fascist dictatorship with Key as the clown prince.

    • Ad 24.1
      20 July 2014 at 9:59 am

      I think we can deliver that message to those in the Labour caucus who choose to deliberately undermine Labour during this campaign.

      • ghostwhowalksnz 24.1.1
        20 July 2014 at 10:36 am

        You seem to think that political journalists never MAKE IT UP!

        Theres is a history of a good storys thats are mostly untrue.

        Im sure in this one that the party insider is in the national party –

        Thats the reason for the journalists ‘never revealing their sources’ because they make shit up!

      • phillip ure 24.1.2
        20 July 2014 at 12:56 pm

        those who have ‘undermined labour’ are those who dragged the party back to the right..

        ….and those who allowed labour to be dragged backed to the right..

        ..that is when the polls started tanking..remember..?

        ..and that recent reconfirmation of the raising the pension age..

        ..has probably hastened that process..

        …there being no difference between labour/national on their environmental-policies..(as noted by fitzsimon on a pol-talk-show last wknd..)..still drilling/mining etc..

        ..nothing really to end poverty…

        ..what the fuck are people meant to get excited about..?..

  25. swordfish 25
    20 July 2014 at 10:32 am

    Well, I’m confused.

    Could Dominion Post journalists please work out what their position is on their dodgy would you be more likely to vote Labour if Cunliffe stood down poll ?

    On the one hand, both Vernon Small and (in the article Mickey links to) Steve Kilgallon believe Labour’s poll numbers “would climb quickly if its leader quit”

    On t’other, the Dom Post’s Senior Political journalist, Tracey Watkins, argued just yesterday that “voters would punish such as visible display of panic and disarray just two months out from an election.”

    So which is it, Dom Post ? – climb quickly OR sink as a result of voter punishment ?

  26. Ad 26
    20 July 2014 at 10:47 am

    Possibly the most infuriating thing about a Labour MP breaking ranks this deep into the campaign is that that it spins off its own braoque fractal of meaningless sequel stories.

    I would never expect most MPs to pause for a second and go “hmmm what does this sound like outside of my head”, but putting the story out deliberately on the day Labour activists are working the second-hardest point in the campaign besides voting day, the wasted media space this is getting is deliberate and stupid.

    The blowback in caucus Tuesday should be on them, not Cunliffe.

    If any MP has a problem with David Cunliffe, Pick Up The Fucking Phone and Call Him.

  27. swordfish 27
    20 July 2014 at 11:20 am

    I wonder if I detect a slight contradiction in the words of this “senior party insider” ?

    “We’ll be letting him know he’s got two months to turn this around, and we’re backing him and right behind him…”

    And then immediately below: “The insider believed up to 20 of the 33 Labour MPs were deeply unhappy with Cunliffe’s leadership…”

    Followed by: “The insider believed Cunliffe’s decision to go on holiday showed he didn’t have the qualities to become prime minister.”

    “backing him and right behind him, eh ? Yeah, right behind him ready to stab.

    • Colonial Viper 27.1
      20 July 2014 at 11:33 am

      It’s a major problem and the membership will be primed and ready to move to cut any disloyal MPs off at the knees, within their own electorates.

    • left for dead 27.2
      20 July 2014 at 4:38 pm

      I take it Clare Curren didn’t get a visit from D C when he an is family tock a small break earlier this week?

  28. Belladonna 28
    20 July 2014 at 11:47 am

    Would it be worth Labour putting a note in with the leaflet drops called facts and lies or something similar. Stating the lies and the FACTS, all in bold print. Also somehow get it out to the public about what a lot of lying creeps the media is made up of these days. I hope Moira and Tim are working on doing something to deal with this. Haven’t seen much so far to indicate they are. It infuriates me that the media are undermining democracy in this country.

  29. ianmac 29
    20 July 2014 at 11:59 am

    Update: from Kilgallon at that. A bit late mate!
    Labour Leader David Cunliffe has hit back at criticism of his leadership saying he works as hard as anyone in politics.

    Cunliffe was in Queenstown last week for a skiing holiday with his family, a decision questioned by Labour MPs according to a party source.

    “David Cunliffe works 16-18 non-stop days, pretty much 7 days a week, with a few hours for family on one weekend day. I have been his media director since January; in that time he has had perhaps about 6 days leave from a highly demanding schedule that would have flattened most ordinary people,” media director Simon Cunliffe said.

    The three-day break was a well needed rest as the gruelling election campaign begins in earnest, his camp said.

    “For the record, David Cunliffe spent three days, Monday to Wednesday, with his family skiing. He was back at work on Thursday doing regional visits and meetings with Labour Candidate Liz Craig in Queenstown, and then travelled to Timaru for a day of media… on Friday. So he was working,” Simon Cunliffe said. …

    So a beat up!
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10287781/Skiing-holiday-puts-Cunliffe-on-slippery-slope

    • Weepus beard 29.1
      20 July 2014 at 1:47 pm

      That is a pathetic backtrack from the SST. Looks like Simon Day has had to come in and clean the mess up as his byline was not on the original article this morning.

      If Kilgallon can’t get simple facts like what Cunliffe’s movements were last week when the whole article was about what Cunliffe’s movements were last week then serious doubt must be cast over the rest of the allegations.

      • Tautoko Viper 29.1.1
        20 July 2014 at 3:47 pm

        Thanks, Stuff, but the damage has already been done!

        “A previous version of this article mistakenly reported Labour’s most recent polling at 23.5 per cent. It also incorrectly said Cunliffe had taken the week off when he was away for three days.”

        http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10287781/Cunliffe-I-work-as-hard-as-anyone

        • Weepus beard 29.1.1.1
          20 July 2014 at 4:01 pm

          Yep, they were forced to change the headline also. This morning it read Downhill: Skiing holiday puts Cunliffe on slippery slope.

          It appears they were taken to task by David Cunliffe’s media director so for them to change the article shows how errant it was in the first place.

          I don’t believe the insider exists.

  30. rhinocrates 30
    20 July 2014 at 12:05 pm

    Why doesn’t the caucus just rename itself the People’s Front of Judea and be done with it?

  31. Foreign Waka 31
    20 July 2014 at 12:38 pm

    Firstly, every normal (emphasis) person appreciates that a party leader is not afraid to walk the talk and takes time for his family. God on you, David.
    Secondly, I think labor has itself resigned to loosing already and have started an inside battle and lines are being drawn on who is in whose camp. Like a Kindergarten really and it will not win any votes. Perhaps it is time to establish a new labor party with people that are forward looking without loosing sight of the history of this country. Otherwise, this country will have to accept hat it will be a state of the USA in the next 10 years.

  32. Dialey 32
    20 July 2014 at 12:39 pm

    Talking about holidays, I note that Don Brash also took a holiday in Hawaii just before the 2008 election campaign, anybody asking who he and Key meet there and why? Journos are you awake?

  33. deep throat 33
    20 July 2014 at 12:46 pm

    They are awake but they have had their cojones cut and they have turned into a gutless bunch of geeks concerned only with their paychecks.
    they do what they are told like good little apparatchiks.
    this country looks like a democracy on the surface but underneath the BS its just another fascist dictatorship hiding the truth behind the big lie.

  34. infused 34
    20 July 2014 at 12:47 pm

    Holidays are important. Two months from an election not so much.

    Have one after you win/lose

    • Foreign Waka 34.1
      20 July 2014 at 12:58 pm

      Disagree, as there are school holidays and everyone is trying to have the job split looking after the kids and if you an give them something of a normal family life. 3 days is not very much for Mr Cunliff’s kids who deserve their father in their lives too. Basically, if you are standing for values about family time and both parents in the kids life – deal with it and get real.

  35. infused 35
    20 July 2014 at 1:11 pm

    Don’t agree with one of the biggest elections for Labour. Not for the state they are in.

  36. Charlieboy 36
    20 July 2014 at 1:59 pm

    Labour really cannot win with the MSM. When Helen was leader she was criticised for being childless, now DC gets it in the neck for spending a few days with his young kids. Key took time out to watch his son play softball in the US, no flack from the MSM.
    Look folks, this is b——t.
    An “insider”…..really! When did Key stop hitting his wife! Ya get it?
    But I get it, there’s an election coming and the Natz want the biggest mandate they can get so that in the next three years they can do….well what? They sure as he’ll ain’t telling. The MSM isn’t asking, they are consumed with tearing Labour to shreds. They will be rewarded with mucho troughing in the next three years.
    I’m voting Left. I will not be party to the destruction of the country I love.

  37. gobsmacked 37
    20 July 2014 at 2:51 pm

    Labour MP says Cunliffe is a tosser.

    So, MSM reports that Labour MP says Cunliffe is a tosser.

    So, Labour supporters blame MSM, for the deliberate, destructive actions of a Labour MP.

    The problem will be solved when Labour people want to face up to it, not try and blame somebody else for it.

    Stop protecting the traitors, and start demanding better.

  38. Charlieboy 38
    20 July 2014 at 3:51 pm

    Hey gobby, I am demanding better, I’m voting left to stop the Natz carrying out the further destruction of this country.
    By the way when did Key stop beating his wife. Dont ya get it? If the MSM print rumour from “insiders”,they are big enough and ugly enough to take the hit or come up with some “fair and balanced” reporting.
    Oh that’s right, even that’s become a joke now.
    Well I won’t be party to it, I will vote left. Three more years of lies and slick propaganda will destroy this country.

  39. SPC 39
    20 July 2014 at 4:06 pm

    A real workers party would not have MP’s in it that resent their leader having time with family at weekends or a holiday.

    It’s what the party was for.

    It’s also a sort of glass ceiling where only a woman without children can aspire to leadership. And men are expected to be absent fathers and hand over the parent role to their wife.

    So one hopes that Little was not involved. So who in the party resents others time off to be with family? One hopes Robertson is not involved.

    Given Mallard says it was not him (and assuming he is not lying), and given Goff, King and Shearer and Cosgrove are named in the article – who is left of the senior insiders?

  40. Hami Shearlie 40
    20 July 2014 at 5:55 pm

    Fairfax said it was a senior party person, they didn’t say WHICH party though did they?? It smells fake!

  41. Jack 41
    20 July 2014 at 5:56 pm

    Very unbalanced and dangerous country we are living in these days.

    Media is totally unbalanced and involved in chequebook journalism, however the NZ sheep are following MSM s instructions and will do as they are told.

  42. kenny 42
    20 July 2014 at 7:39 pm

    So let me get this straight – a journalist can get some information from a ‘senior party insider’ and publish whatever this insider says. Does this journalist check this information out or does he get the go-ahead from his editor and publishes regardless, even though this story has the potential to do untold damage to someone? Supposing this story is malicious and untrue – who is accountable? Can this journalist be made to divulge the identity of the ‘insider’? It seems not.

    So damage has been done to someones reputation but nobody is held to account?

    Something wrong there!

  43. Clean_power 43
    20 July 2014 at 7:54 pm

    Without knowing the source one can only speculate, but the names of Mallard and Hipkins are among the suspects. An inside job, maybe?

  44. Anne 44
    20 July 2014 at 8:38 pm

    The reference in the article to the caucus source being a ‘he’ might be a form of subterfuge to further disguise the person’s identity. It’s possible ‘he’ might actually be a ‘she’.

  45. rightofleftcentre 45
    20 July 2014 at 9:29 pm

    Reading this article and particularly the comments one is not left with the feeling that Labour us a united forward looking and progressive force ready to assume the role of governing the country. And this is your own home ground ffs!
    And you wonder why the country at large is rejecting you so solidly?
    But what would they know…. you, of course, know better.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 45.1
      21 July 2014 at 7:38 am

      You think these critics vote Labour? Or is your false concern delivered in bad faith?

      National is the Party of false beliefs, the party of people who think they know better than the evidence, whether it’s evidence of child poverty, cost/benefit analyses of roads of political significance, the Greenhouse Effect, fresh water quality, education, you name it, National has a policy that flies in the face of the facts.

      Way to trip over your own benchmark.

  46. What've a next 46
    20 July 2014 at 10:42 pm

    Great post, saying exactly what so many feel and think.
    +100

  47. Vaughan Little 47
    21 July 2014 at 12:30 am

    There is a lot to be upset about.

    BUT

    On the positive side:

    Isn’t it great to support a party, to be part of a movement, that really cares about the country’s future.

    Isn’t it fantastic that we can work for the dignity of the poor and marginalized whether our party is in power or out of it.

    Come election day I will gratefully, and with a tonne of peace of mind, give all my ticks to Labour.

  48. Murray Olsen 48
    21 July 2014 at 1:30 am

    I actually think that the more said about the unnamed MP, the better. Scabs should be outed. They should be expelled from the party. They should be sent to Coventry.

  49. Charlieboy 49
    21 July 2014 at 8:58 am

    There is something very important in what Vaughn Little writes here. As an ordinary punter there is not a lot we can do to change the way that the media, the PR spinners, the negative letter writers or the destructive policy coming out from the Natz.
    My only power is in my Vote! When I state my support for Labour and what they stand for I know I am doing the right thing. Win or lose, I am doing the right thing. I am doing the right thing for my family, my community, my country.
    Yes, it does give me fantastic peace of mind, I recommend it.

  50. Crunchtime 50
    21 July 2014 at 12:39 pm

    According to the latest idiot Herald article, the “problem” is Cunliffe is “not sexy”. Neither is John Key, so what the hell does that have to do with anything.

    Cunliffe could project even more confidence and charisma than he already does. But he already does a lot though…