I’m spluttering into my morning coffee…
Cunliffe sets benchmark for election
Labour leader David Cunliffe has set himself a benchmark for the next election making it clear his goal is to overtake National in the polls rather than simply rely on a strong combined Labour-Greens result to edge National out.
…ummmmmmmmmmmmm what?
The idea that Labour could over take National seems as likely as me dating Scarlett Johansson after her decision to pimp for Israeli companies.
I like someone who has self belief, we all do, but to verbalise something so exceptionally unlikely comes across more wide eyed than realistic.
How on earth can Labour overtake one of the most popular political leaders in modern times during an economic boom that is enabling and empowering that leaders voter base more now than ever before?
I mean, I want to believe in Labour overtaking National too, but I’m an adult with an educated opinion on politics with an intelligence slightly above average, and as such can see no scenario where Labour could ever out poll National.
To give my Labour comrades the benefit of the doubt, here is the scenario that would need to occur for Labour to overtake National – a video emerges on Youtube where Cameron Slater is at a Cabinet meeting with John Key while Judith Collins strangles a kitten and passes it to each of the Cabinet Ministers to drink blood from WHILE they take turns urinating on the flag. Now as much as I want that Youtube clip to appear, I think the possibility is slim.
Such a tactic to win the most sounds like Cunliffe has lost the argument within Labour to work with the Greens instead of against them. The Green leadership was supposed to have met with Labour leadership over the holidays, this hasn’t happened and I fear the Green’s snobbish attitude combined with their little brother complex has given those within Labour wanting a fight all the excuses to do so.
Personally I think a Labour/Green fight is the most pointless outcome that will do nothing in getting rid of this Government and it reeks of the bloody left not being able to sort their shit out. Again.
I fear the first step on the wrong pathway that will lead to failure has just been embarked upon.
I hope I am wrong.
UPDATE: Thankfully I am wrong. I have been talking to senior Labour Party strategists today who were at pains to point out that what Cunliffe had to say about the strength of a coalition necessary to throw out National was left out of the media article. Cunliffe still intends to be a unifier on the left and not a splitter and the comments were more driven at Labour’s need to prove itself by lifting its game and to counter the constant mainstream media meme that the largest political party somehow has a mandate to govern where as the majority does not.
Top level meetings between Labour, the Greens and MANA are still on the agenda with an aim to maximise co-operation that will unseat this Government. TDB will carry those details when we hear them.
I am relieved that David’s desire to unify is still what is driving Labour’s strategy in the 2014 election as I think it is together in the same waka that the Left have the best chance of not only unseating the National Government, but of implementing our first truly progressive Government in modern political times.
Labour can run faster and harder if they don’t run a three legged race….fact.
You like metaphors. Here’s another one. Two gangs come to a brawl. One side is led by a huge, scary, brawler with a big cricket bat, but his only companions are two stick-thin, 10 pound weaklings, with pidgeon toes and bung knees, whom he has to help to stand up. The other side has three confident fighters, all three well-armed and rearing to fight, who can make quick work of the opposition’s supporters and rip into its leader from the front and the flanks. Who is going to win?
Lost the plot?
David Cunliffe likes to reference his children in his speeches:
So too, does President Obama:
As well as referencing their children in their speeches, the two men share another thing in common. Both Obama and Cunliffe are convinced of the reality and the terrible danger posed by climate change.
So, will the so called “most powerful man in the world”, bow down to even more provenly powerful oil companies, who are seeking to construct a major, but highly controversial, pipeline to take Canadian oil sands to the gulf of Mexico?
Because it crosses international and state borders the Keystone XL pipeline, as it named, requires the express approval of the President before it can proceed.
President Obama has received two conflicting interpretations of the same report, on the Keystone XL pipeline:
“No major climate impact from Keystone Pipeline”
And:
“this pipeline will indeed have a ‘significant impact’ on climate change,”
Which one will he choose?
Scientific American dissects the origin of the two widely different viewpoints and how they are arrived at:
David Cunliffe, supports Deep Sea Oil drilling, but once, not that long ago, when talking about hard to get at unconventional oil sources, (like Deep Sea Oil), he said, though “getting harder and more expensive to source”, is “unsustainable” and “squandering our children’s inheritance like there is no tomorrow.”.
I leave the final word to President Obama, words that also need to be taken to heart by David Cunliffe.
P.S. The above is important because, other than showing complete disregard for the environment. David Cunliffe and Labour are completely out of touch with the majority feeling of the population.
At a time when a National New Zealand First coalition looks set to be the next government. You would think that Labour would be looking for support where ever they could find it.
Have Labour lost the plot? Most assuredly.
Labour could overtake National if they ditched neoliberalism. But the problem is that Cunliffe says its a failed system, and then appears to be continuing with it.
Where’s full employment? Where’s the end to the SOE shambles? Where’s the end to student debt and student loans?
Surely Cunliffe can’t expect us to vote for more of the same?
“Surely Cunliffe can’t expect us to vote for more of the same? ”
Well here’s one, plus about 22 others of extended family/friends that won’t be.
Maybe 2017 IF Labour are still around.
It is not Cunliffe’s decision alone.
The early electioneering talk and efforts made, and the poor reporting on this by the MSM, do not give me much hope either. For the MSM it is largely about the flag, about polls, about who may go with whom, about who says what, and who wears what kind of supposedly “luxury” clothes and lives in “mansions” or “castles”.
For the politicians it is the usual, holding their cards close to the chest, releasing bits of policy, trying to entice substantial voter groups, and ignoring the concerns of the working poor and even worse off on benefits or even living in the parks.
Yes, there is some talk of Key wanting to consider deals, but he want to give nobody too much hope, who will be favoured. It is easy enough though, to realise, he will take whatever offers there may be, whether it is a man and his party believing in “chemtrails”, a changed “act”, a crazy hairdo fan or Winston and his club.
I think that Cunliffe does seriously think, that he can get more popular than Key, and thus gain more votes. It will likely mean, we get yet more of a US style election campaign, head to head meaning “leader contra leader”, and this being more about personalities than policies.
The Greens will feel pressured and will have Norman and Turei try to also “appeal” to the media and public, and we have had the first signs of Metiria feeling a need to show the MSM here home called “castle”, same as her wardrobe.
FFS, are New Zealanders so “dim” to allow this to happen? I do not think so. The MSM are, as that is exactly what they like to do.
I want parties and leaders to compete on policies, and after the election sit down and discuss (over a cuppa or not), what options there are. I do not want Cunliffe or the Green leaders to have cuppas, but they should at least show respect and restraint, given the fact they will most certainly need to work together when a new government will have been voted for later this year.
An exception can be made for Mana, ensuring Hone and someone else may get in. And it may be “sensible” for Labour or Greens to not have certain candidates stand for electorate seats, where it is important to beat a National, ACT or Conservative candidate, that is for Labour and Greens to consider as common sense decisions to make.
And what is happening with policy? As one at the bottom of society, without family, I have heard and seen virtually NOTHING that will improve my life under Labour. This government will also shortly increase the minimum wage to $ 14 or so an hour, so the $ 15 Labour wants to bring in, seems a bit out of date, I’d say. Up this to at least $ 16 now, I suggest!
Please get your stuff sorted and present some policies that bring back fair, sensible, constructive, inclusive and respectful welfare policies, not based on “fake science” by mad “experts” from the UK or here!
Mark, I visited Metiria’s home as a gargoyle warrior in the pacifist battle between Clan McGillicuddy and the Waitati Militia. It is a “castle”, in the sense that it has stone walls and battlements and is heated by fire. It is in no sense a mansion, in fact it’s tiny for a family home. Letting the media come through was good sense, as it made that clear, and headed off any attempt by NatACT strategists to spin it into something it isn’t.
I agree with you about the minimum wage thing. With National almost keeping up with inflation with the $14 lolly (just as Clark did with the last minimum wage lift I remember), Labour needs to make a bold stand and say the Living Wage should be the minimum wage, or if Cunliffe wants to be the next Micky Savage, bring in a universal basic wage at that level, and make businesses who want workers make it worth their while.
I agree with the point that the Cunliffe has lost the argument concerning the Greens. This means the old right wing guard are in control and in fact never lost it. This is despite the optimism the new leader brought about, that too will recede as the policies move towards National’s.
I accept that the Greens attitudes do not help but once again we see the left about to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
People want a change NZ needs a change Labour’ Mana and the Greens have to offer us something different.
Labour’s tired right wing rabble would rather loose another election than loose control of the party, they will kill the party off.
Where is your evidence that the Right controls Labour or that we are not actively seeking to work with the Greens? I have it on good authority that David is very realistic that Labour will be in a coalition if we are to be the next Government. And it is so important that we are for so many reasons, not the least of which is the need to tackle inequality and poverty.
You’re on the money Martin. Except for dating Scarlett Johansson. She’s an absolute honey!
Yeah right, if Scarlett Johansson offered you a date you’d say no because she endorsed Soda Stream once.
As for getting 10%, they really only have to take 5% off National to have the same effect. If they take 10% off the Greens, then the Greens will also not make the threshold so they effectively lose 12-15% from a coalition. Unless, of course, it’s a coalition with NZF that they really want.
But taking 10% off the Greens is also unlikely.
But yes, a 10% vote grow before the election is a pretty high ambition. They would have to come up with a hell of a campaign, combined with National screwing up massively.
Settle down lad. Cunliffe is just trying to sound positive. I will vote Labour regardless this year; what I may do in the future,apart from turning right, is another matter.
I agree, I just think it was an upbeat comment to counter the National Radio, “National Win Election because they get the most votes’ nonsense. A lot of people seem to have read it as an end of the world sort of thing. It probably wasn’t.
BREAKING: Major Political Party Announces Intention to be Biggest Political Party, in the next hour: Monkey Throws Feces.
Bad mistake, as you say. The “no news” period of the NY has been filled with Mainstream media love letters to this govt and its “Rock star” economy. (Well, rocks in our pockets, stars in the greedies’ eyes). You can’t out-lie that. Stick to the efin truth and repeat, repeat, repeat.
re UPDATE
That is a real relief to read that update
Our left-wing parties need to show what an excellent government-in-waiting they are by cooperating well together now.
p.s. What is going on with Mana? I am hearing very little about them at present. What’s the story there?
If Labour is talking like that and Cunliffe has lost the argument within Labour to work with the Greens, Labour may as well offer themselves now as a potential coalition partner to National come election time.
It sounds like the old guard within the Labour party are prepared to throw an election to ensure the last 20 years of neoliberalism, under successive Labour and National Governments, remains the dominating ideology.
If Labour want to be Government they must bring forward fresh ideas and a new direction, not a rinse and repeat of the last 20 years.
Right now Labour & National look like two sides of the same coin.
Hah. National supporters would still find a way to blame Labour. Or the Greens (linked to Metiria’s choice of clothing, mayhaps?). Or beneficiaries. It’s a given.
Party faithful were told on Sunday by David Cunliffe that he did not want anyone bagging the Green Party. I know as I was there. The instruction was clear, definite and unabiguous. Anything to the contrary is National/Neo-Liberal/media spin.
Really appreciate your sharing this information, Simon Buckingham
It is very clear we are getting very warped info through the media and getting a comment like this helps very much to cut through the crap.
Thank you
TPP might be the catalyst to the moving of 15 to 20% of the votes come election day .
I think the party that states that in no way ,shape or form will they support the signing of the TPP without full unrestricted public access to the text of the agreement and robust public debate.
I think anti-TPP protest in the US ,Japan ,Australia ,etc. will make it past the media filters because of the sheer scale of these protests .
I see in TPP a cause that’s been waiting for a revolution.
TPP has the potential to change life as we know it like no other document since the Treaty of Waitangi was first signed on 6 February 1840 .
Once people understand the implications of the TPP with regards to off shore oil drilling ,mining on DOC land ,lack of environmental protections , neutering of Pharmac ,extension to drug patents ,control of the Internet ,Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) ,secret tribunals that decide if the countries laws have effected the profit making ability of the aggrieved Corporation and what compensation the country has to pay the Corporation for losses,etc..
This is the Anti-Nuclear ethos New Zealand must make this decade !
http://www.itsourfuture.org.nz/th_gallery/investor-state-dispute-settlement-isds/
“I fear the Green’s snobbish attitude combined with their little brother complex has given those within Labour wanting a fight all the excuses to do so.”
Yeah, I agree. Ever since the Greens betrayed the electorate by introducing Rogernomics and setting up SOEs, plus refusing the roll back the NAct benefit cuts, I have been unable to see why Labour, that great workers’ party of proletarian principle, has had anything to do with them. In fact, until they get rid of the remaining neoliberals such as Green Mallard, Green Jones, and Green Goff, Labour should just ignore them.
I think even if they did find such a video lots of people would still vote for Key – love is blind.
What economic boom? Unemployment is still a way up to 6%. key is only popular in polls. There is a growing hatred out there I haven’t seen since Muldoon.
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