CLEARLY I ERRED in likening Andrew Little to Napoleon Bonaparte. Whatever else people may say of Napoleon, no one can fairly accuse him of dissipating his forces on the field of battle.
Concentration, concentration, concentration, was Napoleon’s mantra: what the American Civil War General, Nathan Bedford Forrest, later summarised as “getting there firstest, with the mostest”.
Consigning David Cunliffe to the rear of the battlefield, and replacing Nanaia Mahuta with Kelvin Davis do not strike me as the decisions of a wise general. (Although they may be those of a panicky one.) While advancing his Right, a wise general would have taken care to keep his Left strong – just in case his confidence in all these newly promoted commanders proves to be misplaced.
As a number of right-wing commentators have already pointed out, the treatment of Cunliffe is as wasteful of the man’s talent as it is self-indulgently vindictive. They contrast Little’s demotion of Cunliffe with National’s treatment of Bill English. In spite of leading his party to the worst defeat in its history, English’s colleagues did not consider it appropriate to signal his imminent political demise. On the contrary, his talent was retained and directed, very successfully, against the political enemy.
But that’s Labour’s problem, isn’t it? For far too many Labour politicians, the political enemy is seated on their own side of the parliamentary aisle. The Government benches contain only their opponents.
It is interesting to speculate about how Cunliffe’s supporters in the broader Labour Party will respond to Little’s brutal treatment of him. Some will recall the statespersonship of Helen Clark, who judiciously divided up the top jobs between her friends – and foes. The result – a “ministry of all the talents” – proved crucial to ending the serious factional strife that had long plagued Labour’s caucus. Others will recall with some bitterness the assurances given to them by the Labour hierarchy at the party’s recent conference.
The bitter divisions of the past had been healed, they said. Caucus and party were now working together, they said.
Yeah, Right.
It is now very clear that the only “peace” secured at Palmerston North was a Carthaginian Peace. Satisfied that their rank-and-file opponents had no more fight left in them, Cunliffe’s enemies immediately prevailed upon Little to order the New Lynn MP’s political demotion.
Expressed in the most brutal terms, Little’s reshuffle pushes Grant Robertson’s people (especially Jacinda Ardern) “up”; casts Cunliffe’s people “down”; and raises the very serious question as to whether Little has any “people” at all.
Are we looking at a Labour Leader in command of his own caucus, or a Labour Leader dancing to the tune of its dominant faction? A faction characterised by petty spitefulness, and almost completely lacking in the magnanimity so crucial to building and bringing together an effective government.
The last time we had a puppet Leader of the Opposition was in the years immediately prior to the 1984 general election. The difference then, of course, was that the public never doubted that David Lange was going defeat Sir Robert Muldoon and bring an end to nine years of divisive National rule.
That Andrew Little is about to do the same to John Key is not a bet that many New Zealanders would take. And this reshuffle in no way improves the odds.
The more apt comparison is actually Key’s treatment of Brash, not English. Key sent Brash straight to the back benches and out of Parliament.
I think your factional analysis is misplaced here Chris. Megan Woods, formerly Jim Anderton’s right hand in Christchurch, is hardly a right-winger. Sue Moroney was Cunliffe’s chief whip and has been promoted to shadow cabinet and picked up Transport, one of the biggest portfolios in government. Phil Twyford is an NGOist, green tea drinking left-winger and goes to number 4. Sua William Sio and Iain Lees-Galloway were both staunch Cunliffe supporters and are ranked highly in the shadow cabinet. Carmel Sepuloni, another formerly staunch Cunliffe supporter, is on the front bench.
This is about a leader who has moved beyond the factional games and is willing to promote based on who he thinks will make the best team to win. He’s obviously decided that Cunliffe is a distraction to that and has done what he felt he needed to do. It’s ruthless, but it’s not the behaviour of a puppet.
Brash had never served in a cabinet and could never: Cunliffe is a proven top class cabinet minister.
Brash had been caught lying to the country on the Brethern matter and more. Brash was toxic and useless. Cunliffe can never ever be compared to Brash.
Wash your mouth out with soap.
Top class cabinet minister? You mean the David Cunliffe brought in during the dying days of Clark’s soft neo-liberal government as a centrist, business-friendly technocrat whose rallying cry during his time in cabinet was PPPs? Give me a break. Cunliffe is a self-serving political chameleon whose working-class warrior schtick was even less convincing than merchant banker, John Key’s, ‘man of the people’ masquerade. The sooner the man’s out of parliament, the better.
Now I’m absolutely no fan of the Robertson-Arden wing, and have been disappointed with Little’s policy moderation, but giving anymore oxygen to Cunliffe’s destabilising influence is not the way forward. One Cunliffe does not a Corbyn make.
Might be a repost (not sure the previous comment posted correctly): Top class cabinet minister? You mean the David Cunliffe brought in during the dying days of Clark’s soft neo-liberal government as a centrist, business-friendly technocrat whose rallying cry during his time in cabinet was PPPs? Give me a break. Cunliffe is a self-serving political chameleon whose working-class warrior schtick was even less convincing than merchant banker, John Key’s, ‘man of the people’ masquerade. The sooner the man’s out of parliament, the better.
Now I’m absolutely no fan of the Robertson-Arden wing, and have been disappointed with Little’s policy moderation, but giving anymore oxygen to Cunliffe’s destabilising influence is not the way forward. One Cunliffe does not a Corbyn make.
So that’s why he has the utterly incompetent Robertson holding the Finance portfolio . Cunliffe would be so much better in the role. Annette King needs to be put out to pasture. Indeed the petty self serving spiteful right wing Robertson Ardern(yawn) faction are in the driver’s seat.
Oh yes…. the important finance portfolio…
They couldn’t dare let Cunnliffe get hold of that else right wingers like Robertson and Adern would get spooked. And – heaven forbid!!! – might even mean Cunnliffe gained leverage to ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING that may knock a brick out of the wall of the neo liberals and enact – SHOCK !!! HORROR!!! – some policies that the Labour party was foundered on…
That would never do , goodness gracious !!!
Yes.. to all intents and purposes …a Pontius Pilate moment by Littel giving deference to the right wing neo liberal faction in the Labour party – nothing more.
You may recall that Cunliffe was the leader not that long ago. He had his chance to make a mark and we all saw what happened. Talk to anyone who’s ever worked closely with the man and you’ll get an idea about why he’s been demoted.
Have you ever worked with the man?
by all accounts people who have worked with David Cunliffe have been very favourable
…that is genuine Labour people who are not ambitious envious neolibs out for themselves and the subversion of the Labour Party
Oh yes…. the important finance portfolio…
They couldn’t dare let Cunnliffe get hold of that else right wingers like Robertson and Adern would get spooked. And – heaven forbid!!! – might even mean Cunnliffe gained leverage to ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING that may knock a brick out of the wall of the neo liberals and enact – SHOCK !!! HORROR!!! – some policies that the Labour party was foundered on…
That would never do , goodness gracious !!!
Yes.. to all intents and purposes …a Pontius Pilate moment by Little giving deference to the right wing neo liberal faction in the Labour party – nothing more.
Well put young Chris.
Little never fails to disappoint.
Except at disappointment…
Kia ora, Chris.
+100 Good Post
The left continues to bicker among themselves, while the right, though not without its own internal factions and tensions, puts forward a strong and united front…business as usual.
Is the ABC faction actually a fifth column?
…I mean looked at it historically, it has been going on at least as long as Shearer
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/8348590/Dalziel-dropped-from-Labours-top-20
Has the Labour Party been kidnapped?
HA!!!…
The neo liberals have ALWAYS BEEN a fifth column in the Labour party!!!
ALWAYS !!!
Jane Patterson’s spiteful , snarky prediction of David Cunliffe’s new positioning within Labour on the Radio N.Z web site this morning, should give you some clue as to why Little is basically being forced to ‘play the long game’.
N.Z Herald’s article was little better, showing their obsession with trying to destroy Cunliffe’s reputation at every opportunity.
A psychologist would have a field day!
What we have is a whole bunch of so called journalists who behaved unethically appallingly badly towards David Cunliffe from before and during his time as leader of the Labour Party.
They are still trying to justify their bad behaviour and reinforce their own warped beliefs by bagging him at every opportunity.
The more they bag him , the more they believe their own tiny minded bullshit.
This would continue unabated as long as Cunliffe stayed in the public eye .
Any one with half a brain knows that Cunliffe is one of Labours best and brightest.
But Little has to make this call…
Keep Cunliffe high on the list and allow the media to keep taking cheap ‘pot shots’ at him at the expense of not getting their other messages heard, or …. take Cunliffe out of the spot light for now and nullify the medias’ obsession.
Even Hobson would struggle with that one !
Well said Grant, completely agree with you 100 percent.
Grant, who’s running the Labour party? the party or the media?
You aren’t describing a clever manipulation of the media, you’re describing and trying to justify a straightforward capitulation.
Of course the media are believing their own hype, the party’s behaviour toward Cunliffe reinforces their delusion, nobody has stood up to them and indicated that Cunliffe wasn’t the cause of the election loss. Certainly the Labour party haven’t provided any.
And of course you are right that the media sabotaged Cunliffe in the election and played a major part in his loss (in my view perhaps “the” major reason for loss). But it is how you respond to adversity that is the measure of your mettle and commitment to principle. The Labour party showed no spine or commitment whatsoever over this and still doesn’t. Luckily for NZ the party didn’t behave in the same way when Kirk lost two campaignes as leader.
HEAR! HEAR! Richard.
The media definitely did a hit job on Cunliffe, especially the Dong Liu Affair, ironic John Key & Co were sucking up to Dong Liu at the same time.
The media did the same thing to Winston in previous build ups to Elections, a lot of miss truths spread by a compliant unprofessional uneducated complicit media.
Mr Andrew Little is the democratically elected leader of the Labour party. It is HIS right and duty to select the shadow cabinet that HE thinks will be the best for the party, HIS government and the country.
You are NOT the leader, Chris.
It is arrogant, wrong and mischievous to say what he should or should not have done.
It is people like you, the so called Labour/left supporters and the MSM that do the MOST harm to Labour, not Little, not Robertson, not Cunliffe, nor Key.
Stop putting the boot. Take a small breath and think about it.
Spot on Clemgeopin, agree with you too 100 percent. The hatefest that is equally going on over on TS is just as bad. Labour is damned if they do, and damned if they don’t. The likes of that CV that Trotter wrote about just recently among others who appear to be more right wing nut jobs than anyone from the left are thoroughly enjoying themselves putting the boot into Labour. I wonder at times if they all work for the National Party. One thing that people have forgotten is that David Cunliffe said to John Campbell in 2014 was that he didn’t know if he would stand in the 2017 election, and apart from the excellent points that Grant raised in his post above, which I feel has a lot of significance, we do not know about the chats that I am sure went on between Cunliffe and Little prior to the reshuffle, and while everyone is jumping to conclusions, I also think there is something important and significant there in Little making Cunliffe his under secretary on superannuation.
Hi Stuart. How is the Rogernomics Dinner Party Planning going?
Sorry, cute but you are barking up the wrong tree.
My point is that it is easy-peezy for armchair experts like Trotter to keep undermining what the leader of the Labour party does or does not do. We need to be aware of the important fact that Little deals with his caucus all the time and knows the ins and outs. He also travels widely around the country meeting all sorts of people and organisation and weighing up the merits and demerits of different issues and personalities. He will have good political and practical reasons for his choices. It is entirely his prerogative.
I hardly see Chris strongly directing his venom against Key and the National government instead!
The same thing happened to Goff, Shearer, Cunliffe and now towards Little!
Well said CLEMGEOPIN.
Labour deserves it! They have never apologized for Douglas they have never admitted they were/ are wrong to have destroyed our society by selling off public wealth without a mandate. They are a bunch of self serving careerist politicians. This is the debate. Get over it and grow up.
Maybe you should follow your own advice Shona and grow up and stop living in the past. Does National ever apologise for all the evil wrongdoings that successive National governments have done? NO yet NZers keep voting for the Nats and a lying traitor like crim, dishonest John over and over again. We NZers must love punishment. Saying sorry doesn’t make it alright, saying sorry won’t change the past. People need to grow up and stop living in the past, and focus on the present.
BTW in the lead up to the 2011 election that key used dirty politics to win, the then Labour leader Phil Goff did say that Labour was wrong during those Douglass times but had learnt from their mistakes.
Hear, hear! When even Phil Goff is openly admitting to and apologising for the wrongness of Rogernomics, you know the Labour Party have moved on.
I’m with you Shona
My father , for many, MANY years, was a worker for and supporter of Labour – as WERE his children and all their children . He drove about in his old car delivering leaflets, putting up election hoardings , writing letters to the editor of The Press , arguing with Tory relatives at family gatherings and he will die a disappointed man.
He watched all the Labour Luvvies ( thanks Daily Mail !) worshipping at the feet of Roger Douglas , executing a hard right turn and now, aged 85 he sees the same bloody faces there ..not one apology , not one Mea Culpa , not one sign that things are gonna change , just a whole lot of re-arranging deckchairs .
So my Left Wing dad will die having the spent the first half of his life voting for and working for Labour , the next 20 years hoping that an apology and a left turn might happen and the last years of his life resigned to the fact the Labour Party is dead and now we have National Lite.
But then, Labour don’t want my dad’s vote and they haven’t wanted it for many years.
BR +100 well said!…this Labour Party is dead
…that is why we need a new Labour Mana Party
Good comments there BR.
Like your Dad, I spent many years working voluntarily for the Labour Party, back in the days when it truly represented the ordinary working class Kiwi, he/she who kept the wheels of industry ticking along.
When I saw decent hard working friends began to lose jobs, leading to a decreasing standard of living, as a result of the Rogernomics monster in the late 1980s, I gave it all away, simply because my conscience would not let me continue supporting Labour any more.
Same now. No change in direction any time soon from what I can see. So Labour can go and screw itself into oblivion for all I care, because that’s where it’s heading at a great rate of knots!
I honestly thought the election of David Cunliffe as leader was the beginning of a light at the end of a very long dark tunnel for ordinary Kiwis. But no, msm put paid to that, surreptitiously working for FJK & Co!
What hope there is for NZ, I don’t know. Don’t trust NZ Greens now with Shaw up there, giving FJK a free pass on the flag. He’s done it once, he will do it again!
If only we could get the Mana Movement back into Parliament. But then there is always dirty politics lurking about, ready to rear its ominous ugly head, just as it did at the last election, taking Mana down!
This country has become so damn grubby and slimy!
+100 MARY_A….and I also used to work for the Labour Party when it was a real Labour Party
…it has been trashed by the wannabes and neolibs
@ Clem…I am surprised at your anti democratic tendencies!
Chris Trotter IS a journalist/columnist and allowed his opinion post , as are all who come to this site and comment. You may not like it but this site exists for political discussion…why else?.
Heaven forbid that we are all shut up and kowtow to Andrew Little and the Labour Party cabal who feel they own the Labour Party. Such a suggestion smacks of Stalinism and dictatorship tyranny.
Little cant even win his own seat for Gods sake… and nor can Robertson… or Adern !.
Little was NOT the popular choice of the Labour Party membership for Labour leader…David Cunliffe was !.
Little was the fourth and last choice. He may be leader (by default) but he is accountable
Clem’s just displaying traditional Kiwi anti-intellectualism Chooky.
It’s still alive and well in 2015.
Unfortunately…
So if people don’t agree with you think they are traditional Kiwi anti-intellectualism? Is that right? What does that say about you then?
It says “I rest my case m’lud”.
Got any more evidence there?
No it doesn’t rest your case at all.
But J S Bark, it doesnt rest your case though.
Shame on you Chooky for slamming someone for having their say because it doesn’t fit in with YOUR VIEW. You are a hypocrite, and you are using the same lines as a rwnj.
duplicitous words
You would know all about that.
Hi Chooky!
I am not anti democratic nor am I saying that Trotter is not allowed to say whatever he wants to say on his ‘professional’ columns.
I am only pointing out the immense harm/damage he and other Labour/Left supporters actually end up doing to Labour and the left cause intentionally or through good intentions.
You must have noticed from recent history what transpired for Goff, Shearer and Cunliffe and the Labour party both from the RW dirty tricks brigade as well as from many probably well intentioned people from the left.
I can understand how enemies/competitors of Labour like National, ACT and RW media play dirty openly or subtly to constantly undermine Labour leaders and the Labour party.
I worry when our so called ‘friends’ happily/innocently/unwisely fall into that trap and do the exact same thing but in a different way and probably with sincere good intentions!
Clem…Labour shoots itself in the foot…NOT its critics from the Left
…by all means attack right wing msm unjustified criticism and undermining of the Labour Party …and David Cunliffe and others who are genuinely Left and could win the Election for the Left
…however attacking people on the Left who are genuinely dismayed at how Labour operates …betraying its own Labour membership !…and its own best eg David Cunliffe is reprehensible.
..It is undemocratic for you to try and stifle discussion and debate here!.
You should be able to distinguish between justified criticism of the Labour Party and unjustified criticism!
Hey, Mr Little, was David Cunliffe not once voted for by the majority of the Labour Party membership? It was only too many in caucus that opposed him as leader before the last election. And as I hear it, there is still a fair level of support and sympathy that goes out to David Cunliffe.
Maybe he disappointed some that once supported him, with his talk about being “ashamed to be a man”, and not answering one or another question well during a pre-election debate on TV.
Cunliffe was already stabbed in the back, or at least undermined, while the election campaign was still in preparation last year, then when some polls did not seem to deliver, and when the MSM turned nasty at him and Labour, the rest of the stab in the back was dealt out by those in caucus that disliked him. Some in caucus got nervous or even panicked, and then turned at Cunliffe, I remember it well, it was revealed in comments after the election loss was announced.
David hesitated accepting defeat on election night, but had to see the sombre reality afterwards. So after some reflecting he stepped down.
Many still respect him for his skills and experience, and for his passion, expressed well and in oratory skill in his speeches. So some of us had hoped he may be back in a better role, ranked higher as he had been until yesterday.
But why the hell did you rank him down to number 28 out 0f 32 (or is it 34?). That is an insult, a slap in the face of the man. Did he signal not standing again in 2017, or did some breathe down heavily on your neck, Mr Little?
Have the ABC “gangsters” been putting on the pressure, or been pulling some strings behind the scenes? Did some of your caucus dare bully you? I cannot believe you, but your decision yesterday raises many, many questions.
It does not make sense what I see, some like Stuart Nash now moving up, and Jacinda Ardern ranked higher than many can see as being justified. Annette King must be transitioning into retirement over the coming years, so why is she still right next to you, in the front line and co driver’s seat?
Andrew Little, you have certainly disappointed me, if you would have appreciated and had been able to recognise talent and also fairness, you would have treated David Cunliffe differently, and given him a spokesperson role and ranking further up. That would have mended some divisions that still may well exist within the party.
It appears that caucus considers itself as the dominant professional elite within your party, ignoring the input someone like David Cunliffe can still offer, by marginalising him.
You only became leader with a rather marginal majority, so how does that feel? Are you having second thoughts now to hold the balance in the party, and have you given in to some others, who seem to be setting the agenda now?
For me Labour has now become unvotable, I will not even vote for the electorate seat candidate anymore. My trust is gone, after seen what has been dealt out to the MP for New Lynn, David Cunliffe, that is NOT an olive branch for someone who could perhaps contribute so much for Labour in future.
Good luck with your future as leader, and your campaign in 2017, you will certainly need it.
Spot on Mike in Auckland. Hear Hear
wot mike in auckland said..
Agree wholeheartedly with you Mike in Auckland. Very well put.
+100 Mike in Auckland…well said
Spot on Clemgeopin, agree with you too 100 percent. The hatefest that is equally going on over on TS is just as bad. Labour is damned if they do, and damned if they don’t. The likes of that CV that Trotter wrote about just recently among others who appear to be more right wing nut jobs than anyone from the left are thoroughly enjoying themselves putting the boot into Labour. I wonder at times if they all work for the National Party. One thing that people have forgotten is that David Cunliffe said to John Campbell in 2014 was that he didn’t know if he would stand in the 2017 election, and apart from the excellent points that Grant raised in his post above, which I feel has a lot of significance, we do not know about the chats that I am sure went on between Cunliffe and Little prior to the reshuffle, and while everyone is jumping to conclusions, I also think there is something important and significant there in Little making Cunliffe his under secretary on superannuation.
Seems Labour’s ABC neo liberals have got to Andrew Little here. His shadow cabinet reshuffle demonstrates this point! Little is a weak man.
David Cunliffe and Nanaia Mahuta are true Labour MPs, holding strong to the principles and values on which Labour was founded. In this respect, Cunliffe is seen as a threat to the neo libs, just as he was to FJK during the last election campaign, when he was a victim of dirty politics through media smearing him at every opportunity!
Little and the dominant ABC neo libs will pay heavily for this reshuffle, particularly from iwi, who will punish Labour for its disgraceful treatment of Mahuta here! Good!
To Cunliffe and Mahuta I say, kia kaha. Nanaia is a class and presence above the rest of the present Labour line up. Both she and Cunliffe will see the end of Little and the bunch of ABC neo liberal mobsters, as people will begin to wake up and shake the hell out of the present establishment in general!
Dirty Politics definitely worked in the demise of John Key
David Cunliffe should come and join the Greens.
Cunliffe and Mahuta should certainly jump ship
….but I would favour a new Labour Party incorporating Mana and Internet Parties…Labour Mana/Internet Party of New Zealand
…this existing Labour Party does not deserve its name…it is a cabal that does not even represent its grassroots membership
I would join that party and be active in it! I know some of you on this this blog have contacts. Can you float the idea. Perhaps jack up a meeting we could attend.
We wouldn’t have to hide our identities as we are probably being monitored on this site anyway.
You would be wasting your time and worse, Mr Gadfly Dad.
The Revolution you dream of is never going to come from the ballot box, simply because there are never enough people who feel they have literally nothing to lose.
The party you are imagining should declare a victory if they manage to attract 20%. I’m not kidding.
That said, if all the progressive parties of the Left, except perhaps the Greens, who have a brand to protect, were to seek to join Labour and then – just imagine – the entire membership were to genuinely try to work together and to understand each other’s position rather than simply looking for a chance to voice their pret-a-porter opinions, the world might look very different.
Cunliffe is poisoned fruit. Good bad or indifferent he probably has to go, otherwise he will just be a distraction. There was a period back there when he was adopted as a new flag for the irritated membership, but he was a fairly bent reed. The bigger question is whether or not real talent will be included in the next catchment. and whether or not the under-performing time-servers can be given the boot to assist in that task.
I’m not talking about a night of the long knives to get rid of the “National-lites”. There is still room for a range of political views within the parameters of the Left, one would hope. Just pushing out the never-weres and the never-will-bes would be a good start.
‘ Just pushing out the never-weres and the never-will-bes would be a good start. ‘
That’s right…..and if they were to do that , Labour wouldn’t have a caucus anymore but instead the possibility of a new reelected one that didn’t have the stench of neo liberalism permeating it.
And then Cunliffe would be returned to where he belongs – heading the Labour party as a true social democratic alternative to the cold vomit cup of char that the National party currently is.
What a great idea.
NEVER underestimate the importance of a 2IC in a team. Some make good commanders, but poor 2ICs, just as some brilliant 2ICs may well be average leaders. Look at history and you will see there have been many 2ICs who made the mission possible, and left their mark in the “arena” of war and peace.
Above all a goal will never be achieved without sound coursemanship and teamwork.
the team leader is a dud…Labour cabal has shot itself in the foot and in the head…only duds will vote for them now
time for Cunliffe and Mahuta and the Maori seats to jump ship and an action real New Zealand grassroots Labour Mana Party born
What ever happened to keep your friends close ,but keep your enemies closer?
I think they threw out that maxim when suicide bombers came on the scene…
@ ee, I read it more as Little is keeping his enemies closer….
Feel like repeating this pun again, “Labour has ‘little’ to vote for”, at least if it attempts to move to the “right/centre”.
Most world governments are owned and controlled by Corporations. The very greedy elite who push the TPPA and could care less about peace and the quality of lives and their impacts on the environment.
Both N.Z. political parties are a let down and much of a muchness. They both are beholding to the UN ( for the most part ) and this will perpetuate the business as usual approach so not much will change no matter who gets in. We have been brainwashed into thinking that one party will be better than the other. We need massive changes that people can believe in and feel that their vote is worth something.
War and fear mongers for the most part, who will sing the same tunes that the upper 1% elite corporate criminals tell them to sing. Mega-corporations control most of them and dictate the rules and now want to change the laws to maximize their profits ( tppa ).
We lack leaders with guts like Bernie Sanders etc. and no wonder many just do not bother to vote anymore.
+100…we need a new Left Labour Party
+100 Chris.
What the F is Little doing?
It’s like a message saying F off existing Labour voters.
Key wins because he can make decisions like retaining English. He understands basic psychology (or at least has someone advising him that does). Little does not seem to have a clue, this and TPP show his weakness, while ex Labour are going out of their way to give him chances to improve.
Little seems to be a guy that reads the herald and other right wing propaganda, not a guy that even understands Labour voters, how to find out what they want and why they did not vote Labour last time. Like Clark, his National background as a kid is shinning through, don’t rock the boat.
The decision is over thought and coming to the wrong conclusions, like most of Labour current decisions. At least Clark even though a neoliberal, was intelligent and able to navigate better though complex situations. Little is trying to be Clark, but we are in different times, and quite frankly Little is no where near as steely, decisive and intelligent as Clark, who can tell off the Israelis, negotiate with China and keep Michael Cullen as a smart side kick.
Little needs to play safe, and that would be to get a smart guy next to him, like Cunliffe, even if he feels he needs a right winger too. At least he looks like he has not picked which direction to take Labour.
Unfortunately his clear bias to the right wing neoliberals has shown his cards and direction, while his speeches point to the left wing labour.
Confusion and misdirection is a Natz trait, but they at least do it well.
Little doesn’t, hence the howls of anger from his voters.
Labour needs to close the Clark years, and turn back in time to pre 1984 (like his popular speech).
The other big neoliberal mantra is MONEY, MONEY< MONEY.
Actually there have been plenty of political changes without money, Mandela, Malcolm X etc. When people with a vision of a better, fairer future changed history by bringing people with them, not selling their soul at breakfasts to business lobbyists and asking people to push the donate button.
You don't need money and donations to create change. But you do need to have ethics and a vision. Sadly Labour has abandoned both.
I suspect that most of the commentators here and at TS that are putting the boot into Labour and Little are not actually genuine Labour voters at all but are the Green and Mana voters. Just my gut feeling.
By the way, I was a strong supporter of Cunliffe during his reign as leader. But that is history. His time has passed.
@ Clemgepin Yep keep saying that! What about Tae Loo – is he another Green or Mana voter?
What about the electorate votes too? Some people still vote labour in the electorate, again what is the point alienating so many people who could be supporting Labour by stupid and obvious slap in the faces of supporters and (ex) voters or even supporters of a centre left government?
Makes no sense from a voting point of view.
actually I could have been a Labour voter ( many on the left are swinging voters who jump between NZF , Green, Mana, Labour)
and I am a Labour member ( I paid my moneys)…havent resigned yet…I was part of the Labour majority membership that voted for David Cunliffe as leader, followed by Nania Mahuta
( I was laways a bit suspicious of Little because Michelle Boag and I think Hooton endorsed him…what does that tell you?)
actually I could have been a Labour voter ( many on the left are swinging voters who jump between NZF , Green, Mana, Labour)
and I am a Labour member ( I paid my moneys)…havent resigned yet…I was part of the Labour majority membership that voted for David Cunliffe as leader, followed by Nania Mahuta
( I was always a bit suspicious …and initially very suspicious of Little because Michelle Boag and I think Hooton endorsed him…what does that tell you?)
Agreed, and your gut feeling is correct Clemgeopin.
If Labour is that full of factions then it’s no wonder they lost the last election big time. I think they should repudiate “Rogernomics”, the free market, and whatever other cock and bull neo-liberal economics still remains in Labour, Little can take a leaf out of Corbyns book, speak clearly about the necessities of housing, health, jobs and the other basics that Labour used to be good at. Little should focus on these realities.
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