McCarten on Mt Albert
May 3rd, 2009 at 8:32 am by David FarrarMatt McCarten looks at Mt Albert again:
Goff’s photo opportunity last Sunday with the accepted nominees was to showcase their line-up. Goff obviously wanted to be seen as stamping his leadership on the party when he announced he had interviewed all the nominees. But selections are for the party organisation, not the caucus.
I know of no previous example in which the parliamentary leader gets this involved. It’s the party president’s job to manage selections. So it speaks volumes that the Labour Party president, Andrew Little, wasn’t even in the picture.
I’ve never heard of the party leader interviewing candidates. Poor Mt Albert electorate seem to be getting little say – which makes the slogan of “Put Mt Albert first” rather ironic.
Even Goff’s rather public recruitment of getting an outside high-profile candidate seems to be backfiring. The extraordinary opinion of Goff’s favourite, David Shearer, that we should use mercenaries in international hotspots is a real clanger.
The Labour Party is opposed to the privatisation of prisons, but I’m not sure how Goff spins his way out of his candidate supporting the privatisation of war.
Labour should be very grateful that McCarten is not going to be involved in the Mt Albert campaign. Why? Well on Thursday night a high profile left winger told me that if Shearer is the candidate, someone should arrange a dozen teenagers dressed as mercenaries to follow him about everywhere he goes – not saying anything or doing anything – just silently standing there as guards.
I thought this was a brillant idea for a party of the left to do (Nats can’t do it as they agree with Shearer on privatisation). The Greens get sniffy about such stunts. But, think of the fun if McCarten was involved. I still remember his chicken suit from the 1998 TKC by-election – it probably cost National 2,000 votes. McCarten would probably not just have a dozen mercenaries on the campaign trail, but have them wheeling a coffin about too.
With Shearer now causing serious concerns among the locals there is a real potential that any successful nominee will have minority support in the electorate and that Labour’s head office will effectively make the decision for them.
The Greens will be silently praying that Labour picks Shearer.
The Greens have always resented the way that Labour has taken them for granted and constantly sniggered about their MPs behind their backs. The Green candidate and party co-leader, Russel Norman, knows he has a golden opportunity to brand his party’s message and differentiation from Labour.
Byelections are unpredictable. At present, no one would pick Norman to win. But as someone who has managed a few close-call byelections, I know that a third party candidate can pull it off, given the right circumstances.
I agree. And they can have a powerful message about tactical voting to get a Green electorate MP to help Labour have a guaranteed coalition partner in future.
If the polls during the campaign start to show a trend toward the Greens, then anything is possible.
A lot will come down to Labour’s selection today.
Related posts:
- Greens and Mt Albert
- Greens aim to win Mt Albert with Norman
- Labour’s campaign for Mt Albert
- The numbers in Mt Albert
May 3rd, 2009 at 8:40 am
Yes all the parties seem to be bikering over selections
from the Herald
The National Party is embroiled in a backroom power struggle over its Mt Albert candidate, with the hierarchy’s favourite, Melissa Lee, trying to tip out grassroots toiler Ravi Musuku.
Ms Lee is a list MP and one of National’s new stars. Mr Musuku stood unsuccessfully against Helen Clark in the last two elections.
The hierarchy/grassroots divide is deepened by the selection process, with the 60-strong panel of party delegates made up of appointments from both sides. The panel will vote on Monday night.
I hope its a Shearer, Musuku, Norman race
Vote:All parties (Including the greens) are running roughshod over the local party selection processess
However if Russel gets in so does the previous local candidate D Clendon which is rather neat and tidy
Who will National choose ?
May 3rd, 2009 at 9:07 am
I love it Farrar, brilliant editorial article.
Labour are royally f*cked aren’t they?
By arsing around so long they have lost all credibility with the punters.
The Greens are a side show and will split the pinko vote.
The only clean candiate is that hottie Lee.
Vote:May 3rd, 2009 at 9:09 am
Tuija, you should not believe anything you read in The Herald. Talk of a power struggle over the National Party candidacy is nonsense.
Vote:May 3rd, 2009 at 9:37 am
“a high profile left winger told me that if Shearer is the candidate, someone should arrange a dozen teenagers dressed as mercenaries to follow him about everywhere he goes”
Someone should wheel a barrow full of watermelons wherever Russell “whatizname” goes.
Vote:May 3rd, 2009 at 9:47 am
although Russel is a credible candidate, due respect, but wtf are labour doing?
Vote:May 3rd, 2009 at 10:06 am
If Shearer is nominated National should withdraw their candidate. Shearer would be a better asset for National in parliament.
Vote:May 3rd, 2009 at 10:36 am
Matt seems to be going out of his way to ensure the only real winner in Mt Albert will be right wing bloggers. It’s getting harder not to like the guy.
Vote:May 3rd, 2009 at 10:36 am
Well I guess only the Herald and Tuija could make a story out of the fact that 60 delegates will meet to choose National’s candidate.
Remind me please how Labour’s going to do it. Ok I remember now, a panel of 7 including 3 Head Office appointees with Shearer already annointed by Phil.
With the selection taking place against the backdrop of revelations that Labour (yet again) breached ‘their’ Electoral Finance Act by failing to declare nearly $30,000 worth of donations from the Meatworkers Union.
No wonder Phil was keen to have the Act scrapped.
Vote:May 3rd, 2009 at 11:44 am
i agree that norman is in with a chance..
but that’s dependant on the efforts the greens put into campaigning..
..and the potency of their message..
you’d think they’d be throwing the kitchen sink at it..?
..but ya never know..
phil(whoar.co.nz)
Vote:May 3rd, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Phil perhaps if you were more involved in green politics than sitting down on your dole bludging, dope smoking arse and posting thousands of inane comments on kiwiblog you’d know more about the greens activities in mt albert. but hey, keep on fighting the good fight
Ross – there’s 7 votes in total, with 3 from head office and I believe a union delegate vote as well which would side with the party, giving 4 votes and the victory to shearer, who will hopefully lose and cause goff to be rolled, removing the last of the old rogernome cabinet ministers from power.
Vote:May 3rd, 2009 at 12:55 pm
It will be a 3 way race and National could do it in those circumstances. Then there will be all this recrimination about the left having to work together least they end up with a permanent National Government (yippeee). Goff has gone out on to a limb for this guy, they will have to select him and if he fails then curtains for Goff.
Vote:May 3rd, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Forget Shearer – its got to be woman’s nomination – Meg Bates for sure.
Of course “mummy” chairs the selection panel – so see!!!!!
Vote:May 3rd, 2009 at 1:05 pm
“..Piggy (27) Vote: Add rating 1 Subtract rating 0 Says:
May 3rd, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Phil perhaps if you were more involved in green politics than sitting down on your dole bludging, dope smoking arse and posting thousands of inane comments on kiwiblog you’d know more about the greens activities in mt albert. but hey, keep on fighting the good fight..”
gee piggy..!..i’ll bet you are an auckland green i know..
why don’t you have the testicular/vaginal fortitude to step out from behind your ‘piggy’ shield..?
but anyway..don’t tantalise/tease us..
..just what are the ‘green activities’ in mt albert..?
(here is your chance for some free publicity..
..don’t squander it ..eh..?
..by biting off yr nose to spite yr face..eh..?
piggy..?
phil(whoar.co.nz)
Vote:May 3rd, 2009 at 3:01 pm
You have to love those socialists such trust they have in their fallow socialists. Is it any wonder they are a dying breed, social democrats my arse. The hierarchy trust no one, the bottom feeders are to thick to make decisions. Extinction calls my little Liarbore friends.
Vote:May 3rd, 2009 at 3:41 pm
What time will the nomination take place?
Vote:May 3rd, 2009 at 3:59 pm
It is all done girls and boys… Shearer is in… what a surprise
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/2380732/Labour-meets-to-choose-Clarks-Mt-Albert-replacement
Vote:May 3rd, 2009 at 4:07 pm
cool..!..rightwing goff-ite is labours’ candidate..
normans’ chances just rose..
phil(whoar.co.nz)
Vote:May 3rd, 2009 at 4:36 pm
but hang on..!
dakta green is standing for the aotearoa legalise cannabis party..!
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0905/S00029.htm
phil(whoar.co.nz)
Vote:May 3rd, 2009 at 4:38 pm
“Phil perhaps if you were more involved in green politics than sitting down on your dole bludging,..”
You’re asking too much.
Whoar is a born parasite and will shirk work all the time. He epitomises the worst NZ can produce and will be a leech on the taxpayer’s back until the day he dies. Some people are destined to be losers in life: he’s a prime example of this category.
Vote:May 3rd, 2009 at 5:04 pm
still earning your money from ‘cooking’..?..man-so-low..?
i’m told you’re a legend in those quarters..
..eh..?
phil(whoar.co.nz)
Vote:May 3rd, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Hold on DPF blogs an item from the Herald
I reply with another item from the Herald
And Adolf says
Tuija, you should not believe anything you read in The Herald.
WTF
Vote:May 3rd, 2009 at 7:11 pm
Now that there is only one party right of centre the voters in Mt Albert will not only have an opportunity to vote for a very hard working, honest and competent MP but send National the message that some voters expect the government to take notice of the majority.
I do not think the majority want to pay between two and three thousand dollars per family per year for an emission trading scheme and export New Zealand jobs to countries that that do not have emission controls.
I do not think that the majority want nanny state to tell good parents how to discipline their children and encourage children to report parents to authorities.
I do not think that the majority want good honest law abiding small businessmen and home owners charged by the police for protecting themselves and their families against violent criminals.
We had a change of government in November last year. If you want change not just a change of government VOTE John Boscawen for Mt Albert.
Vote:May 3rd, 2009 at 8:10 pm
It looks like David, It might be Russel, It could be Lee.. It all looks closer for Rusty to me..
Vote:Hard line Labour supporters won’t fell comfortable with Shearer, their roots are to entrenched in working class values to vote Green. So a new independent neutral outsider peoples choice political advocate like Rusty Kane could take enough of the hardcore Mt Albert Labour supporters with him to put Nationals candidate in. Thanks now to Norman and his Greens going for a good chunk of the fluffy Labour vote. The moderate Labour voters that remain may truly not hold enough votes to hold out National. And that would be the end of Labours old guard Goff, King, and Co. Making a clearway for a new invigorated new Labour line up. Labour needs to lose the Mt Albert by-election to enable a new Labour Party to start afresh and rebuild its future survival.
May 3rd, 2009 at 11:31 pm
This seat is for the Green Party’s taking if they use their noodle and get out on the beat with hoardings plastered all over the seat. Russel (and his team) need to door knock every house in Mt Albert (apart from Peter Davis, but then again he might be a bit lonely on a Saturday morning), much like Harre and her team did in Waitakere in 2002.
Two right wing list MPs with a similar profile (canceling each other out) and a right leaning Labour candidate, with no real left wing alternative, means Dr Russel could win this urban liberal seat.
Russel ought to draw on the services of his old mates McCarten and Harre, and learn from their high placings under the leftist Alliance banner in Tamaki (1992?), Selwyn (1994), Taranaki-King Country (1996) and Waitakere (2002).
The Greens must court the left of Labour, social democratic and liberal vote, and must not be afraid to attack Labour and its right wing policies, leadership (Goff is the father of tertiary fees), and candidate.
For once I’d say “Go the Greens!”
Vote:May 4th, 2009 at 12:47 am
Davis lives in Mt Eden.
Vote: