The Left on Goff
March 28th, 2011 at 3:00 pm by David FarrarPhil Goff is still maintaining that not only did he handle the Hughes situation correctly, not a single one of his colleagues have criticised him. Well, they are not technically colleagues, but lets have a look at what the left are saying.
- Tim Watkin says that Goff’s line about not intereing with a Police investigation is “spin” and that Goff had no plan for how to respond
- Russell Brown flays Goff and says they are a “shambles”
- Bomber at Tumeke says that if Labour are not questioning the leadership of Phil Goff, then they “are officially the most stoned Caucus in the history of the Westminster system”
- Chris Trotter blogged that it is the moral duty of the Labour caucus to remove Goff if they don’t think he can lead them to victory
- Matt McCarten says Goff’s performancee has been appalling
- Lew at Kiwipolitico says that anyone who failed to understand the politics (like Goff did) of what happened “has no business running strategy for a Sunday book club, much less a political party which aspires to government”
- Danyl at the Dim Post also rubbishes Goff’s claims of natural justice coming first, citing numerous examples to the contrary, and in another post says “in the UK they have a competent opposition party, while [Labour] are Really. Fucking. Terrible.”
- Idiot/Savant at No Right Turns blogs that Goff has “established a consistent pattern of poor decision-making”
- Robert Winter says “The onus is on our parliamentary caucus to provide us with that national leadership that we deserve.”
- Psycho Milt (who is left) at No Minister says “ there should be wholesale ritual suicide in the Labour ranks”
This is essentially what Labour’s friends are saying about Labour’s leader, not Labour’s opponents.
Related posts:
- Editorials on Carter & Goff
- Pellett calls on Goff to resign as Labour Leader
- Goff’s colleagues on Goff
- Little endorses Goff
March 28th, 2011 at 3:02 pm
Friends, people who stick by you through thick and thin… cept on the left where they eat their own wounded.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 3:05 pm
we have been saying for a looooooong time, they have NO natural replacement and the left know it
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 3:06 pm
Tizard will take the job!
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 3:09 pm
With friends like Labour has, who would need enemies?
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 3:10 pm
Or syphilis.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 3:14 pm
But the exceptionally bright The sub-Standard continues to defend poor Goff. All together at the bunker until the last second, the comrades appear to be saying.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 3:16 pm
Must be about Downfall Youtube Mashup o’clock.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 3:18 pm
Yep and I guess if we looked back each of those Judas also thought the Rt Honorable Helen Clark was God and never got it wrong and they supported her till the death.
So, what’s the point really. That the left are not nice to anyone even their friends.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 3:18 pm
Labours opponents are being much kinder they have very mixed emotions as the see the great value phil brings to the political scene in election year.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 3:21 pm
Thought for the day, how long before some talent has another round of the “bunker scene” with the leader stabbing the map of central Wellington or Haitaitai
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 3:37 pm
I have been fairly much consistent in my view on this since I started commenting on your blog and you know my politics. Danyl has also been fairly consistent on this as well ( The worst opposition in the history of usless oppositions or words to that effect ).
Goff is my MP and I have always felt that he has been very good and his office sorted out an insane problem with bureaucrats for me a few years back. Largely I have also put it down to the fact that most of the long term MP’s he has to deal with are well past their used by date. Hawkins and Hodgkinson are the only two who have reached that conclusion on their own and the others show no inclination of doing so. My party vote has been up in the air for quite some time after this fiasco my electorate vote is also up in the air.
Murray unfortunately I think your right. Contrast that with the behavior of Phil Heatley and his credit card stuff up, he insisted on being stood down until he was cleared. I actually can understand how he used the wrong card My debit and credit cards are almost identical and I have inadvertently made that mistake myself ( rectified by cutting the corner off the credit card ). Tizard is a walking disaster area and Wall is the logical next person.
While I accept Tizard has the absolute right to enter parliament surly Labour in its hour of need would command her loyalty over her own short term advantage.
I hope that when Labour next assumes the treasury benches her loyalty is reward in an appropriate manner when the lolly scramble starts.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 3:42 pm
@ Manolo – not so; check out some of the comments on this thread
http://thestandard.org.nz/leadership-rumours/
Even at that bastion of fairness, the peasants are revolting!
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 3:42 pm
But 2020 is almost a decade away!
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 3:54 pm
I doubt it will be that far away Manolo, but the probability is on current form she will be will be one of a handful of retired MP’s from the Clark era because the rest of them will still be in parliament.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 3:58 pm
@ IH Stewart – Louisa Wall may be the LOGICAL next person, but if Tizard declines the seat, under the Electoral Act it must in turn be offered to Mark Burton, Mahara Okeroa, Martin Gallagher and Dave Hereora. Only if each of those declies politely does Ms Wall enter calculations. Andrew Little showed a level of naiviety/arrogance in suggesting that Wall should be the annointed one when in a strictly legal sense she was at best the sixth cab off the rank.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 4:01 pm
What is interesting reading that thread I2 and others at that site on the Hughes/Goff affair is just how vicious their moderators and regular commentators are being in their attempts to quash the discontent with some trying to divert attention from Hughes and Goffs actions by going so far as blaming the victim.
You could somewhat understand it if it was coming from outsiders however in this case the comments are coming from their own supporters and while it might be nice to imagine New Zealand without the Labour party at the end of the day there needs to be a strong opposition to ensure that the government is held to account for their actions.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 4:07 pm
Fully realise that I2 but do you think that anyone of them would touch the job when Tizard has shown an ability to take one for the team. They are not disliked by the rank and file in the way she is. If she acted honourably the pressure on the others to likewise would be intense. Being judged by history as more venal than Judith Tizard can’t see it myself.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 4:08 pm
It seems that Gaffey just keeps digging faster than his pinko critics can keep up with him.
He’s now reported on Stuff as saying that “the events leading to Hughes’ resignation from Parliament last week raised questions about his judgment and he could not come back ‘in the short-term’” and that “he would have stripped Hughes of his roles as chief whip and education spokesman even if police did not lay charges in relation to the alleged incident because of the questions of judgment that were raised.”
Stuff then goes on to actually quote him as saying “I made it clear to Darren that I thought, given the circumstances, there had been a lapse of judgment and that would result in his losing his positions.”
Just how this simpleton is going to reconcile those comments with the original story and even the variations on it, will be interesting and no doubt highly amusing. He has in effect now said that Hughes should have gone immediately. Oh, of course I almost forgot, its all explained on the basis of helping the police do their jobs.
Someone ought to tell him to just shut up. Hopefully nobody will because there’s nothing even remotely this funny on TV.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 4:12 pm
The ad hoc way Goff responded to fast moving events last week says he had no plan at all. With any scandal you have to front foot it and be ahead of events which were entirely predictable. Instead Goff went from stood down for the day, to stood down from portfolios to resignation in 3 days flat. And yet nothing of substance changed from each day. Goff reacted to events rather than control and shape them. He jumped on John Key who did not react within hours of knowing something about Richard Worth, Goff had 3 weeks of media silence to prepare his response. He fluffed it. If Labour believe they will lose with Goff then they have a duty to replace him. That is if a Leader is no good he must be poll axed.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 4:16 pm
Goff has realy got to stop taking advice from middle eastern leaders on how to control a crisis.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 4:24 pm
About Tizard. The politicos make decisions and we have to live with them. Sometimes disasterously.
Vote:The Labour party picked Tizard and gave her a ranking on their ticket. Let them live with it.
Because she is obviously a disaster, and will become even more famous for it if nothing else.
It will reflect very appropriately on their capacity to make decisions, on their wisdom and on their IQ.
Simply put — She will be a joke and they will suffer in the polls for it.
And thats a good part the system
March 28th, 2011 at 4:32 pm
Very good Dale 08.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 4:42 pm
And these “friends” will be conveying their disappointment to their friends. Expect the Greens to spike four-to-six points in upcoming polls as a protest.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 4:47 pm
Bomber’s a bit hard on stoners. There’s more drunk logic at work here, I’d say.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 4:59 pm
I am not happy with the MPs on the right including ACT. Compare this situation with the case of Clint Rickards. He should not have even gone to court on the baseless allegations of a disturbed woman.
I was on a rape trial some years ago. The foreman was a dickhead so I had to take over in the end. After the judges’ final summing up I interrupted him and said it is hot and i feel like a beer. we have been listening to a crock of shit for three days I say not guilty. The foreman voted last. He had to cave in. After the trial half the jury went to the pub and had a drink with the guy this cow tried to fit. Some who went to the pub were women. The next day I phoned the police prosecutor and asked why this went to trial. He told me that it was police policy when the complaint stick to her story we let the jury decided who to beleive. That of course is wrong.
Now let us look at the evidence against Hughes. First he had a track record of trying to hit on young men after supplying them with alcohol. I do not know about the case in 08 but the one in Dec 09 is basically true. The was no allegation of force but the pattern is the same. We then have a naked young man leaving King’s house at 5 am. Goff has told lies about the time line and other matters. When the cops came for the clothes surely King would have told him if Hughes did not.
If a naked 18 year old woman had of run naked from a house and and the accused was not an MP it is likely the accused would be in jail. The extent of this political correctness make me sick. Why will the MPs not do their job properly and ask Goff and King some hard basic questions that the left wing liberal media have not.
Some examples would be to King when did find out about the young man leaving your house naked? If she answers say 7am then when did you tell Goff? Goff could be asked if he knew of the allegations of 2008 and 2009 and if so did he discuss them with Hughes.
There have been quite a few jokes about this as the victim is male. I consider him a youth but we will leave that aside.
The young man has laid a complaint of a sexual nature. Why would a young man run naked? I can think of a couple of innocent reasons why he was naked in the first place like he could have have a shower to sober up. He may have been invited to sleep in Darren bed thinking Darren was going to sleep else where. He may have spewed on his clothes and that is why he was in the shower.
Now if Darren had have verbally put the word on him and he was not interested he wound have put on his clothes and left. If the clothes have been hidden he would have asked Darren for them. The fact that the guy ran naked from the house is not a good look. AND Goff’s and King’s behaviour subsequently is not a good look.
That is not to say he isn’t to entitled to a fair trial. He is.
How many still think Hughes is entitled to any sympathy at this stage?
Is it possible that if Goff did his job properly and investigated the allegations and warmed Hughes to modify his behaviour this event affecting the future of this young man may not have occurred?
Should not an ACT of National MP ask that of Goff?
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 5:04 pm
“Why would a young man run naked? ”
Chuck, as I said the other day, there is always the possibility that he inadvertently saw Full Moon in her nightie. It may be that the coppers went to recover the nightie.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 5:18 pm
I was on a rape trial some years ago. The foreman was a dickhead so I had to take over in the end. After the judges’ final summing up I interrupted him and said it is hot and i feel like a beer. we have been listening to a crock of shit for three days I say not guilty. The foreman voted last. He had to cave in. After the trial half the jury went to the pub and had a drink with the guy this cow tried to fit. Some who went to the pub were women. The next day I phoned the police prosecutor and asked why this went to trial. He told me that it was police policy when the complaint stick to her story we let the jury decided who to beleive. That of course is wrong.
Yeah right – now when you had this dream, were you wearing red underpants at the time?
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 5:32 pm
There are going to be some interesting spin-offs to this debacle.
Just start with Labour’s fundraising for their election campaign. I’d hazard a guess that a lot of traditionally generous wallets will stay firmly shut when the party comes-a-knockin. So regardless of who is leading them in the cmpaign, it won’t be much of a campaign being waged except for the gummint subsidy which has so-far been well protected.
I said the other day that we face a real prospect of Green being the colour of the official opposition and if that becomes the case, the gummint funding balances for future elections will change perceptably – a further knife in the guts for labour not to mention the ignominy of having Rusell as Leader of the Opposition.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 5:37 pm
That’s an interesting point david. I wonder how much weighting Labour are giving to their projected funding when deliberating the possibility of a leadership change. Would any other leader be fiscally more promising than Goff?
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 5:42 pm
Bevan, unlike you I use my full name. People who know me know I do not invent things like that. The defence was David McLaughlin who is now a judge. I have been criticized by some as juror for going to the pub after the trial. Some people think that jurors and defence lawyers should not celebrate an acquittal. Well Judge McLaughlin was also there. He said that in the case of most of his clients he would cross the street. This was a miscarriage of justice that this went to trial. You want to call me a liar give us your real name and how many thousand you are prepared to bet. I reckon I could prove what I am saying although it might be a little trouble. I thought before I typed that the foreman might read it. Do you think I would like to tell lies about a judge on a public forum?
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 5:49 pm
Darren. Darren. We’re mates right? I’m telling you, you’ve got to sort your drinking out.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 6:25 pm
Has anyone thought that perhaps the naked young man was running away from Ms King?
[DPF: heh]
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 6:28 pm
Just an observation – not sure if anyone else has noticed. The media are reporting the 19 year old shot this morning as a “teenager” and a “good boy” – whereas the 18 year old victim in Hughes’ case is reported as a “young man”. Too emotive to refer to Hughes’ target of attention as an 18 year old teenager just out of school – adds a real yuck factor. As opposed to trying to conjure up sympathy for a 19yo lowlife!?
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 6:32 pm
If the 19-yo shot could be defined as a good boy, I would consider myself a left-winger.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 6:50 pm
Yes Murray, cant wait to see your version of “Downfall”
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 6:56 pm
I sympathize with the family of the 19 year old shot dead today.
I also sympathize with the family of the teenage who admired another low life who felt he had to run from his residence naked.
I can see the humour of wat dabney but do not appreciate the “humour” directed at the victim.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 7:10 pm
Auberon, guys like me who identify as centre right Labour are not going to go to the Greens, some might decide that NZ First will deliver a Labour led government we can live with but I actually don’t see it, the chances are we will destroy our ballots or just not bother to turn up. Goff has tried to be a man for all seasons and unfortunately that doesn’t wash in a recession. I would have been delighted to see Labour come out with a policy on WFF that actually focused on need as opposed to an electoral bribe. I have far more in common with National centre left than the Greens or hard left wing Labour.
I was very pleased to see Goff ascend the throne but as the Chinese might say he appears to have actually ascended the dragon instead. Time and time again I have watched Goff cave to factional Labour interests rather than back his own common sense, GST exemptions WTF ?
Had he gone down the road I advocate he might have been rolled, not very likely but possible, had he promoted new talent to the front bench early on then it is just possible he would be the leader in more than just name. His judgement in some areas has been great, Grant Robertson is a potential star but he was forced into promoting Grant due to credit card crap, what if he had done it as matter of renewal ?
Pete Hodgkinson recognised his cabinet career was over so he stood down and focused on doing his job and winning Labour a scalp. That is politics, the rest of the old guard have focused on Labour factional fighting, that is fatal.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 7:16 pm
Richard Hurst – I heard/imagined a rumour that in fact the young man was happily asleep on the couch having enjoyed a completely platonic nightcap with Hughes, only to wake up naked with the full moon staring him in the face.
Vote:As the rumour goes, Hughes has nobly taken the bullet for Annette, and Goff has stuck his neck out to protect her reputation too. The police realised the delicate nature of the situation and under advice from NY have kept most details under great secrecy. Hughes will be off to a plum role at the UN in due course. Goff will maintain leadership of the party until after the election, and surprisingly won’t resign immediately. Instead he’ll keep the seat warm until Clark comes riding back on a white horse, holding a bow, to be given her crown before riding out as a conqueror.
March 28th, 2011 at 7:19 pm
Shady, I just picked up about the 19 year old teenager as agianst the 18 year old man and had come here to mention the very topic.
Interesting the different slants taken by the same media.
Bias? Surely not.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 7:23 pm
So a socialist MP enjoys the company of an 18 year old man but the wicked police murder a 19 year old teenager.
See, it’s easy to figure out. Just remember to think like a media person and the description changes on who you want to portray as the bad guy.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 7:24 pm
RightNow, I have a very interesting theory that I am saving to be first in General Debate that concerns that very topic you have just raised.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 7:31 pm
Just as a side-issue, notice that Key and National haven’t said a thing about this.
Imagine if it was the Nat’s Chief Whip and Key had done what Goff did. What would Goff be saying.
Shows the difference doesn’t it between a real leader vs. a spiteful little man unworthy even of the title let alone the job itself.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 7:31 pm
Which topic, the revelations of the full moon, or the revelations of the apocalypse?
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 7:35 pm
reid – I suspect National are shitting themselves that Goff might be rolled. They’re probably even helping to prop him up.
It shows who thinks whom is a threat.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 7:41 pm
Chuck Bird said
So do I Chuck; just a little. I sympathise far more with the police officers who had a gun pulled on the, had shots fired at them, and made a decision, the consequences of which will hang over them for the rest of their days.
I feel no sympathy whatsoever for anyone out with a shotgun in the early hours of the morning, especially when they twice present the firearm at police.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 8:05 pm
IV2, I agree with you last comment.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 8:12 pm
I suspect National are shitting themselves that Goff might be rolled. They’re probably even helping to prop him up.
Nah if they are then why? I wouldn’t be if I were them.
The best hope Liarbore right now is Mallard, cause they desperately need someone to connect with those working class blokes who’ve been ignored since forever, and they are a real potent force cause they will bring their wives and young kids with them.
But that’s the best move they could possibly make.
Now even that move only gets people who will never and have never voted for National. Maybe in them nationally there are 20-30 thousand swingers but I’d be surprised if there were more. (By “swingers” I mean crossing the divide, not just swinging within your own sector. There are heaps of those.)
And that’s the best possible move they could make.
Next best is Parker, who can bridge the business and environment sectors and personally, I would if were Parker do a Machiavelli and appoint Nanaia Mahuta as my deputy because Liarbore have three strong bases: the unions, the rainbow and the Maori and at the mo, they’re only a 2-legged stool. Mahuta crossed the house to vote against Liarbore’s original bill and if anyone has the mana to bring them back to Liarbore or at least demand an MP coalition, it’s her.
But they still won’t get the votes cause Labour people are so very disillusioned, what with Hulun’s isolationist partisan ruthless playing of one sector off against the other, and then this guy. How would we feel, if Hulun had been leader of the National Party for how many years?? She’s an extraordinary personality but in absolutely every negative way you could possibly imagine and in no positive way whatsoever. This was her vehicle and her base and she’s wrecked it, good and proper. Even to the point of making sure a palpably weak personality was elected as her predecessor, just to make herself look strong and decisive by comparison. Shades of Muldoon-McClay? You’d better believe it.
Anyway, they made us reap the wind for nine long execrable years, so I’m not displeased in any way that Liarbore is currently reaping the whirlwind.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 8:22 pm
Chuck Bird
Vote:“I also sympathize with the family of the teenage who admired another low life who felt he had to run from his residence naked. ”
He was NOT ‘low life’ nor did he run naked from his own residence. By all accounts he was sucked into going to Annette King’s house by someone who should have been trustworthy, and he had the good sense to bolt when he realised something was very wrong. He maintained his honour. I trust that the Young Nats will befriend him at an appropriate time so he can continue to pursue his political ambitions.
March 28th, 2011 at 8:26 pm
Robert Winter says “The onus is on our parliamentary caucus to provide us with that national leadership that we deserve.”
Oh, I’d say the socialists are getting exactly the leadership they deserve.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 8:33 pm
peter I think you misunderstand what Chuck said. From my reading, both of you are saying:
The young teenager was not at fault in this Hughes incident.
Too bad the media don’t seem to understand that both eightteen and nineteen = teenager, not “man.”
Perhaps their Chicago Manual of Style is out of date. It’s a puzzle though isn’t it for these noospaper fullas r rully gd @ diction, normally.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 8:39 pm
Peterwn, thanks for pointing out my poor grammar or phrasing. The LOW LIFE I was refereing to was Hughes who by all accounts the youth politician admired. I agree with most of your post but hopefully he finds a home with ACT. That would be more likely the ACT MPs would call spade a spade and not be scared to condemn Goff and King for trying to protect Hughes who appears to be a sexually predator.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 8:43 pm
There will be a time when ther politicians on the right can rightfully condemn Goff, King and Hughes. IMHO Chuck, that time has not yet arrived. Key was spot-on when he said late last week that this is Labour’s problem. Act and the Nats can afford to maintain a dignified silence for now whilst Labour self-destructs.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 8:47 pm
the Nats can afford to maintain a dignified silence for now whilst Labour self-destructs
I’m hoping it goes up like an exploding death-star, I2.
Kablammo.
Just quietly though, with due dignity.
Er…
It’s appalling?
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 9:10 pm
Reid
…………with due dignity..
and certainly no glee.
The Labour Party is gone, -why is nobody talking of a new party?
Labour are so tainted by Dear leader and her corruption and now by Phil meandering to a slow political death that it obvious a new party is the only answer.
Is it because there is such a lack of political talent that no one has the courage to step up and say ” this is us, time for a change”. ?
Or is because MMP has made it virtually impossible for these troughers to loose their job, so there is no way for new talent to come through the ranks– you only have to look at the sorry labour front bench to see them hanging on and they will only leave the building when they have been dragged from the chamber with their finger nails embedded in the door jambs
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 9:16 pm
“why is nobody talking of a new party?” = dearth of talent
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 9:16 pm
They should make Kris Faafoi the new labour party leader… he was there when it was formed, it must surely be his time.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 9:25 pm
Yes it would be an appalling show of support for the Nats over the handling of a scandal if when they make a leadership decision the ACT party blog, Whaleoil, Cactus Cate, Roarprawn and No Minister criticised them…
The blogs you list are not “friends” with Labour just left leaning and tend to criticise everyone as do most right wing blogs. I am sure you could find better examples.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 9:39 pm
I too think it’s time for a new look and feel, Paul.
This is a critical time for reinvention and reinvigoration in the Party and I see lots of promising young, new blood bursting through to put a surge of pure energy straight through its anatomy until it shudders with power and words.
A surge so powerful and so mind-blowingly stupendous it banishes the recent trauma to the dustbin, to the trash-heap of history itself.
By crikey.
We can do this people!
Vote for us!!
We [in fact!!!] are the champions.
It’s old, it’s tired. It’s facing a huge defeat.
Isn’t it really, really sad.
To see these old warhorses trudge out once again on the field, only to be shot down, again. Again and again and again, until they struggle to get up.
c’est la guerre!
“That’s War!”; or “Such is war!” Often used with the meaning that “this means war,” but it can be sometimes used as an expression to say that war (or life in general) is harsh but that one must accept it.
And it ain’t magnifique, neither.
Liarbore. FFS. Know you’re hurting. Bought it on yourself. If you don’t understand how then look at yourselves FFS. (Hubris, Arrogance, etc??? Hello???? Yes, we DO notice.)
It’s time the people of NZ were blessed with both a competent govt AND a competent HM’s Opposition, n’est pas? Guess which one you’re not being, at the mo?
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 9:42 pm
I’m picking Goff to be rolled at tomorrow’s Labour caucus, with Parker and Street to lead the new collective.
For Labour to move on, and present itself as a viable option for the Treasury benches, they need a leader with some mongrel. And although a 2011 election victory is probably not realistic for Labour; now, not after the election, is the time for them to put up a fight – a fight they’re not getting with Goff, as much as he tries.
Goff’s problem is…he’s not John Key. And he shouldn’t try to be. And he sure as hell can’t try to be Helen Clark. Goff in my view did a pretty decent job as Foreign Minister, but now he’s between a rock, and well, another rock. Both of which are crumbling.
Whilst many pundits are saying that Labour has to ride it out until after the next election, and no-one in their right-mind would want to take the “Leadership” on, the reality is that Labour is heading for a thrashing, yet there are possibly one or two pragmatists inside the collective nut-job that is Labour that have come to the conclusion that the salvage has to start now, because after November 2011 there will be little left to repair.
You could say that Labour doesn’t have many options at this stage in terms of leadership – but this has to be an act of reducing casualties i.e. as a Labour strategist how many more seats will be lost under Goff in Novemeber as compared to Parker.
A change in leader, i.e. Parker, will boost Labour’s fortunes somewhat in the polls just by being announced, and inevitably give Labour some traction, something it has been sorely lacking in judging by recent polls.
Possibly a case of too little, too late – however, those BlackCaps did upset the Proteas, didn’t they…
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 9:45 pm
I have just one question. What did Hughes’ land-lady hear on the night in question? I could never have brought a “girlfriend” home when I was a kid living at home without the folks knowing. Let alone have her run from the house naked and distressed. Let yet alone having the police turn up to retrieve said naked girl’s missing clothing with a search warrant. Seems the Labour Party deputy has escaped scrutiny in this case.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 9:52 pm
According to TV3′s Patrick Gower, Goff didn’t know about the naked complainant (until after it broke in the media presumably) and he never sought details about the complaint.
This makes his actions more understandable but he’s still a fucking idiot.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 9:54 pm
noskire
Interesting analysis, however I see a few things getting in the way of a Parker/Street leadership.
Are you old enough to remember Bill Rowling?, Rowling was also a nice chap, very smart and well liked, but he was seen as an ineffective mouse of a man, much like Parker is seen by the public.
As for Street, she will drive the traditional working man vote further away from Labour.
Nah..as somebody else said here today and I said a couple of days ago, for Labour to have any real chance they need a scraper, somebody who will fight.
That man is Mallard.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 9:54 pm
Noskire
Please let it be Street and Parker,( and lets be real who’ll be the real boss here) brilliant.
Seriously if that’s the best they can do they will be lucky to reach the 5% threshold , brilliant,
The first thing they will do is bring Chris Carter back into the fold, because remember his was the noble sacrifice that began the demise of Phil!!!!!! Haha. Shadow Minister of Tourism for Chris no doubt
All sorts of really weird shit will happen. You’ll have an ex- party president trying to stop the present one getting any traction because Marion will like being deputy and will see no reason why she can’t be leader, so Andy will get the big fuck off.
There will be a massive internal scrap gay versus straight and to win the election they will promise us all a Lotto win
Fuck they are sad
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 9:56 pm
Rolf
Speaking of Kris Faafoi, has anybody asked him if he was at Darren Hughes flat on the night in question?
He seems to have been at every other major event in the last 100 years.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 9:57 pm
Yes, on the ‘influence’ of blogs. Isn’t it all a bit vainglorious? I mean I like a bit of entertainment, but seriously are we really kidding ourselves that we make an iota of difference to how Goff and the Labour party inner sanctum comport themselves? David has been running point on the ‘Goff is toast’ line, but it appears lately that Gaff isn’t. In fact, he’s going nowhere soon. And we are suprised and shocked, because….?!?
Either, Goff has impressed enough of his colleagues by his ‘loyalty’ to Hughes, to merit salvation, or he isn’t opposed by a coherent enough group to topple him.
So now it appears that, after a week of posting about how mortally wounded Goff is, and how imminent Goff’s leadership is to be ended, as well as itemising how appalling Goff’s leadership style is, it seems that Goff is going not only to stay, but might be coming out of this with some props amongst his crew, for not throwing Hughes to the wolves.
David seeks to vindicate his editorial stance by quoting ‘left’ blogs which (justifiably) support his premise. But of course, this misses the salient points. That is, that all the blogs, (whether they claim they are ‘left’ or ‘right’) as much as they might fancy they have ‘some say’ in how the political machines tick over, or have some influence on how the polulation think, or how the political parties act, are essentially echo-chambers, visited by those who like to see their own predilictions glorified in type.
And of course, the big political machines take as much notice of them as they might of a mouse farting in a wind-tunnel.
Now I don’t make these assertions because I have a political axe to grind, or because I dislike blogs in general (they are hugely entertaining in their way), but I say it because it underpins to me this overall point – that the political parties with their evident sense of entitlement and hubris really don’t givea flying fuck about what we think. They just do what they want, and we pay them handsomely for the priviledge of getting regally shafted ‘sans lubricante’.
At the same time, the majority of blogs out there are visited and endorsed mostly by people who like to reinforce their own pre-existing biases. So to suggest they might able to signal any shift in other’ attitudes is delusional.
And, in case you forget, every so often an issue like this arises just to remind you and I that we are merely the dung-heap on which these political blow-flies (we usually refer to them as ‘MPs’) get progressively fatter. The blogosphere – it remains no more than the methane emissions that waft away in the prevailing winds. . .
Unless of course, Goff is rolled tomorow in which case my above statements can be filed under ‘fuckwittery’. But I ain’t holding my breath.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 9:59 pm
BB
Trev, serial rooter, convicted assailant,…. you just couldn’t make this shit up, it is hilarious
Trev will fight alright, generally in the foyer in front of witnesses,……… tears are rolling down my cheeks
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 9:59 pm
Russell Brown comments on Tizard “I regard Judith as a friend, but I have no idea what she’s playing at.”
Brave of anyone to admit to being a friend of Judith’s. She wouldn’t have many left in the Labour caucus. I seem to remember her father threatening to trigger a by-election in Panmure early in 1990 when he was given the push from cabinet. Is there a tradition of spitting the dummy in that family?
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 10:00 pm
Seems the Labour Party deputy has escaped scrutiny in this case
From past experience, she is relatively easy to dupe by people close to her. She made an idiot of herself several years back by attacking “smears” that pot was found in her daughter’s possession after a car crash and repeated her daughter’s denial to her that no drugs were involved (the actual drug was P but the daughter escaped conviction on that count due to well paid lawyers). So that she might have accepted Darren’s denial at face value isn’t really that far fetched.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 10:04 pm
big bruv, I played pool with Rowling at the then Kingsgate in Queenstown (admittedly only about 8 at the time!). Mallard is out of contention because of something the media won’t comment on.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 10:04 pm
A change in leader, i.e. Parker, will boost Labour’s fortunes somewhat in the polls just by being announced, and inevitably give Labour some traction, something it has been sorely lacking in judging by recent polls.
Parker is like English, he isn’t a leader, he’s a good No. 1.
He will make a brilliant deputy like Cullen was, to some, as yet unknown, No. 1.
That’s why I said he was second to Mallard, above.
What Liarbore needs is a charismatic politician, like Anderton, Dunne or Fitzsimmons. Regardless of stripe, all those have magnetism.
Liarbore doesn’t have one of those.
Mallard is the closest because he connects. His problem is, he also polarises so he doesn’t bridge the divide. But he’s the closest they have right now. This is what Hughes was being groomed for, is why IMO, his sexuality wasn’t dealt with earlier, as it clearly should have been.
Finding that circuit-breaker will be the key to the sixth Liarbore govt.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 10:23 pm
What does the Labour Party have to offer these days? A drunk driver, a Companies Office fraudster, an assaulter, and Goff, and that’s just the front bench. Jones was caught pulling his pud on our dime, Carter has pissed off to avoid questions over questionable massages, and then there is Tizard waiting in the wings. Not good all round I would say.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 10:40 pm
Speaking of the New Zealand Labour Party, how often do the Police obtain search warrants for MP’s homes (especially those occupied by the deputy leader of the Labour Party) for the retrival clothing belonging to naked and disstressed teenagers fleeing at 5.00am from said places? Just wonderring.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 11:14 pm
Lee C: Only too true. I read much the same point (“White noise” was the term used) on a US blog a few years ago and was very offended… then stoped and thought about it.
There’s some limited instances, but I’ve noticed that the average man on the street has no idea about blogs. Any party that puts too much stock in them is idiotic – and I’d consider Red Alert to be only useful to the National Party as a potential source of embarrassingly honest quotes.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 11:33 pm
Labour leader Phil Goff was concerned.
“We are led to believe this is going to be a tough budget,” he said.
“This is a budget that can’t be tough on middle and lower income people who are already struggling to make ends meet. If it’s going to be tough on anyone then perhaps those that got the big tax cuts at the top can carry a little bit more of the share of the burden rather than people having their Working for Families cut, having their Kiwisaver scheme cut or having their student loan scheme cut.”
So let me get this straight. Liarbore, under Goff, thinks it can make traction, in these times, with memes to the past and cliches.
Snigger.
Go for it.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 11:38 pm
THE LEFT ON GOFF
From Watkin to Psycho MIlt – what a grubby little cabal of smarmy, snarky limp wristed pinkos . . . harbouring some particularly dire views of the world. Who gives a fuck what these fools believe. Their issue with Goff is that they believe he isn’t left-wing enough.
Vote:March 28th, 2011 at 11:54 pm
“charismatic politician, like Anderton, Dunne or Fitzsimmons.”
I think your idea of charisma must be different to mine.
Vote:March 29th, 2011 at 12:10 am
That would be the charisma similar to that of a beanbag that reeks of your neighbour’s cat’s pee.
Vote:March 29th, 2011 at 12:13 am
i.e. lumpy, awkward and mouldy – thus needs to be thrown out.
Vote:March 29th, 2011 at 1:42 am
I love it justice is now a derivative. Chuck Bird you say you are not anonymous well you look fucking anonymous to me that is of no matter you are an idiot and that is of matter.
Vote:March 29th, 2011 at 6:12 am
Thank you srubone – yeah – Im not out to offend – as you evidently gauged – just use colourful language to get my point across. It’s worthwhile in this era of ‘the slacktivist’ not to take this blogging thing as an alternative to actually engaging in the political process – but then who the hell has the time? . . .. whoops – more methane!
Vote:March 29th, 2011 at 6:20 am
Besides, I’m still face down in the sick-bag as I ponder the spectacle of Judith Tizzard, coyly pronouncing her ‘expectations’ about Phil Goff’s leadership style in the national media before she ‘decides’ whether to take her spot back on the public tit.
I mean is this it? The nadir of democratic representation?
Vote:March 29th, 2011 at 7:10 am
Acurate words:
The reason Labour need to do this spring-cleaning now is not for the 2011 election; that’s gone and lost. There is a slim chance, if they were able to start the rebuild now that they may be able to slip in under the radar in 2014.
Now why would I, a Conservative, be worried about a vacuum of talent and ability in the Labour Party? Quite simple really.
The National Party has been taken over by a pack of wet liberals. It is led by a man who is Prime Minister because he decided as a boy it was the job he wanted. Not because he has a vision for the country, or because he feels any obligation of service to lead, but because it was his boyhood fantasy. That in and of itself may not necessarily be fatal, except he is also so desperate to be liked, he is completely unable to lead. And he wouldn’t recognise a principle if one slapped him upside the head.
Hat Tip: Crusader Rabbit
Vote:March 29th, 2011 at 9:10 am
BUT HE WAS NAKED!!!!!!!!!
Vote:March 29th, 2011 at 9:41 am
“Jones was caught pulling his pud on our dime”
ummmm I dont remember that!! Maybe it happened during one of my blackouts?
Vote:March 29th, 2011 at 3:12 pm
“Charisma” I think Reid means like Toddy’s horse. Mind you, wouldn’t a horse be a good fit as Lab leader? Better than a mallard.
Vote:March 29th, 2011 at 8:16 pm
Right from the start I never felt Phil Goff was an impressive leader. He isn’t a Norman Kirk or David Lange or Helen Clark. I thought he was good as a foreign minister. In being leader I think he has risen past his level. I couldn’t see Paul Holmes talking to John Key the way he talked to Phil Goff on Q&A on Sunday. Clark would have quickly put Holmes in his place.
Vote:March 29th, 2011 at 11:33 pm
I cant agree that Goff is hopeless because Idiot/Savant thinks he is… Sorry…
Vote:March 31st, 2011 at 11:30 am
Rich Prick has a very convenient memory. He missed out a Prime Minister who tells lies and condones fraud, a deputy leader who cheats on his housing allowances and a Minister who once had to fork out $8500 for throwing a pensioner down some stairs.
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