Southland Times on Labour’s stop campaign
April 23rd, 2011 at 3:04 pm by David FarrarThe Southland Times editorial:
It was inevitable, of course. The only real surprise is that it has taken almost three weeks for Labour’s latest attention-grabbing bid to crash and burn.The “Stop asset sales vote Labour” campaign, launched in Auckland on April 4, effectively died of scornful, mocking laughter on Thursday. It should not be lamented, even by the most ardent of Labour supporters.
Except Grant and Trevor who like General Custer keep claiming victory.
So the concept was good. The only parts missing were the skill, finesse and luck.
Whoever came up with the concept of plastering the message on imitation road stop signs should be led away to a disused shed out the back somewhere, put under 24-hour guard and released only after the next general election is over.
Now this is a good way to find out if Labour really think their campaign is a great success. Let’s have the MP or staffer whose idea it was to use imitation road signs put their hand up and identify themselves. If they are not willing to do so, that speaks volume.
Whoever then came up with the idea of selling these signs to the party faithful at $10 a pop should be made to share the shed.
But a desert island, a really remote desert island, should be reserved for the genius who came up with the idea of putting the signs, signs with the same shape and colouring of real road stop signs, along the median strip of a road in the Hutt Valley this week.
That surely would be Trevor.
You’d think that even if someone was a sheep short in the top paddock he or she would realise that slapping big stop signs along a busy road might have caused a few problems for motorists, but no.
Obviously more than one sheep has escaped the paddock.
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April 23rd, 2011 at 3:14 pm
the sheep started leaving Trevs top paddock a few years ago .. I love watching MP’s body language when asking questions in Q time (includes when they finish the question). When Trev thinks he has a winning question, he reads slowly with his little stutter, his eyes dart around over at the Govtmt benches looking for a sign of fear (never is of course) then slowly slumps into his chair with eyes wide in anticipation .. great comedy .. I also enjoy watching Silent T, Ruth Dyson, Shaky Fenton and poor old Clayton who involuntarily flinches waiting for another slap from the crusher
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 3:20 pm
Trevor “Ponzi” Mallard; I reckon that one might just stick …
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 3:22 pm
Ouch! I hope I never get on the bad side of that editorial writer.
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 3:25 pm
Common sense deserted the thug Mallard a few years ago. It coincided with a bout of male menoause he suffered.
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 3:31 pm
As one ventures further south one is much more likely to come across someone who talks a lingo that people can really understand.
Vote:Maybe its time for the labour party to get the flock out of here
April 23rd, 2011 at 3:40 pm
I’m sorry DPF – this is getting too easy – can’t you go a bit easier on them? It’s like making fun of the kid with learning difficulties at school.
I’m actually starting to feel sorry for them.
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 3:54 pm
Just in case there is anyone left who reads Kiwiblog, is opposed to asset sales, and hasn’t donated yet, or if people want to donate again – towards the billboards now here is the link http://labour.org.nz/stopsigns and thanks to all of you who have already. Real case of popular PM offside with public opinion on an issue.
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 4:00 pm
Trevor: Give it up. You’re dog-food and you’re the only one who fails to see this.
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 4:06 pm
Hi Trev
Vote:Unions can’t afford to pay for the cock-up? Or have they had enough of idiot decisions? Lesson No1: Don’t fuck with the workers. They can’t afford to fork out for stupidity. Oh, and does David Cunliffe still subscribe to the asset sale theory he espoused not long ago? How much hooch have you wrung out of him?
April 23rd, 2011 at 4:07 pm
Labour would never sell assets. They never have in the past.
That’s what we like most about them.
Their lack of hypocrisy.
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 4:12 pm
Why is anybody surprised that Labour take no notice of the law and just do what they want to do ?
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 4:17 pm
Nookin
Do you really think unions give a rats ass how they spend the money taken from low income workers in the best interest of some of NZ’s most highly paid people ?
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 4:30 pm
I love the vernacular used in the Southland Times editorial. Straightforward & honest use of the English language instead of the PC newspeak dialects so in favour with the latte drinkers who clutter up the footpaths in most towns & cities.
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 4:37 pm
ST wrote: You’d think that even if someone was a sheep short in the top paddock he or she would realise that slapping big stop signs along a busy road might have caused a few problems for motorists, but no.
Oh please. I’m no defender of Labour, or their best friends National for that matter, but that is total bullshit. The signs are small, made of paper, have a political slogan on them, and were placed nowhere near an intersection as far as I can tell. Methinks drivers will be able to tell the difference. Harden up.
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 4:41 pm
I’m surprised this story still has legs in both the mainstream media and the blogosphere. Personally I cannot see why the fuss, so Labour under Goff have made another stuff up with a silly publicity stunt. Well that’s hardly a shock.
The voters know they’re not fit to government at the moment so time to move on.
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 4:45 pm
Thanks for the laugh trev… too easy.
Concentrate on getting the party right boy, and you might make some headway, unlikly though, given you are all too busy making fools of yourselves.
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 4:52 pm
see Trev, as they all are, is toying with the facts .. there is a HUGE difference between an asset sale and and a partial sale.
Vote:It’s like hurting yourself falling off a bike and being killed falling off a a bike. I actually warned Trev about the dangers on Redalert a year or so ago. I also suggested that he/Labour should stop playing the man and stick to policy .. ignored both suggestions. I see he is still playing the man, or in this case the woman, on Redalert today. sigh
April 23rd, 2011 at 5:08 pm
Those of you who bemoan the lack of an opposition; and look to Labour for that role, are looking in the wrong place. They’re only a bit more socialist than National. They don’t really oppose National. They just want them to be a bit more generous with other people’s money. Think of them as socialist party B, not the opposition.
cheers
David Prosser
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 5:10 pm
Seriously, Labour were daft for doing this without knowing the law etc. But:
They’re not big, they’re small. They’re not at road sign height, they’re about crotch level (or, if you’d prefer, car door handle level). And what’s more, their proliferation actually helps preclude their being mistaken for the real thing.
What worries me about the well-deserved mocking Labour is suffering over this is that that particular part of it furthers the whole “the average NZ driver is a moron” meme promulgated by the “road safety” campaigners and their friends in the
Crown Cash RegisterPolice department.If anyone actually braked for those signs then they’re the ones whose top paddock is missing a few sheep.
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 5:10 pm
Ben
So it’s OK when Labour do it then ? Why not stop this silly idea of pretending the stop signs don’t look like stop signs and follow Trevor’s lead of shooting the messenger. You should know by now that “real” Labour supporters would never admit their campaign was so pathetic that stop signs didn’t look like stop signs and they would certainly never admit they made a mistake.
Just shoot the messenger and follow the lead from the brains trust lose with his fists guy….
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 5:11 pm
Rex
Come now, don’t for a moment think that logic is the answer – attack the messenger is the only way – that punch-em in the face guy is leading the way for us….
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 5:17 pm
Rex
We have seen before when they have been advised what the law was that they ignored it and then claimed somebody changed the rules.
Besides, I know Trevor in particular seems to think ignorance of the law is an excuse – but it’s not.
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 5:19 pm
don’t forget that Trev almost avoided prosecution for assault .. it was only the intervention from a member of the public that had him go to court .. and talk about sheepish
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 5:51 pm
I agree that the signs are not likely to be mistaken for stop signs but they are illegal visual pollution that virtually one else would be allowed to get away with creating. What if Coca Cola stuck little signs all up that median strip with whatever their current slogan is? There would be hell to pay and the Labour Party should be treated no differently!
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 6:10 pm
Real case of popular PM offside with public opinion on an issue.
Good try at message management Trev but the real question people are asking is how could you guys be so drop dead thick about this?
I mean isn’t it completely mental, what has happened?
Somewhere along the way some obvious checkpoint was missed and everyone else assumed it had been ticked. But people like you, Phil, Andrew and even lawyers like Chauvel, never picked it up, none of you.
Duh.
Now how can you possibly expect anyone to give you the reigns to the country, if you can’t even as a caucus, get something as simple as this right? I mean, crikey.
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 6:25 pm
Burt – I don’t really know if you’re supporting me or attacking me. They don’t look much like stop signs at all. They may be in breach of the law. But that isn’t what I said. ST seems to think drivers are stupid enough to actually mistake those things for stop signs, and cause harm. I think ST is out to lunch. Of course Labour is wrong to break the law. But ST is arguing people are complete morons, and they’re wrong.
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 6:48 pm
ben
I’m more concerned about the drivers who didn’t notice them actually. These people are the ones we should probably be scared of on the road. I would expect at least a ‘wtf is that “stop” sign ?’ reaction from most drivers, as I’m sure the campaign designers intended.
This is the point, the device plays on a sign which we are ( or should be ) conditioned to take seriously.
If that’s not what the ‘ must not look like legitimate road signs’ clauses in the law are to deter then what are they there for exactly ?
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 7:17 pm
Trevor
Vote:You’re sounding more like Baghdad Bob with each passing day!
April 23rd, 2011 at 7:26 pm
At this point in time I have to say that despite the ridicule I have to endure being a member of Trevs paddock that none of my sheep have jumped the fence or erected any road signs.
I think Trev would be better advised to take charge of the dead duck race that is called “Who shall be the next Labour Party leader”.
The TAB is not prepared to offer odds on this at present until the starters show their colours.
We punters wait with baited breath.
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 7:29 pm
At this point in time I have to say that despite the ridicule
It’s tewwible isn’t it Johnboy. To see beloved Liarbore poked and teased and fwankwy pwainwy widiculed.
Oh the humanity.
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 7:40 pm
Oh the Comedy reid.
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 7:55 pm
So Trev is one sheep short in the top paddock and Labour are just two waves short of a shipwreck?
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 9:32 pm
Trev & his gutless mates need to concentrate on getting the party right, make it relevant, forget 2 hats he is FA.
Stand up and make it right Trev..or are you afraid of Helen 1 & 2 still?
Get on with it boy!
You come across as the party bully, but from what I see you are afraid to steer the party in the direction that is bloody obvious is 3 points away from starboard.
Come on bully boy show us how the party can be great again. I am not holding my breath, you ain’t got it, and I don’t see anyone even close in your ranks boy.
Oh by the way can you remind me about how cunnliffe wanted partial asset sales again please? Bloody hypocrites!
Vote:April 24th, 2011 at 6:38 am
Trevor you da man! The sheer gall! Coming into the very heart of the Kiwblog beast to raise funds for an exercise in political misdirection. Certainly puts your previous ‘judgement’ in perspective. But it’s all a bit of a joke to you, isn’t it, so arogant have you become.
Point of order though, this government for better or worse, we should acknowledge that the Nats have at least outlined a policy to the electorate, pre-election and are prepared to go to the country for a mandate to enact it. All we have from you is ‘No No No’ – wht wxactly is your policy and how will you get us out of the shit?
And also pardon me for asking – if it’s not a rude question –
How did the EFA, s. 69 and retrospective validation of electoral spending spin out for you guys? Oh I get it, you just wanted to suprise us!
My point here being at least we get an opportunity to debate this policy – which is more than we got last time you guys were in the hot-seat. Now let’s look at the quality of your debating skills, and how effectively you have dealt with this whole issue, as a team, in the media, and in debate. . . . . .
Let’s put it this way. – They’ve been shit.
A grateful nation salutes Her Majesty’s Opposition for worthwhile job sterlingly executed. But at least we get a chance to donate, which is crucial, people, if you want to keep this highly effective hit-squad that is ‘Brand-Labour’ in business because as we saw when you rigged the electoral law and then attempted to rig the electoral process -let’s face it these guys are skint.
Opposition? Is this it?
We ordered Rentokill and we are got Rent-a-clown. We hoped for Batman and the Joker turned up. That’s why you guys are lowered to selling dodgy stuff on the internet. Another brilliant strategy from Trev. Yeah. You da man!
Newsflash – this is ‘Kiwiblog’. Try Trade me, I’m sure that’s one avenue of political fund-raising you might wish to explore…and on the bright side, no thanks to – you it’s still legal.
ps hi Lofty nice to see you are in one piece.
Vote:April 24th, 2011 at 7:00 am
Lofty nails it in one. Labour are bullies, nothing less, nothing more. In opposition they have constantly sniped, moaned and whinged. They do not like watching the treasury benches occupied by someone else.
During that time they have not shown themselves as anything close to a viable alternative in government. If they want to be government, they have to show us that they can handle it.
They can’t. They don’t have the talent.
Mallard is so far out of his depth, and he has no idea. This is the man who said Cullen was a financial wizard because he can complete a sudoku puzzle very quickly. So long as he twists reality to fit his own perceptions, he remains a liability. Keep it up dude!
Vote:April 24th, 2011 at 10:26 am
Gidday LeeC,
yup still at it mate, just as frustrated as ever with the load of pontificating holier that thou “haters & wreckers” that now make up the Labour party.
If this is as good as they get the party is fu..ed for quite sometime methinks.
Piss up & brewery come to mind when I sit back and watch with utter amazement at the incompetance that it all comprises of nowadays.
Ah well I had a lie in this morning followed by bacon & eggs, washed down with a couple of big cups of tea, so life isn’t all bad.
Vote:April 24th, 2011 at 11:04 am
When did Custer claim victory DPF?
Aside being slightly frikken dead I see issues with your asertion.
Vote:April 24th, 2011 at 12:51 pm
Yeah Murray, the Custer reference is somewhat flawed.
I would have used Muhammed Saeed al-Sahaf myself.
http://www.welovetheiraqiinformationminister.com/
Vote:April 24th, 2011 at 12:58 pm
Well done Southland Times.
I am still beginning to believe that the mainstream media RNZ,TVNZ,TV3,Herald, Rod Oram and his sympathisers, including that former failed Labour MP, now Wellington City Councellor, whose name I forget, who preaches on RNZ on Sunday mornings, and others have decided to take over the role of the Opposition up to the election. Albeit there is no other.
Otherwise they will have nothing to do so they can now MAKE news and views, rather than report news. Despite corrections in small print later which nobody looks at.
Vote: