The blogosphere on Labour leadership
December 12th, 2011 at 1:00 pm by David FarrarOkay, so what are the different bloggers saying on the Labour leadership.
My view was expressed last week where I basically said Cunliffe is the safer option, while Shearer has the greater potential to grow Labour’s vote more. If Labour had got a result in the low 30s, then Cunliffe would make more sense, but with a result in the mid to high 20s only, then Shearer seems the better course.
- Keith Ng backs David Shearer
- Russell Brown appears to lean towards Shearer
- Imperator Fish is undecided after the Auckland meeting
- Chris Trotter endorsed David Shearer
- Brian Edwards now backs David Cunliffe
- Cactus Kate says it should be David Cunliffe. She also reports that some Auckland members are unhappy their MPs are not consulting them on their decision.
- Homepaddock is not giving a preference, but notes that at the Auckland meeting Grant Robertson refused to give an assurance he would not challenge for the leadership before 2014.
- Most of the commenters at The Standard appear to be backing Cunliffe
- Dim-Post is tepidly in the Shearer camp
- Hard to tell Whale Oil’s position – I think he is like Brian Edward’s – was Shearer, and now Cunliffe
- John Pagani backs Shearer
- Mickey Savage is a Cunliffe supporter
- Lew Stoddart supports Shearer
- Phil Quin is in the Shearer camp
- Morgan at Maui Street defends Nanaia Mahuta, saying she was the standout in the Native Affairs debates
Of course only 34 Labour MPs get a vote. Not sure what happens if it is a tie!
Related posts:
- Labour leadership voting
- Labour leadership vote at 4 pm tomorrow
- Small says Labour leadership challenge in February if Shearer flops at conference
- Labour review recommends members vote on leadership
December 12th, 2011 at 1:34 pm
The more I hear about this contest, the more I think Cunliffe would be a far more effective leader. In my opinion he oozes arrogance but I think the general public will see him as more then capable of running the country based on his previous record. Shearer on the other hand looks weak and I don’t think he will be any match for the talented front bench of National. I just can’t see the guy being quick minded enough to land the blows required. He may have an interesting past, but Cunliffe is smart enough to be able to change his image and make himself more appealing. As a National supporter, I hope they choose Shearer.
Vote:December 12th, 2011 at 1:35 pm
They’ll pick Cunliffe, but really need Shearer to reconnect labour with electorate.
Vote:December 12th, 2011 at 1:46 pm
Shearer isn’t ready. If he isn’t ready now, then he’ll have to wait, and duke it out with Little, Robertson and others once Cunliffe fails. Cunliffe will be another interim leader. Which is all OK – that’s the way things work in politics. Cunliffe to warm the seat for a year or so, then a change about a year out from the election, giving time to get traction, but not enough time to screw up.
Vote:December 12th, 2011 at 1:46 pm
*yawn*
I know this is predominantly a political blog but even I’m struggling to give a fat rats @rse about the Labour leadership competition – it’s soooooo boring.
Vote:December 12th, 2011 at 2:22 pm
of the 2, I am a Shearer person as Cunners is an asshole (am I allowed to say that??). Labour are in a difficult position as most people don’t like Cunliffe as he would eventually become a really nasty beast when not getting his own way. I have had bosses like him and boy are they divisive.
Vote:Shearer seems to be a ditherer but give him a year and maybe he will come good. I can’t see cunliffe improving at all.
December 12th, 2011 at 2:39 pm
Such is the way with minor parties, why not have them both as co-leaders. Lord, I almost care ….
Vote:December 12th, 2011 at 2:43 pm
@ jaba I believe asshole is acceptable. The norm is to refer to him as “Silent T”.
Vote:December 12th, 2011 at 3:33 pm
I was saying Shearer the day before Goff resigned:
Vote:http://gonzofreakpower.blogspot.com/2011/11/citizens-for-rolling.html
December 12th, 2011 at 4:53 pm
As I said on another thread, the main concern is the Rudd effect. Labor in Australia made him leader because they had no other good alternatives, even though they all hated him. Turned out he was OK, and he became leader. Poor bastards had to work under him for a term, they got a sniff of opportunity so they knifed him (thank god), but now they’re paying the price for that too.
Sad thing is I think they really don’t have a choice, Cunliffe it’ll be. But even so, they’ll regret it.
Vote:December 12th, 2011 at 5:24 pm
>Not sure what happens if it is a tie!
They’ll probably use the same rules as Survivor: The slowest one to make a fire using flint and twigs gets sent home.
Vote:December 12th, 2011 at 9:16 pm
>Not sure what happens if it is a tie!
They`ll probably list the contenders in alphabetical order by first name only and and pick the top one…
Vote:December 12th, 2011 at 11:31 pm
As an expat in search of interesting NZ conversations, this Blog is one of the places I head to.
This being said, based on *traditional* party interests, the dithering between Cunliffe and Shearer astounds me … its clear that dyed-in-the-wool Nats ought to be supporting Cunliffe for leader. Mostly because he’s a disastrous, same-old-old-mould Labour kinda guy. Thus, since Labour and its policies of the last 10-12 years have been roundly rejected by the NZ public, National supporters ought to be flocking to Cunliffe so that he can further bury the Labour party.
I guess the alternative for Labour is to support a rank amateur/newbie like Shearer. But why would they do that, because… my GOODNESS… that rank amateur “Key” from the National Party has been such a failure /[sarcasm]
Vote:December 13th, 2011 at 12:43 am
Jesus wept …. I JUST DON’T CARE! Labour is a minor party and it is enabled by losers.
Vote:December 13th, 2011 at 6:22 am
I cannot wait for the bitching and scraping to start as soon as the leadersip is decided, this is going to be fun to watch.
Vote:December 13th, 2011 at 9:29 pm
I hadn’t paid too much attention to this, despite being a Labour supporter. I had thought Shearer would be ok at it given his former roles in Iraq. I think I read somewhere he was leading a US$4 billion project there? I could be wrong on the figure. He would likely have the organisational skills at any rate.
However, I caught the tail end of his interview with that witch who follows Jim Mora’s show on RNZ and she was tearing him apart.
Seems like he is going to need some sessions with Brian.
Vote: