Small on Shearer
January 28th, 2013 at 2:00 pm by David FarrarVernon Small at Stuff writes:
Labour’s David Shearer may not have been smooth, but he was genuine and a man of substance.
So the spin went last year when he was struggling to sound fluent during speeches and impromptu press interviews. He was, if you like, substance over style. But his address to party faithful yesterday – not a “state of the nation” speech exactly, but a scene-setter for the year – was the exact reverse.
And on the style:
These days Mr Shearer is taking no chances on the presentation front, even using an autocue when talking to about 170 party faithful in a Wainuiomata rugby clubroom.
You are kidding? An autocue to talk to the Labour Party summer school in rugby clubrooms? I knew Labour always look to US and UK politics for their campaign ideas, but this is ridiculous.
Of course party leaders will use autocues for major events, such as the campaign launch and close, and annual conference speeches. But I have never ever heard of an autocue being used at an event like the Young Labour Summer School.
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January 28th, 2013 at 2:08 pm
I seriously question the latter half of that sentence. My own impression was the opposite -little substance and nothing genuine.
And I’m far from on my own thinking that. Since posting How authentic is the ‘nice Mr Shearer’?” I have seen similar repeated elsewhere, with a significant majority seeing a wooden veneer with unknown substance behind it.
The autocue shows how concerned they are about how Shearer might recite his carefully rehearsed lines. FFS, his speech had little difference that mattered from his last speech (at the conference in November).
Vote:January 28th, 2013 at 2:14 pm
But if he didn’t have the autocue, how else was he to know what Grant and Trevor wanted him to say?
Vote:January 28th, 2013 at 2:17 pm
International Master (Chess IM) Vernon Small deserves to be checkmated with two Bishops after such article.
Vote:January 28th, 2013 at 2:35 pm
If he is a man of substance then why choose to recite a speech that lacks any?
Vote:January 28th, 2013 at 2:49 pm
Its hard to know how important the stump speech is in an increasingly digitised electorate, the real problem for Shearer is that he isn’t great at coming out with good lines on his feet.
Vote:January 28th, 2013 at 2:53 pm
Reportedly Barack Obama is virtually married to his autocue, using it everywhere; – campaign events, conferences, major announcements, Thanksgiving familiy get-togethers, bedtime prayers with his children, etc…
Politically it doesn’t seem to have done him any harm, so perhaps Shearer is on to something.
Vote:January 28th, 2013 at 2:58 pm
if his fired up line was an autoclue its an even sadder illustration of him than i thought
Vote:January 28th, 2013 at 3:00 pm
“But I have never ever heard of an autocue being used at an event like the Young Labour Summer School.”
But does he also have bullet-proof glass?
Vote:January 28th, 2013 at 3:08 pm
Dear God.. What a pathetic weak individual. It scares me that he could be our PM late next year. It’s like a bad dream where you wake up sweating and screaming.
Vote:January 28th, 2013 at 3:15 pm
Captain Mumblef–ck has nothing to say so might as well read it off an autocue. It’s pathetic and says everything we need to know about this hollow man.
Vote:January 28th, 2013 at 4:12 pm
It is understandable that you Neolibs are annoyed.
Shearer’s speech was magnificent and now the Government is totally stuffed. The best Key could come up with was some stolen Labour policies – housing, training allowances, etc.
I wouldn’t mind the Tories stealing Labour’s policies if they at least admitted the ‘market’ has failed.
Vote:January 28th, 2013 at 4:15 pm
Captain Mumblefuck Shearer needs to be kept miles away from the Prime Ministership.
Vote:January 28th, 2013 at 4:38 pm
… and in late breakling news, Labour leader David Shearer has stuck his head up his arse. Nobody has noticed.
Vote:January 28th, 2013 at 4:41 pm
To me it seems like he is even more out of his depth than the bumbling shambles that Phil Goff was as party leader. Both these guys seemingly don’t have a clue about actual policy details and when asked about how things work just spout off cute little statistical soundbites that mean nothing. Shearer’s most recent efforts make it look like he is trying way too hard – kind of like he is having a really hard dump at the same time as giving his speech.
Even though Key can come across a bit sleazy, at least he knows his stuff and can defend himself when queried on it. As soon as Shearer (and Goff before him) got questioned they look like proverbial deer in the headlights.
I won’t even mention the Greens who when questioned just talk louder and start shouting, and keep repeating their BS points over and over as if it makes them somehow true.
Vote:January 28th, 2013 at 4:46 pm
I am beginning to think hamnidaV2 is Cullens Sidekick in disguise. No one talks like that in real; life he/she must be a parody.
Vote:January 28th, 2013 at 5:02 pm
I’ve been saying that for some time.
Goff was far more accomplished than Shearer, at least he knew how politics worked and he had the benefit of experience and (sort of) the full support of caucus. But his body language betrayed him, what he said wasn’t what he believed, it was what he had learned to recite.
Shearer is a much more inexperienced version who’s body language betrays him much more openly.
A major difference is that leading up to the election many Labour supporters were wishing Goff to victory, they ignored his weaknesses hoping Labour would succeed anyway, although they were sort of resigned to maybe not making it, knowing a one term government was unusual.
But now they dread another loss, and are much more critical of their new leader, and dread how he might perform in an election campaign.
Or many of them do. There are still a few that seem to believe the next election is their’s to automatically win, so ignore all of Shearer’s glaring deficiencies.
Vote:January 28th, 2013 at 5:21 pm
When they have the leaders debate, will it be between Key and Bumblefoot, or Key and Porky, or Key and Dr Knownothing?
It will be entertaining, that’s for sure.
Vote:January 28th, 2013 at 6:41 pm
Shearer is a winner in anybody’s book. He will be Prime Minister in 2014. So get used to him.
Vote:January 28th, 2013 at 7:39 pm
I hope all you people who are so certain of a Labour victory are putting all your spare money on iPredict which is sitting at close to 50/50 odds?
Capitalism has to be managed, but not thrown out – or that would equal North Korea! Everything run by public servants – is that really a viable future??
Vote:January 28th, 2013 at 7:49 pm
Why is leader of a major political party using an autocue at such an event? Good grief. Big Norm and Lange will be turning in their graves.
Shearer should have had a few years experience in parliament and possibly cabinet before becoming Labour leader.
Vote:January 28th, 2013 at 8:41 pm
So Manolo if you are so desperate to keep Shearer away from Prime Ministership, perhaps you will exercise your vote at the next election appropriately rather than just being John Key’s favorite old grumpy bastard.
Vote:January 28th, 2013 at 8:48 pm
smttc,
Well said
Vote:January 28th, 2013 at 11:22 pm
I once saw Jenny Shipley hold an audience for half an hour or more, talking about a variety of complex topics, with no notes, AND when as a press photographer I moved from one side of the room to the other, she ever so purposely turned to ensure I got still got a good view, without so much as a stutter – Admirable!
Vote:January 29th, 2013 at 12:39 am
The whole Labour movement seems to be reading off an autocue recently….
If they’re going to read off autocues… at least could we have someone better looking than that fella?
Vote:January 29th, 2013 at 12:44 am
SM says: **kind of like he is having a really hard dump at the same time as giving his speech**
hahaha… I almost had a really hard dump when I read that… LMAO…..
Vote:January 29th, 2013 at 5:40 am
ha ha dudes I have a picture of Helen Clark in my office, you know just to remember .
Vote:that one which Brian Edwards authorised, with those teeth. You with me now, and I think
New York you so unlucky, we lucky we have Shearer and soon a third term conservative NZ Government.
But not so fast, first come to terms with coalition, NZ First or suck Maori. go on get real
January 29th, 2013 at 8:54 am
“Shearer is a winner in anybody’s book. He will be Prime Minister in 2014. So get used to him.”
LOL ! Comedy gold.
Vote:January 29th, 2013 at 10:33 am
laj: Times two sir! the guy must be taking the piss, surely? The poor bloke (Shearer) just hasnt got it…I am waiting for a resurrection of the Chris Carter quote: “He’s a nice guy but he just cant win”…
Vote:January 29th, 2013 at 6:12 pm
Wouldn’t it be fun to hack into the auto cue and insert a whole lot of “umm”s
Vote:January 29th, 2013 at 6:18 pm
BTW, Hamnida, every time I spot a “Neolib” you get another thumbs down.
Vote:January 29th, 2013 at 6:25 pm
pq
Seriously, you need to get help. The variations in your lucidity throughout out the day and the “roll” (for want of a better word) that you’ve been on recently suggests that you’re doing something to yourself that you can do without. The aggression suggests it’s the piss, but whatever it is, you need help. I hope it isn’t just a reflection of irreparable damage that you’ve already done to yourself.
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