David Shearer ponders caucus reshuffle

26/11/2012 4:49:14 p.m.

Antony Cotton wrote:

To Much deadwood in the Caucus Here would be my frontbench take Cunliffe Out Shearer Robertson Tertiary Education Parker Finance Cosgrove Economic Development Ardern Social Development Moroney Education Hipkins State Services Galloway Defence Mackey Local Government and Damien o Connor Health and Agriculture get rid of Street Sio and Mahuta all terrible performs and put that Old King Mallard and Goff to the Backbench as well.

25/11/2012 11:42:03 a.m.

Caleb wrote:

It's funny how Shearer downplays the idea that Horomia or Moroney have done anything wrong, when they did the exact same thing that was supposedly "disloyalty" and worthy of demotion when Cunliffe did it... didn't state what way they would vote in an anonymous vote in three months' time. The mainstream media coverage of this whole fiasco has been atrocious. The commentary and discussion in the blogosphere by the bloggers on The Standard, Tumeke, No Right Turn, as well as Brian Edwards, Gordon Copeland and other bloggers, has been far deeper, far more intelligent, far more interesting, far subtler and far less scandal-mongering than the tabloid-style mainstream media coverage (and not all blogging is anonymous or critical or vitriolic either). Shearer is out of touch by not reading, or even understanding, blogs.

25/11/2012 12:13:05 a.m.

Fern wrote:

If people are no longer allowed to express their genuine views on The Standard and engage in healthy debate, if we're all supposed to toe the party line, then the Labour Party is no better than a totalitarian state, and no better than the National party. A democracy that allows for an open contest of ideas is the lifeblood of a decent society and left-wing parties. What media hacks like Garner and Gower fail to grasp - because they can only view the world through pro-establishment spectacles - is that the Labour Party is at its healthiest when people are engaged with the issues and actually WANT to debate them - people who can't think for themselves and prefer to be told what to do should pledge an oath of lifetime allegiance to the National Party, the party of sheeple. The vast majority of Labour Party supporters want Cunliffe to be the party's leader, not Shearer, it's that simple. Who gives a stuff what old guard MPs like Mallard and Hipkins want, they're only there because we elected them to office, but we can punish them for failing to respect our wishes. Laboour caucus: you're on your final warning! We've suffered enough betrayal from you since 1984, so shape up or ship out!