David Shearer has said on more than one occasion that he doesn't really read the political blogs. But he should. Because all the answers to Labour's problems are waiting in the blogosphere, if he will only go and see for himself.
Because there's been so much chatter in the last fortnight on various blogs about what Labour's doing wrong, and what Labour should be doing, I have compiled a summary. This will hopefully make David Shearer's job much easier.
Here's my list of things Labour needs to be doing, by all of you.
Shearer needs to step up and assert himself, and take control.
Shearer needs to be reined in. His views on key issues are of deep concern.
David Shearer should listen to others ore often.
David Shearer needs to follow his own instinct more often.
Some members of the front bench are just not up to the job.
Shearer's performance is dragging down some very capable front bench members.
Labour needs to focus on the soft centrist vote.
Labour needs to move more to the left.
Labour needs to move more to the right.
Labour should shore up the left, then move right.
If Labour moves to the right the left will follow.
Shearer's beneficiary on the roof anecdote was unforgivable and a betrayal of all that Labour stands for.
Shearer's beneficiary on the roof anecdote was a powerful message that the social contract is a two way deal.
Shearer's beneficiary on the roof anecdote was a sign that Labour understands the need to crack down on the culture of welfare dependency in this country.
Labour's policies are fine, but the messaging is the real problem.
Labour's policies are the problem, and the messaging is not really the issue. You can't sell rubbish.
Both policy and messaging are deeply flawed.
Both policy and messaging are spot on.
People are interested in policy, not personalities.
The real problem is that David Shearer lacks personality.
Labour's polling, while unspectacular, is okay, and there's really no need to panic.
Labour's polling is unremarkable, and the party should be concerned.
Labour should be panicking after the last round of polls.
The Labour Party has no future.
The Labour Party has a strong and positive future ahead of it.
David Cunliffe should be Labour leader.
David Cunliffe should never be Labour leader.
It doesn't matter what a bunch of angry blogger nutjobs think.
Labour should take note of what the bloggers are saying. There is wisdom in the crowd.
All this online navel gazing is just a beltway obsession.
This online dialogue is representative of what the broader public think about Labour.
There is really no reason for Labour to panic.
There is every reason for Labour to panic.
Got all that, David?
Quite funny, Scott, but not the old "funny coz it's true".
ReplyDeleteAmong left-of-centre blogs, the message is pretty much one way. Sure, there are differences of emphasis (performance versus policy, change the leader versus leader can change, etc), but it's very hard to find any support for Shearer and Labour's current direction. (Any examples? Rob Salmond at Pundit? Anyone else, who isn't on the payroll?). Who is telling him to move right?
There are, of course, false friends on the right-wing blogs. Maybe David reads those.
But one blog has maintained a deafening silence - the one for his own Labour MPs. That really says it all.
+1
DeleteIf the Labour leadership clique and its advisors thought they had a compelling narrative that would appeal to the party base, they'd be telling it. They haven't, so they arrogantly plan to take the party to the right and dare the party base to vote against them.
What Sammy said.
ReplyDeleteRight now, a coherent call from David Shearer to get out of Afghanistan would be nice, especially if he could manage it before Thursday.
ReplyDeleteI did not confine my research to left blogs.
ReplyDeleteProbably the best thing that David Shearer could do would be to read this blog-post, have a chuckle, and realise that he can never be all things to all people. Once he's done that, he should call Trevor in for a chat about his future...
ReplyDeleteI gave up caring what whatshisname thought, read, or farted once I learned that a) his leading edge UN work was in Afghanistan furthering the interests of the US and b) Tony Blair is his political hero.
ReplyDeleteAfter that who cares? I should point out I am far from the only citizen who has reached this conclusion. The attitude has become so endemic it has even begun to affect the hopelessly old fashioned and irrelevant to young kiwis, land line based political polls.
The neo-liberal duopoly that has destroyed varied political debate in so many nation states can only work over an extended period in those nations stuck with a two party plus a dodgy mob in the middle seeking baubles, style democracies that have FPP elections.
The current brainless trust holding the labour party to ransom by using tricks picked up from a mate who knew someone that worked with Gordon and/or Tony don't understand that simple fact. They can drag the party as far to the right as Lange and Douglas did only this time few voters will feel obliged to follow them. Sure cutting sweetheart deals with NZ's foreign media owners may get the sheeple among us to join em but that won't be nearly enough votes to ever win power.
I love it when people use the word Sheeple. It always reminds me of this:
Deletehttp://xkcd.com/1013/