Lots of People have been raving to me about this amazing piece from @JohnJCampbell in the early summer. Just read it and OMG! Is it good or what.
NZ’s politics as we begin 2024 are febrile in a manner significantly beyond anything I have ever seen thanks to the bonkers agenda set out by the coalition govt that should not have been allowed to happen.
If you haven’t read this yet do so.1news.co.nz/2023/12/30/joh…
NZ’s politics as we begin 2024 are febrile in a manner significantly beyond anything I have ever seen thanks to the bonkers agenda set out by the coalition govt that should not have been allowed to happen.
If you haven’t read this yet do so.1news.co.nz/2023/12/30/joh…
Justifiably the bit in the piece on former pm, Labour Leader @chrishipkins is excoriating, albeit in the relatively understated personal rhetorical tone in which @JohnJCampbell has achieved mastery.
“Labour’s vote almost halved in three years and their leader is talking about “vibe”.
“People don’t vote on a left-right continuum. They vote on the vibe of the campaign”, Chris Hipkins declared.
I’m not suggesting a hair shirt – Labour should be taking stock not doing penance. But some acknowledgement that they arrived at an election campaign without an actual campaign, might be useful.
If you’re having a sausage sizzle and you don’t have any sausages, that’s not a vibe issue. It’s that the central ingredient isn’t there.
Audrey Young asked Chris Hipkins what sort of Leader of the Opposition he wants to be. He talked about “highlighting how we would do things differently, and charting a different course”, which echoes David Lange’s belief that if you want to be elected you have to look like a government in waiting.
But then Chris Hipkins said, “you won’t see much of that in the first few months, because we need to take stock and we need to the opportunity to reflect and refresh.”
Good God. The first few months? (Is Labour on sabbatical?) By that stage the Government will be insisting that everyone called Wiremu change their name to William.”
“Labour’s vote almost halved in three years and their leader is talking about “vibe”.
“People don’t vote on a left-right continuum. They vote on the vibe of the campaign”, Chris Hipkins declared.
I’m not suggesting a hair shirt – Labour should be taking stock not doing penance. But some acknowledgement that they arrived at an election campaign without an actual campaign, might be useful.
If you’re having a sausage sizzle and you don’t have any sausages, that’s not a vibe issue. It’s that the central ingredient isn’t there.
Audrey Young asked Chris Hipkins what sort of Leader of the Opposition he wants to be. He talked about “highlighting how we would do things differently, and charting a different course”, which echoes David Lange’s belief that if you want to be elected you have to look like a government in waiting.
But then Chris Hipkins said, “you won’t see much of that in the first few months, because we need to take stock and we need to the opportunity to reflect and refresh.”
Good God. The first few months? (Is Labour on sabbatical?) By that stage the Government will be insisting that everyone called Wiremu change their name to William.”
Although it’s still early 2024 - and therefore not yet the time for such things - at least not for the political caucuses in NZ most of whom are at the beach most probably - it’s past time for a debate over @nzlabour Party leadership to begin imo. Chris Hipkins cannot remain in his leadership position. This is untenable and blocks the kind of cross party thinking/alliance on the left that is needed.
This far right extremist govt did not need to happen - a TPM/Green/Labour/NZF coalition would have had a majority of 7 - but @ChrisHipkins unilaterally (in another captains call) blocked this.
Had the left contested this post election by engaging with NZ First in discussions the divisive policy trajectory we are currently on might have been at least softened if not averted. A wide ranging public debate over the direction of NZ’s next Govt would have taken place and some of the extremism present in what we now see would have been watered down.
This far right extremist govt did not need to happen - a TPM/Green/Labour/NZF coalition would have had a majority of 7 - but @ChrisHipkins unilaterally (in another captains call) blocked this.
Had the left contested this post election by engaging with NZ First in discussions the divisive policy trajectory we are currently on might have been at least softened if not averted. A wide ranging public debate over the direction of NZ’s next Govt would have taken place and some of the extremism present in what we now see would have been watered down.
But as that is not what happened we need to deal with the cards now on the table.
And NZ’s left needs to organise as never before.
This is 1984 redux, but back then it was the left destroying left solidarity.
Now the attack is full frontal by a far right coalition of neoliberal political extremists with links to supporting global networks .
To oppose this in NZ a unified coalition is needed - and parts of this - led by IWI were ready on on day one - and are already prepared for a fight and have clearly indicated a willingness to go the distance.
Te Pati Maori too.
The rump of the center-left vote represented now by @nzLabour and @NZGreens needs to step up. To come back from the beach and get to work forming a unified coalition with Māori and all people of goodwill in NZ to at least slow, but hopefully halt the virulent far right blitzkrieg which is currently underway.
And NZ’s left needs to organise as never before.
This is 1984 redux, but back then it was the left destroying left solidarity.
Now the attack is full frontal by a far right coalition of neoliberal political extremists with links to supporting global networks .
To oppose this in NZ a unified coalition is needed - and parts of this - led by IWI were ready on on day one - and are already prepared for a fight and have clearly indicated a willingness to go the distance.
Te Pati Maori too.
The rump of the center-left vote represented now by @nzLabour and @NZGreens needs to step up. To come back from the beach and get to work forming a unified coalition with Māori and all people of goodwill in NZ to at least slow, but hopefully halt the virulent far right blitzkrieg which is currently underway.
@chrishipkins @JohnJCampbell @nzlabour /ends @threadreaderapp unroll
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