Must read

What's hot

Time for a change?
iphone-5-vs-galaxy-s4
28

So who is Alistair Cameron? Shearer’s new Chief of Staff

by Whaleoil on April 20, 2012

News is everywhere that David Shearer has officially selected Alistair Cameron as his new Chief of Staff.  Or has he?

From where I sit it looks very much as though Grant Robertson has selected HIS new Chief of Staff.

Let’s have a look at a few aspects of Alistair and you decide if he is ‘somewhat’ aligned to Robertson:

  1. Worked with Robertson in Beehive days
  2. Was the architect of Teletubby Hobbs’ train wreck (Oooh, can’t wait for that with Shearer)
  3. Is an active member of the rainbow faction
  4. Is great personal friends with Robertson and his partner, Alf.

Oh yes, he sounds like a Chief of Staff who will have the best interests of Labour’s Leader at heart. Or should that be the Deputy Leader?

Let’s then look at his suitability for the role.

Positives:

  • Grant’s mate

Negatives:

  • a lawyer specialising in ETS and climate change
  • Questionable political management skills as was part of Hobbs trainwreck
  • Close friend of Robertson so will undermine Shearer’s leadership
  • No mongrel
  • Chair of AIDS Foundation
  • Never worked in Opposition

It should be noted that in recent political history that a change of Chief of Staff has always preceded a coup.

Bill English had Sue Foley and then briefly Glenda Hughes before Richard Long came in. Shortly there after Don Brash knifed Bill English.

Richard Long remained as Chief of Staff until Wayne Eagleson replaced him and then John Key knifed Don Brash.

So there is certainly a political precedent for a change of Chief of Staff leading shortly thereafter to a coup. The interesting part therefore is upon, that is the the coup…which is certainly shaping up to be a 3 way battle between Shearer, Robertson and Cunliffe.

Time to invest in popcorn futures.

Tagged: • • • • • • • • •

Related posts

  • http://keepingstock.blogspot.com/ Inventory2

    IPredict opened a new stock today; David Shearer to no longer be Labour leader before 1 July 2012. It opened at 10 cents, shot up to 15 cents within an hour, and has since settled at around the 14 cent mark. Could be one to have a punt on, if you’re that way inclined…

    https://www.ipredict.co.nz/app.php?do=contract_detail&contract=SHEARER.RESIGN.1JULY

  • Paddles83

    Wait for it ,next to cab arrive will be the SwissBall Gymnist.

  • Positan

    In Labour’s case, it’s likely to be about as effective as changing deck-chairs on the Titanic. 

    On the basis of current make-up – determinable as business-ignorant, union-dependent, irrelevance-chasing, dreamily-incompetent naysayers – Labour and the Greens are about as completely incapable of rendering any sort of administration – let alone the intensely competence-demanding measures required for government, as it’s possible to get.  

    Labour and the Greens can spend money – any fool can manage that – but if we’re ever to achieve financial surpluses in future, it’s more than probable that Labour’s next competent leader has yet to be born. 

  • Troy

    And… remember Helen Clark’s Chief of Staff – the rabid H2, none other than Helen’s “very very very close girlfriend” Heather Simpson who called the shots for 9 years – yup, can see it happening all over again – another unelected official, who is not the people’s representative, who will end up having one of the most powerful position in politics, that of Chief of Staff.  Clown’s to the left, Joker’s to the right – let the show begin.

  • Cullen’s Sidekick

    Kiwi Bros – The latest Rogue Morgan poll is just out – You know what? Read below:

    Today’s New Zealand Roy Morgan Poll shows
    increasing support for Prime Minister John Key’s National Party 49.5%
    (up 5.5% since March 12 — April 1, 2012). Support for Key’s Coalition
    partners has changed little with the Maori Party 1.5% (unchanged),
    United Future 1% (up 0.5%) and ACT NZ 0% (down 0.5%).

    Support for Labour has fallen 4% to 26.5%, Greens have fallen 4.5% to 12.5% from a record high, New Zealand First 6.5% (up 1.5%), Mana Party 1% (up 0.5%) and Others 1.5% (up 1%).

    If a National Election were held today the National Party would most likely be returned to Government.

    The latest New Zealand Roy Morgan Government
    Confidence Rating is up 0.5 points to 124.5 — with 55.5% (up 2%) of New
    Zealanders saying New Zealand is ‘heading in the right direction’
    compared to 31% (up 1.5%) that say New Zealand is ‘heading in the wrong
    direction’.

    Gary Morgan says:

    “Today’s New Zealand Roy Morgan Poll shows Prime Minister John
    Key’s National Party (49.5%, up 5.5%) improving its standing to its
    highest since last year’s NZ Election. The improvement in National’s
    vote comes at the expense of the two main Opposition parties — Labour
    (26.5%, down 4%) and the Greens (12.5%, down 4.5%) — the Greens result
    is similar to their polling achieved prior to the high achieved in the last Morgan Poll conducted at the time of Earth Hour.

    “The improved standing for National means the parties of
    Government — including the Maori Party, United Future and ACT NZ now
    command 52% of the vote — also the highest since last year’s NZ Election
    compared to 48% for all other parties.”
     
    I think all the red media and the stupid commentators and political editors should keep their mouth shut. The toxic Greens know where they need to go now.

    Great start to my weekend.

    • Troy

      Ah yes, but Robertson’s bright-eyed boy will make it all right again, Labour will jump in leaps and bounds, the Green’s will hit over 20% and win lots of electorate seats in the next election, and Helen Clark will return to be Labour Party President – yeah right.

  • davewin

    Another faerie at the bottom of the Beehive Gardens.

    Oh for someone of substance and standing!

  • ConwayCaptain

    Britain has had The Long Parliament, The Short Parliament and The Rump Parliament.

    Are we in NZ to get The Poofter Parliament

    • Kosh103

      And the country will be far better for it.

      But then having said that – only haters care about the sexuality of their leaders and MPs.

      • thor42

        Really, kosh?
        Anyone in any party can make the easy decisions and easy policy. Where has Labour shown that it can make the *hard* decisions? 
        Only one that I can think of – national super, with their policy to raise the eligibility age. What else have they shown?
        They will be as soft as marshmallow on welfare and crime. It is Labour policy to repeal the “three strikes” law. So much for being tough on crims.
         

      • Pukakidon

         Kosh the problem is Labour is full of lying, nasty arseholes who are also gay.  By association it does not paint a good picture of gay people does it.

      • Kosh103

        Puka, you just described the National party. Apart from the gay bit.

        And anyone with an ounce of smarts should be able to tell the difference between personality and sexuality.

      • LesleyNZ

        Really Kosh? Why do you think Labour are not too popular in the polls? We do care about MPs pushing their personal agendas.

      • Kosh103

        The reason Les Labour are not doing better is because they are not pressing the attack. They are too busy sortign their own house out to be as effective as they could be with all the ammo National are tossing their way.

        Once Labour sort their shit out, National will be in serious strife.

      • AnonWgtn

        Kosh – as a straight man you will be dead meat before the next election.

  • Johnboy

    Christ. You think even the Liarbour bastards could pay the poor little shit enough to afford a fucking razor. What ever happened to Gay Pride?

  • whalewatcher

    I am a bit tired of homosexuals being called “Rainbow” members.
    And never forget, the early Nazi Party had more that it’s share, ironic really.

    • Troy

      The less gay people are associated with the “Rainbow” wing of Labour, the more they will be less associated with the loopy loony agenda of those gays that are part of the Rainbow Wing.  Just because these loonies are gay, doesn’t mean they are right, nor does it mean they reflect nor represent gays as a whole – yet they try to portray it – shameful.

    • Kosh103

      My what an intresting pile of nonsense.

      • W.Austin

        True that. Labour’s best chance is to distance itself from the agendas that anchor it to the bottom. You Kosh, of all people, should understand that, friend.

      • Kosh103

        Austin, do you know what I was commenting on?

    • LesleyNZ

      Agree!

  • Johnboy

    “agendas that anchor it to the bottom”

    Many a true word spoken in jest!!!

  • LesleyNZ

    Good choice Labour. National will remain the governemnt at the next election. Thought you would have learnt from the Helen Clark years what not to do.

  • BJ

    Maybe Grant Robertson could start the Rainbow Party because you can be sure their policies would reflect their sexuality

  • AnonWgtn

    Do I understand that Kosh is finally coming out as a real homosexual.
    That’s what sitting on a short sharp cycle seat does.
    This will please his new leader (well shortly).

  • Luc Hansen

    I’m puzzled as to why Cameron being a lawyer specializing in ETS and climate change is listed as a negative, along with his position as chair of the Aids Foundation. 

    And as for having no experience in opposition, that’s just the typical Catch 22: You can’t have the job because of your lack of experience.  But, how can I get experience if you don’t give me the job?

    Maybe Whale thinks we should all start at the top!

    Overall, the homophobia of the blogger and his commenters is pretty stunning in this day and age.

    A post as sleazy as the convention centre for pokies deal.

  • Adrian Hall

    So being chair of AIDS foundation is a “negative”?!
    Tit!

%d bloggers like this: