Michael Joseph Savage

Things are getting rather dire for David Shearer, in desperate need of a distraction he has pulled out the guitar again.

If Helen Clark wondered whether the stress of David Shearer’s job was getting on top of him, she got her answer late on Tuesday night when she popped into his office to find him sitting back playing his guitar.

Earlier that night, Clark had spoken at Victoria University and then had dinner with about 20 Labour MPs. Shearer did not go to either event.

He won’t say what Clark and he discussed in their meeting, other than that they agreed Opposition leader was “a pretty tough job”.

The guitar is his way of relaxing, and the fact that he was relaxed about Clark – a notorious workaholic – catching him playing it speaks volumes.

He barely knows Clark, although he inherited first her electorate and then her job as party leader. His obvious lack of idolatory of her is an indication he is not your typical Labour leader.

For a start, his office lacks the requisite photo of that other Labour icon, Michael Joseph Savage. He says there are a couple in his electorate office; one was left by the previous tenant – Helen Clark – and the other is of origin unknown.

That’s another nail in Shearer’s coffin…no photo of MJS on his wall…plus the capital offence of not fawning over Dear Leader.

ᔥ Cactus Kate:

Cactus is on holiday, so in between betting with the pedicure lady on how fast she could drink a bucket of booze (the pedicure lady lost) and lounging by the pool she has managed to look through David Shearer’s speech to the greedy oldies:

I found a copy of Shearer’s speech after his brag link on twitter and gave it a little pool read today and the whole thing was non-original, same-same, nothing new, nothing invigorating and I am actually sure I have heard plenty of the speech before only under the guise of ACT when it started. Most telling was the opening, just how Roger Douglas or Richard Prebble used to start one, with a narrative about bludgers to grab the attention of the audience.

Wow, sounds like Cactus might be downloading a Labour membership form.

I found the speech non-controversial, non fearsome and nothing in there that makes me think they are any different to National really.

Little wonder Shearer’s supporters don’t want Cunliffe back from his overseas jaunt during recess.

If I am not offended by the content then the genuine political left must be having kittens over Shearer by now. Forget the abysmal polling.

Shearer is proving to be about as right-wing and waffly with it in his social policy as Roger Douglas. No wonder his team are going to white-ant the only contender more left wing than Arnold Nordmeyer and capable of large scale tax increases that the left demand.

Of all recent Labour leaders I bet Shearer doesn’t even hold a faded crinkled picture of Michael Joseph Savage on the wall hanging in a rusty nail frame in his home study for friends to admire.

No wonder the base is all a flutter at the attack on their hero David Cunliffe.

The last time a Labour Leader or Senior MP called a beneficiary a bludger or that they needed a “nudge” (read – elbow) they were sitting around a table getting bloated eating fish and chips.

You mean this time Cactus?

Here is Kris Fa’afoi helping Michael Joseph Savage move furniture into the first state house.

Kris Fa'afoi helping Michael Joseph Savage move furniture into the first state house