Why would they listen?

"I think Phil Goff needs to take a stronger line and tell some of his swaggering senior colleagues to shut the **** up for a while."

Why? At least they are getting media attention. Poor old Phil, is he still in charge? Sorry Mike, but Labour isn't even worthy of being called Labour Lite now. And I vote for them. Bugger.

Colin you just have to be joking. Phil Goff take a stronger line? No one has seen nor heard from him on anything.

Phil Goffs Leadership styles so far:

Option 1. Keep trying to dig up dirt aka Helen Clark. Nope not working, kept exploding in own face Option2. Try and act as if he is the Boss. aka... well actually there is no example. That option hasn't worked. Option 3. Say nothing.Chris Carter and Rick Barker stuffed that one.

Option 4. Labour polls (Roy Morgan not Rick Barker) down under 20%. Go down to the Warehouse and buy a BBQ. Seems most appropriate about now.

"I think Phil Goff needs to take a stronger line and tell some of his swaggering senior colleagues to shut the **** up for a while."

Colin, the usual rabid righties believe Labour are irrelevant so whats the big deal? like this is earth shattering and sinister! it was an innocuous little phone poll and so what if pretend names were used? so what if they said they were calling from Mars?

Any answers to those hard questions yet?

Seems like before Labour goes and desperately tries to beat up a "secret agenda" or some hoax "cover-up" by the government, or next time it tries to accuse the govt of "deceiving NZ" they may want to have a look at the bodies buried in their own backyard. How can they accuse the govt of deceiving people by day, and yet openly encourage deception of people under the cover of night?

If they have to do polling with their own party volunteers out of parliamentary funding, instead of getting a focus group or any one of many polling companies and paying with party money as per usual... well Labour must be pretty damn broke.

Given it's Labour's leaders budget, surely Goff or one of his high up staff approved the spending? Doesn't that have to be signed off? Wouldn't they have checked it was legit? Although given how much Chris Carter's stuff-ups and Trevor Mallard's rantings appear to have taken over the media agenda and party strategy, it's no surprise Goff doesn't really know what's going on. I wish he'd show some leadership and integrity. Why isn't he fronting on dodgy spending from HIS budget? Every stuff up sees someone else stepping up to the plate. This time it's Hughes. On Chris Carter's expenses it was Mallard. On the Worth allegations they went to ground completely when it was discovered to be a set up. Well I believe a leader sets the tone and standard of acceptable behaviour in his organisation and he needs to be accountable.

All Labour is doing is reminding us of why we voted them out, and I voted Labour my whole life until last year. Clearly they think they can say one thing and do another without getting busted.

You know I voted for Labour and National but I don't think I would vote for the current lot again. Its just the same in the UK, all little scandals and media beat-ups that go nowhere cos people vote on the day to get rid of what they don't like or for a change. I'm beginning to think the voter is a bit shell shocked and is not sure where to turn. This makes me believe all these polls however they are conducted are just pot stirrers until the real deal comes along. I read an article recently by Bob Jones on the next election outcome and I kinda agree with him.

It almost seems as those Labour is having real difficulty performing in its role as HM Loyal Opposition. Consistently they are using Cullen's version of an attack dog (Mallard and Hodgkins) by questioning small stuff and not focusing on the big stuff and getting their own message out. That indicates a leadership problem and its becoming clearer each week. Barker out of control, Carter out of control, Hughes becoming out of control - whose next? Not to say that the Nats haven't been squeeky clean, but the difference is Labour isn't in power and until they get the confidence back from people at large they will continue to stay in the Opposition.

I was wondering how things would be if Heather Simpson had stayed on as Chief of Staff - things would be far different - but who wants Labour to return to Dictatorial style leadership. The Labs have much to ponder!

Stop picking of Phil Goff everyone. He's a nice man and he will lead us into a golden future soon with strong visions. I hope the nasty Labour people don't fire him. If they do, I think Trevor Mallard could be a good PM. Yes?

What colour was John Key's shirt today Colin? He's got no chance of being Letterman's performing monkey again if he insists on wearing green. Meanwhile, looks like National's populist education strategy will need Rodney's help to impose it on schools. Bulk funding anyone?

"Anne [Tolley] is a former Hawkes Bay Regional Councillor, a Napier City Councillor and was the Deputy Mayor of Napier City. Before entering parliament Anne was an active Rotarian, served on the Napier Girls' High Board of Trustees, and was a Trustee of the Hawkes Bay Community Law Centre"

So, absolutely no education experience whatsoever then. Still, she was deputy mayor. Of Napier!!! What is this party hack doing in charge of the Ministry of Education?

Hey Colin - leave the breathless stuff about fast cars to Jeremey Clarkson. He does it best and you just sound silly mentioning it in two blogs now.

Do you think Chris Carter has any friends in Labour now his patroness has gone? Or is he the front guy playing some strange long game?

Why hasn't Mallard used his undoubted brain and rehabilitated himself so he can do a sudden leadership bid? He would be a brilliant foil to John Key.