This is a good start. Labour needs a charismatic leader and Shearer is that.

Hi JC #44

Thanks for your feedback;but if its facts you want here goes -

National party votes 2008 = 1,053,398 and in 2011 ( drumroll please)

957,769

Have a nice day :)

So Labour may choose a Somalian refugee camp commandant to potentially lead N.Z. Is this the way the see this country and it's people?

The Labour Party is continuing its long tradition of internal bickering and backstabbing that saw it lose elections in years gone by including the most recent. I am a Labour party member who will switch to NZ First in the near future given all this balava going on. Who really is David Shearer ! A lackey who did some running around at some UN peace peacekeeping job, got into politics two, yes only two years ago and now is arrogant enough to think he can run for leadership ? And what is worse is Parker's endorsement for it. Whatever happened to putting your hand up if you think you can do the job with the right credentials and shut up if you think your time has not yet arrived. Just incredible ! David Cunliffe is the only one with the intellectual horsepower to match John Key !

The Labour party needs more money. The Party with the most Money will Win the Election. This is Moneyocracy not a Democracy.

Stevo   #88   via mobile 11:28 pm Dec 01 2011

So many poor sports. The people have voted. Don't continue to denigrate the choice made by Kiwis in a democratic process. The time for squabbling is over and we need to rally behind our chosen leaders and support them in moving this country forwards. I voted National this time for a variety of reasons, but I hope Labour chooses leaders that can offer a credible challenge in 2014 based on a balance of social and economic policy.

Labour may be on the back foot now but eventually people will get sick of National's scape-goating & broken promises, just like they did in '99. I remember Jenny Shipley throwing the word 'mandate' around a lot back then too. I also remember the same beneficiary bashing & a promised trickle-down effect that failed to happen for workers.

Labour is far from done as a political party & Mr Shearer has the potential to help turn their fortunes around & connect with the people just like Helen Clark did in her heyday.

Bob - Keep that kind of cheerleading up, and you may just get a job as a centre-left campaign copywriter. I suspect it was a bit of an own goal, but thanks anyway.

Awesome stuff! Shearer is an decorated humanitarian, NZ'er of the Year, MBE etc. He's got my vote for sure.

Oh please, not Cunliffe - he's too full of himself. And Labour so needs a change. Shearer is more personable - just needs a bit more grunt. Practise, maybe. Go D3!