Kat - so is Goff still a raging favourite of yours for next years election?

Nothing more satisfying for me than watching this slow motion train wreck happen. Auntie Helen will be most displeased.

This is a shocking thing to happen to labour, just as goff was climbing the preferred PM ladder and was soon to hit dbl digits, and labour were rocking up the polls to within 25pts of national...damn that spoilt brat Carter...what a shame, probably means Labour may not win next years election!

I think Carter was miffed at being treated like a schoolboy when caught with his hand in the lolly jar. Because he may feel discriminated against, a natural feeling given his sexuality, he did the only thing a man who might feel cornered would do ...lash out. In a sense it was needed. Goff's leadership is shot. He is the new millennia's version of Bill Rowling and this is meant in the most respectable way. He will not lead because he isn't charismatic enought or nasty enough or have the popularity John Key has. He did all he should but somehow it just isn't enough. Carter's act though stupid should ruffle enough revolutionary feathers in Labour's camp to come to the conclusion that both its leaders at the helm need to be changed. You hardly hear from them as opposition voices. They need someone more bolshy in the top seats.

Mike #3

ohhh, no mention of 'labour lite'...actually a good post, i know you have always stated that Goff was not your 'preferred PM', but now Shane has gone, who actually can roll goff? I suspect no one...always better to take over after the dust settles on an election defeat, the voters expect it nowadays.

I see Carter has now come out saying he 'feels liberated'...in other words, he really wanted out of politics and now he can fade into obscurity, does this guy have no shame?..who would actually employ this clown now?, knowing if you upset him he will stab you in the back.

I know I laugh at labour and defend national...but honestly, I can't believe some senior MP would do this...is $125,000 salary as a backbencher not enough?...wait till he see's what's NOT waiting him, job wise, out there in the real world :)

Where is Mr Kaiser? Surely he would be travelling to Auckland with Mr Carter. Phil Goff has expelled him because he is Gay.

I guess you guys 1-3# are being a bit sarcastic(?) I guess for right wing folk it must be amusing and I can't blame you. Phil Goff does have a problem similar to Bill Rowling really - good man but most unlikely to get elected as PM. This being the case they should change leader to have a real go in 2014 (I think 2011 is out for sure). But if you look at the caucus there isn't really anybody who sticks out and there are a number of factional interests within the caucus that even if there was, the best candidate might not get the job after all the politiking that would go on. Chris Carter was a great liability though and I'm glad no party will have to put up with this spoilt child of the Clark era promoted well beyond his abilities and with a totally inappropriate sense of entitlement. Good rinse if he goes from parliament completely (in my opinion) as if I lived in Te Atatau I'd rather be represented by my neighbour's canine companion than by this horrible little plan. Doesn't solve the leadership problem though, and there have been rumblings that David Cunliffe would like a go at it before Andrew Little gets into parliament as a potential rival, so there may be a wee fire under Carter's smoke(?). Personally I don't think David Cunliffe would do it for the NZ public as a whole, nor David Carter, and Annette King wouldn't be a long term option. Perhaps a Clayton Cosgrove could 'connect' with the electorate given a dry run in 2011 and realistic chance in 2014, but it is dangerous to get ahead of yourself in politics. John Key and 'honest' Bill English must have smiles on their faces. Can't blame them.

Frankly who cares? Our current crop of MPs are all as bad as each other, overpaid, underworked, with their sticky little fingers all over the public purse.

Tell me did our PM campaign on increasing GST, upping ACC levies, changing levels for drink driving, messing about with air rifles?

Of course not! I have lost all confidence in our political system, who time after time ignore public sentiment. What happened to the referendum to reduce the numbers of these free loading bums....it was of course ignored!

Time for a bit of honesty...but I am not holding my breath!

Jock (#5) Frankly if Messrs Carter and Kaiser would like to emigrate to Outer Mongolia I'd be happy to pay their fares. Labour will never win in 2011 under Goff but there's no natural replacement - all the more so is the party unelectable given the strife people like Chris Carter have caused for it: voters have little confidence in them. I'm gonna have to change to NZ First or the left wing of the Nats I think. Labour just self destruct over and over again. Could we dig up Big Norm or Big David? Na, guess not.

What an unbelievably retarded muppet Carter has proven himself to be. He actually HANDWROTE a letter? Who does that any more?

Eddie #4 he's been an MP for long enough now that he pretty much gets looked after for life anyway. Maybe those rules need looking at too.

Serves Labour right for its ill-treatment of the Tangata Whenua!