Is a coup against Helen Clark's leadership likely?

There is a rumour floating around Labour circles in Wellington, amongst Labour Party ministers, unions and the usual left rabble, that because of the poor way their Leader, Helen Clark, has been leading the Labour Party over the last year, and especially over the last few weeks, unhappy Labour supporters want her replaced before the 2008 Election.

I cant vouch for the validity of any such rumour from the Capital or the possible replacement for Clark, it could actually have no substance at all, but it is very interesting information given Ms Clark's tenuous grip on what is going on around her.

She is no doubt one of New Zealand's best political operators but fears that she has let her own ego get in the way of making sensible politically good decisions lately has got Labour Party tongues wagging.

There were similar whisperings around the traps spread by Labour last year regarding John Key and the safety of his position at the top but political pundits, polls and the general public all seem to be firmly behind Key and his ideas for the future of New Zealand.

Given the whisperings, does Clark have a future with Labour?

c Political Animal & Cartoon c Stan Blanch 2008

Helen Clark does You Tube

I don't know who does these "mash ups" but this video from You Tube, raps along in a sort of Weird Al Yankovic way to the Eminem tune " "Without Me", you know the one, "guess who's back, guess who's back...and the voice is a clever Helen Clark parody and it is very funny.

Increasingly though, real life, through Labour's polling results, doesn't look that funny at all.

There is also another interesting Video that looks like it is from our own Barnsley Bill

c Political Animal 2008

Helen Clark stares down the barrel and lies

I don't usually post You Tube stuff here but this one is a gem of a home video. From Gyon Espiner from TV One news from last year.

Ms Clark says in similar words that, she would never like to see good parents live in fear of someone knocking on their door should they correct their child by giving them a wee smack.

That to pass a law, such as the anti smacking law, would be "defying human nature", and Labour just would never do such a thing.

She in fact was caught out lying, again, but this time it was on video!

Now we shouldn't be surprised about Ms Clark and her stance on smacking kids for "corrective purposes", because she was part of a government in the 1980s that removed corporal punishment in schools that has led to violence and bullying in schools today and it just keeps getting worse.

Ironically it is one of Clark's poster children for the anti smacking law, Cindy Kiro, that was last week looking into an initiative to "help" curb bullying of teachers and children on Helen's behalf.

I don't care what people say, I still can't fight the feelings against pure logic when one tries to "fix" a problem that one created in the first place.

The repeal of section 59 will have similar consequences that the removal of corporal punishment from schools has.

Frankly, if you don't get that, then you are thicker than Sue Bradford on Mogadon.

Related Political Animal reading

You can take the family out of South Auckland
Sue Bradford strikes out, Again
Helen Clark kicks democracy below the belt
Anti smacking referendum gets the votes
Sacha Cobern's letter to NZ Herald Editor
Cindy Kiro gets violent
Anti-smacking law puts young boy at risk
Mallard in Court
Trevor Mallard's anti violence advert
Duck Season Extended: Mallard must go

c Political Animal 2008

The Poll's toll for Labour

The Roy Morgan Poll out last Friday is the continuation of a trend of political polls going back more than a year that have confirmed a clear split of over 20 points between Labour and National since October.

The Roy Morgan Poll is a critical one as it predicted accurately the outcome of the 2005 Election and the polls leading up to it.

If National were to continue the current polling trend then they would have a clear majority to govern the country on its own.

The latest poll was taken before the two major protests of last week, against the unpopular Labour Party and its increasingly out of touch stance with the average Kiwi working person.

Increasingly as public opinion goes against Labour, the Prime Minister and her cabinet have resorted to vicious personal attacks on John Key. All of which have backfired in spectacular fashion because of inaccurate details and "misspeaking" by the Prime Minister, Helen Clark.

Comments on previous polls by Labour have been called "rogue polls" by the Prime Minister and inaccurate by the support party New Zealand First.

c Political Animal 2008