Shane Gones

So, Shane Jones is quitting politics.  The reasons given, according to Polity, are because he wants the Labour Party to embrace a wide range of opinions, and that that too many people have opinions he doesn't agree with, like forming alliances with the Greens.

Not really the open-minded and accommodating attitude you’d expect in a ‘broad church.’  Jones wanted to be included in the ‘broad church’ but wasn’t willing to extend that privilege to others.

His decision to depart now is so badly timed it stinks of deliberate wrecking tactics. Once again all the talk is about Labour’s troubles, not about Labour’s policies.  Thank you, Shane, thank you very much.

All he needed to do was announce he would be standing down at the election. Leaving six months before hand, in a blaze of publicity and self-justification, really seems designed to draw as much attention to himself, and his exit, as possible. I bet he farts just before leaving a room as well.

Jones seems to be of the opinion that Labour uniting with the Greens would alienate Labour's core working class vote.  Reality check, Shane.  I think being out of power - again - will alienate more working class voters than an alliance with the Greens would. Labour are teetering on the edge of total irrelevance as it is, and losing for a third time isn't much of a recipe for success. Labour need to win to actually make themselves important again, because otherwise they will simply fade into oblivion. Which would suit National down to the ground, of course.

Some people - like Jones - fail to understand how hopelessly Labour are performing. 30%. THIRTY PERCENT. One in three of the electorate identify with the party that is supposed to represent the interests of the average New Zealander. Instead, almost half of them - HALF - vote for the party that shamelessly pursues the interests of the richest sliver of New Zeland society. It's insane.

The idea that the Labour Party would need the Greens to make up a 15% gap on National is shocking. Even more shocking is the denial and arrogance of Shane "I helped get us into the mess" Jones about the necessity of reaching out to the greens, and hoping they are a lot more forgiving and understanding than Labour deserve.