The honeymoon is over, Mr Cunliffe. (Election 2014, Part 2)

I have no doubt that David Cunliffe has the ‘goods’ to lead Labour to victory and this year’s general election. I can see the intelligence of the man and I believe that he a vision for a better and fairer NZ society, where the massive gap between the rich and poor is recognised and acted upon, without driving those who have skills and money out of New Zealand.

I do wonder though at the series of ‘gaffs’ he has made in the time he has been in his new role. The simple fact is that he does not have the time, between now and the election (Don’t be surprised if his canny for—John Key) calls for an earlier election, just to take advantage of what can be seen as Labour in ‘turmoil) to get settled in his job and to build his reputation as an alternative Government. He has to do it now and the silly, possibly naive situation re his ‘trust funds’ does nothing to help his cause. He knows it and he quickly made the right moves to dissipate some of the damage. Is it enough?

Time will tell and there is precious little of that. David needs to get ‘out there’ and enunciate the policies of the Labour Party and answer the perennial question that his political foes will and have always thrown up; ‘where is the money coming from?’

Perhaps his new ‘sidekick, Matt, will play a hand in that. At least now we have a clear differentiation in policy position between the two main parties.

To those in the Labour Party who would use this to denigrate their new leader; I say this: Pull your heads in and get behind your leader. You too, have little time to make us believe that you are a tenable Government in waiting. Now is not the time to snipe and ‘publicly’ pick holes. Surely you have learnt the lessons of the past decade of damaging infighting? Nothing turns us, the electorate off more!

www.authorneilcoleman.com

Mr Putin--what is the best way to protect Russinas, wherever they are?----resign!

Yes, there may be solid reasons for Russia retaining or regaining control over the Crimea from a ‘security’ point of view. Yes, we understand that Russia has always wanted a ‘warm water port.’ For such a position there are plenty of parallels re other big power politics from the likes of France, the UK and the USA and now China and India, but please Mr Putin, stop this rubbish about ‘protecting’ Russians in the Crimea and Eastern Ukraine. There is very little evidence for Russians being harmed in any way, other than that which you have managed and manipulated yourself. Please look at history, particularly that of Germany, before the outbreak of WW2.

The world is not as stupid as you would like us to think, nor are they as compliant as the Russian people, who have endured such political plotting and outright bullying from the time Russia became a nation, way back in the days of the earliest tribal settlements, much of which was based in the present day Kiev region.

Russians are not likely to resist your pressure, apart from a few brave reporters and of course-Pussy Riot. It is a great pity that there are not millions more Russians who would stand up to you, but the repression in your country makes that almost impossible.

So, Mr Putin, it is pull your head in time; time to actually care what much of the world thinks and to tell your people the truth---not your version of it; one that puts you firmly in the centre of control and your continued personal wealth.

Stand up Russian people. No one is threatening you apart from your own ‘esteemed’ leader.

www.authorneilcoleman.com