he should have shown on the radar after three years. [...] water Posted on 13:09, December 7th, 2011 by Lew The fact that Brian Edwards now considers Shearer unsuitable for the public communication aspects of the leadership should ring alarm bells. [...] After watching him on Q and A on Sunday I felt much the same as you Brian. The labour party is in danger of repeating the Phil Goff era. Shearer is a great bloke and a potential leader, but is just not ready to be a front man this time. Cunliffe on the other hand has all the skills needed to expose John Key for the hollow man that he is. No brainer really. Shearer has to concentrate on developing policy in the back room for the present and let Cunliffe do the talking. I agree with the analysis regarding Shearer's lack of articulacy. At the moment he makes many tv viewers squirm over his lack of incisiveness. However, the fact that there is an ABC faction in caucus suggests many there find Cunliffe odious to work with, and, if that is so, if he is elected leader, the caucas division will be foully trenchant. You are right far more times than you are wrong Brian, but in this case, I think you may be wrong. Even though Shearer's performances in the House and on TV may not be special, I am equally sure that he would improve dramatically into a leader of compassion, statesmanship and authority. I