John Steenhuisen is a competent but uninspiring choice as DA leader

[Mrcricket]

He is only a temporary leader though. I believe an election for a permanent leader will take place early 2020.

Its very likely that the person elected temporary leader will be elected leader next year unless there is some new major controversy between now and then.

 

[Emjay]

I don't mind a d*ckhead. At least you know exactly what you're getting.

The reason why politics is so f'ed up is because of the opposite - too many people pleasers trying to win a popularity contest, who you have no idea what they actually stand for...

Agreed.

Great leaders get the job done. They cannot make everyone happy all the time, so rumours of lack of interpersonal skills are not really high on the priority list. People pleasing is purely a political pursuit, until they are elected. Then the results are required. This is where the real leadership comes into play.

 

[Milano]

Looking for an inspiring leader to lead a truly irrelevant party. What next?

 

[BBSA]

Most people who is critical of Steenhuisen have never and probably will never vote DA.

 

[Vrotappel]

They should do a BEE AA appointment to appease the masses.

The new leader should promise things that is impossible to deliver.

The new leader must attack whites and whiteness at every opportunity.

Only way to get votes in Africa.

 

[ForceFate]

Most people who is critical of Steenhuisen have never and probably will never vote DA.

That's BS. There's nothing wrong with being critical of the party one votes for. There's a chance he doesn't fit a criteria of what one would call a leader.

 

[BBSA]

That's BS. There's nothing wrong with being critical of the party one votes for. There's a chance he doesn't fit a criteria of what one would call a leader.

I do not really see any valid criticism.

 

[Knyro]

Meh, pay wall.

Of course he's uninspiring. So is Ramaphosa. So was Maimane.

Nothing particularly wrong with that. People that can get a crowd going and inspire an almost cult-like following are rare. Even among politicians. Not everybody can whip up a crowd like Obama, Zuma, Steve Jobs etc.

Most people who is critical of Steenhuisen have never and probably will never vote DA.

You rang?

 

[ForceFate]

I do not really see any valid criticism.

Fair, but you're one out of millions of voters. Your circumstances may be different from those who feel he's not adequately equipped to guide the party through stormy waters until the next elections.

 

[BBSA]

Fair, but you're one out of millions of voters. Your circumstances may be different from those who feel he's not adequately equipped to guide the party through stormy waters until the next elections.

My point was that most of the criticism came from non traditional DA voters, there might be a few exception.

 

[The_Right_Honourable_Brit]

Most people who is critical of Steenhuisen have never and probably will never vote DA.

Or the ones parroting the "received wisdom" that the DA requires a black leader in order to grow. Since such people are impervious to evidence, the 2019 election results for the DA don't matter to them. Hence the massive "shock" from the usual quarters in the media that Mmusi was going to resign after taking accountability for the poor election results.

 

[ForceFate]

Or the ones parroting the "received wisdom" that the DA requires a black leader in order to grow. Since such people are impervious to evidence, the 2019 election results for the DA don't matter to them. Hence the massive "shock" from the usual quarters in the media that Mmusi was going to resign after taking accountability for the poor election results.

You forget the de Lille saga, the tweets, etc.

 

[Mrcricket]

The DA was bound to lose support after Zuma left and people who see MM as the sole reason for the decline in support are taking a very simplistic view.

 

[TheChamp]

They should do a BEE AA appointment to appease the masses.

The new leader should promise things that is impossible to deliver.

The new leader must attack whites and whiteness at every opportunity.

Only way to get votes in Africa.

Nonsense, the seeds of the DA’s recovery has been planted by a white man.

 

[TheChamp]

The DA was bound to lose support after Zuma left and people who see MM as the sole reason for the decline in support are taking a very simplistic view.

Good point, although not very convenient.

 

[The_Right_Honourable_Brit]

You forget the de Lille saga, the tweets, etc.

Of course those things affected the vote -- although GOOD did far worse than many anti-DA posters predicted (the biggest prediction was the DA would lose its majority in the WC because of De Lille departing) -- but the leader is ultimately responsible for his party's performance and the DA's internal review did suggest that Mmusi stand down, as well as other two leaders. I know of no DA supporters who were particularly enthused by Maimane... no great buzz/excitement. Simply going to the polls to oppose the ANC.

 

[BBSA]

The DA was bound to lose support after Zuma left and people who see MM as the sole reason for the decline in support are taking a very simplistic view.

This is nonsense, they lost most of their support to the FF+ and not to the ANC.

 

[Mrcricket]

This is nonsense, they lost most of their support to the FF+ and not to the ANC.

Nobody disputed that but they did lose support to the ANC as well. Some of their 'traditional' voters even had favorable views of Cyril and backed the ANC on the Presidential ballot.

 

[The Trutherizer]

Two kinds of politicians. Competent ones, and ones who are there just to see how big they can make their entourage.
I'll take competent over inspiring any day.

 

[BBSA]

Nobody disputed that but they did lose support to the ANC as well. Some of their 'traditional' voters even had favorable views of Cyril and backed the ANC on the Presidential ballot.

The election of Cyril did not help the DA, but the main reason for their decline was the identity politics by some of the DA leaders.