Thus today the British Labour Party is hamstrung by an odd-looking, unpopular and widely ridiculed leader, just as occurred here with David Cunliffe.
Why was Cunliffe so universally disliked, as indeed has now been openly reported by some frustrated Labour candidates? Certainly everyone I discussed him with across the political divide expressed their disdain yet many, when pressed, couldn't proffer reasons. They just didn't like him.
He reminds me of the famous rhyme coined over three centuries ago in England, by a scholar angered at his tutor.
"I do not like thee, Dr Fell,
'The reason why I cannot tell,
"But this I know, and know full well,
"I do not like thee, Dr Fell."
When such an antagonistic sentiment is rife, policies become irrelevant and appearances all-important. And in that appearance respect, Cunliffe - with a face resembling a turtle's - certainly drew a loser's hand. I can only assume he must have been a terribly wicked bugger in a previous life to be so punished in this one - not that I've any disrespect towards turtles, but they're best left in the wilderness, as Labour has now discovered.
To a lesser extent, the same consideration disqualifies Harry Potter clone David Parker. He has the whiff of a trainspotting boy scout in his visage and will never be viewed by voters as prime minister material.
So, too, Andrew Little, a decent bloke and more normal looking to be sure, but with a wooden demeanour unlikely to attract public warmth. His union background is a handicap in the contemporary world, middle New Zealand voters whom Labour must win over, having a decided antipathy towards unionism.
The obvious choice is Grant Robertson, who is by far the best debater, emanates warmth and - unusual for Labour leaders - looks normal, hand-in-hand with his deputy of choice, the photogenic and industrious Jacinda Ardern.
If Labour again reject the obvious candidate which, given their out-of-touch-with-public-sentiment character, they probably will, then I'm going to accord credibility to Dr Mujahid Kamran, vice-chancellor of Pakistan's largest university.
In a recent book, Kamran claimed that absolutely everything happening everywhere is, in fact, CIA controlled on behalf of international banking cabals. The 9/11 attack and al-Qaeda were CIA instigated, he insists. A Massey University graduate, I imagine you're thinking, but surprisingly not so - Kamran earning his doctorate in physics from Edinburgh University.
Presumably therefore, Labour's leadership selection madness is all at the cunning string-pulling instigation of the CIA to ensure their puppet John Key keeps up the good work on behalf of his international banking paymasters. Then again, Labour's zealots knew that all along, at least judging by their hardcore lunatic blogging zealots.
The best that can be said about this state of affairs is that it provides wonderful spectator entertainment, even though it's at the price of a robust democracy. Still, like all troubles, time will sort it out.
