Whats the appeal of Boris Johnson ???
Lady Rose
London,UKPosts: 2,667MI6 Agent
I'm going to tread into dangerous waters here ..... This is not a comment on political policies but of a personality.
We've just had the London Mayoral Elections and totally bucking the trend from the rest of the country, Boris Johnson secured a second term in office.
What I have found interesting is the remarks a lot of political commentators have been making as to what is his appeal and is he a possible future prime minister. I think its fairly obvious to anyone who followed the election is was a personality race not a political one.
One political commentator compared him to Churchill in that he is ' a maverick genius not trusted by his own party' and one American commentator said he is 'one of the most interesting politicians of our time'. The one I liked was a Conservative insider who said 'everytime he drops an F bomb he goes up 3 points in the polls.'
This is the man who apparently said of his own party leader and Prime Minister ' I survived an endorsement by David Cameron.'
Is his appeal mainly confined to London where we like a bit of quirkyness or is it much broader ... When he's there at the Olympics in his ill fitting suit and scruffy blonde hair what will the world think?
So why do people like Boris so much?
We've just had the London Mayoral Elections and totally bucking the trend from the rest of the country, Boris Johnson secured a second term in office.
What I have found interesting is the remarks a lot of political commentators have been making as to what is his appeal and is he a possible future prime minister. I think its fairly obvious to anyone who followed the election is was a personality race not a political one.
One political commentator compared him to Churchill in that he is ' a maverick genius not trusted by his own party' and one American commentator said he is 'one of the most interesting politicians of our time'. The one I liked was a Conservative insider who said 'everytime he drops an F bomb he goes up 3 points in the polls.'
This is the man who apparently said of his own party leader and Prime Minister ' I survived an endorsement by David Cameron.'
Is his appeal mainly confined to London where we like a bit of quirkyness or is it much broader ... When he's there at the Olympics in his ill fitting suit and scruffy blonde hair what will the world think?
So why do people like Boris so much?
Comments
His background is common knowledge, but unlike his peers who might wear their status on their sleeves, Boris just rolls his up and gets on with the job; straight to the point, no overblown rhetoric or sensationalism. The press and his colleagues frequently mock his eccentricity but to the voting public, it is a token of endearment which only wins hearts and minds when matched with his track record.
I personally get the impression that there is nothing hidden with Boris, it's all out on the line, I think that gave him the edge.
Regards,
Wilde
When he opens his mouth you do hold your breath waiting to see what coming next thats for sure.
He also has a tendency to apologise when he stuffs up which is quite novel.
Just wandering too, if any of our overseas friends here have heard of him and if so whats the impression he gives ???
Couldn't agree less, I'm afraid....it's because he SO UNBELIEVABLE, I reckon....I'm sure Londoners must have a great sense of humour in electing him....AGAIN ?:)
Unless it's a case of then they can point at him and tell everybody else - "and you think you have problems, look at what we have"....
Wiff waff indeed !!
A bumbling bit of a flapping idiot who everyone warms to. I saw him present an episode of Have I Got News For You once and I've never laughed so hard at that show.
Vive le droit à la libre expression! Je suis Charlie!
www.helpforheroes.org.uk
www.cancerresearchuk.org
That was a real turning point for him. That also included the 'Have you taken cocaine?' line to which he replied 'Yes, but it made me sneeze' ...
The Marcus Brody ref made me chuckle. Can just imagine Boris bumbling along on a horse he can't ride ....
But I think Sir Miles is right. I cant see his appeal spreading further than London. Dont think they would put with his nonsense 'Up North' . ( especially in Liverpool where he managed to seriously offend everyone a few years back with an article he had written over the beheading of Kenneth Bigley)
And image is all it is. Over the years he has managed to reveal himself as an arrogant, ignorant and disrespectful fool with the likes of the article that Lady Rose mentioned. Over the years he has managed to offend China, Papua New Guinea, Liverpool, Portsmouth, Skegness, Bognor Regis and a whole host of others with articles and throwaway comments that reveal his true nature. These type of things are just brushed off as 'Oh, well, that's Boris' - anyone else and people would be calling for their head. He lingers due to this bumbling image.
The majority of people I know in London really can't stand him and his policies.
Yeah but it's not like any of them are important is it?
Vive le droit à la libre expression! Je suis Charlie!
www.helpforheroes.org.uk
www.cancerresearchuk.org
Perhaps they also can't stand Ken Livingstone and that's one of the reasons Johnson was re-elected? I have friends who are life-long staunch Labourites yet love Boris. They would never vote for him, but would probably rather see Boris as mayor than the return of Livingstone...although they'd likely never go quite so far as to admit the latter.
Boris has a great sense of humour and is extremely clever...but he's also a bumbler. Whether by design or by nature, I'm honestly not sure. As others have said, he's certainly a breath of fresh air which Ken most certainly is not.
Out of curiosity, how many people voted this time? Was it a low voter turnout? If so, his victory may be down to apathy. If it was a high voter turnout, then that's more interesting.
The turnout was 2,208,475 = 38%
I don't know how that compares with previous elections but it does indicate a certain amount of apathy to me.
Brass-tacks, the guy is doing a good job in the city and that is all that matters. Too many hang-ups on cuts and the 50p tax rate - What people forget is the ebb and flow of contemporary party politics; the swing from left to right or 'spend to austerity'. You cannot please them all and you never will.
I think that London is one of the hardest metropolitan cities to mayor in Europe, many different people many different ideals and values; disillusionment and apathy must creep in eventually, which is the impression I've always had from Livingstone. I think it takes a character like Boris to do a good job and so far he's winning.
38% I'm led to believe.
He certainly stands out in an area full of bland, faceless self serving people.
Not sure how he's acheiving it mind
One thing about Boris is he's not an apologist for what he is. He's a well educated, wealthy 'posh' boy and thats exactly what he delivers. He doesn't try to be 'ordinary' which I can appreciate. Nothing makes me vomit more than someone who tries to be 'one of the people' when they're not ( yes, I mean you 'Dave' Cameron and Ed Milliband. )
Still, whilst I dont mind Boris playing about with The Tube and cycles, not sure I'd like him in charge of our nuclear programme
http://apbateman.com
Quite, I'm not a fan of 'call me Dave' either and I'm not a fan of the old boys brigade, despite having been subjected to it through many years of education. I like people who walk the walk, regardless of who they are or how they may slip-up in front of the (gutter) press. (Paxman included)
Oh, and politicians have never been in control of nuclear programs, war or finance; they receive their orders just like the rest of us! :v
Roger Moore 1927-2017
I have indeed; a very good book. I certainly see the resemblance; the media often play on Cameron being the better man, trying to stoke up the rivalry. I remember watching Jeremy Paxman trying to provoke a reaction from Johnson regarding his second class degree against Cameron's first labelling him as 'intellectually inferior', what an arse!
I think the honeymoon period lasts longer for mayor than for PM.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
It was more than a personality contest, that makes it sound plastic. Livingstone has shot himself in the foot on various occasions over the past few years. Not saying that's necessarily a bad thing, as some of what he has said has been just - It simply lost him all important appeal among some of London's movers and shakers. Regressively naive of somebody who should know the way the world works, especially in politics.
Boris has towed a much finer line, yes he has upset a few people but never those who will cast a shadow over his campaign (smart). He needs a further 4 years to show what he is capable of, if he buggers up London after the Olympic smokescreen then I'll revive this post and eat my humble pie.
Kind regards,
Wilde.
I like the analogy, NP.
So we have Cameron as Ceasar, Osborne as Mark Antony and Clegg as Marcus Brutus, the man Ceasar thinks is his friend but who puts the knife in. We then have Boris as the man letting everyone else do the dirty work and coming in to take all the spoils like Octavian ....
I can work with that .... politics doesn't change does it ?
Yeah, we all know Sir Humphrey is in charge of all the grown up stuff
Kind of, but I had Cameron down as Mark Anthony and, yes, Boris as Octavian. Not sure Caesar got stuffed by Octavian, different eras almost, if you go by HBO's Rome. Hmm, maybe I have to revise a bit.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
Octavian (Augustus) was a child when Caesar was murdered and he was in no way connected to the act. Caesar was a mentor and uncle to Augustus and was later nominated as Caesar's heir. Augustus was never a threat. They both had a cruel streak and a lust for power but unlike Caesar, Augustus knew how to better manipulate the patricians, senators and those of other influence; not just with the strength of his army. (He was also one of the only Emperors to maintain the total loyalty of the Praetorians, who were largely responsible for offing emperors throughout history!)
The fight between Anthony and Augustus caused the break up of the Second Triumvirate. (Lepidus was always the third man and was in no way as ambitious as the other two) Octavian had the edge for the aforementioned reasons but if Anthony hadn't given himself to Cleopatra he would probably have come out on top. Good job he didn't though as Augustus turned out to be one of the greatest leaders in Roman/civilised history.
Funny how these conversations spiral off-topic. Interesting none the less!
Well, you live and learn ..... Very ropey when it comes to Roman history, should have looked it up
Hail Octavian Augustus Boris Caesar!
Lol
It's fate
BRILLIANT!
Partridge Over Britain
Roger Moore 1927-2017