Boris Johnson

Yes, good article. Thanks for the link. I still can't help admiring him though, like the OP. I think, perhaps, his appeal lies in his not being afraid to speak up for what he believes in, even when it's unpopular. At the moment (it may change!) I feel I can like the public man even while not liking his political bent. Admiration? Not sure yet. M Thatcher I admired while hating her guts, both as a politician and as a public person. I suppose the admiration was really amazement at her ruthlessness. Nobody could accuse her or Boris of not being "proper Tories" though. You know where you stand, politically, with people like that. Can't say that with any certainty about any of the current party leaders.

Don't you think DC a proper Tory bags. I think the problem in recent years has been the extent to which the leaders of the Labour Party have been tories.

Yes, I do think DC is a proper Tory, and I agree about Labour Tories too, but there's something robustly open about BJ, which DC doesn't seem to have. I think BJ is more intelligent than DC too. He writes impressively even if one doesn't agree with him. I guess that's part of the 'attraction', as it was with Thatcher. I'd hate to be in the same room as any of them though. Slimey, all three. That's politics/politicians for you. Grass roots poitical activists are usually trustworthy, I suppose, but they are usually fairly narrow-minded as well so tend to be disappointing. BJ isn't 'disappointing' whatever else he is.

OMG! How do these journalists' minds work. She suggests it was all a publicity stunt! Are they born that bitchy or do they just cultivate it to make a living.

Surely the latter.

"Really hoping that he will make a giant mega gaffe this week. It will be very unfair if he emerges from the fantastic Olympics, covered in glory" Careful jess. It would be awful to join them.

Well said, jings. It was a good article, but there were parts that left me feeling uncomfortable as well.

Well, I have always thought that BJ was phoney and I know I'm probably in a minority of one on this thread, but I stand by my instincts.

Bags, if you really believe grassroots politicians are trustworthy, you haven't met some of the ones I have! Backstabbers on their way to higher things and I can say no more or I might be guilty of libel.

Annabel I am of the same opinion. The court jester or fool is seldom what they appear to be.

That made me chuckle, anno!

I don't see BJ as a jester so much as a highly intelligent man who knows how to win popularity. I'm not fooled by the media's 'bumbling' image of him. I focus on what he says when he's being serious. He's no fool, whether or not one agrees with him. As for whether he'd make a good prime minister, I'll just wait and see. It may never happen.

I agree with you grannybug. Jesters know what's going on and how to play the crowd. I think having Boris as PM would be interesting and couldn't be worse than what we have now - and what we have had. His experience as Mayor means he wouldn't be coming into the main political arena stone cold.

He's done well for London hasn't he?

I agree Annobel. I think he is pretty ruthless and has a talent for making himself popular. When you follow his career more closely I think you can see that he has made some very bad judgements and I wouldn't trust him in a position of power. I think he has done all right in London, but I think Ken Livingstone did some good things, though he could also show very bad judgement at times. Boris has the popular press on his side though whereas the press campaign against Ken Livingstone was relentless.

I especially like the quote underneath the article from the late, great Humphrey Lyttleton who apparently described him as, "the thinking man's idiot"...

Did anyone see him on B.B.C's 'Who do you thinkk you are'.

His GD was Turkish and he has a royal connection, fascinating stuff.

Regarding Boris - I think we are back on this subject again (?) - my DH likes him very much, and finds everything he does delightful. However, I read an article the other day listing occasions when BJ was deliberately untruthful, and I cannot believe his eccentric Englishman character at all. He appears to be a complete fool, but some of us are not fooled - lurking beneath that facade is a calculating personality, acting purely from self-interest. Not that I've got much to say in favour of any politicians!

I agree, Dahlia, Boris is calculating, self-interested, self-opinionated. Probably as much if not more than the average politician. He's also highly entertaining and if he became Prime Minister he would certainly shake some life into the civil service. Trying to stay on step ahead of him would certainly keep them on their toes. I wonder who'd have the courage to serve in his cabinet. Politics wouldn't be dull!

He'll never be PM. Don't forget, his own party has to vote him in first!

He also has to be in Parliament. He will still be Mayor at the time of the next General Election. I can't see him resigning the mayoralty in order to find a safe seat.

He is a very silly unpleasant little man - whose ego is larger than his ability

Sums him up nicely, ww.

As I said - he's a clown.....but that is an illusion.....

No illusion - we all know of the playground idiot who acts the clown in order to get peoples attention and approval. None of us are fooled by his ability or lack of it.

Uh? I mean the clownish appearance is the illusion!

I'll bet you're a really nice person whitewave.

I don't agree that he's a nasty little man. That's not my impression at all, although I'm certainly not taken in by him.

Wonder if he will go for Louise Menche's seat?

I didn't suggest that BJ was nasty, merely that he is unpleasant. I don't particularly like his outlook on various aspects and I must agree with Alie Sorry Alie I misunderstood you first time around.