Boris Johnson

www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/mar/26/matthew-parris-boris-johnson-london-mayor-times-attack

At last the Tories are realising what a problem it would be to have Boris as leader.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/mar/26/boris-johnson-mendacious-eu-referendum-next-prime-minister

True Jess, one only has to think of his collection of mistresses and wives, it cannot be charisma which attracts them . Naughty boy behaviour should be left to naughty little boys and not adopted by middles aged men. Just imagine a middle aged woman behaving like a naughty little girl

For me it is not the naughty boy - ugh.
But he does make politics more alive, less staid, funny even, and more approachable for some.
Those things do not make what he is saying and doing any less or more. But it is as plus add on if you see what I mean.

Trouble is annie that some find him charismatic inasmuch as they are attracted to naughty boys.
Those of you interested in his track record as Mayor might be interested in this blog.
zelo-street.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/London

Quite recently it was said here a PM need charisma, if so we are safe from Boris in No 10.

I'll grant you that he has a talent for acting the fool - he looked completely ridiculous in his suit, waiving too little flags, before he got stuck. What worries me is that many evidently find his clown act appealing and then for some unaccountable reason vote for him. Why on earth does clowning qualify him to be in charge of anything?

Doesn't he just!

I think I did see some of the zip wire footage. I thought it was great. Nobody can accuse him of being a wet rag. How else is one supposed to look on a zip wire other than slightly ridiculous?

He does ridiculous very well

Maintained his dignity ?

He was great on that zip wire. No-one else could have maintained their dignity like he did, with a joke and a bit of banter. I've a lot of time for him.

How was he supposed to respond to a zip-wire mishap that left him stranded 20 metres above the ground in front of a crowd? Making a joke of it seems to me the best response.

Don't forget the immortal Olympic speech.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsFRgIb8mAQ

Just for you Bags a classic example of BJ deliberately clowning.
www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/news/9444065/Boris-Johnson-gets-stuck-on-zip-wire-carrying-two-Union-flags.html

I don't have a TV. I have seen photos of BJ in newspapers (well, on the fronts of some) and online.

Can I ask why you dont look at people? Do you have a TV but rarely watch it? Genuine question.

Saying I'm not convinced he's a bumbler is a bit vague. From what little I have seen of and heard about him he strikes me as a hale-fellow-well-met type. I think that may be what people mean by his clownishness? I don't think it clownish or bumbling, just sort of 'large' and 'loud'. In short, he's a noticeable character, just as Jeremy Corbyn is, and Donald Trump! After all the nondescript party leaders we've had of late, perhaps this isn't a bad thing.

Whoops! Sorry. I did not get the humour.

Re Boris hiding his ambition, he doesn't seem to have convinced anyone that he's not ambitious for the Tory leadership so I'm not convinced he is hiding it. Why would he? Why should he?

I'm also not convinced he's a bumbler, maybe because I read what he says rather than looking at him.

Thought I was agreeing with you Bags. Hence the "indeed". My attempt at humour obviously didn't work as far as you are concerned.

And the point about his ambition is that he hides it behind his clown-like act. And pretends that he is anti-EU when everyone in politics believes it to be a bid for the party leadership.
I don't mind ambition but hiding it behind a bumbling exterior does not appeal to me. Politics is serious business and affects the lives and welfare of millions at his level.

Well, to be precise, I read what he had to say about it. I've also read what several other people, on both sides of the debate have to say. And I will continue to do that.

Please do not put words in my mouth, eloethan. Where have I said, or even implied that he is an irrelevance? To the contrary, I have said quite clearly that I'm listening to what he has to say about the EU referendum.

No, one won't be able to ignore him if he becomes leader of the Conservative Party, but since I can have zero influence on that there doesn't seem any point in worrying about it until it happens, if indeed it ever does.

I presume, jess and eloethan that you don't regard ambition as intrinsically bad and that, in someone you like or approve of, it would be allright?

I don't care what he looks like. What I care about is what he says and does. He may be of no consequence to you thatbags but for me, as a Londoner, I look at his record as Mayor and in my view it is abysmal. It is widely felt that he has some ambition to become the Conservative leader and, should that occur, he will not be an irrelevance who you can ignore.

As well as quoting what you, jess (and others), have said on at least one occasion about playing the ball not the man.

If Boris's appearance and performance affect others, so be it. I said they don't affect me—mainly because I don't look at him or listen to him directly but just, on occasions (rather few occasions) read about what he has said. I'm interested in the what rather than the who. And that's pretty much what I said.

jess, did I mention things being not allowed? Or did I just say what I think?

I have read that his hair was deliberately ruffled.
His hair now seems to have been cut quite a bit shorter. Perhaps he now wants to appear more serious?
Couldnt tell you about his hair products!