The political machinations of QI

Davini994 · 296362. Sat Mar 15, 2008 1:12 pm

http://www.stopboris.org/whystopboris.html

suze · 296379. Sat Mar 15, 2008 1:46 pm

Thanks Dave, that was rather interesting. It makes some good points - with most of which, to no great general surprise, I'd broadly agree.

I think I'd better defend Stuart Drummond though. He was the guy who stood for Mayor of Hartlepool as H'angus the Monkey and - rather to his own surprise - got elected to the post. But much as it all started as a joke, he went on to win election for a second term and actually seems to be considered as having done a pretty good job.

As for what will actually happen in the London election, I'm really not sure. There's little serious doubt that Boris and Ken Livingstone will be the top two on first preference votes, though I wouldn't like to say in which order. One thing which could be important is the second preference votes of those who vote Lib Dem or Green. If the supporters of those two parties place the other as their second preference, that might just let Boris in; if they put Ken second, that might just prevent Boris from winning.

If I had a vote in this one, I think I'd just about vote for Mr Livingstone. Much as I'm somewhat disillusioned with the Labour Party at present, he's not lurched to the right as far as the front bench has.

samivel · 296394. Sat Mar 15, 2008 2:05 pm

Isn't it a pretty poor state of affairs when people are reduced to (potentially) voting for someone merely because they aren't as shit as the others?

I don't think there's been any candidate I've wanted positively to vote for since I was enfranchised. That's why I vote 'none of the above', because at least that way my disaffection is at least marginally differentiated from those who just can't be bothered to go out and vote.

barbados · 296585. Sat Mar 15, 2008 10:45 pm

suze · 296635. Sat Mar 15, 2008 11:53 pm

Oi!

Anyways, we didn't. In a (non binding) poll on the subject of what name should be given to the remainder of Northwest Territories (after the separation of Nunavut), "Bob" came but second. The winner was the less controversial "Northwest Territories".

Davini994 · 296666. Sun Mar 16, 2008 1:15 am

I love it. I post a linky comparing Boris to H'angus the Monkey, and I get a response defending H'angus;)

suze · 296685. Sun Mar 16, 2008 1:57 am

Yea, sorry about that Dave. I agreed with most of what that guy had to say about Boris, but he shot himself in the foot a bit with that comparison.

H'angus is not alone though - the University of York Student Union has just elected the guy who runs International Talk Like A Pirate Day as its new president. He campaigned in full costume, and won surprisingly easily against non-joke candidates.

It's written up in the York Press, and I believe there's at least one member of these forums who was closely involved ...

Neotenic · 296871. Sun Mar 16, 2008 5:22 pm

I have to say (somewhat unsurprisingly) that I'm not really very keen on that 'Stop Boris' website - it does somewhat seem to focus on his media personality, rather more than his conduct in the House - and when it does, it rather wilfully misrepresents his positions.

Boris has been unafraid of questioning the conventional wisdom - which is probably the prime reason I'm going to vote for him. The problem is that often gets translated into 'he is against <insert issue here>', when usually he isn't, he just thinks that the methods being used to address <issue> aren't going to work.

3cheeseshigh · 296880. Sun Mar 16, 2008 5:30 pm

I agree with Neo, that the public image of Boris' politics is distorted by his awkwardness in the media, and his readyness to say what he thinks without stopping to think about how it will be portrayed, particularly by the liberal/left-wing media. I have no vote in the election, as I (mercifully) live well away from London, but would vote for Boris any day of the week if I could. He makes a lot of sense if you can get beyond the image of buffoonery (the exact opposite of Red Ken - he can be seen as a buffoon if you get beyond the outward image of sense).

Neotenic · 296883. Sun Mar 16, 2008 5:41 pm

A lot of things have been said about Boris' transport policy - but shall we have a quick look at Ken's?

from www.kenlivingstone.com;

suze · 296893. Sun Mar 16, 2008 6:02 pm

Fair enough Neo, and no I hadn't really expected you to be a big fan of the Stop Boris site.

And for sure, some of the things which he is said to be "against", well he isn't actually against.

Although he is against the minimum wage, and against a statutory right to paid holidays - he said so in his book of essays, Lend me your ears (2004, Harper Collins, London):

barbados · 296943. Sun Mar 16, 2008 8:37 pm

simonp · 296946. Sun Mar 16, 2008 8:40 pm

I use the "sloping shoulders" principle here. I just let them ride, unless their beard is longer than mine i don't tend to question their using a child oyster pass. Its just not really my problem, if Mr L wants to pay for childrens travel thats up to him.

barbados · 296951. Sun Mar 16, 2008 8:53 pm

The thing is when the cash fares went up to £2 the poor old driver is the one that gets it in the neck when he tries to explain that the increase was to cover for the money lost when children got free travel. Only to be told he's stupid, no one needs to pay for the children, they travel free.