BS: Boris Johnson

Subject: RE: BS: Boris Johnson
From: Musket
Date: 12 Feb 12 - 09:54 AM

He and Ken are two sides of the same coin really. In one way, they are good for democracy. Neither suck up to party doctrine, neither are afraid of being radical and both give good value for money if, like me, you spend a lot of time in London but don't have to pay their council tax.

Compare that with some of the other towns and cities that have directly elected mayors. I have had experience of both Mansfield and Doncaster. Shocking...

Subject: RE: BS: Boris Johnson
From: GUEST,Bluesman
Date: 12 Feb 12 - 09:42 AM

You really have to admire and respect Boris Johnson because he is firstly a reminder of how great England used to be; and secondly because he sticks two fingers up at the sour-faced, holier-than-thou, politically correct piety of the left-wing urban elite.

Subject: RE: BS: Boris Johnson
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 11 Feb 12 - 11:09 PM

Most of Cuddly Ken's policies were very sensible. There were a few notable exceptions, including bendy busses, cuddling up to terrorists, and his laxity in some choices of co-implimenters of equality initiatives although I would argue in the last case that some risks had to be taken.

Most of Boris's are barking mad including artificial islands in the Thames (has he never heard of tidal heave?)

Subject: RE: BS: Boris Johnson
From: GUEST,Penguin Egg
Date: 11 Feb 12 - 06:33 PM

And what ever you think of Boris Johnson, at least he is not Ken "the cunt" Livingstone.

Subject: RE: BS: Boris Johnson
From: GUEST,Penguin Egg
Date: 11 Feb 12 - 06:32 PM

If the Irish want to celebrate St Patrick's Day, let them. I don't se why I, as a Londoner, should be expected to cough up money for it.

Subject: RE: BS: Boris Johnson
From: GUEST,Bluesman
Date: 11 Feb 12 - 11:36 AM

Alan, the forget to include the stout farts, they can be rough, they wear slippers, arrive with no warning.

Subject: RE: BS: Boris Johnson
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 11 Feb 12 - 11:24 AM

1) lots of drink
2) some pubs do potato cakes and Irish stew (free)
4) if you're a musician and you can play Whisky in the jar, the wild Rover, The galway, Girl, The Soldiers Song, The galway Shawl and The Fields of Athenry on your nose flute and kazoo - you can get a gig. If you can remember how many hogs etc were on The Irish Rover - you can get two gigs.
4) some people wear big hats like a pint of guinness
5)Everybody pretends to be Irish

I think that's everything. Bet they do good potato cakes at The Dorchester.

Subject: RE: BS: Boris Johnson
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Feb 12 - 10:42 AM

An article.

Had to look for something about this gaffe.

My father's family has been here in the US since 1850, Irish American. I don't celebrate St. Patrick's day - from what I can tell the American makers of party favors, cards, bric-a-brac signs and symbols usually tap into the old British Punch magazine characteristics of Irish people and leprechauns as sub-human dwarfs, rather a Gorillas in the Bog approach. I suspect most Americans are clueless about what actually is being celebrated, and what isn't. The symbols today ironically tend to hark back to the old "no Irish need apply" days of the lat 19th and early 20th centuries.

As a non-christian, I'd prefer a look at the old polytheistic days. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Boris Johnson
From: GUEST,Bluesman
Date: 11 Feb 12 - 07:45 AM

He's a sound enough guy, I like his sister Rachel.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Johnson

Subject: RE: BS: Boris Johnson
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 11 Feb 12 - 07:31 AM

Chortle!

Subject: RE: BS: Boris Johnson
From: GUEST,Ian Mather sans cookie
Date: 11 Feb 12 - 07:27 AM

And he doesn't insult you on creed or colour, just geography. Ask any mawkish whining scouser....

Subject: RE: BS: Boris Johnson
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 11 Feb 12 - 05:16 AM

Nah, this one is called Johnson.

Subject: RE: BS: Boris Johnson
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 11 Feb 12 - 05:03 AM

Boris Johnston... a faint memory stirs... was that a politician who called black people pickaninnies and referred fondly to their watermelon smiles?

Subject: RE: BS: Boris Johnson
From: Megan L
Date: 11 Feb 12 - 05:03 AM

In case any middle class member hasnt figured it out the country is sinking in debt they should ban all these public money paid shindigs.

Subject: RE: BS: Boris Johnson
From: GUEST,Ian Mather sas cookie
Date: 11 Feb 12 - 04:58 AM

Phew! Before he broke cover and said what he agreed with, I thought there might be something else we agree on.

St Patricks Day isn't about any political party to my knowledge. I have got pissed that particular day in London, Dublin and even Boston. Coincidence my being those places certain years but the only time I heard anything sectarian during the celebrations was two years ago.

And that was in a hotel whilst skiing in France.

And it was by a Dutch bloke.

In a hotel owned and run by a Swedish company.

His comments were weird considering he was wearing, as many Dutch do, an orange T shirt.

But St Paddy's Day? Raise a glass or twenty. I suggest Bridge and his foppish new friend try it too.

Incidentally, if you want to read Boris at his coherent genuinely best, I suggest you read his " Dream of Rome." you might see the silly bugger in a new light.

Subject: RE: BS: Boris Johnson
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 11 Feb 12 - 04:46 AM

They have Patrick's day celebrations in every big city - New York, Birmingham, even some places in Ireland. Its cos there are lots of irish people and desendants of irish people in these places.

St patrick was a fun guy. Snakes, green beer...he was quite a lad. St George was Turkish and be can be seen in photographs of the time making a kebab from an endangered newt species.

I'm intrigued by the bash at the Dorchester - what will 20 grand buy you......... a latte and and bacon butty for three mates?

Subject: RE: BS: Boris Johnson
From: Silas
Date: 11 Feb 12 - 04:45 AM

Kens policies on Ireland were 10 years ahead of the time.

Subject: RE: BS: Boris Johnson
From: Megan L
Date: 11 Feb 12 - 04:16 AM

Why were they holding a St Patricks day celebration in London? I thought the English saint was George.

Subject: RE: BS: Boris Johnson
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 11 Feb 12 - 04:13 AM

Yes. Ken's policies on Ireland represented a curious blind spot. He was otherwise rather sensible for example his Fare's fair policy.

Subject: RE: BS: Boris Johnson
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 11 Feb 12 - 02:35 AM

... and the St Patrick's Day celebrations in Trafalgar Square - while refusing to hold similar celebrations on St George's Day

Subject: RE: BS: Boris Johnson
From: GUEST,Teribus
Date: 10 Feb 12 - 11:38 PM

Wasn't Ken Livingston the person responsible for originally funding this bash?

Subject: RE: BS: Boris Johnson
From: GUEST,Bluesman
Date: 10 Feb 12 - 06:44 PM

Well Paul, one of them has a history of expressing contempt for the Irish people and what they endured for centuries courtesy of our great nation, I will let you guess who.

Subject: RE: BS: Boris Johnson
From: Paul Burke
Date: 10 Feb 12 - 05:38 PM

So Boris Johnson and Richard Bridge think that Irish means shin feign? I thought at least one of them was more intelligent than that.

Subject: RE: BS: Boris Johnson
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 10 Feb 12 - 05:16 PM

St Patricks day bash for 20 grand. And they get the Dorchester for that.....sounds a pretty good deal to me.

perhaps its his guest list that needs looking at. How about some of the brave men from the irish regiments who will wearing shamrock on a very special day for all irishmen.

Subject: RE: BS: Boris Johnson
From: GUEST,Bluesman
Date: 10 Feb 12 - 04:39 PM

Sinn Fein are now part of the British government as they are now the second largest party in Northern Ireland, largest nationalist/republican and carry out government administration in an assembly.

Subject: RE: BS: Boris Johnson
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 10 Feb 12 - 04:38 PM

Have just read up about it. It seems it would have cost £20,000 to be held at the Dorchester. Boris declared he preferred to use this sum in better ways for the people of London. I feel he was unwise to mention Sinn Fein. He could have merely cancelled the event as an expensive and exclusive bash.

Subject: RE: BS: Boris Johnson
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 10 Feb 12 - 04:31 PM

Who had organised the St Patrick's dinner?

Subject: RE: BS: Boris Johnson
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 10 Feb 12 - 04:28 PM

He stopped mayoral dinner for St Patrick's night in 2009. He has recently said (broadly) that it was free propaganda for Sinn Fein and I suspect his off the record comments might have been more forceful.

Subject: RE: BS: Boris Johnson
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 10 Feb 12 - 04:20 PM

Well, I'd like to know, Richard, what he said, and why you agreed with it. Boris is a man with a lot of charisma, and I suspect that his act of 'bumbling clown' disguises a very shrewd and crafty man!

Subject: RE: BS: Boris Johnson
From: GUEST,Bluesman
Date: 10 Feb 12 - 03:29 PM

And we are here to take you to the ball !

Subject: RE: BS: Boris Johnson
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 10 Feb 12 - 03:18 PM

My! The three ugly sisters.

Subject: RE: BS: Boris Johnson
From: GUEST,Bluesman
Date: 10 Feb 12 - 02:54 PM

"human beings of all kinds have been known to speak sense" doesn't include the thread creator I imagine.

Subject: RE: BS: Boris Johnson
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 10 Feb 12 - 02:45 PM

...except, perhaps, one R Bridge, who seems to imagine we are all agog as to whom & what he happens, in his intellectual mightiness, to concur with...

Subject: RE: BS: Boris Johnson
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 10 Feb 12 - 02:39 PM

Don't worry RB, just source some swift therapy here: http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/

Not sure what quote you're referring to, but human beings of all kinds have been known to speak sense..

Subject: RE: BS: Boris Johnson
From: fat B****rd
Date: 10 Feb 12 - 02:31 PM

Which was........?

Subject: RE: BS: Boris Johnson
From: gnu
Date: 10 Feb 12 - 02:31 PM

Do you know what he said?

Subject: BS: Boris Johnson
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 10 Feb 12 - 02:27 PM

Very worrying. I find myself agreeing with something Boris Johnson said.