On Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:16:23 +0100, Grimly Curmudgeon
<grimly4REMOVE@REMOVEgmail.com> wrote:

>We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
>drugs began to take hold. I remember Paul Corfield
><aooy65@dsl.pipex.com> saying something like:
>
>>While I don't think I want to move to China I'm not at all clear what
>>image we thought we were projecting to the world. I saw about 10 seconds
>>of Boris earlier and that was quite enough - can't he say anything
>>sensible? - "ping pong's coming home" - eh??
>
>I wish Boris would drop the amiable buffoon act, it's neither big nor
>clever. Or perhaps he can't - perhaps that's him. Christ, I hope not.
> He strikes me as a decent chap but I do hope he has some talent and not
>just popular appeal. I say this as one who is quite dis-interested in
>London politics, only hoping the morass is sorted out or at least
>muddled through with as little damage as possible.

I downloaded and watched his episode of "who do you think you are" when
he discovers he's distantly related to the most of the monarchies in
Europe.

He clearly is not stupid but there were far too many "buffoon" moments
in front of all sorts of people. Perhaps he just loves playing up in
front of television cameras? - I don't know. I met him briefly in a pub
several years ago via a mutual acquaintance and he could certainly do
the "bon viveur" bit but then there was no sign of aiming for high
office.

It's notable that there has been quite a reaction to such a simple thing
as appearing a bit unkempt when he collected the flag. Why he didn't
think to fasten his jacket I don't know but it's not gone down well. I
really have no idea what to make of the reality of having him as Mayor
for just under 4 years. So far there have been a few token policy
gestures but little else - London can't be managed effectively for
another 4 years of what we've had for 3 months. It's early days I know
but it really does not look encouraging - and that's me being as
absolutely fair minded as I can be! Even some of his supporters are
beginning to question what's going on.

--
Paul C - "the big camp bastard" (tm d.a.r.s.y)
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