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Thread: Can Ken, or ken Boris become London Mayor?

  1. #1
    A very, very Senior Member Adrian II's Avatar
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    Default Can Ken, or ken Boris become London Mayor?

    London elects its mayor today. The least you can say is this election pits two characters against one another.













    It's a close call by any standard, and such neck-and-necks usually provoke the weirdest media coverage. There is a classic example of counterproductive campaigning in this morning's The Guardian. If I were an undecided London voter, this article would definitely push me over the edge and make me vote for Johnson. It is a personal attack, it is below the belt and it takes many of Boris Johnson's funny or tragi-comic quips from the past seriously, thereby demonstrating that the authors have no sense of humour whatsoever. If these are Ken's supporters, I'd pass.
    The bloody trouble is we are only alive when we’re half dead trying to get a paragraph right. - Paul Scott

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    L'Etranger Senior Member Banquo's Ghost's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can Ken, or ken Boris become London Mayor?

    The snobbery expressed in many of those comments is breathtaking. The article itself is slanderous and very weak on real arguments.

    If the people of London feel Boris is for them, all well and good. He may be untried, but career politicos like Ken run out of ideas about a year after they started.

    Quote Originally Posted by Vivienne Westwood
    Boris as mayor? Unthinkable. It just exposes democracy as a sham, especially if people don't agree with me vote for Ken
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    Lesbian Rebel Member Mikeus Caesar's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can Ken, or ken Boris become London Mayor?

    Go Boris!

    Boris for PM!

    I personally think he'd be a good larf. And, would most likely come up with some rather good ideas.
    Quote Originally Posted by Ranika
    I'm being assailed by a mental midget of ironically epic proportions. Quick as frozen molasses, this one. Sharp as a melted marble. It's disturbing. I've had conversations with a braying mule with more coherence.


  4. #4
    Clan Clan InsaneApache's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can Ken, or ken Boris become London Mayor?

    There are times I wish they’d just ban everything- baccy and beer, burgers and bangers, and all the rest- once and for all. Instead, they creep forward one apparently tiny step at a time. It’s like being executed with a bacon slicer.

    “Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedy.”

    To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticise.

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  5. #5
    Master of Few Words Senior Member KukriKhan's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can Ken, or ken Boris become London Mayor?

    How long is the Mayor's term, and is it limited in length? Are there "recall" provisions if the wrong guy gets the job and makes a total mess - or must the voters wait 'til the next election?
    Be well. Do good. Keep in touch.

  6. #6
    Clan Clan InsaneApache's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can Ken, or ken Boris become London Mayor?

    Quote Originally Posted by KukriKhan
    How long is the Mayor's term, and is it limited in length? Are there "recall" provisions if the wrong guy gets the job and makes a total mess - or must the voters wait 'til the next election?
    Four years IIRC.

    Originally Posted by Vivienne Westwood
    Boris as mayor? Unthinkable. It just exposes democracy as a sham, especially if people don't agree with me vote for Ken
    A Londoner? I thought she was from Oldham or somesuchplace.
    There are times I wish they’d just ban everything- baccy and beer, burgers and bangers, and all the rest- once and for all. Instead, they creep forward one apparently tiny step at a time. It’s like being executed with a bacon slicer.

    “Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedy.”

    To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticise.

    "The purpose of a university education for Left / Liberals is to attain all the politically correct attitudes towards minorties, and the financial means to live as far away from them as possible."

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    Second-hand chariot salesman Senior Member macsen rufus's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can Ken, or ken Boris become London Mayor?

    if the wrong guy gets the job
    That's democracy for you, you get what you ask for, not what's good for you
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    Master of Few Words Senior Member KukriKhan's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can Ken, or ken Boris become London Mayor?

    OIC. This is a pretty new postcreated only recently, presumeably to get Parliament out of the day-to-day business of running London.

    How exciting. No wonder the election garners such attention (and vitriol).
    Be well. Do good. Keep in touch.

  9. #9
    Relentless Bughunter Senior Member FactionHeir's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can Ken, or ken Boris become London Mayor?

    I'd vote if I didn't have a data analysis writeup for an EPIC cohort due tomorrow.

    Maybe I'll sneak out for a few minutes at night to do so.
    My district is heavily convervative but I don't think I'll vote for them.
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    Clan Clan InsaneApache's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can Ken, or ken Boris become London Mayor?

    I've already voted. And it's a secret.
    There are times I wish they’d just ban everything- baccy and beer, burgers and bangers, and all the rest- once and for all. Instead, they creep forward one apparently tiny step at a time. It’s like being executed with a bacon slicer.

    “Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedy.”

    To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticise.

    "The purpose of a university education for Left / Liberals is to attain all the politically correct attitudes towards minorties, and the financial means to live as far away from them as possible."

  11. #11
    Master of Few Words Senior Member KukriKhan's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can Ken, or ken Boris become London Mayor?

    Do UK elections always occur on weekday/workdays?

    Ours (U.S.) usually are, though I think we'd get better turnout if we held them on Sundays.
    Be well. Do good. Keep in touch.

  12. #12
    Clan Clan InsaneApache's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can Ken, or ken Boris become London Mayor?

    You know until you asked I hadn't thought much about it. Upon reflection I do believe we vote on Thursdays. I'm sure someone will be along shortly to either verify or dismiss my assertion.

    I have to say I do love the thrill of putting a simple cross on the ballot paper. Yay for democracy!

    As I thought.

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

    Last edited by InsaneApache; 05-01-2008 at 14:21.
    There are times I wish they’d just ban everything- baccy and beer, burgers and bangers, and all the rest- once and for all. Instead, they creep forward one apparently tiny step at a time. It’s like being executed with a bacon slicer.

    “Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedy.”

    To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticise.

    "The purpose of a university education for Left / Liberals is to attain all the politically correct attitudes towards minorties, and the financial means to live as far away from them as possible."

  13. #13
    Lesbian Rebel Member Mikeus Caesar's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can Ken, or ken Boris become London Mayor?

    If anyone has read his biography on his official campaign website, it gives a good hint of things to come if he wins - an end to those ridiculous bendy-buses.

    Quote Originally Posted by Boris's Campaign Site
    As well as being a passionate cyclist - he has had many near-misses with bendy buses - he enjoys painting, playing tennis and spends much of his time bringing up his four children with his wife Marina in North London.
    He has cited his dislike of them in the past, but i think this is his funny little way of saying "i'm, er, getting rid of the, erm, buggers."

    http://www.backboris.com/about/index.php
    Quote Originally Posted by Ranika
    I'm being assailed by a mental midget of ironically epic proportions. Quick as frozen molasses, this one. Sharp as a melted marble. It's disturbing. I've had conversations with a braying mule with more coherence.


  14. #14
    Relentless Bughunter Senior Member FactionHeir's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can Ken, or ken Boris become London Mayor?

    Make sure you don't have a near miss with him then, you might be removed next
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    A very, very Senior Member Adrian II's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can Ken, or ken Boris become London Mayor?

    Quote Originally Posted by Banquo's Ghost
    The snobbery expressed in many of those comments is breathtaking.
    You are so right, somehow I forgot to mention the snobbery. You look at all those prominent names and you say to yourself: these people are actually in a position to influence Livingstone, these are the sort of people who can talk him into taking or scrapping all sorts of measures and policies. That's what makes this stupid, vindictive lot downright scary. And this in a race that is so close, with victory depending on maybe half a percent of voters. I mean how stupid and full of yourself can you get?

    It's a prime example of campaigners shooting themselves in the foot with a big phat Bazooka.
    Last edited by Adrian II; 05-01-2008 at 16:15.
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    L'Etranger Senior Member Banquo's Ghost's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can Ken, or ken Boris become London Mayor?

    Quote Originally Posted by Adrian II
    It's a prime example of campaigners shooting themselves in the foot with a big phat Bazooka.


    Anyway, their mock-working class disdain is utterly misplaced - it's hardly the case that Boris is of the finer classes. He's so arriviste.

    "If there is a sin against life, it consists not so much in despairing as in hoping for another life and in eluding the implacable grandeur of this one."
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    A very, very Senior Member Adrian II's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can Ken, or ken Boris become London Mayor?

    Quote Originally Posted by Banquo's Ghost


    Anyway, their mock-working class disdain is utterly misplaced - it's hardly the case that Boris is of the finer classes. He's so arriviste.

    And Circassian, too!

    The man's sense of homour is unsurpassed in today's politics. Dear Lord, grant us, modest Dutchmen, one Boris of our own. Just one, please. Please?
    The bloody trouble is we are only alive when we’re half dead trying to get a paragraph right. - Paul Scott

  18. #18

    Default Re: Can Ken, or ken Boris become London Mayor?

    The article itself is slanderous and very weak on real arguments.
    Do you think it goes back to their falling out at the spectator ?
    Williams always seemed like a vindictive who would really harbour a grudge whereas Boris would probaly go "Spectator ????I was one at Lords I think ..lots of people from the colonies....hmmmmmm....radishes are quite pleasant"
    Last edited by KukriKhan; 05-02-2008 at 05:32.

  19. #19
    A very, very Senior Member Adrian II's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can Ken, or ken Boris become London Mayor?

    Quote Originally Posted by Tribesman
    Do you think it goes back to their falling out at the spectator ?
    Is that so?

    Well in any case someone at The Guardian deserves a really hard spanking for letting this through at all.
    The bloody trouble is we are only alive when we’re half dead trying to get a paragraph right. - Paul Scott

  20. #20
    Things Change Member JAG's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can Ken, or ken Boris become London Mayor?

    Quote Originally Posted by Mikeus Caesar
    Go Boris!

    Boris for PM!

    I personally think he'd be a good larf.

    Yep, you clearly don't live in London. A good laugh, yeah we will all be laughing when he everything up.

    I voted a couple weeks back via postal vote and it's no secret who I voted for, Ken first choice, green second.

    Ken has been good for London, if he hadn't I might understand some of the abuse which has been aimed at him. But of course no one can really explain the problems with his policies, especially not the Tories - they send an upper class babbling baboon to contest the vote, whose only benefit is name recognition - as a moron - and have the Evening Standard slander Ken day in, day out.

    Come on Ken.

    I am pretty confident he is going to win and I think the winning margin is going to be if not comfortable, still significant - say 4-7%. Boris is not going to get the second place votes, he may win round one but when the Lib Dem votes go to Ken, he will walk away with it.
    Last edited by Banquo's Ghost; 05-01-2008 at 19:36.
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  21. #21

    Default Re: Can Ken, or ken Boris become London Mayor?

    Well in any case someone at The Guardian deserves a really hard spanking for letting this through at all.
    Why ? its what the Guardian is good for , it gives all sorts of idiots an oppertunity to publish .

  22. #22
    Enlightened Despot Member Vladimir's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can Ken, or ken Boris become London Mayor?

    Wow, I wonder what Boris' peripheral vision is like.


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  23. #23
    Arena Senior Member Crazed Rabbit's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can Ken, or ken Boris become London Mayor?

    Go Boris! That would be an excellent way to have the semester end.

    CR
    Ja Mata, Tosa.

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    Arena Senior Member Crazed Rabbit's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can Ken, or ken Boris become London Mayor?

    I did good on my EE final, and it looks like Boris is winning.

    Huzzah! I guess democracy is a sham after all!

    CR
    Ja Mata, Tosa.

    The poorest man may in his cottage bid defiance to all the forces of the Crown. It may be frail; its roof may shake; the wind may blow through it; the storm may enter; the rain may enter; but the King of England cannot enter – all his force dares not cross the threshold of the ruined tenement! - William Pitt the Elder

  25. #25
    A very, very Senior Member Adrian II's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can Ken, or ken Boris become London Mayor?

    Quote Originally Posted by Crazed Rabbit
    I did good on my EE final, and it looks like Boris is winning.

    Huzzah! I guess democracy is a sham after all!

    CR
    Crazed, congrats with your EE final.

    And thank God democracy is a sham.
    Imagine the disaster if they would all stick to their promises!
    Last edited by Adrian II; 05-02-2008 at 23:27.
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  26. #26

    Default Re: Can Ken, or ken Boris become London Mayor?

    Well, the answer is out.

  27. #27
    Part-Time Polemic Senior Member ICantSpellDawg's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can Ken, or ken Boris become London Mayor?

    Quote Originally Posted by Crazed Rabbit
    Go Boris! That would be an excellent way to have the semester end.

    CR
    I agree - congratulations, United Kingdom!

    The man seems like a degenerate liar and womanizer, but at least he is a change. Big cities do well under the leadership of lying degenerate womanizers. Plus, it isn't my country and it isn't ken livingston.
    Last edited by ICantSpellDawg; 05-03-2008 at 01:03.
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  28. #28
    Clan Clan InsaneApache's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can Ken, or ken Boris become London Mayor?

    Speechless.
    There are times I wish they’d just ban everything- baccy and beer, burgers and bangers, and all the rest- once and for all. Instead, they creep forward one apparently tiny step at a time. It’s like being executed with a bacon slicer.

    “Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedy.”

    To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticise.

    "The purpose of a university education for Left / Liberals is to attain all the politically correct attitudes towards minorties, and the financial means to live as far away from them as possible."

  29. #29

    Default Re: Can Ken, or ken Boris become London Mayor?

    Just wondering , for those that oppose or support Boris . Which of his policies do you like/dislike .
    Or is it just that those that support him think he will be funny ?

  30. #30
    Part-Time Polemic Senior Member ICantSpellDawg's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can Ken, or ken Boris become London Mayor?

    Quote Originally Posted by Tribesman
    Just wondering , for those that oppose or support Boris . Which of his policies do you like/dislike .
    Or is it just that those that support him think he will be funny ?
    I like that he understands that homosexual marriage will eliminate any obstacles regarding marring plurally or even inanimate/living objects. I also like that he recognizes that Islam is a violent religion and doesn't buy into the "religion of peace" idea.

    I don't like that he cheated on his wife(/s) numerous times and lied about it - each time. I don't like that he plagiarized things. He is a sloppy mess. I don't like that he is clearly an opportunistic politician that would go anywhere and represent anyone to get into a powerful position. Thats all that I've really got so far.

    I am sure that you like and dislike him for the exact opposite reasons - including some more important reasons like his economic agenda. He is a shallow mess - but he highlights just tired of Livingstone everybody was. This is the realistic equivalent of electing a rock into office instead of old Kenny-boy.
    Last edited by ICantSpellDawg; 05-03-2008 at 03:20.
    "That rifle hanging on the wall of the working-class flat or labourer's cottage is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there."
    -Eric "George Orwell" Blair

    "If the policy of the government, upon vital questions affecting the whole people, is to be irrevocably fixed by decisions of the Supreme Court...the people will have ceased to be their own rulers, having to that extent practically resigned the government into the hands of that eminent tribunal."
    (Lincoln's First Inaugural Address, 1861).
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