Boris Johnson- Prime Minister (Vol. 3)
Discussion
El stovey said:
He turned up for Good Morning though, so he clearly knows his level.98elise said:
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hstewie said:
hstewie said:stevensdrs said:
People who have nothing to lose can appear on as many of these shows as they like. People with everything to lose are better advised not to.
Ask Andy?
I do take the point.Ask Andy?
But he does himself no favours by acting like a coward who is afraid to face questions.
There's something very strange when people think it's acceptable for any "leader" to behave that way.
hing about Boris not doing it is just sour grapes. It's nothing to do with acceptable behaviour, It's a good tactical move as he as absolutely nothing to gain. Your outage is driven by Corbyn's dire performance. If Corbyn had done a stellar job then you wouldn't be bothered if Boris did it or not.
Personally I think presiding over anti-semitism, and celebrating terrorists is no way for a leader to behave.
I haven't used it once.
Even if I had could you explain what's outrageous about expecting that someone who claims to be a leader should speak to and be interviewed by the media?
And please don't try suggesting my comments on Johnson are somehow related to how Corbyn did because I agree with you entirely that Corbyn is unfit for any form of office.
But none of that has anything to do with Johnson's utter cowardice and people like you defending it "because Corbyn".
I was watching Boris last night on the news, really struggling to answer a couple of not too tricky questions from Laura Kuenssberg at a press conference, and it occurred to me that possibly the reason he's avoiding the Neill interview is that he is absolutely hopeless at the kind of rapid thinking and lightning fast response that these events demand. He's not stupid: King's Scholar and a 2.1 from Oxford aren't just participation trophies. But he's a deep thinker rather than a fast one. He knows what the game is here: the interviewer is trying to get his victim to say something outrageous which will make News at Ten. But presented with a question it takes him so long to think through all the different possible elephant traps buried in it that he just ends up burbling away and saying nothing. That makes him look either evasive or thick.
Is the inability to think on your feet a fatal defect in a Prime Minister? I don't think so. In terms of Boris's political track record, all we have to go on is his two terms as Mayor of London, and he didn't do so badly there. It's a problem for him in terms of electibility: we expect our politicians to be like Wikipedia on superfast broadband, able to instantly rattle off a perfect answer to any question. It also means there is always the risk of him being caught out by a question for which he is unprepared, saying the first thing that comes into his head and making a total arse of himself. If he's afraid of interviews, it isn't through lack of belief in his political philosophy or strategies: it's just that he knows he is completely useless at this particular game, and no-one likes having their weaknesses exposed on national television.
All IMHO of course: he may just be a lying cheating racist (insert favourite Boris insult here) who is desperate to avoid public scrutiny. Myself, I think he'll do all right as PM, and more than likely leave the country in a better state than he found it.
Is the inability to think on your feet a fatal defect in a Prime Minister? I don't think so. In terms of Boris's political track record, all we have to go on is his two terms as Mayor of London, and he didn't do so badly there. It's a problem for him in terms of electibility: we expect our politicians to be like Wikipedia on superfast broadband, able to instantly rattle off a perfect answer to any question. It also means there is always the risk of him being caught out by a question for which he is unprepared, saying the first thing that comes into his head and making a total arse of himself. If he's afraid of interviews, it isn't through lack of belief in his political philosophy or strategies: it's just that he knows he is completely useless at this particular game, and no-one likes having their weaknesses exposed on national television.
All IMHO of course: he may just be a lying cheating racist (insert favourite Boris insult here) who is desperate to avoid public scrutiny. Myself, I think he'll do all right as PM, and more than likely leave the country in a better state than he found it.
Uncle John said:
It’s not compulsory to do interviews, particularly when you do not need to.
Well obviously... However, not doing interviews has a knock on effect. It means that you appear to be withholding information from or hiding away from the voting public.
Whilst it is undoubtedly a strategy, it is a cynical and dishonest one and I struggle to see how that is in any way a good thing.
As Brillo himself said, if Johnson has to go toe to toe with people like Putin, Xi, Trump and other world leaders, then surely a Journo should be no issue?
The only conclusion that can be reached is that Johnson is scared of being put under scrutiny, they think him actually talking will do more damage than good, which is pretty crap whichever way you look at it.
768 said:
Nexus Icon said:
It says a lot about Johnson that I can call him a racist, cheating liar with legal impunity though, and I don't think I can vote for his party this time. Lib Dems it probably is - just so I can say I've done my bit and I can justifiably complain about whomever gets in.
You can't complain with much justification if Corbyn gets in and you voted for a party other then the one with a chance of keeping him out.
768 said:
You can't complain with much justification if Corbyn gets in and you voted for a party other then the one with a chance of keeping him out.
All votes are personal. If I choose not to vote for this bunch, and Corbyn does get in, I could lay the blame squarely at Vote Leave, and the Torys as they stand this day for duplicitous actions. My own thoughts on the situation.I take the view that anyone I think deserves my vote, will get it. At the moment the cupboard is bare.
Wales was slated to have a big upset for the Labour party, it will be interesting to see how it goes, the landslide is pushed back a bit the latest polls show but still a good few could go to Tory and Brexit may get something but dwindling. Lib dems not worth it and Plaid are too focused on independence and so much other stuff.
But my local MP (Labour) will need to see a good few thousand votes lost to leave London and the local Tory wannabe, well, a few cursory searches on line suggest that I would never vote for that person. In reality my spoiled paper will probably score zero on the making a difference game.
That report will never see the light of day via Boris I fear. I hope it is leaked.
IforB said:
768 said:
Nexus Icon said:
It says a lot about Johnson that I can call him a racist, cheating liar with legal impunity though, and I don't think I can vote for his party this time. Lib Dems it probably is - just so I can say I've done my bit and I can justifiably complain about whomever gets in.
You can't complain with much justification if Corbyn gets in and you voted for a party other then the one with a chance of keeping him out.230TE said:
Is the inability to think on your feet a fatal defect in a Prime Minister? I don't think so.
I think you have to also apply that to the sort of pressure situations a leader might find themselves in that have much more far reaching consequences than a mild bruising from Andrew Neil or Julie Etchingham.Trump, Putin, Xi, god forbid something that requires a snap decision relating to our national security or a terrorist event.
smn159 said:
IforB said:
768 said:
Nexus Icon said:
It says a lot about Johnson that I can call him a racist, cheating liar with legal impunity though, and I don't think I can vote for his party this time. Lib Dems it probably is - just so I can say I've done my bit and I can justifiably complain about whomever gets in.
You can't complain with much justification if Corbyn gets in and you voted for a party other then the one with a chance of keeping him out.For me Corbyn will massively affect my personal finances, and IMO will f
k the countries finances.No matter how bad Boris is there is only one option for me.
Dr Murdoch said:
You should do though.
BJ should be a leader and show the nation that he's the man to take this nation forwards....
Ducking out is cowardice and transparent.
So much so, that BJ is close to losing my vote. I can't be on my own.
I can't recall an election where there were two such cretinous characters fronting the two main respective parties.
Dammed if you do, dammed if you dont....
Corbyn has ducked out of doing an interview with LBC. It's funny all this obsession with doing all these interviews. Just get on with the job IMO. BJ should be a leader and show the nation that he's the man to take this nation forwards....
Ducking out is cowardice and transparent.
So much so, that BJ is close to losing my vote. I can't be on my own.
I can't recall an election where there were two such cretinous characters fronting the two main respective parties.
Dammed if you do, dammed if you dont....
Edited by Dr Murdoch on Thursday 5th December 22:29
98elise said:
smn159 said:
IforB said:
768 said:
Nexus Icon said:
It says a lot about Johnson that I can call him a racist, cheating liar with legal impunity though, and I don't think I can vote for his party this time. Lib Dems it probably is - just so I can say I've done my bit and I can justifiably complain about whomever gets in.
You can't complain with much justification if Corbyn gets in and you voted for a party other then the one with a chance of keeping him out.For me Corbyn will massively affect my personal finances, and IMO will f
k the countries finances.No matter how bad Boris is there is only one option for me.
98elise said:
smn159 said:
IforB said:
768 said:
Nexus Icon said:
It says a lot about Johnson that I can call him a racist, cheating liar with legal impunity though, and I don't think I can vote for his party this time. Lib Dems it probably is - just so I can say I've done my bit and I can justifiably complain about whomever gets in.
You can't complain with much justification if Corbyn gets in and you voted for a party other then the one with a chance of keeping him out.For me Corbyn will massively affect my personal finances, and IMO will f
k the countries finances.No matter how bad Boris is there is only one option for me.
Breadvan72 said:
We are talking about the flagship BBC interview - this has been a thing for decades and no mainstream party leader has ever refused one. The attempts by some above to excuse Johnson are as unconvincing as any defence of Johnson ever is. To a Johnson loyalist, there is nothing that he does that cannot be denied or just shrugged off. Johnson loyalists are in this respect much like Trump supporters.
Not excusing anything. I don't think TV interviews of this nature have been a "thing" for decades. And personally I don't see them as a positive change to the way things happen here (YMMV of course). Wouldn't bother me if they were stopped altogether (it'd be a positive).
As for "flagship"...for the BBC maybe. Couldn't care less about that either.
Every single one of the party leaders has major flaws. This election will be won by the "least flawed" of the bunch, not the best candidate for the job. Not a great position to be in, but you can only choose from what is put in front of you. Or attempt to get on the pole yourself...but to me the whole system is flawed at present so from a personal perspective, that's a no go.
What we need to be asking ourselves as an electorate is how we have come to this position. How has global politics come to this position, as I'm not sure I can think of one country that has high calibre people in charge at the moment.
Your bias lately is very clear. This has nothing to do with "Johnson loyalists" or "Trump supporters". What you are referring to applies to most extremely partisan supporters of anything. "British cars are the best". "Italian cars are the best". The people you are attempting to put down are a minority. Most, IMO, are pretty pragmatic and are perfectly able to see the flaws.
I'm not convinced AN's attempt at goading was as euphoric as you seemed to think it was. Certainly not if we want to improve the way our politics works. Similarly putting blocks of ice on lecterns - it was half funny when HIGNY did it with Prescott decades ago. But our "serious" media need to be better than that.
Boris was evidently playing the "better to let people think you're stupid <by not showing> than for them to know it <by doing so - as proven by all the other leaders>" angle. The BBC and Channel 4 would have been better served simply noting "the Primeminister has declined to attend"...the people will be able to make their own minds up. Their approach convinces no one at either end of the spectrum (you one end, "Johnson loyalists" the other), and it's 50:50 whether those in the middle will now see Johnson's approach or the BBC/Channel4's as the more petty. So what's been achieved? Nothing.
IforB said:
98elise said:
smn159 said:
IforB said:
768 said:
Nexus Icon said:
It says a lot about Johnson that I can call him a racist, cheating liar with legal impunity though, and I don't think I can vote for his party this time. Lib Dems it probably is - just so I can say I've done my bit and I can justifiably complain about whomever gets in.
You can't complain with much justification if Corbyn gets in and you voted for a party other then the one with a chance of keeping him out.For me Corbyn will massively affect my personal finances, and IMO will f
k the countries finances.No matter how bad Boris is there is only one option for me.
ChevyChase77 said:
Corbyn has ducked out of doing an interview with LBC. It's funny all this obsession with doing all these interviews. Just get on with the job IMO.
It is just another big red bus and the same people fall for it time and time again. Rather than concentrating on things that actually matter to people they are going on and on about Boris not doing an interview. Dom must be laughing his socks off. No one is going to walk into the polling booth and think 'do you know what, I am not going to vote Conservative because Boris didn't do an interview with Andrew Neil'More to the point no one is going to vote for Corbyn or Swinson because they did.
IforB said:
98elise said:
smn159 said:
IforB said:
768 said:
Nexus Icon said:
It says a lot about Johnson that I can call him a racist, cheating liar with legal impunity though, and I don't think I can vote for his party this time. Lib Dems it probably is - just so I can say I've done my bit and I can justifiably complain about whomever gets in.
You can't complain with much justification if Corbyn gets in and you voted for a party other then the one with a chance of keeping him out.For me Corbyn will massively affect my personal finances, and IMO will f
k the countries finances.No matter how bad Boris is there is only one option for me.
Vanden Saab said:
ChevyChase77 said:
Corbyn has ducked out of doing an interview with LBC. It's funny all this obsession with doing all these interviews. Just get on with the job IMO.
It is just another big red bus and the same people fall for it time and time again. Rather than concentrating on things that actually matter to people they are going on and on about Boris not doing an interview. Dom must be laughing his socks off. No one is going to walk into the polling booth and think 'do you know what, I am not going to vote Conservative because Boris didn't do an interview with Andrew Neil'More to the point no one is going to vote for Corbyn or Swinson because they did.
People voting and making decisions without having all the information is hardly something to celebrate is it.
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