Why is Boris Johnson popular?
Discussion
BJ’s popularity puzzles me greatly.
He belongs to the elite of the elite (very rich family, Eton, Oxbridge). The only working class people he has known in his life are probably his servants yet he has somehow managed to paint himself as a “man of the people”. Why doesn’t that hurt his popularity?
He is at heart a pro EU remainer. He decided to change to leave solely because he thought (rightly) that leave would win and it would further his own political interests. He is the sort of person who would push his own grandmother under a bus if it helped his career (breaking his promise to the DUP being the latest example).
What has he done as a politician that is praiseworthy? Wasn’t he a rather rubbish Mayor of London and one of our worse Foreign Secretaries? How hasn’t failing in public life not dented his popularity?
His loveable Buffon image is just that - an image created for public consumption. An act. He isn’t even called Boris. To his family and acquaintances he is Alexander.
How can he appeal to the Tories diehards who believe in “family values” when he has had a string of affairs and I believe fathered children with his mistresses?
He is definitely a clever and slippery character and his efforts at self promotion and desire to be PM have paid off handsomely but how people can’t see through the charade I just don’t know.
Maybe it is just that our politicians have become such self serving untrustworthy scum. I was a teenager in the eighties and against Thatcher but although I didn’t support her policies I could respect her. The current lot are below contempt.
He belongs to the elite of the elite (very rich family, Eton, Oxbridge). The only working class people he has known in his life are probably his servants yet he has somehow managed to paint himself as a “man of the people”. Why doesn’t that hurt his popularity?
He is at heart a pro EU remainer. He decided to change to leave solely because he thought (rightly) that leave would win and it would further his own political interests. He is the sort of person who would push his own grandmother under a bus if it helped his career (breaking his promise to the DUP being the latest example).
What has he done as a politician that is praiseworthy? Wasn’t he a rather rubbish Mayor of London and one of our worse Foreign Secretaries? How hasn’t failing in public life not dented his popularity?
His loveable Buffon image is just that - an image created for public consumption. An act. He isn’t even called Boris. To his family and acquaintances he is Alexander.
How can he appeal to the Tories diehards who believe in “family values” when he has had a string of affairs and I believe fathered children with his mistresses?
He is definitely a clever and slippery character and his efforts at self promotion and desire to be PM have paid off handsomely but how people can’t see through the charade I just don’t know.
Maybe it is just that our politicians have become such self serving untrustworthy scum. I was a teenager in the eighties and against Thatcher but although I didn’t support her policies I could respect her. The current lot are below contempt.
Because when you're desperate you'll persuade yourself of all sorts of things.
Go make a list of all the stuff he's done over the years and go back three years and ask people "Do you think that in three years time you'll be championing this man as Prime Minister material?".
Brexit has totally f
ked with peoples heads and judgement.
It's pathetic.
Go make a list of all the stuff he's done over the years and go back three years and ask people "Do you think that in three years time you'll be championing this man as Prime Minister material?".
Brexit has totally f
ked with peoples heads and judgement.It's pathetic.
Smollet said:
Elatino1 said:
If you don't know and can't see it then I expect nobody will be able to explain it to you in a way you will "get it".
Yup. It baffles me. I don't care about his 'privileged' background. He seems to have been quite poor at every job he's attempted and has been sacked, several times, from journalism jobs for making stuff up. The Jennifer Arcuri payments seem as clear cut a case of corruption as you could hope for. The Darius Guppy incident seems to suggest that he's quite a nasty piece of work along with the untrustworthiness. What makes anyone look at him and think that he's the best option for prime minister? I get that many people are swayed by their opinions on Brexit but what makes people look at him and think that he's the man to get the job done?
Stay in Bed Instead said:
It's simple.
Many people support those that tell them what they want to hear.
Yes like you do and all of us !! at least he is trying to do the right thing ....Many people support those that tell them what they want to hear.
Sorting out the mess that big business and vested interests are making of OUR democracy ,standing in the world
and long may it continue ... And we seem to be seeing the first sparks of a sensible centre right political party
after years of tory decline into a sort of wimpish blue labour ..
Boris appeals largely to a particular white male demographic who need to be led - an authority figure who speaks their language, who they believe they can trust to provide the betterment in their lives that they themselves cannot achieve alone.
He certainly has the bombastic charisma to stir up the emotions and loyalty of those who need to see those sort of leadership qualities.
In the right time, the right place, such personalities can pacify a disgruntled populace simply by calming those who cannot fend for themselves. Those who can will likely shun him but will be able to continue as they were regardless and patiently wait for a PM they can support.
Boris is a duplicitous liar, a self-serving egotist who craves power. As we see on these Brexit Threads there are many who will give him what he wants in return for the illusion that he will improve their lives.
He certainly has the bombastic charisma to stir up the emotions and loyalty of those who need to see those sort of leadership qualities.
In the right time, the right place, such personalities can pacify a disgruntled populace simply by calming those who cannot fend for themselves. Those who can will likely shun him but will be able to continue as they were regardless and patiently wait for a PM they can support.
Boris is a duplicitous liar, a self-serving egotist who craves power. As we see on these Brexit Threads there are many who will give him what he wants in return for the illusion that he will improve their lives.
powerstroke said:
Stay in Bed Instead said:
It's simple.
Many people support those that tell them what they want to hear.
Yes like you do and all of us !! at least he is trying to do the right thing ....Many people support those that tell them what they want to hear.
Sorting out the mess that big business and vested interests are making of OUR democracy ,standing in the world
and long may it continue ... And we seem to be seeing the first sparks of a sensible centre right political party
after years of tory decline into a sort of wimpish blue labour ..
Coolbanana said:
Blair appeals largely to a particular white male demographic who need to be led - an authority figure who speaks their language, who they believe they can trust to provide the betterment in their lives that they themselves cannot achieve alone.
He certainly has the bombastic charisma to stir up the emotions and loyalty of those who need to see those sort of leadership qualities.
In the right time, the right place, such personalities can pacify a disgruntled populace simply by calming those who cannot fend for themselves. Those who can will likely shun him but will be able to continue as they were regardless and patiently wait for a PM they can support.
Blair is a duplicitous liar, a self-serving egotist who craves power. As we see on these Brexit Threads there are many who will give him what he wants in return for the illusion that he will improve their lives.
He certainly has the bombastic charisma to stir up the emotions and loyalty of those who need to see those sort of leadership qualities.
In the right time, the right place, such personalities can pacify a disgruntled populace simply by calming those who cannot fend for themselves. Those who can will likely shun him but will be able to continue as they were regardless and patiently wait for a PM they can support.
Blair is a duplicitous liar, a self-serving egotist who craves power. As we see on these Brexit Threads there are many who will give him what he wants in return for the illusion that he will improve their lives.
Hmm ...
Esceptico said:
BJ’s popularity puzzles me greatly.
He belongs to the elite of the elite (very rich family, Eton, Oxbridge). The only working class people he has known in his life are probably his servants yet he has somehow managed to paint himself as a “man of the people”. Why doesn’t that hurt his popularity?
He is at heart a pro EU remainer. He decided to change to leave solely because he thought (rightly) that leave would win and it would further his own political interests. He is the sort of person who would push his own grandmother under a bus if it helped his career (breaking his promise to the DUP being the latest example).
What has he done as a politician that is praiseworthy? Wasn’t he a rather rubbish Mayor of London and one of our worse Foreign Secretaries? How hasn’t failing in public life not dented his popularity?
His loveable Buffon image is just that - an image created for public consumption. An act. He isn’t even called Boris. To his family and acquaintances he is Alexander.
How can he appeal to the Tories diehards who believe in “family values” when he has had a string of affairs and I believe fathered children with his mistresses?
He is definitely a clever and slippery character and his efforts at self promotion and desire to be PM have paid off handsomely but how people can’t see through the charade I just don’t know.
Maybe it is just that our politicians have become such self serving untrustworthy scum. I was a teenager in the eighties and against Thatcher but although I didn’t support her policies I could respect her. The current lot are below contempt.
Jeremy Corbyn’s net worth is higher than Boris’s - JC is a multi millionaire. I think the Johnson family always worked for their money, certainly his father did. He belongs to the elite of the elite (very rich family, Eton, Oxbridge). The only working class people he has known in his life are probably his servants yet he has somehow managed to paint himself as a “man of the people”. Why doesn’t that hurt his popularity?
He is at heart a pro EU remainer. He decided to change to leave solely because he thought (rightly) that leave would win and it would further his own political interests. He is the sort of person who would push his own grandmother under a bus if it helped his career (breaking his promise to the DUP being the latest example).
What has he done as a politician that is praiseworthy? Wasn’t he a rather rubbish Mayor of London and one of our worse Foreign Secretaries? How hasn’t failing in public life not dented his popularity?
His loveable Buffon image is just that - an image created for public consumption. An act. He isn’t even called Boris. To his family and acquaintances he is Alexander.
How can he appeal to the Tories diehards who believe in “family values” when he has had a string of affairs and I believe fathered children with his mistresses?
He is definitely a clever and slippery character and his efforts at self promotion and desire to be PM have paid off handsomely but how people can’t see through the charade I just don’t know.
Maybe it is just that our politicians have become such self serving untrustworthy scum. I was a teenager in the eighties and against Thatcher but although I didn’t support her policies I could respect her. The current lot are below contempt.
On the Mayor of London point, he was so bad he was voted back in ... I think he was considerably better than the newt or what has followed.
Coolbanana said:
Boris appeals largely to a particular white male demographic who need to be led - an authority figure who speaks their language, who they believe they can trust to provide the betterment in their lives that they themselves cannot achieve alone.
He certainly has the bombastic charisma to stir up the emotions and loyalty of those who need to see those sort of leadership qualities.
In the right time, the right place, such personalities can pacify a disgruntled populace simply by calming those who cannot fend for themselves. Those who can will likely shun him but will be able to continue as they were regardless and patiently wait for a PM they can support.
Boris is a duplicitous liar, a self-serving egotist who craves power. As we see on these Brexit Threads there are many who will give him what he wants in return for the illusion that he will improve their lives.
I’ve just read this and your description is to me rather accurate. It also reminds me of Eva Peron. Is Boris the UK’s Evita?????He certainly has the bombastic charisma to stir up the emotions and loyalty of those who need to see those sort of leadership qualities.
In the right time, the right place, such personalities can pacify a disgruntled populace simply by calming those who cannot fend for themselves. Those who can will likely shun him but will be able to continue as they were regardless and patiently wait for a PM they can support.
Boris is a duplicitous liar, a self-serving egotist who craves power. As we see on these Brexit Threads there are many who will give him what he wants in return for the illusion that he will improve their lives.
In a word, charisma. It's not quantifiable, not logical, and definitely not something you can acquire through study or coaching. Boris stands out in an age of achingly dull, risk averse, charmless managerial politicians who sound as though they are all running the same app. "Lessons will be learned.....not fit for purpose.....hard working families...." He has some pretty serious defects of character, but so did many successful leaders in the past, and not just in politics either. One of his big strengths IMHO is an ability to make people optimistic about the future. Making people optimistic about the future got him elected as Tory mayor of a left-leaning city. Twice. Another is that the people he negotiates with find him charming and agreeable on a personal level. It is very obvious that Juncker, Tusk et al have warmed to him in a way they never did with May or Cameron. They would like to help him because they like him, and that is going to make a big difference not just this week, but over the next couple of years as we sort out our long term relationship with the EU.
Esceptico said:
Bless. He isn’t trying to do “the right thing”. He is doing what he thinks will serve his own best interests. Taking on big business and vested interests? Boris and his pals are chummy with vested interests. When you talk about “big business” do you mean big corporations that we own (the biggest investors in public companies are pension funds)? Or do you mean big private business like the billionaires pulling the strings behind the media in the UK?
funny how all these poor people are backing remain and funding people like Gina Miller to wage war on the wishes of the people ...It's also interesting the few larger uk owned manufacturing company's that still exist haven't been asset stripped
are pro brexit ... along many other wealth creating businesses ...
Gargamel said:
Jeremy Corbyn’s net worth is higher than Boris’s - JC is a multi millionaire. I think the Johnson family always worked for their money, certainly his father did.
On the Mayor of London point, he was so bad he was voted back in ... I think he was considerably better than the newt or what has followed.
JC being worth twice what BJ has seemedOn the Mayor of London point, he was so bad he was voted back in ... I think he was considerably better than the newt or what has followed.
pretty odd so I tried to check on the internet. Seems to stem from some bulls
t estimate made of “£3m” because he lives in an expensive part of London, doesn’t spend a lot and has an MPs pension. That load of tosh is now quoted as “fact”. Pathetic. Although if JC is worth twice what BJ is worth then doesn’t that make BJ look like an idiot, given that he is a money-grabbing opportunist? Outdone by Steptoe.
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