Those Boris Johnson despises
I know it's a bit late as the polling stations are about to close as I write, but I found this article in today's Guardian as I enjoyed my coffee and it's hilarious. It also gives the actual context for Boris Johnson's "piccaninnies" remark and it really doesn't mitigate against the charges of racism:
His views on Liverpool were remarkable only because they led to his sacking; I'll wager he feels the same about anywhere that isn't Mayfair or the Highlands, pretty much. His line on Africa he gave out in 2002, when Blair visited Congo: "No doubt," he said, "the AK47s will fall silent and the pangas will stop their hacking of human flesh, and the tribal warriors will all break out in watermelon smiles to see the big white chief touch down in his big white British taxpayer-funded bird." It ought to beggar belief, oughtn't it? Not that this self-satisfied creature of privilege should hold such views, but that he should be able to spout them and then have us all instantly forget about it. What are we, idiots?
Williams reckons that his "speaking his mind" about Scousers, or Africans, or anyone else, doesn't mean that "the fire of truth burns so brightly within him that he can't snuff it out", but that he really does despise them. There are four pages of anti-"Boris" opinions (I use the quotes because I'm really not familiar enough with him to be on first-name terms, thankfully), and some choice quotes. Notably, they go to town on his aversion to gay marriage while including three lines on Muslims, despite the fact that his magazine printed pages and pages of bile against Muslims in 2005, including several pages of Johnson's own. Insha Allah they should be getting a letter from me shortly.
Comments
"No doubt," he said, "the AK47s will fall silent and the pangas will stop their hacking of human flesh, and the tribal warriors will all break out in watermelon smiles to see the big white chief touch down in his big white British taxpayer-funded bird."
This isn't actually Johnson's opinion, but the opinion he attributes to Blair. Before the invasion of Iraq, it's worth remembering, Blair had sent British forces to assorted foreign countries for ostensibly- and quite possibly genuinely- humanitarian reasons when no British interests were involved and had been acclaimed by the natives of those countries. Sierra Leone, where Mr Blair is still very popular, I think, is the most obvious example.
Posted by: Thersites | May 1, 2008 10:02 PM
So, am I allowed to ask who you ended up voting for? :D
Posted by: iMuslim | May 1, 2008 10:53 PM
Fair enough: Brian Paddick first, Ken second.
Really, I've made my dissatisfaction with Ken Livingstone's policies clear here in the past, and Paddick was stronger on those things (supporting removing the Low Emission Zone and Western Extension, primarily, both of which Johnson supports keeping). I didn't think there was any way that Johnson could get more than 50% of the vote on the first round as he is such a divisive figure, and anyway, it is easy to overestimate the power of the Evening Standard (he has won two elections despite their enmity to him during the GLC days, which many older voters will remember) and the Tories fought two elections by appealing to talk radio listeners and mid-market Tory rag readers and lost heavily both times, and this is London, not middle England. Many people, actually, can't stand either.
Posted by: Indigo Jo
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May 1, 2008 10:59 PM
Bad news so far... Boris seems to be winning. :(
Posted by: iMuslim | May 2, 2008 10:50 PM
I dont see a point in why one would back Brian, when everyone knows it was a Ken vs Boris game - and now people who wasted their vote on others, have now have to realise that a pillock like Boris is in town, when he could have been kept out. Lesser of the two evils is better I think.
Posted by: Omar | May 3, 2008 1:27 AM
Hurray! Boris has won.
Posted by: Old Pickler | May 3, 2008 2:48 AM
Bloody good news! Praise the Lord! Thank God! There is hope for Londonistan. What will Red Ken do next?
:)
. absurd thought - God of the Universe says elect a communist
someone who will work full-time to destroy your country
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lulu.com/uspace .
Posted by: USpace | May 3, 2008 3:00 AM
"The people have spoken. The sons-of-bitches."
Posted by: Thersites | May 3, 2008 5:43 AM