So, the blond buffoon is our new mayor.
This was the moment I'd been praying for. When the news broke at about 12:30 a.m. last Friday night that Boris Johnson won the key to the fair city of London, I nearly bounced off the walls. Instead, I just silently pumped my fist the same way Boris did once he was crowned the winner.
I did not know if Londoners were truly ready for a change. Nobody could have called this contest. Not even the most battle-hardened political pundit could have predicted this outcome. Some reports, ranging from weeks to days before the May 1 election, said that Boris was a shoo-in. Other reports asserted that "Red" Ken Livingstone was catching up to Boris and could yet win his third term in office.
But Boris finished over Ken by 150,000 votes, a remarkable victory.
I remember when Boris first announced his candidacy for the mayoral office last year. At the time, I thought, "That would be great, but it'll never happen. No one will vote for this guy."
This is because I seriously didn't believe that Londoners were ready to elect a Conservative. Especially one like Boris who was constantly referred to as a "buffoon," a gaffe-prone clown who was once fired from the center-right newspaper, The Times for making up a quote, who criticized Liverpudlians for "wallowing" in grief over Ken Bigley's death in Iraq, and who once referred to blacks as "pickaninnies with watermelon smiles."
But, if that seems harsh, remember that Ken Livingstone once referred to a Jewish reporter as a "concentration camp guard," called China a model of economic success—despite the massive human rights abuses, which he chooses not to acknowledge, that take place there, planned to spend £2 million of Londoners' tax money on a citywide pro-Fidel Castro party, and worked with Hugo Chavez to supply fuel to London Transport for half-price fares—on the backs of Venezuelan peasants, of course).
As to the latter, Boris Johnson referred to it as "completely Caracas." He's right. I sincerely hope that one of Boris' first acts in office will be to call Hugo up and tell him to stick his fuel deal up his fat Commie ass.
The point is, Livingstone was no stranger to gaffes and controversy himself. He positioned himself as pro-gay, yet had a close buddy-buddy relationship with the radical Muslim preacher, Yusef al Qaradawi—who believes that gays should be killed—and welcomed him to London, an action that clearly was at odds with a pro-gay agenda (or, indeed, a democratic Western agenda). He positioned himself as a man of the people, sensitive to everyone's needs, yet neglected rape crisis centers. The last remaining rape clinic in the whole of London recalled how Boris visited them, asking them how they were doing and what they needed, while in the entire eight years that Livingstone was in power, he had "not so much as telephoned," according to Yvonne Traynor of the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre.
Article comments
1 - Dr Dreadful
"I think he's got a decent enough soul and clearly he feels for London; the city runs in his blood."
Quoted for truth, Mark.
When the executive office of Mayor of London was created in 2000 there was only ever going to be one man elected to the post, even after Labour kicked him out of the party and he had to run as an independent. I'm a Liberal Democrat at heart so I gave my first preference vote to Simon Hughes, but Livingstone got my second preference.
While one may not see eye to eye with his politics, he recognized that and did tone them down a bit for the sake of the electorate.
I thought his passionate words after the 7/7 bombings were perfect: so much so that I did what I've rarely been moved to do, and wrote to his office to thank him. He wrote back as well: a brief but gracious response.
I really didn't think Londoners would ever get rid of him as long as he wanted to run, so I'm surprised at the scale of Johnson's win. London, and I, will miss 'Red Ken' - but I doubt he'll stay out of the spotlight for long.
2 - Dave Nalle
Anyone else notice that Manning looks quite a bit like Boris Johnson, or would if he has a less scruffy photo?
Dave
3 - Ruvy
It was a pleasure to read this, Mark. On the Jewish lists I belong to, the fact that this piece of human trash (Ken Livingstone) was at last swept to the dust bin he belongs was also noted, particularly by English Jews disgusted with his habit of kissing the ass (or should I say arse?) of every Jew-hating Arab shithead terrorist who showed his er face in London.
We note carefully those who curse us and those who bless us. It is an immense pleasure to see this ass-hole who cursed us finally brought to his deserved end - at least as London's mayor. Oh Livingstone'll show his face again - hopefully, not too far from here, so I can blow his head off with an M16.
4 - zingzing
ahh, ruvy. ever the humanitarian. "do unto others..." etc, etc.
5 - Mark Edward Manning
Dave: 1. I'm not blond. 2. I'm slimmer. But still, I suppose that I can see some resemblance.
6 - Mark Edward Manning
Ruvy:
I do not know how any self-respecting Jew could vote for Ken Livingstone. That the man is an anti-Semite is beyond question; he's proven that on too many occasions.
I feel happy for the Jewish community in London who may finally now be given some respect by their mayor.
7 - Franco
Mark, you covered very well key high points of dishonorable ken, and I couldn't agree more, good riddance. I have watched Ken for years and could not believe that he was elected in the fist place, then wondered if Londoners would ever get back to honest reality. It is wonderfull to see them taking back their self-respect. Congratulations!
8 - Ruvy
You got it right on the money, zing zing. For crap like Livingstone and his ilk, the golden rule is:
"Do unto others before they do unto you".
9 - zingzing
so you think livingstone is trying to kill you?
10 - Sir Font Leroy
"...call Hugo up and tell him to stick his fuel deal up his fat Commie ass."
Good plan. It'll help keep the multitude of stinking riff raff in London off of the busses.
Same goes for the cheap heating oil leeches in the US. Let the useless moochers freeze. If they can't look after themselves that's their problem.
Chavez should spend Venezuela's wealth on the peasants in Venezuela. No more free lunches for foreigners.
11 - Ruvy
so you think Livingstone is trying to kill you?
He kisses up to the shit that sure as hell wants to kill me, like Qaradawi. That's enough to earn him a bullet in the head from yours truly, should the occasion arise to deliver it.
The trick to surviving in a world filled with sharks is to be tougher, meaner and more vicious than the sharks. And a lot more murderous. You can keep the Christian "turn the other cheek" shit for the real Christians, who indeed turn the other cheek.
Livingstone is just a piece of shit who gets his jollies kissing up to people he want to kill those to see dead, but hasn't got the balls to kill himself.
12 - Dave Nalle
Mark, Mark, Mark. You missed the forest for the trees here. You totally omitted the BIG story about Boris.
He's got dual British/US citizenship and is a registered Republican and is seriously considering running for president in 2016.
Dave
13 - zingzing
"He kisses up to the shit that sure as hell wants to kill me, like Qaradawi. That's enough to earn him a bullet in the head from yours truly, should the occasion arise to deliver it."
i'd tell you you don't have the balls, but i don't know any more.
"The trick to surviving in a world filled with sharks is to be tougher, meaner and more vicious than the sharks. And a lot more murderous."
somehow, i don't live with the fear you live with. it makes me feel pretty good to say that.
"You can keep the Christian "turn the other cheek" shit for the real Christians, who indeed turn the other cheek."
and good for them!
14 - zingzing
boris (boris?) in 2016? holy shit! a black man, a woman... a brit!? we're letting just about anyone run these days! what next? a dog? three men and a dog?!
15 - Dr Dreadful
Oh come on, zing2.
How could you not want a president named Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson?