Comments on: Boris or Red Ken? http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/ Blogging politics, culture, sociology and life from Brisvegas Sat, 22 Nov 2008 17:16:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: mick http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/#comment-462726 mick Sat, 03 May 2008 01:13:12 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/#comment-462726 Crap. Good thing I live in Bristol. Crap. Good thing I live in Bristol.

]]> By: Leinad http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/#comment-462723 Leinad Sat, 03 May 2008 00:59:35 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/#comment-462723 Well this will be fun to watch (from a safe distance) - anyone want to open a book on the date and nature of his departure from office? Well this will be fun to watch (from a safe distance) - anyone want to open a book on the date and nature of his departure from office?

]]> By: Down and Out of Sài Gòn http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/#comment-462699 Down and Out of Sài Gòn Fri, 02 May 2008 23:31:26 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/#comment-462699 It's <a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3864666.ece" rel="nofollow">Boris</a>. It’s Boris.

]]> By: feral sparrowhawk http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/#comment-462616 feral sparrowhawk Fri, 02 May 2008 16:50:29 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/#comment-462616 Actually Skepticlawyer, there have been some moves in that direction. The AEC does, or at least used to do training for some developing world electoral commissions. There was also a course at Griffith where they taught people how to run elections. I think it was initially set up as a way the AEC could outsource their training but while half the people who did it were AEC or state electoral commission people looking to get promotions, the other half were from overseas, mostly new democracies. It would have been great if it could have got pushed to the US and UK - really improved the standard of things. However, I think the guy who was running it died, and I'm not sure if Griffith has kept it up since. The trouble is that the AEC, while still miles ahead of most other countries' commissions, is not as good as it used to be, and acting as consultants running other nations elections might be a bit beyond it until it gets itself together again. Actually Skepticlawyer, there have been some moves in that direction. The AEC does, or at least used to do training for some developing world electoral commissions. There was also a course at Griffith where they taught people how to run elections. I think it was initially set up as a way the AEC could outsource their training but while half the people who did it were AEC or state electoral commission people looking to get promotions, the other half were from overseas, mostly new democracies.

It would have been great if it could have got pushed to the US and UK - really improved the standard of things. However, I think the guy who was running it died, and I’m not sure if Griffith has kept it up since.

The trouble is that the AEC, while still miles ahead of most other countries’ commissions, is not as good as it used to be, and acting as consultants running other nations elections might be a bit beyond it until it gets itself together again.

]]> By: skepticlawyer http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/#comment-462525 skepticlawyer Fri, 02 May 2008 09:35:46 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/#comment-462525 There won't be a result until this evening, according to the Beeb. Australia should consider exporting the AEC. I'm dead serious, I've been recommending it all around Oxford. No more <i>Bush v Gore</i>, no more three days to count a single poll with low voter turn out. Plus Australia makes a packet in the process. There won’t be a result until this evening, according to the Beeb. Australia should consider exporting the AEC. I’m dead serious, I’ve been recommending it all around Oxford. No more Bush v Gore, no more three days to count a single poll with low voter turn out. Plus Australia makes a packet in the process.

]]> By: Zarquon http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/#comment-462512 Zarquon Fri, 02 May 2008 08:09:48 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/#comment-462512 If Johnson does win, he'll be out in less than a year because of a drugs and prostitutes scandal. Then he'll blame it on Angus Deayton If Johnson does win, he’ll be out in less than a year because of a drugs and prostitutes scandal. Then he’ll blame it on Angus Deayton

]]> By: Kim http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/#comment-462505 Kim Fri, 02 May 2008 07:31:17 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/#comment-462505 They've got a very boosterish blog. Impressive though from the point of view of political mobilisation. Interesting that British politicos and political parties have taken to blogging much more than Australian ones. Maybe it's the having to get the vote out thing. They’ve got a very boosterish blog. Impressive though from the point of view of political mobilisation. Interesting that British politicos and political parties have taken to blogging much more than Australian ones.

Maybe it’s the having to get the vote out thing.

]]> By: Leinad http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/#comment-462504 Leinad Fri, 02 May 2008 07:19:31 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/#comment-462504 That's a little bold, especially on the strength of er... some conversations with tory voters. There's apparently a pretty high turnout for this one, which could mean anything results-wise. That’s a little bold, especially on the strength of er… some conversations with tory voters. There’s apparently a pretty high turnout for this one, which could mean anything results-wise.

]]> By: Kim http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/#comment-462502 Kim Fri, 02 May 2008 07:09:27 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/#comment-462502 As far as I can tell, there are still no results for London, but a Conservative blog has jumped the gun and called it for Boris: http://conservativehome.blogs.com/torydiary/2008/05/were-calling-lo.html As far as I can tell, there are still no results for London, but a Conservative blog has jumped the gun and called it for Boris:

http://conservativehome.blogs.com/torydiary/2008/05/were-calling-lo.html

]]> By: Leinad http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/#comment-462498 Leinad Fri, 02 May 2008 06:55:44 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/#comment-462498 Shock Result: Mugabe Wins London Mayor, Boris Declared Zimbabwe President Tsvangarai and MDC: "WTF?!" Shock Result: Mugabe Wins London Mayor, Boris Declared Zimbabwe President

Tsvangarai and MDC: “WTF?!”

]]> By: Ambigulous http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/#comment-462450 Ambigulous Fri, 02 May 2008 04:25:12 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/#comment-462450 Hand over the ballot papers to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, then ZANU-PF can demand a recount. Hand over the ballot papers to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, then ZANU-PF can demand a recount.

]]> By: Katz http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/#comment-462433 Katz Fri, 02 May 2008 03:36:21 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/#comment-462433 “See, I was right all along you see Luvvies. Tally Ho!” It's the language that results from overdosing on Dame Cicely Courtneidge films shown after midnight on ABC (Luvvie) 2. “See, I was right all along you see Luvvies. Tally Ho!”

It’s the language that results from overdosing on Dame Cicely Courtneidge films shown after midnight on ABC (Luvvie) 2.

]]> By: DeeCee http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/#comment-462431 DeeCee Fri, 02 May 2008 03:34:31 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/#comment-462431 And live blogs. There were 192 in the BBC's "queue" a few minutes ago! And live blogs. There were 192 in the BBC’s “queue” a few minutes ago!

]]> By: Kim http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/#comment-462426 Kim Fri, 02 May 2008 03:24:59 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/#comment-462426 One thing we do well in Australia is elections. One thing we do well in Australia is elections.

]]> By: DeeCee http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/#comment-462424 DeeCee Fri, 02 May 2008 03:22:11 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/#comment-462424 Gawd. It's 3.20am in The Old Dart and they still don't have a result in the LM of London election. Couldn't the Pos have imported someone to help 'em run a election with preferential voting? Like Antony Gee or Richo or Ray or Kerry O'B? Nah! They import Dear Lynton! And we Oldies thought it was a LOOOOOONG Night back in 83, waiting for MalF to declare! Gawd. It’s 3.20am in The Old Dart and they still don’t have a result in the LM of London election. Couldn’t the Pos have imported someone to help ‘em run a election with preferential voting? Like Antony Gee or Richo or Ray or Kerry O’B? Nah! They import Dear Lynton!

And we Oldies thought it was a LOOOOOONG Night back in 83, waiting for MalF to declare!

]]> By: Nabakov http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/#comment-462411 Nabakov Fri, 02 May 2008 02:55:40 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/#comment-462411 "See, I was right all along you see Luvvies. Tally Ho!" About what? The Thames foaming with blood like the Tiber? Your ineffable combination of a tin ear for the vernacular, ham-fisted use of language (As FDB points out, you have no idea what "recrudescence" actually means. You just think it sounds posh.) and general narcissistic preening do make you the archetypical luvvie, John Luvviefield. “See, I was right all along you see Luvvies. Tally Ho!”

About what? The Thames foaming with blood like the Tiber?

Your ineffable combination of a tin ear for the vernacular, ham-fisted use of language (As FDB points out, you have no idea what “recrudescence” actually means. You just think it sounds posh.) and general narcissistic preening do make you the archetypical luvvie, John Luvviefield.

]]> By: feral sparrowhawk http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/#comment-462408 feral sparrowhawk Fri, 02 May 2008 02:41:09 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/#comment-462408 PS I'd give my first vote to Sian Berry on her policies, but I suspect some might find other reasons to vote for her http://www.sianformayor.org.uk/ PS I’d give my first vote to Sian Berry on her policies, but I suspect some might find other reasons to vote for her http://www.sianformayor.org.uk/

]]> By: feral sparrowhawk http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/#comment-462404 feral sparrowhawk Fri, 02 May 2008 02:26:09 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/#comment-462404 Overall I think Livingstone's done a good job, but he has a way of cosying up to nasty people - Chavez disturbs me but viciously anti-semitic, homophobic, misogynist Islamic preachers are really beyond the pale. For those reasons I wouldn't mind seeing him put out to grass for a while and Johnson would at least be fun. However, I've heard he wants to abolish the congestion charge, which would be an utter disaster for London, and an even bigger one through the English speaking world where such a move would discourage other cities from following. For that reason alone he needs to be stopped (if true). Overall I think Livingstone’s done a good job, but he has a way of cosying up to nasty people - Chavez disturbs me but viciously anti-semitic, homophobic, misogynist Islamic preachers are really beyond the pale.

For those reasons I wouldn’t mind seeing him put out to grass for a while and Johnson would at least be fun. However, I’ve heard he wants to abolish the congestion charge, which would be an utter disaster for London, and an even bigger one through the English speaking world where such a move would discourage other cities from following. For that reason alone he needs to be stopped (if true).

]]> By: Kim http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/#comment-462399 Kim Fri, 02 May 2008 02:16:59 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/#comment-462399 <b>Elsewhere</b>: More at <a href="http://clubtroppo.com.au/2008/05/02/why-lynton-crosby-has-ruined-the-london-mayoral-elections/" rel="nofollow">Troppo</a>. Elsewhere: More at Troppo.

]]> By: DeeCee http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/#comment-462396 DeeCee Fri, 02 May 2008 02:08:56 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/01/boris-or-red-ken/#comment-462396 Today's Guardian & the Eminence gris from Oz! <em>The Jeeves to Johnson's Bertie Wooster: the man who may have got [sic] him elected</em> http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/may/02/london08.boris Today’s Guardian & the Eminence gris from Oz!
The Jeeves to Johnson’s Bertie Wooster: the man who may have got [sic] him elected http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/may/02/london08.boris

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