Cracking band, fantastic song…

Cracking band, fantastic song…

I’m not a massive Ken Livingstone fan, but it’s the lesser of too evils as far as I am concerned. Too bad, “BoJo” got in.

On the one hand I am impressed by the record turnout in London, 45% is no mean feat. On the other, it concerns me that this turn out has much to do with the presidential style campaigning of the London mayoral elections and the personality war that it has become (or was always intended to be when Tony Blair kicked it all off again).

The real danger of voting on personalities is that people willingly vote for people who amuse them more than the other candidate. Ken Livingstone is less amusing, being quirky but seen as autocratic and a bit socially inept. Boris on the otherhand, is admired as a student pin-up, amusing like a typical un-PC grandad and at best, a bumbling Etonian fool. However, this view of BoJo (better nickname than BJ?) has a large part to play in his electability - we ignore his worst traits. Like his obvious racism. His blatant homophobia.

On same-sex marriage -

“If gay marriage was OK - and I was uncertain on the issue - then I saw no reason in principle why a union should not be consecrated between three men, as well as two men; or indeed three men and a dog.” or “Gay marriage can only ever be a ludicrous parody of the real thing”

On Africans:

On Africa in 2002, when Blair visited Congo: “No doubt, 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.”

Maybe I should just lighten up, but I just don’t see the funny side.

I’m not a massive Ken Livingstone fan, but it’s the lesser of too evils as far as I am concerned. Too bad, “BoJo” got in.

On the one hand I am impressed by the record turnout in London, 45% is no mean feat. On the other, it concerns me that this turn out has much to do with the presidential style campaigning of the London mayoral elections and the personality war that it has become (or was always intended to be when Tony Blair kicked it all off again).

The real danger of voting on personalities is that people willingly vote for people who amuse them more than the other candidate. Ken Livingstone is less amusing, being quirky but seen as autocratic and a bit socially inept. Boris on the otherhand, is admired as a student pin-up, amusing like a typical un-PC grandad and at best, a bumbling Etonian fool. However, this view of BoJo (better nickname than BJ?) has a large part to play in his electability - we ignore his worst traits. Like his obvious racism. His blatant homophobia.

On same-sex marriage -

“If gay marriage was OK - and I was uncertain on the issue - then I saw no reason in principle why a union should not be consecrated between three men, as well as two men; or indeed three men and a dog.” or “Gay marriage can only ever be a ludicrous parody of the real thing”

On Africans:

On Africa in 2002, when Blair visited Congo: “No doubt, 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.”

Maybe I should just lighten up, but I just don’t see the funny side.

Don’t miss this one. One of my favourite bands, The Loyal Few, are playing a free gig in Brick Lane, London at 93 Feet East on Monday 28th Apri, 2008. This is going to be a great night, with The Lost Levels playing too and in a fantastic venue. Check The Loyal Few out on Myspace, Facebook, Flickr and last.fm! Oh and there is a bus being organised from Norwich too….

Don’t miss this one. One of my favourite bands, The Loyal Few, are playing a free gig in Brick Lane, London at 93 Feet East on Monday 28th Apri, 2008. This is going to be a great night, with The Lost Levels playing too and in a fantastic venue. Check The Loyal Few out on Myspace, Facebook, Flickr and last.fm! Oh and there is a bus being organised from Norwich too….

So the recent Chicken Out campaign had a big effect on me. Only once since the programme aired have I slipped into eating filthy chicken, and I only half-knew. However, the effect has largely been that I stopped eating chicken altogether. Not for want of trying mind you. The local and massive Sainsbury’s in Balham barely increased their stock of free range chickens after the campaign, so they never had any in stock.

So the recent Chicken Out campaign had a big effect on me. Only once since the programme aired have I slipped into eating filthy chicken, and I only half-knew. However, the effect has largely been that I stopped eating chicken altogether. Not for want of trying mind you. The local and massive Sainsbury’s in Balham barely increased their stock of free range chickens after the campaign, so they never had any in stock.