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“Unlike Theresa May, Boris has long appreciated the possible upsides of a Trump presidency. He once told a Cabinet minister that he saw Trump as a ‘lifeboat’ that could rescue Brexit. He has also apparently been receptive to the idea — put about by some of Trump’s circle — that after leaving the EU, Britain might join NAFTA. Boris’s ideal scenario would be to persuade the EU that, unless it offers Britain a reasonable deal, Britain stands ready to form an alliance with America.”Whatever you think of him and whatever you think of Brexit, you have to admit that Great Britain was remarkably lucky that Donald Trump became president of the USA. Mr. Obama said we would be "at the back of the queue" for a trade deal (albeit because David Cameron asked him to, whence the word "queue" not "line") whereas his successor wants one urgently and thinks Brexit a great idea.
Since Brexit is going to happen this is our great good luck. And yet Theresa May showed no sign of recognising this. Boris will not be such a fool.
We remember how sourly Theresa May reacted at the joint press conference they gave in
London last year, after the President had said
"Allowing the immigration to take place in Europe is a shame. I think it changed the fabric of Europe and, unless you act very quickly, it’s never going to be what it was and I don’t mean that in a positive way …"Though, to be fair, she is always sour, so it is hard to know the difference. Even with people she approves of she has no zest. She has no zest at all, in fact.
For all Trump's many grave faults, he does have zest.
He is also very masculine. This is why his supporters like him and an important part of why many people who detest him do so.
Reagan and Clinton (I almost wrote Regan and Goneril) were also real men. Margaret Thatcher was very womanly and, incidentally, much fancied in the mostly male House of Commons. Women said they found Sir John Major, as he then wasn't, sexy.
Unlike Mrs Thatcher, Theresa May seems sexless, despite the thousand pound pair of trousers and the leopard-skin shoes. Sexlessness is something she has in common with Ed Miliband. Jeremy Corbyn and Boris are very different. Perhaps I am unfair on her but she seems half alive.
Theresa May is two dimensional, as many politicians are (think Michael Heseltine), but that isn't what I mean by half-alive. Lord Heseltine, even at his advanced age, possesses vitality and is a real man. His anger over Brexit is real, cold fury.
The amount of macho boasting, backslapping and fake chortling when Boris and Donald meet will be nauseating. Both men are masculine, although their masculine appearances are oddly feminized by bottle-blonde signature hairdos and wide, fatty, womanly behinds. Both would benefit greatly from weight loss.
ReplyDeleteIt is going to be hard for you. I agree that neither is good looking. Boris is not remotely macho but he is a man, though not a heroic one. George HW Bush and Robert Dole were heroes but the days when British politicians had good wars behind them are over for the time being. They may return.
DeleteDonald Trump got around the draft by a student exemption, I know, like Mr Biden, Bush 2, Mr Sanders and many others.
People in the US don't care much anymore about military service as a requirement for office. Of all the current US political candidates, the only two who have served in the military are a woman and a gay man. Both are Democrats.
DeletePeople in the US don't care much anymore about military service as a requirement for office. Of all the current US political candidates, the only two who have served in the military are a woman and a gay man. Both are Democrats.
Delete'Both men are masculine, although... oddly feminized by... wide, fatty, womanly behinds. '
DeleteThat's beating around the bush, carolino, fata mea...
How about their penis size? Any inside knowledge you can share with us?
Despite being a plump, pig-eyed old man himself, Donald says disparaging things about other people's looks all the time. He also boasts that he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and no one would care. Donald can take some pointing and laughter. Very touching to see you stick up for him though.
DeleteA 'good war' in British Tory circles in the 1980s meant heroism in combat. Airey Neave, William Whitelaw and Francis Pym had the MC as did many other Tory politicians. Airey Neave alas was murdered because of his staunch Unionism.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeletePeople like that were very much more masculine and more admirable than the Donald or Boris, both of whom are adulterers and up to a point shysters, but at least the latter two are men not feminised men. The Tories were run by upper class men with good war records in the 1980s, even though society felt egalitarian and meritocratic. Unfortunately, upper class Tories failed to rule the country, well before Margaret Thatcher or after.
Delete"A 'good war' in British Tory circles in the 1980s meant heroism in combat."
DeleteAre you sure?
Collins dictionary defines it thus:
"to have made the most of the opportunities presented to one during wartime"
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/to-have-had-a-good-war
My impression is that it means to have come through the war without serious injury, having had a worthwhile but not hellish period of service, with some steps in rank, gongs, or some other material advantage.
I thought it meant a medal at least.
DeleteIt is a riposte to dangerous attempts to make men think masculinity is toxic.
ReplyDeleteI always thought until I came to Romania that the world was too masculine and needed to be more feminine but the feminisation of politics has not worked out well at all, has it?
We learnt today via a leaked paper that United Kingdom ministers plan to issue guidance on how much sleep each person needs.
A man was put on trial for shouting out to his MP that he was a coward. People are constantly being arrested for hurting people’s feelings. And then sentimentality to migrants.