Covid-19 Pandemic Thread

[Regulator]

I thought he meant that he was lucky in having recovered.

Regrettably, I thought his press conference was fairly impressive. It projected an air of authority, in contrast to Raab, Hancock etc. I detest the shallowness of his beliefs and I hope against hope he will be held to account for the unnecessary deaths he has caused. But he is good at performing the role he has set for himself.

He is very good at bullshitting. But it is clear that when it comes to delivering he is completely out of his depth. This has been a consistent factor thought his various ministerial posts.

[Rutabaga]

There was me thinking he'd realised how lucky he was not to encounter a nurse with a grudge. Never mind.

As for the press conference being "fairly impressive", well, I'm gobsmacked. I thought it was a dreadful display of blather and waffle that was approaching Trumpian proportions - the tension in the room as Boris demonstrated his inability to improvise coherently was palpable even on the radio. And, as someone btl somewhere has pointed out, if the public's questions are meant to come with no prior warning, how come Boris was able to quote one verbatim when the line went dead? Sorry, but I didn't hear anything approaching an "air of authority". I am more afraid about the future than I was.

[LowlifeDes]

Yes, this slide into an era of populism we are witnessing is awful. Leaders who don't lead but just perform for their audience.

[Mister Paul]

He is very good at bullshitting. But it is clear that when it comes to delivering he is completely out of his depth. This has been a consistent factor thought his various ministerial posts.

The fact that he ruffles his hair before he walks out of the door tells you all you need to know.

And what's with "oh, I'm sure the economy will bounce back"? That's just fumes.

[JohnToo]

I think everything each of you have said is consistent with my saying "But he is good at performing the role he has set for himself."

I was reminded of the episode of West Wing where Bartlett has relinquished the presidency after Zoe is kidnapped, Walken (the cavalier, rightwing Republican played by John Goodman) has taken over, Walken gives a press conference, and the staff, Josh, Donna et al, horrified at the line Walken is taking, nonetheless say to each other with mingled admiration and horror, "He looked Presidential". My neighbours on both sides read the Daily Mail. I haven't asked them and I have no intention of doing so (good neighbourly relations depend on not talking politics), but I'd be prepared to bet they are each saying "Thank God we've got the Prime Minister back in charge". If everyone saw things the way we do, Johnson wouldn't be PM now.

[Mister Paul]

Plenty of people I know think he's doing a really good job. It appears that that he's even better at it, and immune from criticism, because he involuntarily became a little bit ill.

[LowlifeDes]

I think everything each of you have said is consistent with my saying "But he is good at performing the role he has set for himself."

It may be the role he set himself but it is not the role that was advertised, nor the one needed.

[JohnToo]

It may be the role he set himself but it is not the role that was advertised, nor the one needed.

Absolutely.

[Greg]

I just posted something vaguely in support of Boris but its not appeared. Must have been kicked by the lefty firewall

[LowlifeDes]

I just posted something vaguely in support of Boris but its not appeared. Must have been kicked by the lefty firewall

Lefty?

[Iris]

Johnson is an advocate for introducing insurance based healthcare.

He has consistently voted for measures that undermine the NHS.

He has consistently voted against measures to improve NHS pay.

In other words he's a Tory MP. But even the Tories at their most rabid treat some kind of National Health Service, free to all at the point of delivery, as a sacred cow.

[Iris]

Yes, this slide into an era of populism we are witnessing is awful. Leaders who don't lead but just perform for their audience.

I will just leave this hanging there with the reminder that some of us have been saying it for a while.

[LowlifeDes]

I will just leave this hanging there with the reminder that some of us have been saying it for a while.

About Johnson?

[JohnToo]

In other words he's a Tory MP. But even the Tories at their most rabid treat some kind of National Health Service, free to all at the point of delivery, as a sacred cow.

Yes, "some kind of...", but the question is, what kind of?

The NHS of Tory MPs' dreams would presumably not be equally available to all, for free, at the point of delivery.

[Lullabelle]

The one good thing is that you are not supposed to have people around so I don't have to bother cleaning quite so often.