'MDS' and 'BoJo'! Siblings under the skin?

'Dexter VanDango' is a mischievous card as you may judge by his nom-de-keyboard.  In a comment below he asked me the following questions:

How about a piece delineating the similarities and the differences between British and American conservatism?

Between Sarah Palin and Boris Johnson, for instance. Are the similarities just hair - and the differences just educational level?

Between Mitt Romney and someone equally oiled and smug from your side of the pond?

I call him mischievous because he knows of the deep and abiding love I have and hold for MDS (My Darling Sarah).  Even so, there is sufficient in the question to merit some sort of a reply.  There is certainly one characteristic which both share and that is eccentricity.  As a voter, it is necessary to beware of always calling it a political virtue.  Westminster is full of odd-balls, wierdos and loonies but thank the Lord most of them never get anywhere near power.  However, being the odd man (or woman) out, being a member of the awkward squad, following where you political instincts take you, can be invaluable in a democratic situation.  Quentin Letts offers 10 examples in The Daily Mail.  Oddly enough, he misses out the greatest one-woman awkward squad of the lot, Maggie Thatcher, a woman who stuck to her guns against the outraged opinions of the bien pensants of her day - does anyone remember those 365 economists who wrote to The Times deonouncing her economic policy?  Mrs. Palin's instincts are dead right.  I'm not convinced - yet - that she has the firm foundation of philosophical certitude which kept Maggie going through thick and thin.  We shall find out next year when she begins her campaign against her fellow Republicans for the nomination, and the year after that when she goes to war with the present incumbent of the White House.

As for Boris 'BoJo' Johnson, the jury is out.  There is one great difference between him and 'MDS'; with her, what you see is, I suspect, what you get; with 'BoJo' what you see is a character from Jeeves and Wooster, but what you get is a very highly educated man with considerable intelligence.  Mostly, that remains hidden from view but then his current job as Mayor of London is perhaps not very high profile and it is difficult to make a judgment.

I know very little of Mitt Romney but if my e-pal, Dexter, is looking for "someone equally oiled and smug from your side of the pond" I would urge him to look no further than No. 10 Downing Street where-in resides, I suspect, one of the most highly lubricated and sinuous politicians since A. Blair resigned.

Again, I must stress that all politicians require what I would call 'wriggle-skill', it is an essential part of the job, but when the brown stuff really hits the fan it is necessary to be able to stand up straight and true.  Churchill did it in the '30s, Maggie did it against the ferocity of, first, the miners, and then the Argies.  The stiffness of Cameron's back will be tested during the next 6 months as will the smug smile that he wears.

Comments

[Dexter VanDango]

How do manage to offer some much food for thought in such a short time?

I shall ruminate.

[David Duff]

Because I'm a frightful old bore!