GREAT NEW MOVIE IN PRE-PRODUCTION: RED KEN’S HENCHMEN

The double sided DVD, Hitler’s Henchman, was such a success,  a new movie is in pre-production.  Red Ken’s Henchman!  After Kate Winslett’s  success in The Reader, Hollywood beauties, including Nicole Kidman and Rees Witherspoon, are fighting for the part of Suzanne Lejeune, the intrepid, French, historically misunderstood collaborator.  Suzanne slept with half the Nazi Party, and told them how great a lot of the French Resistance were!  What a sweetie!  She wasn’t carrying out the work of Hitler!  She was reaching out to the Nazis. 

Opening scene:  Women, liberal Muslims, and the Jewish and gay communities are filmed crying like the North Koreans at death of Kim Jong-il, at the mere suggestion that Ken might return to City Hall.

Scenes 2- 10:  (flashback to 2008).  Gay activist and freedom fighter Peter Tatchell remonstrates with the then Mayor of London Ken Livingstone for inviting homophobic, Holocaust denying misogynist Sheikh Al Qaradawi to City Hall as a guest as part of the reaching out process.  The Sheikh, who believes rape is OK!, female genital mutilation is a fashion statement, and giving any woman a smack in the mouth is necessary to put her in her place, is endorsed by charitable Ken as “progressive”.  The fun Sheikh likes slogans, such as  ”Destroy the usurper Jews!”  As part of the reaching out process, wouldn’t you think that Ken would drop a hint to the press and voters that he thinks the Sheikh is, well a little extreme?  Not a word.  Crikey!  Through his silence, innocent Ken is giving the inadvertent impression he agrees with the Sheikh’s beliefs!  So mean that people don’t give him the benefit of the doubt!

AT LONDON ASSEMBLY, BORIS EXPLAINS WHY KEN’S PROMISE TO CUT FARES IS A FRAUD

An ebullient Boris dominated the London Assembly as he gave his Budget Speech on Wednesday and to the chagrin of the Labour Assembly members, explained exactly why Ken’s Livingstone’s promise of cheaper fares is a fraud.  A transcript of the Mayor’s speech is here.

Boris reminded the Assembly we are in the deepest recession for 50 years, and the culture of waste of the previous Mayoralty had to be overturned.  Boris outlined the huge savings of his Mayoralty, please read about them in his Budget Speech.    Ken is claiming he can cut fares by 7% and can save a further £1.2 billion.  However, he is not prepared to give any details of how this can be achieved

Boris said: “Londoners will be asking as they make their decision what will be cut by those who call for a £1.2 billion reduction in TfL’s revenue.

Perhaps it’s the Bank station congestion relief work, or the upgrades on the Piccadilly and Bakerloo lines.

Or perhaps the sub-surface lines.

Or congestion relief works at Victoria, Tottenham Court Road and Bond Street stations.

Or cutting the Safer Transport Teams and the bus network.

Which would it be?”

It is so easy (and with Ken, facile promises are the norm) to make pie in the sky promises, when you are desperate to get your job back.   Labour as usual is in the same double bind. They are slating Boris for not spending more money, while insisting they can make a massive £1.2 billion saving. 

The waste of the Labour government led us into the dire straits we are in now.  We need to grow the economy for the country to recover . Ken is promising a 7% fares cut  He owes it to Londoners to give details of how this can be achieved.   It is time for the con trick being practiced on Londoners by Labour and Ken to be revealed for the sham that it is.

KEN’S CHICKEN CAMPAIGN IDEA IS PINCHED FROM THE WEST WING

We all knew Ken had no original ideas.  Now we know his aides don’t  either.  Ken’s much vaunted “Chicken” campaign in which a man dressed as a chicken pursues an actor impersonating Boris Johnson,  wearing a Boris wig on a bicycle is an outright steal from the tv. series The West Wing. But there is worse to come!

As soon as I heard of this idea, I knew I had seen it before, but couldn’t remember where.  Then it came to me. In season 6 of The West Wing, in the episode Freedonia,  campaign manager Josh Lyman, supporting Matt Santos for President,  is desperately seeking a “silver bullet” to force the front runners to debate with them, but they don’t have any money.  Josh Lyman has this idea.  “Dress someone up as a chicken, and say they are too chicken to debate with us!”

When they do the stunt, presidential candidate Matt Santos doesn’t like it!  He says it’s cheap! This is not the first time that Ken, desperately short of ideas, has pinched a strategy from the West Wing.  In an  early episode, President Bartlett is losing support, until a supporter says “Let Bartlett  be Bartlett!”  Thus inspired, the nation flock to vote for him.

When Ken tried this, ( see Labour List)London went Eeuugghh!  Let Ken be Ken. A bullying, boastful, fantasist, who endorses homophobic, Holocaust denying Iranian extremists?  Not the image they were aiming for.

Now the chicken idea proves to be a dud.  Cop an eyeful of the doomed campaign idea here.Ken shoots himself in the foot again.  Because it might have been too cheap for Matt Santos, but nothing is too cheap for Ken………

ps.  Couldn’t help noticing that the strategy adopted by the London Assembly today when trying and failing, to attack Boris Johnson, was the same strategy used by Mitt Romney, attacking President Obama, (What world do you live in, you think everything is OK….)   Sheesh!  Don’t these guys have any ideas of their own?

BORIS CALLS KEN’S PROMISE OF FARES CUTS “FRAUDULENT”

On the Nick Ferrari LBC radio show today, Boris was in a fighting mood as he bluntly derided Ken Livingstone’s promise to cut fares.  Ken has promised to cut fares by 7%, when the TfL budget is so hard pressed, it has a  black hole. 

Boris Johnson today accused Ken Livingstone of making “fraudulent” promises to slash bus and Tube fares if he is elected mayor. A day after a Standard poll revealed that this year’s mayoral contest is on a knife edge, Mr Johnson said London must not go back to the “era of waste and divisiveness” seen during his Labour rival’s time in City Hall.

The London Standard reported today:  “ Mr Johnson said London must not go back to the “era of waste and divisiveness” seen during his Labour rival’s time in City Hall.  The Tory Mayor claimed Mr Livingstone had broken two past promises to freeze or cut fares.

KEN LIVINGSTONE’S CANDIDACY TAINTS THIS ELECTION

It’s an emotionally charged situation.   Ken Livingstone has a tiny 2 point lead with Com Res and You Gov, well within the margin of error.  He might or might not have any sort of a lead at all.  Boris is well placed with the pro. bookies, all of whom have him with a healthy lead.

Interestingly, according to Nick Ferrari, London Tonight and the London Standard, Londoners, by more than two to one, believe Boris will win a second term.

The London Standard reported tonight: “In terms of issues, Johnson is ahead on running the economy, representing London overseas and – by a big two-to-one margin – on squeezing the best deal out of his friends in central government.

BORIS SAYS IT’S NOT ENOUGH TO HATE THE PLUTOCRATS, YOU HAVE TO HELP THE NEEDY

In a subtle and well argued article in the Daily Telegraph today, Boris reveals that he has always been a keen boy scout and loves camping. He also has some kind words to say for the Occupy campers.

Boris begins: “At the risk of sounding like a character from Enid Blyton, there is absolutely nothing to beat camping. I love the exultation you get when you rise from your groundmat and all the aches melt away from your body as you realise the night is over at last. Then follows the sizzle of bacon and the hands wrapped around the mug of tea, and the first peep of sun over mountains or the mist rising off a river; and all the time that wonderful sense that you are the first to be up, that the world is snoozing, and that you have defied nature and survived a night in your own habitation – no matter how rudimentary.

IT’S THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON IN CHINESE ASTROLOGY

The Chinese New Year for 2012 begins on Monday, 23rd January, ushering in the Year of the Dragon.  The Dragon is Boris’s sign in Chinese Astrology, so this is a very auspicious sign for his success in the forthcoming election.   For fun I worked out the signs in Chinese astrology of some of our leading politicians. You may be surprised – at how accurately they work out.

David Cameron is a Horse.  And in an amazing political revelation, Nick Clegg is exactly the same thing!  So the talk about them being so alike is backed up by Chinese Astrology.  Even more amazing, they are both Fire Horses.  Horses are quick witted and they know how to seize the moment. They are known for being intelligent,  capable of  multi-tasking and use their practicality in their business and private lives.  They are friendly and open minded, loyal friends who will be straight with you. Fire horses can be very quick tempered, and will rant and rage, although they later regret their outbursts.  Is this where the phrase “high horse” originated?   (joke) Both can be a tad snooty.

Ed Miliband (24/12/69) is an Earth Monkey, the most serious and reliable type of Chinese Monkey.  These people are diligent, motivated and honest, and they are also calm and collected.  They do not have much ego, because they are genuine and sincere. 

Tony Blair (6/5/53) and David Miliband (15/7/65) are both Snakes.  Ancient Chinese wisdom says it is good to have a Snake in the family, because then you will never starve.  The Snake places great value on material wealth.  The Snake is keen and cunning, intelligent and wise.  Tony Blair is a Water Snake so read about his desire for success and need to be rewarded.  David Miliband is materialistic, with loner tendencies.

Alastair Campbell is a Fire Rooster, possessing vanity and bullying tendencies. Ken Livingstone is  a Rooster.  He is a Wood Rooster, which is slightly different from Ali C.  All Roosters  have a tendency to brag about themselves and their achievements and demand an attentive audience when doing so. The basic characteristics of Roosters are “brave, romantic, motivated, proud, blunt, resentful and boastful”.  Ken certainly has some of these qualities.

As always, when discussing esoteric matters, Boris Johnson (19/6/64) is the most revered of all.   He is the mightiest of the Chinese signs, a Dragon.  In China, the Dragon is a creature of myth and legend.  A symbol of good fortune and intense power, the Dragon is regarded as a divine beast – the reverse of the malicious monster that Westerners seek out and slay.  In Eastern philosophy,  the Dragon is a deliverer of good fortune and a master of authority.  Therefore those people born in Dragon years are to be honoured and respected.  Dragons are full of vitality and love of life.  Boris is a Wood Dragon, so he adds creativity and artistic talent to his intense power.  When challenged, he is outspoken and fearless. A fault could be too much truth and outspokeness. Not everyone can take the truth like he can.  Here is another link for the super powerful Wood Dragon.   This Dragon is “capable of brilliant new concepts”. 

Our Mayor is proud to be a Dragon, as you will  see from the great video here via Con Home.    Is it all just fun, or is there some truth in it?  You decide.

MARGIN CALL – WHAT HAPPENED WITH SUB-PRIME MORTGAGES

This film, which takes place over 36 hours, gives the real story of what happened with sub-prime mortgages and what triggered the credit crunch.  Brilliantly acted, it is gripping throughout.

Peter Sullivan (Zachary Quinto) and Penn Badgley as Seth Bregman

THE PLOT:  Junior risk analyst Seth Bregman (Penn Badgley), his more senior colleague Peter Sullivan (Zachary Quinto) (Spock in the latest Star Trek) and trading desk head Will Emerson (Paul Bettany) watch as a human resources team conducts mass layoffs on their trading floor. One of the fired employees is Peter and Seth’s boss, Eric Dale (Stanley Tucci), who heads risk management on the floor. Before leaving, Dale gives Peter a USB drive with a project he had been working on, telling him to “be careful.” That night, Peter finishes the project, and discovers that trading will soon exceed the historical volatility levels used by the firm to calculate risk. Because of excessive leverage, if the firm’s assets in mortgage backed securities decrease by 25%, the firm will suffer a loss greater than its market capitalization. Sullivan alerts Emerson, who calls floor head Sam Rogers (Kevin Spacey).

LATEST YOUGOV POLL SEESAWS BUT PRO BOOKIES STILL GIVE BORIS A HEALTHY LEAD

It is now clear that it was never going to be  cake walk in such tough times as these.  The latest You Gov poll shows that Boris and Ken are now neck and neck, with Ken a tiny 2 points ahead, within the margin of error.

YouGov says:  “Throughout last year, I regarded Boris Johnson as the likeliest winner of London’s coming mayoral election. YouGov and other pollsters showed consistently that around one-in-five Labour supporters would desert Ken Livingstone and vote for Boris. From Labour’s viewpoint, London began to look alarmingly like Scotland, where Alex Salmond won his stunning victory last year because one in five normally Labour voters switched to the SNP.”

ANGUISHING LAST EPISODE OF SHERLOCK HAD ME IN PIECES

It was too much.  The last episode of the second series of Sherlock Holmes was so hard to take, I felt sick and ill.  This was not how it was meant to be.  Sherlock dead.  Sherlock discredited, his reputation in tatters.  Watson gutted, white, suddenly an old man, paralysed with grief.

Sherlock's last call to Watson

Moriarty, evil Moriarty, wanted not just Sherlock’s death,but the destruction of his entire legend.  And the girl who had adored Sherlock all along, an unimportant lab. assistant, without beauty or brains, was the only person who loved him enough to see the pain he was in as he forsaw his own death.