Which Conservative Mayor would you rather have?

[hangfan91]

Boris Johnson (London) or Rob Ford? Both have a reputation for buffoonery and immaturity.

[Wake Me Up When The Hard Border Ends]

Johnson.

[Dr. Cynic]

Johnson is at least goofy in a harmless way. Rob Ford's issues were actively harmful to his city.

[Sumner 1868]

The one who is at least somewhat psychological capable.

[Sol]

Wouldn't Ford be better characterized as populist rather than anything too ideological?

[Sumner 1868]

Wouldn't Ford be better characterized as populist rather than anything too ideological?

A right-wing populist, yes.

[Hatman 🍁]

The one who rides a bike.

[Citizen Hats]

Sweet Mother of God I would take Boris  Johnson over Rob Ford for just about anything

Boris Johnson is a show-boating conservative, sure, and some of his spending projects have been a bit vain, but his world view is not fundamentally anti-urban.

Rob Ford's world view is of the sort that has destroyed too many good cities. It is reactionary suburban garbage from people who have no idea just how much their preferred lifestyle is dependent on unsustainable public spending

Thankfully, my mayor is a pragmatic, pro-development progressive, organic* juice baron, and I'm happy with that.


*Happy Planet is not actually organic, but everyone thinks that it is. Some say that this is a metaphor for Vision Vancouver itself.

[Citizen Hats]

Wouldn't Ford be better characterized as populist rather than anything too ideological?

Rob Ford is literally a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, and there was some rather serious talk of his brother running for the provincial legislature. Before the crack scandal, Stephen Harper and Ford would make joint appearances at partisan barbecues.

Ford certainly is not an ideologue, but he is in fact a capital C Conservative

[Zioneer]

I'm more familiar with Ford and not familiar at all with Boris Johnson, but here's my two cents.

Johnson: Decent-seeming guy with a goofy haircut.

Rob Ford: Literally a fat crack demon. I'm surprised he wasn't caught dealing it at some point.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

BoJo is a lousy media addict who views London as little more than a springboard for national office. His penchant for big spending on useless stuff (the Routemaster design, the cable car, water cannons we legally can't even use) is a perfect symbol for what the much of the city has become - a closed off playground for the international rich.

He also banned alcohol on public transport, which is annoying.