Boris Johnson and the ChipOx club

Not long ago Stephen Pollard took sides in the great Boris debate and concluded:

I think he is a buffoon. I simply don't buy this idea that beneath the exterior lies a piercingly sharp interior.

Now being anti-Boris has become the latest cause of the ChipOx Club - the group of former Oxford students still furious about the posh person who covered them in shaving foam in the Trinity Quad in 1984, just outside the Mickelthwaite during Woosnam week.

The great Clive has joined in, as has Tim Hames (the Suslov of the movement).

Very well. A buffoon, you say.

Well, given that the guy went to Balliol on a scholarship, became President of the Union, built a successful career in national journalism, became an extremely popular newspaper columnist, became editor of the Spectator, was a wow in that job, achieved national name recognition and got elected to Parliament, I wish we could all be as big a buffoon as he.

Comments

[Nick]

It is possible to be talented and a buffoon. Just because one has the ability, drive and luck to make the most of personal opportunities (which he certainly has done) does not necessarily mean that he has good judgement. Oh and re: the ChipOx club I feel Pootergeek has got this pretty much wrapped up: http://www.pootergeek.com/?p=2763

[FA]

Granted he did well academically (a long time ago) to get the Balliol scholarship, but everything else you mention as an achievement (Union, journalism, getting eleected) is all about being able to produce soundbites and shameless self-promotion - no indicator of a great mind, or any talent at all in my view. If he had set up a successful business or something like that I'd be more likely to believe Boris was talented. I think the exterior image is all there is with this man.

[Winslie Gomez]

Is it possible that the great Boris is making sure his name is uttered as often as possible?
winslie