I’ve become greatly enamored lately of a certain straightforward, strong-minded woman running for the nation’s highest elective office.
She appears calm and assured in the face of crisis and someone you can trust to put the nation’s interest ahead of personal aspirations.
Her name is Theresa May, and she’s the odds-on favorite to become leader of Britain’s Conservative Party, and thus the next prime minister. For the last six years, May has been Britain’s Home Secretary, a post in which she is responsible for the internal affairs of England and Wales, as well as immigration and citizenship for the United Kingdom.
Another thing I like about this lady…she would fit right in at the Kentucky Derby. Take a look at this photo of her taken Friday at a regatta in Henley, England.
If you haven’t noticed, an irresistible stew of British intrigue, personalities and high-wire politics has relegated the Trump-Clinton race to down-page headlines this week. It started, of course, with last week’s “Brexit” vote and escalated sharply this week with a political betrayal that turned the prime minister’s race on its ear.
The former mayor of London, a free-wheeling, frumpy-looking fellow named Boris Johnson, seemingly was on his way to 10 Downing Street to succeed Prime Minister David Cameron when Michael Gove, a man who had been a close ally of Johnson, decided he was going to run for Conservative Party leader.
Michael Gove
Gove had the portfolio and standing to leapfrog Johnson. He is Britain’s Justice Minister — a senior cabinet member — and a longtime government official with a lot of clout. Once he said he was running, Johnson, who has no current governmental foothold, was toast.
Gove has a few things working against him, however. For example, he has said several times that he did not feel equipped to be prime minister and did not want the job. Then, there’s the specter of his wife, Sarah Vine, a columnist for a conservative British tabloid, working behind the scenes as puppeteer.
In a recent email she wrote to her husband — an email that inadvertently ended up going public — she cautioned Gove to seek “reassurance” from Johnson about his own future in government before pledging to support Johnson. That apparently contributed to Gove’s decision to renege on supporting Johnson.
At a news conference this week.
Against that backdrop, May quickly moved to fill the void. In a news conference within hours after Johnson announced he wouldn’t run and Gove said he would, May made a strong case why she was the best person to lead the way into Britain’s clouded future, even though she had quietly supported the “Remain” campaign.
Here’s part of what she said:
“First, following last week’s referendum, our country needs strong, proven leadership to steer us through this period of political and economic uncertainty and to negotiate the best possible terms as we leave the European Union…Brexit means Brexit. The campaign was fought, the vote was held, turnout was high, and the public gave their verdict. There must be no attempts to remain inside the E.U., no attempts to rejoin it through the back door.”
She went on to say she was not motivated by “ambition or glory.”
I know some politicians seek high office because they’re driven by ideological fervor…But my reasons are much simpler. I grew up the daughter of a local vicar and the granddaughter of a regimental sergeant major. Public service has been a part of who I am for as long as I can remember. I know I’m not a showy politician; I don’t tour the television studios, I don’t gossip about people over lunch, I don’t go drinking in parliament’s bars, I don’t often wear my heart on my sleeve, I just get on with the job in front of me.
…Every once in a while, a politician comes along who really connects with people — who speaks in a way that inspires confidence and makes you want to run out and pull the lever for him or her. I wish I could vote for Theresa May — or somebody like her.
And like I said, she sure would look good at the Kentucky Derby.
**
In light of Laura Hockaday’s comment (below) about Boris Johnson, I’m adding this photo of Boris, seen with his wife Marina leaving a hotel after announcing he would not run for Conservative Party leader.
JimmyCsays: At the juncture of journalism and daily life in KC 
And as the owner of 875 hats myself, some purchased in London, the Philip Treacy hats, I give Theresa May a nod of my brim as well. I especially love her explanation of motivations for running for office. Mine were often questioned as well. People just can’t seem to understand that doing the right thing, following through and a commitment to completing the task at hand is the reason for seeking to perform public service.
Tracy Thomas
most “hatted” woman in Shawnee Kansas
Tracy, We need more JOCOPosts!
Surely things are not running so smoothly in Johnson County that they do not need your observations! Please put on your muckraker’s hat, and keep us up to
date
I hear that. The JOCO commission makes the old guard Dems in WYCO look like school boys. $18 million for an old bowling alley that the appraiser says is worth $800K and highest and best use is residential? Damn, it makes you wish we had a real newspaper in town.
Altevogt, it’s even worse! With interest, King Louie is costing taxpayers $32 million. (Before the operating losses.) And the appraiser had a two tiered list: the moldy building was worth $450,000 as is, and only $800,000 after asbestos removal. It was two weeks from condemnation when Eilert/Allen/Peterson/Klika rescued it for their developer/lawyer buddies. You are so right about them acting worse than Carol Marinovich’s gang of thieves in the Dot. (I miss Ed Powers.)
Steve Rose sold his soul years ago. The Star would need bread crumbs and a reporter to even FIND Johnson County. The Shawnee Mission Post blog, (formerly PV Post and now Blue Valley Post) just hired the biggest ass kisser in reporting history, Kevin Collison–who loved the Power and Light fiasco and never wrote a negative story about any developer in his life.
Ya hafta be retired in this town to write the truth.
Tracy, I talked to a guy who put a bid in on mold reclamation that was less than half the bid that was accepted. I’m thinking that a FOIA request for all the bids, listing those accepted would make for interesting reading.
Thanks, Goetze! Thanks for your inspiration. I am way behind, needing to find someone to fix my JocoPost.com blog–the last guy quit. I need an XML link, that works with Blogger.com so my posts update automatically eg on tonyskansascity.com. Might you find me someone? I am not a WordPress gal. Meanwhile, yes, I am venting elsewhere. See my facebook page, jocopost. All one word. Can you believe Joco government got an award for the rip off they did regarding Meadowbrook? That’s my latest rant.
Love the comments…but can we get back to the lady in Britain and off the Shawnee/Wyco ridge?
Sure, Fitz. Praise Laura for talking about hairdos…rather than John and me for talking about public service. I thought the point of the story was who is fit for office, and what they do with their power.
Sorry, didn’t see your comment until after I responded to Tracy’s latest comment. All done now. Nice hats, nice hairdos, good to see you supporting a conservative politician.
That sums it up nicely, John…
Jim:
Agree totally about Theresa May. Love your picture of her in her hat! Boris Johnson and Donald Trump are similar–both equally obnoxious and have twin hairdos.
Happy Fourth!!
Laura
Thanks, Laura…And thanks for getting the story back on track…A journalist’s guiding hand.
Jim:
Thanks for the picture of Boris (and his wife). He and Trump make quite a pair.
Cheers,
Laura
Lovin’ the comments. As interesting as Jim’s article (sorry, Jim).
Tracy, just sidetracked from this for about the last half-hour to get caught up on your fb page. Did not know it existed, as I, too, have been looking for posts on your blog. :-)
Thanks, Gayle. It’s so hard to find a web guy (aren’t they all male) who is not just wanting thousands to “code”. You may enjoy my jocopost FB comment just now about the pandering of Huffpo, re Trump.
This election is rife with ad hominem attacks, including right here on JimmyCSays. And certainly on Huffpo. The press/the 4th Estate, is a sniper. Taking shots at anyone in public service. Taking them down a peg. But you notice, none of the press ever runs for office once they leave! How about you, Fitz? KCMO School Board? Mo. Legislature? City Council? Jaxco Legislature?
Is it any wonder that good folks don’t run for office? I support Theresa May–not because of her hair or her hat. It’s not about fashion. I am sick of people talking about how women public servants LOOK. Thatcher wasn’t great because of what she wore–but because of what she did…nose to the task at hand. Like Theresa May. That’s what counts.
Nah, it’s easier to snipe…But you know I love all strong-minded women, Tracy, including you.
I will check it out, thank you, Tracy.
The other thing I notice and admire about Theresa May is that she respects the will of the people. They voted on Brexit. She would be inheriting a mess, and work to manage it. Not try to overturn it. A huge turnout. Now certainly, many voters didn’t have a clue about the consequences or details. To me, it was about immigration. So since that is May’s current job, managing that, and she’s done a great job there, unlike Germany and France which have been overrun with Muslims completely changing their culture, well, if you want a job done right, hire Theresa May.
Aw, Fitz. Now you’re sounding all Joe Serviss. Mr. Charm. In the 70’s, he was one of the best KCMO city councilmen ever. Joe would walk into a private negotiation room of snarling councilmen and angry firefighter union guys, and three hours later, when the doors opened, out walked Joe and the gang–and everyone was smiling and feeling good about what they had accomplished. The press could never figure it out. That’s the kind of skill Theresa May will need to bring to her negotiations suite.
Thanks for the compliment. Your smart, strong-willed partner Patty has obviously had a good effect on you.
Definitely right about Patty, Tracy…I was reflecting on this recently, and I don’t think I’ve trampled on somebody’s feelings — doing or saying something really mean or lowdown — since we got married in 1985. On the other hand, there are a few things I did before that I’ll never be able to make amends for. Some of the people I abused are either dead or otherwise long gone…Mea culpa, mea culpa…And the beat goes on.
Two words, Fitz: Coppinger family. Shame on you for what you did to them. Pre-trial. Tarnished the whole family. Character assassination. And here you and Patty used to party with them in Tom and Virginia’s basement on 55th Terr. on St. Patrick’s Day. If you were still a Catholic, you’d be saying your Hail Mary’s for two more years.
That’s exactly what I thought, Tracy — that she was 100 percent loyal to the public vote. If you don’t stick with that, you don’t have democracy — just the people in power twisting things around the way they want them so they can stay in power. Congratulations to David Cameron, too, for throwing in the towel after seeing how badly he had read public sentiment.
I agree, Fitz. Altho one could interpret it as a quitter, he lost, and he doesn’t have the energy for the transition.
Often elected officials “know stuff” that can’t be said in public. I recall when Obama beat Hillary in that primary, by being all anti-war. That turned the tide. She had no choice but to be pro-war. He could pose. And of course, the minute he got in office, the generals took him aside and said, “Hell, no, you are not and cannot pull out of Iraq or Afghanistan in 18 months! Are you crazy? Or just uninformed??” But by then, he was in office.
So Cameron knows the pitfalls ahead. And he’s out.
Now President Obama told yet another huge untruth (aka lie) two weeks ago, after the Brexit vote. He claimed the UK had “lost its biggest client or partnership.” No. They just have to renegotiate. It’s not like the business/trade went away and they will never be able to sell their products in Europe. I hate when our President overstates the case.
He’s always a charmer, Tracy.
Gotta be to get along with Patty’s conservative siblings and their families…as well as some of my commenters.
Tracy: Re the Coppingers…I took down the most scathing version — the one where I laid some blame for son Tim (Payday) Coppinger on Tom and Virginia — within half an hour of publication. The one that has been up ever since — “Good Catholic Boys Making a Killing in the Payday Loan Business” — I stand behind 100 percent.
All I said about the Coppinger and Hodes families in that one (which, by the way continues to get a lot of hits) was this…
I understand that parents cannot be held responsible for what their adult children do, but I wonder what the parents think about these particular sons’ notions of “success.”
Let’s make one thing, clear, though: These men are an embarrassment to their families, to Visitation and to their community.
(Steering the comments back to the subject of this blog, as per Jim’s earlier request:) How sad is it that we admire candidates from OTHER countries?
It is also true, I’ve found, in running campaigns for over 40 years, that despite what voters SAY, in the voting booth, we tend to vote AGAINST. People this year are in such a quandary…who are they more against? Hillary or Trump?!!! And despite those of us who watch debates and cable TV news shows of any stripe, these elections will be decided by the least informed, the least involved–the independents who only vote once every four years. The other factor is the spoiler candidates and parties, eg Libertarian. Folks who vote their conscience, knowing it will not prevail, often abrogate their responsibility to actually choose someone who WILL get the job. It’s self-righteousness. They run around crowing, “Well I didn’t vote for them…”
The great thing about some other countries is–when their governing body loses its mandate, they can responsibly call for an election THEN. Not a coup, but not stuck with the shenanigans of lame ducks.
Tracy, you’ve gotta get your blog back fast; you’ve got a ton of pent-up opinions. I’m glad I could offer you an opportunity to let some of it out today.
Fitz, maybe you should turn this into a blog like Hearne’s and give Tracy a spot. That way your posts would stay on track and you’d get even more hits.
I don’t love her that much, John.
Well now just 4 hours later, after making your statement, you’ve just trampled on my feelings, Fitz!
NOW look what you’ve done. Way to go, Jim.
It’s a new day. I’m sure Tracy’s fully rejuvenated and looking for new prey. (Or maybe to press on with the old prey.)
(Gayle, please put the gasoline can back in the garage.)
Thanks for having my back, Gayle. You tell it like it is.
And Fitz–no prey today. It’s Sunday: EatPrayVacuum.
Tracy, thanks for the Chuckle o’ the Day! You do have a way with words.
Jim, you totally misread me — I’m no rabble rouser. At least, not on purpose.
Somehow I feel like an orphan waif.
Altevogt–I am inviting you to leave the orphanage. Come write for me. Either one or both: JocoPost.com or KcmoPost.com. Unedited. I will get my linkages fixed. And you will feel the love and respect and acclaim you so richly deserve. Kind of like Theresa May is going to feel, when she is elected Prime Minister in the UK. See how I circled back to the topic??! You may write under your own name. Or if you like, choose a penname. eg David Copperfield?
Thanks for the offer. I always write under my own name. Twitter, Facebook, blogs, always the same.
The strong-minded women have moved on without us.
Look out your front window, Fitz. While you were watching golf on TV, Patty has put the house on the market and is moving to Kansas, to be closer to your church…and she and your woman minister are joining Theresa May’s campaign, and will be flying to London Tuesday, to design a new ceremonial garment for May’s inauguration. Once again, on topic! Not to worry, Fitz. There’s a week’s worth of TV dinners with your name on them, in your freezer. They’re labelled by day of the week. Sort of how Victorian women used to do with embroidery on their undergarments. Monday/Move Day!
We left that church, Tracy…too far away. I now go to Country Club Christian, 61st and Ward Parkway. I left the house today at 11, got there at 11:05 and the service was just starting.
And speaking of looking out the window, while channel-flipping between the men’s and women’s tournaments, all I see is my cross-the-street neighbor — a cardiologist at that — cuttin’ the grass…Patty will never sell this house, even after I’m gone.
Good idea on John writing for you; he’s been lookin’ for a regular column since The Star fired him. Not that there’s any shame in that; they’ve let a lot of people go.
Actually, Fitz I had a radio show and a column after i left the Star and left both. I also sat in on Kris Kobach’s radio show when he wasn’t around, but he was as sensitive as Art was and so I don’t do that anymore either.
I’m proud of the work that got me fired at the Star. When Rich was vetting the last column he said “If we don’t get this right we’ll both get fired.” We got it right and the next day I got fired and within months Rich got fired.
I even raised $20K to try and expand the FOIA laws in Kansas as a function of working on that same story and we got clobbered in court on that one too. To this day all you have to do to avoid handing over the records is park them in another state and then you, as a taxpaying citizen of Kansas have no standing in a Kansas court of law to request them. Interestingly, The Star’s attorney opposed me on the suit that sought records to use on a column that was to be written in The Star, go figure.
Brisbane was little more than the lawn jockey at the River Club and a disgrace to honest journalists like you and others who served under him.
Be sure and read David Brooks’ column in today’s (July 5) New York Times.
Great column, Tom…I love the last paragraph…
We probably need a political Pope Francis-type figure, who comes up from the bottom and understands life there, but who can still make the case for an open dynamic world, with free-flowing goods, ideas, capital and people. Until that figure emerges, we could be in for a set of serial leadership crises.