Posted on 11/30/2004 10:30:24 AM PST by quidnunc
George Bush's event planners have learned something from history. When Ronald Reagan spoke to Parliament in 1987, he was interrupted by heckling from the NDP benches led by Svend Robinson. That was almost two decades ago, but the lesson has been absorbed: A presidential visit offers irresistible temptation to the small but noisy narcissist-leftist faction on the upper back benches. Robinson has had to make an abrupt exit from politics recently, but there are quite a number of Ottawa pols eager to take his place in somebody else's spotlight.
The Bush planners must have figured: Why give these jerks a chance? Instead, the President will do a joint press conference with Prime Minister Paul Martin after a working lunch; deliver a toast at a gala dinner at the Museum of Civilization; and then give the major speech of his visit in Halifax.
I strongly suspect Bush's Halifax address will make a strong impression on Canadians. The President's pollsters consistently report that audiences like George Bush better the longer he speaks: He does better in a 60-second spot than in an 8-second clip, better still in a 10-minute appearance than in a 60-second spot, best of all when he is able to claim 20 or 40 minutes of airtime for a formal address.
His words in Halifax will be widely broadcast and closely heard — and I think they will surprise many Canadians.
-snip-
(Excerpt) Read more at aei.org ...
Yep, and I'm sure they were most unhappy with the incident in Chile. It exposed a flaw in presidential security. There has to be a certain degree of trust in officials of the host country. In Chile, that trust was betrayed and the President and First Lady were separated from their security detail. I suspect top management at the Secret Service began almost immediately to look at ways to prevent a similar siutation from occurring ever again.
You been on another planet the last few years? If you don't know, it doesn't matter to you.
Btw, screw Canada!
Ronald Reagan and Brian Mulroney were best of friends, and during their tenure the US and Canada were also good friends and allies. The world changed on 9-11. If I was POTUS today, I'd tell Canada friendship is a two way affair. Along with France, Germany, Spain and Russia, I'd tell Cnada you're either with us, or against us. America doesn't need half-baked friends and allies.
Well I think that is a fairly reasonable stand to take. Just don't forget that the ruling party and judges do not a nation make. Frankly, I'm jealous that you guys elected Bush, that you have a viable second party (although I think we will next election), and especially that so many of you got to vote for state amendments. Much as I admired the french for voting against the Libs, the only way our Cons will be elected is with support in Quebec. That could mean they'll liberal-lite on us. It should also mean more respect for the rights of the provinces, which I think is great. (I hope everybody isn't tired of my Canada rants btw)
Bottom line is that we did go to Afganistan, and our guys fought well. Don't think we have to march lock-step to be your allies, because then we aren't - we're your vassals. We had an insane guy in charge thanks to a divided right and now we have no military to truly speak of. Its kind of weird seeing the PM say big things about Sudan when we've got nothing to back it up on. You just don't need to generalize like one of Ann Coulter's liberals.
I already acknowledged that. It was the right decision for Canada to make.
>>>>Don't think we have to march lock-step to be your allies....
No one is demanding that anyone march in lock step with America. However, joining America in Iraq would have been the right decision for Canada to make. The US doesn't need friends who run for cover when the going gets tough and then turns around and bad mouths our leadership for defending America. Same holds true for France, Germany, Russia and those glorious cowards, the Spanish people. No thank you.
You probably can overrun ANY Canadian city with a Cub Scout pack. There was a caller on Rush L.'s radio show today from Winsor, Canada, who said that Canada's TOTAL armed forces come to about 10,000 "soldiers." The NYPD has 15,000 cops.
Forgot to add, Canada has a few leaky naval vessels, too.
I dare them to try. IMO, arresting our President would, in the minds of a lot of Americans, be considered an act of war. And that would be a war that Canada would not have a hope in hell of possibly winning.
Hell, we wouldn't even need to send regular troops - a horde of good ol' boys, riding in pickup trucks and armed with shotguns, could take over Canada in a few weeks.
Just had to add, thats what you guys thought in 1812
You got that right. On top of that, they must have ABSOLUTELY spotless records to be given the honor and responsibilities of the Presidential guard.
A cousin of mine, while serving in the Marine Corps (a real soldier's soldier, who still loves the Corps), was considered for the honor of joining the Presidential Marine guards, but was declined. Why? Because he quit a restaurant job in high school without tendering a two-weeks notice.
And that carpet really tied the room together! ;-D
/ The Big Lebowski reference. Sorry, couldn't resist.
I heard they just got a kewl new submarine.
To her credit, Canada is in Afghanistan. And the RCN is in the Persian Gulf. We should remember that, after these commitments, there are virtually no more Canadian military forces to deploy.
Modern day Trudeaupia and the Canada of WW II are not to be confused. And that says more about the Canadian government, perhaps, than it does about the people who elected them.
I wish I had a photo of that Gilligan's Island boat (SS Minnow?) It's probably a spittin' image of the flagship of the Royal Canadian Navy.
He will disarm them through unexpected and extreme flattery:
"He will go to Halifax for a very different purpose: to thank the kind people of Atlantic Canada who took stranded American passengers into their homes in the days after 9/11--and to showcase the gallant contributions of the Canadian Forces to the military campaigns in Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf. Sixteen of Canada's 18 warships have done duty in the Gulf since the fall of 2001. HMCS Toronto returned just this past July from a six-month mission with the USS George, Washington's battle group. Although Canada formally declined to play a part in the battles on Iraqi soil, the Canadian military has strained its capabilities to assist the United States in the larger global campaign against Middle Eastern terror. With the surprising eloquence he musters at important moments, the President will acknowledge this assistance and pay tribute to the sacrifices of the Canadian sailors, soldiers and aviators who delivered it."
He's too much ;) (hehehehe)
WTF! Get a grip.
LOL Point taken. But we didn't have pickup trucks back then!
Hey, a question: Any idea if there will be another season of "Trailer Park Boys" on Showcase? I love that show. The characters remind me of some of my cousins.
Just had to add, thats what you guys thought in 1812
Mind you, there wass no Canada on the map at that time. All I could see was British North America - and Britain was the strongest country on earth then. In fact, the Poms fought for you at that time. Comparing the 1812-US with 1812-Britain is like comapring 2004-Sweden with 2004-US.
You make it sound like those are two separate things. When a man does 'em, they're the same.
Don't think we have to march lock-step to be your allies, because then we aren't - we're your vassals.
"There's no point in a situation like this being an 80 per cent ally."
- Rt Hon John Howard, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia, spoken soon after September 11, 2001.
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