Posted on 12/05/2004 9:35:32 AM PST by albertabound
Sun, December 5, 2004 Alberta MP tips hat to Dubya By EARL MCRAE -- For the Ottawa Sun
Myron Thompson's on his car phone from Alberta. He has the inside goods on the second most memorable event of his life, and a desperate plea needs to be issued.
The picture. Where's the picture? "Photographers were in the room taking pictures. But, if there's one of me with him, nobody's told me. They weren't media, I don't know who they were."
All Myron Thompson knows for sure is that between 3:30 and 4:30 the afternoon of Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2004 in a room at the Congress Centre, cameras were clicking and he has no picture to prove to the world that he experienced what no other member of Parliament experienced except for the leaders -- he got to meet in private with the president of the United States of America, the second most memorable event in the life of Myron Thompson, 68, of the Conservative Party, the honourable member from Wild Rose, Alta.
There are 11 Tory MPs jealous that Myron, of all people and politicians, got a private audience with George Bush, when they didn't, and got to sit by the president's table at the gala dinner, when they didn't, and if they and all the other overlooked MPs are still wondering how it happened, Myron will be delighted to tell them.
First, they need to know that Myron, who came to Canada in 1968 with a degree in teaching, was born and raised in Colorado. That Myron has Canadian and American citizenship. That Myron once played semi-pro baseball. That Myron once served in the U.S. army. That, as with Dubya, Myron's passion is baseball. That, as with Dubya, Myron supports the Iraq war. That Myron has a son Dennis, 31, in the U.S. army, and who served in Iraq. That Myron has hundreds of e-mails from Canadians supporting the war, and many from Canadian parents whose sons and daughters are in the U.S., British, and Australian military and who fought or are fighting in Iraq.
In the Commons a couple of weeks ago, Myron Thompson crossed the floor and asked Paul Martin if the prime minister could arrange a "short" meeting between the president and Myron so that Myron could express the support from the Canadian families.
Myron also put the request to Stephen Harper, and the PM personally invited Myron to the Bush gala dinner, and Harper took Myron along for his private talk with Bush at the Congress Centre.
"I was excited, I couldn't believe I was going to meet him," says Myron.
Harper and Thompson entered the room, Myron clutching an important folder arranged by his executive assistant, Stephanie Rennick. Harper introduced Myron to Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, U.S. ambassador Paul Cellucci, and President George W. Bush. "The president's handshake was very firm and strong. I could see and feel the absolute confidence and leadership in the man.
"He and Stephen really got on well. I sat listening and then Stephen mentioned about my son in the American army. I told the president about all his support from the Canadian families, and for the troops and the war. He was genuinely touched."
Thompson opened the folder. He showed Bush a photo of his son in uniform, standing with his two small boys, and asked the president if he'd sign it. "He was delighted to. He asked their names. I gave him a pen with gold-coloured ink, and he wrote 'To Dennis, Josh, and Nick. Best wishes, and thank you for your service. George Bush, president of the United States.' "
Thompson and Bush got into bantering.
Dubya: "I Iike you, man. You tell it straight."
Myron: "I like you, too."
Dubya: "You sure you don't have some Texas in you?"
Myron: "I was born in Colorado, but wasn't it bought out by Texas?"
Rice: "Colorado. I spent a lot of time in Denver."
Cellucci: "Myron, Mr. President, once had a tryout with the New York Yankees."
Dubya: "Let me see your hands. Hmmm. Catcher, right?"
Myron: "You're right. But they had two others at the time named Yogi Berra and Elston Howard.:
Dubya: "Yeah. The competition was rough back then."
Myron Thompson from his car: "On our way back Stephen said 'Man, you two guys sure hit it off.' It was something I'll never forget. Only one thing ranks higher. My tryout with the Yankees."
Myron Thompson is a TRUE CANADIAN and we love him out here..He far outweighs the mindlesss anarchist snots that tried to disrupt GWB'S visit.
Mrs NHD and I are planning on a vacation to Alberta next summer. She's never been out there, I was in the mid and late 70s a couple of times. As opposed to eastern Canada, the folks in Alberta into the Canadian rockies seem reasonable.
I'll bet you that Martin's handshake is as soft and weak as his convictions....
If you want to meet the "Real Canadians" come out west.
Alberta and B.C. Rock.
At least as weak as his chin.
Half of those mindless anarchist snots were Americans, the usual group of professional protesters that protest anything and everything. I guess they like getting beat over the head with night sticks and eating pepper spray and tear gas.
It seems the Canadian lefty loser's just couldn't get enough of their own members out of bed that day, they needed reinforcements from the USA. What was more amusing was how many media people were out. they outnumbered the protesters, LOL! How disappointing for them.
Let's hear a cheer for Myron! And it's no wonder he can't receive a photo of him with President Bush, the negatives were probably burned.
America unfortunately sends a lot of depressing liberals to Canada, but we've received some outstanding 'Snowbacks' from Alberta, particularly those working in the oil patch.
I hope he finds a way to find any pictures taken..Great story!
Alberta and Albertans rule.
He can change your mind about an issue and leave you feeling like you held that position all along. He's remarkably effective in private meetings.
The President signing the photo and thanking the son and the 2 grandsons for their service is priceless.
Gotta like it.
BTW, Canucks, we Americans have none, repeat, zero designs on any of your territory. To incorporate the lightly populated provinces mentioned above would be an impossible nightmare in international relations. It would piss off the anti-American element in the remainder of Canada even more so than they are now, (if that is even possible), plus would cause us some problems with Britain. If they broke away and declared themselves an independent nation, with close ties to the U.S., that is all that could be hoped for, and that might cause more problems than it would solve.
We are stuck with each other and outside of a miracle, nothing can be done to satify the other. The U.S., a superpower and independent nation that unlike the mother country Britain, owes NOTHING in consideration to Canada, and Canada, which did not fight for their freedom but was handed it on a sheet of paper in 1982, will NEVER have compatible, much less identical attitudes. We've had to bail the world out of one conflict after another for the last century; how will "Swiss" Canada ever understand our responsibilities? It's best for us to both ignore the other and get on with our respective affairs.
If select Canadians love the U.S. so much, MOVE HERE. Same thing, opposite direction, for U.S. liberals who despise G.W.B and the rest of us who think likewise. True, it's an overly simple solution, but sometimes the simplest solution is actually the best one...(Canadians, please feel free to take notes here).
You come up with a plan to help me leave Canada for the USA and I'd leave today. I've talked to an immigration lawyer 3 times about it, and the strict laws make it nearly impossible. Canucks can live there but can't work...unless you're a brain sergeon, ect...
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