New Envoy an Insult: Hartley Steward not happy with the U.S. ambassador

The Toronto Sun ^ | July 3, 2005 | Hartley Steward

[quidnunc]

• The week began with almost a million people on hand in the sweltering heat for the 25th annual gay pride parade in downtown Toronto, touted by one participant as "the gayest city in North America." Some 80,000 people reportedly participated in the event, more than 900,000 watched. Toronto's mayor and chief of police, who walked proudly side by side, were testimony to just how far this celebration has come since 1981, when a mere 80 brave souls marched and nobody watched.

If you still have trouble with it, get over it. On Tuesday, Canada became the third country in the world to make same-sex marriages legal. The historic vote, after a decade of acrimonious debate, was 158-133. Count on 2 million at the parade next year.

• The new U.S. ambassador to Canada, South Carolina politician and big-league bagman for President George W. Bush, David Wilkins, took up his post last week, presenting his meagre credentials to the governor general on Wednesday. This is his second visit to Canada, the last time being a short trip in 1971.

Wilkins admits he knows little about Canada and Canada/U.S. issues, but he's anxious to learn. Feel free to be insulted as a Canadian.

-snip-

[FreedomCalls]

Wilkins admits he knows little about Canada and Canada/U.S. issues, but he's anxious to learn. Feel free to be insulted as a Canadian.

This is a common mistake among the left. They think it is the job of U.S. Ambassadors in particular and the State Department in general to take back to the U.S. administration the views of the foreign government. It is not. That is the job of their own ambassador to us. It is the job of the U.S. Ambassador in a foreign country to present to the foreign government the views of the United States. He need not know any more about Canada than the fact that he is in Canada. His job is to understand U.S policy and present it and explain it to the Canadians. Not the other way around.

[Mr. Silverback]

"Toronto, touted by one participant as "the gayest city in North America."

I think next year the San Fran gay pride parade and the Toronto gay prode parade should all get on buses, drive to a neutral location (like St Louis) and fight it out for the title. The pay-per-view take could pay off the deficit.

[Mr. Silverback]

In all seriousness, most administrations send a lot of ambassadors out that have no clue what the heck's going on in the host country. President's tend to send donors and friends. Clinton did it a lot (one of his China ambassadors was so cluless he didn't know they persecute Christians there) and unfortunately, so has Dubya.

[dk/coro]

Marine, It seems to this swabbie that you are being a bit over-kind to our pathetic Canuck neighbors.

It is a sad testament to the decadence built into the clock. I well remember the day in the 50's when we had exchange RCN aviators in my squadron from Halifax; and substantial technology was provided our ASW forces by our brethren to the North.

Sad commentary on the unmerciful historical calendar! And, regrettably, the cork no longer fits in the bottle.

Happy 4th -- and "Semper Fi" to you and yours.

[Always A Marine]

I see you've beached yourself far from the water, Rustpicker! Treading in a sea of sand -- Arrgh...

Your comment about the decadence of the clock is spot on, and reveal a student of human nature. Best to you and yours, sir, on this our Independence Day. Semper Fidelis...

[CyberAnt]

And .. when the terrorists start blowing them up .. tell them to take a number!

[Cheburashka]

Actually, he's Canadian, so he's using the British spelling.

His country doesn't use the spelling reforms that Noah Webster instituted in the U. S.

Example:

British: colour

American: color

[Publius6961]

the 25th annual gay pride parade in downtown Toronto, touted by one participant as "the gayest city in North America."

If you still have trouble with it, get over it.

Kinda hard to do, since, many of us remember that from this gayest of North American cities came Patient Zero The gayest carrier of the deadliest disease of the 20th century, on Air Canada (or is that Air Kanuckistan?).

We'll get over it when you take your dammed gay disease back!

[Publius6961]

What's a Hartley Steward?

[Publius6961]

Don't get silly.
they use Kanuckistani English there.

[RichInOC]

Oh yeah, and Hartley...my opinion on Canada remains what it was. You guys export your great comedians to the world. The mediocre ones have to settle for going into domestic politics.

[Publius6961]

This is a common mistake among the left [and among the ignorant]. They think it is the job of U.S. Ambassadors in particular and the State Department in general to take back to the U.S. administration the views of the foreign government. It is not. That is the job of their own ambassador to us. It is the job of the U.S. Ambassador in a foreign country to present to the foreign government the views of the United States. He need not know any more about Canada than the fact that he is in Canada. His job is to understand U.S policy and present it and explain it to the Canadians. Not the other way around.

LOL!

That's got to leave a mark. LOL

[HiTech RedNeck]

In other news...

KARLA HOMOLKA, the schoolgirl killer, failed on Wednesday to convince a Quebec court to grant an injunction banning media reporting of her post-incarceration life. Something about media reports only serving to lead vengeful killers to her door. Media lawyers argued that Homolka was a danger to the public and we have a right to know what she's up to.

Could HOMOlka be a, well...?

[graycamel]

Toronto's mayor and chief of police, who walked proudly side by side

Probably dressed in drag, I bet.

[hershey]

How about Carol Mosley Brown? She's probably looking for another cushy job.

[hershey]

Adams had a point. And it's even more relevant today.

[kittymyrib]

With a name like Hartley, he has to be gay.

[satchmodog9]

More outcome based education. Be it British spelling or not, he is still a fool.

[Cheburashka]

I just said his spelling was correct north of the border.

The fool part I agree 100%