How long do you think it will take for people to begin to notice that George Bush's hand is stuck up Steven Harpers's butt? They really are like a cheap vaudeville act in that you never see either set of their lips moving. Soon we will start seeing pictures of them together with George drinking a glass of water so that Steven looks like he is speaking independently.
I wonder what it is about Canadian Prime Ministers and the way they treat American Presidents. With very few exceptions, they are either annoyingly sycophantic, like Mr. Harper or former toady to Ronald Reagan, Brain Mulroney, or so deathly afraid they despise them. Who can ever forget the image of Mulroney and Reagan singing "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" as the chiselling bastard was selling the country away during the negotiations for the North America Free Trade Agreement?
I think for Mr. Harper, part of it is he's horribly disappointed that the people and press in Canada don't treat him the way Americans treat Mr. Bush. Canadians don't accord the office of Prime Minister any of the respect that the Americans give the office of their leader. How else could a person like Bush command respect if not for the office? It's sure not for his sparkling intellect.
What Mr. Harper forgets is that he's not Canada's head of state; nope that honour belongs to whoever happens to be Governor General. (In this case a black woman of Haitian decent, Michelle Jean, is the Queen's representative in Canada.) Canada is a constitutional monarchy and for all you listeners out there preparing for Jeopardy and the category "Obscure Forms of Government" that's where you have an elected parliament, with a figurehead monarch, or a representative, as head of state.
So Steven can run around acting all presidential, but he has to remember that come the morning after he is beholden to parliament for all or any of his power. In other words his office carries little or no cachet. Our system of government should put more emphasis on what a political party can do rather then any so called leadership qualities of the Prime Minister.
Of course that's not always the case, but so far to my mind the only individual who has been able to make a splash on the world stage while Prime Minister of Canada was Pierre Trudeau. No one else has come close to having the charisma to be able to have a direct influence on events. Sometimes it was a negative influence, but influence it was all the same.
Article comments
1 - Mark in Canada
Interesting. Do you hate Stephen Harper so much that you are blind to when he does disagree with George Bush? Are you completely so stuck on the Canadian view that Americans are stupid because they don't think like Libreal Canada? Do you think that just maybe the reason Harper is Prime Minister today is because your beloved "moderates" in the Libreal Party were so arrogant to believe that they, and only they can lead Canada?
Stephen Harper maybe agrees with Bush too much for your liking, but being in disagreement with the United States on EVERYTHING was not working as a working policy with the US. The Lumber deal isn't the greatest, but 80% of the lumber industry wants is better than 100% of nothing, which was where we were going. Face it, like many you seem to hate America, at least when it has a conservative at the helm.
As for our role in the world, and in Afghanistan, tell me, why is it bad that we defend the concept of democracy and actually FIGHT to protect a fledgling democracy in Afghanistan. We are not there to make the world safe for our big business interests, we are not there to take the place over. Canada went there to help protect the innocents who were suffering under a cruel regime. When 9/11 came, this regime defended the right for Al Quaida to hang out and train there, and that was enough for the UN and NATO. We are there under the sanction of BOTH bodies. We went there to bring humanitarian aid, but when asked, the Libreal party of the day sent our troops to an area where our troops would have to fight to establish an atmosphere so NGO's and the UN could rebuild a shattered nation. We are not there for any other reason, and while Harper didn't send the troops there, he is like Bush, not one to leave with the job half finished. Being a libreal I guess means you never stay with a tough task, and results don't matter as long as everyone feels better for trying. Well Conservatives view results as the only way to measure success, and if Canada pulled out now, I can guarantee the Taliban would see it has a victory. Tell me who you side with? A democratic nation who is an ally? Or a bunch of thugs who have their theocratic views on ruling based on a 7th century view of the world??
I guess being from the political left means never having to answer the tough questions.
2 - A new generation of Canadian citizens
Canadians are smarter than this, we are getting sick and tired of all this "sour grapes" from opposition parties that have absolutly nothing else to do (like real research) than to compare harper to Bush, this is so outdated and immature it's just making the opposition parties look worse and worse by the day. GIVE IT UP, no one cares what some sour citizens say about this irrelvant issue, Harper's willingness to try and iron out the wrinkles with our neighbours is just that, and in now way can that be called "bushes dummy", these ridiculous remarks only furthur destroy the chance of our two countries actually getting along. Seriously, is it like Canada is on our knees begging the US for heaven and earth?? NO, so just because you opposition supporters are jealous that years of fraud had been found out and Canada is now headed in a newer, better direction doesn't mean you should resort to kindergarden school yard tactics and thinking Canadian citizens will actually buy this?? Get over this notion that comparing your PM to the US president (as it is clear parties do this only to get votes and it doesn't matter what president is in power they think Canadians are stupid and will just agree with them) Do some real journalism for once and stop with this dumb comparisions to any other world leader. It is just childish and insulting to the new Canadian citizens intelligence. I am just as sick of ignorant american attitudes towards Canada, but that is changing, and so should our attitude of this anti-americanism, it in now way helps Canada become a better nation. The simple fact that Canada and the US are so close in culture and proximity means that clearly we will always have some similarities in forigne policy and in the way our governments work together, Harper has made it clear that Canada will not be forced into anything just purly by American pressure, but if Canada feels it's better for Canada to do something in partnership with our neighbours than why in the world should we not do it?? what you're purposing is that Canada continue the liberal way of thinking and not experience the full potential on the world stage like we should. While I know the americans have made many many international mistakes, that does not mean Canada will just follow them in their steps, but we should try to help them recover from these mistakes and we can continue to do great things on the world stage. But please spare everyone these insane thoughts of yours, because you're quickly, very quickly, becoming the minority as the new generation of Canadians see the benefit in becoming a world stage decision makers and truely helping our american friends in their time of need where the rest of the world has turned against them. I totally agreed with not following them into Iraq, but I TOTALLY agree with what we are doing in Afghanistan, it is a good thing we are doing, there are tons a countries doing military operations in the name of good, for god sakes please follow us into the 21st centuary because you are clearly stuck in the last 13 years of embarressment by our previous government.
3 - Tired of these anti-american comments in the name of votes
I agree with the previous comments, people like this have no basis on which they make these comparissons, although I know Canadians are smarter than to be taken in by this juvenile tactic, it is still very annoying to always hear guys like this ruining Canada's reputation. Let me speak for real Canadians to anyone reading this, "WE DO NOT AGREE WITH THIS CRAP" although this was the direction our former government and elderly citizens seem to be taking it is a dying breed and I can proudly say that Canada has a great future that does not include people like this and their exremely bias and blinded opinions.