I thought it might be fun to try and find one international gathering or speech by our Prime Minister, wherein he hasn't referenced our domestic politics, trying to score cheap partisan points, unlike most world leaders- the one's with tact anyways. Too save some time, don't bother looking here, here, here, or here. Good luck, you'll need it.
12 comments:
Found one. Text of Vimy Ridge monument rededication speech.
I know that he abuses the international stage to try and score cheap political points with a domestic audience, and in turn "airs our dirty laundry" so to speak, but anytime anyone takes a swipe at our Senate, it makes me smile.
Steve,
You've gotta loosen up.
The Liberal Senaters acted like 10 year olds in the last 18 months. They used all their wiles to frustrate and block everything that came through. Much of it for no good purpose except to thwart the House of Commons.
If you don't think that being in Australia with a similar British system but with an ELECTED Senate wasn't going to cause Harper to comment, you're dreaming. Its one of the platforms of his party, and one of the ugliest pillars of LPC/Dion's "screw the CPC" strategy package.
Mentioning the Senate is NOT directly partisan, not the way he mentioned it. Only comparative linked to where he was and given the position of his government.
Tomm
Hey Tomme, don't forget those darned CON senators, too! Like the Liberal old timers, they tried to IMPROVE the bills and slowed down the progress of poor ol' Stephen. Who needs a chamber of second thought when we our great PM can make great policy on the fly, like Halloween scare-fests for seniors and pensioners (income trust), belly-flops for premiers who don't tote that Tory bale (finally, his dislike is unpartisan here!) or just creating crazy, funny policy on environmental stuff he doesn't even believe in (not like greenhouse gasses ever walked the earth the same time as dinosaurs and peoples). It's enuf to make a dishonest, deceivin' PM out to hate everyone who doesn't follow his orders wanna cry...
And I think he may have not put any lambasting, crying about his evil opposition in the Vimy Ridge speech, but all during the meal he complained about Dion not being a leader. And that the french bread sure was crusty, because of Dion.
Yah, and thank god for non-appointed senators like Michael Fortier, helping to feed the poor tory moneysuckers from his Quebec farm team.
Never mind reform the senate - reform parliament so poor Michael won't have to face the electorate!
BIP,
What are you going on about?
The Conservative Senators were in a minority and were trying to help the government get its bills though.
In addition, I take your point with Fortier, but as you have noticed, Harper has only appointed Senators that were elected, except for Fortier who still claims to give up his seat by the next election.
Tomm
tomm
Im loose :) We can argue about the Senate, as a matter of fact I favor abolishing it, but that is really irrelevant to Harper speaking about it abroad. From all reports the Australian parliamentarians reacted with silence when Harper began his domestic laundry routine. Remember when Howard addressed our H of C, I don't recall the same tone. Again, not about the substance, more about the poor choice of theater.
dale
Well done :) It must have been hard for him to resist the temptation of saying if Dion was in power at the time, the French would all be speaking German. A rare exhibition of self control, somebody else must have wrote the speech.
The issue here isn't whether one agrees with an elected senate or not, it is the fact Harper brings up domestic politics and bashes his opponents at international gatherings. This is quite frankly embarassing. I hate to say this, but even Bush, to the best of my knowledge, doesn't bash the Democrats when abroad, so he really lacks class here.
Steve,
I saw the speech and at no point did he seem to make his Australian audience uncomfortable. In fact it looked like they were eating out of his hand.
It might be posted at CTV if you haven't yet seen it.
Tomm
tomm
I watched some of it, until I reached my bullshit quota for the day :) I'm just echoing what people reported when he went into his Senate assault, the speech was well received, with surprise that he mentioned that.
Tomm and like miss the point - no matter what issues are going on in "our own" country, it's nobody's business but Canadians. And, I don't really think other countries give a damn about it and probably (inside their heads) are thinking what in hell is this guy doing making speeches about domestic problems at an "international" event?
And, Tomm, if you don't think most of the CPC MP's don't act like 10 year olds, you better pay more attention.
Funny - The Australian - an Australian newspaper in an article written by one of Australian's most renouned foreign affairs journalist found Harper to be a bore. And, he is.
Boy - Tomm really is a Harper-worshiper isn't he? I mean, nothing can make this guy be honest about the man no matter what.
"The Australian - an Australian newspaper in an article written by one of Australian's most renouned foreign affairs journalist found Harper to be a bore. And, he is."
Nice to know the first impression is the same as the educated one.
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