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[Memles]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20041124.wbush1124/BNStory/Front/

So, this is a bit of a Canadian thing, but I still find it perversely entertaining enough to apply to all as well.

U.S. President George W. Bush will not address Parliament when he visits Canada next week to avoid possible negative reception or heckling, White House sources said.

Mr. Bush will then travel to Halifax to give a speech after what is his first official trip to Ottawa, White House sources said.

For anybody unfamiliar with the Canadian political map...well, add geography to Bush's list of "Thing I don't Understand", because this is nuts. Halifax (My hometown, so I'm kind of biased) is where the NDP is elected in the country. They're the furthest nationwide left-wing party. Halifax, as a city, is about as liberal as they come, so the choice of Halifax makes no sense.

Like, go to Alberta. I mean, out of all of Canada, polls for Bush were higher there than anywhere else. This decision is fairly nuts. Sure, avoid Ottawa...but get the hell out of Halifax before it's too late. Plus...does he know we have same sex marriages? Oh man, that would be awesome if a wedding party rushed out of a church as he was speaking.

 

[Azih]

Heck even Carolyn Parrish agreed not to heckle the guy, though I guess she's a loose cannon now that she's been booted from the liberals.


Wouldn't put anything past Jack Layton though.

But yeah, he didn't go to Alberta? That's crazy, he might as well take a day trip to Quebec after dodging pies in Halifax.

I guess he wanted to avoid the Canadian beef industry that's been hurting because of the closed border? Bah what am I saying he doesn't know anything about Canada.

 

[ConfusingJazz]

God, the amount of money I would pay to see Bush trying to address a Parliment style legislature...

 

[Boogie]

Heck even Carolyn Parrish agreed not to heckle the guy, though I guess she's a loose cannon now that she's been booted from the liberals.

Yeah, I'm not sure she could be trusted to keep her yap shut.

 

[Memles]

I guess he wanted to avoid the Canadian beef industry that's been hurting because of the closed border? Bah what am I saying he doesn't know anything about Canada.

Maybe he wants to focus on terrorism; Halifax gives him a major port, plus the Maritimes is where many flights were rerouted on 9/11.

 

[explodet]

"dodging pies" :lol

I must agree, Alberta would probably be the better fit.
I'd make a cheap oil/invasion joke here, but I'm not in the mood.

 

[BigJonsson]

Wow

It's pretty sad when they are afraid the President will be booed by members of another government...

 

[Azih]

hahaha, I'm trying to imagine George Bush in a scrum and the image.. just.. isn't.. working.

 

[bishoptl]

What a shame - I was looking forward to seeing him get scorched by the Liberal backbenchers, never mind the NDP.

I'll tell you this much - not going to Alberta is one of the best decisions his handlers could have made. There is a huge amount of vitriol being directed towards the Americans thanks to their protectionist handling of the mad-cow crisis.

IS THERE NO SAFE HAVEN IN CANADA FOR A BUSH

 

[SickBoy]

I guess he wanted to avoid the Canadian beef industry that's been hurting because of the closed border? Bah what am I saying he doesn't know anything about Canada.

That, and I don't think there's a lot of political risk in going to cattle country right now after he said he's pushing to reopen the border...

...so of course, it makes no sense for him not to go somewhere like Alberta. Guess he just wants to visit one of Canada's finer cities (or so I'm told... never been there myself)

 

[bishoptl]

Uh, with his family's deep Texas roots, any promises he makes in regards to opening up the border to Canadian beef can be taken with a huge spoonful of salt.

 

[Memles]

The Mad Cow thing makes sense...and Halifax is a nice city, and all. But, my god, WE ELECT THE NDP HERE.

If that doesn't say something, I don't know what does. Bush is fucked no matter where he goes, though. You guys are right.

 

[SickBoy]

Uh, with his family's deep Texas roots, any promises he makes in regards to opening up the border to Canadian beef can be taken with a huge spoonful of salt.

Whether or not he's genuine on reopening the border, Canadian cattlemen were hoping for a Bush win because they thought he's the guy who would do it. So even if his statements weren't genuine, I'm fairly sure people believe them, and I can't see the mad cow issue really dogging him all that much.

I think there's some political value, though, in going somewhere not quite as safe as, say, Alberta. Either way, will be interesting.

 

[Crazymoogle]

The Mad Cow thing makes sense...and Halifax is a nice city, and all. But, my god, WE ELECT THE NDP HERE.

My sympathies. It could be worse, though - imagine Carolyn Parrish teaming up with Sheila Copps to form the most potent supervillain mind since Glen Clark's NDP smashed the BC economy?

 

[Memles]

My sympathies. It could be worse, though - imagine Carolyn Parrish teaming up with Sheila Copps to form the most potent supervillain mind since Glen Clark's NDP smashed the BC economy?

Really, though, I voted NDP, so it's not like I say that because I think they're insane. But, really, we're one of the only places in the country who consistently votes for the view of the left. And, he chooses to come to the urban area that loves them some NDP. Genius. At least stick them in Rural areas, or something.

 

[maharg]

If he asks for us to commit some troops to Iraq after not visiting us for 4 years, not thanking us for letting them land their planes here, calling us a third world country, and now not even having the guts to go in front of fucking parliament because he's too much of a pussy to take some criticism to his face...

Well let's just say you might find some Canadians saying things that would be illegal to say in the US.

 

[Memles]

http://novascotia.cbc.ca/regionalnews/caches/ns_bush-halifax20041124.html

Bush is expected to come off his plane at the Halifax International Airport for a speech thanking Nova Scotians for their hospitality following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

"Today I flew into Halifax International Airport, just as thousands of people did on September 11th..."

He's safe with doing that, I think.

 

[maharg]

3
years
too
late

 

[Socreges]

3
years
too
late

No kidding. By all accounts, Nova Scotians (and other Canadians) were incredibly hospitable to all the detoured passengers. Bush didn't so much as acknowledge them, I'm pretty sure.

This seems like a convenient excuse to do the diplomatic visit to Canada, without doing anything risky and critical.

 

[GG-Duo]

EVERYTHING'S COMING UP NINE-ELEVEN!

 

[Azih]

Bump. FOR GREAT JUSTICE!

 

[Shinobi]

My sympathies. It could be worse, though - imagine Carolyn Parrish teaming up with Sheila Copps to form the most potent supervillain mind since Glen Clark's NDP smashed the BC economy?

:lol Have we ever seen two more annoying bitches in this country?

Bush can fuck himself...an official thank you to Canada for opening up our borders and airports to their planes, and our homes to their passengers, THREE FUCKING YEARS AFTER THE FUCKING FACT??? Fuck you scrot. For his sake I hope it's a nice trip.

 

[fallout]

Send him to Québec!

 

[videogamer]

A noon-hour rally Tuesday is expected to draw thousands of marchers anxious to vent their views on everything from the war in Iraq to plans for a U.S. anti-missile defence shield. Smaller events and candlelight vigils are planned in cities and towns across Canada.

Organizers say they hope participants will be peaceful but warn they can't control individual troublemakers or the police.

“We're organizing mass, inclusive demonstrations,” said Ottawa resident Jessica Squires of the No to Bush Committee.

At least one conservative group is planning a pro-Bush rally and hopes police will keep any rabble-rousers in line.

Connie Wilkins of Free Dominion is baffled by the extent of American-bashing among Canadians and even some politicians. She co-founded the on-line forum that offers about 5,000 members a place for right-wing views but is not officially linked to any political party, she said.

“We stand behind the United States and we stand behind their President,” Ms. Wilkins said in an interview. “We consider them as our allies and their country as our friend.

“If it had been the CN Tower that had been bombed instead of the World Trade Center, the U.S. would have been right there.”

And what the heck does that have to do with Iraq and other issues that are shared among anti-Bush people around the world?

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20041125.wshrub1125/BNStory/National

 

[Shinobi]

“If it had been the CN Tower that had been bombed instead of the World Trade Center, the U.S. would have been right there.”

Number one, I wouldn't be so sure about that anymore.

Number two, when the WTC disappeared in a cloud of smoke, we were there. No hypothesis, no theory, no "what if"...WE WERE THERE. And the US hasn't said shit in gratitude. Let's not even talk about the fact that we went into Afghanistan with them, and got four of our guys blown up by one of the yankee cowboys in the process. So I don't wanna hear this "if something happened to us they'd be there" shit, as if that somehow justify's a wrong.