Harper probably wasn’t impressed

July 7, 2006

Yesterday’s [tag]White House[/tag] event for Canadian Prime Minister [tag]Stephen Harper[/tag] was a fairly big deal for the recently-elected head of state Canada’s government. Harper, a conservative, has come under fire repeatedly for his defense of the Bush administration, and his ideological alliance with [tag]Bush[/tag], so Harper no doubt wanted yesterday’s joint press conference to go well.

With this in mind, it’s a shame Bush can’t help himself.

The White House attempted various shows of deference to Harper, including the formal East Room setting, and the presence of Vice President Cheney and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Bush hurried to mention how firm Harper was on the passport issue (“he basically was a little impatient”) and credited him for resolving a long-festering lumber dispute; Harper smiled and nodded.

But the president couldn’t maintain perfect decorum. When Harper insisted on making all his remarks in French and English, a [tag]bored[/tag]-looking Bush [tag]winked[/tag] at a couple of the American reporters.

The president sprang to life whenever the subject turned to his [tag]birthday[/tag]. After a Canadian reporter brought it up, Bush complained that “it’s amazing that the first birthday greeting I got from the press came from the Canadian press.”

Does anyone else ever get the impression that the president is a very powerful child?

Dear Lord, I hate this asshole.

  • Timber (you wanna buy some wood?) and passports. These are the burning issues of our time and deserve to be in the forefront of any dialogue between teh US and it’s closest ally; America light. Is it possible that CB hates children? I cannot imagine why else he would insult them by comparing them to W.

  • Come’on Bush, Harper WANTS to kiss your ass and you’re not making it easy for him.

    Our rotund PM gave Bush a Mountie Stetson for his birthday.

    Should go well when Georgie decides to play cops and robbers again. Afterall Georgie needs something to identify who the cop (bad guy) is.

    From WaPo
    “He was hoping to reward Harper — “Steve,” as he repeatedly called him — for toning down the anti-Americanism north of the border since his Conservative government came to power in February.”

    Actually, it hasn’t really toned down. Our press has spent a lot less time mentioning it to curry a little favor with the new boss. I can speak for a lot of us northern neighbours. We don’t have problems with individual Americans, just the current government and their toadies.

  • A correction

    Elizabeth II is Canada’s Head of State
    Mr Harper is Head of Government

    Harper may have an “ideological alliance with Bush”,
    He differs in that he trying to mix ideology with competence
    At least so far

  • He also dropped the ball on the knowing/remembering the probable Mexican election winner on Larry King.

  • “yesterday’s joint press conference”

    The press was there??? You wouldn’t have known it judging from the lack of coverage. Out of curiousity I checked all the MSM websites yesterday to see what they were saying and not a word about the visit, (CB of course comes through) but apparently Russel Crowe is a father again.

  • Does anyone else ever get the impression that the president is a very powerful child?

    He’s reminding me more and more of that Twilight Zone episode where the spoiled brat played by Billy Mumy has godlike powers, and so all the grown-ups have to kowtow to his every childish whim.

    Sounds about right. If you can call the WH reporters “grown-ups.”

  • What’s the phone number for Ringling Brothers? We’ve really got to let them know that we’ve found their missing clowns—masquerading as elected officials.

    Hmmm…I wonder if there’s a reward?

  • He has to be a child, do you know any powerful adults that would let themselves be the figurehead of such a crappy presidency.

  • Mr. Furious and Otto Man–Same episode and my thoughts exactly when reading CB’s post. Oh, God, it’s really true.

  • Mr. Furious and Otto Man–Same episode

    Whoops, I missed Mr. Furious’s comment there.

    Personally, I just found Billy Mumy creepy on his own. The abusive godlike thing only made it worse.

    Again, it all sounds so familiar….

  • So how many of us watched the ‘Twilight Zone’ marathon over the 4th of July weekend in total, just out of curiosity?

    Fortunately Bill Mumy redeemed himself playing an alien on ‘Babylon 5’ after ‘Lost In Space’. Otherwise his career might have ended right there on Rod Serling’s sound stage. Creepy, indeed.

  • “Does anyone else ever get the impression that the president is a very powerful child?”

    exact thought I had today watching his press conference:
    “Maybe you know something I don’t about reducing nucular weapons, Suzanne.”

    Ignorant bloody petulant child.

  • Is this what GW meant in the 2000 campaign when he promised to restore dignity to the White House? Bush had to look to Jesus to change his heart, cause there was obviously nothing above it to work on.

  • A spoiled, out of control child. A child who feels very entiltled. A dangerous, nasty brat.

  • I have never wished an unhappy birthday on anyone except this president. Whenever I see his smirking, self-satisfied grin, and think of the destruction and suffering his policies have caused, I just want to throw up.

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