Harper consistently embarrasses Canada abroad

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by EddyBeers

Chretien was terrible, he brought the country out of the massive Conservative deficit spending of the 80's and 90's into a position of yearly surpluses. I hated that guy and waited over a decade to have a Conservative government in again to drive the country into deficit.

I wasn't really commenting on policy or track record with my remark. I was personally embarrassed that he was the face of Canada to the international community for as long as he was. My comment strictly has to do with perception, nothing else.

[CaptainCrunch]

To me Harper and the conservatives have done a better job internationally then the Liberals did over the last few terms.

And thank god that ridiculous policy of soft diplomacy went into the toilet and was flushed.

Lets not get carried away with the whole going to bat for these people in other countries. Thats not really a Harper thing or a prime minister thing.

And don't make me laugh about the bringing of Khadr back to Canada, the only way that we should bring him back is to drive him over to the other tarmac and put him on a plane with the rest of his family that makes a one stop run to afghanistan.

[EddyBeers]

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

I wasn't really commenting on policy or track record with my remark. I was personally embarrassed that he was the face of Canada to the international community for as long as he was. My comment strictly has to do with perception, nothing else.

Fair enough, you were not embarrassed by his policy or track record, just his physical disability, makes sense.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

To me Harper and the conservatives have done a better job internationally then the Liberals did over the last few terms.

And thank god that ridiculous policy of soft diplomacy went into the toilet and was flushed.

Lets not get carried away with the whole going to bat for these people in other countries. Thats not really a Harper thing or a prime minister thing.

And don't make me laugh about the bringing of Khadr back to Canada, the only way that we should bring him back is to drive him over to the other tarmac and put him on a plane with the rest of his family that makes a one stop run to afghanistan.

That's really where the problems lie. What you mentioned is what in a perfect world should happen. The problem is our liberal immigration laws go counter to this, so under legal definition that ###### khadr should be brought back. The Harper government knows that this is BS and is trying to backdoor khadr without causing an uproar that would surely ensue should Harper retroactivly change immigration law and policy, among the multi-culti inclined people and immigrants who benefited from these policies.

It truly is a Canadian phenomenon not exclusive to the Harper conservatives to backdoor people or to have some sort of 'hammer-type' legal provision to force outcomes in the governments favor when a ill-advised policy breaks down in dramatic public fashion. Eg. We have the 'dangerous offender' law to keep people imprisoned who might embarass the government for having such lenient sentancing. That way when people like Clifford Olson and Paul Bernardo are finished their official 25 year sentance they don't get released causing an uproar as to why our 'life-sentance' isn't anything close to life. Problem is what about all those other 1st degree murder convictions that weren't high profile cases?

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

I wasn't really commenting on policy or track record with my remark. I was personally embarrassed that he was the face of Canada to the international community for as long as he was. My comment strictly has to do with perception, nothing else.

I'm far from a Chretian fan, but let's be realistic here. Aside from George W. Bush, Chretien was very highly regarded by various world leaders. He had excellent relationships with Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, Jacques Chirac, and others. According to wikipedia (consider the source), he was even rumoured to be a possible replacement for Koffi Annan as UN Secretary General.

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

I'm far from a Chretian fan, but let's be realistic here. Aside from George W. Bush, Chretien was very highly regarded by various world leaders. He had excellent relationships with Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, Jacques Chirac, and others. According to wikipedia (consider the source), he was even rumoured to be a possible replacement for Koffi Annan as UN Secretary General.

That would have been awesome. Then he could aid the UN for the proof of the proof of a proof!

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

I'm far from a Chretian fan, but let's be realistic here. Aside from George W. Bush, Chretien was very highly regarded by various world leaders. He had excellent relationships with Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, Jacques Chirac, and others. According to wikipedia (consider the source), he was even rumoured to be a possible replacement for Koffi Annan as UN Secretary General.

Let's not forget when he put that protester in a death grip choke hold. That, more than anything, should cement his status as #1 bad ass. At least, it did in my books.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

Let's not forget when he put that protester in a death grip choke hold. That, more than anything, should cement his status as #1 bad ass. At least, it did in my books.

Yes, I also find the choke hold to be my most favourite trait in a world (or galactic) leader.

[zuluking]

Originally Posted by Mark

Taking the title from the article was probably a mistake as that wasn't exactly representing what I wanted to bring to the discussion. Thanks for pointing that out.

In regards to what is a legit news source, can anyone really argue as anything 100% trustworthy? Every news outlet seems to have a bias or leaning. Everything is still written by humans who are writing from their own viewpoint even if they are trying to remain neutral. It is my belief to listen to everyone and make my own conclusions. I'm not going to just ignore half of the media because they might say certain things. There is no balanced media, but only the individual can find the balance by listening to all sides.

It's an Opinion column from the TO Star. If you were looking for balance (or even news,) you failed. If you weren't, then you were starting a Harper-bashing thread while stating that you weren't intending to. It's disingenuous.

[starseed]

To add to Chretien's badassitude, the RCMP obviously knew that Jean could handle whatever came his way on his own. When someone broke into 24 sussex while he and his wife were in their bedroom, he defended himself using an inuit statue.

Secret Service? Pfft. Our Prime Ministers arent wusses.

...oh wait: http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/loc...b=EdmontonHome

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by starseed

To add to Chretien's badassitude, the RCMP obviously knew that Jean could handle whatever came his way on his own. When someone broke into 24 sussex while he and his wife were in their bedroom, he defended himself using an inuit statue.

Secret Service? Pfft. Our Prime Ministers arent wusses.

...oh wait: http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/loc...b=EdmontonHome

I thought it was Cretins wife that had to defend the palace?

[CaptainCrunch]

It was his wife.

[starseed]

I guess I read wrong info. I was 7 at the time, so I googled it and there were a few sources that said it was Jean, another that said it was his wife, but then I found this:

Dallaire wandered around in the basement and on the ground floor for another half-hour before going upstairs. Outside the Chrétiens' bedroom, he was confronted by the Prime Minister's wife, Aline, who quickly retreated into the bedroom, locked the door and telephoned for help - while Chrétien himself brandished an Inuit stone sculpture in case Dallaire broke through the door.

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.c...=M1ARTM0010953

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by starseed

I guess I read wrong info. I was 7 at the time, so I googled it and there were a few sources that said it was Jean, another that said it was his wife, but then I found this:



http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.c...=M1ARTM0010953

Also, I realize you're making a funny comment, but it should be noted that an inuit statue probably won't do much to stop a terrorist plot to "behead the Prime Minister of Canada."

Unless it comes out that "bodyguards" really means "vacations in the the Caribbean," I have no problems with paying top-dollar to protect the leader of our country.