Dubya's in Canada

Sistermadly · #1 11-30-2004, 04:02 PM

Open thread to discuss his visit. First thoughts: he jumped salty when people brought up the US's involvement in Iraq and the whole Canadian Beef thing. That famous temper was clearly on display.

kappaloo · #2 11-30-2004, 04:03 PM

TOOO MUCH HYPE.
I mean, I know he's important and Canada/US relations are important, but everyone makes it such a huge thing and I just don't care that much.

Sistermadly · #3 11-30-2004, 04:09 PM

Is it really not that big of a deal? I know that one of the reasons he didn't visit until now was because he was waiting for Chretien to leave office. Relations between the two countries haven't been that great lately, and some people think this will go a long way toward improving things. Personally, I'm skeptical -- I can smell a photo op a mile away.

Lady Pi Phi · #4 11-30-2004, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kappaloo
TOOO MUCH HYPE.
I mean, I know he's important and Canada/US relations are important, but everyone makes it such a huge thing and I just don't care that much.

I concur with kappaloo. Far too much hype. And I tjink it will be seen with the demonstrations. It appears that not too many people are interested in protesting his visit.

I just want to add that, while it's important we try to mend any broken relationships, it's the media hype that makes myself I know, uninterested in his visit.

And it's not even the disucssion about issues that the media is focusing on. Canada AM this morning was talking about who was and wasn't going to be at the dinner. I'm surprised their correspondent didn't start talking about who was going to be wearing what!

kappaloo · #5 11-30-2004, 04:17 PM

Sistermadly: I'm not saying his visit isn't important. It is. But the media hype is insane and unneccessary. I'd like to read about the visit - on page 3/4/5 of the newspaper. Not the first. The two men in the Walkerton water scandel took plea bargins today and I think that is much bigger news - at least in my part of Ontario.

Quote:

Originally posted by Lady Pi Phi
And it's not even the disucssion about issues that the media is focusing on. Canada AM this morning was talking about who was and wasn't going to be at the dinner. I'm surprised their correspondent didn't start talking about who was going to be wearing what!

Making Seamus go to Ottawa was definately excessive in my opinion.

IowaStatePhiPsi · #6 11-30-2004, 07:25 PM

did they arrest him for war crimes? or are they just all talk?

KillarneyRose · #7 11-30-2004, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by IowaStatePhiPsi
did they arrest him for war crimes? or are they just all talk?

Yes, they shackled and handcuffed the President of the United States as soon as he stepped off Air Force One. Now he's being held in solitary in an undisclosed location (insiders think it may be the currently-underutilized Corel Centre) and being forced to listen to Celine Dion songs until he apologizes for being a big ol' meanie.

You mean you didn't hear about that???

Okay, now back to Realityland:
I loved President Bush's statement thanking the Canadians who lined the streets to greet him and wave at him "with all five fingers"

CutiePie2000 · #8 12-01-2004, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by KillarneyRose
Okay, now back to Realityland:
I loved President Bush's statement thanking the Canadians who lined the streets to greet him and wave at him "with all five fingers"

Ha ha ha...well, if Trudeau was still alive and in power, he might have shown Bush a "different finger" (LOL)

Sidebar and True Story for those who may not know[
When Trudeau was the Prime Minister (and yes, still alive), he flipped the bird to some people in Salmon Arm. Yes, our National Leader gave the public that lovely gesture....TRUE STORY.

CanadianTeke · #9 12-01-2004, 01:20 AM

I spent the whole day at the rallies, shooting the story for our student television network. It was interesting, half the people didn't know what they were protesting, one student leader got up and talked for 15 minutes on lowering tuition, it was stupid. It got a little harry after the march to the musee du civilisations, we were face to face with the riot police, and the SDQ aren't exactly known for the passion towards mass demonstrations. thankfully we didn't get gassed. Either way bush being in town is a reall pain in the ass, with random street closures and re routed busses.

DeltAlum · #10 12-01-2004, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by CanadianTeke
...we were face to face with the riot police, and the SDQ aren't exactly known for the passion towards mass demonstrations. thankfully we didn't get gassed.

You guys just don't try hard enough. Speaking from personal experience covering protests during the sixties for student and then commercial TV stations, there's nothing like a little pepper gas or tear gas to liven up your life.

Good for the Canadians. It looks like they handled this better than we might have.

Rudey · #11 12-01-2004, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeltAlum
You guys just don't try hard enough. Speaking from personal experience covering protests during the sixties for student and then commercial TV stations, there's nothing like a little pepper gas or tear gas to liven up your life.

Good for the Canadians. It looks like they handled this better than we might have.

What does that mean? Better than we might have?

And girls have used mace on me before so I understand how tear gas might liven things up for some.

-Rudey

RACooper · #12 12-01-2004, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CanadianTeke
It got a little harry after the march to the musee du civilisations, we were face to face with the riot police, and the SDQ aren't exactly known for the passion towards mass demonstrations. thankfully we didn't get gassed.

Ahhhh the SDQ... well they only like to gas people if there are too many to smack around personally... but I think it's a good thing that they held back on the CS (military grade tear gas - SDQ doesn't use anyhting else) because that stuff sticks around for quite a while.

IowaStatePhiPsi · #13 12-01-2004, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rudey
And girls have used mace on me before so I understand how tear gas might liven things up for some.

-Rudey

kinky

DeltAlum · #14 12-01-2004, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rudey
What does that mean? Better than we might have?

Simply that if this had happened here, there's at least a resonable chance it would have gotten out of hand. It doesn't seem to me that we don't have a good history of peaceful or passive protests.

kappaloo · #15 12-01-2004, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeltAlum
Simply that if this had happened here, there's at least a resonable chance it would have gotten out of hand. It doesn't seem to me that we don't have a good history of peaceful or passive protests.

]

Heh, neither do we.