O.K. The following may sound a bit strange considering that in the last post I was talking about how nauseating it was to have Obamamania force-fed to us by the Canadian chapter of the MOB (thank you Lorrie Goldstein), However, that doesn’t mean we can’t take advantage of the situation here.
So yesterday Stephen Harper called Barack Obama and congratulated him for his historic victory and expressed how he was looking forward to working with the President-elect for the mutual benefit of their countries (CTV):
"In a warm exchange, the two leaders emphasized that there could be no closer friends and allies and vowed to maintain and further build upon this strong relationship," said an email about the call between the two leaders from the Prime Minister’s office.
As the CTV link explains, the significance of this event was captured yesterday on MDL:
Experts say that Harper stands a better chance of having Obama’s ear than other world leaders.
"We are one of the few voices in NATO the Americans are prepared to listen to because we are on of the few in NATO actually doing the heavy lifting in Afghanistan," James Blanchard, a former ambassador to Canada, told CTV’s Mike Duffy Live on Thursday evening.
Blanchard added that the fact the two North American leaders appear to have had a good conversation is a promising indicator.
"Every leader in the world wants to talk to Barack Obama. I doubt very many have, so that’s a really good sign," he said.
And as Chantel Hebert points out, Harper and Obama aren’t really all that far apart on the key policies of Afghanistan, energy security and climate change.
Yes, ironically Obama’s win will actually benefit Harper more than McCain’s would have. He is now free to enter a closer working relationship with the U.S. without being labeled an Obama lapdog. Because as we all know, Obama can do no wrong, right? So it follows that being friends with the U.S. President is now acceptable.
In any case, I am proud to have the very articulate Stephen Harper as our Prime Minister in this ‘new era’, as Globe MOB member Lawrence Martin calls it.
Had the Liberals won the last election, imagine how a similar conversation between Obama and Stephane Dion might have gone…
"What do you mean, what would I have done different about Kyoto as an environment minister? I am the Prime Minister! I don’t understand your question. Are you asking about my dog?"
"Can we start again please?"
* * * *
Update: It seems that the last bit gave Erwin Gerrits an idea – Did we make the right choice?
Sunday Update: Harper starts the ball rolling with President-elect Obama – L. Ian MacDonald (Gazette).
What seems to have been missed, is the democrats have been in the house for the past 2 years, and things got worse, there is no reason to think, it will get better, and with the economy in a mess, and will get worse, who would you rather have in power, the party in power will get blame, the mid terms will be bad for the democrats, watch the republicans come up with a contract with america type of solution. obama is at best incompetent, no reaching accross the aisle there, he intends to be nasty at anything republican, he has more than prooved it with his choice in chief of staff, this ass send a dead fish to a pollster, and that means in a organized crime kind of way, if you keep on pissing me off, you will be swiming with the fishes, it is a death threat, or , the republicans can go f… themselves… so sit back, be nice, watch the mess, and say why the hell would you want this here? Harper is in perfect position, the opposition is in no shape to fight another election, I give less than a year, and harper will be in position to gets his majority. count on the left to elect a left obama look alike….
You’re right Joanne.
I too am proud that our leader is articulate and able to spontaneously answer difficult questions but that says more about Dion in particular more than anything else. The man would truly have been an embarrassment to Canada if he had been elected.
And don’t think for a moment that Dion isn’t planning another run at Harper before he exits stage left (as oppossed to stage right).
All our glorious leader has to do is start turning the other cheek when the opposition parties get nasty and the next few years will be good ones for Canada and for the CPC.
NeilD
“What do you mean, what would I have done different about Kyoto as an environment minister? I am the Prime Minister! I don’t understand your question. Are you asking about my dog?”
“Can we start again please?”
Okay, that’s it. Now I am really furious and I MEAN IT!!!!!!! I am sick and tired of spewing coffee or other beverages through my nose because some blog host inconsiderately and with no regard for my well-being just has to post a hilarious punch line to a blog. STOP DOING THAT!!! It’s UNFAIR!!!!! At least have the consideration and perhaps a modicum of compassion and post a warning at the very beginning to let us know to put down the beverage and swallow before proceeding. Darned inconsiderate and I’m really pissed off.
LOL. Well done, Joanne. Keep up the good work.
“before he exits stage left (as oppossed to stage right).”
I have the feeling that he won’t go away. Why do I think that Dion will surprise us and take another run at the leadership because suddenly there is a groundswell of support for him. I have the distinct suspicion that he has become addicted to the power of being the leader – even if it is the leader of a corrupt gaggle of losers.
Mr. Harper, has experience that few if any Libs give him credit for having. It will be this experience that he applies strategically with Mr Obama. We, I feel, saw it begin to unfold these past few days.
Mr. Obama, does not have the experience and has entered a quagmire called the US of A and will need all the help he can get. The giddy, power hungry Dems, I think will soon look like our Libs.
Mr Harper, would be a calm, neutral resource if Mr Obama so chooses.
If it has to be Barrack Obama, thank G## it is Stephen Harper!
East of Eden:
Blue Like You
“Always put your coffee down before entering this site” Doncha know!! HA HA
Off topic except EoE brought up Dion so I was reminded
I think that the EC topic on your “Closure” post has been posted. I am not sure so I will not post links but saw it at the Globe and Mail comments “No More Free Rides, Dion…. In total.. took up alot of room.
What some journalists fail to acknowledge is that, slowly, PM Harper has been able to convince other leaders that if climate change is really as great a problem as claimed, then GLOBAL action is required.
And that goes for Lorrie Goldstein as well, who has often said that Mr. Harper has been hypocritical in his approach to climate change, first denying it was a problem, and then pretending to be converted to the cause. Sorry, Mr. Goldstein, you’re often right, but not on Mr. Harper’s climate change position.
Mr. Harper’s position has been consistent all along:
1. Canada’s signing of Kyoto was meaningless if there was no implementation plan to go along with it – a made in Canada solution was required.
2. Climate change does not stop at borders. A global problem requires GLOBAL solutions, which means China, India and the US also have to be part of the solution.
3. There must be a balance between measures taken to mitigate the effects of climate change and the economy.
To now imply that Mr. Harper is changing his stance from the Bush approach to climate change to an Obama approach is indulging in revisionism.
[...] h/t [...]
Canada is a bright spot for Obama, a climate change pact and secure energy is a positive in what is a very negative situation he just walked into.
On a personal level, there will be mutual admiration, and PMSH can mentor Obama (we’ve been there, done that) on healthcare and regulating departments/industry without bringing them to a stand still and slowing the economy.
Alberta has just injected $2B into technology re: oilsands/reducing carbon, and should be at the enviro table to share our techno knowledge.
Like PMSH, Obama is a church-going Christian with a strong wife and a young family, PMSH and he will get along just fine, amybe even famously, like the Mulroney/Regan era.
ps. the more Harper/Obama are seen as having a good even cosy working relationship, the less likely Libs are to win an election…..would you vote for those
anti-American Lib/Dipper/Bloc parties, risking them ruining a good thing? hahahahha.
According to the poll at JNW, Dion will win the leadership by acclimation. I do think he will huff and puff about bringing the govt down, in order to bring the liberal MP numbers down to about 4.
He better wait till the Quebec election is over to see the voter turnout and the liberal numbers.
PMSH will emerge in the eyes of canadians as a very astute leader in dealing with the big O.
Already there are snide remarks about O in the foreign press and the late night comics. And, many in the media are finally starting to ask, who/what is O.
I wonder how long it will take before the Libs begin calling Harper an Obama-ite just like the called him a Bushie. Bear in mind that the Libs were rooting for Obama – whatever the case, they’ll try to turn Harper into an Obama lover in very short order.
As for Harper’s astuteness, yes – he has it in spades. I think that Canadians are starting to see him as a strong leader and not a dictator. The Lib talking points are beginning to appear tired and worn-out; especially in light of Paul Wells’ article on Dion’s hard-headedness and refusal to listen to advice. He appears to be soft and cuddly but Paul Wells’ article showed him to be a “my way only” kind of guy. That works for us, thank God. Harper is calm and thoughtful. I have yet to see him make a rash or ill-considered move. What may seem dictatorial is what I see as a strong leader who keeps a lid on missteps as much as humanly possible. Martin completely lost control of his party and Dion never had control. Harper, on the other hand, is the boss and that is what a leader is supposed to be.
On the outside it appears that he runs a one-man show but, really, he is the face of the CPC and everything he presents to us as the Canadian public is the result of discussion and analysis. No yakking to the media just for the sake of yakking; only hard facts and policies. This is a leader.
At least have the consideration and perhaps a modicum of compassion and post a warning at the very beginning to let us know to put down the beverage and swallow before proceeding. Darned inconsiderate and I’m really pissed off.
Sorry, East of Eden.
I owe several people a new keyboard due to coffee spurting over the years.
I think that the EC topic on your “Closure” post has been posted. I am not sure so I will not post links but saw it at the Globe and Mail comments “No More Free Rides, Dion…. In total.. took up alot of room.
Thanks Bec. It looks like some of the stuff that Karol was ranting about. To be honest, I couldn’t quite follow exactly what he was trying to suggest. I may have to check that out again more closely when I get a chance.
Harper’s “secret weapon” for the Obama’s is called “Ben and Rachel”. Close in age, non establishment, basically well grounded … looks like a hit in my books!
Harper’s “secret weapon” for the Obama’s is called “Ben and Rachel”.
Omigosh, Teddi. Can you imagine the Harper family and the Obama family together? How cute would those three girls look together? And Laureen and Michelle would likely hit it off quite well too.
Joanne – I forgive you. LOL. Seriously, I almost did spurt coffee through my nose when I read the punch line – that was so funny. It was worth it, though, once I stopped choking. Very dry wit – love it.
As for the Harper and Obama families – yes, they will look great together. Michelle Obama is far more “out there” than Laureen Harper but they are both strong and sensible women who would make a great team. The Lib foamers were all gleefully rubbing their hands together at the thought (woefully misguided) that Harper and Obama would hit head-on and Harper would lose. I think that our man Harper and their man Obama will be a great team. Both are quite savvy and both have made history.
Obama is the first bi-racial US president and Harper took a dead party (PC) and a struggling party (Reform/Alliance) and formed a solid and winning party (CPC). Both are young and both are very intelligent. I think we have a winning team, here. Can you imagine a strong and thoughtful guy like Obama trying to make sense of anything Dion would propose? And I’m not talking about the language issue, either. Obama is grounded in reality and Dion is…well…not grounded at all.
“I owe several people a new keyboard due to coffee spurting over the years”
…..and while your at it, a new MAC for the spare room?
Laughing at this stuff is such great tonic!
E of E & Bec, so glad you got a giggle out of it.
Oh, and thanks for the tip about the ‘ranch’ and the ‘foamers’! lol!
I posted a few comments today – some have yet to show up. The foamers are diminishing in number but they’re more rabid than ever to compensate. You should have seen it pre-election. LOL. The foamers predicted Dion would win by a landslide. Now, of course, some of them are taking credit for “our” win in the states. Uh, like these folks had anything to do with Obama’s win. Sheesh.
Take a stroll near the end of the day and you’ll get a real kick out of it. The core group of foamers can really come up with some outlandish stuff.
It could be a match made in heaven, the Obamas and the Harpers. It would make it pure hell for the Carcass called the Liberal party, the Dippers and the media across the board.
The Liberal spokesperson/whatever, Don Boudria on MDL last night is still ranting on about Bush and Harper.
Someone needs to tell him to get current, get up to speed, move on and watch how smart people get along.
Liberals are a poor lot to be telling anyone how to get along in the divide mess they’re in.
O.T. but is appears that Henry Champ has retired and Paul Hunter will not be the cbc man in Ottawa. He is in the tank for Obama so can we expect some positive reports re the USA and PMSH. Could he turn off his hate for PMSH, guess we will have to watch his body language and facial expressions when reporting.
oops, that should be NOw be the cbc man in Washington.