Prime Minister Jean Chrétien got along swimmingly with United States President Bill Clinton – they were golfing buddies – but the latest dust-up in Prague when Françoise Ducros, one of Chrétien’s top aides, allegedly called President George W. Bush “a moron,” probably better reflects the relationships of our leaders over the years.
But it hasn’t always been a litany of barbs and brickbats. In a 1961 speech to Parliament, President John F. Kennedy characterized the relationship between the U.S. and Canada as follows: “Geography has made us neighbours, history has made us friends, economics has made us partners, necessity has made us allies.”
1971 – When it was revealed that President Richard Nixon called Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau “an asshole” in his private tapes, Trudeau responded with, “I’ve been called worse things by better people.”
2001 – Who can ever forget the perceived snub of Canada when President Bush, in a speech to Congress, thanked countries all over the world for standing with the United States in its fight against terror after the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon? He did not mention Canada.
There was an uproar in Canada over the perceived snub. To put things in perspective, a top Chrétien aide was called upon to put a favourable spin on Bush’s speech. The aide said: “If it is anything, it is an indication that our support goes without saying.”
8 comments on “Prime Ministers and Presidents”
I was watching The View, and they were with Canada on this one. They said lots of Americans call Bush a moron each day, but when a Canadian says it, it is international news. I even heard somewhere that there was one poor missenformed person (who obviosly had their own show, that is the American way) who thought Jean Chrétien was the advisor that had said the Moron remark.
Yeah, stupid people should not have their own shows.
PEOPLE LIKE US SHOULD!!!
The Apollo Christ Hour(TM), with his co-host Sascha, the Enforcer Disciple!
Today’s guests incude…
Yeah our show would rock, we would have one thing that most shows don’t have, We would actually look at both sides of the argument, not just the popular side.
If We get rich we should start that show. I think it would be a big hit 😀
Yeah, we’ll be objective, but also a stong voice for the truth.
When, not if, we’re rich, we’ll make the show. Also a spin-off magazine and clothing line it time…
Believe me if we started telling enything else but the truth, I wouls quite extremly fast.
The clothing line would be great. Lots of jeans and teeshirts
Yep. Jeans, t-shirts and capes, my friend. It’s all about the cape. And big-brimmed Gandolf hats!
W00t!
CAPES!!!!!!! BOOOOOO YAAAA I am so there. I want mine to be frilly that way no one will expect that I am the Enforcer Deciple
ok, sounds perfect!