Bush: "Every Country Needs a Good Lefty"

[journalist3072]

'Lefty' Layton trades jabs with president


SUSAN DELACOURT AND BRUCE CAMPION-SMITH
STAFF REPORTERS

OTTAWA—For six minutes last night, while the top layer of Canada's political class schmoozed with cocktails and canapés, New Democratic Party Leader Jack Layton told President George W. Bush why a lot of Canadians don't like the idea of a missile-defence shield over North America.

Bush was not moved.

If there were no such thing as North Korea or Iran, Bush reportedly said, then there would be no need for missile defence. He seemed to like Layton's spunk, however.

As Bush started to slide away, to shake more hands among the three dozen or so high-ranking guests invited to the private reception at last night's gala dinner, he smiled and told Layton: "Every country needs a good lefty. ... We even have some in our country."

Layton spoke to the Star last night after what he described as a direct, amiable but ultimately "disturbing" conversation with Bush, which was followed up by longer chats at the private reception with the outgoing and incoming U.S. secretaries of state, Colin Powell and Condoleeza Rice. In all, Layton had about half an hour with top U.S. politicians.

He was gratified he got a chance to help explain to Americans what the protests in Ottawa were about yesterday, but he also knows he didn't make a dent in their determination to go ahead with the plan.

"He's a very determined man."

The private meet-and-greet before dinner was arranged by Prime Minister Paul Martin to give Bush a chance for slightly more than fleeting encounters with the key people on the Canadian political stage these days: premiers, select cabinet ministers, and an opposition leader or two.

Manitoba's Premier Gary Doer bent Bush's ear for several minutes on proposed U.S. water diversion in his province; Ontario's Premier Dalton McGuinty was there to impress upon the president how important it is to end the beef ban at the border.

Martin acted as host, guiding Bush from one knot of conversation to the next, hovering a bit worriedly, according to Layton, if the disagreement threatened to get too intense.

At dinner, a wider picture of Canada's political, business and cultural elite was on display for the U.S. president. All were basking in what is supposed to be the new glow of friendship in the Martin-Bush realm, though there were the odd, bracing breezes, such as the one Layton experienced at the reception.

Former prime minister Jean Chrétien, who didn't enjoy particularly friendly relations with Bush or Martin in his final year in office, was among the luminaries in the crowd of about 700 guests. Bush slid right past Chrétien as he entered the hall, pausing to shake hands with someone else at the table, but not the former prime minister.

Overall, though, the night was intended — and mostly came off — as a celebration of Canada-U.S. closeness. Bush got his first big applause of the night when he said: "I was pleased to see when I opened up the menu, that we'll be eating Alberta beef."

Bush used his address, in part, to preview what is expected to be a longer tribute to Canada's friendship when he speaks in Halifax today.

[Sanity Claws]

1. Very dismissive

Every country needs a good lefty -- what a dismissive remark. He just places a label on someone and then ignores the context of what the person said.

[journalist3072]

3. That's Exactly Right!

[Bleacher Creature]

2. Wow. I never thought I could dislike him any more

I guess I can.

[Missy M]

4. Bush has no class

Can you imagine anyone with a more simple mind than Bush. He would not even shake hands with former Prime Minister Chretien. I don't think Bush is "determined", I think he's a stupid, petty, one-dimensional little man.

[journalist3072]

5. I Agree!

And he has no clue how to conduct himself on the world stage. He doesn't know how to interact with international leaders.

[Missy M]

7. He needs a crash course

Bush should sit down with the Office of Protocol for a crash course in how to behave.

[journalist3072]

8. Yep!!!

But the sad thing is, he probably doesn't see anything wrong with his actions.

[Swamp Rat]

6. What countries DON'T need are Texas McDictaters

[Minstrel Boy]

9. more info in the LBN story:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1036223

[Minstrel Boy]

10. "Layton sends mass message"

NDP Leader Jack Layton has issued a rally cry to anti-Bush protesters through "demon-dial." Layton yesterday defended his bid to draw demonstrators to Parliament Hill through an automated voice-mail message. Thousands of residents in the Ottawa area received his call to join him in demonstrating against the U.S. president.

"I'm calling to ask you to join me and other New Democrats to say no to Bush's arms race, no to the weaponization of space and no to Bush's Star Wars," Layton said in the message.

The NDP leader defended his "fundamental right" to protest and denied that the move shows disrespect for the visiting dignitary. Layton will also be addressing the afternoon crowd today.

Layton, who was miffed he was initially denied private time with the president, said protesters are "drawing inspiration" from demonstrators in the Ukraine.

http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/EdmontonSun/News/2004/11/30/741161.html

[Minstrel Boy]

11. "NDP wants probe into Layton's 'breach'"

OTTAWA (CP) - Jack Layton was forced to limit his questions on missile defence Wednesday in the House of Commons, a situation his party says breached his privilege.

The NDP leader was trying to question the Liberal government about missile defence, each time prefacing his question by saying he talked to either U.S. President George W. Bush or State Secretary Colin Powell about the issue. He was hooted down each time, first by Conservatives, then by both Tory and Liberal MPs.

The Speaker eventually asked him to drop the preamble and get straight to the question. His party says that breached his parliamentary privilege.

The issue blew up into a long discussion later in the House, with one Conservative MP even blaming Layton's troubles on his encouragement of protest during the U.S. president's visit to Ottawa on Tuesday.

Layton's point about the weaponization of space was lost in the kerfuffle over the name-dropping.

He did manage to reveal that Powell told him the U.S. missile defence program will involve weapons in space to shoot down incoming missiles, a possibility Prime Minister Paul Martin's government has always said it opposes.
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2004/12/01/754886-cp.html


NDP Leader Jack Layton gestures as he
attempts to ask a question which was
met with howls of laughter.

[TahitiNut]

12. "He's a very determined man." ?? (They misspelled 'demented'!)

:grr:

[Scrooge]

13. He is an embarresment to the world!

What an ASSHOLE. Why cant he just shut his mouth!?!