Yup, That About Summons It Up
U.S. President George W. Bush on Monday kept up his tradition of informal relations with fellow world leaders by summoning Prime Minister Stephen Harper with a brusque “Yo Harper!”
– and, of course “Harper” toddled on over.
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I don’t have a big problem with this faux paux [sp?]. It’s not like he grabbed Steve “Yo” Harper by the shoulders for an uninvited massage (that’s already been done I guess). And the women nattering on Canada AM about it almost made me puke. It was like The View - Through the Canadian Looking Glass.
This is just another example of Bush’s ignorant cowboy ways which have no place in world politics. (BTW, no insult is meant to real cowboys).
The man is as polished as a lump of coal. I always cringe for Mercans when their great leader stumbles about verbally.
You know, I have no problem if the president of the free world wants to be a little less formal than has been common in the past. Social behaviour and interactions, even between world leaders, changes as the world changes.
I have a huge problem with a president whose lying, cheating, fumbling, lack of knowledge, lack of nuance, lack of tact, laziness, etc, and general incompetence has resulted in the deaths of untold innocent civilians and a world that is significantly less safe, less progressive, and less hopeful than it was 10 years ago.
And I have a huge problem with our own prime minister kowtowing to this bumbling fool. Chretien was an ass, but if there was one thing he did well, it was tell George Bush where to put it.
IMO, this little faux pas has little to do with being informal and a lot to do with a pecking order Harper has apparently agreed to.
The world stage is not some tavern where a “Yo Name” is acceptable
Let’s have a little decorum amongst the world leaders.
Don’t have to act like a real rube, Mr. Bush
stageleft - “IMO, this little faux pas has little to do with being informal and a lot to do with a pecking order Harper has apparently agreed to.”
Bingo.
The correct response to “Yo, Harper” would have been “I beg your pardon? Are you addressing me?”
Sycophants like Harper just enable GWB’s frat-boy bullying and make themselves look like disgusting toadies.
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I’m with Jonzor on this - if he wants to be informal, then so be it. I say things in discussion with my friends many of you would probably find annoying or incomprehensible - I ain’t changing the way I talk to my friends for the benefit of my non-friends.
You guys are probably right about the pecking order - but I think at this point it’s irrelevant and the man can address his friends however he wants.