Bush Says Hopes for Quick End to Canada Beef Ban

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OTTAWA (Reuters) - President Bush pledged on Tuesday to try to expedite the opening of U.S. borders to Canadian beef as he sought to mend ties with Canada frayed by the Iraq war, insults to the White House and trade disputes.

Bush gave no concrete timetable for the lifting of a ban on Canadian beef and live cattle imposed in 2003 after the discovery of a case of mad cow in the western province of Alberta. But the U.S. president said he wanted to step up the process of reviewing a possible end to the ban.

"I have sent word over (to the Office of Management and Budget) that they need to expedite that request as quickly as possible," Bush told a joint news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin.

The procedure for lifting the beef ban could take up to 150 days, including time for review and public comment. Canadian officials said Bush told Martin he hoped that time line could be shortened but he wasn't able to give ironclad assurances.
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=6958612

[Maple]

1. In other words

'don't hold yer breath'

[Ardee]

2. Speaking of banning Beef

Canada has a statute that prohibits government officials from nations that torture prisoners from entering that country...A pity they didnt enforce it!

[illflem]

3. I liked the other part of bush's speech in Canada today

when he said, "Thanks to all you Canadians who waved to me with five fingers."

Wonder how it feels to be the most hated man in the world?

[Todd B]

10. He said smugly

He certainly is clueless. I think that I was more enraged over this line, though:

“We just had a poll in our country when people decided that the foreign policy of the Bush administration ought to stay in place for four more years,” Bush said at a joint news conference with Martin.

Arrrrgh. The arrogant, worthless, miserable excuse for a human being. Have I mentioned how much I hate him? Reality check - you were elected by a mere 3% and 40 million + people voted against you and for Senator John Kerry so don't give me that mandate crap.

Ok, I'm done now! :)

[Lisa]

12. Hey, George! How could you count their fingers? They had mittens!

Martin Sheen was right. Bush really is like a hammy comic trying to work the room!

[nine23]

4. Excellent. Albertan cowboys are ecstatic.

Now, will he get the fuck outa' my country already?

The man is a socio-political liability just being here. As we all know, Americans "don't take too kindly" to outsiders disliking their president, and it's clear that all 32 million of us really dislike this guy.

I'm starting to get nervous. I fear that Tucker Carlson will martyr himself for his country by strapping on some TNT, head for the border with his grandmother on one of those prescription drug-buying junkets, and set out for revenge on Carolyn Parrish, potentially harming innocent bystanders.

Get 'em outa' here. Tucker's gonna blow at any minute.

[Spazito]

5. I will file this beside the assurance there were WMDs in Iraq...

it is about as truthful, imo.

[Aristus]

6. Hmm. The U.S. Beef lobby must be breathing down his neck. n/t

[Ian David]

7. Canada: Stop selling us beef

Please tell Bush you don't want to sell him any beef.

If he went all the way to Canada just for your meat, make it a wasted trip.

Start a worldwide meat-embargo against America.

We eat too much of the stuff anyway.

[Flammable Materials]

8. GODDAMN IT!

THE WORLD IS NOT YOUR "NIGGER", GEORGE.

[LynnTheDem]

9. bush wants Cdn beef in the US so he can blame Canada for mad cow

Since the US now has several deaths from mad cow disease from American beef.

[bhikkhu]

11. Its a ban with a wink and a nod.

I wish I had saved the link, but I read a month or so ago that we have been importing Canadian ground beef, and other beef products, for about a year. Probably much less than before and under the radar, but enough for money to be made by those with the right connections.

[daleo]

13. Just talk from Bush

Not that I think it matters. I don't blame Americans for not wanting Canadian beef, but they are naive if they think U.S. beef is any better. I avoid beef from any country now.