Bush chided Harper, urged him to demonstrate support for missile defence

[tuvor]

OTTAWA (CP) - George W. Bush scolded Conservative Leader Stephen Harper for his silence on missile defence and asked him to help secure Canadian involvement in the U.S. plan, The Canadian Press has learned.



The U.S. president used his trip to Canada late last year to bluntly voice irritation with Harper's enigmatic position on missile defence, sources on both sides of the border say.

One U.S. official described Bush's reproach to Harper as: "Please don't play partisan politics with this."

"I would hope you're looking at this in Canada's national interest and not in terms of partisan politics," Bush reportedly told Harper.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1845&e=3&u=/cpress/bush_harper_missiles

[Canuckistanian]

1. Poor Stephen

Rejected by the electorate AND scolded by Bush, his hero.
It's enough to make a conservative leader cry.

[iverglas]

2. well that's great!

"I would hope you're looking at this in Canada's national interest and not in terms of partisan politics," Bush reportedly told Harper.

So, now that Harper has Bush's instructions to do what's in Canada's national interest and not play party politics on the issue, I assume we can expect the Conservative Party to be voting against Canadian involvement in missile defence, should the issue arise!

Shall we all thank George W. now?

[Canadian Socialist]

3. Not a big fan of Harper

But I think if Harper says no to the missle defence, then that is not partisan, but national interest. Come on, that stuff does not work!

[Spazito]

5. Harper couldn't care less about the national interest

His whole agenda was to put the Liberals on the hotseat, he is very much for MDS or anything the US neocons might want. The only reason he kept quiet, lately, was to play politics with the national interest, he lost. Check out his previous comments on MDS, before the last election. You will find he was supportive.

[applegrove]

4. As a neocon - Harper must be Canadian Patriot & not that

into multilateralism. As a neocon he has to be very 'pragmatic' and not lead easily by sentiment. So - Harper should be for something called "Canadafest Destiny". That is where Canadians open their boarders to trade but close & end all military alliances and rules. Agreements & NORAD are for patsies & wimps!! Real Canadian Men like war. Didn't you know?

And it all started with that phony 'mad cow' outbreak and the secret stockpiles of beef carcases. After all you burry them deep enough and they will be OIL some day.

What it means to be a Canadian Neocon

[MrPrax]

6. Harper is a jerk...

One thing that can make certain that Conservative will never be elected is that they always seem to be lead by 'egomaniacs' and fundie idiots from Alberta who insist on being in charge...

Harper was in fact the biggest loser in the last election and if he REALLY wanted Tories back in power, he would have handed off to McKay and given them some chance...

The dude's been quiet on the MDS, supports the budget, two-faced on child care, redlined over provincial Premier's demands (resources, health care accord) and dithers more than Martin on virtually every issue--except of course GAY MARRIAGE.

For a guy trying to look like a moderate, why he is insisting on defining the Tories with 'fringe' issues?

Especially issues, like gay marriage, that, if the polls are correct, are a non-issue to most people, except the Hutterites!!

Good they're so stupid and tactless...keep not only from power, but from getting any seats in the East

[achtung_circus]

7. except the Hutterites!!

If 2 Hutterites get divorced, are they still brother and sister.

[MrPrax]

8. LOL n/t

[ironflange]

9. Say what you like about the Hutterites

We had a fresh Hutterite turkey last Thanksgiving and boy was it good. Their chickens rock, too.