Selling out is back in
A year ago, Immigration Minister Monte Solberg presented a framed certificate of citizenship to a smiling Dalai Lama, making him an honorary Canadian. This week in New York, there were signs that the Conservative government would prefer to distance itself from the Tibetan Buddhist leader, after protests from the Chinese government. The Prime Minister's Office would not confirm plans for a meeting between Mr. Harper and the Dalai Lama next month and one person said that a "pause for thought" is taking place inside government....
A year ago, Immigration Minister Monte Solberg presented a framed certificate of citizenship to a smiling Dalai Lama, making him an honorary Canadian.Last year? That was, like, nine months ago.This week in New York, there were signs that the Conservative government would prefer to distance itself from the Tibetan Buddhist leader, after protests from the Chinese government. The Prime Minister's Office would not confirm plans for a meeting between Mr. Harper and the Dalai Lama next month and one person said that a "pause for thought" is taking place inside government.
The issue is significant because it suggests the government is rethinking its relationship with China... All the signs point to a more nuanced approach to China than the one initiated by Mr. Harper last year, when he promised he would not "sell-out to the almighty dollar" by allowing concerns about human rights to be overshadowed by the prospect of improved trade.
There's much more in this approving vein: "...the government has moderated its tone... a subtle shift that is seen as being part of a new, more thoughtful approach to foreign relations by a prime minister who has learned from experience... Mr. Harper now appears to have a clearer appreciation of the threats, interests and values that abound in the diplomatic world... etc"
Apparently Harper even weighed in with that old Liberal chestnut, the third way, proposing "an alternative governance model to 'unfettered capitalism on one hand or old socialist models on the other.'"
How sweet to be a Tory today. Untethered at last from any principled mooring, they are as light as feathers.
9/27/2007
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I'll have to consider a sympathy sitting meditation tonight...
Merkel just did what Harper's about to do. 10 seconds after Germany and China finish their post meeting dance Harper will place his side order order for what she's having.
How many Liberal MP's will try to make points about Canada being offside? How many reporters will cover that without any reference to Germany? So Canadian.
Andrew:
Only the Globe and Mail is more eager to hang stories on anonymous sources. I'll wait to hear it from Harper himself before I get sucked in by some "unbiased" canadian media source.
If your source is right, I'll take it back. Until then, get a grip.
As a side note, I'm still waiting for your follow up on previous posts about Harper destroying Canada with the Quebec is a nation bit. I haven't seen any public institutions crumbling as you'd predicted, but maybe your source has something more....
Until then...its crickets.
Harper's job is to act in the interest of Canadians, not Tibetans.
And besides, sticking our finger in China's eye might be principled, and might even feel good, but it's not going to do one iota of good for the Tibetan people.
Can't say as I have a lot of sympathy for a guy who wants to replace a communist dictatorship with a theocratic one whith him in charge.
I stand to be corrected, but I don't believe the D.L. has ever said he wants there to be a democratic government in Tibet.
Harper's confrontation with China was about CANADIAN CITIZENS who faced human rights abuses in China, just as this was part of the push behind Canada's condemnation of Iran's human rights record.
Apart from Rob Anders, I don't know of any particular pro-Tibet element of the Tory party.
... "How sweet to be a Tory today"... how true!
... However, the Tory's appear ideologically immaculate compared to the Liberals- who's obsession with abandoning Afghanistan and implementing Kyoto is more an attempt to distract Canadians from the absence of any true party identity- beyond criticising Conservative policies or stealing NDP ones; thus, the Liberal's meandering menagerie of dilettantes and debutantes, astronauts and academics, communist's sons and capitalist's daughters- all faithful followers of the magical, meaningless Middle Way.
Gord: You could look it up, I suppose, but that's so harrrrrrrrd.....
http://www.tibet.com/Govt/demo.html
"How sweet to be a Tory today. Untethered at last from any principled mooring, they are as light as feathers." Kind of sums up the way I have been feeling for some months now. How did you know? The problem is, it does not feel so sweet, more like mild nausea...
I can't believe Gord Turk suggested that the Dalai Lama wants to set up a theocracy for Tibet. A Buddhist theocracy! For Pete's sake it's pretty much an oxymoron. Then again, given some comments I've read from Gord in the past, I kinda CAN believe it.
Here's a hint. When you don't know what you're talking about, consider not talking.
As for the Tories, they learned well form their Liberal school teachers didn't they!
Changing position with the wind, massively underestimated surpluses leading to (surprise!) timely bonuses, profligate spending in all the wrong areas, meaningless rhetoric to make one SOUND like a leader, without having to, you know, LEAD.
Truly, the students have become the masters.
Andrew its been awhile since you proclaimed your beliefs that Dion has the makings of a great leader.....what was that analogy, I forget but you sure put him on a pedestal.
I've really been entertained how you've tried to spin things as much as possible,
particularily the recent post wherein you tried to belittle CPC gains in Quebec and deflect this away from Dion by focussing on the Bloc.
Is there a point at which you will actually recognize that you were wrong about Dion, or are your apparantly agenda driven blinders on so tightly that you're willing to completely lose all credibility?
Either way its been entertaining to watch.
Lord Kitchener:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theocracy#Historical_Buddhist_theocracies
The first one they mention is the Dalai Lama - though some consider the term technically incorrect.
Oh yes, here it is. Andrew comparing Dion to an "Emperor" (Dec 4 '06 column).
Now consider the following quotes in the context of Dion as we've come to know him. Andrew's says the following about Dion:
"At the same time, Mr. Dion’s chances of success in the short term are much greater than is commonly assumed. For his arrival as leader signals a tonal shift in our politics that the Tories would do well to be wary of."
...
(this next one is particularily funny)
"His is a singular political persona; we have not seen anything quite like it before. In intellect, courage, and conviction he is a match for Mr. Harper, as he is also in diligence, perseverance and integrity. Beyond that he is a paradox: outwardly humble, yet immensely self-assured; gentle in demeanour, yet tough as nails; respectful of opponents’ views, yet divinely certain of his own."
...
(consider Andrew's next one in the context of Dion calling himself a "hero",giving himself a grade of "A" in the Globe after the recebt Quebec trouncing, and the recent revelations that Mr.Kyoto was well aware that the targets he's demanding Harper meet were never intended to be met under the Liberals)
"And overarching all is a quite unblemished authenticity: there is not an ounce of phoney in this man."
The above may explain the pains Andrew's taken to avoid criticism of Dion.
"respectful of opponents views"
like his first week in opposition declaring Harper essentially a radical right wing freak, or his labelling those who disagree with lacking a "social conscience".
"courage"
Recall that Dion called HIMSELF a "hero". Not for jumping into a fire to save a baby, or carrying a comrade out of a vicious firefight in battle, or being a good samaritan and jumping into the frozen lake to save a drowning old man......you know, what the rest of us in the reality based community consider "heroic",
no, Dion was a "hero" (so says Dion) for chairing a meeting on climate change. Brave, brave stuff I tell ya.
So as for "courage" I suspect Dion would definitely agree with Andrew.
Hello! Does anyone here read anything or do research before commenting? Sigh.
The "hero" part of Dion is what he had to go through in '95 in the fight for federalism and it wasn't pretty or easy folks.
Many experts and pundits say Dion would make a good PM - it's just getting there that is the problem.
"Many experts and pundits say Dion would make a good PM - it's just getting there that is the problem."
Probably all the same experts and pundits who said Paul Martin would be a good PM and labeled Stephen Harper as unelectable. They've been batting 1.000 lately haven't they?
Anon who says I should do "research".
Here it is:
http://tinyurl.com/2e3edj
His interview with Jane taber saying he was celebrated as a "hero" for his climate conference.
You committed two mistakes:
1) You defended Dion (who, like Andrew, invariably makes you look bad) and
2) You opened your trap with a smarmy drive by which had the effect of amplifying my point while making you look like a dink.