OK, so here's the scenario: You're the Prime Minister of a country that has a leaf prominently displayed on its flag, uses coins that feature the images of various animals and where one of the most popular past times is "Newfie" jokes. You're way down in the polls and things are looking grim with the election only two weeks away. What do you do? Well, if you're Paul Martin you borrow a page from Gerhard Schroeder's playbook and pretend that your opponent is actually George W. Bush.
Martin, of course, wouldn't be in such a predicament if his government wasn't scandal-ridden. It's also interesting to note that after taking office Martin promised to improve ties with the U.S. Initially, at least, it appeared he succeeded.
Anyway, I'm anxious to see how this plays out. Does Bush-bashing still have sufficient currency to rescue foundering foreign heads of state? Do Canadians place a higher premium on doing what's best for their country or in casting a proxy vote against Bush?
It's interesting to me that while foreign leaders enjoy taking pot-shots at Bush that Bush spends his time praising friends such as Tony Blair and Junichiro Koizumi while saving verbal daggers for the likes of Saddam Hussein and Kim Jong Il.
Martin, of course, wouldn't be in such a predicament if his government wasn't scandal-ridden. It's also interesting to note that after taking office Martin promised to improve ties with the U.S. Initially, at least, it appeared he succeeded.
Anyway, I'm anxious to see how this plays out. Does Bush-bashing still have sufficient currency to rescue foundering foreign heads of state? Do Canadians place a higher premium on doing what's best for their country or in casting a proxy vote against Bush?
It's interesting to me that while foreign leaders enjoy taking pot-shots at Bush that Bush spends his time praising friends such as Tony Blair and Junichiro Koizumi while saving verbal daggers for the likes of Saddam Hussein and Kim Jong Il.
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