Martin won't go to Reagan funeral

[kskiska]

Ottawa — Prime Minister Paul Martin decided yesterday not to go to Washington to attend the state funeral of former U.S. president Ronald Reagan, two days after his letter of condolence raised eyebrows about whether he is distancing himself from the United States during a hard-fought election campaign.

"Let's say a lot of ambivalence came through," a U.S. official said yesterday of the statement issued on the weekend by the Prime Minister's Office. "It seemed to underscore things somewhat."

The letter referred to Mr. Reagan as one of the most influential leaders of the past 50 years, and stated that he "helped lay the foundations" for the end of the Cold War and much greater co-operation between East and West.

But it was largely observational in tone, steering clear of the kind of rhetoric employed by leaders such as French President Jacques Chirac, who lauded the 40th president as "a great statesman who will leave a deep mark in history."

Canada will be represented at the funeral by Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson.

more…
http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040608.wxreagan09/BNStory/Front/

[LibertyorDeath]

1. Excellent!

[Wonk]

2. Well, Canada does have a national election in less than three weeks

and I don't see how sucking up to Raygun's legacy could do anything but hurt Martin's chances there. That's the Conservative's jobs, like Mulroney and Harper, to suck up to the American right wing neo-cons.

[physioex]

3. Great...The world knows he was nothing more than a statesman..EOM

[whirlygigspin]

5. Adrienne Clarkson is the Head of State

not Martin, as it should be.

nuff said.

[I thought so.]

4. Smart move.

I know I'd do anything to miss Bush's eulogy.

[CHIMO]

6. Don' Forget

Irish eyes.

http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2004/06/07/canada/mulroney_reagan040607
Mulroney, Clarkson to attend Reagan funeral

[whirlygigspin]

7. Brian Mulrooney!

The most hated politician in Canadian history!

weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

--if the freeps think DU is bad, consider this: Mulrooney's picture can't even be show in public in Canada without someone throwing dog shit at it!

[nonbelief]

8. Canada isn't doing anything surprising...

Even Australia's John Howard, who would probably french-kiss Reagan's corpse if he could, isn't going to the funeral. Like Canada , Australia is sending its Governor General. That's proper procedure.