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Thursday, January 20, 2005
Is it really possible to be this out of touch?
When she wants to, Gov. Gen. Adrienne Clarkson has no problem blowing horrendous amounts of taxpayer dollars jetting around the world. That doesn't extend, however, to attending the late Lt.-Gov. Lois Hole's funeral. At the time Clarkson's PR flacks told the media that she had "prior commitments" and was unable to attend.
So what were those committments? Why, spending an extended holiday in France with her husband.
At the moment tributes and tears were flowing in Edmonton in an extraordinary outpouring of public affection for Hole, Clarkson was in Paris, on the 10th day of a European holiday with her husband, John Ralston Saul.
Randy Mylyk, Clarkson's unfortunate press messenger -- he should be pitied, not shot -- confirmed yesterday that the GG and her husband had been "entirely on personal time" from the time they left Canada on Jan. 9 until yesterday.
The revelation is bound to land our jet-setting GG in hot water with politicians and the public yet again.
Even the Queen has now been dragged into this PR disaster -- in what appears to have been a hastily arranged damage-control photo-op with Clarkson yesterday.
Aren't we lucky that Paul Martin extended her time in office?
Greg Weston has the whole dish here.
Posted by Steve Martinovich on January 20, 2005 in Canadian Politics | Permalink
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Comments
This is yet another example of the monumental arrogance and self-absorption of our current GG. It also demonstrates (again) the fundamental contempt with which Central Canadian apparatchiks treat other regions of Canada. If this attitude continues there will be, eventually, a settling of accounts and the Ottawa political class will be staggered by the bill.
Posted by: Howard Lesiuk | 2005-01-20 4:13:50 AM
From Central Canada: I will second the post by Howard Lesiuk. The centre of gravity of Canada has shifted to Alberta.
Speaking of Alberta, Ralph Klein says no to non-smoking ban. A leader with courage. Bravo, Ralph Klein.
Posted by: maz2 | 2005-01-20 7:37:23 AM
Clarkson is bad enough, but that balding hippie person that follows her around? Jeez, he really brings out yer inner republican, doesn't he?
Posted by: John Palubiski | 2005-01-20 8:37:28 AM
Please, please, Norman, can't we call Canada (in the person of the Governess General, of course) half-assed, just this once?
Posted by: firewalls 'r us | 2005-01-20 8:40:29 AM
No, but you may call the PM who appointed her, and the one who re-appointed her, half-assed. Or worse.
The good news is that, as Canadians, we don't have to rise when our head of goverment enters a room to the sound of Hail to the Chief.
As to the GG, be creative and find another cheeky term to describe her and her Consort without bashing Canada.
Posted by: Norman Spector | 2005-01-20 8:50:57 AM
"No, but you may call the PM who appointed her, and the one who re-appointed her, half-assed. Or worse."
How about all the people who voted for him and (especially) his successor?
Posted by: firewalls 'r us | 2005-01-20 9:03:16 AM
The people are never wrong. Some need more information, or to be persuaded or whatever. The Conservatives need a better campaign and the Liberals should be attacked for their lies, etc. But the people are always right
Posted by: Norman Spector | 2005-01-20 9:10:22 AM
"Some need more information"
The Lieberals control the CBC, Grope and Flail, Toronto Star and you yourself think "blogs" are essentially worthless - I guess that leaves sandwich boards and smoke signals.
"or to be persuaded"
Sort of like how Quebec has "persuaded" the rest of us to accept their "distinctness", eh!
"or whatever"
Not sure what you're proposing here, but it intrigues me.
"The Conservatives need a better campaign"
Norm-speak for becoming indistinguishable from the Lieberals.
"the Liberals should be attacked for their lies, etc."
Kind of like the last federal campaign, which worked out ever so well! Good strategy until some Grope hack finds out that a backbench CPC candidate favours funding abortion counselling and turns it into a weeks worth of above-the-fold headlines.
Posted by: firewalls 'r us | 2005-01-20 9:32:43 AM
How about Rita McNeil for GG - we could then re-assign the initials to stand for "Governing Gourmand"
Posted by: Aidan | 2005-01-20 10:41:05 AM
It seems to me that Norman is taking a lot of heat on this site. I would like to post an excerpt from his press review on November 19:
"At home, it turns out the Governor-General, too, is away--which is why she did not attend Lois Hole’s funeral.
Busted again—and what a pathetic excuse. I sure hope the shopping in Kensington has made it all worthwhile.
Here—before the news of her “private matter” broke--is Paul Stanway’s rather generous take on the woman missing from Lieutenant-Governor’s funeral.
And here are Kerry Diotte’s recollections of a warm and wise woman. "
For someone who is allegedly as out of touch as Norman, he was well ahead of the mainstream media and the bloggers on this one. At least thats how I see it.
Posted by: Jeff Eirich | 2005-01-20 8:07:03 PM
Jeff, I'd like to claim prescience, but the reason this happens is that quite a few Ottawa-based journalists read my press review.
Posted by: Norman Spector | 2005-01-21 1:42:25 AM
McClelland
I'd drop this one if I were in your shoes.
The NDPs Pat Martin has been one of Her Excellency's sharpest critics since the caviar tour, and he's whacked her on this shopping expedition too. Adrienne's down to the Monarchist League for support, and even they are lukewarm. Slip out of her slippers, and keep your distance from Pierre Pettigrew of Paris, is my advice.
Posted by: Norman Spector | 2005-01-21 1:51:20 AM
OK. I look forward to your further contributions on behalf of Adrienne.
Posted by: Norman Spector | 2005-01-21 11:03:10 AM
Jeez, this McClelland guy doesn't show a heck of a lot of tolerance for differing opinions, does he? Anyone or anything he doesn't agree with, he just calls it stupid!
Posted by: ld | 2005-01-21 12:43:56 PM
It's OK, ld. Robert is the Shotgun's pet troll (though Norman has been vying for the title recently, hence the catfight below). Robert is justly celebrated for arguing on his blog that writing "F--- the Jews" is not anti-semitic, and for his unbroken streak of inane comment spam.
Posted by: mgl | 2005-01-21 1:23:54 PM
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