US President Barack Obama’s economic adviser Larry Summers is seen here dozing off during a press conference with reporters while his boss explains what he learned about interest payments on borrowed money from the credit card companies.
Michael Ignatieff is said to have met with Summers later on for a private dinner.
If the most exciting political leader of our generation™ put an economist into snooze-mode, I can’t imagine what sort of responsive state Summers is in today after his meeting with Dr. Michael life-of-the-party Ignatieff.
The Liberal leader’s new book is titled True Patriot Love wherein Ignatieff recounts four generations of his family. One wonders if Ignatieff presented Summers with a copy for bedtime reading. Early reviews indicate that it’s no Dreams from My Father. But, who knows, it still could be a sleeper hit.
Stephen Taylor is a scientist, political analyst and a blogger. Taylor writes here regularly and is the founder of bloggingtories.ca. Taylor has contributed to Macleans, CTV, talk radio and has been a featured speaker on new media at numerous events including the Western Standard Cruise and the Forum for Public Policy. In December 2008, Taylor organized Rally for Canada, a series of rallies held coast-to-coast to protest the proposed coalition government.
April 24th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Wow, if Larry had wine with dinner Michael may have had a one-way conversation. Of course, Michael wouldn't mind talking to himself. It's not so much what's said, it's all about the optics of the trip. Na,na,na,na,na, I got friends in the Obama white House on a first name basis and Mr. harper doesn't.
April 24th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Stephen, TMZ has a way better picture..
http://www.tmz.com/2009/04/23/barack-a-bye-baby...
April 24th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
I think that most people seem to miss the real significance of the miss steps of Obamas people.
One falls asleep. Napolitano does not know where the 9/11 terrorist come from. She told us they came through Canada, when the truth is that they all had US Driver licenses. Now she wants to do away with the secure driver license program that was instituted after 9/11. Either these people are really uneducated or don't care.
In either way it does not bode well for our Relationship with the US.
As far as Ignatieff is concerned ,who gave him the authority to speak on behalf of Canada to White House Staff?
He is not even crowned leader of the Liberal Party never mind PM. He bragged about his discussion with his former buddies on Power Play. I don't want Ignatieff speak for me, a Canadian, at the White House.
April 24th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
I love this! I am sure Obama was impressed! I might thumb through a copy of Iggplant's book free when the libraries buy it (sounds like there is only one chapter of interest). I would certainly not want to contribute to any royalties. I gather that none of the family really liked Canada too much – always wanted to criticize and change it or, in his father's case, rebel against change that people wanted. No thanks. We have enough critics, and need STABILITY and a return to values we really believe in in Canada, with all the crazy change implemented by Liberal policies and conservative governments who did not fulfil their real mandates coming to fruition.
Dreams of my father, in contrast, is readable – a young man trying to understand his complex roots. Very different from a senior citizen (a citizen of England mostly) still trying to figure out who he is – in public, no less – and trying to justify his desire to seek power in his birth country. He has foot-in-mouth disease, as we know he does not get our culture, having missed so much!
Maybe Iggplant should have done his cross-country trip at age 20 something; instead he called Canada provincial and left. I lived abroad too in those years, and it does make one nostalgic for roots; but, hello, wrapping a flag around him does not make him PM material … He should join a think tank or something .. be a visiting prof of some university or whatever …
I might read his book sequel when he is 74, “Power-seeking as a Strategy for Loss of identity; But not Necessarily Power: How I Corrupted McKenzie-King's Famous Quotes to Further my Ambition.
April 24th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
Omanator, And I don't want Harper speaking for me anywhere
April 24th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
Loren, it will still be bettee than harper's future bio which will have as a theme the fiscal destruction of Canada.
April 24th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
I don't get this post at all… if Summer met Iggy after the press conference, what does him falling asleep earlier in the day have anything to do with anything?
April 25th, 2009 at 4:04 am
When their own party is almost down and out tories start the nasties. They only have one policy. Be angry and insult anyone who catches on
April 25th, 2009 at 5:03 am
Terry, you say it will be bettee [sic] than Harper's “future” bio? So Harper didn't really write one on his way to the top then?
Appears Iggplant realized the people of Canada really don't know him and wanted to give them all the inside dope on the great accomplishments of Me, Myself and I. He's a HARVARD man don't you know, HARVARD I tell you!
Frankly there are many Liberals who aren't too impressed either, the gulf is widening. It will be interesting to see how many turn up for the Seinfeld convention. They may need lots of mirrors and canned applause.
BTW, has Chevy McCallum been put on probation for his pathetic lie? Guess Iggplant hasn't got much time for mere lies, par for the course. Such behaviour does chip away at one's credibility on more important issues.
Have you been apprised of the government surplus, Terry?
April 25th, 2009 at 6:02 am
The point re Summers falling a sleep is, if he falls asleep listening to the POTUS, what would he do with iggowaffle. What time did the meeting between iggo and summers take place, and was it at the WH.
Considering the WH was evacuated for much of the day, and O taken to a safe place, did said meeting take place. No pictures, no mention on US media, the only place we have heard about it is from iggy and his spinmasters.
Terry, seems you had a very bad night, or got out of bed on the wrong side. Buy a pair of ear plugs for the next few years so you don't have to listen to our great PMSH.
Are you going to the great leadership thingy in BC, to smooze up your unelected, uncontested leader.
Considering that on several occassions iggy has said when HE is in govt etc that tells me that he doesn't consider being in opposition to being in govt. And, always saying I, Me, he has no use for all you grassroot people, other than to give him a job with a pension.
April 25th, 2009 at 6:25 am
Doozy (or is it Dozy?): “I don't get this post at all… if Summer met Iggy after the press conference, what does him [sic] falling asleep earlier in the day have anything to do with anything?”
a) Obviously, Summer isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer.
b) So, big deal that Count Iggula met Summer after the press conference. 'Seems like he's not much of a catch, this Summer guy. 'Wonder just how Iggy's talk with him might benefit Canadians. But wait! Iggy's not at all interested in benefiting Canadians: He just wants to help himself.
It's the height of arrogance for Michael Ignatieff to play on his Hahvahd pedigree and the commensurate White House connections as the so-called “leader” of the Opposition here in Canada. It's not his role to foster connections with the U.S./White House independent of the governing party of Canada. This move shows what an elitist Iggy is, trying an end run around Prime Minister Stephen Harper and, in doing so, attempting to come across as more connected and cosmopolitan than our PM.
This move on his part may well backfire. It's left more of a bad taste in my mouth.
Terry1: Re your remark, “Omanator, And I don't want Harper speaking for me anywhere.” Well, tough for you. The difference between Ignatieff speaking for Canadians at the White House and Prime Minister Stephen Harper speaking for Canadians at the White House is that Iggy has no bona fides to speak for Canadians, except his parachute jump into his riding and his acclamation as Liberal leader, whereas Prime Minister Stephen Harper is the duly elected leader of our country. I realize that for a Liberal, these distinctions are mere quibbling. For the rest of us, however, there is an important principle involved and it's called “the democratic process.” Liberals like you may not honour due process when it comes to who it is that speaks for citizens of a country but for people of principle it matters a great deal.
And, finally, sorry to be OT, but where's the thread on the Tamil Tigers?
April 25th, 2009 at 7:26 am
Bat b……The liberal has followed their constitution to a T in elevating IGGY to the leaders position. The rest of your noise is simply nonsense.
April 25th, 2009 at 8:20 am
“Clearly Summers isnt the sharpest night in the drawer”?? Since when is staying awake a sign of intelligence. The guy is 54 and working his tail off to navigate a nation through a major financial crisis. I think that I'll give him a free pass this time.
April 25th, 2009 at 8:24 am
How about the 100 000 people of Etobicoke—Lakeshore? Can he speak for them? How about the 26% of Canadians that voted Liberal? Can he give them a voice?
April 25th, 2009 at 9:46 am
Larry is an economist!
April 25th, 2009 at 11:41 am
I don't see anything remarkable about Iggy meeting with Summers, they were both at Harvard. Iggy as a prof? and Summers as Pres. ( remember the ladies arn't so good at science and math speech) lost his job over that I understand.
April 25th, 2009 at 11:59 am
Re the 9/11 terrorists who arrived in the USA via the US customs. Not only did they have drivers licences, issued in the USA, they also took flying lessons in the USA. They were there a long time before 9/11. And why was it after the fact that it come out these guys did not want to learn how to land a plane.
April 25th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
Larry's an economist? Then Iggplant needs to talk to him for sure since he's not in agreement with our Economist PM. He may well be surprised to find the US Admin would welcome tips from our PM. It's more by design than accident the POTUS visited Canada first.
April 25th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Nick,
Of course he can speak for the people in his riding. They elected him fair and Square and they had a choice of parties in each election. He will start giving voice to all Liberals at the convention when one person one vote rules are enacted. They have new on line tools for communicating with the party and within the party. Does that answer your baseless question?
April 25th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Only in the House of Commons. Not internationally.
April 26th, 2009 at 2:53 am
Wake up from your phantasies. Iggy, will distruct the country totally.
April 26th, 2009 at 2:57 am
Liz, Obama has already listened to our PM, He has said so.
April 26th, 2009 at 3:01 am
How nice. Terry1 Democracy is nonsense. We should have picked that up earlier.
April 26th, 2009 at 3:04 am
My FANTASIES are real nightmares. I dream of Harper getting a majority and wake up sweating profusively as everything I value about this country would be in mortal danger.
April 26th, 2009 at 3:06 am
If our PM is a real economist then I'm Superman.
April 26th, 2009 at 3:06 am
Yep he listened to him and then went and washed his hands.
April 26th, 2009 at 5:09 am
Correct, he is not the voice of Canada on the world stage.
BTW, apparently Iggplant has his old job waiting for him in Baaaston should things not work out here.
The Seinfeld convention should be a real hoot. Wonder if Cramer and George will speak early or towards the end?
April 26th, 2009 at 9:31 am
NOpe, Mulroney and Joe Clarke will be surprise guest speakers.
April 26th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
Summers was interviewd on Fox News Sunday today. First, he said he was just getting ahead start on achieving the american dream, by falling asleep. Second, not one word of his meeting with iggy. Where is Summers office, I don't think it is at the White House.
April 27th, 2009 at 3:28 am
Bat B…. maybe you need to look at what even the conservative press is saying about the Libs vis a vis the Tamils to understand why your host may have pulled that blog.
“Between Messrs. Rae and Ignatieff, the Liberal Party of Canada has reinvented itself on this issue — and on other broad questions of foreign policy. How refreshing it is to see a party leadership that puts principle before electoral expedience. It's one big reason, we suspect, why so many Canadians are taking a fresh look at the Liberals.”
http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/story.html?...
That should provide another answer for you as well on questions about Iggy's ego………I think you Tories need to look at the mirror when looking for arrogance, ignorance and egos. You have a party divided;you slammed your only true former PM is the last 50 years; your party's lack of accountability to Canadians is shameful.
As another exercise in humility one should read Diane Francis' Saturday column, another conservative writer who slammed Harper and Flaherty for thier $35BB screw up on income trusts.
Happy Liberal days are almost here.
April 27th, 2009 at 4:34 am
SURPRISE guest speakers? Damn, you bloody fool, you've gone and ruined the surprise!
April 27th, 2009 at 7:29 am
thanks!
April 27th, 2009 at 8:21 am
Diane Francis is a conservative?
Any truth to the rumour some may cancel their trip to the coronation of Iggy due to fears of hog,er, swine flu? It's a timely excuse for poor attendance.
Since you have the inside dope could you tell us if Lieutenant Coderre will be attending? Any other Gentry we should also know about who will be there to kiss the royal butt?
April 27th, 2009 at 8:29 am
Liz J, just continue to bury your head in sand, the convention will be over on Saturday and you can then resurface and start undrstanding your next PM better. I know its painful but listen to some harper speeches and it will dull the pain as you doze off further into la la land.
Since you are such a tory it all……when will the regressives and progressives announce thier formal split?
April 27th, 2009 at 8:45 am
Your nightmare is my most sought-after dream. Oh man, our country would be so great if only he didn't have to put up with the unholy coalition threat. Harper majority – sweet words.
April 27th, 2009 at 8:54 am
I agree, Catherine. Having Barney as a friend should be an embarrassment to him.
April 27th, 2009 at 9:32 am
Woweeeeee, speaking of know-it-alls……………..
April 27th, 2009 at 9:59 am
After the ceremony of adoration and pledge of servitude to the crowned one, they better not toss around any Liberal red thongs, folks might mistake them for blood.
April 27th, 2009 at 10:18 am
Umm, Terry1, I think you forgot to quote this part from the National Post op-ed you linked to:
“Following on the Conservatives' courageous and groundbreaking decision to ban the Tigers in 2006, Michael Ignatieff has signalled a clear break on the issue within his own party.”
The truth will set you free, Terry1!
April 27th, 2009 at 10:28 am
Batb, if you scroll down to the very bottom of the main page of Stephen's blog, you will see “previous entries.”
Click on that, and you will see – again by scrolling down – the post entitled “Protest in Ottawa” dated April 8 … or is it April 9? I guess that's the one you're looking for?
April 27th, 2009 at 10:33 am
“… OT, but where's the thread on the Tamil Tigers?”
Batb, go to the main page of Stephen's blog, scroll all the way down, and you'll see “previous entries.” Click on that, and again by scrolling down, you will arrive at the thread entitled “Protest in Ottawa.” I believe that's the one you're looking for?
April 27th, 2009 at 10:40 am
I don't know what's going on with the “submit comments” function.
For the past few days, comments have appeared immediately, without the usual time lapse for moderation.
E.g., I posted a comment about 15 minutes ago, and it appeared immediately.
However, just a few minutes ago I posted a reply to Batb – information on how to find a previous thread – and my reply did not show up.
Just asking: are we back on moderation?
But I didn't see the message saying “thank you for your comment etc …”
April 27th, 2009 at 10:42 am
Yet this one made it through immediately … ???
April 27th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Superman you are then, if that's your criteria for being so.
April 27th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
OK – these two replies were intended for Batb above – but they played peek-a-boo. First one didn't show, so I re-posted, again no show – and now double appearance … Oh well.
April 27th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
BTW Superman, give my regards to Lois Lane.
April 27th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Thanks, Gabby. I'll check it out …
Michael, since when is authoring books a prerequisite for heading the government of a country? I've read only one of Iggy's books, the novel based on his mother's descent into Alzheimer's Disease, and having no opinion of him one way or the other at the time, wasn't particularly impressed.
I don't judge Prime Minister Stephen Harper by the number of books he's written (????????) but by his integrity, his honesty, his superior ability at strategic thinking and planning, his hard work, his discipline, his not having to put himself in the spotlight every five minutes, AND by the fact that he hasn't been involved in any way, unlike the LPC and its most recent leaders, in robbing the Canadian electorate blind through schemes like ADSCAM and the HRDC boondoggle, to name only a couple of Liberal scandals.
Go to his Web site and you'll see what he's doing. He's going straight to the electorate, seeing as the Canadian MSM is cozily in bed with the LPC. Count Iggula has the ear and the hearts of the members of the PPG and the MSM, so we're being bombarded now with all sorts of candy-floss about him.
Let's not forget that candy floss is just a lot of spun sugar, all sweetness, a lot of hot air, and no substance. Hey, that's a good description of a certain prolific writer of books … hmmmmm …
April 27th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
the new Mr. dithers has arrived:
Economy wanes, Harper dithers
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/624713
he has a lot of titles now………..none of them flattering it seems
April 29th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Yes, how incredibly unimportant it is to have a direct line (on friendly, familiar terms) with the most powerful government administration in the world……I can't see that meaning anything…at all.
na na na na na na!
April 29th, 2009 at 8:07 pm
Well, as the best PM by far from the last few decades I'm more than happy – and given that in a perfect world all the Liberals would be in jail he's pretty much the best option.
April 30th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Terry1. Too bad. Harper is still the elected PM. Elected by more Canadian, than could could muster.
April 30th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
News FLASH. According to the Libs at the convention it is now Stephen Harper who is responsible for the
the whole financial debacle. It's Harpers Deficit. ( According to the ” great Reporter Tom “)They conveniently forgot that they wanted even more money pumped into the economy. I Guess they had to produce a culprit to steer people away from the idea that Iggy's Financial friends in the US had something to do with it. The spinning of the Liberals never stops to amaze me.
May 1st, 2009 at 12:52 am
Terry1. Too bad. Harper is still the elected PM. Elected by more Canadian, than could could muster.
May 1st, 2009 at 1:07 am
News FLASH. According to the Libs at the convention it is now Stephen Harper who is responsible for the
the whole financial debacle. It's Harpers Deficit. ( According to the ” great Reporter Tom “)They conveniently forgot that they wanted even more money pumped into the economy. I Guess they had to produce a culprit to steer people away from the idea that Iggy's Financial friends in the US had something to do with it. The spinning of the Liberals never stops to amaze me.