Maybe the reason Jean and Dubya didn't get along is that they have similar qualities for better and worse. This quotation from the US president certainly had shades of Chretien:
Bush dismissed concerns about strained ties between the United States and Canada, thanking those Canadians who turned out to wave "with all five fingers" during his first official visit.My favorite Jean-ism was in response in 1995 to what would happen if Quebec actually voted to separate. He said: "if! if! if! If my grandmother had wheels she would have been a bus!!!
Comments
Lisa Howard - December 1, 2004 3:18 PM
There is an ordinariness or common quality about both of them it's true. But Chretien like him or hate him really did rise from humble circumstances through sheer will ambition and canniness, whereas Bush junior only acts like he came from the backwoods. In reality Bush junior is as privileged as they come. I think it's likely there were other fundamental differences as well. Chretien got along really well with Chirac for instance.
alfons - December 1, 2004 5:01 PM
Thanks for the laugh: my father uses the saying "If! If! If my aunt had balls, she would have been my uncle." I reckon he and Chretien hail from the same time period.
Mike - December 2, 2004 8:24 AM
One of the reasons I was disappointed in John Kerry's electoral defeat was that I all was ready to immediately roll out the name 'Jean Kerrytien' ~ alas, this chance for blogotorial meme-creation was lost forever, and the name will live on only here in Alan's comments section.
Sereenie - December 2, 2004 3:34 PM
I had the same reaction in 2000, when McCain lost to Bush. I had been hoping for a "McCain-Poutine Summit"... OK, it's couldn't be used far and wide–French-Canadian "gastronomy"'s reach remaining rather marginal–but it still cracks me up every time!
(Yes, I know, it usually does not take much to make me laugh: somehow, maturity is now a good 10 years late for me!)