ninme

I read, on one of the Telegraph blogs I think, a snarky comment that all of the journalists gathered in Germany seem a bit mystified as to who Shinzo Abe and Stephen Harper are. That such colossally ignorant morons should get free travel to fabulous resorts to hang with the world’s most powerful men (and women) really burns me up. I’ll let the Japanese deal with their chap, but I feel like giving poor Mr Harper a little extra attention.

National Post – Harper, Putin exchange barbs over human rights

But when the cameras left the room and the prime minister pressed Putin on democratic reform and human rights, the former KGB agent noted that Canada has itself been criticized for violating human rights.

The remark appeared to get under the skin of the normally composed prime minister, who suggested the “true” test of a democracy was the ability of its leader to accept criticism.

“President Putin pointed out to me, didn’t hesitate to point out to me that there’s various reports … that Canada is sometimes criticized on some human rights and democratic issues from time to time,” Harper told reporters after meeting Putin at this Baltic Sea resort, where G8 leaders have gathered for their annual summit.

“And really my reply to that general line of discussion is that that’s fine as long as we all accept the legitimacy of that criticism, we’re all prepared to listen to it and be open to it and allow that kind of debate to occur in our societies. That’s the real test, not whether we’re perfect but whether criticism can happen, and is tolerated and is part of the political process.”

Sock it to ‘im, Steve!

Reuters – Meet Bono? I’m not interested, says Canada’s PM (curtsy to RC2 for this one, or at least after she’s roused herself from her fainting couch)

You can stop staring hopefully at that phone, Bono. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will not be calling.

The Irish rock star turned poverty activist met U.S. President George W. Bush and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the sidelines of a Group of Eight summit but was told Harper was too busy to talk to him.

Harper, a somewhat wooden figure regularly mocked for his lack of flair, told reporters on Thursday that meeting Bono was not a priority.

“I’ve got to say that meeting celebrities isn’t kind of my shtick, that was the shtick of the previous guy,” said Harper in a dig at his Liberal predecessor Paul Martin, who met Bono regularly.

“I hope we do it at some point but my principle focus in public policies is not kind of to meet celebrities,” added the prime minister, a Conservative.

You tell ‘em, Steve-o!

National Post – Harper doesn’t need face time with Bono

Give Bono, the Irish rocker, credit; he has stuck with his campaign to help Africa for more than a decade. Most celebrity activists get caught up in a fashionable cause, fly in for a photo op, then quickly lose interest. But not the lead singer of U2. He has been consistent in his work on debt, poverty, AIDS, trade and women’s rights on the Dark Continent.

But that doesn’t mean Stephen Harper must drop everything at the current G8 summit to meet the pop star. While Bono’s Africa work may be more sincere and serious than other celebrities’ work on other issues, his regular appearances at summits of world leaders are disruptive and self-serving. He seems to believe that because of his popular appeal in the music business and the righteousness of his cause, he has a right to demand leaders carve out time for him so he might lobby them on his pet projects, prove his own importance and demonstrate the depth of his compassion for the world to see.

In our celebrity-mad age, there will no doubt be those who charge that our Prime Minister is callous toward the plight of Africa because he is unwilling to make time to be button-holed by a rich musician riding a hobby horse. The proof of Mr. Harper’s concern for Africa, though, will not be in how much “face time” he takes with superstars, but in how much practical help his government dedicates to the region.

Besides, reports out of Germany (where the G8 meetings are being held this week), claim Mr. Harper is spending his time shuttling between the American and Russian camps. The Russians are angry at U.S. ballistic missile defence plans, and our Prime Minister is trying to prevent a resurgence of the Cold War by brokering an understanding between the two sides.

As pressing as Africa’s many crises are, we commend Mr. Harper’s for choosing to head off another arms race rather than glad-hand with a famous cause-pleader.

Good for you, Steve!

I love this picture:

Our Stephen’s the biggest one! (And isn’t Sarko weee!) (Seriously it’s the first I’ve seen of him since the election.) (Angie’s laughing in all her pictures. She looks so joyous.)

While I’m uploading:

“one of these things is not like the others…”

No but anyway, isn’t Akie Abe cool?! I was so there, too, like, back in August. No, September:

September 26, 2006 – Best Political Hair Is Replaced By Best Political Taste In Women

So there. Now I’ve done my bit for Japan, too.