For Donald Trump, everything is about trade. And trade is about war. The Trudeau government has had some experience with Trump on this file. Susan Delacourt writes:
Canada does have a playbook for trade disputes with the United States, and Justin Trudeau’s government hauled it out to deal with Donald Trump’s America-first hoarding of pandemic-fighting supplies.
Perhaps no one should have been surprised that the U.S. president’s penchant for turning global matters into trade wars includes, it seems, an international pandemic.
Faced with a familiar Trump tactic, the Trudeau government applied a now-familiar response:
Phone diplomacy — a massive flurry of phone calls between Canadians and their American contacts and counterparts.
Co-ordinated, federal-provincial communications, with the provinces often playing bad cop, while Ottawa plays good cop.
Extremely limited contact between Trump and Trudeau themselves, with the prime minister saying as little as possible to avoid inflaming the president.
All of those strategies were put into use after the 3M announcement last week. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland talked to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer; Global Affairs Minister François Philippe Champagne talked to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo; and the newly named ambassador to the U.S., Kirsten Hillman, spent days talking to selected high-level officials in the Trump administration.
It worked for NAFTA. We'll have to see if it works this time. We know this morning that medical masks are headed to Canada.
But one thing is certain. Life can be difficult when you have to deal with The Mighty Moron.
Image: dailykos.com
6 comments:
Every night, Owen, when I take my 30-minute dose of American news, I grow evermore appreciative of the fact that I live in Canada, especially important in this time of crisis. To watch Trump turn this thing into a personal exercise of ego and imbecility makes me believe we live next door to an egregiously backward nation, one that can no longer command any worldwide respect.
May that contagion never spread.
Someone noted recently, Lorne, that the difference between Trump's and Trudeau's daily appearances is the difference a salesman and an educator. Justin sets out to educate the public about what we face. Trump is all about selling a product -- himself. And it's painfully obvious that what he's selling is faulty merchandise.
.. the idea that Donald Trump spends much or any time in consequential thought.. is ludicrous. Thus many of the items he latches onto are the product of Hannity, Miller, Barr, McConnell et al. They have their own critical notes, scoreboards, enemy lists, odd or rancid inner motives, dark ideologies, missions and fantasies. They bombard Trump with their opinions daily
The recent outbreak onboard the Teddy Roosvelt was yet another black mark or high water stain upon the Supreme Commander. This time it started aboard one of the most powerful weapons the world has ever seen. Presumably this was a 'fleet operation' .. and reasonably regular tour for the crew and ship. Thus other warships attended her, likely including a nuclear sub, a nuclear missile cruiser, sub hunters.. and various tenders
From where the buck stops, down through an 'Acting Secretary of the Navy.. came the tattered noise of the High Command. It comes across now as reckless, foolish ass farting. As if Eric Trump was in charge. Oopsy !! Acting Sec Navy just sunk his own ship.. and his immediate 'superiors' uh.. Well, MIA twould seem. So who knows who drove that spectacular failure..
Had to happen.. Captain Crozier appears as one that must have known he was among the infected.. indeed who among his senior officers as well ? But Tom Modly seized the moment with his windy harangue that was almost Trumpian in meandering repetition.. juiced up with a few 'pull your shit together' chuckles. Truly a Horatio Alger moment - NOT !! Deary me, I listened spellbound, my heart stirring.. Thus the mighty TR (his jocular attempt at crew lingo) heard a riot act lecture from a helicopter pilot who went on to star with PricewaterhouseCoopers.. Uh that's not where valour is to be found.. unless one defines Valour as William Barr's feeble evangelism.. or the famous bone spurs kind.
Captain Crozier summed it up bluntly 'we are not at war'. His ship and crew were in peril. The upper Chain of Command failed.. right to the very top. Modly apologized, 'kinda maybe' .. a mere slip of the tongue.. mischaracterized.. He's a Trump 'acting' appointee.. and know he finds his name is mud.. Crozier is ascendant.. Amazing.. Home of the Brave y'say.. ?
The difference between a true commander -- Crozier -- and the fraud who masquerades as one is painful to behold, sal.
Trump is not the only moron in this escapade, so are sycophants Navarro and Kudlow, along with Moscow Mitch and the dumbed-down electorate who support them. RG
Point well taken, RG. There's a lot of ignorance to go around.
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