McCain's Canada Trip: An Unintended Consequence?

Sen. John McCain's trip to Canada next week will be a small boon for the American, but it might embarass his would-be Canadian counterpart.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government still faces questions about who leaked a memo about Obama adviser Austan Goolsbee's NAFTA climb-downs to the Associated Press.

Given all that, next week's visit couldn't possibly come at a worse moment for the Harper government, which will likely be on the defensive before McCain's plane even touches down on Canadian ground. As for the speech itself, McCain won't have to worry about the turnout - the event sold out within minutes of being announced - but it's unlikely that many senior PMO or ministerial staffers will be in attendance, as their presence would set off a fresh flurry of speculation on cosiness between the Conservatives and the McCain campaign. Even though this is by no means an official visit, his mere presence in Ottawa will be seen, rightly or wrongly, as evidence that the PM is doing whatever he can to help out his Republican buddies.

All in all, the best thing that could happen right now, as far as the PM is concerned, would be for McCain to re-check his datebook, and discover that he has inadvertently double-booked, and has a prior engagement somewhere far from Ottawa that he simply can't miss.

Comments

At least John McCain, at the age of 72, still has the clarity of mind to refer to the leader of the Canadian government as PRIME MINISTER Stephen Harper, unlike his 46 year old opponent who infamously referred to the PRESIDENT OF CANADA.

Must have been one of those high school moments when "Bomber" was out "getting high with my buddys, you know, smoking dope and maybe a little blow when we could afford it..".

Damn, missed that class, are there any more Cheetos in that bag?

Posted by robert ethan | June 12, 2008 1:57 PM

Marc, I'm glad comments are back. But seeing the one above, I see what tempted you to get rid of them.

Posted by Dan | June 12, 2008 2:04 PM

The real question about The Table is, is there a table which could take you and Andrew going at it?

Also, having heroic shots of JM and a comedy card of BO on your shelf wont help your impartiality

Posted by TheTable | June 12, 2008 2:15 PM

Ambinder, the big question is not if you are impartial are not. Clearly you are a hack who hates Obama and keeps comedy cards of him on your desk like you're some 5 year old angry with Darth Vader because he cut your hero's hand off.

The real question is, how can you go from supporting Hillary to supporting McCain?

Maybe Ambinder is just a racist?

Or just has no soul?

Fire Ambinder, replace him with an intern.

Posted by Fire Ambinder | June 12, 2008 2:25 PM

Fact is, Ambinder is so fat you would probably have to replace dude with two interns.

Posted by Fight the Smears | June 12, 2008 2:30 PM

You know, robert ethan, you probably don't want to bring up Obama calling Harper the president of Canada when McCain just called Putin the president of Germany.

Posted by Seth | June 12, 2008 2:32 PM

Ambinder should change his name to Fattie McDaniels.

Posted by Roberta Ethan | June 12, 2008 2:38 PM

The central truth of Canadian politics is: the Canadian political establishment is historically unstable and always on guard, so as a result it's hilariously easy to cause trouble for them. They're like nervous pubescent middle schoolers.

I like to think that the reason McCain is going up there is so he can mess around and create a political shitstorm without there being any consequences; it'd be refreshing and relaxing for him. Like when an MLB pitcher recovering from an injury goes down to AAA for a few games.

Posted by bob & doug | June 14, 2008 9:15 PM