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Posted

I never heard this quote before until today:

"Living next to you is in some ways like sleeping with an elephant. No matter how friendly and even-tempered is the beast, if I can call it that, one is affected by every twitch and grunt."

- Pierre Trudeau addressing Americans (the Press Club) in Washington, D.C. (25 March 1969)

I love this, it's so true (except the "beast" part, he probably could have found a better word lol)

"All generalizations are false, including this one." - Mark Twain

Partisanship is a disease of the intellect.

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Guest American Woman
Posted (edited)

I never heard this quote before until today:

"Living next to you is in some ways like sleeping with an elephant. No matter how friendly and even-tempered is the beast, if I can call it that, one is affected by every twitch and grunt."

- Pierre Trudeau addressing Americans (the Press Club) in Washington, D.C. (25 March 1969)

I love this, it's so true (except the "beast" part, he probably could have found a better word lol)

I've heard the quote before, several times, actually, but never knew where it originated. I don't think he meant anything particularly insulting by use of the word "beast;" I take it he meant it as 'a huge force to be reckoned with.'

Edited by American Woman
Guest TrueMetis
Posted

I've heard the qoute many times though I didn't know it was Trudeau who said it.

Posted

I was familiar with what Trudeau said.

What would have been fair was for Trudeau to acknowledge that no other country is as good or peaceful a neighbor, and that the relationship ensured mutual prosperity or security.

  • Free speech: "You can say what you want, but I don't have to lend you my megaphone."
  • Always remember that when you are in the right you can afford to keep your temper, and when you are in the wrong you cannot afford to lose it. - J.J. Reynolds.
  • Will the steps anyone is proposing to fight "climate change" reduce a single temperature, by a single degree, at a single location?
  • The mantra of "world opinion" or the views of the "international community" betrays flabby and weak reasoning (link).

Posted

I was familiar with what Trudeau said.

What would have been fair was for Trudeau to acknowledge that no other country is as good or peaceful a neighbor, and that the relationship ensured mutual prosperity or security.

Agreed. The thing about Trudeau's quote which strikes me is not that I think it is insulting, but that it acknowledges America only as something large, while ignoring the fact that it is a large best friend.

"Governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish - too much handling will spoil it."

Lao Tzu

Posted

Riight...because he never, ever acknowledged that. I guess you only heard that part of the speech. :rolleyes:

"I think it's fun watching the waldick get all excited/knickers in a knot over something." -scribblet
Guest TrueMetis
Posted

I was familiar with what Trudeau said.

What would have been fair was for Trudeau to acknowledge that no other country is as good or peaceful a neighbor, and that the relationship ensured mutual prosperity or security.

I thought that that's is what the

"No matter how friendly and even-tempered is the beast..."

part was about.

Posted

I thought that that's is what the

"No matter how friendly and even-tempered is the beast..."

part was about.

Exactly. Trudeau acknowledges that the U.S. can be as friendly as possible, yet every move it makes still affects Canada in a significant way.

"All generalizations are false, including this one." - Mark Twain

Partisanship is a disease of the intellect.

Posted

Riight...because he never, ever acknowledged that. I guess you only heard that part of the speech. :rolleyes:

Maybe I'm wrong.

Can you link me to the entire speech?

  • Free speech: "You can say what you want, but I don't have to lend you my megaphone."
  • Always remember that when you are in the right you can afford to keep your temper, and when you are in the wrong you cannot afford to lose it. - J.J. Reynolds.
  • Will the steps anyone is proposing to fight "climate change" reduce a single temperature, by a single degree, at a single location?
  • The mantra of "world opinion" or the views of the "international community" betrays flabby and weak reasoning (link).

Guest American Woman
Posted (edited)

Exactly. Trudeau acknowledges that the U.S. can be as friendly as possible, yet every move it makes still affects Canada in a significant way.

Agreed.

Maybe I'm wrong.

Can you link me to the entire speech?

You can watch a clip of his speech here. His comment was very well received; the (American) audience loved it.

Interesting site: Prime Ministers and Presidents

Since we're talking about Trudeau/quotes, I love this one:

When it was revealed that President Richard Nixon called Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau "an asshole" in his private tapes, Trudeau responded with, "I've been called worse things by better people."

Edited by American Woman
Posted

This little prince of a man - Trudeau was refered to constantly by the wealthy conservatives of the time as "The SHARK" - He was loathed and feared...He entered the frey with the same charismatic glory as Obama did and ended the same way Obama will---intellectual experimentation on a populace is a sin...Sure I was all hopped up and idealistic about Trudeau--it was a mistake based in emotionalism and hype to elect the guy, just like Obama---one thing I cansay about the Shark was when I shook his hand---it was as cold as ice....be careful of un-emotional men that prey on and manipulate NOT through honest logic - but through emotionalism and FEEEEELINGS.....WARM charismatic glows always end in a liberal bed sheeted in ice.

Posted

You can watch a clip of his speech here. His comment was very well received; the (American) audience loved it.

In context I probably vilified the speech a bit much.

Interesting site: Prime Ministers and Presidents

Since we're talking about Trudeau/quotes, I love this one:

When it was revealed that President Richard Nixon called Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau "an asshole" in his private tapes, Trudeau responded with, "I've been called worse things by better people."

I'm familiar with that. Trudeau had some great lines.

For a Francophone his English was great.

  • Free speech: "You can say what you want, but I don't have to lend you my megaphone."
  • Always remember that when you are in the right you can afford to keep your temper, and when you are in the wrong you cannot afford to lose it. - J.J. Reynolds.
  • Will the steps anyone is proposing to fight "climate change" reduce a single temperature, by a single degree, at a single location?
  • The mantra of "world opinion" or the views of the "international community" betrays flabby and weak reasoning (link).

Posted

He entered the frey with the same charismatic glory as Obama did and ended the same way Obama will--

so we can expect a second term for Obama too?

my favourite PET quote "The state has no business in the bedrooms of the nation."

“Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives.”- John Stuart Mill

Posted

Since we're talking about Trudeau/quotes, I love this one:

When it was revealed that President Richard Nixon called Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau "an asshole" in his private tapes, Trudeau responded with, "I've been called worse things by better people."

Its 100% true, you should here what Albertans think of him.

"What about the legitimacy of the democratic process, yeah, what about it?" Jack Layton and his coup against the people of Canada

“The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’”

President Ronald Reagan

Posted

On an airplace Chrietien looks aout thw window and say to Trudeau, "It's raining outside".

Trudeaus looks up from his paper and says "if it is raining then it must be outside"

RIGHT of SOME, LEFT of OTHERS

If it is a choice between them and us, I choose us

Posted

On an airplace Chrietien looks aout thw window and say to Trudeau, "It's raining outside".

Trudeaus looks up from his paper and says "if it is raining then it must be outside"

I'm sure Chretien and Trudeau had this conversation in French.

  • Free speech: "You can say what you want, but I don't have to lend you my megaphone."
  • Always remember that when you are in the right you can afford to keep your temper, and when you are in the wrong you cannot afford to lose it. - J.J. Reynolds.
  • Will the steps anyone is proposing to fight "climate change" reduce a single temperature, by a single degree, at a single location?
  • The mantra of "world opinion" or the views of the "international community" betrays flabby and weak reasoning (link).

Posted

Il pleut dehors

s'il pleut, alors il pleut dehors

RIGHT of SOME, LEFT of OTHERS

If it is a choice between them and us, I choose us

Posted

Well this Albertan thinks he was one of the greatest Prime Ministers.

Did you live during the time of the NEP, the wasteland this province has become for the liberal party is a testament to his days of being PM.

"What about the legitimacy of the democratic process, yeah, what about it?" Jack Layton and his coup against the people of Canada

“The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’”

President Ronald Reagan

Posted

The biggest flaw with the NEP was the unexpected drop in oil prices. No one could have predicted that. Thus went the unwriting subidies to the Canadian oil companies and lower prices to Canadian consumers with money that wasn't forthcoming. Trudeau campaigned on up to 50% Canadian ownership of the oil industry. But multinational oil companies and the "blue eyed sheik" went anal. The man was a federalist, as am I. One should not judge him and all the many accomplishments he delivered on one flawed program.

Do view the liberals as the only federalist option?

"What about the legitimacy of the democratic process, yeah, what about it?" Jack Layton and his coup against the people of Canada

“The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’”

President Ronald Reagan

Posted

I don't think there has been a greater federalist since Trudeau.

He wasn't a federalist he was a statist. Federalists don't centralize power, statists do.

"What about the legitimacy of the democratic process, yeah, what about it?" Jack Layton and his coup against the people of Canada

“The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’”

President Ronald Reagan

Posted

Semantics. Trudeau was much more than an economist. He felt all provinces should be on an even playing field, and took on the provincial premiers to that end. He was passionate about one Canada for all through participatory democracy. The mere act of patriating our constitution ensures his legacy.

Posted

Semantics.

Its not semantics there are big differences.

"What about the legitimacy of the democratic process, yeah, what about it?" Jack Layton and his coup against the people of Canada

“The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’”

President Ronald Reagan

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