Canadian Who Called Bush 'Moron' Quits

[DinoDoc]

By TOM COHEN, Associated Press Writer

TORONTO (AP) - A top aide to Prime Minister Jean Chretien resigned Tuesday over the controversy caused by her private comment last week that U.S. President George W. Bush was a moron.

Francoise Ducros, who initially offered to quit but was kept on by Chretien, is leaving the prime minister's office after all, said a statement issued by Chretien's chief of staff.

In a letter of resignation to Chretien, Ducros wrote: "It is very apparent to me that the controversy will make it impossible for me to do my job."

"I would therefore like to leave my position as director of communications immediately," the letter said. "I am grateful for the support you have given me during this difficult time."

Chretien accepted the resignation this time, responding in a letter: "In your almost four years as director of communications, you have served the government as a whole, and me personally, with extraordinary skill and dedication."

The comment made in a discussion with a radio reporter last week at the NATO summit in Prague has dominated Canadian media, with daily newspaper and broadcast stories on the aftermath that has included calls for her resignation by opposition politicians.

On Tuesday, the National Post newspaper ran a front-page story on a debate over the matter the previous night on the U.S. cable network CNN.

"What a moron," is the quote attributed to Ducros during what she called a private conversation with a reporter that was overhead by other reporters who wrote about it.

She apologized last week, but the furor has continued in Canada. On Monday, some opposition members of Parliament noted the comment appeared in an Iraqi newspaper editorial, characterized as Western opposition to Bush.

Chretien initially tried to play down the incident, telling a Prague news conference the comment was unfortunate and that Bush was a friend of his "and not a moron at all."

He also denied the comment harmed relations with Washington, saying he received no official complaints from U.S. officials at the summit.

Conservative media and political foes, however, characterized the moron comment as a signal of worsening relations between the North American neighbors, who share the world's largest trade partnership.

When asked about the comment last week, White House press secretary Ari Fleischer dismissed it as "something from someone who doesn't speak for the Canadian government."

Despite their military ties and common democratic values, Canada has traditionally adopted more liberal social policies. Examples include diplomatic ties with Cuba, a ban on capital punishment and more lenient immigration policies.

Increased disputes between Ottawa and Washington were expected when the conservative Bush was elected in 2000 to succeed Bill Clinton, whose administration had closer ideological ties with Chretien's Liberal Party.

Since Bush's election, the United States has imposed punitive duties on softwood lumber imported from Canada and is investigating possible penalties on Canadian wheat.

Nevertheless, Canada took in flights diverted from U.S. air space after the Sept. 11 attacks and contributed troops, ships and reconnaissance planes to the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan. Chretien said Canada also would take part in a U.N.-authorized attack on Iraq.

[DanS]

You should have titled it...

Canadian Who Called Bush Moron 'Quits'

[TheBirdMan]

That makes sence. She could do nothing but quit.

You can't have people telling the truth to deal with politics.

[Messer Niccolò]

...but, the insult , is it Moron or is it Bush?

[Richelieu]

We named her ambassador to France. They'll like her over there...

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by TheBirdMan
You can't have people telling the truth to deal with politics.

Bastard! You stole my line

[TheBirdMan]

[Saint Marcus]

If she was French, she would have gotten a promotion.

spineless Canadians.

[Sava]

I applaud that woman for publically telling the truth and not being intimidated by the US.

[Dauphin]

When will the moron quit?

[orange]

he won't, he'll be assassinated. He was elected in 2000, remember?

TheBirdMan - where do you get your name from?

[Ozz]

She was due to quit anyway. She is going to work
for the federal government while Chretien can still
get her a patronage position.

The rest of the PM's staff are also "quitting" before
his retirement and going to the federal pork barrel.

[DanS]

"She was due to quit anyway."

Of course she was. But not anytime soon. It doesn't take a long time to burrow into the bureaucracy...

[Ned]

She quit because a large number of Canadian morons complained for being compared to Bush.

[Alex]

I hate when we can't tell the truth.

Moron, moron, moron!

[mrboo123]

funny, they did that topic on Crossfire on CNN last night

[notyoueither]

She quit because she's an idiot who likely pissed off the man who is in the seat to make a lot of decisions which could be good for Canadians, or bad for Canadians; and the issue was not going to go away until she left.

Of course any citizen is free to call Bush or St Marcus a moron or spineless. However, not any employee of the Government of Canada or the Prime Minister's Office is free to do so while attending an international event.

Good riddance. Now if we could find a quicker way of shedding another 200 lbs from the PMO...

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by Richelieu
We named her ambassador to France. They'll like her over there...

That solution should make everyone happy. Bush detractors can take solice in the fact that she still has a job. Bush defenders can revel because she will now have to watch Jerry Lewis movies.

[St Leo]

She quit because a large number of Canadian morons complained for being compared to Bush.

Yeah, Albertans and National Post reporters.

She quit because she's an idiot who likely pissed off the man who is in the seat to make a lot of decisions which could be good for Canadians, or bad for Canadians;

Has Bush ever made any decisions that are good for Canada? I am sure you could think of a few decisions that were good for the US (I can't), but can you think of any that were good for Canada?

[notyoueither]

I'm sure he is more favourably inclined now.

[Asher]

The Conneticut National Guard could conquer Canada.

Watch what you say.

The lady made the comment in a room full of reporters, TO a reporter and acted SURPRISED when people found out about it.

I think it's pathetic people like that are representing our country (as a communications person, no less) and also pathetic that some people can't understand why it's a bad thing. They say it was good she had the balls to say it (she does look manly after all), but it's certainly NOT good to say something like that to the press while representing a country on an international mission.

Case closed. Some of you need to wise up.

[notyoueither]

btw, who said this: A proof is a proof. What kind of a proof? It's a proof. A proof is a proof. And when you have a good proof, it's because it's proven.???

Who's status as a moron should be under discussion by the media?

[Faboba]

Originally posted by Messer Niccolò
...but, the insult , is it Moron or is it Bush?

Maybe the administration heard it as 'mormon'.

[Faboba]

Originally posted by St Leo
She quit because a large number of Canadian morons complained for being compared to Bush.

Yeah, Albertans and National Post reporters.

That seems fair. You do have to write or at least dictate to work for a tabloid. Bush can't even speak English.

[Dis]

why do we let Canadians have their own country? They can't seem to handle diplomacy with other nations.

I say it's about time to incorporate them as the 51st state followed by Puerto Rico as the 52nd state.

[Faboba]

I see... first an undemocratic seizure of power then a call for lebensraum. Sounds familiar....

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Dissident
why do we let Canadians have their own country? They can't seem to handle diplomacy with other nations.

Maybe so you can keep alive the notion that countries can live defenceless right next to you and have no fear?

Might put the lie to some of the detractors who see only rape and pillage.

And besides, it's us that will take you over. Eventually common sense will prevail. That is when we will have won.

[Robert Plomp]

A good democratic process is that all sides can voice their opinions, and come with arguments / counter arguments.

Bush is following this procedure, and even if you dislike his opinion, he's doing nothing wrong.

It seems like the majority agrees with Bush.
I know that it's very leftish to call names to the people you disagree with. Much leftish politicians think the world will be doomed if they don't rule it.

As soon as the debate is not about content, but is about name calling, the democratic system is going down.

In a position like this woman had, you need to be aware of this. And you don't deserve such a position if you treat democracy like this.

And all those people in this thread who are very happy with the "bush is a moron" thing and are very happy to reply it as often as possible, I wonder, do you really say that about everyone you disagree with? You'll have a small world in that case.

[Faboba]

Originally posted by CyberShy
A good democratic process is that all sides can voice their opinions, and come with arguments / counter arguments.

Bush is following this procedure, and even if you dislike his opinion, he's doing nothing wrong.

It seems like the majority agrees with Bush.
I know that it's very leftish to call names to the people you disagree with. Much leftish politicians think the world will be doomed if they don't rule it.

As soon as the debate is not about content, but is about name calling, the democratic system is going down.

In a position like this woman had, you need to be aware of this. And you don't deserve such a position if you treat democracy like this.

And all those people in this thread who are very happy with the "bush is a moron" thing and are very happy to reply it as often as possible, I wonder, do you really say that about everyone you disagree with? You'll have a small world in that case.

Bush's rule is undemocratic in the sense that he fixed ( or rather had his brother Jeb whose campaign he funded fix on his behalf ) the florida election thus securing him 25 electoral college votes and thus, the election.

The majority? Bush wasn't elected by the majority, he was elected by a first-past-the-post minority which validity is debateable.

Besides... if eloquence is one of the factors which you consider in an estimation of intelligence then no one can turn round and say Bush is a smart cookie. Or am I misunderestimating him do you think?

What in the name of all that's ****ing holy is 'leftish' anyway. You can be leftist but not leftish. That's so vague as to be meaningless.

[notyoueither]

And Canadians are criticising first-past-the-post minorities?

Get a grip, man. And stop with the CIA/Aliens/Bush stole the election crap. It does not wear well on Americans. It is worse on foreigners.