The Bush Administration is making progress in its mission to win enemies and alienate allies. And that's exactly what you get when you give alpha male bullies jobs as ambassadors and diplomats.
David Wilkins is so insensitive and mean-spirited that he couldn't get a job as a dog sitter.
Schooled in the manners of the mafia, whenever Wilkins opens his mouth, foul toads fall out, so naturally he's the U.S. Ambassador to Canada.
'Cause Republicans think the only way to get their way is to issue nasty threats and drop killer bombs.
Canadians already didn't like us. Ambassador Wilkins has apparently been charged with the mission of making them hate our guts. The Ambassador from a cave appears to be succeeding.
The United States last night issued an extraordinary warning to Canadian politicians to tone down their anti-American rhetoric or face the consequences.
Washington's ambassador to Ottawa intervened in the Canadian election campaign after politicians north of the border attacked their closest ally and biggest trading partner.
In a televised speech, David Wilkins said: "It may be smart election politics to thump your chest and constantly criticise your friend and your Number One trading partner.
"But it's a slippery slope and all of us should hope it doesn't have a long-term impact on our relationship."
The intervention by a US official in Canadian affairs is virtually unknown and it underlined the strains between the countries as anti-American feeling has soared in the former British dominion. While Mr Wilkins did not name any politicians, his words were primarily aimed at the prime minister, Paul Martin, a once pro-US figure who has won votes in recent years by attacking Washington.
It just so happens that if you want to win elections in Canada, you better be criticizing the U.S., 'cause most Canadians think Uncle Sam has turned into a big ugly bully.
The Prime Minister of Canada responded that he would "not be dictated to" by Washington and, yeah, he's pissed.
And so are Canadian bloggers.
Líam at Skarredblog asks:
"Do Ambassadors from the U.S. expect Canada to collectively bend over for them on every issue? Are we to fear American wrath and trade sanctions everytime a Canadian politician remarks on an American government fuck-up?"
The Canadian Cynic looks at Wilkins' qualifications for the job in a post titled, Speaking of that Ambassador Wilkins dickwad:
"And what kind of ignorant dick ... uh, gentleman is our Mr. Wilkins? Well, he certainly seems to have been picked with the maximum irritation potential in mind. Let's check the historical record:
The Bush administration has nominated a right-wing, fundamentalist, pro-war, pro-military Southern Republican, David Wilkins, as new US ambassador to Canada. Indeed, Wilkins reminds historians of John Calhoun, the South Carolina politician who was one of the main advocates for invading Canada in 1812. . . He is a religious conservative known for opposition to women's rights, abortion, the environment, gay rights, marijuana, pacifism, and the Canadian softwood lumber industry. . . In 2001, he engineered a South Carolina legislative resolution that asked the US government to enforce trade sanctions against Canada."
Just think, the world has three more years to put up with American cavemen posing as diplomats. Three more years of resentment and anger are not going to be good for the USA. One thing about big bullies, they tend to make everyone else forget their differences in order to unite against the bully.
Related Posts: GOP Hormones Rage at U.N. Conference and, Bushies Throw Emotive Fit at U.N.
Canada Ambassador Wilkins Bush Politics Foreign Policy
