As I was just saying the other day, people send me the coolest stuff. Yup PDF UPDATE A reader has a translation up
38 Replies to “I Did Not Have Lunch With That Man, Clarified”
Can somebody provide an english translation?
Can somebody provide an english translation?
My pleasure: “Dear Claude, I love sycophants like you and your wife, so I’m going to make you a deal: for each smooch you lay on my pasty, wrinkled ass, I’ll funnel a (pinky finger to corner of mouth) million dollars in bogus ad contracts your way. Yours in graft,
Paul”
Actually, my french is a little spotty, so you may want to seek a second opinion.
/sarcasm
Isn’t this suppose to be in both English and French to comply with the law? 😉
The key element is the hand written note in the corner referring to golf.
I’m sure a full translation will be forthcoming in about a … nanosecond.
The point here – GroupEverest is the ad agency that is connected to Martin – they worked on his 1990 leadership campaign. Martin claimed he had a falling out at that time with Boulay and had severed his associations since then.
This letter is dated 2001.
Get Martin back on the stand.
Get Martin back on the stand?
He was asked about this letter when
he appeared before the Gomery commission.
That was before contradictory testimony was given. In fact that was before a lot of incriminating testimony was given. The same question that was asked of Martin in quesion period should be asked under oath. It should be probing, none of this accepting any rediculous answer as absolute truth.
By “contradictory testimony” do you mean
Renaud’s recollection of an overheard conversation? I seem to recall that Judge Gomery
chastised Renaud when he brought this up.
The tone is quite warm and personal. I don’t know what’s normal for Finance Ministers passing on a birthday party, but this seems excessive if they didn’t know each other well, even correcting for differences in French and English styles.
My French breaks down at one point, though — I don’t understand the reference to the 1942 vintage. What’s special about 1942?
Anyone?
His little hand drawn personal friendly note doesn’t say “lunch”
It looks like “dinner or golf.”
No lunch, Dithers didn’t lie I guess we should send Gomery et al home now that that’s all cleared up.
How long does it take to put these thieves in jail, this is ridiculous.
Great work Kate!
My that Paul Martin is a friendly sort. Imagine being so chummy and so oddly well acquainted with someone you hardly even know. It is astounding.
http:cnews.canoe.ca
“NDP throws Grits a Lifeline”
Martin and Layton are out of the closet:
SSM (politically)
Governor-General : Do you, Paul Martin, as leader of the party of the first part, take Jack Layton, as leader of the party of the fourth part, as….
P.S. Ring bearer Svend?
During question period, Anne McLellan repeatedly tried to make the assertion that MPs send congratulatory letters just like that to constituents on their birthdays all the time. Yea right, Anne.
I wonder if the Libs look forward to QP as much as the rest of the house?
Just finished reading the French (original) version. This letter is more than friendly, it’s downright oleaginous. Boulay and Martin obviously knew each other very well. There is even a paragraph of slobbering about Boulay’s “beautiful” wife. It is entirely possible that the letter was not written by Martin himself, the style is very feminine (especially the vintage 1942 tripe) and the French is far too good for Martin to have written it. One of his “executive assistants” (uber-secretaries) wrote it. He added the little bit in the bottom right and signed it. But he was obviously chummy with the man. Also, note the references to wine in several places. Obviously an inside thing, perhaps someone was sending nice bottles to someone? What a disgusting crew.
Kate, can you get a copy of that $4000 Gaby Chr�tien receipt. I would like to pin that up at my work place. It would make an excellent election poster.
yes you can get letters for your mp for these kinds of things. joe blow gets “congratulations”, and there;s a set schedule. joe blow doesn’t get the pm to send, never mind hand sign, a note for your 50th birthday. Sure the queen will send something for your 50th wedding anniversary, but not before.
And you have to be really well hooked in for remarks about the “excellent vintage”, how the years treat your wife so well that she is an ageless beauty, how its too bad you’re not aging as well as she is, etc.
Thats a very friendly and very familiar letter. The staff had to know this guy, as pmpm probably didnt compose it himself, so hes even more than simply a golfing pal. “I did not have gustatory relations with that man, M. Boulay” indeed.
When does the finger wagging and lip biting start?
Greetings Kate and the Gang ( I hope that’s not too oleaginous a greeting)
Unfortunately Keith has stolen some of my thunder. I too noticed the feminine touch. Who would have known that people would rejoice over 1942 when we all know 1947 was ” quelle belle cuvee…” whatever.
The key to the letter is of course the postscript. The reference to golf is confounding only if you are an ordinary Joe (Clark or Green) or write for the Globe & Mail (in which case you probably think Karl sent this -and the copy of the cheque- to Kate.)
He’s too old at 50 to play golf? This is a not so subtle allusion to Martin’s arch rival… le petit gars de Shawinigan. Of course Martin wasn’t saying that Claude is too old-at 50- to play golf. It was, how you say, a double entendre (if you are a would be sophisticate don’t pronounce the re.)
The first meaning “too old at 50″ was an excuse- to be given by Claude- to refuse all golf invitations from the boss of the other team- ” merci Jean mais …now that I”m too old and sore.”
The second meaning was a reference to the boss. The boss is too old -at 50, or any other age. This was a put down of Chretien himself- not for his age per se, but his golfing prowess or lack of it. It was well known in golfing circles that for all his machismo Chretien (forgive me Kate and Michelle Wei) hit it like a girl. The use of the feminine now becomes clear. “I write to you, like a girl, to welcome you to the team and to congratulate you for no longer having to play golf with that guy – “who hits it like a girl-” “.
Terry (The Toy Cannon) Gain
re. 1942: could it be referring to Boulay’s ostensible year of birth, and therefore that our finance minister (or staff) couldn’t add? likely another in-joke, but it’s a funny thought. and a damning one.
From the letter: What a beautiful vintage, that of 1942!
1942 plus 50 years is 1992 and yet the date of this letter is 2001???
Everyone give your heads a shake. Now hit the wall with your head. Are things clearer now?
In french, using the familiar form of the second person singular (tu) to address anyone other than a close friend with whom you have a very well-defined relationship would be grossly impolite. Although there’s really no equivalent in English, this would be a bit like calling the Queen by her first name. The only acceptable form for a person you “don’t know” is vous. The prime minister is either really stupid to lie about this or really desperate. I think we shall know which it is very soon.
Ed,
ever been to Quebec or is your French from the banks of the Seine? Tutoyer is much more common in Quebec.
not that it matters at all.
Perhaps 1942 was the year that Boulay’s wife was born, as he seems to have a thing for her in the rest of the letter?
Hey Anne:
How come I never get nice letters like that?? I even live in Alberta. Ahh… come on. Aren’t you going to invite me to golf too??
frenchie points out that the “tutoyer” is very common in Quebec (unfortunately), which was also my first reaction. however, it does indicate that the two men were familiar with each other, contrary to martin’s claims. otherwise, the “vous” would have been used in that rather formal letter.
Has anyone considered ‘kat’s’ observation above; the same thing is mirrored in the comments section on Coyne’s blog.
How do you work with the date discrepancy?
Considering that the document is from the office of the Minister of Finance, and they stamped the date on it, any discreapance is for that office to clear up. Not to mention, does anyone know how old Mr. Boulay is? I presume that the document is one of the documents that the commision has and published through their website.
Fifty or fifty one , who really cares if the math wasn’t really up to snuff.
We are fighting for our lives against the seperatists .
I get a creepy feeling watching Jacques Chirac kiss womens hands and hearing PMPM hit on other guys wives with flowery french prose…. eewwww god
Please deliver us from elitist french lawyer dictators
“1942 plus 50 years is 1992 and yet the date of this letter is 2001???”
Martin didn’t become finance minister until 1993. Whatever 1942 refers to, it’s not the age of Claude Boulay.
More telling, no one in government disputes the authenticity of the letter or its contents. See Anne McLellan’s defense of the letter in the house. (See, don’t hear. Yeoww…)
Now we need a handwriting expert to figure out if Mr. Martin wrote the note at the bottom…
Boulay says he didnt: http://tinyurl.com/cvjke
Kate, do you have samples of letters that Martin has sent out to any other people? In the PDF file there are three letters to Boulay and all of them are just signed “Paul”. Does Martin always sign his letters that informally? In a normal businesslike relationship most people sign their full name, do they not? If he signs his full name to other correspondence, this would be more evidence that the relationship with Boulay was more personal than he is letting on.
And if he signs all of his correspondence with only his first name that makes him even more of a pompous ass than I originally thought.
Simple question for Boulay. Did you, or did you not receive this letter?
Can somebody provide an english translation?
Can somebody provide an english translation?
My pleasure:
“Dear Claude,
I love sycophants like you and your wife, so I’m going to make you a deal: for each smooch you lay on my pasty, wrinkled ass, I’ll funnel a (pinky finger to corner of mouth) million dollars in bogus ad contracts your way.
Yours in graft,
Paul”
Actually, my french is a little spotty, so you may want to seek a second opinion.
/sarcasm
Isn’t this suppose to be in both English and French to comply with the law? 😉
The key element is the hand written note in the corner referring to golf.
I’m sure a full translation will be forthcoming in about a … nanosecond.
The point here – GroupEverest is the ad agency that is connected to Martin – they worked on his 1990 leadership campaign. Martin claimed he had a falling out at that time with Boulay and had severed his associations since then.
This letter is dated 2001.
Get Martin back on the stand.
Get Martin back on the stand?
He was asked about this letter when
he appeared before the Gomery commission.
That was before contradictory testimony was given. In fact that was before a lot of incriminating testimony was given. The same question that was asked of Martin in quesion period should be asked under oath. It should be probing, none of this accepting any rediculous answer as absolute truth.
By “contradictory testimony” do you mean
Renaud’s recollection of an overheard conversation? I seem to recall that Judge Gomery
chastised Renaud when he brought this up.
The tone is quite warm and personal. I don’t know what’s normal for Finance Ministers passing on a birthday party, but this seems excessive if they didn’t know each other well, even correcting for differences in French and English styles.
My French breaks down at one point, though — I don’t understand the reference to the 1942 vintage. What’s special about 1942?
Anyone?
His little hand drawn personal friendly note doesn’t say “lunch”
It looks like “dinner or golf.”
No lunch, Dithers didn’t lie I guess we should send Gomery et al home now that that’s all cleared up.
How long does it take to put these thieves in jail, this is ridiculous.
Great work Kate!
Translations up at http://www.livejournal.com/~jgoguen/
My French isn’t amazing, but I would say it’s accurate enough.
The note says “You’re now ‘Too old’ for golf!”
My that Paul Martin is a friendly sort. Imagine being so chummy and so oddly well acquainted with someone you hardly even know. It is astounding.
http:cnews.canoe.ca
“NDP throws Grits a Lifeline”
Martin and Layton are out of the closet:
SSM (politically)
Governor-General : Do you, Paul Martin, as leader of the party of the first part, take Jack Layton, as leader of the party of the fourth part, as….
P.S. Ring bearer Svend?
During question period, Anne McLellan repeatedly tried to make the assertion that MPs send congratulatory letters just like that to constituents on their birthdays all the time. Yea right, Anne.
I wonder if the Libs look forward to QP as much as the rest of the house?
Future Reference. Check out this website for translation. http://www.babelfish.altavista.com.
Just finished reading the French (original) version. This letter is more than friendly, it’s downright oleaginous. Boulay and Martin obviously knew each other very well. There is even a paragraph of slobbering about Boulay’s “beautiful” wife. It is entirely possible that the letter was not written by Martin himself, the style is very feminine (especially the vintage 1942 tripe) and the French is far too good for Martin to have written it. One of his “executive assistants” (uber-secretaries) wrote it. He added the little bit in the bottom right and signed it. But he was obviously chummy with the man. Also, note the references to wine in several places. Obviously an inside thing, perhaps someone was sending nice bottles to someone? What a disgusting crew.
Kate, can you get a copy of that $4000 Gaby Chr�tien receipt. I would like to pin that up at my work place. It would make an excellent election poster.
yes you can get letters for your mp for these kinds of things. joe blow gets “congratulations”, and there;s a set schedule. joe blow doesn’t get the pm to send, never mind hand sign, a note for your 50th birthday. Sure the queen will send something for your 50th wedding anniversary, but not before.
And you have to be really well hooked in for remarks about the “excellent vintage”, how the years treat your wife so well that she is an ageless beauty, how its too bad you’re not aging as well as she is, etc.
Thats a very friendly and very familiar letter. The staff had to know this guy, as pmpm probably didnt compose it himself, so hes even more than simply a golfing pal. “I did not have gustatory relations with that man, M. Boulay” indeed.
When does the finger wagging and lip biting start?
Greetings Kate and the Gang ( I hope that’s not too oleaginous a greeting)
Unfortunately Keith has stolen some of my thunder. I too noticed the feminine touch. Who would have known that people would rejoice over 1942 when we all know 1947 was ” quelle belle cuvee…” whatever.
The key to the letter is of course the postscript. The reference to golf is confounding only if you are an ordinary Joe (Clark or Green) or write for the Globe & Mail (in which case you probably think Karl sent this -and the copy of the cheque- to Kate.)
He’s too old at 50 to play golf? This is a not so subtle allusion to Martin’s arch rival… le petit gars de Shawinigan. Of course Martin wasn’t saying that Claude is too old-at 50- to play golf. It was, how you say, a double entendre (if you are a would be sophisticate don’t pronounce the re.)
The first meaning “too old at 50″ was an excuse- to be given by Claude- to refuse all golf invitations from the boss of the other team- ” merci Jean mais …now that I”m too old and sore.”
The second meaning was a reference to the boss. The boss is too old -at 50, or any other age. This was a put down of Chretien himself- not for his age per se, but his golfing prowess or lack of it. It was well known in golfing circles that for all his machismo Chretien (forgive me Kate and Michelle Wei) hit it like a girl. The use of the feminine now becomes clear. “I write to you, like a girl, to welcome you to the team and to congratulate you for no longer having to play golf with that guy – “who hits it like a girl-” “.
Terry (The Toy Cannon) Gain
Check out the Warren Kinsella article at Andrew Coynes blog. Tomorrows headlines today.
http://andrewcoyne.com/2005/04/warren-kinsella-conscience-of-liberal.php#comments
re. 1942: could it be referring to Boulay’s ostensible year of birth, and therefore that our finance minister (or staff) couldn’t add? likely another in-joke, but it’s a funny thought. and a damning one.
Ouch #2
Found at A.C. Coyne’s blog:
http://www.anticorruption.ca
Flash ad?
From the letter: What a beautiful vintage, that of 1942!
1942 plus 50 years is 1992 and yet the date of this letter is 2001???
Everyone give your heads a shake. Now hit the wall with your head. Are things clearer now?
In french, using the familiar form of the second person singular (tu) to address anyone other than a close friend with whom you have a very well-defined relationship would be grossly impolite. Although there’s really no equivalent in English, this would be a bit like calling the Queen by her first name. The only acceptable form for a person you “don’t know” is vous. The prime minister is either really stupid to lie about this or really desperate. I think we shall know which it is very soon.
Ed,
ever been to Quebec or is your French from the banks of the Seine? Tutoyer is much more common in Quebec.
not that it matters at all.
Perhaps 1942 was the year that Boulay’s wife was born, as he seems to have a thing for her in the rest of the letter?
Hey Anne:
How come I never get nice letters like that?? I even live in Alberta. Ahh… come on. Aren’t you going to invite me to golf too??
frenchie points out that the “tutoyer” is very common in Quebec (unfortunately), which was also my first reaction. however, it does indicate that the two men were familiar with each other, contrary to martin’s claims. otherwise, the “vous” would have been used in that rather formal letter.
Has anyone considered ‘kat’s’ observation above; the same thing is mirrored in the comments section on Coyne’s blog.
How do you work with the date discrepancy?
Considering that the document is from the office of the Minister of Finance, and they stamped the date on it, any discreapance is for that office to clear up. Not to mention, does anyone know how old Mr. Boulay is? I presume that the document is one of the documents that the commision has and published through their website.
Fifty or fifty one , who really cares if the math wasn’t really up to snuff.
We are fighting for our lives against the seperatists .
I get a creepy feeling watching Jacques Chirac kiss womens hands and hearing PMPM hit on other guys wives with flowery french prose…. eewwww god
Please deliver us from elitist french lawyer dictators
“1942 plus 50 years is 1992 and yet the date of this letter is 2001???”
Martin didn’t become finance minister until 1993. Whatever 1942 refers to, it’s not the age of Claude Boulay.
More telling, no one in government disputes the authenticity of the letter or its contents. See Anne McLellan’s defense of the letter in the house. (See, don’t hear. Yeoww…)
Now we need a handwriting expert to figure out if Mr. Martin wrote the note at the bottom…
Boulay says he didnt: http://tinyurl.com/cvjke
Kate, do you have samples of letters that Martin has sent out to any other people? In the PDF file there are three letters to Boulay and all of them are just signed “Paul”. Does Martin always sign his letters that informally? In a normal businesslike relationship most people sign their full name, do they not? If he signs his full name to other correspondence, this would be more evidence that the relationship with Boulay was more personal than he is letting on.
And if he signs all of his correspondence with only his first name that makes him even more of a pompous ass than I originally thought.
Simple question for Boulay. Did you, or did you not receive this letter?