In all of the furor over Emerson, Stephen Harper has been very calm and subdued in his response. His new minister seems all alone in facing the fury of his constituants and a press working overtime to push fallout from Paul Martin’s campaign strategy onto his doorstep.
Now, I’m just an artist in Saskatchewan, and not no fancy schmancy insider pundit on the Hill, so you’re best to take everything I say with a grain of salt. But nonetheless – events over the last few days in the Canadian body politic keep taking me back to my days as a kid.
There’s no way to sneak up on a gopher colony – they have sentinels posted watching in all directions, so I’d walk onto the pock-marked prairie in plain view. The alarm whistles would echo in an overlapping series of piercing blasts, and dozens of rodents would fly across the prairie and dive to safety underground.
I’d lay downwind in the short dry grass where I could sight as many holes as possible within range of the .22, and quietly listen to the meadowlarks for a while.
Then, after a minute or so had passed, I’d whistle.
Like a gopher, that is.
And wait for the heads to poke up.
Keep your friends close, & your enemies closer?
This reminds me of “What is the sound of one hand clapping?” 🙂
Garth Turner is an incidental gopher.
Kate are you saying Harper is going to take out the cabinet with a 22? After silently taking up a spot during a cabinet meeting. Or was it Myron Thompson,
: )
Sorry had to say it.
I have a continuum for such things he sits as an independant no ethics breach, sits as back bencher something has happened during the course of government to make him switch sides, minor breach. He goes into cabinet or parliamentary secretary Red warning light. He does so without ever sitting 1 day for the party that elected him, Nuclear alert.
MIRV has been launched…..
good one
Re Fortier: Harper’s move might, after all, be a premeditated move to provoke Quebec into giving a damn about the Senate. If Quebeckers don’t like the appointment of an unelected representative, then hold an election. Nothing prevents them from holding one if there’s a vacancy.
William, I agree that Harper has thought this through and probably has a master plan. As for knowing the flak would happen and having Emerson take it, well that is a bit risky.
Seeing how Harper was very quiet during the initial days of Adscam, gun registry and other antics of the Liberals, I see this as normal for him.
Meaning, I lost count the amount of times he had the Liberal jugular handed to him on a plate and he or the party missed going for it.
So for him to be strangely quiet isn’t new. Although, one poster said if you have to explain things in politics, you’ve already lost.
So what I’m seeking is a balance. Reason I heard is he is a brilliant guy, smart, BC representation, softwood lumber, Vancouver 2010 Olympics, etc. Granted that might be right combo but it’s been what a week or more and we find out the softwood issue was already a done deal.
As for DCwow reference about reading the latest news, I try to avoid the MSM but did watched Emerson last night on CTV-Tass being interviewed. I didn’t really get a feel for why he crossed other than he is a business person who got convinced by Martin to sign up.
Sounds good enough, but does that mean then one doesn’t have to have an allegiance? What’s stopping him from jumping ship back, or the *ack* NDP?
To Harper’s credit, I hope this doesn’t blow up in his face.
As I posted in another string, the reasoning I heard about softwood being hushed was Emerson’s idea. That tells me this guy has a lot of pull, is a bad planner, or read the popular vote wrong.
Meaning, as a Liberal I’d use the softwood deal to convince Canadians “we got it done” as it has been a thorn in the side for many years. It would give a strong boost to the Liberals in the dying days of the campain.
Reminds me of the Iran hostange issue. Regan’s team convinced the Mullah in Iran to hold off releasing the captives till after the election so that it looked like they did it. Difference here was Carter was president, so this would be akin to the Conservatives inking the deal but telling the US to hold off till after elections.
cheers
tom
William, the US, at the rate they are going, will be around long after the formerly great Dominion of Canada is dead and buried, you need to become Steyninized
William AND Dale from BC are right. G-r-r-r-r I’m goin’ nuts.
Dale: I had the exact experience with my hairdresser, a lovely smart but very liberal young woman in Vancouver who was very angry. I told her I was deeply conflicted AND that to be consistent she would have to equally enraged when members cross to her party.
But nevertheless, something was lost! And the move was NOT CRITICAL at that juncture!
Here’s my take – the softwood deal was just about signed when the confidence vote happened in Nov – the Liberals – including David Emerson – thought we will beat up on the Americans during the election – then pull this out of the hat after we win showing how PM(ex)PM and the Liberals made the Americans capitulate on softwood.
The only problem is that they lost the election so now the only thing they can do to save face is to put out some spin blaming Emerson – this way they get to dis one of their own who fled the party and to put a dirty smell around any softwood deal that the Conservatives finish. The Liberals haven’t governed for as many years as they have by playing politics nice.
“No one has condemned Harper Barcs.”
Posted by Central Content Provider at February 9, 2006 02:50 PM
O_O
Did you close your eyes while you were reading for the last week??? Try to listen through your nose????
My looseleaf sheet is full of ticks of people “mad as hell and not lending their vote to Harper anymore.” My calculator doesn’t go high enough (it burned out this morning) to count the number of people (left and CPC) waving their arms around trying to be more outraged than the last guy.
The word hypocrite is bandided around more than racist or sexist or natzi. It no longer has any meaning nor the people who use it every 3rd word any credibility.
As for indefensible,…. the liberals still got more than 308 votes (one for each candidate) despite their recent record on GST, childcare, taxes, farm, dingwall, softwood(and other trade), etc etc etc. But ofcourse my position is the indefensible one.
Faultless? I don’t know anyone that isn’t faultless espically anyone involved in politics (or pays any attention).
Look for a rational logical argument. Then try to formulate one. Don’t go off half cocked and then tell anyone who has a contrary opinion to “STFU”
I listen to the credibiilty in the last couple days…. You did that, its bad its undemocratic, its the end of the world as we know it…. So, you did too…. Yeah but but, you said you wouldn’t. LMAO
(I know lots that claim to be faultless tho…. righteous to the end)
Sorry William, it still makes no sense.
But at least you admit your opinion regarding the USA is “personal”.
William MacDonnel “I said the US would be “lucky” to survive 500 years.”
You got it all wrong. Take a cue from Nostradamas when writing preditions and make them as vague as possible that way they might come true retroactively with enough headscratching. You also get to poo poo any detractors as people who lack the insight to “get” your prophetic genius.
How about “The Land of the Eagle will burn when the House of Nocturn is at its zenith.” A much more useful prediction.
Having said that I sort of agree with you inasmuch as I think we’ll probably ditch the nation state for something that better suits us before this century is out. Or put more plainly – The houses of the great will melt as wax when the three turtles of nod rise in the east.
In any case the direction that the states is going in is going to change. Love it or hate it, its a dynamic country and the times are always a-changing.
William MacDonnel ” I also doubt Harper forgets the words that spewed from his mouth.”
I wouldn’t put much stock in that. A lot of politicans rip each other apart on camera but get along just fine in private. And that’s a good thing imho.
Kate,
I have an ethics question for you. Lets say that in the N. Sask Churchill riding, Merasty wins the recount. Further, no proof comes forward of wrongdoing in the election. Then he decides to cross the floor and sit as a conservative and Harper accepts him.
Would that be OK with you?
Speaking of the senate.
There is in fact 6 vacancies (Fortier fills only 1)
23 CPC
4 PC (yeah, Martin put 2 there for fun after the inception of the CPC)
6 independant (one says she is a NDP,.. but they don’t recognise the senate…)
66 liberals
adds up to 105.
So Harper appointed one. O_O Everyone who believes the majority of those 66 liberals are gonna help make a Triple-E senate??
He should appoint more, and ask for the exemption like Mulroney did to get a few extra appointments. Only then will we be able to get what is needed. Only then will he have enough voices there to allow him to pass the constitutional ammendment to elect the senate.
“I have an ethics question for you. Lets say that in the N. Sask Churchill riding, Merasty wins the recount. Further, no proof comes forward of wrongdoing in the election. Then he decides to cross the floor and sit as a conservative and Harper accepts him.
Would that be OK with you?”
Yup, ok with me. Just as it’s ok with me if his constituants give him a rough time for doing it.
Has anyone heard if Emerson is actually a member of the CPC?
We know he has cancelled his Liberal membership.
So, he in reality is he an Independent, working for his constituents, as he said he would?
Just watched Mike Duffy; something I generally don’t do. Seems he and his cohort of reporters are upset because they don’t seem to be getting what they want from the new PM. One is upset because PMSH did not let them take pictures of moving day. All are upset that Peter Mckay did not give an interview of his meeting with Condy Rice. They are also belittling the new PM for not coming to Emerson’s defense. All in all they are really P@&*@D-OFF. Who, I ask, is running this country. I know the media – at least they think they do. I don’t remember them on the ballot. Don’t they understand that our news comes from the net and if we want dialogue we can get it from the blogs. Seems these self important people aren’t that damn important. My advice to the new PM is if you want to get things done without interference don’t contact the media till it’s finalized. Stay your course and no apologies.. Let those guys bat around in the dark at least till parliament resumes. Go ahead and P!## them off – it looks good on them. They just twist the truth anyways.
Buffalo Bean, I’d like to know that, too. It’s what happens in the U.S. when a sitting elected official (see: Jim Jeffords for most recent example) quits his party. Serving IN a Conservative government ≠ being a Conservative — does it? Automatically?
(Awesome! I’ve always wanted to use that little character!!! Too bad I don’t know any native languages or I could use all these “Canadian Aboriginal Characters”, too . . .)
Loreene probably didn’t want them taking pictures of moving day because they would take issue with the kind of furniture or the fact that the kids didn’t even get a handshake when they came home from school.
I have come to the conclusion that there are just too many reporters in Ottawa – each trying to scratch the eyes out of their competition for the biggest story.
I almost think that I am sick to death of this stuff and should just quit reading and watching this politics stuff (of course, my addictive personality will only allow that for a short time)
P.S. the only problem with explosives for gophers (or prairie dogs that we have down south) is that it’s hell with the real estate . . . also makes the prairie dog rights activists really mad.
(I’m not making that up — there really are prairie dog rights activists – people who live in cities who think that prairie dogs would be cute to have for pets. And that it’s evil to own and “exploit” cows. Or grasslands. No joke.)
Thanks, but I’m Catholic, so if I start reading about prophesies, I’d have to feel guilty about it.
Actually, I think I’m beginning to feel guilty for replying about not wanting to feel guilty about reading prophesy now… excuse me while I go do penance at the corner pub.
Did I say Pub?
“My advice to the new PM is if you want to get things done without interference don’t contact the media till it’s finalized. Stay your course and no apologies.. Let those guys bat around in the dark at least till parliament resumes. Go ahead and P!## them off – it looks good on them.”
Because that worked soooo well for Harper before the election and soooo well for Martin and The Board during the election. Ask John Duffy what he thinks of that advice.
Ted
Cerberus
Alberta Girl, it’s what I called in the last post’s comments “Washington in August” syndrome. In the U.S., Washington D.C. is totally empty in August and nothing’s happening and yet the news must go on the air, in print, etc. So lots of things get really blown up out of proportion, and then are totally forgotten after Labor Day — though a very select few stick around. All, however, are the creation of the media focus. Cindy Sheehan, for example, has the August Doldrums to thank for her notoriety, it was very good timing on her part (and I don’t say that to put her down, it was good timing). “Plame-gate” and then “Fitz-mas” were other August stories – look up the timing. It helps to know that most of this is deadline-driven. Same things happened in Clinton years, BTW.
Interesting comment about the media being angry at being shut out. I was just thinking that we may have seen the last (or far fewer of) the useless “gotcha” parliamentary scrums.
What I’m really waiting for:
The first snarky Toronto columnist to make fun of the name “Loreen”. You know someone’s itching to do it. Because it’s just not very “Tronna-sophisticated”, is it? Who will it be? Zerb? We could run a pool on this . . . about as productive as the current media yakkity-yaks . . .
Well, the media were pretty bugged yesterday, hanging around in the cold at Meech Lake, just so they could watch limos & catering trucks drive past. Personally I think it’s hilarious, but I’m not sure it’s wise. Thank God the Olympics will take some of the spotlight.
Maybe Toews should go ahead & cancel the gun registry or something.
MolarMauler is on to something. If you want an elected senate, get people angry about appointments. If you want people to have more say in their local MP’s behavior, recall legislation can be quite effective. Look at Arnold in California. PMSH has gone on the record to say he supports crossing the floor as it is sometimes the only avenue an MP has to the Prime Minister’s power. I think recall legislation will be introduced just before the next election and die on the order paper to become an election issue. Like Kate says, lie and wait……
Both of the national politics shows(cable-only – you must pay your tithe to the cable monopolies if you want to watch political debate in this country!) tonight are hilarious. They both feature panels of “pundits” crying over what a communications disaster this week has been for Harper. How nobody’s in control. How they’re out of the loop. How the Liberals used to tip them off days in advance so they could prep the public!
This has become a complete farce. The behaviour of the Canadian media is disgusting. Not because of the obvious bias, but because of the incompetence and impotence of the political debate. Canadians like to brag about our “educated” population. But this isn’t educated debate. So there were a couple of arguably controversial cabinet appointments. An educated debate would have centered on the skill-sets and qualifications that these individuals were bringing to their positions to determine if their selections were warranted. Instead what we get is ranting and hysterical attempts to create an ethical crisis over the appointment process itself.
But what the media, and obviously the Liberal party, don’t seem to understand is that a cabinet position is a job. It’s not a reward! IT’S A JOB! And we finally have a Prime Minister who seems to understand this and has acted “outside the box” to get capable and qualified persons to do these JOBS, and his reward is media hysteria.
Every day, the words stupid and Canadian seem to move a little bit closer to becoming synonyms.
Kate:so glad to hear you used to shoot gophers when you were young. I was born and raised in Manitoba, where it was the Provincial sport every summer. I found the best ammo was the .22 LR Whiz-bang! Accurate and penetrated the little dirt mound if you shot low. The farmers used to love us kids, we saved them a lot of broken legged cattle from stepping in a gopher hole.
The gophers were a lot like todays’ reactionaries, they just can’t keep their heads down. Emerson jumped, get over it, the Liberals didn’t do much hand wringing over the “morality” of Brison or Stronachs’ defections. The “rightness” of any pol crossing the floor is for philosophers, the practicality for both parties, Emerson and Harper, outweighs the angst of the morally pure, in the Conservative Party, and (joke) the Liberal Party. This time, we won, morality don’t enter into it. Think of politics as a whores’ convention, choose your dance partner, and keep your expectations low. Chances are, she ain’t a virgin. Let’s get on to other topics, like how not to offend Muslim Fanatics, and the best weapons to purchase if, by chance, you do.
I lived in Vancouver- Kingsway for three years, 2001-2004. When I went out I was quite often the only non-Asian person in the crowd, on the street, in the restaurant, etc. In many discussions, I heard the expression of gratitude for “letting me move to this country”. In other words, Van.-Kings. votes “Liberal,” the candidate being of quite secondary importance.
Author: Anonymeme
No way that the NDP, Libs and BQ allow the Consrvtvs to entrench themselves into governing because that would be not only the demise of the Libs and NDP … but also the BQ separatist movement in Quebec.
Liberals:
Martin is just sitting back and waiting for the non-confidence vote and he’s back in the saddle … WHY DO YOU THINK THAT NOBODY WANTS THE LEADERSHIP NOW … THEY ARE BETTING ON A MARTIN COMEBACK.
NDP:
Layton cannot resist the pressures from the NDP socialists, neoDeviates and unions in bringing down the Consrvtv govt asap so that anti-union anti-ssm legislation is not advanced. Jack also does not want to lose union contributions that would be eliminated with proposed Consrvtv “Rene Levesque” funding restriction.
BQ:
Duceppe does not want a resurgence of a federal Consrvtv party to replace the failed Liberals in Quebec. A Harper-Charest partnership could defeat the PQ and the Sovereignty Referendum.
NOPE … I’M BETTING THAT THE OPPOSITION WILL GANG UP ON THE CONSERVATIVES AND FORM SOME KIND OF ACCORD OR COALITION TO DENY A HARPER GOVT AND MAINTAIN LEFTY CENTRALIZED CONTROL OVER CANADA … WANNA BET …???!!! >>>
http://www.voy.com/178771/132112.html
Good observation jypsy. I’ve been enjoying watching the mornfull, grim, nasty, spitful MSM people on the idiot box (TV) for a few days now. It is way too much fun!! Tragicomedy at it’s worst, irony at it’s best. Funny how what goes around comes around – watching it gives the audience that ‘got ya’ feeling even if we are just observers – this is audience particapation – in my own case!!
I haven’t read any of the comments yet, but your gopher technique is perfect! That’s the same way we get them on the farm too.
Maz is right, although the Liberals will run with McKenna or Tobin if at all possible. Martin is toast. The Liberals want an election as soon as possible before the Auditor-General and the RCMP get busy, so expect a non-confidence vote before the end of May.
The party has to rein in Harper before he pulls off another move like Emerson. The MPs get a little too light headed when they’re in Ottawa, so the riding associations have to talk them some sense when they’re home on the weekend. If that fails, the Conservative MPs better enjoy the view from the government benches while they can.
Harper always was the viper in the Reform garden. When you consider the Liberal record and Martin’s incompetent campaign, it’s apparent that the Conservatives won in spite of Harper, not because of him. The scary label wouldn’t have stuck if he wasn’t a throwback to the pre-Diefenbaker up-tight true blue Ontario high Tory type that kept the Conservatives out of power for most of the 20th century.
Moo Moooooo…
RJM – can I have some of what you’re smoking? The current Conservative Party wouldn’t exist without Harper, and you think they won “in spite” of him. Sheesh. See musing on political party as non-virginal dance partner, above. Please. And remember: The Liberals don’t have any money. Right? Nobody has the money to finance a campaign for at least 18 months — except the Conservatives. When the Libs get some more money in the bank (and, like, you know, actually have a leader), then you can worry.
God, you people act like you lost or something. Do you want to go back to the “purity” of Opposition? You sure act like it.
Jypsy, Jema, we unplugged our cable (our building pays for basic) on Tuesday evening after “the election and everything” — we had kept it plugged in for election coverage — and we’re both much, much happier.
Make floor-crossers run in byelections, Fortier says
New senator cites Emerson, Stronach as examples
Members of Parliament who bolt from their parties and cross the floor of the House of Commons should have to quit and face their voters in a byelection, says new Public Works Minister Michael Fortier.
fortier
Perhaps a petition to get the media to STFU and do their job – report on all the stuff the Liberals have done over the past 12 years – the Dingwall scandal would be a start.
Would it help if all of us bloggers actually put our fingers to work and emailed our displeasure to the MSM. I have done it but have gotten no response. Maybe if they had hundreds it might work.
Give me some feedback.
There are just to many ways to get these varmints.
Didn’t like traps, snares or water (a lot of work) much, but had to use them because of houses and highways on occasion.
I do like the .22’s. My favorite was and still is my trusty Cooey with a scope. I’ve had it for 40 years – even registered it when the Libs decided to make me a criminal if I didn’t. I think it was a popular gun – the one with the rabbit on the stock. You can only use L and LR with this gun.
Anyway, I used it with the scope on and off for gophers. The reason? – with the scope I could take out the sentinels. Kinda funny watching them look at the dust clouds around them while I was sighting the scope.
The reason I used the open sights was not really for the gophers – it was for practice. I love grouse …especially if it’s done like chicken fricassee. Grouse aren’t real bright … they think that they can hide behind a twig. But because of habitat (they blend in) they aren’t easy to find in a scope. So open sights is required for a very satisfying dinner. BTW: I recommend a Merlot with grouse.
Kate, with a gun…
a .22, not registered…
on the prairies, in Canada…
I’m not making this up.
I’m also not too sure why nobody else did this corny stchick before me. Perhaps I’m the only one not fixated at why PMSH et al, are doing what they seem to be doing (or not) and just waiting for some results.
Never made it to the gopher museum in Torrington but I did make more than my fair share of gopher road pizzas. (I know, Richardson’s Ground Squirrel)
I’m with Dale 100%. He’s making the most sense here in my mind.
This thing stinks. And it stinks because of how badly it has been handled. There were 20 other ways Harper could have brought Emerson into the fold, and all of them are better than what we have seen here.
Harper or his advisers should have been smarter than this.
Get real people. If the Conservatives want a majority next time around, step one is not to alienate your core base of supporters, and step two is to get advisers who know what they are doing.
If my local Conservative MP, for whom I and many many others worked countless hours to help get elected, had crossed the floor so soon into the new parliament, I would be BLOODY PISSED.
Dale: thanks for you wise comments.
FreeThinker,
There were 20 other ways Harper could have brought Emerson into the fold, and all of them are better than what we have seen here.
What are the 20 different ways that would make you happy?
Emerson’s actions reflect his BC roots. There is a lot less to this story than most in the Toronto-centric MSM pretend there is.
Once Paul Martin jumped overboard on election night no doubt Emerson felt he no longer owed the Paul Martin Liberals any loyalty.
We should not forget that Emerson came on board the Liberals as part of the “Martin Team”. He never was a lifelong Liberal. This is not a secret in BC (even in Van-Kingsway). Gordon Campbell’s reaction (“This is a great appointment for BC.”) is more typical of most BC Liberals.
The only ones who are really upset in BC are NDP supporters and their fellow leftie travellers.
Now let’s all turn to a real story – like what the hell was Janet Gretzky thinking?
Hmmmm was Garth Turner the first to pop up?
Ok, I give up, what did you whistle?
😉
William:
Yer post is spot-on! Very well said.
concrete:
“William: Trade with China, India, the Pacific Rim in general must become our overriding focus for the next 25 years, or we are screwed.”
Concrete this statement makes PERFECT sense. Why put 9/10 eggs in the US basket? When they drop it, we’re screwed. We depend far too much on the US for an economy. We SHOULD have diversified our trading partners years ago. But then, that would be too much work, Why work so hard when you don’t have to? Besides, the overseas markets weren’t nearly as lucrative 30 yrs ago as they are now. If we have 60% of our trade with Pacific countries, and 40% with the US, we protect our economy from tanking. Far better to only have 40% of our economy exposed to US market pressures. Kinda like an investment portfolio….50% bonds, 30% dividend stocks, 10% futures, 10% income trust. If any sector takes a hit, the effect is less than if it was all in that one area.
The US will be lucky to even get any lumber from here once asian markets have their share. Wood grown in northern climates is favoured over wood grown in warm climes because the “rings” are closer together due to shorter growing season in the north, producing substantially stronger wood.Therefore more valuable. And not only will they be wanting wood, but metals, petroleum etc. Our economy will become VERY stable, and perhaps our dollar will rise above the greenback. Bad for exports, but better for other things. I’d be happy with it close to par.
Softwood deal:
DE says it wasn’t a done deal because it wasn’t a good enough proposal. I believe it. It doesn’t just get done that quick, we’re still fighting for those stolen dollars from duties the US refuses to return….. remember? I doubt there’ll be a deal before we get out money back.
After 12 yrs of lieberals blowing smoke up our arses, have we forgotten how good they are at it?
I’m cutting Garth some slack, though he really should know better as a former MP. There are going to be lots of off-message comments by Conservative MP’s in coming weeks. Steep learning curve, and all that.
I don’t know that it’s useful to amplify these in the blogosphere.
Snookie, I am glad to see someone on this blog with at least some idea of the issues relating to softwood.
The problem with relying on the superior strength of the Northern species is that the building industry is quickly moving to manufactured lumber products like strand boards and I beams.
The same strengths can now be obtained with low grades of lumber (a renewable resource, i.e., trees grow).
And in the 13 years the Liberals and the NDP have been using the softwood issue as a political 2×4 to screw up NAFTA (as they promised), Canada, especially BC has missed out on part of the biggest building boom in human history in the USA.
Also any Canadian who believes that the dynamics of the commodity market have fundamentally changed because of Asia, should hedge that bet.
IMO Chinese banks are carrying bad debt from poorly managed state run factories forward.
I expect the problem debts may become very apparent after the Beijing Olympics.
Anyone who wants to bet long term AGAINST the USA and WITH China has chosen a very tough row to hoe.
Canada is “sittin pretty” in regards to the USA AND Asia, but so is the USA sittin pretty in regards to Canada and Asia.
Canadians will be much better served financially if their government solved the trade practices that cause problems trading lumber across PROVINCIAL borders, but unlike the USA softwood dispute, Canadas internal trade practices are completely ignored as there is no political capital there.
Kate, I had a thought discussing this last evening, What if Stephen had enticed a certain MP from Montreal to cross and become Finance Minister..he had several years of experience in the position and a great rep and he added a seat in the big city of Montreal??
Or perhaps appoint a certain PP from the same city to the Senate and make him responsible for Foreign Affairs..same credentials..how would we have felt about either of these bold ideas??
Great comments Dale. No one lives in a glass house and we have to take the criticism when deserved. My disappointment is heavy and fuels the arguments of “they are all a bunch of crooks.” I really don’t want this gov’t to be in any way comparable to the last dictatorship we went thru but we have not made a great first step.
While they are many other good counterpoints that are given until they have an iq and sensibility quiz when they hand out a ballot the court of public opinion does matter.
Reminds me of when the first Chinese delegation came to Alberta.
We tripped over ourselves showing them how we do directional drilling and so on, and they took notes, pictures and what not. The idea was to “shock and awe” them into getting hefty contracts in China.
Well the delegation went home and built their own stuff from all the information we gave them.
And that is how their culture works. The only ironic thing I laughed hard at was when we gave them white hats and Canadian flag lapel pins, on the back the little stickers said “Made in Taiwan”…