Gilles Duceppe to Debate Bush and Kerry
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| Fri, 07-02-2004 - 1:43pm |
In case anyone is wondering who Gilles Duceppe is, he's the leader of a political party in federal politics that only runs in Quebec and the party's true aim is to bring about the seperation of Canada.
http://www.dailyhog.com/duceppe_06212004_7289.asp
"Gilles Duceppe to Debate Bush and Kerry
June 21, 2004
by Pete Vere
Citing his excellent performance during the Canadian election debates, a consortium of major American news networks have recently secured Gilles Duceppe's participation in the upcoming presidential debates. "After a campaign that has dragged on and on, the American electorate is bored with Bush and Kerry," said one network executive off the record.
"We feel the leader of the Bloc Quebecois provides a new and exciting presence within the campaign," said another network executive under condition of anonymity. "Gilles is passionate, a sharp dresser and his grasp of the facts and figures is second to none. He also can't win. Hence his punishing questions connect well with frustrated voters. The American electorate increasingly feels it cannot win with the two traditional parties." A number of network executives also anticipate Mr. Duceppe's participation will raise the quality of the English spoken during the presidential debates.
Mr. Duceppe, who was reached while campaigning in Shawinigan, told reporters he is looking forward to the American debate. "Neither the George W. Bush nor John Kerry have Quebec's best interests at heart," the leader of the Bloc Quebecois stated. When reporters pointed out that this lack of interest among American presidential hopefuls may be due to the fact Quebec is not part of the United States, Mr. Duceppe responded: "I have consistently maintained that Quebec should not be a part of Canada either. Nevertheless, polls suggest I won the Canadian debates."
Reaction was mixed among leaders of Canada's other political parties. "This is certainly a victory for the Liberal vision of Canada," Prime Minister Paul Martin stated. "Three months' ago, the Bloc Quebecois was sinking in the polls. Had it not been for Adscam and the backlash in Quebec over the federal Liberal government, Mr. Duceppe never would have put in the solid performance during the Canadian debates and attracted the attention of the American networks." Mr. Harris of the Green Party expressed similar happiness at the news. "During the last presidential election we saw Ralph Nader locked out of the debates," Mr. Harris stated. "While I'm disappointed to see this happen again this year, I still cannot help but feel proud as a Canadian for Mr. Duceppe."
On the other hand, Stephen Harper was a little more subdued in his response. "The high tax rate under three successive Liberal governments killed jobs and drove thousands of Canadian doctors, engineers, and other professionals south of the border," the leader of the Conservative Party stated. "Under Paul Martin we now see politicians added to the Canadian brain-drain. A Conservative government would lower taxes, thus providing Quebec separatists with greater incentive to stay in Canada." The NDP's reaction remains indecipherable at this point, as Mr. Layton spoke too rapidly and would not let reporters get a question in edgewise.
Mr. Duceppe's American opponents welcomed news of the Quebec separatist's participation in the presidential debate. "Given his maoist background, Mr. Duceppe makes me look like a centrist to the American people," said Mr. Kerry. "This is good for the Democrats because the Republicans have attempted to paint me as a Massachusetts Liberal who is soft on national defense. My only concern is that his youthful appearance deeply contrasts with my Botox treatment on national television." President Bush was much more enthusiastic in his response. "Mr. Duceppe is one of those French guys," Mr. Bush stated. "If he wants to weigh into the American election and ask tough questions, I say bring it on! When it comes to the war in Iraq, the American people have repeatedly shown themselves willing to stand up to French scrutiny.""

http://www.newsworld.cbc.ca/election97/bios/duceppe.html
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Ironic, considering Duceppe's mother tongue is french and he has a strong accent. He is sharp, I'll give you that....but what does this say about the level of english spoken by American politicians....one in particular?
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Wow! Can this president be any more ignorant? Duceppe is not from France....how can Bush even compare the two? It's like comparing an english speaking South African to an english speaking American and assuming they are the same because they both speak english.
UN-believable!
With logic like this no wonder Bush kept trying to push the notion that Iraq and Al Qaida were strongly connected.
Edited 7/2/2004 1:53 pm ET ET by suemox
It seemed so convincing and I just stumbled across it looking something else up. I didn't take the time to double check it with other sources. Leave it to me to start a thread all on my lonesome and then have it turn out to be baseless. I should have known I suppose. If it WERE true it would have been all over the papers.
Blushing furiously. Thank goodness I'm not a politician. They would have made mincemeat out of me for a gaff like that.
Well, perhaps it will still spark some interesting debate anyway.
Satire or not the article makes some notable points. Some you pointed out.....
"The American electorate increasingly feels it cannot win with the two traditional parties."
True.
"raise the quality of the English spoken during the presidential debates."
If only! ;) (For starters: How now brown cow. Round the rugged rock the ragged rascal ran.)
""During the last presidential election we saw Ralph Nader locked out of the debates," "
He was & SB included this time around, IMO.
" "Mr. Duceppe is one of those French guys," Mr. Bush stated."
LOL I can hear