Cellucci The Clown Strikes Back

Bushie former U.S. ambassador to Canada Paul Cellucci, a republican and McCain supporter from the get-go, has opened his mouth in order to swiftly insert his foot in it - once again:

Obama win a 'danger' to Canada, Cellucci says

A Barack Obama presidency would present a "danger" to Canada because he could renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, imperiling the future economic integration of the continent, former U.S. ambassador to Canada Paul Cellucci said yesterday.

Mr. Cellucci, a Republican, engaged in an overt piece of partisan politicking on Canadian soil eight days before the U.S. presidential election, telling an audience in Ottawa that the Democratic senator would face "pressure" to renegotiate NAFTA after indicating a willingness to do so during the hotly contested Ohio primary.

"The reason I say it's a little bit of a danger for Canada is because if the polls are right -- and I hope that they're not -- but if they're right, we could have Barack Obama as president of the United States with over, maybe 60 United States senators in the Democratic column and a pretty strong majority in the House of Representatives."

"You're going to have basically one-party government in the United States," Mr. Cellucci said in the keynote address to the Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute annual meeting.

(shades of NAFTA-gate, anyone?)

So, the republicans are now directly exporting their fearmongering to Canada - most likely attempting to whip up a frenzy among those of "the right" in our country.

Funny thing is - why should Canadians take any stock in what this clown says to us?

I mean - remember this?

Canada's decision not to support the U.S.-led war in Iraq has left plenty of Americans "upset and disappointed." That was the message the U.S. ambassador to Canada delivered today in a speech to business leaders.

"So many people in the United States are so disappointed that Canada is not fully supporting us now," said Paul Cellucci, the U.S. ambassador to Canada. "And that is why so many people in the United States are so disappointed that Canada is not fully supporting us now."

He said if the roles were reversed, the U.S. would back Canada without question.

"There is no security threat to Canada that the United States would not be ready, willing and able to help with," Cellucci told a breakfast meeting at the Toronto Economic Club.

(...) Cellucci had added that Canada's close ties to the U.S. have been called into question recently due to the war. For economic reasons, "it's important we keep working together."

When asked whether the U.S. would punish Canada through trade agreements, Cellucci replied: "It's not in our economic interests to do that," but added, "we'll have to wait and see if there are any ramifications."

He voiced such criticisms more than once at that (another instance here).

Do you also remember this other bit of fearmongering?

Canadian cities face terrorist threat: Cellucci

Montreal, Toronto or Windsor could be the target of terrorist attacks, U.S. Ambassador Paul Cellucci warned.

The train bombs in Madrid that killed 201 people are a reminder that "no one is immune from these attacks and everyone should be vigilant and stand on guard," Cellucci said in a speech to the University of Western Ontario on Wednesday.

Cellucci said attacks against American cities could have fatal consequences on Canadian cities near the border.

Cellucci said the U.S needs a strong Canadian military to help defend North America.

"We are doing everything in our power to prevent the next attack. We cannot defend ourselves without Canada's help."

Or this other instance?

Canada's decision not to join Washington's ballistic missile defence program hasn't produced diplomatic shockwaves, but has set off ripples of irritation and disbelief south of the border.

U.S. ambassador to Canada said he's perplexed by the decision, which he says allows the U.S. to decide what happens if a missile is heading toward Canada.

"I personally don't think it's in Canada's sovereign interest to be outside of the room when a decision is made about a missile that might be incoming towards Canada," said Paul Cellucci.

Of course, Cellucci has had lots of "suggestions" for us Canadians - such as this one:

Canada short on troops, transportation ability: U.S. ambassador

Canada's role in future international military operations could be at risk unless Ottawa increases defence spending, says the U.S. ambassador to Canada.

Speaking at a business conference in Banff on Thursday, Paul Cellucci praised Canada's military record. The United States respects Canadian troops, he said.

But he says there could be negative consequences unless more money is spent on the armed forces.

"Despite the huge military capability of the United States, we cannot do it alone. That's the point we're making. We need allies and we need our allies to put the resources in as well," said Cellucci.

He says countries need sufficient troops and the ability to transport them and their equipment to military zones.

Canada is short on both troops and transportation abilities, said Cellucci.

Suggestion which was dutifully followed by Harper and his Harpies.

I can't help but think that Cellucci is now mouthing off about Obama in Canada so that Harper and his Harpies do not have to get their hands dirty this time around ...

Regardless, I say to Mr. Cellucci: bugger off, eh?