"When Irish Eyes Are Smiling"

It has become incredibly popular for today's conservative politicians to invoke Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher and in some cases to seek the actual blessing from the now octogenarian Iron Lady. Earlier this week in Vancouver, former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney tried to bring the 1980s back to life in order to sell his recently released book, Memoirs.

It is the sort of sentimental journey that gets a conservative crowd into a feisty mood and when Canadians start applauding the Reagan-name, you know there is something interesting going on. Yet, Mulroney's reach back into history is above all a clear effort to cement his legacy as his record remains mixed at best. Canada's conservative party deconstructed after Mulroney's less than gracious exit from office and the Liberals under Chretien reaped the benefits much in the way Clinton did after Reagan/Bush and Blair after Thatcher/Major. That is what Mulroney is emphasizing. And indeed to his eternal credit, his warm relationship with both Reagan and Bush and his astute awareness of free trade as an engine for Canadian growth resulted in a series of bilateral agreements that continue to fuel both the Canadian and US economies.

I am not sure if I have the time to dig through the 1100 pages, but for political junkies it is laden with remarkable anecdotes. Here is a nice one. Mulroney's cordial relationship with Reagan did not always go down well among Canada's left-leaning elites, known for pathological levels of anti-Americanism. After a dinner at a summit in the mid-80s, Reagan and Mulroney, both descendants of Irish immigrants went on stage to sing "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling", from page 369:

Canadians in general loved the Irish duet, but the CBC replayed the clip constantly with commentary that it was symbolic of a humiliating "toadyism" and a sub-ordination of Canada's interests. "I must say, these people really have a serious inferiority complex", said Margaret Thatcher after she saw a replay of such commentary during a visit to Toronto. "I certainly hope they don't go off their medication."

NOTE: This post appeared originally on The Gazette under the title Canada's Conservative Icon. Mulroney continued his book tour in Calgary where he expanded on the Reagan theme by comparing current Canadian PM Harper to the Gipper. Not sure if that comparison works all that well, nor am I convinced that it will help Harper in getting more traction in the center of Canada's political landscape. But if Harper compensates his lack of folksy ease by following Reagan's instincts and implementing his ideas on freedom and the limited role of government, things should be looking up for Canada.