DC Day II
The International Democrat Union was formed in the late 1980s by Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, Helmut Kohl and believe it or not Jacques Chirac. At a time when communism and socialism was till rampant it was a the first formal alliance of centre right parties with a strong focus on freedom and democracy. 25 years on it is amazing to see so many Eastern European countries now involved as members, as well as many parties from Africa.
Every three years they have a party leaders meeting, which is the supreme body, electing the IDU Officers etc. John Howard is the current chair. Those of us involved with the IYDU were allowed to attend as observers. However I got a wee bit of an unofficial promotion as there were two seats allocated at the top table for NZ, so I ended up spending the session up there with John Slater, former National Party President and current Deputy Chairman of the Asia-Pacific Democrat Union. It was with some amusement I later learnt that the French got upset as they only had one seat at the main table.
In the ANZAC spirit, John Howard came over to chat to the two Kiwis. He was very interested in the current issues in NZ, and the state of the polls since the budget. Unfortunately there were around a dozen TV cameras filming us while we chatted, so I had to be fairly careful with what I said. They took down our names, so may even have appeared on either US or Australian TV.
We were welcomed to the meeting by Ken Mehlman, who is the Chairman of the Republican National Committee. Mehlman does not fit your typical stereotype of RNC Chairs being grizzled elder statesman of the party. He is very young and dynamic
July 20th, 2005 at 4:27 pm
When I first met you David I could have sworn you looked like the National Party leader-in-waiting.
However, I was very drunk at the time so my judgement was impaired!
July 20th, 2005 at 4:44 pm
half a foot? closer to an extra two i would have thought.
July 20th, 2005 at 4:48 pm
Who is the guy on the right of that photo? He looks familiar… (although could be my dodgy screen resolution).
July 20th, 2005 at 4:56 pm
All the new ideas are coming from the right of politics. Statism is being challenged everywhere and the lefties are bunch of weird looking people who have beards and wear cardis or are women with bad hair and wear jeans that do not fit. Sorry to sound superficial about clothes but if you have policies that are designed for the duds then I suppose it is natural to look like them as well.
July 20th, 2005 at 4:56 pm
That’d be Virgil…from the Thunderbirds, I wondered what he got up to after the series.
July 20th, 2005 at 4:58 pm
Well right now I’m wearing a suit – so there goes your wanky generalisation Tim.
Was Tony Blair at the international rightists conference or whatever you call it?
July 20th, 2005 at 5:58 pm
Bathing suits don’t count, Rich.
July 20th, 2005 at 7:16 pm
Oh yeah…
July 20th, 2005 at 9:05 pm
Don Brash has already met President Bush anyway
July 20th, 2005 at 9:21 pm
Come on now. All the lefities know you are there for a private dinner with Karl Rove to get the next part of the campaign sorted.
July 20th, 2005 at 10:48 pm
Adolf –
That’s what I want to know – did DPF snag an invite to Karl Rove’s super secret background Satanic Mass? All those filthy rigt-wingers in one place must be up to no good…
July 20th, 2005 at 11:08 pm
No Tony Blair belongs to the cardigan grouping
Liam Fox was there though – Conserative Foreign Affairs Secretary and Leadership Candidate.
As for Rove I probably killed off any slim White House breakfast chances when I said that I would actually rather meet Rove than Bush
July 21st, 2005 at 8:57 am
I’m glad you are having such a good time on your trip.