Harper unexpected no-show at G20 group photo

[Spazito]

LONDON -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper was an unexpected no-show this morning at the "family photo" of the Group of 20 leaders.

Harper was slated to stand on the far right flank of the traditional summit picture, next to German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

But as the leaders of the major industrialized and developing countries -- including U.S. President Barack Obama, Chinese President Hu Jintao and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown -- joked and chatted through a minor delay, the Canadian prime minister failed to appear.

snip

A spokesman for the prime minister said Harper was getting briefed by his officials on revisions to the draft G20 communique, and he returned to the fray moments after the group photo was taken.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090402/G20_harperphoto_090402/20090402?hub=TopStories

LOL, it is NOT like our Stevie to miss out on a photo-op like this, I suspect there was a subsequent temper tantrum from him toward his "officials".

[Spazito]

1. This just keeps getting better and better, rofl

Harper misses G20 group photo, was 'in the loo'


Forget the economy, the big question Thursday at the G20 summit is: Where was Prime Minister Stephen Harper for the group photo?

Was he really, as his staff claims, being briefed by his officials on the draft G20 communique?

Or was he de-briefing himself "in the loo?" as first reported by the BBC.

Because Harper missed the group picture, the whole routine had to be restaged about an hour later.

more

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090402/G20_harperphoto_090402/20090402?hub=TopStories

Too, too delicious!

:rofl:

Edited to add news video clip, it's hilarious:

http://watch.ctv.ca/news/latest/wheres-harper/#clip156792

[daleo]

2. Harper: Oh, the G20

I thought you said P20.

On edit: Silly, but I couldn't help myself.

[Spazito]

4. LOL, given Berlusconi went missing in the 1st re-do....

it certainly could be named the P 2.0!

[tuvor]

8. Why on earth would Harper deny that he had to use the bathroom?

It just serves as more evidence that he's full of shit.

[daleo]

11. Gods don't share the same bodily inconveniences that mortals must put up with

He must maintain his god-like aura to his base.

[icnorth]

3. Photographer: Aides I need a 20 on Harper...

Aide: I got him!

Photographer: Reroute him straight to detention...

[Spazito]

5. LOL, I love that ad! Looks like stevie's aides are lacking the new...

technology in that ad!

:rofl:

[IntravenousDemilo]

6. Come on, when ya gotta go, ya gotta go!

I know that I wouldn't care if I was supposed to have tea with the Queen -- if my colon were desperate to void itself (and we've all been there), that would take precedence. Besides, I'm sure Harper wouldn't want the picture to be taken while he had a look on his face like he had to take a huge dump. I'm just sorry that CTV chose to make Harper's bowels, and by extension Harper himself, more important than they really are.

[Spazito]

7. If harper and his "officials" had responded as you did and laughed it off...

this would have been reported differently. Instead, they made a big deal of it themselves, running around to many of the media, Canadian and others, to 'correct' the story.

I, personally, loved the CTV coverage, it certainly made the coverage of harper much less boring than usual.

[IntravenousDemilo]

10. That's a very excellent point. n/m

[daleo]

9. True it is a tempest in a teapot

Or some other kind of pot. I am no great fan of photo-ops anyway, but Harper takes these things very seriously, so I think it is fair to have a bit of fun about his screw-up.