dsmith2904
ONE love, blood, life
[SIMG]http://media.canada.com/scripts/locate.asp?id=9e2b7c0e-36c7-4e3c-980c-305116296823[/SIMG]
Bono to appear at Martin event; Anka will croon oldies for PM: Irish rocker to speak
Alexander Panetta
The Canadian Press
OTTAWA - Pop superstar Bono is expected to be a marquee attraction at the Liberal party's convention next week, adding glitter to what has been so far a lacklustre leadership race.
The U2 frontman is expected to make a guest speech at an evening party where Liberals will celebrate the coronation of Paul Martin as the federal party leader.
The Irish rocker was wooed by the Martin campaign in an attempt to spice up the victory celebration his organizers expect to hold a week from Friday.
Bono's appearance would add star power to an event that is seen as such a foregone conclusion that the Liberal party has had trouble attracting delegates to attend.
A Martin campaign source who did not want to be identified said Bono was expected to appear, and that he would speak to the thousands of Liberal delegates.
The prospect of Bono, with the trademark bug's eye sunglasses, attending a partisan political event in Toronto is not as implausible as it sounds.
The Grammy-winning singer has met with Jean Chr?tien, the outgoing Prime Minister, and Mr. Martin in the past.
Bono has talked extensively with Mr. Martin about a cause they share: relieving Third World debt. In 2000, the Irish rocker was brimming with praise for the then-finance minister's zeal for easing the burden of debt on poorer countries.
"He [Mr. Martin] struck me as more than a money man, actually, he had some vision about it," Bono said at the time.
"Canada doesn't have the size of debt that some of the other major players have, but for that reason, I think it has a chance to speak out and to take the moral high ground on this issue and we're really grateful to Paul Martin for that."
In addition to spurring interest in a drama-free convention, a Bono appearance would hammer home a message that Martin organizers have been trying to convey for months.
They want to portray the arrival of the 65-year-old prime minister-in-waiting as a changing of the generational guard from the retiring Mr. Chr?tien, who is just four years Mr. Martin's senior.
In contrast, the outgoing Mr. Chr?tien will have 1950s crooner Paul Anka and jazz legends Oscar Peterson and Oliver Jones performing at his going-away party.
U2 SONGS FOR WANNABE PMS:
Bono probably won't be bringing his band to Toronto when he comes to the Liberal party convention next week, but if he does, here are a few U2 songs that would pay fitting tribute to the wannabe prime ministers.
For Paul Martin, who has had the top job locked up for months:
Beautiful Day
A Celebration
Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of
Rejoice
Desire
Elevation
For Sheila Copps, who definitely won't find what she is looking for:
Running to Stand Still
Wake Up Dead Man
Walk On
Exit
Gone
Another Time, Another Place
Do You Feel Loved?
? Copyright 2003 National Post
Thanks to Mrs.Edge and kobayashi
Bono to appear at Martin event; Anka will croon oldies for PM: Irish rocker to speak
Alexander Panetta
The Canadian Press
OTTAWA - Pop superstar Bono is expected to be a marquee attraction at the Liberal party's convention next week, adding glitter to what has been so far a lacklustre leadership race.
The U2 frontman is expected to make a guest speech at an evening party where Liberals will celebrate the coronation of Paul Martin as the federal party leader.
The Irish rocker was wooed by the Martin campaign in an attempt to spice up the victory celebration his organizers expect to hold a week from Friday.
Bono's appearance would add star power to an event that is seen as such a foregone conclusion that the Liberal party has had trouble attracting delegates to attend.
A Martin campaign source who did not want to be identified said Bono was expected to appear, and that he would speak to the thousands of Liberal delegates.
The prospect of Bono, with the trademark bug's eye sunglasses, attending a partisan political event in Toronto is not as implausible as it sounds.
The Grammy-winning singer has met with Jean Chr?tien, the outgoing Prime Minister, and Mr. Martin in the past.
Bono has talked extensively with Mr. Martin about a cause they share: relieving Third World debt. In 2000, the Irish rocker was brimming with praise for the then-finance minister's zeal for easing the burden of debt on poorer countries.
"He [Mr. Martin] struck me as more than a money man, actually, he had some vision about it," Bono said at the time.
"Canada doesn't have the size of debt that some of the other major players have, but for that reason, I think it has a chance to speak out and to take the moral high ground on this issue and we're really grateful to Paul Martin for that."
In addition to spurring interest in a drama-free convention, a Bono appearance would hammer home a message that Martin organizers have been trying to convey for months.
They want to portray the arrival of the 65-year-old prime minister-in-waiting as a changing of the generational guard from the retiring Mr. Chr?tien, who is just four years Mr. Martin's senior.
In contrast, the outgoing Mr. Chr?tien will have 1950s crooner Paul Anka and jazz legends Oscar Peterson and Oliver Jones performing at his going-away party.
U2 SONGS FOR WANNABE PMS:
Bono probably won't be bringing his band to Toronto when he comes to the Liberal party convention next week, but if he does, here are a few U2 songs that would pay fitting tribute to the wannabe prime ministers.
For Paul Martin, who has had the top job locked up for months:
Beautiful Day
A Celebration
Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of
Rejoice
Desire
Elevation
For Sheila Copps, who definitely won't find what she is looking for:
Running to Stand Still
Wake Up Dead Man
Walk On
Exit
Gone
Another Time, Another Place
Do You Feel Loved?
? Copyright 2003 National Post
Thanks to Mrs.Edge and kobayashi
