Peter McKay’s Mrs. Robinson moment

Well one fellow is certainly working hard to improve relations between Canada and the USA. Peter McKay has made the grade with CNN and other US media agents, all due to the blossoming friendship that has developed between the Secretary of State Condi Rice and our very own player, the External Affairs minister.

I was first tipped to the suddenly public fascination of the two power people, by an e mail from seanincognito, who sent me a link to a New York Times story on the young and restless. I didn't think much of it at the time, but a quick search of google changed my impression of the rampant rumours. From there it seems to have become a global pre-occupation from Sydney to London, Boston to Toronto, everyone it seems wants to play matchmaker for Petey and Condi

More than one commentator has tried to make something out of nothing (so they say) as far as bi-national personal relationships go. McKay has already declared his respect for the Secretary of State, gushing at his first meeting in Washington months ago.

This week he brought her home to meet his father and step mother, which in romantic terms is a big step, but in this instance was just because they were in the neighborhood and who knows maybe Elmer, a former Conservative cabinet Minster back in the day had some advice for the neo-cons in Washington...

So we give him the benefit of a doubt, as to his intentions, apparently all purely professional. Though hey, if the guy was smitten, there’s a whole lot worse that he could do.

Belinda Stronach come on down!

Interestingly enough, McKay’s steady appearance as Bachelor number one on everyone’s political radar, is scoring him some serious points, he recovered from the Belinda bounce to land in the arms of a rather well known family in Quebec. Last we heard he was quite content with his incubating relationship, though it apparently hasn't done much to improve his French.

But who knows, maybe the young, polite and quiet Canadian boy is just a player beyond compare. A fellow longing to share more than policy positions with Ms. Rice.

Matter of fact, despite her attraction to the likes of a Wolfowitz, Cheney and the likes of the darker forces in Republicanism, there’s obviously a gentler side to the Secretary of State, something that could be brought out by a good old balanced Canadian boy.

CNN”s video tribute by Jeanne Moos, called Foregin Relations, showcased the close working relationship of the two and was a thing of poetic beauty, leaving one to paraphrase the words of Sally Field, he likes her, he really, really likes her. And apparently, a feeling reciprocated to him as well.

If nothing else, we can safely assume that the External Affairs minister has the ear of the Secretary of State, making him now probably the most recognizable Canadian in the USA.

A small pool granted, but McKay is definitely the big fish of that little pool. And you know, he bears a wee bit of a resemblance to a young Dustin Hoffman, coo coo, coo choo Mrs. Robinson.