Howard refuses to congratulate Bush

Wow, it's something when a Tory thinks Bush is an asshole....
Guardian Unlimited | US elections 2004 | Howard refuses to congratulate Bush:

Michael Howard deepened his feud with the White House yesterday when he pointedly refused to offer the traditional post-election congratulations to George Bush.

Angered by a White House edict banning him from meeting the president - as punishment for criticising Tony Blair over Iraq - Mr Howard said it would be wrong for him to express any view on the poll.

In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph the arch-Atlanticist was asked whether he was pleased that a fellow rightwinger had beaten a liberal. He said: "I made it clear that I could work perfectly well with both President Bush and President Kerry ... I don't think it's appropriate to express a view on those elections."

Mr Howard's remarks may appear bland. But in the language of diplomacy they amount to a rebuke to Mr Bush - and in particular to his polling guru, Karl Rove, who told him he would not be welcome at the White House after he criticised Mr Blair's use of intelligence before the Iraq war.

Mr Rove was reported by the Sun as telling Howard aides: "You can forget about him meeting the president. Don't bother coming."

In his interview Mr Howard hit back at Mr Rove, who is widely credited with masterminding President Bush's decisive victory. Criticising the White House for being "very protective" of Mr Blair, he added: "I am not going to be told by anyone how to do my job and if it displeases those in the White House, that's tough."