Posted on 12/19/2004 3:09:04 PM PST by nwrep
Sunday, December 19, 2004 EDWARD WALSH
Ralph Appoldt apparently meant what he said.
Appoldt, 51, of Southeast Portland, was among those Americans who proclaimed their intention to flee the country for Canada, or some other foreign haven, if President Bush was re-elected in November. Now, with Bush preparing for his second term, it turns out that most of those threats were just talk.
But Appoldt insists he still intends to leave, or at least has "got the wheels in motion" for a permanent departure to the north if the details can be worked out.
"There's a lot of great people in the United States of America, but I just see everything going in the wrong direction," he said.
Appoldt, a sales manager for a company that makes motorized wheelchairs, moved to Portland from Southern California in 1990. He said he considered leaving the United States when Bush was first elected in 2000, but that his wife was "reticent" to make the move then.
Now, Appoldt said, his wife Leianna, a nurse, is as enthusiastic as he is about moving to Canada.
His motivation goes beyond a personal loathing for Bush, whom he calls "dishonest," "inept" and "corrupt." It also includes a general disillusionment with the direction of American society and a deepening pessimism about the country's future.
"So much is about (Bush), but I'm so discouraged by so many other things like the gay marriage issue," Appoldt said. He added that "if enough people are on board" with the policies of the Bush administration, "I don't see anything good coming from it. I really see us crashing."
A move to Canada would probably be easier for Appoldt than most. He was born in that country and moved with his German-born parents to the states in 1960. He said he has cousins and an aunt in British Columbia and visits Canada twice a year.
Still, there is a pull in both directions.
"I always loved Canada, but I built a life here," he said. "I've got a fabulous life. I have a good job, I love Portland, I have property on the coast."
Appoldt said his four grown children understand his decision and support it. "They feel pretty much the way we do," he said.
But he is not rushing for the border. Appoldt said he has hired a Canadian lawyer to explore immigration issues, including the possibility of dual citizenship in Canada and the United States. "If I can retain dual citizenship, I will," he said.
The couple also have not put their house up for sale or found jobs in Canada. Appoldt said they plan to visit Canada in January to explore employment prospects.
"This is far from being a done deal," he said. "I'm not in a hurry."
The guy's a goofball. Get out soonest!
Good, Two less liberal whackos amongst us. She can learn first hand how the government controlled medicine scheme works. So can he, since he seems to be in the medical support field.
Chances are though, that they won't surrender their citizenship(too bad). Now, if we could just convince about another 10-20,000,000 of their fellow libs to join suit, we'd be so much better off as a country.
Let's take up donations to assist them.
Go already...why are they torturing us? Just go!
This must be a genetic thing. When the right gets beaten we seem to re-group and fight harder. When the left gets beaten they seem to run. A lib friend is trying to what he calls a "dual citizenship" passport from Canada. I'm not sure if there is such a thing but told him when he is ready to move I have boxes.
More proof that the Democratic party of Harry Truman and Scoop Jackson and many other fine Democratic leaders of the past has fallen into complete and utter disrepair.
These new Democrats loathe America and enjoy whining about their homeland.
I hope they all take a very fast bus to Canada, and I hope they enjoy waiting in line for healthcare, too.
Bye, bye baby!
"I always loved Canada, but I built a life here," he said. "I've got a fabulous life. I have a good job, I love Portland, I have property on the coast."
Must be a masochist.
Good, and don't go to Australia mate! you will quickly discover you have jumped out of the frying pan, only to land yourself in the naked fire! ;-) Anyone, I mean, anyone seeking asylum will be detained for classification with no exceptions, and all illegal migrants caught will be detained and deported with no appeals allowed. And 95% of all Australians don't give a hoot about this treatment.
Please don't leave. We need you to help nominate more Mondales, Dukaki and Kerrys.
The average IQ of Canada and Portland will increase when this twit leaves.
He needs to stay long enough to convince a lot more of his leftist friends to go with him.
If he meant what he said, he'd be gone. It's just more broken promises by the Dems.
Typical libs. Want their cake and eat it too. As for the gay marriage issue, guess he wants to see it pass. There are countries that embrace it(perhaps we can help him along the way). Let's help this POS get out of the USA at the earliest.
Typical sore loser lib. Can't compete in the arena of ideas and suggests taking the easy way out by running away. This clown seems to want it both ways; retain dual citizenship but is in no hurry to leave. I doubt this clown is going anywhere.
Unless he speaks a Third World language like French, Canada won't take him. He's too old. Canada uses a point system that weighs against him. (neer neer neer)
Take as many lefties as you can with you. That will help return Oregon to a Conservative state once again.
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