The Canadian Fleet in Port.
Posted on 12/17/2005 1:30:34 PM PST by quidnunc
When American Ambassador David Wilkins unleashed his fusillade at Paul Martin's electoral anti-Americanism this week, he catapulted our relationship with the United States, at least temporarily, to the top of the election agenda.
Not since the free trade election of 1988 have Canadian-American relations figured so prominently in a campaign. But unlike 1988, when the debate centred on a substantive policy issue, this time it's all sound and fury signifying very little.
The risk-free politics of bashing a deeply unpopular American president was the subtext for Mr. Martin's attack on the U.S. environmental record in Montreal last week. Given that Canada's record on greenhouse gases is far worse, it clearly wasn't motivated by moral superiority. "The hypocrisy of it was flagrant," says political scientist Stephen Clarkson of the University of Toronto.
Liberals were barely able to contain their glee when the Bush White House rose to the bait. One insider reportedly described Mr. Wilkins' speech as "chocolate-covered manna" for the party's electoral hopes. And ever since, Mr. Martin has been thumping his chest so vigorously that he risks triggering cardiac arrest.
The question is what impact — if any — this overheated rhetoric will have on what is far and away our most important bilateral relationship? And how will it play out when voters go to the polls on Jan. 23?
The Liberals clearly think Bush-bashing is smart electoral politics, says Kim Nossal, head of political science at Queen's University.
However, "it's probably pretty poor politics in the long term, simply because Mr. Bush and his administration is going to be in office until January 2009, which in politics is a helluva long time.
"It was a sufficient cheap shot that it's unlikely that the administration in Washington is going to forget it. Then you always have to ask yourself, when is the other shoe going to fall?"
Certainly that's what Mr. Wilkins meant to convey with his talk of the "slippery slope" Canada could be heading down if Mr. Martin's doesn't tone down his rhetoric.
-snip-
But Mr. Burney cringes at the idea of Canada-U.S. issues becoming pivotal in election campaigns "because it will play more emotionally than rationally. You can have a serious discussion about Canada-U.S. relations. But if you're using a speech to score points on the relationship, that's a whole different issue."
How seriously do Americans take the rhetoric of Canadian politicians during election campaigns? Perhaps not very, suggests Mr. Nossal. "It's entirely possible that this simply gets written off as election politics and once the election is over, we'll just pick up from where we left off."
That's probably true to a point, says Mr. Bercuson. "The question is, where's the point? You don't really know until afterwards what kind of tone you're setting."
At diplomacy's nuts-and-bolts level, he says, Foreign Affairs has been doing a good job of building bridges into the heartland of America. "But if at the top you get a smashing of those confidence-building measures from the very people who are responsible for policy, that makes you wonder to what extent this is going to work at the local level."
This is what's known as whistling past the graveyard.
Since the inception of the Internet Americans are becoming more aware of Canadian anti-Americanism, and some us are not amused — to put it mildly.
Look for a recripocal anti-Canadianism to begin to take root in red-state America.
Absolutely not. We just love our socialist neighbor to the north. :-) Sarcasm intended for your amusement only.
It has already started. When I see a Canadian bash W, I strike back, as many here on FR have done as well. And we've been protecting Canadians militarily for years! I'm tired of them sticking their noses into our business.
I have absolutely no use for Canada nor Canadians.
President Bush has just planted the seed of democracy in the Middle East. And worse (for the Dems) is that it's starting to grow. His reward for advancing the cause of human liberty....? An all-out asault. They've done nothing but trash the man. Look, I'm the first to admit that Bush has an unusual 'Stage Presence' to put it kindly.
His mangled syntax, awkward back and forths with the press, and his quips and off handed jokes make me cringe with the rest of them. However, no one can argue his affectiveness, his vision, and his old fassion guts. An oportunity to plant Democracy was there....and he took it. He busted through that crack in the door Saddam left him. What's happening now in the Middle East is beyond historic. It's revolutionary!
The Dems should put theier personal feelings aside. Years from now, folks will be playing their quotes on tv and they are going to come across just like the white racists fighting the Civil Rights movement. Sorry Dems, this time the GOP gets the credit for advancing Freedom! Live with it!
The Canadian Fleet in Port.
America bashing during the campaign worked ok for Schröder...too bad for these socialists that they are exposed for what they are once they are in office...killing their economy. People need to wise up before puting these clowns in office.
If Canadian Liberals knew how insignificant they and their opinions are to the vast majority of Americans, they might be a little less full of themselves. Freepers and politicians notwithstanding, I would guess that not 10% of Americans even know that Canada is having an election campaign right now, or who is running, or why.
Canada is a mouse shaking its fist at the elephant as he trundles by. The mouse should hope the elephant doesn't happen to look down and take offense.
What weenies they are. At least when we bash our enemies they are mortal enemies - taliban, al qaeda etc. All liberals act like children - much safer to b!tch about mom and dad than the cop on the corner.
Why are we "mom and dad" - because they shelter under our umbrella while strutting around and sticking their tongues out at us when they think we aren't looking.
As a political issue - anti-Americanism ain't much. In fact I would expect thinking people to begin wondering what they even needed their pols for if that's the only problems they have. (kinda like our pols worrying about steroids in baseball while the borders remain open and they don't even recognize soc sec as a problem.)
And I've already stopped buying the few Canadian made products I used to buy - there aren't many.
Canada should be moved to Iran.
OK for the Army but how do they plan to get the horse there?
Oh, but they LOOOOOOve Bill Clinton up there.
He's got the heiress MP Belinda Stronach wrapped around his slimy finger.
Makes me wonder if he had anything to do with her traitorous move from Conservative to Liberal?
Ahem, quite a few of the "rest of them" live in red states and think he sounds just like us. Be snob and cringe if ya want, but we like him (and ourselves) just the way we are.
Most of us crackers spell better than you swells, also.
fassion=fashion
affectiveness=effectiveness (confusing the two is a sure sign of excessive pop psychology content in your education).
oportunity=opportunity
BTW, the white racists fightng civil rights were democrats, nothing is changed except the names. Democrats have only ever been interested in weilding power for power's sake.
The Liberal Party sponsorship scandal fired up the separtists in Quebec and Martin's gay marriage, euthanasia and gun control ideas are alienating the West. He's dividing Canada and if I were the American ambassador I'd have the guts to make a speech about it. I wouldn't endorse Harper or tell people how to vote, but I'd speak up.
"Oh, but they LOOOOOOve Bill Clinton up there. "
Actually not quite so. When NATO bombing campaigns went on in 1995 and 99 there were a lot of anti-American Canadians literally calling for Clinton's head.
This is what the Canadian's have missed.
We like our President. After 911, the American people are feeling pretty belligerent and the President knows this and responds in kind. There is now way any President could NOT take some kind of agressive action after 911, whether the Euroweenies or Canuckweenies like it or not.
When the Taliban, Al Queda and Saddam needed to be taken to the wood shed and taught some respect, the President stood up and took the lead. Most of us would have preferred a few nukes to teach the Mid East some respect, but the President is cagier than that.
We like our President and Canadians don't at their peril.
I'll never vacation there, or knowingly purchase a Canadian product. And this comes from a VERY pro-canadian American, pre-911.
Drop Dead Canada and Canadians.
And please, spare me the "It's not ALL Canadians" rhetoric. It's enough canadians that keep voting these yahoos into office.
Since the inception of the Internet Americans are becoming more aware of Canadian anti-Americanism, and some us are not amused — to put it mildly.
I bet you're not amused! Neither are we!!!
The Canadian Liberal/socialists are saying this cr*p!
I apologize for our liberal government. They are clutching at straws to save themselves, IMHO.(As liberals are wont to do.)
Many Canadian Sheeple get all their information from The CBC and MSM. This is not an excuse, BTW. You had to educate people to your side during your last election, and we have that opportunity here, now.
Hint: anyone with cable gets CNN, but only some can get FOX. (I'm not one of them.I inform myself at FR.)
The point being that we are fighting the election of our lives up here, against the very liberals you all profess to hate!
Why aren't you all helping us?
We never held John Kerry's stupid big mouth against you all.
And if Kerry had won the last election I would be saying that about you.
Not.
:-(
I used to take brief vacations or weekends in Canada, but no more. I don't need to go where I'm hated.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.