Posted on 01/07/2006 11:18:14 AM PST by quidnunc
Toronto – Barely 18 months ago, Canadian party leaders were out campaigning for better health care policies, a cure for Quebec's nationalist aspirations and an end to government corruption scandals. But since the minority government put in place in June 2004 lost a no-confidence vote late last November, the politicians have been back out on the stump, preparing for a new election on Jan. 23. This time, though, running in the two coldest months of winter, they've been using that familiar demon — the United States and all its evils — as the fuel to heat Canadian voters to a frenzy.
There's no denying that Canadians are in an even more anti-American mood than usual, thanks to the Iraq war and the Bush administration's perceived arrogance. And politicians here are playing to that mood. In a blatant appeal for votes, candidates of every stripe, led by Prime Minister Paul Martin and his ruling Liberal Party, are taking aim at Washington, blasting it for taxing Canadian lumber imports, for failing to fight global warming, for lax gun-control laws, for dealing inappropriately with the war on terrorism. And all the while, they're studiously ignoring Canada's own homegrown issues.
America-bashing became such a central part of the election landscape last month that U.S. ambassador David H. Wilkins warned that Canadian-American relations could take a turn for the worse if party leaders didn't back off. But his words only prompted Canadian politicians to lash back with admonitions of their own. Even Stephen Harper, leader of the Conservatives, the party generally most sympathetic to the United States, declared: "I don't think foreign ambassadors should be expressing their views or intervening in an election."
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(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
It's not just that Canada is starting to look like a safe haven for America's Most Wanted; it's that America may be starting to view Canada as a less-than-benign neighbor. U.S. Customs and Immigration this year imposed passport requirements on visiting Canadians for the first time, and there is talk of fingerprinting at the border as well. At some point, the truck traffic that carries up to 70 percent of Canadian exports south will start to bog down in security inspections. That's when Canadians' anti-American bark will really start to bite.
I'd say we should STARVE them...
LMAO!
Some people are too stupid to survive.
Canada is insignificant. When Canadians realize that, they will be less angry at the world. There's no rule that says you have to be important.
"America-bashing became such a CENTRAL part of the election landscape last month"
This is why I think the media are worst than terriost.
I'm in Canada and it's not even a central issue. It's like .5% of the campaign.
It's so sad that alot of FReepers bash MSM and yet, if the same MSM wrote something bad about Canada you'll believe it.
You don't think our American FRiends should believe our MSM?
I know I believe everything I read about GWB in the NYT! /Sarc
<< Canada is insignificant. When Canadians realize that, they will be less angry at the world. >>
Getting Canada out of the G7/8 would be a suitable first step to sheeting home its insignificance and a place to start.
If the MSM said I was good looking, I'd put a bag over my head.
Go Great White North!
From here on out it'll be which ever side bashes and blames America the hardest...wins.
<< Sweden would be a better comparator. >>
New Zealand.
Care to point out where the Conservatives have bashed the US?
You have a persecution complex going on there have ya?
Canada is the second country where the politicans try to get elected by bashing this country, hence Germany II
I'd say we should STARVE them...
LMAO!
Then it sure would be a very cold winter and a very long walk to work for Americans.
Its all about the oil and gas. Its Canada's "get out of jail free" card. They know they can shoot off the mounth because they have the 2nd largest oil supply in the world and the largest water supply too.
Envy but most important lack of ambition poisons Canada.
I consider this as a joke!
There are still good people in Canada
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