The Rants of Issachar
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Canadians Debating Canadians. (For a change)
It occurred to me this morning that with all this Afghanistan debate, there's something missing that always seemed to be there a year or so ago. That's the Canadian campaign against George Bush. For ages it seemed as though the strategy of the Canadian left in criticizing the Conservative government on anything was to briefly equate Harper with Bush and then campaign against Bush rather than the Conservatives. Up here we call that shooting fish in a barrel.
I suppose it's because the American media focus is on the Democratic primaries, but whatever the reason I'm glad to see the end of Bush derangement syndrome in Canadian politics. (Or at least a serious decline).
I also find it entertaining that it goes without saying that the "Canadian" choice for President would be Obama or Clinton rather than a Republican or "none of the above". Up here Obama & Clinton would likely be too far right on our sacred cow issues to make it in politics at all. Of course the divide between the Canadian centre-left and the US Democrats has always been a lot larger we admit. I'm reminded of when I saw Bill Clinton speak when he was in Kelowna. He specifically thanked Canada for our contributions in Afghanistan and urged us to maintain our military commitment. Not exactly a position of the Canadian left, but I digress...
I suppose it's because the American media focus is on the Democratic primaries, but whatever the reason I'm glad to see the end of Bush derangement syndrome in Canadian politics. (Or at least a serious decline).
I also find it entertaining that it goes without saying that the "Canadian" choice for President would be Obama or Clinton rather than a Republican or "none of the above". Up here Obama & Clinton would likely be too far right on our sacred cow issues to make it in politics at all. Of course the divide between the Canadian centre-left and the US Democrats has always been a lot larger we admit. I'm reminded of when I saw Bill Clinton speak when he was in Kelowna. He specifically thanked Canada for our contributions in Afghanistan and urged us to maintain our military commitment. Not exactly a position of the Canadian left, but I digress...
2 Comments:
Posted by: 
Major JohnI, too, was (and still am) grateful for the Canadian military in Afghanistan.
BTW - Did my state's junior Senator make himself a bit less attractive to the Candian Left with his NAFTA denounce-assure behind the scene-get caught-lie?
Major JohnI, too, was (and still am) grateful for the Canadian military in Afghanistan.BTW - Did my state's junior Senator make himself a bit less attractive to the Candian Left with his NAFTA denounce-assure behind the scene-get caught-lie?
Posted by: issacharI had to look up Illinois Senators before I realized you were talking about Barack Obama. :)
I'm not sure what the Canadian left thinks of that little thing, but I don't think the left particularly likes NAFTA anyway.
Still, bashing on foreign trade (and foreigners in general), is pretty easy during an election. You should read what our politicians say about Americans when we have an election. :)
issacharI had to look up Illinois Senators before I realized you were talking about Barack Obama. :)I'm not sure what the Canadian left thinks of that little thing, but I don't think the left particularly likes NAFTA anyway.
Still, bashing on foreign trade (and foreigners in general), is pretty easy during an election. You should read what our politicians say about Americans when we have an election. :)
