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Stop bashing us, US tells Canada
 Canada to US: "c'est la vie" In American that translates as, "Nyah, nyah, you aren't the boss of me!"
The United States made an unprecedented foray into Canada's election campaign on Tuesday, warning politicians not to bash Washington in their bid to win the January 23 election. But an unapologetic Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin responded immediately by saying "c'est la vie" -- that's life -- if the United States did not like his remarks, and he would not accept anyone telling him he cannot defend his country.
| Bush can say "c'est la vie" the next time Martin — assuming he's reelected — is left cooling his heels on a state visit. If you're friends with someone, you don't call them names. If you're not friends with someone, then you can't expect friendly courtesies from them; the best you can expect is correct behavior. We don't even get that, since calling names is not correct behavior. The reason for that is not that we're so evil, but that we're not; the name-callers don't expect any repercussions. Some of us in this country, though, are willing to repercuss. |
In a hard-hitting speech in Ottawa, U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins lamented what he called relentless and incessant criticism of his country, which he speculated might begin to sow doubt about the strength of the binational relationship. "Canada never has to tear the United States down to build itself up," Wilkins said. "It may be smart election politics to thump your chest and constantly criticize your friend and your No. 1 trading partner. But it's a slippery slope and all of us should hope it doesn't have a long-term impact on our relationship."
| We're about halfway down that slippery slope at this time. We haven't hit bottom yet, but people like Martin will get us there if they can. |
Wilkins did not name the prime minister directly, but he specifically targeted a comment made last week at the Montreal climate change conference in which Martin called on the United States to heed a "global conscience" and join efforts to combat global warming. That remark -- on top of criticism of U.S. policy on lumber, guns, passports and Iraq -- appeared to have riled the White House the most, particularly since Canada has a proportionally worse record than the United States on reining in greenhouse gas emissions. "I would respectfully submit to you that when it comes to a 'global conscience' the United States is walking the walk," Wilkins said, addressing the Canadian Club of Ottawa. "And when it comes to climate change, we are making significant progress, greater progress than many of those who have been most critical of the U.S." In the campaign for the June 2004 election Martin regularly said Canada did not want U.S.-style health care, fiscal deficits, taxes or attack ads.
After all, who in his right mind would want a health care system that actually functions, deficits that can be paid off by the national economy, or low taxes?
Martin, whose minority government was brought down on November 28 after an official report detailed Liberal kickbacks which were used in election campaigns, currently leads Conservative leader Stephen Harper in the polls but not by enough to regain a majority in Parliament.
Good. May you lose the election, you consummate ass!
And from a related article:
Canada generally tilts more to the left than the United States, and opinion polls show most Canadians dislike U.S. President George W. Bush.
Their privilege, of course, but likewise it's the Americans who elect America's president.
Posted by: trailing wife 2005-12-14 |
