Why is France called an Ally of the US?

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by Flames in 07

"Bush is an ***hole" - Cretiens silly aids.

I'm not sure I get the lawnmower thing, but if it's about poor US foreign policy run by a texan who shoots first and aims second ... we aren't patting them on the back. we flip them off every chance we get. BTW, what's the answer to my two questions above? The fact is, Canada needs the US, in many ways ... like it or not it's a simple fact.

There is some mutual dependance but it's not symmetrical, we need them more than they need us. And all we can do is focus on everything negative, just like Molson taught us to.

First off, if you actually believe that beer commercials are representative of mainstream political thought you don't have a very high opinion of your fellow Canadians.

As for your questions...

1) Who are we most dependant on as a trade partner? The US.
2) If Canada was ever attacked, who would be there to save us? I don't know. The Americans would help us maybe? Judging by the most recent war they have gotten themselves into, one has to wonder if Norway to invade Canada, would George's crew make up a bunch of crazy evidence and invade Portugal in retaliation?

[Flames in 07]

The answer to number two is US.

As for the impacts of ads. Talk to people who have worked in advertising about what works and why, you'll see how easily impressionable ads are with people ... and vice versa.

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

Judging by the most recent war they have gotten themselves into, one has to wonder if Norway to invade Canada, would George's crew make up a bunch of crazy evidence and invade Portugal in retaliation?

Probably, but only after Norway was torn apart and passed off to the UN.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Flames in 07

Enemies is a strong word. lack of mutual respect is better.

What gets me the most is how people seem to think Harper is a US puppet, for simply trying to reinstate normal relations. Thanks to Cretien and Canadian pop culture, (if there is such a thing) it's now cool to hate everything that is American and simply looking to have a normal relationship with a country on the other side of one of the largest borders on earth means that Harper is a US pawn.

I would argue that we do have normal relations.

How many countries in the world can you think of have the type of relationship that you want? None that I can think of.

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

It doesn't have to be that way and it isn't that way. If members of a political party (since flushed from power, incidentally) criticize the sitting government of another state, however crudely they do it, it doesn't mean they are an enemy. You would be hard-pressed to find even the dimmest Republican (or Liberal for that matter) that believe the gang on the other side of the 49th is an enemy.

Sorry.. enemy was too strong of a word.

The Liberals always seemed to distance themselves from the US - never applauding and always criticizing.

The Conservatives thus far seem to be applauding a lot more, and taking more stances similar to the US, but still criticizing (softwood lumber). It remains to be seen if this continues, or if the applauding / cozying up is all that happens.

Neither stance is what I'd like: a critical but supportive neighbor. Hard to do, but a lot more realistic IMO.

[Flames in 07]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I would argue that we do have normal relations.

How many countries in the world can you think of have the type of relationship that you want? None that I can think of.

Canada and the US, pre and post Cretien.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Flames in 07

Canada and the US, pre and post Cretien.

Not exactly true.

Relations were always warm and cold - and probably luke warm on average.

Here is a brief history of American-Canadian relations. The cozy relations of the 1980s were an exception to the rule most of the time.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/canada_us/

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by calculoso

The Liberals always seemed to distance themselves from the US - never applauding and always criticizing.

Did the Liberals spend a lot of time criticising Clinton and his crowd? The way I remember it, Chretien was pretty chummy with Bill.

Turn it around and riddle me this -- when the Republicans criticized the Liberal government did you consider it a criticism of Canada as a whole or of you as a Canadian? Or was it a criticism of the government of the day?

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

Did the Liberals spend a lot of time criticising Clinton and his crowd? The way I remember it, Chretien was pretty chummy with Bill.

Turn it around and riddle me this -- when the Republicans criticized the Liberal government did you consider it a criticism of Canada as a whole or of you as a Canadian? Or was it a criticism of the government of the day?

Diefenbaker was also a Conservative PM that often peeved the U.S.

It's not really a partisan issue.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Flames in 07

What gets me the most is how people seem to think Harper is a US puppet, for simply trying to reinstate normal relations.

"Normal"? How do you define normal? And is there really such a concept? Personally I get the impression that Harper is ready to bend over for Bush. Instead of generating our own foreign policy based on our values and discussion, he seems willing to follow the US's lead.

Just because they are our biggest trading partner does not mean we have to do their every wish.

[Flames in 07]

Perfect FDW, your comment is exactly what I mean ... what exactly is he doing to bend over for bush?

Softwood? You have to be a part of the negotiations to understand what is going on there ... nobody will have any idea if his sol'n was any good.

Missle defence system? Seems to me that deal is to protect Canada as well.

Ease of passing through the border? It's in Canada's interest that goods and people can flow easily ... much more important for Canada than the US.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Flames in 07

Perfect FDW, your comment is exactly what I mean ... what exactly is he doing to bend over for bush?

Publically commenting that he's for the war in Iraq when most Canadians aren't for it. Is he not supposed to represent the will of the people?

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Publically commenting that he's for the war in Iraq when most Canadians aren't for it. Is he not supposed to represent the will of the people?

Was he in power at that time?

I thought for sure he said that back before even the two conservative parties united. Correct me if I'm wrong.