John Stewart calls Obama visit to Canada a "pre-season" game

Stewart is correct. I've been saying the same thing for quite some time. That is exactly why most US president's visit Canada first. It isn't because Canada is the biggest trading partner or because of the primacy of border issues.  It's because it allows a foreign visit on training wheels.

 

And there's nothing wrong with that. It just makes sense.  As Canadians our job is just to take advantage of the situation.

 

One other thing though: Canadians - particularly our media - NEED TO STOP FISHING FOR CANADA COMPLIMENTS FROM FOREIGNERS.  It's humiliating and tacky. If you wouldn't fish for compliments about yourself, don't denigrate your country by doing it to the rest of us.  The next person to ask "so what do you think of Canada" should get some moose antlers shoved up their northwest passage. 

 

I'm looking at you, Mansbridge.

 

ps.  Pass it on.

Clear and Understandable Analysis of the US Financial Situation

This is a good Q & A to read if you want to be able to predict what will likely happen - and need to happen - in the US in the next couple of years.

 

http://online.barrons.com/article/SB123396545910358867.html?mod=djemWR&page=sp

Living on our Island, Safe from the Sharks in the Great Blue Sea

There is nothing new in my feelings on this, but I am repeatedly struck, and repeatedly horrified, by the fact that a very large part of planet earth  is, still to some degree or other, an Orwellian nightmare for anyone born with a vagina.

 

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/02/17/pakistan.taliban/index.html 

McCardle on Canadian economy

http://meganmcardle.theatlantic.com/archives/2009/02/oh_canada.php

Johann Hari: Despite these riots, I stand by what I wrote

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-despite-these-riots-i-stand-by-what-i-wrote-1608059.html

Zakaria says Canada rocks. It rocks boringly. But it rocks.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/183670

Canada's Obama

People keep asking "Where is Canada's Barack Obama?" and I keep yelling in to the void "HIS NAME WAS TRUDEAU!"