Timing was at the top of his mind when Steve chose to call this election. Sure he'd have to break his word - flaunt his own law even - to do it, but the timing was near perfect.
Parliament wasn't sitting. Everybody had eased away the summer months while all the scandals pretty much receded in the voters' minds. He could run an election by remote, by long distance. There wouldn't have to be any issues to defend, no inconvenient record to fudge - he wouldn't even need a platform which is a good thing when you're fresh out of ideas. No by-elections to lose, no American election to get in the way. Throw up some lawn signs, put out some goofy pictures of Stephane Dion, and - boom - instant majority or at least a good chance of one.
Then the shit hits the fan on Wall Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. Damn and double-damn! Hmmm, WWGD? That's right, What Would George Do? I know, say something like, oh, like the fundamentals of the economy are strong and then dummy up, pretend like nothing's happening. George w. did it. John s. McSame did it.
You're too close to voting day. Let it slide. Don't screw things up when you're this close by actually discussing the meltdown next door. Our single greatest trading partner - THE one and only - is going up in flames and your bosom buddies, George & Company, are finally getting tagged with it. This is no time to have to present policies, no time to discuss what the hell we're going to do with what's coming our way as sure as a tropical storm beating up the Bay of Fundy.
The fundamentals of our economy are strong. The fundamentals of our economy are strong. The fundamentals of our economy are strong. How very Rovian. Stick with that mantra. So long as your lips don't stop moving, it's still your turn and no one can get a word - or worse, a question - in edgewise. Besides, say it enough and the weak of mind will start to believe it and a lot of the rest will just fall asleep.
But Steve, Angela Merkel is talking to the German people about this. Nick Sarkozy is talking to the French people about this. Even Brown is talking to the Brits about it. The Australians are talking about it. The Belgians are talking about it. Why are we the only country whose government isn't talking to its people about this?
According to one U.S. government web site I checked, Steve, the Americans buy EIGHTY SIX PER CENT of Canada's exports. Damn, Steve! We sell 86% of our stuff to this country that has just 5% of the world's population, apparently because it happens to be the only country right next door.
The French don't rely on the Americans for 86% of their export trade Steve and yet they're still pissed. The Germans don't rely on the Americans for 86% of their trade either and they're still pissed. The rest of Europe is pissed. All of Asia is pissed. The Latin Americans and the South Americans are pissed. Everybody's pissed off with America except you Steve. You wouldn't say "shit" if you had a mouthful (and, in case you're wondering, he does).
C'mon, Steve. As Fareed Zakaria puts it, this problem is only going to get worse until the adults take over. Be a grownup, Steve, and talk to us. Tell us what your vast array of bureaucratic experts say is coming and what they say is the best way to respond. Tell us what you plan to do about it if only we give you the election result you want. Explain to us how this happened and how the blowback happened on our side of the border. Angela Merkel clearly saw this coming a year in advance. Did you, Steve? If so, what did you do to protect us? If not, why not?
Okay, I'm beginning to understand why you're reluctant to talk about this, Steve. You were asleep at the goddamned switch, snoring away safely in the arms of Morpheus and George w. Bush. Questions this close to an election would be - er, inconvenient. Sort of like convening a Coroner's Jury, eh Steve? Best to let those things ride or maybe make them disappear altogether.
The fundamentals of the Canadian economy are strong. The fundamentals of the Canadian economy are strong. The fundamentals of the Canadian economy are strong...
Goodnight, Steve. You're one hell of a Canadian - not.
Parliament wasn't sitting. Everybody had eased away the summer months while all the scandals pretty much receded in the voters' minds. He could run an election by remote, by long distance. There wouldn't have to be any issues to defend, no inconvenient record to fudge - he wouldn't even need a platform which is a good thing when you're fresh out of ideas. No by-elections to lose, no American election to get in the way. Throw up some lawn signs, put out some goofy pictures of Stephane Dion, and - boom - instant majority or at least a good chance of one.
Then the shit hits the fan on Wall Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. Damn and double-damn! Hmmm, WWGD? That's right, What Would George Do? I know, say something like, oh, like the fundamentals of the economy are strong and then dummy up, pretend like nothing's happening. George w. did it. John s. McSame did it.
You're too close to voting day. Let it slide. Don't screw things up when you're this close by actually discussing the meltdown next door. Our single greatest trading partner - THE one and only - is going up in flames and your bosom buddies, George & Company, are finally getting tagged with it. This is no time to have to present policies, no time to discuss what the hell we're going to do with what's coming our way as sure as a tropical storm beating up the Bay of Fundy.
The fundamentals of our economy are strong. The fundamentals of our economy are strong. The fundamentals of our economy are strong. How very Rovian. Stick with that mantra. So long as your lips don't stop moving, it's still your turn and no one can get a word - or worse, a question - in edgewise. Besides, say it enough and the weak of mind will start to believe it and a lot of the rest will just fall asleep.
But Steve, Angela Merkel is talking to the German people about this. Nick Sarkozy is talking to the French people about this. Even Brown is talking to the Brits about it. The Australians are talking about it. The Belgians are talking about it. Why are we the only country whose government isn't talking to its people about this?
According to one U.S. government web site I checked, Steve, the Americans buy EIGHTY SIX PER CENT of Canada's exports. Damn, Steve! We sell 86% of our stuff to this country that has just 5% of the world's population, apparently because it happens to be the only country right next door.
The French don't rely on the Americans for 86% of their export trade Steve and yet they're still pissed. The Germans don't rely on the Americans for 86% of their trade either and they're still pissed. The rest of Europe is pissed. All of Asia is pissed. The Latin Americans and the South Americans are pissed. Everybody's pissed off with America except you Steve. You wouldn't say "shit" if you had a mouthful (and, in case you're wondering, he does).
C'mon, Steve. As Fareed Zakaria puts it, this problem is only going to get worse until the adults take over. Be a grownup, Steve, and talk to us. Tell us what your vast array of bureaucratic experts say is coming and what they say is the best way to respond. Tell us what you plan to do about it if only we give you the election result you want. Explain to us how this happened and how the blowback happened on our side of the border. Angela Merkel clearly saw this coming a year in advance. Did you, Steve? If so, what did you do to protect us? If not, why not?
Okay, I'm beginning to understand why you're reluctant to talk about this, Steve. You were asleep at the goddamned switch, snoring away safely in the arms of Morpheus and George w. Bush. Questions this close to an election would be - er, inconvenient. Sort of like convening a Coroner's Jury, eh Steve? Best to let those things ride or maybe make them disappear altogether.
The fundamentals of the Canadian economy are strong. The fundamentals of the Canadian economy are strong. The fundamentals of the Canadian economy are strong...
Goodnight, Steve. You're one hell of a Canadian - not.
You mention how leaders in other nations are talking to their countrymen about the American financial crisis... but Harper chooses to "sugarcoat" that crisis when speaking to us Canadians.
ReplyDeleteHarper tells us nothing of the truth and dismisses the real (and quite serious) long-term ramifications that will come from being so closely tied to America as their number 1 trade partner.
Harper can deny our predicament till he's Conservative blue in the face but there is no denying that when our American cousins to the south so much as sneeze... we Canadians are the ones who tend to catch the cold.
But it isn't just this immediate "crisis" that Harper sugarcoats... Why is it that south of the border, numerous Television broadcasters, newspaper and magazine journalists and even radio talk show pundits openly discuss the Mexico/America/Canada "Security and Prosperity Partnership" while up here in Canada... we, the sheeple are left in the dark?
No extensive media coverage to speak of...
No mention by our leaders except to deny that anything "serious" is happening on that front...
No real, meaningful discussion on the subject at all.
Surely this very real, "currently in progress", plan to have Canada "unite" with both Mexico and the US is a subject worth addressing with your public?
No?
I'm not a member of the "tin-hat" brigade... but this "Security and Prosperity Partnership" is actually happening as you read this.... and our leaders are telling us nothing about it.
Certainly we Canadians need to be brought into the loop by our elected leaders on these sorts of world-altering transactions?
I'm not trying to get off topic here... Your article is about Harper telling us "not to worry" and "everything's going to be all right".... as far as our economy is concerned, but if you think our economy in Canada is going to suffer over the current American financial crisis...well I got news for you!
Wait till Harper hitches us to the "Security and Prosperity Partnership" post for the long run!
Solid points, Anon. Thanks. This is no time to be pursuing deep integration. Our banks are already reeling from the American ABCP fiasco.
ReplyDeleteIf you're going into a partnership with somebody you make damned sure you know that person is solvent. If they're not, they can often bring you down with them in a heartbeat.
Harper is all about controlling the message, controlling information. That's why Canadian reporters have tightly restricted access - at best - to our environmental scientists or even the Canadian Forces. It's autocratic as hell that spokesmen for Canada's civil and armed services have to first send their communications to the Canadian people through Harper's Privy Council Office for laundering. That's the sort of thing despots like to do.