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| Subject: Canada and U.S. elections |
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Sorry, I know some of you hate politics, but it´s the only place I know of to get a Canadian point of view and input. And I´m just curious.
Here in the U.S., the election process is fiercely going on. A reputable political pundit said on American TV yesterday that Canada is trying to interfere with the current American election. In particular, Canada´s rightwing government of PM Harper would like nothing better than to discredit the Democratic Party (especially Obama) in order to help the Republican Party (fellow ideologues of Canada´s Condervative Party).
Specifically, the controversy of renegotiating NAFTA is being made a big issue in Canada by the government, in order to put the Democrats in a bad light and show the Republicans as good guys in supporting NAFTA. Embarrassing secret comments between the Democrats and Canada´s government on this have strangely leaked out.
Any truth to this from anyone wanting to comment (Canadians)? Any newspaper articles or media stories about this?
Ok, if this is too boring or too provocative, back to filling out SW forms.
[02-03-2008,23:58]
[**.53.224.249]
Richard |
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(in reply to: Canada and U.S. elections)
Richard,
Its a very interesting election race going on in the US, very exciting indeed.
As far as Nafta is concerned, which country do you think needs it more, USA or Canada ?
[03-03-2008,00:14]
[**.112.73.220]
Raj |
(in reply to: Canada and U.S. elections)
not sure if laughing constitutes interference. There has been little comment beyond ´be careful what you wish for´. The sweet deal the US has on energy, oil and water would be renegotiated in the same discussion and as far as Canada is concerned, the US would be the loser.
However, it was a one day commentary. this is as intense as it got.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/02/28/harper-nafta.html
always trust the CBC :)
Canadian politics was distracted this week with more pressing issues - a bribery scandal.
[03-03-2008,00:18]
[**.155.160.37]
Sharon |
(in reply to: Canada and U.S. elections)
http://freedom4um.com/cgi-bin/readart.cgi?ArtNum=74524&Disp=5
[03-03-2008,00:25]
[**.155.160.37]
Sharon |
(in reply to: Canada and U.S. elections)
you have to watch this...
http://www.theonion.com/content/index
Video: Diebold Accidentally Leaks Results Of 2008 Election Early
it is absolutely hysterical.
[03-03-2008,00:32]
[**.155.160.37]
Sharon |
(in reply to: Canada and U.S. elections)
That was hysterical, talk about freedom of speech and how far can the US media can go to entertain its audience.
Anyways, I find it amusing that the US is worried about its trade with its neighbors more than with China (without even having a trade agreement with them !!)
[03-03-2008,02:54]
[**.112.73.220]
Raj |
(in reply to: Canada and U.S. elections)
Richard when countries sign trade agreements or any other type of agreement there has to be give and take.
NAFTA with all of its faults works to a point for both countries. Both Obama and Hillary have loaded praise of NAFTA in the past but know are trying to get elected.
Compromise is what Canadian´s are all about.
Some Canadians approve of our Prime Minister just about as much as Americans approve of their current President.
Believing a politician´s comments during an election is more then a little silly.
Obama sees everything as if it is life in heaven. American enemies are going to sit down with him and drink tea. All it will take is a few cookies and every country will stop attacking America.
Certain parts of the world see America as if they are re-fighting the crusades.
Attitudes will probably take more then four years to change.
It is real sad that American´s only have two political parties and that their political system was created to be like the NHL. They compete for ever and ever before the election even happens.
Money, age, experience is what this election should be about!
Without a good job and income that Hillary will provide you can not feed your family.
McCain will probably die in office.
Obama like most young adults thinks that experience does not count but we all know the stupid mistakes we made with just a few years of experience driving, relationships etc.
Roy
www.cvimmigration.com
[03-03-2008,08:39]
[**.52.219.20]
Roy |
(in reply to: Canada and U.S. elections)
Richard:
I haven´t heard this story yet, and I´d be interested in hearing the opinions of our Canadian friends. I wouldn´t be at all surprised if there are at least elements of truth to it. As I follow the pundits tonight and tomorrow I´ll pay attention to any references to this idea.
I´m getting mighty excited for tomorrow, although they are already predicting all sorts of voting problems here in Ohio and don´t expect that we´ll have results until at least Wednesday if not later. It wouldn´t surprise me if Ohio blows it once again.
[03-03-2008,09:20]
[**.24.116.196]
wannabecanadian |
(in reply to: Canada and U.S. elections)
From today´s Globe and Mail:
Harper meddling in U.S. primaries, Democrats say
BRIAN LAGHI
From Monday´s Globe and Mail
March 2, 2008 at 10:28 PM EST
OTTAWA ? Two years after U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins was accused of meddling in Canada´s federal election, the same is being said of Stephen Harper´s Conservatives with respect to the current U.S. contest.
Democrats appearing on a nationwide U.S. political program accused the Harper government yesterday of interfering in the primary campaigns to help the Republican Party candidate in the coming campaign.
?You´ve got a right-wing government in Canada that is trying to help the Republicans and is out there actively interfering in this campaign,? Bob Shrum told the popular program, Meet the Press. Mr. Shrum is a top-level Democrat adviser who has had key roles in the presidential campaigns of Al Gore and John Kerry.
At issue are reports that members of Mr. Harper´s prime ministerial office leaked word last week that a member of Barack Obama´s campaign told a Canadian diplomat that Mr. Obama was not serious when he raised the possibility of renegotiating the free-trade agreement.
Related Articles
Recent
* Obama aide says Canadian memo misinterprets comments
* PM warns against opening NAFTA
* Reopening NAFTA jeopardizes Canada´s military support: McCain
* Ottawa plays oil card in NAFTA spat
* Free-trade deal neither a panacea nor a disaster
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Internet Links
* U.S. Election 2008
The Globe and Mail
That statement has become fodder for Mr. Obama´s opponents, who have accused the Illinois senator of saying one thing to win votes in hard-pressed states such as Ohio, and another to keep the peace with the Canadian government.
ABC News says the leaker was Mr. Harper´s chief of staff, Ian Brodie. Mr. Brodie reportedly learned of the conversation ?which took place between Mr. Obama´s economic adviser and a Canadian diplomat in Chicago ? from Michael Wilson, Canada´s ambassador to the United States.
One of the talk show´s Republican participants, Mary Matalin, used the apparent flip-flop to attack the Democratic candidates ? Mr. Obama and Hillary Clinton ? who have said they would reopen NAFTA.
?Then he had that Canadian thing where ?I´m saying this, but I mean that,´ ? Ms. Matalin said.
Ms. Matalin is a well-known Republican strategist, having worked for both George Bush Jr. and Sr. and for Vice-President Dick Cheney.
Mr. Obama´s team has repeatedly denied that such a conversation took place.
Opposition MPs said it appears obvious to them that the Harper Tories want the Republicans to win and that they have taken steps to help them to do so.
The Harper government may find itself in hot water should the presidential winner be a Democrat, they said.
?This is serious,? said Navdeep Baines, the Liberal Party´s trade critic.
?If there´s a perception there of interference, I think it will definitely put a strain on our relationship in the future.?
The brouhaha is somewhat reminiscent of the 2006 election, when Mr. Wilkins lashed back at then-prime-minister Paul Martin for his criticisms of the United States and was criticized for interfering.
For its part, the federal government is saying that there were no calls between itself and any staff members of a campaign team.
The Canadian embassy says on its website that ?at no time has any member of a Presidential campaign called the Canadian Ambassador or any official at the Embassy to discuss NAFTA.?
Mr. Harper´s communications director, Sandra Buckler, said Mr. Brodie also doesn´t remember such a conversation.
?Ian Brodie does not recall discussing this matter and at the end of the day Ambassador Wilson issued a statement and we stand by that statement,? Ms. Buckler said.
Last week, Mr. Harper said that reopening the NAFTA deal would be a mistake.
As well, Canadian officials have warned that a renegotiation could put the supply of Canadian oil to the United States at stake.
Ms. Matalin used Mr. Harper´s remarks yesterday to argue against the idea of reopening the pact.
?Those sands up there have as much oil as Saudi Arabia,? she said.
?And Harper and the Trade Minister came out and said, ?You want to opt out? You want to threaten to opt out? Guess what. We´ll open up the clause, and we´ll renegotiate so you don´t get favour ? favourability relative to energy trade and I ? we´ll sell our energy to China.´ ?
[03-03-2008,09:23]
[**.24.116.196]
wannabecanadian |
(in reply to: Canada and U.S. elections)
Thanks Wannabe, the Globe and Mail article is exactly what I´m talking about. (At least I don´t feel like a political hack now just stirring things up.)
Those secret discussions occurred at the Canadian Consulate in Chicago a few days ago according to CNN this morning. Then those Canadian diplomats published a memo summary of the conversation and made it available to the AP. Sounds like a deliberate embarassment attempt to me (i.e. Harper).
Also holding my breathe hoping Ohio pulls through tomorrow. It will be close I think.
Raj, that´s a good question. I think Canada benefits more from NAFTA since the US/Canada trade is imbalanced, with more goods imported into the US under NAFTA. It´s not popular in the industrailized states for sure.
Thanks for the views, Roy, always appreciated. You´d certainly be a Hillary booster at her rallies down here. Unfortunately, the Amercan people slightly disagree, as she won´t make it the way it looks now. Tomorrow will possibly be a deciding day.
Yes thanks, I saw the oil and energy renegotiation comments (threats) from Harper, Sharon. This adds to the controversy as to how far he´d be willing to go to protect Canada and the current NAFTA deal (leaked memo).
[03-03-2008,11:33]
[**.53.224.249]
Richard |
(in reply to: Canada and U.S. elections)
I feel that the greatest benefit from Nafta is on the US-Mexico border.... rather than up North, but seems like both US and Canada are making statements as if they are holding back the trump card, I personally would wish to see them have a go at it !!
Another interesting thing to note is that lot of Canadian citizens are employed in the USA, and many hopeful Canadian citizens immigrated to Canada with that in mind, so it will be interesting if Nafta gets the boot and no TN Visas are issued or renewed in the future.... personally.... I´m all for it, let the games begin !
[03-03-2008,13:01]
[***.242.242.2]
Raj |
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