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Harper’s Americanization of Canada Continues

June 8, 2008 at 06:39 | Print This Post Print This Post

I’ve lost count of the number of electoral imports Harper’s hustled in across the border. It’s become more of a personal homage to Shrub, I think - but in any event, Harper’s admiration for Republican government and electioneering has become embarrassing - and the deeper his mentors sink into their own muck, the more determined he seems to be to imitate them. The latest is more U.S. style “attack ads” - on the Liberal’s environmental policies. News of the campaign has been leaked to the press because the inflammatory character of the ads will itself generate attention that will spread news of the ads better than they could themselves. Is anyone else tired of our Banana Republicans? We need a Barack Obama of our own.


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12 Responses to “Harper’s Americanization of Canada Continues”


  1. John Minnihan (5 comments.)
    June 8th, 2008 at 09:14

    Hey Rob,

    We’ll send Obama up north after he’s done fixing everything down here… pencil him in for sometime in 2016.


  2. Larry Borsato (8 comments.)
    June 8th, 2008 at 11:39

    Ok Rob, I get that you’re not too fond of Stephen Harper, but do ads of guns pointed in your face, “Soldiers. With Guns. On our streets.”, or the words “hidden agenda” trigger any memories? Those are attack ads, right? And all from that other political party. So I’m not sure that Stephen Harper deserves the credit for importing those ads.


  3. Steven Hodson (3 comments.)
    June 8th, 2008 at 11:42

    I couldn’t agree with you more. I have lost total faith in our governments (of all levels). Not that they were ever paragones of ethics before but increasingly we are being saddled with nanny state like laws that satisfy the few that place personal power over what is of real benefit to the rest of us.

    Next to Mulroney Mr. Harper has been the worst thing to happen Canadian politics.


  4. Rob Hyndman (318 comments.)
    June 8th, 2008 at 14:30

    Not saying he’s the first Canadian politician to use an attack ad, Larry. But more than any Canadian politician he has imitated the electoral and government management styles of the current generation of Republicans. Update: And I will say I do think the Tories have reduced the attack ad to more of the sneering, mocking, personal attack that’s been so effectively used by Republicans. There are attack ads and there are attack ads, IMO.


  5. Rob Hyndman (318 comments.)
    June 8th, 2008 at 14:32

    Thanks John - if you can get him here by 2012 we’ll send more fresh water. Deal?


  6. John Minnihan (5 comments.)
    June 8th, 2008 at 14:53

    I’ll see what I can do. But he’s gonna be busy for a *while*. The current landlord down here has let the place go to hell.


  7. Rob Hyndman (318 comments.)
    June 8th, 2008 at 15:10

    Yeah, I saw that. Shame about that - the whole neighbourhood has gone to heck.


  8. John Minnihan (5 comments.)
    June 8th, 2008 at 15:20

    Metaphors aside, no one I’ve spoken to lately is even vaguely pleased with what’s happened. In the unlikely event McBush is elected, you may find me & my family camping out on your PEI lawn for the next four years.

    Only half-joking…


  9. Rob Hyndman (318 comments.)
    June 8th, 2008 at 15:37

    John, I heard today on the On the Media podcast that the (show?) trial of the people held in Guantanamo in connection with 9-11 will begin in late September. Entirely coincidentally, the trial of an event that happened several years ago will occur immediately before the next Presidential election. I would bet everything I have that the next 5 months will see an unprecedented campaign by people on the right, in the administration, elsewhere in Government and out of it, to scare the living crap out of every American voter. Much of it carefully coordinated, of course. The OTM podcast today covered the effort the Pentagon is putting into preparing the media campaign for the trial.

    Your tax dollars at work. Thanks for that, BTW :)


  10. John Minnihan (5 comments.)
    June 8th, 2008 at 15:47

    Hey Rob - The prospect of living thru another four years of destructive Republicanism sickens me. The thought of my sons coming of age in the midst of that will force me to act.

    Quite seriously, Jen & I have discussed moving to Scandinavia, Canada or Mexico in such an event. Simply can’t tolerate another four years of this - no offense, but your dollar is now stronger than mine, and don’t even get me started on the Euro. With high-speed Internet & access to international airport(s), I can work anywhere.

    Thanks, Dubya.

    (and yes, the Gitmo circus is starting & most of us will be able to see behind the curtain… I hope)


  11. Larry Borsato (8 comments.)
    June 8th, 2008 at 16:16

    This may be a bit cynical, but politics is just a business after all, and if that form of marketing works then I assume it will be used again.

    And John, I grew up in Canada but I’ve lived in both countries. Canada is not the holy grail you assume it to be. Expect to pay a lot more in taxes for the privilege of living here, and having a government that knows what’s best for you. Even more so than you currently experience.


  12. John Minnihan (5 comments.)
    June 8th, 2008 at 16:27

    Thanks Larry.

    My govt down here has no idea what’s best for me, but has gone out its way to force its twisted vision of what’s right on the rest of the world. I can’t recall the last time Mexico or Canada has done that.

    WRT taxes, yeah, you’re right. But until the USD rebounds, it is likely a wash or better. Cost of living in the Playa region south of Cancun is very low today.