Bush becomes issue number one in Canada's January national election

[Thom Little]

A month before national elections, Canada's prime minister is basking in criticism from the United States, while his main challenger struggles to fend off praise from allies of an unpopular Bush administration.

David Wilkins, the U.S. ambassador to Canada, unwittingly fanned anti-American sentiment here last week with a blunt warning to Prime Minister Paul Martin to stop using the United States as a campaign issue.

Wilkins' comments backfired. Across Canada, they prompted outraged editorials and letters to the editor — "Ambassador's criticism is manna for Liberals," read a headline in Toronto's Globe and Mail. Wilkins was forced to deny that he was meddling in Canadian politics. Since then, Martin has made Washington a favorite campaign theme, vowing to defend Canadian interests against U.S. pressure.

.......

In a November poll, 73% of Canadians expressed an unfavorable view of Bush, according to results by Innovative Research. In the same poll, though, 68% said they had a favorable view of Americans.

The results show "that the rising tide of anti-Americanism in this country is driven not out of a dislike for the American people but as a visceral dislike of Mr. Bush and the war in Iraq," Rudyard Griffiths, executive director of the Dominion Institute, a group that promotes Canadian history, told the National Post newspaper.



http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2005-12-22-canada-pm_x.htm

[tsuki]

1. Good, I'm glad that Wilkin's comments backfired. Bushco needs

to keep their long pointy noses out of everyone else's elections.

[Kolesar]

2. Canadians *should* hate the American people for electing bush

Supporting him, supporting the war, and now not calling for impeachment.

[indepat]

3. At least hate the seeming neo-fascists who support him and his every

disasterous policy and action. ;)

[Todd B]

4. 50% of Americans hate his darn guts, though!

(Probably even more if you count the thousands of votes that weren't counted in the last (s)election).

I love Canada though - I've only been up to the Toronto area once, but I fell in love with it! I wish I could go back!

[robbedvoter]

8. Except we din't really elect him. Not once. But since no complaint was

lodged, I have to be saddled with the guilt....

[Kolesar]

9. Even yet, Americans are grossly indifferent about torture and conquest

a pariah state

[Adelante]

10. Fuck that

I don't. I didn't. I am.

"Canadians *should* hate the American people"

A statement like this is truly ignorant.

[Vidar]

5. Canada is a far better neighbor than we deserve.

[Toots]

6. Amen

:-)

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. Yes indeed

[radio4progressives]

11. There was also a Lawsuit Charging U.S. in Violation of U.N.Treaty

in a British Columbia court, but the judge refused to hear the case.

I'm sorry I'm unable to recall the source of this report - somewhere on line! the report could have been linked to Raw Story, but can't remember.

The report did say the lawyers have plenty of options for appeal which they intend to pursue their suit.

[Totally Committed]

12. Canadians *should* hate the American people for electing Bush????

Are you crazy???? I held my nose and voted for against Bush in the last election. To do that, I had to ignore the most disgustingly wimpy and inept campaign I'd seen a Democrat run since Dukakis, and vote for a man I swore would never get my vote again, even if he ran for dogcatcher. After voting, I felt like I needed a shower, and after he conceded, I felt like I needed my head examined for casting that vote anyway.

And, Canadians should hate *me* because Bush is President? You are out of your mind! Not every stinking American wants that evil half-wit as President. More and more disgree with him, and his administration's policies every day. Hate his administration? Hate what they stand for? Hate their lack of moral values? Hate what they are doing to the Constitution? Hate what they have done to our rights? Hate that they left an entire city's poor, overwhelmingly Black population to die? HELL, ALMIGHTY, YES!!!! Hate us... ALL of us, because he's President? NO WAY!

The holiday spirit is alive and well in the hearts of and minds of us all... :sarcasm:. This year cannot end fast enough for me. It's been too ugly for words.

TC

On edit: This message should be in reply to the OP, so it's in the wrong place. This sort of post and the feelings behind it just dishearten me. Truly.

[LibertyorDeath]

13. visceral dislike

LOL :)