March 05, 2005

• Sadly, I think this comment on the blue says it all.
• I think this comment on the Monkey says it better: If a canadian diplomat calls bullshit on the Bush administration and millions (okay, hundreds) of americans read it as well as hundreds (maybe thousands) of people from all over the world read it, and all agree Condi and Bush are all dickweeds, at least it's a start. Ants move mountains, it only takes a little time. Perhaps it's time a few ants bit a big, fat elephant on it's fat ass.
• I liked the bit about Paul Celluci. To quote Joe Malone, "Paul Celluci's way is the wrong way."
• It's true, as noted on Meta, that Canadians would make nasty guerrilla fighters should the US lose its fucking mind completely. Almost without exception, when the topic comes up, B.C. Canadians will say; "I'm not going to get my ass blown off picking a fight with somebody else, but if they come this way, I'm coming out shooting". And we're the hippies. God help anybody who invades Alberta, Quebec, or the Maritimes.
• I get the feeling if they invaded Quebec the Quebeckers would light up another cigarette and ask for money.
• But lighthearted regional rivalries aside, I love it when Canadian politicians stand up for Canada. That's a big reason I liked Chretien more and more as he outstayed his welcome, and why I think a minority is good for Martin (with a majority he'd have signed us up for missile defence for sure).
• moneyjane As far as who's going to make the better fighter, my thing about it is that most 'muricans are loudmouthed windbags. I've been all over this country and it seems to be a commonly shared trait. Sure there are soldiers in the u.s. military. Big whoop. There are also a bunch of lazy, fat american civilians. There are poor people over in Iraq who don't have two sticks to rub together who seem to be doing okay by themselves defending themselves against the 'murican military machine. I think if it came down to a bunch of red-necked couch-potatoes going up against a bunch of Canadian hockey fans . . . Well, I think it would give new meaning to Patton's famous words "Like shit through a goose." I don't think the canadians would be the ones who ran away screaming. I think it would be the loud-mouthed american rednecks.
• should the US lose its fucking mind completely. I don't think we ... Oh, wait, you mean more than it has already? Glad you still think we're somewhat sane. I'm pretty sure we're about one death cow revelation away from total annihilation. Really, I think the dude was too polite. Me? I'da told her to go fuck herself and asked her to stay the hell out of Canada.
• If I were Canadian. I think it's important that everyone know, I'm not Canadian. Dammit.
• When Americans -- those that share this view -- start telling me all about how the war on terror is going to reduce the number of terrorists, I have a nasty habit of taunting them to invade my country (Canada) and find out what happens to mild-mannered moderates when you make them mad enough. Unless they figure out their water problem, probably only a matter of time before some strong-arming takes place, though in what form I don't know. And I too praised the fates when Martin was handed a minority government. I wish the man would grow some balls already. Could he look like more of a lapdog in photo ops with Bush?
• From an American who's seen the military and civilian side of things: Americans are Legends In Their Own Minds. Paper Tigers Waiting To Be Torn Apart. To use a most recent saying; Fuck them, fuck them up their stupid asses.
• That's true. I'm absolutely fucking legendary in my own mind. You should see the shrine to my virility. But please don't fuck my ass. I don't think I'd enjoy it, even though I sometimes wonder about that.
• MonkeyFilter: Perhaps it's time a few ants bit a big, fat elephant on it's fat ass. MonkeyFilter: I think it's important that everyone know, I'm not Canadian. MonkeyFilter: I'm absolutely fucking legendary in my own mind.
• But please don't fuck my ass. I don't think I'd enjoy it I read somewhere that in Canada they have a different, independent point of view. And sometimes they speak truth to your ass.
• Well, now that I think of it, one time George Clinton freed my mind, and the strangest thing happened: my ass followed. This was, of course, right before he tore the roof off the sucker. But there was no ass fucking that I recall. There was that one time that I was bored and stuck a finger up there when I was in the bathtub, but that was more of a self-prostate exam thing.
• Sorry - did you say something? I was listening to some right-wing talk radio there, and - the strangest thing! - my head suddenly got sucked right up my own ass.
• Monkeyfilter: We hate America.
• George Clinton for president!
• Moneyjane for President! Dammit! She's Canadian ... Moneyjane for Benevolent Overlord (With Options for Beatdowns)!
• I don't hate America; it just scares me when my delusional neighbour with lots of guns and a crazy voice in his head telling him to kill for Jesus goes off his meds. Hell, I know it's not really him - he was actually a pretty good guy to hang out with, have a beer with, maybe watch a little hockey and talk about chicks but I really hope he gets his shit together quick, because right now he's in a bad way, and I don't know what he's capable of.
• I don't think the US would attempt to invade Canada, ever. They'd do as they do in Latin America, trying to put a sock puppet government in place. They are, of course, already trying to influence our politics, but I think our institutions are pretty strong and would resist a too overt maneuver. Plus, we're too much of a western country -- we speak English and French, and most of us look 100% European. So European powers would not take it lightly, I think.
• You ain't worried about the terrorists, eh? What if they blowed up yer CN Tower? Or Space Needle or whatever else you got that's big up there? Then you'd start profilin' anyone who didn't end their alphabet with zed, I'll betcha. You'd have the "tire centre" test, wouldntcha?
• My ninja services are, as always, at your disposal.
• js: I don't think Canada has to worry about terrorists, because they don't make it a practice to piss off and piss on everyone they don't agree with. As near as I can tell, Canada just kind of minds it's own business with the occasional "keep it down out there, chaps" as opposed to the US, who barges in, guns blazing, and yells "All y'all bitches listen up!". We've spent the best part of 100 years ramming our agenda down other countries throats at the point of a gun and I, for one, am not surprised in the least that other countries out there don't like us. I don't hate our country, but I am appalled at what our leaders are doing under the color of Promoting Democracy (ie., torture, suspension of rights). We're becoming the banana republic that we used to criticize others of being and what's worse, our leaders appear to be doing this under some insane belief that "it's God's will". Anymore, it does not require a stretch of the imagination to see our country becoming the Taliban that we hate so much, when religion and politics are becoming so intermingled.
• I second what drivingmenuts said. From one american patriot with the blinders removed to another american patriot with the blinders removed: Thank You.
• On the other hand, when you do need Canada, and they agree it's a righteous cause, they do show up with guns ready (ie., WWII).
• The way I see it, if a dragon's wrecking havoc, stomping the shit out of kingdom after kingdom, we're in; but we aren't going to show up to help anyone poking a bear with a stick. You either work that one out or get eaten.
• I'm wondering, among the American monkeys who disagree with the Bush government, what would be your last straw? What is it that you think that's, "You know what? If they do _________, that's it, I'm done, I'm outta here.
• That's a damn good question. It would take a massive constitutional violation, one big enough to let me know that, hyperbole aside, jackboots are right around the corner. And though civil rights aren't exactly fashionable around here nowadays, we're nowhere near there yet. But it's interesting that I never asked myself the question, not even once, before this administration.
• Anyway the missile defence thing is, IMO, pretty egregious. The damned things don't even work, and seem to serve no purpose other than to feed a new arms race. I read the other day that China's threatening to increase military spending if any of this technology is provided to South Korea or Taiwan. And Bush, Condi et al are acting an awful lot like spoiled children -- play our game by our rules or we're going home. Maybe PM didn't play it well diplomatically very well, but the Canadian position is quite reasonable -- we're spending more on defence, particularly to tighten up our borders, and fully support NORAD. We just happen to think this one idea is a lousy one.
• From my end, I'll be expecting a run to the border for either a draft, reversing Roe VS Wade or invading Iran.
• Assuming, of course, that the damn pandemic or North Korea don't kill us all first.
• If they nuke any country, period, for any manufactured, made up reason, or if this country gets nuked because of it's constant swaggering provocative crap, I'm outta here. I don't care if I have to swim across an ocean or tunnel under the border, I quit. Anyone know of any safe houses in the B.C. area? Just in case, you know . . .
• Invading Iran would be, in my opinion, be the beginning of the end of the american empire. Doing something so clearly stupid as to flat out start World War III just gives whole new meaning to national stupidity. Starting a draft would be a bad thing, but on the other hand, I think a lot of people would finally be motivated to stand up to these rich thugs knowing that if they don't they're headed to certain death overseas. The missle defence thing is another example of weapons contractor blind greed, along with the 'robot warriors'. The fact none of the congress and senator carpet baggers don't stand up against any of this stuff shows exactly where their loyalty lies, and it is not, nor has it been for a long time, with the american people nor the peoples of the world. It's their pocketbooks. As far as constitutional violations go, I think all this so-called anti-terrorist crap they're pushing around this country is designed more to prevent a revolt by it's own citizens than it is for any 'war on terror'.
• (Driving: It was a joke. "Tire centre test"?) For me to call it quits with the US? Well, if I could get no-hassle citizenship in a country with universal health care, I'd take it. Do me good to live elsewheres for a while. But aside from that, let 'em come with their jackboots. I know how to handle a gun, and I'll be happy to go down on the barricades fighting for freedom here... I suppose it would take an act of violent suppression of civil rights. I'm not sure I'd want to be the only one on the barricades, and so it'd take something wide enough to finally get the patchuli-scented to take up arms with me... Of course, if anyone gets a good ol' class revolution going, I'm game...
• "I'm wondering, among the American monkeys who disagree with the Bush government, what would be your last straw? What is it that you think that's, "You know what? If they do _________, that's it, I'm done, I'm outta here." For me, moneyjane, the last straw was really a pair of them: bigoted homophobes in elected offices exploiting and inciting hatred against people who have done no-one any harm, but who only want to stand up for their rights, and the illegal, immoral invasion of Iraq, a sovereign nation which posed absolutely no threat to anyone, just because the idiot Bush felt some childish need to show some machismo and thought he'd tag along on his fascist daddy's legacy of meddling in middle eastern politics which don't concern the U.S. at all. As for Lloyd Axworthy, I've had my wife and nephew explain his odd little history to me, but I think I need to read up on him some more. It certainly seems that he isn't just hotshotting to the press and public in order to gain favour to promote himself regarding any hoped-for political gain. He's just stated, clearly, exactly what a majority of Canadians think about the moronic idea of the missile defence plan, and about Canadian-U.S. relations in general. The expected stamping of feet from morons like Paul Cellucci, noted bigot, is hardly surprising. Cellucci, of course, is on his way (thankfully) out of this country, back to his little serpent's nest where he'll likely be adored and celebrated for his wrongheaded comments regarding sovereignty until he's ultimately dismissed as the crank and crackpot he is and disenfranchised. Any fool who believes that Canada has resigned its sovereignty by not kowtowing to insane U.S. demands probably counts him- or herself as one of those dupes who believes that there were WMDs in Iraq and that many Iraqis were involved in the demolition of the World Trade Centre.
• You're absolutely right, coppermac, that Axworthy has nailed the majority opinion in Canada. What he wrote are my thoughts exactly. I don't hate America. I like almost every American I have ever met, and I've always considered the US to be the second best country in the world. Hell, I almost moved there a few years ago (before W, obviously). I hope they can get past this dark episode and get back on track with some sane leadership.
• Axworthy has nailed the majority opinion in Canada Yup. And how.
• The last straw? Well, if someone would help me out from under this damn bale, I'll tell you all about it.
• If George Clinton were president, I still think he would have dropped Da Bomb on Iraq.
• It's funny, rocket, how many people who've read his statement have no problem with what Axworthy said. I have a neighbour who's far, far more conservative than I am, and she emailed me an interesting response when I sent her the link. Briefly, she appreciated both the message and the tone of the statement, and wondered exactly who in Canada would ever think Axworthy was out of place for pointing out the obvious. This, from a woman who had the biggest 'Vote Conservative' sign on her lawn during the last election and who thinks of the U.S. as a generally sane, safe place full of decent people. Unfortunately, I think this 'dark episode' is no anomaly or phase, and I believe the only way out of it is considerable social upheaval (possibly including civil war) or the replacement of the empire with a stronger Euro (or Chinese or whomever) dominance on the world stage. I really can't see my former countrymen getting their shit together without a significant kick in the ass.
• Well I hope it doesn't come to that. Euros aren't cohesive enough to handle that kind of power, and China would be a far worse abuser of power than the US could ever dream of. As I've mentioned in another thread, I thought the Nixon years were worse, and the country recovered and moved on. My guess (and my hope) is that once these guys finish their second term, some nasty information will start to leak out from some of the non-religious nuts in the administration (Powell?) about the abuses of power and election-rigging shenanigans, and the country will shift left in response. As for the Axworthy piece, I'm disappointed that it didn't get more coverage on either side of the border. I guess sane, rational comments from an intelligent statesman don't warrant the same media coverage as Carolyn Parrish's screechy ramblings.
• Regarding cohesiveness, I doubt that the many differing interests and factions in Europe are no more fragmented and unwilling to work together than those in the U.S. I also have doubts that China would abuse their power more so than does the U.S., but I have no doubts that some western governments would report on any injustices committed by China with considerably more vigour. Coverage of items like this is always a little disappointing, but even some of my relatives back in Missouri heard about it (from right wing news sources, unfortunately and of course) without me having to point it out to them. Here in Toronto it received a lot of attention and was the topic of discussion among people in my social circle, and the CBC certainly made it available for one and all. I don't know what some of the other media did with it, though, as I had a busy few days when the shenanigans broke out.
• Monkeyfilter: But please don't fuck my ass. I don't think I'd enjoy it, even though I sometimes wonder about that. Having thrown in the obligatory tagline, what would be my last straw? Armed suppression. We're not quite there yet, but should we get there, I'm going underground and starting a fifth column.
• I agree with coppermac - I don't think our country is going to recover without major social upheaval. There's more to it than our worldy misuse of power, too: Life in the USA sucks. When it gets be so bad that all the people with the means leave, and there's just us poor folk (by "us" I mean, myself and the others for whom leaving the country is not a possibility) left, I can very much see some kind of rebellion happening. Oddly enough, I look forward to it.
• Martial law would do it for me. I'm in Idaho though, so I wouldn't actually leave. Go hang out with the mountain folk, (who've been preparing for a government crackdown longer than I care to think about) till the Resistance got going. America going down in flames sure could mess things up for everybody though.
• Condoleezza Rice presented with coca leaf-inlay guitar (avec l'imagey goodness) I'm sure *snkk* that George *ssnnnnffff* will *znk-ah!* love it. *snkkffffff* whoo!
• Rice told Morales, "I'm a musician you know," and strummed the instrument, a typical Bolivian lacquered handicraft with five pairs of strings. It was unclear whether she immediately realised what adorned it.
• You know I'm born to lose, and gambling's for fools, But that's the way I like it baby, I don't wanna live for ever