November 30, 2004

SORRY SIR, IT'S PERFUNCTORY:

'Like visiting your in-laws' (Greg Weston, 11/30/04, Ottawa Sun)

Canadians who might be wondering what Americans think of us should ponder no more: Generally speaking, they don't.

Even White House reporters expecting the usual "trip briefing" on Canada-U.S. issues were surprised by what they got: Zip.

"It is quite unusual not to have a briefing," said one senior White House correspondent who called yesterday, wondering if we had any idea why Bush was coming to Canada. (We had to say, sorry, can't help there.)

The best the White House press corps could make of it, she said, is "it's kind of like visiting your in-laws -- you go because it's what you do. It is sort of a perfunctory visit."

Posted by Orrin Judd at November 30, 2004 10:46 AM
Comments

It would seem that the protests against him have been prefunctory too.

Posted by: Raoul Ortega at November 30, 2004 1:15 PM

C-Span had an interesting replay of a Town Hall meeting done by CBC's The National program last night on the current U.S.-Canada situation, outside of one guy who is leaving the country because of Bush's re-election, there wasn't much hyperactrivity at all (well, at least by Canada's standards) about another four years of Bush. They also pointed out the fact that while the U.S. emmigration numbers into Canada were only marginally higher than in 2003, they were still less than 50 percent of the total number of Canadians to moved to the U.S. last year.

Posted by: John at November 30, 2004 2:04 PM

John:

Caught the same show. The only people exercised were the aging hippies from Seattle and Ann Arbor. Loved the Canadian doctor living in Michigan who disliked America, but said his presence here 'wasn't about the money'. Anytime someone says it isn't about the money, its about the money.

Posted by: Fred Jacobsen (San Fran) at November 30, 2004 4:10 PM

I worked for a Canadian company for a year. Our Toronto lawyer told me about some friends of his, husband and wife doctors. Because of Ontario's limits on physician income they would work like crazy from March through October when they would hit the annual income limit. At that point they would retreat to their condo in Vail and ski for 4-1/2 months. I told him that I appreciated their contribution to the US economy. His response was, "Hey, we're stupid, eh". Darn right its about the money.

Posted by: Jeff at November 30, 2004 10:06 PM
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