And that explains the tourism drop?

We vote w/our pocketbooks.

I shouldn't be the one to say this, but why the h-ll isn't that said publically by the Administration and your ambassador. All anyone up here ever hears is "best friends", "the longest undefended border", etc. Even GWB couldn't tell it like it is when he last came--too anxious for a happy diplomatic success. It's like you are telling a teenager everything he does is super ok because you know your views are no better than his and you love him so, but you hope he will understand some day. Then you all go away to Robert Schwartz's house to re-fight the war of 1812.

Psst, Orrin, park the "we don't care" riposte. You wouldn't post so much on this subject if that were true.

Peter:

I only do it to get your goat....

Amazing, but true. Most people don't associate a nice vacation with surly people who refuse to speak English.

what goes around comes around. if the canadians want to ally themselves with france, germany, and al queda then that's their privilige. just don't start crying when the border is closed and american industry is moved back down south. the simple truth is that it is up to the canadians to make the relationship work, otherwise see ya, wouldn't want to be ya. oh and tell that loud mouthed sow to shut her trap.

Peter --

If the administration actually thought Canada's politicians were actually serious about acting on their words, the statements would be more pronounced. In reality, they know the country isn't much of a threat to anyone, and the pols are making their pronouncement,s because they think that's what the really smart, intellectual people on the East Coast of the United States they'd like to hang out with think. So if The New York Times bad-mouths George W. Bush, then it would be gauche not to bad-mouth George W. Bush north of the border. (And they also know if terrorists took down the CN Tower in Toronto on Wednesday, warmonger George W. Bush and the U.S. would be there to fight whoever did it on Thursday.)

mebbe, mebbe not. we could seal the border.

Maybe we should just take Alberta.

There but by the grace of God go you, likewise.

If there is any country run by a cabal, it is Canada. A result of a diverse and spread out population and a parliamentary system that relies on honor in an age of none.

But I wouldn't bet against the numbskull Republicans blowing their chances and the Hillary Clintons of this world making the U.S.A. into a province of Canada.