Fox News Insults Canada

[babs]

Eh, I hate our government as it is. There's not really anyone good to choose, in my opinion. I'll just vote NDP because I like Carol James as well as our NDP representatives. I don't care that they screwed us over in the past; this is the future.

Other than that, I could care less about politics. All it does is delay my tv show airtimes =/

[gregrox]

I don't really know much about the whole Fox News thing but was that a live show? Becayse if it wasn't and Fox chose to air it they're just as much at fault here. And I've gotten used to people from other countries (mostly Americans) making lousy assumptions without any information about Canada. I won't even get started on some of the tourists I've encountered during the summer.

And Babs you're right our government does suck. I assume you're talking about the upcoming BC election and again you're right that all the candidates suck. But better have the NDP (who are like the Federal Liberals) than the Liberals (who are like the Federal Conservatives)

[jaglady]

I sense that we have some younger Canadians here.

Teachable moment.

You say "I hate everyone, so I'm not going to vote for anyone." Unfortunately, that's one of many things that got us Americans in the mess we're in right now. Despite what the media says, President Obama won by a RAZOR THIN MARGIN, not a landslide, like certain media outlets would have you believe. Please don't ever think that your vote doesn't count. Admittedly I felt dirty voting for John McCain, but my hope was trying to avoid the socialism that our current administration is trying to foist on us.

Admittedly, I don't know how the Canadian government works, but if it's like the American government, you have more power than you think to change things. It's not going to happen overnight. Remember my thread about "If you like something someone does, tell them"? Well, if Canada is like America, your elected representatives are your voice in government. You will need to bone up on the issues, then call or email your representatives, and let them know "As my elected representative, I would like you to vote (yes or no) on such-and-such an issue." You may think you're too busy to know the issues or that they don't affect you. Trust me. They do.

Note to Mirium: Do you think it might be a good idea to merge this thread with the Pundits thread?

[mirium]

Mar 26, 2009 5:15:33 GMT -5 @jaglady said:

Note to Mirium: Do you think it might be a good idea to merge this thread with the Pundits thread?

Excellent idea! There isn't a magic button I can push to do that (although Proboards is probably going to add one in their next version), but it would be great if you guys copied-and-reposted your comments in that thread. Or if you give me permission, I'll do it for you. The Pundits thread is in Comfy Chairs, www.primetimecrime.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=cozycorner&action=display&thread=197

Let the Pontification begin!

[gregrox]

I'll copy and paste right now

[mirium]

This has been bothering me for a while, and I've spent most of the day yelling at people who richly deserved it, so I'm going to use up some surplus ire and comment on it. Without yelling, I hope. ;D

Mar 24, 2009 18:13:18 GMT -5 @jaglady said:

In a speech [Obama] gave in San Francisco last year, Obama (who has not yet produced his birth certificate to prove his U.S. citizenship in line with the U.S. Constitution) refers to us as "bitter clingers."

www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2001749/posts

(And Mr. Obama, just so you know, I've found my guns and my Bible to be a whole lot more useful than any Washington politician)

jaglady, here's the actual text of Obama's comment that set off the fuss (which is rather different from the "transcript" which appears in the link you provided ):

"You go into some of these small towns in Pennsylvania, and like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's replaced them. And they fell through the Clinton Administration, and the Bush Administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not. And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."

That's open to multiple interpretations, of course. Mine is that Obama is expressing sympathy and empathy for those who have given broken promises for years -- through both Democratic and Republican administrations -- and have, quite reasonably, come to feel frustrated and bitter about their dire situation and the lack of relief. And that, because TPTB have allowed one vital and precious thing to be taken away (jobs) and not gotten it back, many folks have a reasonable fear that other vital and precious things might be taken away as well -- guns, religion -- and so they energetically defend those things, not trusting the government to protect them, and take comfort in still having them -- i.e. "cling to them." It's an appeal for understanding, an appeal made to anti-gun/religion folks (such as those who live in, say, San Francisco -- where the speech was given) to see that people with vigorous pro-gun and pro-religion stances have a valid point, based on their decades-long personal experiences. And that those who express various "anti-something" sentiments aren't evil, they're just trying to find a way to explain their own predicament, other than "the government doesn't care if we rot." The underlying message is that there are people in this country who have been suffering for a long, long time and as a result they might focus more on some freedoms that comfortable folks don't notice or appreciate; think about how you'd react if you'd been through what they'd been through, and let's work on relieving their very real plight instead of criticising them for how they're coping with their burden.

Of course, YMMV. ;D

The other part of your comment that bothers me is the bit about how Obama hasn't produced his birth certificate. Quite frankly (and this wording is due to my leftover ire from the day's events, rather than any irritation at you), I don't see why he should have to bother, even if it is theoretically grounds for a challenge. Is there any realistic doubt that he is actually the son of his mother? She was an American citizen, so (as her son) he is automatically an American citizen; why was the question even raised?

I'm an American citizen, born of two American citizens, born inside the borders of our great land -- heck, I was born on a Naval base while my father was actively serving in the Navy! -- and it was extremely difficult to get an official copy of my own birth certificate, even with a sworn affidavit (and supporting documents to prove her identity) from my mother. If she had been dead, or had less documentation herself, or I had been born in another country (where records might or might not have been accurately kept) -- you see my point? Again, why is Obama's birth certificate even being asked for (demanded)? Was Reagan or either Bush or any other President in modern times accused of not being an American and expected to jump through this particular hoop?

Oh, wait, I get it -- he looks so youthful, they're not sure he meets the age requirement. That must be it. Nevermind.