The American president throws another tariff tantrum, inadvertently reminding everyone that there once was a time when America was a shining city upon a hill.
Donald Trump is an unusual president, but he is not a “tyrant”, an “imbecile”, “Mad King Donald” or any of those silly names most of our pundits insist on calling him. Reagan might be remembered fondly now, but I remember well the anti-Reagan and anti-Americanism of that time. He was treated in many of the same ways Trump is now. Other nations have found more mature ways to deal with an unusual, but very forceful president - who is every bit as consequential as was Reagan. I hope Canadians can achieve that maturity as well. Our kneejerk anti-Americanism is our worst feature.
Yes, Brian, it's funny to see Ronald Reagan being regarded with affection by Canadian Leftists and centrists. He was mocked and vilified almost continually by Canadians and U.S. Democrats during his two terms and he was widely regarded as being demented toward the end. Really demented, not just "an imbecile".
What President Trump is not is a tyrant. In office, he has scrupulously respected lower Court rulings and injunctions against his executive orders. He is vigorously appealing the decisions he thinks are incorrect, which he as President has every authority to do. He has not defied the Supreme Court at any step, which a tyrant would do . His conduct as a private citizen before his election was hardly exemplary yet considering the "many crimes" he was accused of, and assumed to be guilty of, only one charge actually stuck, in absurdly partisan New York, brought by an A/G and prosecutor who both campaigned for election on a promise to "get Trump." But in office, he has obeyed the law that limits his power to the letter, which is all anyone can ask of an office-holder. So no, he is not a tyrant. Based on what he's done, as opposed to his quirks of personality including his need to needle us, I think he's probably on the right track....for America.
I think Canadians need to remember that Americans elect their President. Foreigners don't. His policies aren't *supposed* to be warmly received by foreign countries including us. Some policies are intended to cause pain to other countries to get them to see things America's way. That's how power works. As you say, a kneejerk anti-Americanism doesn't carry any weight in Washington, or even in those states we think might secretly want to rebel against Trump if we suborned them aggressively enough.
Many Americans are annoyed -- really annoyed -- by Canada's smugness about free health care and DEI and native reconciliation and no stain of slavery (because our climate fortuitously didn't support plantations) that we look down our noses at them. They don't like that we have been hiding under their nuclear umbrella and not really doing anything at all for the common defence since the late 1950s. (The Arrow doesn't count!) Trump may have decided we are weak on that after all those decades and so he's going to kick us. Just how it is. Our undermining his scheme to get a cease-fire in Gaza by our recognizing Palestine as a state just as the discussions were reaching a peak must have pissed him off royally....the delay may have done him out of the Nobel Peace Prize (in his mind, anyway.)
Let's grow up. It's a harsh world out there. (And giving the country back to the aboriginals isn't gonna help!)
Do you think the Democratic Party is going to reverse the efforts Trump is making to bring manufacturing jobs back to the United States? Seriously? No chance in hell that is going to happen. They are going to keep the same policies.
Biden was very similar to Trump with regards to Canada. He just wasn’t as bombastic but there weren’t that many differences on many fronts.
No they won't. The troubles we are having with the U.S. are due to the Executive, not the Legislative Branch. The President has a free hand on foreign policy, except that the Senate has to ratify any treaty negotiated by the President before it becomes law. The Supreme Court is going to rule soon as to whether the President can impose tariffs as executive privilege or whether, as a tax on Americans (importers) only Congress can impose, rescind, or modify them. (Note that Prime Minister Carney seems able to impose, rescind, or modify tariffs at will, without specific legislation from Parliament.) If the Supreme Court says only Congress can impose tariffs, then the President will have to cajole his Republican majority into passing a tariff law. If the GOP loses the House, then he strikes out if he hasn't got it passed by Election Day next year.
Otherwise it doesn't much matter who's in power in Congress. Any law the Dems might pass Trump can veto because they won't get a supermajority to over-ride it.
Although I agree about Canadians' "knee-jerk anti-americanism", blaming Canada or Canadians for the current state of relations with the u.s. is ridiculous. It's all down to Trump's 51st state idiocy. And I say this as someone who supports trump on many things.
I suggest that Trump’s comments about Canada being the “51st state” were actually directed at Trudeau. Trump despised Trudeau and considered him a fop and a backstabber. The fact that Canadians chose to reelect the same Liberals who had ruined the economy because of some casual trolling by Trump says (unfortunately) more about us than it does about Trump
It seems like casual trolling now but when he said it he said he would use “economic force” to make it happen. And though he’s toned down the 51st state rhetoric for the most part, he HAS applied significant economic force, which may get much worse once the USMCA treaty lapses next year. I think Canadians were wrong and stupid to re-elect the Liberals, but I certainly understand and share the anger and fear generated by Trump. An unnecessary own goal, in my opinion.
On the contrary, Mr. Glavin, I take the view that Premier Ford’s approach is indeed reckless, in dire need of ample moderation and refinement, one modeled by the diplomatic skills that Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has demonstrated time and again.
Of course, we do not yet know what's been going on behind those closed trade negotiation doors. What is holding us back from achieving what other western nations, including those European countries that our Prime Minister covets (despite having gotten nothing from them), had no problem quickly lining up after President Trump unleashed tariff hell on the world around him?
As we continue to navigate our way through this Trumpian turbulence (only three more years of that to go), we could use a lot more Dani, and a lot less Dougie. Éminence grise, that lady...
Most Canadians are woefully unaware of our trade situation w the US. Here's a video explainer and two letters to the Bank of Canada, two governors of which seem to think that 'elbows up' economic patriotism is working. Hard to believe they are in charge of Canada's central bank.... https://blog.friendsofscience.org/2025/10/21/elbows-up-or-down/
this needs much broader distribution. A lot here, but needs to be in smaller chunk to specific groups and for different purposes. But the evidence is clear. The Canada Post situation is a sad situation, costing us $M's, but Liberals and the unions are preserving it
Strengthening ties with China will over the long term be to our detriment. The CCP is a duplicitous entity devoted to controlling the world. Best to keep them at arms length and be firm in any trade deals we make with them. They have proven themselves in many ways and on many occasions to be interfering bullies.
There is none Terry. You can not have any strategy with someone who does not Honour the signature on documents that he signed. Documents that were signed previously by one Priminister and two Presidents in 1988. Once again documents signed on 2020 by one Priminister and Two Presidents.
Nothing is honoured, not worth the paper its written on.
So tell me what strategy can be used with an individual whose sole goal is to take over our nation.
If you will note Terry's article you will see that no tariffs have been applied on goods covered under the Free Trade Agreements now known as CUMSA. The President has continued to honour that agreement he signed, as have we. Funny behaviour for a tyrant.
What point did you not understand. NO agreement is good enough. The most recent in 2020. Did you not read that. Secondly, where did I say tyrant. Yiu said that, projecting much?
Doug Ford's ad is a good example of "elbows up". Of course Trump didn't like it and hit back! Did anyone expect him to apologize, admit he was wrong, and cancel all the tariffs?
I have to explain to some of my American friends, who don't give a crap about hockey, what Elbows Up means. I tell them it's sort of like grabbing the opposing lineman's face mask in football when the referee's not looking. They reply, "But we get 15 yards for that if we get caught! Why would you want to advertise that you are going to play dirty with us?"
Except that we aren't though, right? Our diplomats and trade envoys going to Washington and calling Trump and his officials murderous Al-Qaeda airplane hijackers is going to play *really* well.
Trump has justification for being upset with Canada over both our trade practices and in the under-handed and unfriendly tactics of Doug Ford and other Canadian leaders. The ad was an insult to Trump. His reaction or over-reaction to the ad, does not change the fact that what Ford did was antagonistic and not in the best interests of productive trade negotiations. The charitable analysis understands this, and does not lose sight of it, no matter how outlandish the things Trump does may be.
On the other side of the uncharitable Trump analysis concerning Ford’s Reagan ad blunder, is circulating the idea that Reagan was anti-tariff. Why is this idea believed? Because of Reagan’s rhetoric. You can find hundreds of clips of Reagan speaking about the dangers of high tariffs, or advocating for free trade. But the uncharitable analysis refuses to go beyond words. They ignore words that don’t support their argument, and act as if the words that do support their argument were the only ones spoken. Further, they act like words are the be all and end all, by not bothering to investigate the actions of those who speak the words, they pretend that word-speakers always do and intend exactly what they say. Reagan’s oratory contained lots of anti-tariff rhetoric, but his actions included lots of pro-tariff policy in an effort to deal with unfair trading partners.
Those who remain under the spell of TDS, will not be rational or reasonable, and no one with half a brain, can take them seriously. Those affected with this virus, will look increasingly foolish as time goes on and Trump’s policies turn out not to be the disasters those with TDS dreamed they would be. There is a growing group of people, who shake their heads and roll their eyes which will grow and grow. Those who remain shrouded from truth will descend further into darkness and gloom and hate. It doesn’t have to be this way.
The problem is that all the partisan heckling is blinding everyone to the greater truth. There is never going to be a trade deal. What the United States wants is a version of mercantilism where they get unfettered access to our markets, but we only get selected access to theirs for things they need. That’s going to be the deal.
This is why they are proposing to reactivate the keystone pipeline. They get to buy our oil at a discount and sell it at world prices, and take the profit. That is going to be the model going forward.
We can never agree to such a deal but we can only deal with the new reality once the partisan bickering settles down.
That was Alexander Hamilton's approach, wasn't it?
Wouldn't we have to agree to such a deal if it's the only offer on the table? Can we manage to have no deal at all, and just live with whatever ad hoc tariffs and restrictions the mercantilist applies to us?
Of course if fee simple property title is subordinate to the invented (Delgamuukw, 1997) concept of aboriginal title, no one will invest to build anything here anyway, certainly not in BC where the seacoast is. Kinder Morgan must be laughing at us still.
I’m actually proud of Carney’s comment that the 1980’s were a different time. Indeed that was prior to “truthiness”, “alternative facts” and plain old bald lies. I’m also proud of Carney’s slider comment in the Oval Office that Trump knows as an expert Real estate guy that not all properties are not for sale, for example this one (the Oval Office), which is very blatantly for sale. I think he is recognized internationally as a consummate trustworthy diplomat. I don’t like the cozying up to China. I think Xi’s pulling the rare minerals out from under the US military, certainly makes us a more vulnerable nation to Trump’s annexation threats. I find it difficult to believe that anyone believes there will be midterms. If a threat of .01% of fentanyl can be used to commence an economic war against Canada, does anyone actually believe Trump won’t manufacture a crisis that his regime says justifies delaying the election? Judith
Again, no evidence that Carney is perceived as a consummate trustworthy diplomat. This is just Canadians patting ourselves on the back again.
Nations have interests, and if Canada can advance their interests, deals will be made. From a foreign policy point of view, it is still beyond baffling Trudeau stance on natural gas to both Germany and Japan. notice how Carney is desperately trying to reverse this.
Canadians still have not realized that the biggest problem that Canada has is Canada. It isn’t Trump. He is certainly not helping our economy, but our economic difficulties are a result of suboptimal decisions we have made for decades.
No U.S. election has ever been delayed by any crisis, ever. Only Congress can change the dates of elections. The President can't. (Nor can the President dictate to or prorogue Congress the way our Prime Minster can dictate to or prorogue Parliament.) Not only do I believe there will be mid-terms, I will bet you $1000 that the American Congressional mid-terms will proceed as scheduled. That would be a sucker bet if you took it.
If the mid-terms didn't happen, the House of Representatives would cease to exist, as it does at every election. (Like the House of Commons, it gets reconstituted after each election.) The Executive would not be able to get a budget passed as there would be no House to pass one and it would not be able to operate. Two-thirds of the Senate would survive -- Senators get 6-year terms -- but the Senate has no taxation power by itself.
Would the U.S. go to war against Canada if we had supplies of some critical military resource controlled otherwise by Russia and China that we were unwilling to sell to the U.S.? Probably. Why wouldn't they? Wouldn't you? But they don't need to postpone elections to do that. Congress just declares war on Canada and waits for us to surrender. Then they send in their bulldozers and excavators to mine the rare earths or whatever it is they're after. Only Congress can declare war and only Congress can annex a foreign territory. The President can't do either of those things.
Thanks for clearing that up. I won’t take your bet. I’ll just continue to observe Trump blow past congressional norms while congress looks the other way.
Nothing stops Congress from reasserting its Congressional norms if it thinks President Trump is over-stepping his Executive authority. "Everyone says" the MAGA Republicans are in trouble for the mid-terms. If that's true, they should be willing to buck the President in order to rescue their hopes for re-election.
I'm not sure what to make of the current mess. I don't think the current PM was exactly forthright during the election campaign with the whole "elbows up" farrago. My suspicions now are that he knew his options were limited, but why tell the electorate that? It was one failure (among a few) that Mr Poilievre didn't press him on what he was going to do, and why it would work? Notwithstanding all of the problems we have had with China, can we really afford to alienate them? Unless we get some serious offers from President Trump to cut us some slack, we should drop the tariff on Chinese EV's and start selling them canola again. At this point we need to do something.
Donald Trump is an unusual president, but he is not a “tyrant”, an “imbecile”, “Mad King Donald” or any of those silly names most of our pundits insist on calling him. Reagan might be remembered fondly now, but I remember well the anti-Reagan and anti-Americanism of that time. He was treated in many of the same ways Trump is now. Other nations have found more mature ways to deal with an unusual, but very forceful president - who is every bit as consequential as was Reagan. I hope Canadians can achieve that maturity as well. Our kneejerk anti-Americanism is our worst feature.
Yes, Brian, it's funny to see Ronald Reagan being regarded with affection by Canadian Leftists and centrists. He was mocked and vilified almost continually by Canadians and U.S. Democrats during his two terms and he was widely regarded as being demented toward the end. Really demented, not just "an imbecile".
What President Trump is not is a tyrant. In office, he has scrupulously respected lower Court rulings and injunctions against his executive orders. He is vigorously appealing the decisions he thinks are incorrect, which he as President has every authority to do. He has not defied the Supreme Court at any step, which a tyrant would do . His conduct as a private citizen before his election was hardly exemplary yet considering the "many crimes" he was accused of, and assumed to be guilty of, only one charge actually stuck, in absurdly partisan New York, brought by an A/G and prosecutor who both campaigned for election on a promise to "get Trump." But in office, he has obeyed the law that limits his power to the letter, which is all anyone can ask of an office-holder. So no, he is not a tyrant. Based on what he's done, as opposed to his quirks of personality including his need to needle us, I think he's probably on the right track....for America.
I think Canadians need to remember that Americans elect their President. Foreigners don't. His policies aren't *supposed* to be warmly received by foreign countries including us. Some policies are intended to cause pain to other countries to get them to see things America's way. That's how power works. As you say, a kneejerk anti-Americanism doesn't carry any weight in Washington, or even in those states we think might secretly want to rebel against Trump if we suborned them aggressively enough.
Many Americans are annoyed -- really annoyed -- by Canada's smugness about free health care and DEI and native reconciliation and no stain of slavery (because our climate fortuitously didn't support plantations) that we look down our noses at them. They don't like that we have been hiding under their nuclear umbrella and not really doing anything at all for the common defence since the late 1950s. (The Arrow doesn't count!) Trump may have decided we are weak on that after all those decades and so he's going to kick us. Just how it is. Our undermining his scheme to get a cease-fire in Gaza by our recognizing Palestine as a state just as the discussions were reaching a peak must have pissed him off royally....the delay may have done him out of the Nobel Peace Prize (in his mind, anyway.)
Let's grow up. It's a harsh world out there. (And giving the country back to the aboriginals isn't gonna help!)
too simplistic; Trump is a narcissist imbecile
It's immature and naive to think there is a productive master plan behind all of this.
And today is what we have after18 months. Does anyone really think things will become better, more rationale after the midterms?
Your comment on Trump is simplistic.
Do you think the Democratic Party is going to reverse the efforts Trump is making to bring manufacturing jobs back to the United States? Seriously? No chance in hell that is going to happen. They are going to keep the same policies.
Biden was very similar to Trump with regards to Canada. He just wasn’t as bombastic but there weren’t that many differences on many fronts.
No they won't. The troubles we are having with the U.S. are due to the Executive, not the Legislative Branch. The President has a free hand on foreign policy, except that the Senate has to ratify any treaty negotiated by the President before it becomes law. The Supreme Court is going to rule soon as to whether the President can impose tariffs as executive privilege or whether, as a tax on Americans (importers) only Congress can impose, rescind, or modify them. (Note that Prime Minister Carney seems able to impose, rescind, or modify tariffs at will, without specific legislation from Parliament.) If the Supreme Court says only Congress can impose tariffs, then the President will have to cajole his Republican majority into passing a tariff law. If the GOP loses the House, then he strikes out if he hasn't got it passed by Election Day next year.
Otherwise it doesn't much matter who's in power in Congress. Any law the Dems might pass Trump can veto because they won't get a supermajority to over-ride it.
18 months?
Maybe it feels that way to some.
Although I agree about Canadians' "knee-jerk anti-americanism", blaming Canada or Canadians for the current state of relations with the u.s. is ridiculous. It's all down to Trump's 51st state idiocy. And I say this as someone who supports trump on many things.
I suggest that Trump’s comments about Canada being the “51st state” were actually directed at Trudeau. Trump despised Trudeau and considered him a fop and a backstabber. The fact that Canadians chose to reelect the same Liberals who had ruined the economy because of some casual trolling by Trump says (unfortunately) more about us than it does about Trump
It seems like casual trolling now but when he said it he said he would use “economic force” to make it happen. And though he’s toned down the 51st state rhetoric for the most part, he HAS applied significant economic force, which may get much worse once the USMCA treaty lapses next year. I think Canadians were wrong and stupid to re-elect the Liberals, but I certainly understand and share the anger and fear generated by Trump. An unnecessary own goal, in my opinion.
On the contrary, Mr. Glavin, I take the view that Premier Ford’s approach is indeed reckless, in dire need of ample moderation and refinement, one modeled by the diplomatic skills that Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has demonstrated time and again.
Of course, we do not yet know what's been going on behind those closed trade negotiation doors. What is holding us back from achieving what other western nations, including those European countries that our Prime Minister covets (despite having gotten nothing from them), had no problem quickly lining up after President Trump unleashed tariff hell on the world around him?
As we continue to navigate our way through this Trumpian turbulence (only three more years of that to go), we could use a lot more Dani, and a lot less Dougie. Éminence grise, that lady...
Most Canadians are woefully unaware of our trade situation w the US. Here's a video explainer and two letters to the Bank of Canada, two governors of which seem to think that 'elbows up' economic patriotism is working. Hard to believe they are in charge of Canada's central bank.... https://blog.friendsofscience.org/2025/10/21/elbows-up-or-down/
this needs much broader distribution. A lot here, but needs to be in smaller chunk to specific groups and for different purposes. But the evidence is clear. The Canada Post situation is a sad situation, costing us $M's, but Liberals and the unions are preserving it
Excellent Michelle.
Strengthening ties with China will over the long term be to our detriment. The CCP is a duplicitous entity devoted to controlling the world. Best to keep them at arms length and be firm in any trade deals we make with them. They have proven themselves in many ways and on many occasions to be interfering bullies.
Which coping strategy is the correct one?
There is none Terry. You can not have any strategy with someone who does not Honour the signature on documents that he signed. Documents that were signed previously by one Priminister and two Presidents in 1988. Once again documents signed on 2020 by one Priminister and Two Presidents.
Nothing is honoured, not worth the paper its written on.
So tell me what strategy can be used with an individual whose sole goal is to take over our nation.
If you will note Terry's article you will see that no tariffs have been applied on goods covered under the Free Trade Agreements now known as CUMSA. The President has continued to honour that agreement he signed, as have we. Funny behaviour for a tyrant.
What point did you not understand. NO agreement is good enough. The most recent in 2020. Did you not read that. Secondly, where did I say tyrant. Yiu said that, projecting much?
I think you have anger issues.
Cheers.
Good Night Irene
Very good article. Thank you.
Doug Ford's ad is a good example of "elbows up". Of course Trump didn't like it and hit back! Did anyone expect him to apologize, admit he was wrong, and cancel all the tariffs?
I have to explain to some of my American friends, who don't give a crap about hockey, what Elbows Up means. I tell them it's sort of like grabbing the opposing lineman's face mask in football when the referee's not looking. They reply, "But we get 15 yards for that if we get caught! Why would you want to advertise that you are going to play dirty with us?"
Because we're feeling like the passengers on United Flight 93.
Except that we aren't though, right? Our diplomats and trade envoys going to Washington and calling Trump and his officials murderous Al-Qaeda airplane hijackers is going to play *really* well.
Trump has justification for being upset with Canada over both our trade practices and in the under-handed and unfriendly tactics of Doug Ford and other Canadian leaders. The ad was an insult to Trump. His reaction or over-reaction to the ad, does not change the fact that what Ford did was antagonistic and not in the best interests of productive trade negotiations. The charitable analysis understands this, and does not lose sight of it, no matter how outlandish the things Trump does may be.
On the other side of the uncharitable Trump analysis concerning Ford’s Reagan ad blunder, is circulating the idea that Reagan was anti-tariff. Why is this idea believed? Because of Reagan’s rhetoric. You can find hundreds of clips of Reagan speaking about the dangers of high tariffs, or advocating for free trade. But the uncharitable analysis refuses to go beyond words. They ignore words that don’t support their argument, and act as if the words that do support their argument were the only ones spoken. Further, they act like words are the be all and end all, by not bothering to investigate the actions of those who speak the words, they pretend that word-speakers always do and intend exactly what they say. Reagan’s oratory contained lots of anti-tariff rhetoric, but his actions included lots of pro-tariff policy in an effort to deal with unfair trading partners.
https://wokewatchcanada.substack.com/p/mea-culpa-vs-trump-derangement-syndrome?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=515626&post_id=177189928&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=false&r=8t79b&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email
Those who remain under the spell of TDS, will not be rational or reasonable, and no one with half a brain, can take them seriously. Those affected with this virus, will look increasingly foolish as time goes on and Trump’s policies turn out not to be the disasters those with TDS dreamed they would be. There is a growing group of people, who shake their heads and roll their eyes which will grow and grow. Those who remain shrouded from truth will descend further into darkness and gloom and hate. It doesn’t have to be this way.
He is upset at the world. Of course you can find a reason to justify his anger.
Why he is upset.
Doug Ford waving a red flag to a bull wasn't the most brilliantly conceived strategy even he is capable of.
No matter how colour pure the red flag dye that he used.
I'm not convinced, either way. You can only slobber on the tyrant's slippers for so long. It has produced no benefit.
$75M?
Get serious
Have you seen the price of ground beef lately?
The problem is that all the partisan heckling is blinding everyone to the greater truth. There is never going to be a trade deal. What the United States wants is a version of mercantilism where they get unfettered access to our markets, but we only get selected access to theirs for things they need. That’s going to be the deal.
This is why they are proposing to reactivate the keystone pipeline. They get to buy our oil at a discount and sell it at world prices, and take the profit. That is going to be the model going forward.
We can never agree to such a deal but we can only deal with the new reality once the partisan bickering settles down.
That was Alexander Hamilton's approach, wasn't it?
Wouldn't we have to agree to such a deal if it's the only offer on the table? Can we manage to have no deal at all, and just live with whatever ad hoc tariffs and restrictions the mercantilist applies to us?
Of course if fee simple property title is subordinate to the invented (Delgamuukw, 1997) concept of aboriginal title, no one will invest to build anything here anyway, certainly not in BC where the seacoast is. Kinder Morgan must be laughing at us still.
People just cant seem to fathom that.
Wilson has another belief. https://youtu.be/-DwAvvo4MlY?si=dexZSQ8QIOst_PUs
I’m actually proud of Carney’s comment that the 1980’s were a different time. Indeed that was prior to “truthiness”, “alternative facts” and plain old bald lies. I’m also proud of Carney’s slider comment in the Oval Office that Trump knows as an expert Real estate guy that not all properties are not for sale, for example this one (the Oval Office), which is very blatantly for sale. I think he is recognized internationally as a consummate trustworthy diplomat. I don’t like the cozying up to China. I think Xi’s pulling the rare minerals out from under the US military, certainly makes us a more vulnerable nation to Trump’s annexation threats. I find it difficult to believe that anyone believes there will be midterms. If a threat of .01% of fentanyl can be used to commence an economic war against Canada, does anyone actually believe Trump won’t manufacture a crisis that his regime says justifies delaying the election? Judith
Again, no evidence that Carney is perceived as a consummate trustworthy diplomat. This is just Canadians patting ourselves on the back again.
Nations have interests, and if Canada can advance their interests, deals will be made. From a foreign policy point of view, it is still beyond baffling Trudeau stance on natural gas to both Germany and Japan. notice how Carney is desperately trying to reverse this.
Canadians still have not realized that the biggest problem that Canada has is Canada. It isn’t Trump. He is certainly not helping our economy, but our economic difficulties are a result of suboptimal decisions we have made for decades.
Baffling and the former Priminister go hand in hand. We wont go there ok?
No U.S. election has ever been delayed by any crisis, ever. Only Congress can change the dates of elections. The President can't. (Nor can the President dictate to or prorogue Congress the way our Prime Minster can dictate to or prorogue Parliament.) Not only do I believe there will be mid-terms, I will bet you $1000 that the American Congressional mid-terms will proceed as scheduled. That would be a sucker bet if you took it.
If the mid-terms didn't happen, the House of Representatives would cease to exist, as it does at every election. (Like the House of Commons, it gets reconstituted after each election.) The Executive would not be able to get a budget passed as there would be no House to pass one and it would not be able to operate. Two-thirds of the Senate would survive -- Senators get 6-year terms -- but the Senate has no taxation power by itself.
Would the U.S. go to war against Canada if we had supplies of some critical military resource controlled otherwise by Russia and China that we were unwilling to sell to the U.S.? Probably. Why wouldn't they? Wouldn't you? But they don't need to postpone elections to do that. Congress just declares war on Canada and waits for us to surrender. Then they send in their bulldozers and excavators to mine the rare earths or whatever it is they're after. Only Congress can declare war and only Congress can annex a foreign territory. The President can't do either of those things.
Thanks for clearing that up. I won’t take your bet. I’ll just continue to observe Trump blow past congressional norms while congress looks the other way.
Nothing stops Congress from reasserting its Congressional norms if it thinks President Trump is over-stepping his Executive authority. "Everyone says" the MAGA Republicans are in trouble for the mid-terms. If that's true, they should be willing to buck the President in order to rescue their hopes for re-election.
I’m constantly amazed at what people can convince themselves of.
I'm not sure what to make of the current mess. I don't think the current PM was exactly forthright during the election campaign with the whole "elbows up" farrago. My suspicions now are that he knew his options were limited, but why tell the electorate that? It was one failure (among a few) that Mr Poilievre didn't press him on what he was going to do, and why it would work? Notwithstanding all of the problems we have had with China, can we really afford to alienate them? Unless we get some serious offers from President Trump to cut us some slack, we should drop the tariff on Chinese EV's and start selling them canola again. At this point we need to do something.
Doesn’t a remember “Bedtime for Bonzo” ?