[westmanguy]

Let me say this:

I realize all the polls show overwhelmingly Canadians want a the Democratic nominee to become the next President of the United States. Polls also show among Conservative Party of Canada supporters and Albertans, the Democrats are favoured.

Well this is misguided and very very shortsighted thinkings.

Yes, I will agree, even to our Canadian Conservative standards, the Republican Party of the United States of America is too right wing, and too socially conservative. And yes Bush has made many mistakes and done some very stupid things over the last 8 years.

Yadda, yadda, yadda.

But Canadians have the problem that they view the election as if they were American citizens. We are not American citizens, and we have to view this election as Canadian citizens, and whats best for Canada, (not Americans - sorry American forum members).

Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are stepping up the heat on anti-NAFTA remarks (either re-negotiate or withdraw) in the Ohio primary.

The North American Free Trade Agreement (N.A.F.T.A.) has been good for Canada, and it would be disasterous to have the United States pull out of it or renegotiate it to protectionist Democratic Party ideology. This isn't just a Canadian Conservative viewpoint either:

CTV News CTV News:

Liberal MP and finance critic John McCallum told Canada AM that the U.S. pulling out of NAFTA "would be a disaster for Canada."

.

Please lets not get this into a free trade/protectionist (tariff) debate on N.A.F.T.A. We can already assume N.A.F.T.A. is "good" for Canada and liked by Canadians considering even the Liberals don't want it to be touched from its present form, and that Canadians re-elected a 2nd Mulroney P.C. Majority in '88 giving popular consent to go ahead with that.

So as a Canadians the biggest issue in the U.S. election for us, is what they plan to do on their economy/trading relationships. Because what the U.S. does regarding economic and trade policy, greatly affects us.

The Democrats are protectionists and want to overhaul N.A.F.T.A. Now whatever you think of the Republicans they support free trade, and free market economics which is good for Canada.

Which in conclusion, is why I think Canadians should get their heads out of the sand, bite the bullet, and realize for Canadians its best to have a Republican President and/or Congress.

[fire_i]

World above Canada, and honestly - the entire freaking world would be way better off with a Democrat, especially Obama. Just imagine a muslim being told our buddy Barack is the new president of the USA - that's the face of the enemy? Well damn - this will sound like bullshit, but it puts things in perspective.

I'm fairly certain a Democrat president would lead to some violence settling down somewhat over some parts of the world. I'm ready to risk NAFTA for that (anyway it's not like it will be canceled or something if the Dems win - it's a possibility, not a certainty).

[xerxes]

That's just one issue (albeit a major one). I also look at it in terms of not just what's good for Canada, but what's good for the world at large as well. Like it or lump it, the US is still the top dog in many ways and the world doesn't need 4 more years of a Bush wanna-be in John McCain.

[Knoss]

More specific we should be rooting for John Mc Cain. The Democrats are socialists, we see it in both Obama and Clinton.

$1:

the entire freaking world would be way better off with a Democrat, especially Obama.

OBAMA SUPPORTS TARRIFS !!!!

$1:

Just imagine a muslim being told our buddy Barack is the new president of the USA - that's the face of the enemy? Well damn - this will sound like bullshit, but it puts things in perspective

I agree, if only there was a muslim running. Of cousrse regardless of religion they hve to support free trade (if not NAFTA a viable alternative), good health policy (science based), and represents democratic values.

The Republican are in many ways a parrty of two houses. The Classical Liberals and the Social Conservatives. John McCian is a Liberal, Mike Huckabee is a Social Conservative, that is why Canada should be rooting for McCain.

[sandorski]

No one is better off with a Republican in power in the US. Basically the Dems are not suggesting a withdrawal from NAFTA, but a renegotiation of it. More specifically, a renegotiation concerning Labour and Environmental Regulations. This would likely help Canada, but hurt Mexico(although for them it would be short-term pain for long term gain).

So no, I will not change my opinion concerning Dems/Reps. The Reps sucked and deserve the fate the PCs/Socreds met during the 90's. That is, near utter destruction from which they can rebuild anew leaving the crap behind. Dems are generally not much better, but the Reps decided to plumb the extreme depths of stupidity and succeeded in achieving legendary levels of suckage. Let them choke on it.

[fire_i]

I'd agree McCain wouldn't be all that bad for Canada. I myself am not really disturbed by economic conservatism - what really pissed me with the Bush administration, other than how it handled the wars and how it bloated the debt to the point where it could be dangerous to the economy of the entire world within a window of maybe 20 years, is its idealogy on social issues. I'm just very touchy on that aspect in general.

All and all, McCain wouldn't be all that bad, unless he panders to his base and changes quite a bit.

Still, I'd much rather see a Democrat, though Clinton kind of annoys me slightly. The two main candidates support tariffs, yes, but I'm not too anxious about it.

[Knoss]

The biggest thing the Replicans hve been criticized on is the war and perhaps thoungs could have been run better in 2004-05 but there has been little violence in 2007 and now there is talk of transition from Combat to peacekeeping.

[Knoss]

$1:

All and all, McCain wouldn't be all that bad, unless he panders to his base and changes quite a bit.

True, of course the Arizona Senator he suceeds is, in my oppionon the model of the ideal Republican.

[sandorski]

I agree, McCain seems to be a very good guy and I wish he'd have beaten out Bush in 2k, but alas. Even Huckabee, despite some bizarre positions influenced by Religion, also seems to be a very good guy. However, like my previous post suggests, the Republican Party needs the Stupid bitch slapped right out of it. To elect a Rep President right now is to reward folly.

[westmanguy]

Can you imagine the headlines in Europe and such when McCain wins?

McCain has the principle and conviction to move America forward.

He also has the honourable compromise to work with the Democrats to do whats right for the country, not the party.

He has proven time and time again that he has impeccable character (don`t make me go retelling his P.O.W. story...) and has worked with Democrats countless times to get results for Americans.

A republican yes, but a moderate who will do whats right.

[MacDonaill]

westmanguy westmanguy:

Yes, I will agree, even to our Canadian Conservative standards, the Republican Party of the United States of America is too right wing, and too socially conservative. And yes Bush has made many mistakes and done some very stupid things over the last 8 years.

But Canadians have the problem that they view the election as if they were American citizens. We are not American citizens, and we have to view this election as Canadian citizens, and whats best for Canada, (not Americans - sorry American forum members).

I just want to begin by saying that I appreciate these two paragraphs of your posts and agree with them 100%.

However, I think that it is time that all three countries take another look at NAFTA, recapitulate, and see how the agreement can be tweaked to better serve and protect each country's economy, while at the same time not posing any threat to any of the countries' sovereignty.

[Johnny_Utah]

Obama is The Islamic Manchurian Candidate..

[xerxes]

westmanguy westmanguy:

Can you imagine the headlines in Europe and such when McCain wins?

McCain has the principle and conviction to move America forward.

He also has the honourable compromise to work with the Democrats to do whats right for the country, not the party.

He has proven time and time again that he has impeccable character (don`t make me go retelling his P.O.W. story...) and has worked with Democrats countless times to get results for Americans.

A republican yes, but a moderate who will do whats right.

I'd say he used to have those traits. But he's sold out in the last few years.

[ryan29]

an odd question , not sure how much it matters what we think up here . as we can't vote in that election anyways . but i agree for the USA to pull out of NAFTA would be a disaster for the canadian economy . and the main 2 democrat nominees have made a very stuiped decision to introduce such a policy idea .

[fire_i]

Careful - there's a world of difference between pulling out entirely and renegotiating the deal. Either way is bad for us, but the latter is a much lesser risk, and that's what would happen.