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Thursday, February 05, 2004

Q: You Are an American?
A: No, I'm a Canadian. That's Like an American, Only Without a Gun

Keeping in mind that the author is Nedra Pickler of the AP--who wrote some viciously slanted anti-Dean stories during the Iowa caucus campaign--this story about Dean's coming last stand in Wisconsin contains a couple of interesting bits. One, that Wesley Clark considered dropping out of the race this week after winning only Oklahoma, but his wife talked him into staying at it "against the advice of some backers." What's interesting there is that Mrs. Clark's reluctance was reportedly one reason why Clark got into the race so late in the first place. Two, that "Dean suggested 'it'll be more of the same' if Kerry replaces Bush in the White House." More of the same what isn't clear, but it's hard to imagine Dean could possibly mean the same sort of wholesale destruction Bush has been responsible for. Whatever it means, let's hope Dean himself is not going to start pushing the Kerry = Bush tripe some of his disappointed supporters are engaging in.

Recommended reading: From Canada's equivalent of Time magazine comes this wonderful cover. (The accompanying article is worthwhile, also.) Living on our border must be like sharing a bed with an elephant--no matter what you do, you will always know he's there, and he is always going to affect your comfort and impact your life. The Canadian viewpoint on the United States is especially worthwhile, I think, because we and they are so much alike, in terms of origin, geography, and culture, not to mention our long relationship as allies. But like European observers, Canadian observers have enough distance to pierce the fog that clouds Americans' thinking about our country. Their perspective on us is likely to be, in some ways, truer than our own.

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