The most relevant politician

 Posted by on 21 January 2009  Modern Life
Jan 212009
 

Posted without with little comment, a side-by-side comparison of the Brandon Sun front pages after Canada re-elects Harper (left) and America gets a new president (right).

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051108Obviously, there are differences in that Obama is a new guy, and Harper was the old guy, just re-elected. There’s also the pomp and circumstance surrounding the inauguration, which Canada just doesn’t have, and the fact that Obama is breaking a racial barrier. All of which makes it newsier than it might otherwise be.

For the record, after the American election in November, the Sun gave Obama slightly more than half the front page (the top half) but didn’t do the full-bleed photo treatment. I’m sure we would have if my boss had thought of it.

It just drives home the point that US government (like US entertainment and US sports) is becoming more and more prevalent and relevant in Canada — threatening to overwhelm our home-grown stuff. Harper’s subsumation to Bush in matters of foreign affairs didn’t exactly help, neither.

Grant Hamilton

  • http://www.absurdintellectual.com/ Amy Breen

    It’s doesn’t help Harper’s situation that he’s a complete doofus.

    But I see your point. It’s a little disarming that we as Canadians focus so much more on American politics (and sports, and entertainment), but I think it just stems from the fact that we don’t feel we matter, on a grander scale.

  • Colin Corneau

    What does Harper allying himself with The Worst President In American History have to do with American culture becoming more prevalent..?

  • http://www.absurdintellectual.com/ Grant Hamilton

    I just meant that the more we follow the American lead on things, the less we lose the little idiosyncrasies that make us Canadian. One well-worn example: we used to be a nation proud of being peacekeepers, not warmongers — and other nations knew that, and trusted us that way. Not so much any longer, I don’t think.

  • Colin Corneau

    I agree that Harpo’s machinations can only compromise our (perceived) integrity overseas.

    But I think a greater threat to our national character comes from clichéd, hackneyed appeals to national character. What set me off was this inane “Obama’s Playlist” scheme on CBC. First of all, check where the 49th parallel is — most of us are south of it!
    And second of all, can you think of something that makes us, as a country, seem wheedling and insignificant more than this peurile idea?
    It makes Canadians, as a whole, seem like some marginal loser in high school desperate to get the cool kids’ attention.

    I never worry about politics much, since they come and go and – let’s face it – our brand of it is pointless at best. People generally are far ahead of their elected representatives.