Ok, it's official. Canada is also going to have a federal election in the fall. However, there isn't much of a choice and everyone knows it. This is even obvious in the Conservative slogan (I'm not making this up): We're better off with Harper. I must say I find it slightly...dismissive? Is that the word for it? When do we say "we're better off" in every day life? Well, we have two ways to go somewhere: "We're better off going this way because the other way has more potholes or traffic lights or is more congested this time of day, etc." It's almost saying "You don't really have a choice and we know it..." Why would Stephen Harper call an election? Well, he's hoping for majority government, of course. It must be mind bogglingly dull to write about the Canadian election this season. There really is no other choice. The other guy, Stefan Dion, is, well, nothing. He's a nothing. A wisp of smoke on the political scene. He couldn't challenge a five year old for a spot at the play dough table. It's the complete opposite of the US election. We're talking celebrities. Obama has rhetorical flair - he's not easily dismissed or put aside. McCain has a solid story rooting him in history. They are, like 'em or hate 'em, characters. I'd read books about either one of them. Now, we have the Canadian side. I can barely read the tiniest article about either Harper or Dion without needing a caffeine jolt of some kind. If Obama was in the same room as I was - I would strain to see him....perhaps try to shake his hand. If Dion was in the room, well, I wouldn't even know it. I could walk right up to a potential prime ministerial canidate and, squinting my eyes and tilting my head, I would ask, "Hey, I know you from somewhere....Where you ever a guest star on Star Trek?"
