Booman Tribune ~ A Progressive Community

Canadians Notice AWOL Dems

by asdf
Wed Sep 7th, 2005 at 11:46:33 PM EST

The lack of comment on the situation in New Orleans has begun to attract international attention. The Canadian CBC writes: "Democrat heavy-hitters have been about as visible as Vice-President Dick Cheney over the past week. There's been little word from Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, Joseph Biden or Al Gore, to name just a few of the party's biggest names."

Worse, they have a theory about what is happening with Bill Clinton: "Clinton, the party's most beloved and eloquent figure, has been enlisted by President George W. Bush to help in the aftermath - an appointment that has served to silence any criticism from him."

Where are they?

What do Canadians think should be the Democratic position?

"The howls of the Opposition parties in Canada would be deafening had Ottawa responded to a similar disaster like Bush and his Republican administration. The daily question period would put a Canadian leader's performance front and centre, and if the House of Commons wasn't in session, an opposition leader wouldn't hesitate to demand an immediate recall of Parliament."

"But there's no opposition leader in the United States..."

That just about says it all.

http://www.cbc.ca/cp/world/050907/w090778.html

Canadians Notice AWOL Dems | 6 comments (6 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Canadians Notice AWOL Dems (none / 1)

Not only is there not an opposition LEADER, but for all intents and purposes (Reps. Slaughter and Conyers excepted) there IS NO OPPOSITION. Period.

I want something else, to get me through this, semi-charmed kinda life..
Third Eye Blind

by brinnainne on Wed Sep 7th, 2005 at 11:51:22 PM EST

Re: Canadians Notice AWOL Dems (none / 0)

Don't forget the inimitable Ms. Boxer :)

But otherwise, fer sure. No opposition at all.

Really really sad.

And about to make me write another "Screw Clinton" diary... hmmm... good idea, thanks spider!

;)

by spiderleaf (spiderleaf at gmail dot com) on Thu Sep 8th, 2005 at 06:54:52 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Canadians Notice AWOL Dems (none / 0)

That's right. Our opposition members howl loudly and as long as they can. Have you ever watched Question Period? They come near blows sometimes and if they had access to food to throw...well...

I completely agree with that article and it echoes exactly what I've been saying this past week. Is it because I'm a Canadian so used to the blathering opposition? I don't know. What I do know, though, is that your Democratic leaders have failed you and that is totally unacceptable.

by catnip (llamg88 at hotmail.com) on Thu Sep 8th, 2005 at 12:06:36 AM EST

Question period (none / 1)

Hey catnip... When I first moved to Ottawa I went to a question period - sat in the gallery. It was a shock. I was appalled at their behaviour. And I'm pretty sure if there was food present it would have been flying!

Not that I'm saying "Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, Joseph Biden or Al Gore" should start lobbing tomatoes at anyone, but how come they never say anything? It's like they're scared to utter one word. And when they do say anything, it's so milquetoast, why bother...

parvum opus

by olivia on Thu Sep 8th, 2005 at 12:21:49 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Question period (none / 1)

I'd love to see Question Period live. I watch it most days - anyone can watch it online too when they're in session - it's entertaining.

At least they have the guts to yell at each other and ask the hard questions, even if they get the stock political type answers, they're out there doing their jobs. We may be "nice", but we're not always that quiet.

by catnip (llamg88 at hotmail.com) on Thu Sep 8th, 2005 at 12:40:38 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Canadians Notice AWOL Dems (none / 0)

I had some rather pointed arguments today at some large Democrat site when they started slamming on Nader and partially blaming him for this tragedy because he "helped get Gore elected" (even though Gore actually won).

I got right pissed when they said, "See, there's a difference between us and them!" Of course there are some differences, but you wouldn't know it from the rather tepid Dem responses so far (excepting the good doctor's comments today).

The point to me is that Nader (and many others including Alexander Cockburn at CounterPunch) are EXACTLY right in thier analysis of the US political system. It's completely broken. If it wasn't, this never should have happened.

Dems should have fought for FEMA and NOLA levee funding. Instead, they've been feeding at the same corporate trough as the Republicans.

You'd think some of the people over there at that other site might actually start to realize that the Repubs and Dems are both complicit (and not just on the local level).

Diary of a Traitor

by Planet B (planb247(a)yahoo) on Thu Sep 8th, 2005 at 12:57:40 AM EST

Canadians Notice AWOL Dems | 6 comments (6 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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