OT: Canadian visitor

Why should they? A major portion of their population already are here, legally and illegally, and can see him any time.

Because GWB broke with tradition and went to visit 'our brothers in Mexico' ?

That was a good one.

I did read that the new Pres plans to visit Mexico in the very near future.

Maybe Canada is #1 because he can speak the language? GWB could speak Spanish.

Either way I think it is a courtesy to visit our geographic neighbours on this continent...which is first is probably a matter of planning by his puppetmasters..

Who knows????

For years it was traditional that the President would make his first international visit to Canada. Bush was the first one to change that and visit Mexico first.

Until recently we were the US's largest trading partner, and an important ally (the latter we hopefully still are).

MargW

Marg,(hard G)

I am not trying to make an argument; I am English, but a naturalised American for 40 years.

I don't know the reasoning behind any of this. I suspect that what Canada considers a "tradition" may not be one this side of the border. Conversely Mexico is a country the USA needs on it's side...and Bush was advised to go there, and enhance the relationship he had as Governor of Texas.

Poor Obama really belongs nowhere.

Anyway you look at it, the President of the United States cannot be everything to everyone.

He/she wears two hats. One as the political head, and the other as the honorific head of a nation. Personally, I think this is too much! Relating to the UK, you roll the Prime Minister and Queen into one entity.

I chose to accept this country as my own, because of my children, husband and our military life.

However, I have learned that I can get a British passport anytime I choose.

I don't choose to do so, because this is the home of my kids, grandkids etc.,

MNaybe that is enough seriousness for tonight!

Had a great trip to my LNS new site today....everyone was on their knees, arranging stock. I couldn't believe the "matt" equipment she has.

I will order something really fancy one day@

Gillian

BTW, I am a Gill with g for giraffe! LOl

It was also traditional in the USA that the first overseas visit was to Ottawa. I can't understand why you are against him doing that, but I would like to say that if nip came to tuck who would you rather stood with you, Canada or Mexico ???

Well it was nice when he observed neighbourly duties and it is nice to see this president revert to being a neighbour.

Nobody suggested you shouldn't Gillian !

I don't either but mostly because it seems wasteful foolishness to pay for two passports ! I have discovered on landing at Heathrow I can take whichever line is shortest, and I go through anyway.

Hey Sheena,

Whoa there my good friend!

I wasn't against BO coming to Canada, far from it.. and you also know damn well where my heart lies.

You also know as well as I do that expediency comes first in the disgusting political charade these days....right or wrong in the political circus! I was just offering the "flip side" of the decision, and maybe at that time the tenuous tie with Mexico was more necessary than the strong tie to Canada.

Shoot...I speak Canadian better than Mexican ( even though I lived in Spain for a couple of years)!

Gill

It seems to be an American thing to soften the g to a j (not in your case, I know since Gillian is usually pronounced with the soft G). Not sure if it comes from the Simpsons or the old TV show "My Little Margie". Many of our US friends insist on calling me Marj. One, Gilbert, whose nickname was Gil (hard G) I cured by threatening to call him Gil (soft g). But, sometimes it's just more trouble than it's worth to correct them.

Marg(hard G)W

No, I see Obama reverting to what was considered a neighbourly thing and after eight years of an idiot, it gives us some hope. We were sick of being sidelined by Bush who couldn't even be bothered to thank us for extraordinary measures after 9/11.

Oh well here I am making a positive post about a president and STILL being s*it on for it !

When I was in school, we had three "gillian"s in my class of about 36 kids.

There was a Jillian, Gillian soft-G (me), and Gillian hard G. She was from Wales and said that was how her name was pronounced there.

None of us knew how come we were called that name. My mother said she didn't remember where she got the name from.....most likely a novel that was popular in the mid-30s.

Some years ago we spent a summer in Vermont, working at a campground, and the owner was Margie (hard G).

Gill

A frequent situation for both of us I think! LOL

Maybe some consideration of that having been after NAFTA, and relations with/within Mexico being less stable? Or he just felt like going to the warm weather in winter as opposed to some snowport?

Ellice

Margy/ie was/is the family knick-name for me. For years I was the only one I knew, till I went to College, and there was another Margie in my class.

MargW

My DH (born in Bedfordshire) likes to say that his mother tongue is English, he speaks Canadian, and he can make himself understood in American.

MargW