Warning: This is going to be a bit of a cheeky post. Read at your own risk!
Happy Presidents’ Day everyone (and Family Day to those in Canada)! On the radio the other day one of the VJs said that nothing celebrates Presidents’ Day like a good sell. Ever since the summer time, I’ve noticed a slight accent down here in the states that is occasionally endearing depending on the speaker and it’s common throughout a couple states I believe, or maybe just Utah. For example, when talking door-to-door sales a phrase often heard was, “And that’s how you get a sell!” For the longest time I thought that the grammar was way out to lunch before realizing that that is just how the speaker was pronouncing sale. It cracked me up! Any word like that is often turned to an “e.” On another accental note, we’ve also got a word like feel that turns into fill and the vowel provides an almost 2 syllabells sound. And there’s always the letter Z that no longer is a Zed, but a Zee in this country. It’s such a subtly distinct way of speaking and I was in no way expecting to find such a difference.
Back to the Presidents, I would first like to say that I don’t know much and I’m sure I hold a biased view, however I would like to state that I would not like to be a President of the USA especially since there doesn’t seem to be many Presidents that are loved. On the radio I also heard of a recent pole where 61% of those polled agreed that there should be a place to check on the ballot, “None of the Above.” Way to exercise the right to vote. I would hate to have been Hoover – what a bit of bad luck he had to be President during the Great Depression! How idolized are the founding fathers and JFK, but that’s about all that come to mind when I think of happily ruling presidents (who am I kidding, JFK and I believe a portion of the founding fathers were assassinated, so happiness?). Then again, like heck I would want to be Prime Minister of Canada, although we have had a string of … liberal idiots that unbalanced the books by $42 billion in no one’s favour (except maybe Quebec and let me tell you if it weren’t for the fact that we need that province to be apart of the country – for economical reasons – I’d be begging them to git although perhaps one day it’ll all even out since the Federal Government wouldn’t be dishing them money anymore). Things aren’t looking too shabby with Harper (a conservative) lowering GST to 6% and now to 5%. But then again that’s the end of my perspective on him since I feel so severed from my beloved country. Still, I feel as though Alberta is begging me to return to it’s glorious mountains and waving prairies!
If I am wrong in any way and need correction, please comment. Also feel free to let loose about your political pet peeves.
Mimi
18 Feb, 2008Oh we’re Beggin’, Baby, we’re Beggin’! The day you are Alberta Bound will be a VERY happy one!
One interesting thing that I have heard lately has been with regard to Obama becoming President. There are people who believe that if he does succeed that he will be assassinated. Just too much for some redneck to handle is the thinking.
I think he may well win. I worry for the US, though, because while charismatic, he lacks substance. He touts change, but does little to say HOW he will accomplish that change. Not that Hilary is much better. Of course some of that is the political game, too, ‘say just enough to get elected and not enough to offend ’ Still, both he and Clinton seem bent on massive spending that its hard to imagine the US economy can sustain right now.
For that reason alone, I was disappointed to see Mitt Romney drop out, like his policies or not, he was fiscally skilled, and would have been a good choice for a country that is spinning out of control financially .
Up here we have a provincial election in a couple of weeks. While satisfied with my PC MLA, Cindy Ady, who has served wonderfully, its hard to be as pleased with Premier Stelmach. And he is in the buy-votes-by-giving-lots-of-money mode right now, which is irresponsible as well as insulting to the voter- does he think anyone doesn’t know that it is a buy off?
On the other hand, I think most Albertans are loathe to vote Liberal and there’s nothing impressive there either (any Liberal readers, please enlighten if you feel differently) and NDP or GReen? You gotta be kidding! So we’ll probably end up with a conservative govt, but with a low voter turn out and a few less seats – hopefully enough to send the PC’s a message that the province wants more in a leader than we’re seeing thus far.