The Trouble with NAFTA:

"If a guy buys 85 per cent of our exports, and wants to call me Steve, that's OK with me."

-Paul Martin

Okay it was Stephen Harper, but we're not too far off, really. And that's the problem. We feel an incredible obligation to make nice with the American President, despite the fact that he doesn't control trade policy like the Canadian Prime Minister does. Steve should be tippling mimosa with Denny Hastert if he really wants to improve our export position. Not handing a lame duck cowboy a neato belt buckle. Not to say that bugs me.

If a couple of weary heads of government wanna be a little buddy buddy I don't particularly see the harm as long as they continue to do their jobs properly. I don't soft play my friends at the poker table, and I'm sure Steve doesn't back down at the negotiating table anymore than his inherent fear of an independent Canadian economy on its own drives him to do.