Some great suggestions there.....thanx for the posting...... In a message dated 6/2/2016 2:54:36 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [email protected] writes:
Conservatives have no Canada. Which is to say, they have no mythical land of ideological soul mates to which they can flee to nurse their wounds and commiserate over lost elections and flunked initiatives. Part of the reason for this may be temperamental: Even staring into the maw of an _Obama-friendly electoral map_ (http://www.slate.com/id/2195956/) , Republicans' first instinct is not to threaten expatriation. (The McCain-Palin slogan, after all, is "_country first_ (http://www.johnmccain.com/) .") They have no backup plan for when the country they live in becomes politically unrecognizable. Maybe they need one. (https://s3.amazonaws.com/gm-privacy/privacy.html) They needn't bother too much with the details—not even Canada is _the paradise liberals imagine_ (http://www.slate.com/id/2109300/) , and the logistics of moving there are _not so simple_ (http://www.slate.com/id/2109135/) . And abandoning America might be anathema to any red-blooded Republican. But everyone needs a Plan B, even if they have no intention of carrying it out —just in case, say, Barack Obama appoints Michael Moore to the Supreme Court (the _way President Gore did_ (http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/politics/video/play.shtml?mea=229115) ). With that in mind, let's consider a few candidates for the conservative's Canada. Israel Like Canada, Israel won't feel too foreign to homesick Americans; they'll have plenty of countrymen nearby. The _close American ally_ (http://online.wsj.com/public/article_print/SB121011902390872015.html) is the fifth-most-popular home base for American expats in the world, according to slightly dated _State Department estimates_ (http://www.aaro.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=34&Itemid=46) . (The Census Bureau is _bad at tallying Americans abroad_ (http://thehill.com/the-executive/census-bureau-finds-it-cant-count-americans-abroad-2006-03-30.html) , but Republicans Abroad _estimates_ (http://www.republicansabroad.org.il/) that there are now 250,000 U.S. citizens in Israel, about half of whom are eligible to vote.) Kory Bardash, the chairman of Republicans Abroad in Israel, argues that Americans in Israel, who are largely Jewish, are not nearly as stridently supportive of Obama as their domestic counterparts. Bardash describes American voters in Israel as "Joe Lieberman Democrats" who might have backed Bill Clinton but who don't connect with Obama's domestic message and are more persuaded by charges that he lacks experience in foreign affairs. (Hillary Clinton _won a majority of the Israel vote_ (http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/957391.html) in the Democrats Abroad primary.) Israel's political leanings are difficult to fact-check, but it's safe to say that U.S. Republicans seeking refuge in Israel won't have too much difficulty finding kindred spirits. Overall, Israelis are described as _ambivalent to George W. Bush_ (http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-israel8jan08,1,5808947.story?col l=la-headlines-world) , which feels welcoming compared with the _global dislike of the president_ (http://pewglobal.org/reports/display.php?PageID=825) . A _2007 Pew Research Center_ (http://pewglobal.org/reports/display.php?ReportID=256) poll found that Israel has one of the highest favorability ratings for the United States. And it has something for the many varieties of conservative species: a capitalist economy, strong aversion to Islamofacism, unbeatable biblical history, and a strong defense. Poland Poland was a stalwart member of the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq for five and a half years, _bringing its operations in the country to a close_ (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/05/world/middleeast/05iraq.html?partner=rssnyt&emc= rss) just last week only to_increase its presence_ (http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20081004-1112-ml-iraq-poland.html) in Afghanistan. Like Israel, the country's citizens have a_favorable opinion_ (http://pewglobal.org/reports/display.php?ReportID=260) of the United States. The United States recently struck a deal with Poland to _place anti-missile interceptors_ (http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0816/p99s01-duts.html) there. The country is highly literate and has an _influential pro-business faction_ (http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/23/europe/EU-POL-Poland-Election-Final-Results.p hp) in its parliament. If Israel is the destination for conservatives primarily concerned with the threat of Islamic terrorism, Poland is the logical choice for the anti-Communists chiefly concerned with new Cold War tremors. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Poland has been a poster child for a rebuilt democracy. Its GDP grew _6.5 percent_ (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/pl.html) in 2007, though the annual inflation rate was more than 4 percent. It's a religiously devout (and overwhelmingly Catholic) country, a NATO ally, and a likely strategic partner for years to come. The Cayman Islands Fleeing for the Cayman Islands is a bit of a retreat to the womb for despondent Americans; the three tiny Caribbean islands are a British territory still highly dependent on the crown. This is the destination for wealthy, free-market conservatives looking to wait out Democratic reign in Washington. Because there is no direct taxation, the islands are a hub for offshore banking and other financial services. A few more Americans on the island wouldn't feel conspicuous: The permanent population is _naturally diverse_ (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cj.html) , including a 20 percent expatriate population. Rich Republicans who can afford the move won't feel far from home while waiting out the Obama administration. Runners-up My former colleague Michael Barone points out that for those who prioritize gun ownership rights, _Switzerland is the place to be_ (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1566715.stm) , while Singapore and Hong Kong have very market-friendly economies. (Like everyone I talked to, Barone emphasized that he didn't think conservatives would ever seriously consider leaving the United States.) Others suggested that Germany, under the leadership of Angela Merkel, might start looking more attractive to conservatives if the United States continues its leftward trend. And, of course, the one place conservatives could feel comfortable over the next four years is Alaska, home to their favorite governor. Unfortunately, it happens to be part of the United States. There's an easy way to test these options in the field. Look in the mirror and repeat the following phrase: "Screw this! I'm moving to [insert country here]." If you like the sound of it, you just may like the reality of it. Or maybe just saying it will be enough. Have your own suggestion of where to move? _Send it here_ (mailto:[email protected]) . Update, Oct. 13, 2008: Readers have proposed a variety of alternate locations where errant conservatives can find refuge. Here's a few of their top recommendations. Ireland Several readers make a case for Ireland. Abortion is _mostly illegal_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion_in_Ireland) in the country. The political parties are center-right, and the country's _corporate tax of 12.5 percent_ (http://www.idaireland.com/home/index.aspx?id=659) is extremely friendly to industry, including _Microsoft_ (http://www.idaireland.com/home/case_study.aspx?id=315&content_id=16) and _Intel_ (http://www.idaireland.com/home/case_study.aspx?id=244&content_id=13) . Native Irishman Marc Bruton says: "As an Irishman living in the U.S. for 12 years (who is currently horrified by McCain/Palin), I have to say there is nowhere more America-like than the country of my birth. They'd love it. … And it has some great golf courses!" The country is largely religious, and English is the second of two official languages. And they have a history of welcoming Republicans. "You can't get too hung up on the JFK connection," advises Paul Sheridan. "Reagan got as big a welcome when he visited in the '80s." Australia Australia's devotion to laissez-faire economics makes it an attractive target for free-market conservatives, and the fact that they speak English will be attractive to anyone who finds Polish too difficult to pick up. (Several Polish readers wrote in to point out that this will be a major hurdle for Americans.) The conservative Heritage Foundation ranks Australia at No. 4 on its _economic freedom index_ (http://www.heritage.org/research/features/index/topten.cfm) , following Hong Kong, Singapore, and Ireland. (The United States is No. 5.) The open spaces will attract conservatives sick of claustrophobic urban politics. "It has a Wild West mythos analogous to that of the U.S., but unlike our own West, where states like Colorado are becoming increasingly urban and Democratic, the Outback remains sparsely settled and free of large cities," writes Philip, who wanted only his first named printed. "Australia is also the native land of Rupert Murdoch and Mel Gibson." Several others, including newly uncloseted _Obama supporter_ (http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2008-10-10/the-conservative-case-for-obama ) Christopher Buckley, suggested New Zealand as well. ("Fun fact," writes Rob Killion. "New Zealand is probably Australia's Canada.") >From the mailbag: In mavericklike defiance of the fact that Alaska is, as noted, still part of the United States, many readers suggested that disaffected conservatives retreat with Sarah and Todd Palin back to their home state. Estonia won a few nods for its anti-Communist bona fides. Nigeria garnered a surprising number of votes as well from readers who thought libertarian-minded Republicans would benefit from the African nation's lawlessness and penchant for piracy. One suspects these readers were not overly concerned with the welfare of said conservatives. On Thursday, June 2, 2016 at 4:42:08 PM UTC-5, Bill wrote: .....well written and very witty! I wonder why all the libs want to go to Canada and not one of them ever seems to choose Mexico.......a puzzlement..... Fear of Trump is driving a liberal exodus to Canada The flood of Trump-fearing American liberals sneaking across the border into Canada has intensified in the past week, sparking calls for increased patrols to stop the illegal immigration. The Republican Presidential primary campaign is prompting an exodus among left-leaning citizens who fear they'll soon be required to hunt, pray, and live according to conservative ideas about the Constitution. Canadian border farmers say it's not uncommon to see dozens of sociology professors, global warming activists, and "green" energy proponents crossing their fields at night. "I went out to milk the cows the other day, and there was a Hollywood producer huddled in the barn," said southern Manitoba farmer Red Greenfield, whose acreage borders North Dakota. "He was cold, exhausted and hungry. He asked me if I could spare a latte and some free-range chicken. When I said I didn't have any, he left before I even got a chance to show him my screenplay, eh?" In an effort to stop the illegal aliens, Greenfield erected higher fences, but the liberals scaled them. He then installed loudspeakers that blared Rush Limbaugh across the fields, but they just keep coming. Officials are particularly concerned about smugglers who meet liberals near the Canadian border, pack them into electric cars and drive them across the border where they are simply left to fend for themselves after the battery dies. "A lot of these people are not prepared for our rugged weather," an Ontario border patrolman said. "I found one carload without a single bottle of Perrier drinking water. They did have a nice little Napa Valley cabernet, though, and some kale chips." When liberals are caught, they're sent back across the border, often wailing loudly that they fear assassination by Trump’s high-hair brown shirts. Rumors have been circulating about plans to build re-education camps where liberals will be forced to drink domestic beer and study the Constitution. In recent days, liberals have turned to ingenious ways of crossing the border. Some have been disguised as senior citizens on a bus trip to buy cheap Canadian prescription drugs. After catching a half- dozen young vegans in blue-hair wig disguises, Canadian immigration authorities began stopping buses and quizzing the supposed senior citizens about Perry Como and Rosemary Clooney to prove they were alive in the '50s. "If they can't identify the accordion player on The Lawrence Welk Show, we become very suspicious about their age," an official said. Canadian citizens have complained that these undocumented immigrants are creating an organic-broccoli shortage, buying up all the Barbara Streisand c.d.'s, and renting all the Michael Moore movies. "I really feel sorry for American liberals, but the Canadian economy just can't support them," an Ottawa resident said. "I mean--how many Art-History Majors does one country need?" Sympathizers argue that the illegals may be able to do jobs that Canadians appear unwilling to do—like fix potholes in the streets of our major cities or play hockey for the Toronto Maple Leafs.” ____________________________________ -- -- Thanks for participating in the Google Group, Historical Pictorial, which is the premiere men's forum on the web; focusing on historical media, and discussions of contemporary issues as well as our chronicled past! 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