OK. Right up front I will say that I am just as happy as most Canadians that there is once again a Democrat in the White House and that said Democrat goes by the moniker “Barack Obama”.  ‘Tis a great time for a President who possesses the cult of personality that will be necessary to drag America and the world through the big financial mudhole that I like to call the “Holy crap! We’re screwed!” years.

Yup. He’s bright. He’s charismatic. He’s young (as in my age!). Wow. The Yanks got it right this time.

Better than the last guy, eh?

And he is coming to Bytown as his first foreign visit as the Commander-in-Chief. He will arrive tomorrow morning, travel to the Hill in his motorcade taking an undisclosed route (likely Colonel By). Then he will meet Stevo, shake hands with Iggy and then hop back into his end-of-the-world proof limo for a trip back to the airport using yet another undisclosed route. Then back to Air Force One and home in time to tuck in the kids.

Ottawa is positively a-twitter over Mr. President’s whistle stop here. Folks are planning their days around heading to the Hill in order to maybe, just maybe, get a glance of the Chosen One. CBC Radio Ottawa is positively gushing. Birds are singing. And all are certain that the skies will clear and spring will arrive early as B.O. steps onto mayorlarry’s realm!

Even my Resident Love Goddess – normally a measured and fairly sane individual – is acting like one of those big-haired teenagers from a Loverboy video!

Amen! Hallelujah! He has come!!!!!

OK folks. Let’s all take a deep breath. This is REALLY NOT SUCH A BIG DEAL.

There, I said it. Let the flaming comments start.

But really, he is the President of a foreign country. And he is visiting our PM for a short meeting and a working lunch. No speech to Parliament. No public address. No walking through the throngs of screaming fans. Nada.

The cops are saying that the BEST anyone of the Hill tomorrow can hope for is a glimpse of the back of the guy’s head. That’s it. That’s all.

All I’m saying is that we Canucks are so desperate for dynamic and charismatic leadership – being that there exists no such beast in our current inventory of political rascals – that we grasp onto a foreign leader as a proxy. Kinda shameful, really, all of this fawning and drooling.

All that being said, I do welcome Mr. Obama to the Great White North and I hope that his leadership and his vision lives up to the advance billing.

Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario