Entire Canadian Parliament chant 4 more years after Obama address (VIDEO)

[egbertowillies]

Obama gave a speech at the Canadian Parliament. The entire Parliament broke out chanting 4 more years.

[chillfactor]

1. what a marvelous president Obama has been....

for our country...I am in tears to think he will be gone soon....

[BlancheSplanchnik]

44. First post is my favorite.

Because that's what I would've said.

[forgotmylogin]

46. I'm hoping he'll still have our backs.

Perhaps Hillary will appoint him to Scalia's seat.

[trc]

47. This

There is precedent

[lpbk2713]

2. Point well made.

If only it could be.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

3. he's been an amazing president.

[yeoman6987]

4. Problem is president Obama is constitutionally ineligible to do this

I won't bash the Canadians since I don't have a good knowledge of their laws either. I wonder when they find out they will be embarrassed.

[Hekate]

7. It was an expression of friendship and admiration, not a call for a vote. Not embarrassing at all.

[yeoman6987]

11. There's other ways to show it. Many other ways in fact.

I think they did it because they thought he could run again. Again I don't fault them for ignorance. I have very little idea about their government.

[Jim Lane]

15. They knew he couldn't run again. They meant that MICHELLE should run. (n/t)

[yeoman6987]

17. No. We cannot continue to have spouses as our only choices for president

Hillary worked but Americans won't put up with that forever.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

19. No. Canadians know ten times as much about US as Americans know about Canada.

US cultural imperialism dominates Canadian media, so there are regulations to protect Canadian content. Thus Canada has a thriving music scene.

Canadian news hears about the US election most nights. Most US residents are rarely informed about Canadian politics by US media, since the USA tends to be arrogant and inward-looking. If there were not adults like Obama and (with a touch of luck and GOTV) Hillary Clinton in charge, then Canada-US relations would be badly damaged much like if an elephant blundered around a tiger trapped in a cage with it.

Remember that the USA has a population ten times the size of Canada and an economy at least ten times larger.

But also remember that the USA is only as strong as it is because it has a very friendly polite neighbor and stalwart ally to trade with and be its largest trading partner. Not only that, but the trade relationship is the world's largest.

The Members of Parliament chanted that as the friendliest of jokes because they are also aware that the right wing in the USA has been fomenting lots of conspiracy theories that Obama is a "homosexual marxist Kenyan dictator" who will stage a coup to over-turn the US election system term limit and rule for a third and fourth term as a dictator.

[inanna]

33. I truly admire YOUR knowlege

of Canada.

Thanks.

P.S. We have an incredible music scene!

[jzola]

45. That is absolutely true!

All you have to do is travel in Canada to find that out.

[sheshe2]

25. You are calling the Canadian Parliament ignorant?

I am sure they do know American laws. Probably better than some Americans.

Some of my family ancestors hail from Canada.

[brush]

29. Those are not uninformed people. They know he can't run again. It's was tribute to him.

[Adrahil]

39. I agree. It was a tongue-in-cheek appreciation for PBO.

I'd vote for him again if I could, but I, and the Canadians know better. They did cheer the heck outta HRC too, though.

[laundry_queen]

9. Um, they know the rules

The vast majority of ordinary Canadians are very well versed on American politics, I dare say all of parliament is. It was a gesture of admiration, nothing more. Lord.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

12. No term limits, but also no fixed terms. Governments can fall at any time, so no Nixons either.

Justin Trudeau's father Pierre Trudeau was prime minister for 15 years, 164 days, winning four elections (3 majority and 1 minority). He served 1968–1979 and 1980–1984.

If a government loses a "vote of confidence" in the House of Commons, then either the opposition will be given a chance to form a government (possibly a coalition) or an election will be called. The latter is almost always the case.

Regardless, there must be an election no longer than 5 years after the last one. Election campaigns are short. The longest one in modern times was 11 weeks and campaigns of 6 weeks are more typical.

If a minority government cannot convince enough opposition Members of Parliament to support them, for example for a budget vote, then the opposition has the right to call for a vote of confidence which the government will lose.

This tends to make for cooperative governance, unless a party wins a clear majority of seats. Even then an autocratic prime minister can be voted out mid-term by their own party or members might even join the opposition in a vote of "no confidence" to bring down the government and force an election.

[yeoman6987]

16. Holy cow. That would make politician make right decisions

I kinda like this system of always being on your toes or else.

[Hekate]

20. Our Founders had a choice of a Parliamentary system (Canada, Britain) and they chose Republic....

Interestingly enough, a lot of Americans have no idea how either one really works, but they treat our midterm elections as though they are referendums (like a parliamentary system) which they aren't. So we end up with a Democratic president trying like hell to get a GOP House to co-operate with the platform he was elected to enact.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

22. ... Gerrymandered House. Canadian districts are set by independent commissions

The USA can't do the same?

Redistribution of Federal Electoral Districts

The Constitution of Canada requires that federal electoral districts be reviewed after each decennial (10-year) census to reflect changes and movements in Canada's population. The federal redistribution process began in February 2012. A representation order describing and naming Canada's future electoral districts was completed in October 2013. The new electoral districts will be applied in the first general election called after May 1, 2014.

The process was led by independent commissions working separately in each province to establish electoral boundaries.

[white_wolf]

27. I've often wondered why they choose a presidential system.

I'm not sure Republic is accurate. Doesn't that term simply mean any nation without a monarch? I could be wrong there though. Regardless, I do wonder if there are any books or articles that go into detail as to why the founders of this country choose to create a whole new system as opposed to modifying the Parliamentary system.

[Hekate]

32. IIRC, a woman approached Ben Franklin as he emerged from crucial Constitution negotiations...

This is not exact, but as I recall the story she asked him, "Sir, what have you achieved?" to which he replied, "A republic, madam, if you can keep it."

[TrollBuster9090]

24. There's usually not much of a chance of the government falling to a vote of non-confidence unless

unless it's a minority government, and they've had to form a coalition with a smaller party. The smaller party then has the government over a barrel, and can force them to do a lot of things. That's what happened in 1963-65 when the Liberals (center-left) had to form a coalition with the NDP (far-left), and the NDP forced the Liberal government to bring in a universal, single-payer healthcare system, and a national pension program. That's also the beauty of having more than two political parties.

But, in my opinion, the best thing happening in Canadian politics today is that Justin Trudeau's Liberals are trying to change the way people vote in elections. Moving from a 'first past the post' system to a transferrable ballot. For years, the Conservatives benefited from the first past the post system, where there was only one conservative party (the Conservatives) and two liberal parties (NDP and Liberal), and the two left wing parties always split the vote, letting the conservatives win. With the transferrable ballot, where you have more than two political parties on the ballot, you rank them in order of your preference. If none of the parties get more than 50% of the vote, they drop the lowest party, and re-assign the votes that they got to their supporters' second choice.

I think that's a more healthy way to do it. As things are now, people are afraid to vote for 'fringe' parties and 'fringe' candidates because they're afraid of splitting the vote, and letting in a party they definitely don't want. With the transferrable ballot, you get the best of both worlds. I think it'll lead to a more civilized, less partisan election process.

[King_David]

18. That's just silly,

Canadians are very worldly, unlike most of US.

[LuvLoogie]

30. Of course they know he can't run. The Canadian Parliament isn't full of Palins and Goemerts.

It was a rousing farewell and affirmation of his presidency.

[Orrex]

37. Really? When did this happen?

[trumad]

38. Uhh...

You really think Canadians are that dumb.

It's an expression of support and admiration. Hell I yell 4 more years...

[Renew Deal]

42. I'm pretty sure they already knew that

[Hekate]

5. Awwww

[sheshe2]

28. He said.

Merci Beaucoup~ okay, a tear here.

Loves him.

[montana_hazeleyes]

6. I LOVE him!

And this is making me smile and feel so proud of him.

[Melurkyoulongtime]

8. Oh if only

it could legally be done!

[laundry_queen]

10. If only

I'd love to see it if only to see more of the blossoming friendship between our PM and Obama It's so nice to be such good friends again!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

13. It has GOT to drive Republicans nuts to think of Obama as an "elder statesman"....

Especially after seeing how long Jimmy Carter has lasted.

[LuvLoogie]

31. I cannot think of one Republican that has anywhere near the grace, poise and sobriety of Barack.

[sofa king]

14. I love you too, Canada!

If Trump wins can I sleep on your couch for like the next fifty years?

[KT2000]

21. Oh - that is wonderful!

Wish this country had shown the appreciation he deserves. Four more years!!

[sheshe2]

26. Sad isn't it, KT?

Loved and respected around much of the world, yet disrespected and vilified by some in his own.

Oh Canada. I love you.

[LittleGirl]

23. Isn't it great

to have a President that is admired around the world? Well, most of it.

Now that drumpf has shown his ass to the world, everyone knows what we need to do. Do we? I hope so.
edit; typo

[IcyPeas]

34. Maybe he can become Prime Minister in the U.K.?

I hear the position is opening up soon.

[underpants]

35. I think all posts on this thread also have to be duplicated in French

[BlancheSplanchnik]

43. Je pense que tous les messages sur sont sujet doit être dupliqué...

en Français.

Ok, I needed a little help from the English to French dictionary....

[treestar]

36. How nice!

[Mr.Bill]

41. "Four More Years!"

Said no foreign government ever about George W. Bush.

[Yavin4]

49. Well, he did get free shoes in Iraq. n/t

[Yavin4]

48. They went to far when they started yelling, "The King of the North!"

that was a little much.

[3catwoman3]

50. How that must have...

...warmed his heart. It certainly warmed mine.

[raven mad]

51. Oh, how I wish!

Bookmarked.