Inkless Wells

Paul Wells on all the latest out of Ottawa—along with the occasional post about jazz. Follow Paul on Twitter: @InklessPW

Categories: Capital Read, Inkless Wells

by Paul Wells on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 3:40pm - 34 Comments

Barack Obama publishes an op-ed in 31 newspapers and magazines around the world. None are Canadian.

Tags: Barack Obama, snubwatch

http://carnewsandviews.com jwl

I really hope that we are not on this list because Harper has told Obama that we are not going to sign up for global governance measures, so there’s no point in running ad here, but that’s a pipe dream I am sure. More likely a snub.

http://carnewsandviews.com jwl

¿Que I make no assertions other than Cindy Crawford is still lovely.

http://coyne kc

Oops! So, is it a snub, or are we already regarded as being…er…in their pocket, so to speak? Interestingly – or not – the only Uk paper was the IHT. Not a major UK paper, is it? I’ve only seen it on the continent, where i think it’s quite well regarded.

Bill Simpson

I noticed this too. The International Herald Tribune is small beans in the UK. Nothing in Fleet Street at all is an odd gap in coverage.

James Connors

The IHT, when I lived in London, was considered respectable. Important even, if you were from the colonies. Like the NYT-light. Or “lite” if you happen to be a Harperista.

SAB

None is Mexican either. Perhaps we are the choir to whom the President’s team did not feel needed preaching. Perhaps they (rightfully) assumed we have a pretty good handle on the day to day ins and outs of what’s happening in America. Perhaps they forgot about their little brothers to the North and South. Either way, my feelings are not hurt.
Paul Wells

I think SnubWatch will be an irregular recurring feature, so I might as well come clean and admit that it’s meant to be a satire on the whole idea of feeling snubbed, not a relentless search for things one should seriously feel snubbed about.

Sigh. I hate explaining jokes.

SAB

Admittedly, I was surprised to see this post from you. Sadly, it turns out that I am dumb.

Sigh. I hate when I need jokes explained to me.
Michael

If it must be explained, it ain’t funny.

SAB

I thought that was possible too. I was just hoping someone else would say it.

Thank you.
cwe

Don’t be too quick to judge. The next time it appears, it won’t need explaining. You’ll understand, and it’ll be doubly funny for the knowing, and for the extra knowing that you ‘get it,’ but somebody else probably doesn’t.

Mike T.

I feel snubbed that the meaning of snubwatch was not explained up front.

Jeff Westcott

Not only is the IHT not really a UK paper. It isn’t really much more than the European edition of the New York Times. Also, no Mexican papers.

http://coyne kc

Don’t think yr right. As i remember it’s a combo – guardian, washington post[?] and something else- well that wasn’t very informative, was it?

http://coyne kc

I for one wish the headlines had flashing satire watch warnings, or something. We’ll do better next time PW…wont we?

Critical Reasoning

“Flashing satire watch warnings” tend to diminish the satirical effect.

http://coyne kc

I know, they would however prevent some of us looking a little foolish, from time to time. I guess the lesson is: hang back and let some other poor sod take point.
TJ Cook

Maybe the theme to The Rick Mercer Report could come booming forth from any page displaying a satirical post… really, any Eastern Canadian’s voice would do the trick nicely.

bruce montador

Actually none are British either – the International Herald Tribune is published in Paris not London.
Matthew Fletcher

I like that jwl thinks this is actually a snub, regardless of what the point of the post was.

The piece was not published in the NYT, WaPo, or any UK papers (IHT doesn’t count), as already noted by some. Most of the papers are Arab and European.

I think, if the choice of papers actually means anything, Canadian papers are in good company by not being included. As another commenter already said, perhaps the president is assuming he doesn’t need to devote excess effort in convincing us.
Loyal Subject

Grammar Watch!
None IS Canadian!
Dot

The irony of the satire is that pw, through the sin of omission, appears to have snubbed the op-ed piece in today’s G&M Politicians must open the tent to scientists that may have been bumped had the Obama piece run.

http://tinyurl.com/cmyfr9
http://deleted Sandi

Good grief, there’s no room in Canadian (conservative) papers. They’re full of Government ads paid for by taxpayers pushing the so-called action plan.

Why are we paying for this “Conservative” campaigning?
sf

Ok, that is truly idiotic, and I am not being nationalistic.

5 out of 31 are Arab?!! Just 3 in the rest of Asia? Strange selection.
http://coyne kc

Can you really be that stupid? Yes, i guess you can!
Darrell

Paul, can you please explain the various ways in which this is funny?
http://coyne kc

Predictable – yawn!!