Map of America's Liberal and Conservative Connections to Canada

UPDATE: Captain's Quarters, please go here for my blog update on the Canadian election, and what President Bush said in his Radio Address TWO DAYS BEFORE the election. Coincidence? Check it out.

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Michelle Malkin has the story of how tolerant some of the Canadian liberals are when one high-ranking official within the Liberal Party of Canada made disparaging comments on his blog about NDP Leader Jack Layton and his wife, NDP candidate Olivia Chow.

Now, remember the blue and red state political map consisting of Democrat and Republican strongholds? Canada has a similar one except there are 4 different political leanings throughout on the Canada map.



Source.

The colors are different in Canada where the colors are opposite than that of the United States. That is, blue is red, red is blue when it comes to Liberals/Democrats and Conservatives/Republicans in Canada in relation to the United States political map makeup. The orange colors are the NDP folks equivalent to "pinko socialists" in American terms. Now, look at the New England area or the "blue" people that sits next to Quebec. The color is neither "blue" nor "red", but French Blue (light blue color on the Canadian map). This is probably due to the historical and political connection they had ever since America was discovered.

Quebec politics--even radical independentism--is marked by liberal social democracy rooted originally in Christian humanity and social justice. As one historian observed recently, "The apple has not fallen far from the tree."

However, in and around the city of Vancouver, you can see a small patch of red in Canada and blue in the USA. Once you cross the Fraser River through Vancouver, things turn Canadian Blue (American Red - Conservative/Republican values). Once you get beyond that point it's all blue in Canada (American red).

Now, do you notice the seemingly seemless border connections between the two countries in terms of political similarities? From looking at the two maps we can actually see the physical connections with our Canadian political kin such as between Minnesota and Washington states with our northern Conservative friends seen as blue (or the equivalent of the American red for us) and the American blue with Canada's red around the Great Lakes area. Also, beyond that there seem to be a thin connection between NY and Ontario and one between Detroit and Windsor where the a thin connection seems to exist via bridges.

So, in terms of influencing our neighbors with our ideology, borders do not stop the flow of ideas and political persuasions. There's a strong tie between the two countries based on our historical and political connections.

Hat tip: Harry from British Columbia, Canada.

UPDATE: Welcome Daily Kos readers. Don't be gun shy. And please, please. show a measure of decorum around here if you plan to post a comment. It's not totally impossible, ya know?

UPDATE II: With the latest Canadian election (Jan 23, 2006), looks like the map will have to be redrawn to include more "blue" Conservatives this time. A great victory for Canada!