LYTLE: Let's call Trump on his offer!

One of the unexpected observations about those charlatans who have visited woke nonsense and leftist economic carnage upon us, is that these folks have no sense of humour. This truism has recently manifested from a playful jab by the incoming president of the United States. Using humour as an ego-popping pin, Mr. Trump reduced the fatuousness of our soon-to-be former prime minister by stating that, rather than whining about the threat of tariffs, he should consider becoming the governor of the 51st state of the United States. Nedwly-minted finance minister Dominic Le Blanc apparently laughed along with Mr. Trump. The CBC continues to struggle in its search for the joke.Quoting the ever-grim faced John Bolton, we are informed that Mr. Trump is trying to humiliate Mr. Trudeau. The Trudeau who liked to do blackface,” you ask? Yeah him. Me and Mr. Le Blanc thought Mr. Trump was making a joke. We were wrong. The CBC has it on good authority from “several US senators” that Mr. Trump was feeding his ego. Later Mr. Trump posted a picture of himself looking into the mountains as a Canadian flag waved nearby. “Why does Trump keep making fun of Trudeau?” the CBC rhetorically asks.Don’t they know? Channeling King Henry II, we have been asking, “Will no one rid us of this meddlesome pup?” Mr. Trump heard our cry and has done the deed. I think it is outrageously funny.Again, the CBC doesn’t agree with me. Mr. Hanomansing of Cross-Country Checkup solemnly informed us a few weeks ago that only 13 percent of Canadians want to become the 51st State. Dude… it was a joke. And it worked.But what if the joke turns into a serious consideration? Canada, Mexico, Panama, Greenland… Why all these shots across the bow and to whom are the shots directed? This past week I had a long chat with my Lebanese barber about the events in the Levant. He believes, based on conversations with relatives from the Beka’a Valley, that Israel and Iran have been colluding and that Turkey and Israel are working together to build Greater Israel and redeem the Ottoman Empire. Whether he is right or wrong is irrelevant. He is just stating how recent geopolitical machinations in the Middle East are interpreted on the ground.Can we extend this cynical analysis to what Mr. Trump is doing? Is he laying the psychological groundwork for a new, multipolar world? A world in which lesser players like Canada, whose citizens foolishly traded away their birthright by electing infants as their leaders, are takers of the new order rather than participants in its formation? Who knows?If such major realignments are about to be attempted perhaps it is time to look at the option of cutting bait with our eastern betters. Let them continue to fact-check the Babylon Bee while we enjoy the ironic humour of Mr. Trump’s invitation and consider a different future. Maybe we should look “under the hood” at Mr. Trump’s invitation.Options always have value in negotiations making them important things to have. Maybe Mr. Trump’s jest should be turned back on him. What is he offering to Albertans? How can I decide about becoming the 51st state until I know what the offer is? Now I am curious. I would like our premier to take time away from her inauguration parties to solicit details from Mr. Trump. Alberta will obtain a free option and who knows. Maybe his US option will be significantly better than our existing Canadian option. Everything in life is a negotiation and we always have the option to say no. But what if we decide to say yes? Now THAT would be funny!

LYTLE: Let's call Trump on his offer!

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