Time the U.S. was ruled from Mexico City or perhaps Ottawa page

[Lewis]

Normally, I would never dream of telling foreign nationals how to order their own affairs ... but, as the saying goes, two can play at that game.

Phillip Gordon, the assistant secretary of state ... [i]n a briefing to journalists ... said that while the US recognised that it is up to the British people to define their relationship with the EU ...

how kind!

... Britain's "voice within the EU is essential and critical to the US".

Oh, well if he puts it like that ... never mind our political freedom, it's what this gentleman believes (accurately or not) to be most useful to his country that's to decide our future.

The euro-blackmail is getting worse: does it mean David Cameron's strategy is working? – Telegraph Blogs

To be lectured by a foreign national on one's own affairs when one has a political tradition that could reasonably be said to stretch back for over a thousand years!

You know what I think? All that Coca-cola and all those Twinkies you people consume over there has rotted his brain. ;-)

[Bosnic]

I don't really subscribe to tribalism, at least in the grand sense of nationhood and ethnicity.

You seem a bit defensive. Politicians in every country are always talking like this, in terms of how things affect THEIR country. Is this news to you?

[Rojo]

I'm not usually one to defend the US. We're as bullying as they come. But I'm not seeing anything particularly offensive about the quote. All he's saying is that Britain is America's "in" in Europe.

[Chaohinon]

If america were ruled from Ottawa or Mexico City it would make no difference. A ruling class is a ruling class, and nationalism is as toxic a myth as they come.

At least the mexican government knows better than to invade other countries and have the audacity to label anyone who fights back an "insurgent".

[fifer]

I'm not usually one to defend the US. We're as bullying as they come. But I'm not seeing anything particularly offensive about the quote. All he's saying is that Britain is America's "in" in Europe.

Oh dear, that is the offensive thing.

But yes, politicians, they are there to say stupid things.

[SarahW]

I remember being in Ireland during the restructuring of their debt. The EU wanted Ireland to raise it's corporate tax rate (it was 12.5%, lowest in all the EU), but the U.S. Chamber of Commerce came in and said "nuh-uh-uh!"

I get why they did it, but I found it totally bizarre. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce tells other sovereign countries how to write their tax codes. Weird.

[peril]

Rome, er I mean the USA, is always bullying other countries. Its what big powers do. Good fun to bitch about. Sadly our government drops their pants every time the US asks for something. We even let them imprison some of our nationals at Guantanamo Bay and didn't complain about the kangaroo court and trumped up charges. At least the Brits baulked at that

[Rojo]

Oh dear, that is the offensive thing.

Again, I'm not sure why. If I said "I have a friend in the diamond business", should that friend be offended? I wouldn't think so.

Now, if I said "I have a friend in the diamond business and he'll jump at my command", that would definitely be offensive. You may be assuming that latter part from the quote, but the quote itself is pretty innocuous.

[Shantess]

Trust me, with the a**hole we have right now as Prime Minister in Canada, things wouldn't be much better