…Stephen Harper has every reason to be excited about Barack Obama’s victory.

And now, for the first time in a long time, being seen as close to the Americans may actually be a political asset, rather than a liability. If you ditch relativism out the window, Stephen Harper and Barack Obama probably line up fairly well policy-wise. So what better way to shield yourself against criticism at home on issues like the environment and foreign policy, than to be seen as lining up with the most popular politician in Canada right now?