I never thought of Canadians not being as smart as Americans, pooch, and almost forgot that your notions of providential exceptionalism introduced the term Ugly American to the world 50 years ago, now raising its head again.

Canada is certainly different from US in its polities and civil order with surpassing educational standards that insulates us from the US loss of faith in its governance and institutions, divided more now than in modern history.

A case could be made for Canadian exceptionalism because there is no place like Canada anywhere on earth right now, after watching the US rise to national supremacy and decline suddenly, wallowing in debt from instant gratification.

It's true we struggle to meet our ideals but we fight against xenophobia and are the last country on earth that believes in multiculturalism as a way of life, and that trade is good rather than an instrument of impoverishment.

To stay on thread of a "failed" presidency, some members may have overlooked that Obama honoured America's vote to get its military out of the Middle East and leave the warring parties to die for their religions. No more "war president."

Members may now also project the Iranian deal for what it was, a rebalancing of regional power. Trump will take it farther with oil secretary appointment, coziness with Russia, rising Iran, all fighting ISIS, opening the oil corridor.

My guess Trump will announce it January with huge infrastructure spending, approved easily, letting others do the dying, or US minimally. Commercial interests will do nicely but region's people will go on miserably as usual.