Too Funny Not To Post

[Slofuze]

Like???? WTF????

What passport? Rule surprises Bush, Clinton



THE CANADIAN PRESS


Bill Clinton and George W. Bush admitted yesterday they had no idea the U.S. was implementing a new rule Monday that would require Canadians and Americans to have passports to cross the border.
The former presidents were caught off guard during a 90-minute joint appearance in Toronto when moderator Frank McKenna, the former Canadian ambassador to the U.S., spoke about how Canadians feel slighted by the new rule.
"I'll be frank with you Frank, I don't know about the passport issue," Bush told the crowd of 6,000.
"I thought we were making good progress on using a driver's licence to cross the border. What happened to the E-Z card?"
Clinton said he'd only heard about the passport requirement a day earlier, adding that in all likelihood most Americans were completely unaware of it as well.
That could mean far fewer Americans coming to Canada, which would be bad for the economy and our relationship, warned Clinton.
"I promise you, you have got my attention with this, so I'm going back home I'll see if there is anything else I can do," he said to cheers from the audience.
"I'd like to hear Homeland Security's defence of the passport issue."

[JIB]

Where have these people been hiding? They've been talking about this for a couple years now.

[rexazz2]

oh oh
american economy in the tank and we are not the neighbors come and spend money

[phisch]

i thought this ruling happened on W's watch. he was unaware of this? guess that doesn't surprise me.

[CenCalKat]

I didn't know they implemented this yet either. I thought they were going to hold off on it until they got that new card system done.

Ol' Dubya and Slick Willie are hanging out now, huh? That's like the Presidential version of The Odd Couple!

[Zepp]

I'm going to get one of the new driver's licenses here that has the passport stuff on an electronic chip, on the license

[The CyberPoet]

Yeah, the US Gov't has made the passport mandatory for entry effective June 1st.
For those who travel only to Canada/Mexico/certain parts of the Caribbean/Bahamas via land & sea (not via air), you can use the US Passport Card (which is kind of like a "passport lite" and looks kind of like a driver's license, but issued by the passport office). The only states making "enhanced" driver's licenses with the passport-lite card features integrated are Michigan, New York, Vermont and Washington state.

More details here:

http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_830.html

Cheers
=-= The CyberPoet

Oh, and there's also a "trusted traveler card" (NEXUS) that speeds border crossings -- priority left-lane for crossings, etc. -- details here:

http://www.getyouhome.gov/html/lang_eng/eng_ttp1.html

Cheers
=-= The CyberPoet

[rexazz2]

my new passport and birth certificate both got wet and the ink is not water proof
Guess I need to replace both AGAIN
Guessing they will not let me in if I give them it at the border
Have the "new" Ontario driver licence card, anyone know if its valid border ID

[Sky]

The province of quebec is also issuing a driver's license "plus" it can be use to cross the border by land. I still have a passport but I find it easier to just carry the driver's license while riding. Passport are too much theft targeted.

[The CyberPoet]

my new passport and birth certificate both got wet and the ink is not water proof
Guess I need to replace both AGAIN
Guessing they will not let me in if I give them it at the border
Have the "new" Ontario driver licence card, anyone know if its valid border ID

Canadian Info:

http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/whti-ivho/ls-tm-eng.html

Cheers
=-= The CyberPoet