As Republican desperation grows in the looming prospect of losing both houses of Congress, the party is reverting to form with a series of brutal attack ads. And Canada is emerging as a handy source of tar to slather onto Democratic politicians.

Earlier this month, the national Republican campaign targeted Democratic candidate Harold Ford with an ad that took a swipe at Canada’s supposed lack of military involvement in the world.

Now they’re doing it again, with an attack on Texas Democrat Ellen Cohen in a state race: “Hello. I’m Martha Cohen, the tax-increase lady. And I moved here from Canada, the land of big government and big taxes.”

Who knew that Canada was so scary that just one whiff of maple syrup would be enough to send war-weary voters running back into the clammy embrace of the Bush administration?

Oh, and that new relationship we were going to have with the U.S. once Stephen Harper was elected? Apparently the term for our new role is “bogeyman”.