Obama watch

Things are shaping up for Pres. Obama’s visit to Ottawa Thursday. NCPR will have two people on hand. David Sommerstein and Lucy Martin. David has press credentials…we don’t yet know what access he’ll have. Lucy says she thinks she’ll be in the crowd on Parliament Hill. BTW — she could wave three flags if she chose: Canadian, American (because she’s a citizen), and Hawaiian (because she was born there, as was Obama).
Opposition in Canada think the Harper government is overmanaging the event…to keep “the glory that is Obama” to himself:

Mr. Martin attempted on Friday to introduce a motion in the House of Commons that would formally invite President Obama to speak to a joint session of both houses of parliament during his February 19 visit.

Members from the Bloc Québécois and Liberals on Friday gave consent to Mr. Martin to introduce the motion and bring it to a vote, but the Conservatives in the House refused.

“They don’t want the obvious, blatant juxtaposition of a neo-conservative leader in Canada and a progressive liberal leader in the United States,” Mr. Martin said.

Something else coming up — David was in Lowville last week, talking with local business people, and visiting the social services department. His three-part report starts tomorrow morning during the 8 O’clock Hour.