On the value of legislative hearings #nlpoli

United States senator John McCain (Republican – Arizona) thinks that Parliament should hold hearings into the prospective purchase by the Chinese national oil company of Alberta-based Nexen.

“I think it’s also a role for the legislative body to hold hearings, to get witnesses and say, ‘OK what is this all about?’”

Two benefits that come with public hearings are media coverage and public education -- but when cabinet makes the decision behind closed doors, that exposure is lost, he said.

That pretty much says it all.

-srbp-

Simple: Obama's in front by a mile

Sometimes newspaper stories on political polls are amusing if only because they go to great lengths to explore a relatively simple thing.

Like say, a story in the Globe and Mail that makes it sound like there is some confusion in polling results such that no one knows whether Barack Obama is leading John McCain or vice versa.

The Associated press poll this past week showing Obama and McCain ina dead heat is an outlier.  It's wrong. It's Dewey beats Truman all over again.

Pretty well every other national poll in the United States has Obama significantly ahead of McCain.

And if you want a look at all the polls - national and local - trending over time, try the really neat interactive display the New York Times posted online.

-srbp-