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Matter of Opinion archive for June 2010

MONDAY, JUNE 28, 2010


THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2010

Supremes say no hiding names on petitions 24 

Court rules 8-1 against those seeking to keep their names from public view. The name of the lone dissenter was withheld. Just kidding. It was Clarence Thomas. Justice Roberts, writing for the majority, said the Protect Marriage Act folks can try for an exemption at…

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TUESDAY, JUNE 22, 2010

First comes love, then comes marriage... 14 

The Obama administration is on the verge of requiring employers to give gay and lesbian employees the same family leave benefits that straight workers enjoy. This morning, a local TV station reporting that news invited viewers to submit their thoughts via a website link. Predictably,…

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MONDAY, JUNE 21, 2010

The June 21 Loose Thread 

Just back from a June wedding, which means I can post a favorite Ogden Nash poem:"Here Usually Comes The Bride""June means weddings in everyone's lexicon,Weddings in Swedish, weddings in MexicanBreezes play Mendelssohn, treeses play Youmans,Birds wed birds and humans wed humansAll year long the gentlemen…

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SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 2010

Weekend loose thread 

If you're looking at your computer on this (finally) summerlike day, why?But if you are, please post a comment that will give the rest of us something to munch on.(Like do you know any of those dead people that U.S. Treasury is sending checks to?…

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THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 2010

Another day older and deeper in debt...

Washington state's latest revenue forecast shows another $200 million reduction. That brings the shortfall to an anticipated $3 billion when the next Legislature convenes.That's the Legislature we're going to elect this fall, by the way. What kind of questions does that pose for the candidates…

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 2010

Loose threads and saving graces 

In a column on tomorrow's (Thursday's) Opinion page, David Broder refers to a recent report that American businesses are holding back cash at an unusually high level, apparently as a hedge against further economic downturns.In the meantime, the Federal Reserve has adopted new rules to…

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TUESDAY, JUNE 15, 2010

You can't tell a ballot issue by its title 

Before adjourning, the Washington Legislature passed a referendum measure that would extend the new sales tax on bottled water beyond its scheduled demise on July 1, 2013. The purpose would be to pay for bonds issued to finance energy-saving modifications to public schools.It all will…

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MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2010

FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 2010

Weekend recreation 

Spokane's police ombudsman has launched a website, which you can link to here.Meanwhile, feel free to post comments about the concerns that occupy your mind over what's predicted to be a glorious weekend.See you Monday.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2010

A headline writer's worst cliche 

Out of curiosity, I Googled the phrase, "a parent's worst nightmare."It generated 764,000 responses. I looked at the first 10 and found concerns that ranged from what you'd expect (rape, murder, life-threatening injury) to inane comic strips and a professional jock influencing children to eat…

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 2010


Budget tool

Jason Mercier, director of the Center for Government Reform at the Washington Policy Center, sends word that the state Office of Financial Management has sent state agencies the instructions for filling out their 2011-13 budget requests. He notes that the questions listed are similar to…

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Pick your dark horses

The Secretary of State's and Spokane County's candidate filing website has been balky today, but the last I saw a couple of high-profile candidates are yet to submit their papers. I'm thinking of Dino Rossi for U.S. Senate and Steve Salvatori for Spokane County Commissioner.…

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TUESDAY, JUNE 8, 2010

Kids of lesbians do well 

That's according to this 25-year study.The study was commissioned by advocates, but I don't find the results surprising. The pregnancies are planned. The parents are generally older and more mature. And there is two of them.Wendy Wright, of Concerned Women for America, doesn't buy it,…

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MONDAY, JUNE 7, 2010


Gulf Coast clean-up 19 

I drove up the West Coast from Arizona in the late 1980s and stopped for a short stroll on the beach in Santa Barbara. i was amazed to see the tar on the bottom of my shoes. It was a remnant from a spill that…

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FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 2010

Benton bows out 

GOP primary narrows.Don Benton, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, last week on staying in the race despite Rossi's entry:“We can no longer look to the establishment to turn our economy and our country around. The people want an independent voice that will take on both…

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 2010

Tea Party and Washington state 132 

This University of Washington Poll is pretty interesting, because it segregates Tea Party diehards from those who are somewhat sympathetic on some issues. Thought the libertarians here would be interested in this observation from Bruce Bartlett.What I think this poll shows is that taxes and…

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TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2010

America held hostage, by ignorance 20 

Only 1 percent of respondents could name all nine Supreme Court justices. Two-thirds could not name a single one.In a related note, "Nightline" scored its highest ratings since its re-launch in 2005 with its interview with Jesse James. You know, the guy who cheated on…

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A Matter of Opinion is really a matter of three opinions – those held by the people responsible for the opinion pages of The Spokesman-Review. Check in regularly to find out what they’re up to, what they think and where they differ and to joust with them if you want.



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