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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spin Control archive for April 2008

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2008

What kind of debate?

Sen. Hillary Clinton recently challenged Sen. Barack Obama to a debate, which isn't surprising because candidates who are behind always challenge candidates who are ahead to debates.It may make them look desperate; it may make them look combative.But there's a twist in Clinton's challenge. She…

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TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2008

Tuesday's quickie political briefing

Gallup: Clinton v. Obama education gap? Here's Tuesday's headlines in the presidential campaign from The Associated Press:McCain wants to shift health insurance from employers to marketplaceClinton picks up prized endorsement in North Carolina ahead of May 6 Democratic primaryKentucky Rep. Ben Chandler endorses Obama in…

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MONDAY, APRIL 28, 2008

Monday quickie political briefing

Good morning. I'm stepping in for Jim one last morning. Let's start off, per custom, with...Today's videos: Barack Obama was in Indiana over the weekend in preparation for that state's primary. In this video from Saturday, a resident of Marion introduces the candidate. Hillary Clinton…

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THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 2008

Thursday's quickie political briefing

Today's video: John McCain will tour the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans today, and a local news report looks at the attention newly elected Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal is getting out of the visit.In the headlines:Clinton raises $10 million, aided by 80,000 new donors,…

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2008

Wednesday's quickie political briefing

Today's videos: After the Pa. votes rolled inClinton's victory speechObama on to Ind.Clinton’s Pennsylvania win sends her campaign forward, against odds still favoring ObamaClinton victory in Pennsylvania yields new cash just when she needs itOklahoma Gov. Brad Henry tosses support to Obama———THE DELEGATE BREAKDOWNBarack Obama…

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TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 2008

Tuesday's quickie political briefing

The campaign comes to WWE Clinton, Obama go on attack in last-minute scramble for Pennsylvania votesMichael Moore announces his endorsement of Obama in Web postNorth Carolina Democrats ditch effort to host debate———ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILBarack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton are in Pennsylvania. John McCain…

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MONDAY, APRIL 21, 2008

Thorburn press conference

Kim Thorburn, who is challenging County Commissioner Todd Mielke this fall, called a press conference at 1:30 p.m. Monday on the Spokane Raceway Park issue.Just a guess, but she's probably not going to be giving it the thumbs up.Press conference is at the entrance to…

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SUNDAY, APRIL 20, 2008

Did Apple get hit harder than deserved?

The report of the state Public Disclosure Commission's fine of $4,200 against City Councilman Bob Apple for failing to file campaign reports last year has generated some criticism -- of the PDC, and the newspaper.The PDC has let others off much easier, said two longtime…

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FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2008

Red stuff, blue stuff

State Democrats and state Republicans are both busy at their keyboards Friday, honing their knives for the upcoming state campaigns.Democrats continued their panning of GOP gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi's state transportation plan, which was announced earlier this week. They don't really have anything new to…

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THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 2008

Apple hammered by PDC

Brought to you with an assist from Olympia Bureau Chief Rich RoeslerSpokane City Councilman Bob Apple was fined $4,200 – the maximum under the state’s disclosure law – for failing to file spending records from last year’s re-election campaign.The state Public Disclosure Commission Thursday ruled…

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Debate taking hits

ABC's presidential debate on Wednesday night is getting panned by various journalism sources, such as Editor & Publisher and Columbia Journalism Review, some liberal blogs and The Washington Post. It's also drawing boos from MoveOn.Org, the liberal political activist organization, which has already put together…

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2008

Stuff on the ballot

Candidates running for partisan office this year will have one of two descriptions on the primary ballot after their names, Secretary of State Sam Reed said.John Q. Candidate (prefers _____ Party)orJohn Q. Candidate (States No Party Preference)This in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court…

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Story 'bout a man named Judd

Keith Russell Judd, a Texas prison inmate, will share Idaho’s presidential primary ballot with regulars Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, Boise Bureau Chief Betsy Russell reported Wednesday.Judd apparently met the minimum requirements, filling out the form and sending in a cashable check for the $1,000…

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TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2008

Talking points: Can "bitter" be gated?

Ever since Richard Nixon was forced out of office, any major scandal has been given a -gate suffix.Watergate. Contragate. Fostergate. Nannygate.Now we have Bittergate, the scandal of Barack Obama's comments about some voters being so bitter about government that they cling to their religious values…

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MONDAY, APRIL 14, 2008

Monday's quickie political briefing

Obama questions Clinton’s opposition to free trade agreementsMcCain says he supports bill to protect identity of confidential news sourcesClinton says she would correct husband’s NAFTA mistakesMcCain seen as independent despite conservative voting recordToday's fun video ———THE NUMBERSBarack Obama has a 10-point lead nationally over Hillary…

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SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2008

Spokane GOP raps Iraq War policy

The Spokane County Republican Party formally rejected the Iraq policy of their current president and their party's likely nominee, saying American troops shouldn't be on overseas missions for more than six months without a formal declaration of war.At a county convention Saturday that some party…

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THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2008

The plate on the bus goes round and round

Scandalous news from Washington's gubernatorial campaign Thursday. You know that biodiesel bus that Gov. Chris Gregoire is driving around the state for her campaign kickoff, including for her stop Wednesday in Spokane? Well it's got -- wait for it, wait for it Oregon license plates.OMG…

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County GOP convention: How exciting will it be?

Spokane County Republicans gather for their biennial convention Saturday with the presidential nomination already settled.That doesn't mean they've got nothing to do at the Lewis and Clark High School Field House. There's a platform to adopt, delegates to the state convention to elect. Speeches to…

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2008

More singing presidential endorsements

It's not just a case of the Obama Girl slugging it out with The Clintons for campaign music videos. John McCain has the McCain Girls.They probably shouldn't quit their day jobs to live off singing gigs. But their video isn't bad.Click to see McCain's response.

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Gregoire campaign swing hits Spokane

Gov. Chris Gregoire's campaign bus trip through the state made a stop in Spokane Wednesday morning, where she added a few local items to the standard "four more years" stump speech.Under criticism from Dino Rossi and the state Republicans for increased spending and higher taxes,…

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TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2008

Afternoon hearings for Petraeus, Crocker

Here are video clips from the Foreign Relations Committee hearing.Feinstein questions Crocker about "The Kiss"For more Foreign Relations Committee videos, including questioning by Sen. Barack Obama click here.For the morning's Armed Services Committee hearing, including video clips of questions by Sens. John McCain and Hillary…

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Watch the Senate's Iraq hearings

Here's the latest clip from the Armed Service Committee hearing, courtesy of YouTube.Petraeus and Crocker say it's worth it.Or you can watch it live by clicking here for the link to the C-Span coverage.Click here for more clips of the Armed Services Committee Hearing. Afternoon…

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MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2008

More meetings for Washington Democrats

Unhappy with a court ruling that requires a change in Washington’s primary, state Democrats said Monday they will hold conventions to nominate their candidates for partisan offices this year.The move, which is part of a long-running battle between the parties and state elections officials over…

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Gregoire campaign kickoff

In the Not So Surprising News category: Gov. Chris Gregoire is officially starting her re-election campaign today. She's taking a bus around the state, and started this morning in her old hometown of Auburn. She'll hit Tacoma and Vancouver later in the day, Yakima and…

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SUNDAY, APRIL 6, 2008

The Spokesman-Review's political team keeps a critical eye on local, state and national politics.



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