Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spin Control archive for Aug. 2008

FRIDAY, AUG. 29, 2008

Wasting no time on Palin

The McCain campaign -- make that the McCain/Palin campaign -- wasted no time in getting the veep pick onto video and onto YouTube.Here's their Web ad: From this we know1. They've been working on it for at least a couple of days.and even more important,2.…

Continue reading this post »

THURSDAY, AUG. 28, 2008

Thursday's quickie political briefing

Today's video: Madame secretary, from the nosebleed section, Idaho casts its Democratic votes...What about Washington? They didn't get a chance to talk about "the Evergreen State, the place that brought you triple vente soy lattes, the home of the Mariners and geoducks..." because the roll…

Continue reading this post »

TUESDAY, AUG. 26, 2008

Where the heck are our delegates?

Wondering where the Washington and Idaho delegations are hanging out during the convention?Might be hard to spot them in those shots from the podium. Idaho was supposed to be up front, but got moved to the back of the hall to make room for veep…

Continue reading this post »


New maps in the gov's race

Dino Rossi has been gaining a bit of ground in the gubernatorial vote tally as the primary count continues.His percentages are getting bigger east of the Cascades, while incumbent Chris Gregoire's percentages are getting smaller in most Western Washington Counties.To see how the vote total…

Continue reading this post »

MONDAY, AUG. 25, 2008

SATURDAY, AUG. 23, 2008

That was the week that was

It started with Barack Obama on vacation, and John McCain talking tough on Georgia and gaining ground in the polls.It ended with Obama announcing his pick for vice president in Springfield. (Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, if you haven't heard.)In between there were two new…

Continue reading this post »

FRIDAY, AUG. 22, 2008

The "How many houses" volley continues

Apparently smelling blood in the water, the Obama campaign countered the McCain counterpunch ad (see below) with another new commercial ad today.Is that a counter-counterpunch? Whatever.This one is probably more pointed than the one in the post below.Meanwhile, a media group says the first Obama…

Continue reading this post »

THURSDAY, AUG. 21, 2008

New numbers released in Spokane County

Spokane County elections officials have released the latest tallies from the state primary, and it would seem that Republicans are more likely to vote closer to election day than Democrats.Dino Rossi overtook Chris Gregoire in the Spokane County returns (Gregoire still leads statewide). To see…

Continue reading this post »


Thursday's quickie political briefing

Today's video: For those who've had enough of the Red State/Blue State discussion.Check it out: a comparison of the 2008 primary votes for Rossi and Gregoire with the 2004 general election. Click here. Asked how many houses he and his wealthy wife own, McCain not…

Continue reading this post »

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 20, 2008

Wednesday's quickie political briefing

Today's video: Surprise pick for GOP Veep?Looking for results from Tuesday's primary? Click here.Here are the headlines in the presidential campaign from The Associated Press.Joe Lieberman, the Democratic nominee for vice president in 2000, to speak at GOP conventionAdviser says Obama to campaign with newly…

Continue reading this post »

TUESDAY, AUG. 19, 2008

Spokane County commissioner races

As of Tuesday night, the races were very close: District 1Todd Mielke, 12,070Kim Thorburn, 11962District 2Mark Richard, 10,981Brian Sayrs, 11,493A couple things to remember: Thousands of ballots left to count, so the spread could change.The primary is held in the district, the general is countywide.…

Continue reading this post »


5th District Congression race

Mark Mays will have an uphill -- or perhaps up mountain -- race against Cathy McMorris Rodgers.District wide, she's pulling in about 55 percent of the vote. The Republican incumbent has almost three times as many ballots as the Democratic challenger.The challenge from the right…

Continue reading this post »


One count confirmed

Spokane County Elections Office says they will release the results of 70,073 ballots shortly after 8 p.m.And that will be it for the night. They'll process and count more on Wednesday afternoon.

Continue reading this post »


Tuesday's quickie political briefing

Last, final, no-kidding-this-is-it reminder: To have your primary ballot count, it must be postmarked today, or deposited in a box at a drop-off site or a voter service center. For a list of locations, click here. Today's video: Something to consider as Obama gets ready…

Continue reading this post »

MONDAY, AUG. 18, 2008

Troop farewell

Chris Gregoire and Dino Rossi are scheduled to cross paths Tuesday, and with the heated words being exchanged by their campaigns lately, it's probably a good thing there will be plenty of people around to break up any fight.People with guns, no less.Gregoire is scheduled…

Continue reading this post »


Monday's quickie political briefing

Reminder: Tuesday is Primary Election Day in Washington State. That means your ballots must be dropped off or mailed and postmarked by Tuesday evening.Wondering where to drop them off in Spokane County? Click here.Lost your ballot? The dog ate it or the baby threw up…

Continue reading this post »

THURSDAY, AUG. 14, 2008

WA Gov Race still close, SurveyUSA says

The latest poll in Washington's gubernatorial grudge match shows the two main candidates virtually tied, with very few voters undecided.SurveyUSA has the race at 50 percent for Chris Gregoire, 48 percent for Dino Rossi, 1 percent for other candidates and 1 percent undecided. Margin of…

Continue reading this post »

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 13, 2008

Not from around here?

The McCain Campaign announced its Washington "Grassroots Leadership Team", which has some familiar Republican names.Former Secretary of State Ralph Munro. State Attorney General Rob McKenna. Former Spokane County Commissioner and FEMA exec Grant Peterson.And one -- "Former U.S. Sen. Slade Gordon" -- that might be…

Continue reading this post »


Numbers gaming

Dino Rossi's gubernatorial campaign seems to be trying to downplay expectations for the Aug. 19 primary.Rossi obviously expects to make it through next Tuesday's election to face Democrat Chris Gregoire in November. But a press release sent out by the campaign seems to be an…

Continue reading this post »

MONDAY, AUG. 11, 2008

Lots of choices for president

Washington voters will have eight options for president to pick from on their November ballot.The Secretary of State's office announced on Monday afternoon the minor party candidates who managed to supply the required 1,000 valid signatures by the Aug. 1 deadline to qualify for the…

Continue reading this post »

FRIDAY, AUG. 8, 2008

That was the week that was

It was a week that saw Paris Hilton weigh in on the presidential campaign.The presidential candidates weigh-in on the efficacy of tire gages.John McCain started the week at the biker rally in Sturgis, S.D. Barack Obama ended the week by going on vacation.Washington voters began…

Continue reading this post »

THURSDAY, AUG. 7, 2008

The next thing in military technology?

Bonus video: Some of the latest in military technology -- especiallly the stuff that flies really, really fast and loud -- is on display at Fairchild Air Force Base this weekend. But here's a tongue-in-cheek look at where technology might take the Pentagon in its…

Continue reading this post »

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 6, 2008

Ballots coming in

With ballots for Washington state’s top two primary streaming in to county elections offices, state officials are unveiling a new Web site to give voters even more help with their ballot and registration.Secretary of State Sam Reed said voters seem to prefer the new voting…

Continue reading this post »


Wednesday's quickie political briefing

Today's video: What happens when you start mixing politics with celebrities. Paris for prez?(Warning: Some people might find language in this objectionable.)See Paris Hilton Responds to McCain Ad and more funny videos on FunnyOrDie.comSee more funny videos at Funny or DieHere are the headlines in…

Continue reading this post »

TUESDAY, AUG. 5, 2008

Tuesday's quickie political briefing

Today's fun video: The best skewering of the "race card" over analyzing so far. (Warning: some folks may find this offensive in parts.)Here are today's headlines in the presidential race, from The Associated Press: New McCain ad emphasizes independent streak to counter Obama charge he’s…

Continue reading this post »

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



Blog Archives

Aug. 2008
29 28 26 25 23
22 21 20 19 18
14 13 11 08 07
06 05 03