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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spin Control archive for April 2009

THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2009

Tanker bids this summer? 

The Air Force should be releasing the draft version sometime in May of its "request for proposal" on a new aerial refueling tanker.That's one of the things Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and members of the Greater Spokane Inc. delegation learned during their visit to the…

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2009

Wait a minute on that election change 15 

A Shaw Island man filed Wednesday for a referendum to block the new law that would change the way Washington allocates its Electoral College votes.The bill was signed this week by Gov. Chris Gregoire, and mentioned in Spin Control on Tuesday.David John Anderson filed a…

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Popping in at the Pentagon

Greater Spokane Inc. is on its annual "mission to Washington, D.C." where it will have a first-ever audience with the two top Air Force honchos, AF Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and AF Secretary Michael Donley.The mission is a yearly opportunity for local government…

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TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2009

As the U.S. goes, so goes WA

Gov. Chris Gregoire signed a bill today that could dramatically change presidential elections in years to come. It could result in Washington voters picking one candidate, but the state's Electoral College votes going to another.SB 5569 is part of a national movement to "reform" the…

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Tuesday video: Specter switching sides

Some early video on Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania deciding to switch from the Republicans to the Democrats. Admittedly it's a bit annoying, particularly the number of times the MSNBC reporter says it's "huge." We'll try to find better video, with a bit more thoughtful…

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Sims clears Senate hurdle

The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee approved the nomination of King County Executive Ron Sims for a high-ranking job in the Obama administration.Sims has been nominated for the No. 2 spot at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Sen. Patty Murray's office…

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MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2009


Fun video: Deja flu?

We went through a swine flu scare in the 1970s. Seems like National Lampoon dubbed it "Swine Flu Over the Cuckoo's Nest," but I might be misremembering that.But there were some absolutely terrible public service announcement with that non-pandemic. Have a look, if for nothing…

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Counting down to 100

President Barack Obama's first 100 days in office are up on Wednesday. Prepare for more reports like the one above from the national media.Because of that milestone, The Spokesman-Review is collecting comments from readers on what they think of his presidency so far: Specifically, whether…

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Peaceful protest at City Hall

A group of young adults tried to bring some attention to the kidnapping of children in Uganda by camping outside Spokane City Hall over the weekend until they could be "rescued."They were part of a national protest called "Invisible children" which set up demonstrations in…

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SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2009

Guess who's not coming to dinner 

As different as Spokane County’s two major political parties are, they have one thing in common: They always need more money. Because of that, until just a few years ago they had something else in common: Once a year, they’d rent a hotel ballroom, throw…

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FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2009

Can we get a bang out of Tree City-hood?

Spokane is once again a "Tree City". It's a designation that only goes to municipalities that meet certain conditions (explained below.)To celebrate our Tree City-hood, which we've achieved for six straight years. Spokane Parks and Rec are having a "to-do" Saturday from 11 a.m to…

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THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2009

County to builders: We're closed Friday

In a move designed to help save money, Spokane County's Building and Planning offices will be closed on Fridays, starting the first week of May.County officials announced this week they'd negotiated a "memorandum of understanding" with two unions that represent staff in the department, which…

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Today's fun video: Goofing on dictators

Jon Stewart makes fun of dictators and demagogues. But can this really be a regular feature.The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10cThis Week in Demagogues - Ahmadinejad & Chavezthedailyshow.comDaily Show Full EpisodesEconomic CrisisPolitical Humor

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2009

About those Obama birth cert. documents 36 

Reader John W. Snyder Jr. wrote recently to find out whatever happened to the documents Chief Justice John Roberts got down in Moscow, Idaho, on President Obama's birth certificates. (If that made you say "Huh?" Catch up at this link.)Here's the update:Copies of Dr. Orly…

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Earth Day Greetings

Happy Earth Day. Sorry I didn't get you a card or a present.To make up for it, Spin Control is passing along (without harming the environment as far as we can tell) Earth Day sentiments from elected officials. Inside the blog are paperless reproductions of…

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TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2009

Today's fun video: Stewart on torture memos

The torture memos were the talk of the talk shows last weekend, which means they were in for a look by Jon Stewart on the Daily Show Monday evening.The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10cWe Don't Torturethedailyshow.comDaily Show Full EpisodesEconomic CrisisPolitical…

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MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2009

Some conversation with that Tea Party?

The folks over at Huckleberries are holding forth on Tea Parties as a result of Sunday's Spin Control Column on what Democrats and Republicans should learn from last week's demonstrations.It's getting lively, as often happens at Huckleberries.Click here to join in the online conversation.

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



Blog Archives

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