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Spin Control archive for Feb. 2009

SATURDAY, FEB. 28, 2009

That was the week that was

What did you miss if you spent the week in a cave (one without access to newspapers, the Internet or cable television)?Barack Obama held an economic summit, John McCain was in the audience and got to ask the first question. Obama addressed a joint session…

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FRIDAY, FEB. 27, 2009


Crashed 'copters were under fire

The U.S. Army has released the cause of crash of two helicopters near Kirkuk, Iraq, last month, a crash which killed all four pilots aboard, including Chief Warrant Officer Benjamin Todd of Colville.The two helicopters were hit by enemy fire and collided while trying to…

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General misstated the debate

While asking retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey about the president's plan to draw down the troops in Iraq, Matt Lauer segued Friday morning into another military question du jour, the lifting of the ban on photographing the coffins of returning casualties.For those not following closely at…

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THURSDAY, FEB. 26, 2009

More than a walk in the park

The City of Spokane is looking to fill two spots on the Park Board. For those unfamiliar with the way the city works (or doesn't work), the Park Board is arguably the most powerful unelected body around.The city, by its charter, has to set aside…

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Brother, can you spare $7 trillion?

Now that the stimulus package has packaged, state and local governments are lining up to ask for money for projects that they'd like to get done, if only they had the money.Gov. Chris Gregoire today debuted a new Web site, Recovery.wa.gov , that tells those…

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Today's fun video: Jindal voice-overs

The worst thing for Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal after his response to the president's speech Tuesday night might be being compared to someone else.Someone who doesn't actually exist, except as a character on a sitcom: Kenneth the page on "30 Rock."The Web is full of…

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McMorris Rodgers productions

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers is dabbling in Web videos with a YouTube offering that catches her before and after President Obama's speech. It's pretty interesting, but it seems the director may have watched too many "West Wing" episodes where the characters walk and talk.

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WEDNESDAY, FEB. 25, 2009

Wondering about those stimulus claims?

FactCheck is a Web site worth checking regularly. And they are pretty even-handed in their criticism.They point out problems in President Obama's Tuesday night speech at a research piece here. (But then, you knew the U.S. didn't really invent the automobile, didn't you?)They point out…

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Bye-bye, Itronix

I have an Itronix laptop, one of the really rugged ones designed for use by the military and other occupations that are out in the rain, snow, muck and sand. It's called a Go Book, and I admire it for its simplicity, and its ability…

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TUESDAY, FEB. 24, 2009

What's in it for us?

All this talk about the economic stimulus is mostly in the macro.$787 billion total, about a third in tax cuts and two thirds in spending.But what does it mean for Washington or Idaho? There's a way to find out. A Web site called Stimulus Watch…

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Obama @ 6

President Obama's speech starts at 6 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, or as close to that as possible after he gets in the door, walks down the aisle and gets to the podium.Members of Congress have been told the speech will take about 50 minutes, allowing…

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MONDAY, FEB. 23, 2009

Dissing incorporation 

Supporters of a move to disincorporate the City of Spokane Valley will hold an organizational meeting on March 3 at University High School. Sally Jackson, leader of the move to undo the incorporation that voters approved in 2002, said the meeting is an opportunity to…

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Not to say 'Toldya so' but...

As reported by rumor last week in Spin Control, former Washington Gov. Gary Locke is apparently President Obama's pick to head the Commerce Secretary.The Associated Press is quoting an anonymous source as saying the announcement hasn't been made yet but that's the way it's shaping…

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Today's video: Not easy being GOP

In an interview last week, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers fairly succinctly described the problem a Republican governor would be in right now when faced with the prospect of taking or not taking federal money from the economic stimulus package."It would be very difficult to say…

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FRIDAY, FEB. 20, 2009

Today's fun video: Hillary on TV...

Although you'll have to watch about 30 seconds before hearing words you might recognize.Because it's a TV show in Indonesia.For teen-agers. But they don't do such a bad job with the interview, if the backdrop doesn't drive you crazy.

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Rumor: Commerce job for Locke?

Barack Obama may reach into Washington state one more time for spots in the administration. A Washington, D.C., source says former Washington Gov. Gary Locke is being considered for the Commerce Secretary's job.That's been a tough one for Obama to fill. New Mexico Gov. Bill…

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THURSDAY, FEB. 19, 2009


Renew what?

Campaign yard signs for Spokane School proposed ballot measures say one way the public can “Vote Yes for Kids” on March 10 is to renew a bond issue. But that’s not quite accurate, even a co-chairwoman of the bond issue campaign concedes. Spokane School District…

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



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