The problem with negative politics, an old pol once told me, is it works best when it's at its worst.

You can agree or disagree with that statement on your own. Or you could agree or disagree with other people who might have other thoughts on it.

If the second option interests you more, consider checking out "Dirty Business: A History of Negative Campaign", a discussion sponsored by Humanities Washington Tuesday night at Spokane's No-Li Brewhouse.

You can consider this a shameless plug, because both main contributors to Spin Control are on the panel. Jim Camden, who has covered politics for some 30 years in Washington state, is a panelist, along with Travis Ridout, a professor of politics, philosophy and public affairs at WSU, and Jonathan Brunt, who covers city government, is the moderator.

It is only partly true that they agreed to participate because of the name of this series of discussions. Think and Drink, and were assured that all the thinking doesn't have to happen before any of the drinking.

Think and Drink on negative campaigning starts at 7 p.m. at the No-Li Brewhouse, 1003 E. Trent.

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