Didn't take long for the left and the right to grab onto a two-word outburst during President Obama's speech Wednesday night.Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., called the White House to apologize for shouting "You lie," when Obama was talking about health care and illegal immigrants. But…
Democrats apparently like to watch President Obama in groups. The Democratic National Committee, through the Organizing for America campaign operation, is organizing "watch parties" around the country to view Obama's address tonight to a joint session of Congress tonight, including one in Spokane.It's at Toad…
Spokane is smarter than Tacoma, Everett, Bellevue and Salem, but not smarter than Eugene or Seattle.At least, that's what the Natural Resources Defense Council says in its latest lists of "smarter cities," which ranks small, medium and large cities on the environmental intelligence.Spokane ranked sixth…
Southeastern Washington legislative candidate Susan Fagan picked up the endorsement of the Republicans' last two gubernatorial nominees.OK, that was just a chance to see if you were paying attention after a three-day weekend. As anyone with a working knowledge of Washington politics knows, the same…
No matter what the weather people tell you, Monday is the end of summer. The kids are back in school and most adults have burned up their vacation. That should mean the start of serious political campaigning and the end of the summer crazies, which…
Groups seeking to have Spokane Valley voters decide whether to get rid of the city they created earlier this decade are giving up their drive to put disincorporation on the ballot.Susan Scott of Friends of Spokane Valley said this morning that her organization and Citizens…
The state Supreme Court's ruling that district court judges had the right to hear City of Spokane cases is a big relief for the folks at City Hall. But it has a little boost for one of the municipal court judges face election this November,…
Whether Referendum 71 goes on the November ballot may still be in doubt.An opposition group, Washington Families Standing Together, did what a King County Superior Court judge essentially suggested it do Tuesday, filing for an injunction in Thurston County over questions about the validity of…
That big sigh you heard Thursday morning was from City Hall.It was prompted by the state Supreme Court ruling that Spokane County district court judges had the authority to try cases for the city under an agreement between the city and county governments. The decision…
With the post below, Spin Control returns from a (mostly) two-week hiatus during which primary contributor Jim Camden was on vacation and furlough, and Jonathan Brunt was filling in whenever possible.Thanks to everyone who kept the comments going during the period of "light blogging."
Referendum 71 should go on the November ballot. So says Secretary of State Sam Reed. So says King County Superior Court Judge Julie Spector.Reed certified the voters' opportunity to repeal the "everything but marriage" law Wednesday. That was pretty much a given because his office…
Spokane City Councilman Al French appears to be readying for a 2010 election, but what that election is, he won't say. "I look forward to serving as long as the public will allow me to serve," French said in an interview on Thursday. Earlier this…
The debate over Municipal Court Judge Tracy Staab’s residency isn’t going away. A memo circulated with local GOP leaders indicates that Spokane City Councilwoman Nancy McLaughlin, who is active in the party, has questioned the party’s decision to oppose Staab’s candidacy. Party leaders formally opposed…
Fresh off a fourth-place finish for a City Council seat, former Councilman Steve Eugster said he will run in 2011 for City Council president.Eugster said he was encouraged by his finish: "I got 1,800 votes, and I didn't even spend a nickel," he said in…
Town hall meetings are under the microscope this August as some members of Congress find hostile constituents waiting when they’re back from Washington, D.C. Liberals and conservatives argue whether the town halls represent the general public mood or ginned up outrage. In truth, they may…
Jon Snyder must be smiling with the latest counts from Tuesday's primary.What was virtually a tie on election night between him and incumbent Spokane City Councilman Mike Allen has become an easy win for him. Since Tuesday's count, he has gotten 455 more votes than…
Mike Allen and Jon Snyder are virtually tied in tonight's primary election tally for Spokane City Council.Though Allen is in second place by a hair, he has some reason to feel good about the numbers. Kristina Sabestinas finished a strong third, and her conservative supporters…
Clock is ticking down to the deadline for turning in ballots for primary elections all over Washington state.Most of the primaries are for city or town councils, school or fired district boards. But there's a hot five-way race for an open state representative seat in…
There are so many statements about what health care reform will or won't do, it's hard to keep up.Set up death panels?Raise taxes?Mandate sex change operations?Town hall meetings aren't really the best place to get questions answered, or to separate the fact from the fiction.…
For those of you who like your news to music, and your talking heads with someone else's words put in their mouths, we offer Auto-Tune the News.
For those of you who were otherwise occupied Sunday morning, the news shows focused on -- what else? -- health care reform. Here's the distilled version from TalkingPointsMemo.
Bad news for “birthers”, those people who think Barack Obama isn’t legally president because he wasn’t born in the United States: Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers isn’t on your side. Birthers may have briefly harbored hope – and people who think the whole idea is crazy…
More talk of "death panels" on TalkingPointsMemo's day in 100 seconds.To be fair, no one in Colville at Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers' town hall meetings this week -- not her, not the audience -- used the term "death panel"... unless you count me in an…
Think you saw Air Force One flying low over the West Plains this afternoon? Well, you weren't hallucinating.One of two planes used by the president as Air Force One did land at Fairchild Air Force Base Thursday afternoon. It's at the base for two days…
Fear and loathing on the town hall circuit, which if you believe the national broadcast and cable news talking heads, is everywhere. Truth be told, not quite everywhere: in Colville yesterday, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers was met with some pointed questions, but there was no…
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