Video: Loused up in translation
It would appear the White House does not have anyone who speaks colloquial Russian. Should that be a cause for concern, when the phone rings at 3 a.m.?
Spin Control
TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2009
Bond issues will validate
The first ballot counts won't be available until shortly after 8 p.m. tonight, but one thing is certain with the Spokane city and District 81 bond issue proposals.They will validate, if they get enough yes votes.Ballot return figures from the Spokane County Elections Office shows…
MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2009
RPS critics try to scuttle Ormsby nomination
A former Spokane mayor and other critics of the River Park Square project are opposing the nomination of a local lawyer to be the next U.S. attorney for Eastern Washington because of his involvement in the mall renovation some 10 years ago. Former Mayor John…
Tuesday is election day for much of the county
Voters in nine Spokane area school districts and the city of Spokane have tax measures they are being asked to cast ballots on by Tuesday evening. Most Spokane city voters have four measures on their ballot. The Spokane School District, which covers much of the…
Today's Fun Videos: SNL bipartisan shots
Saturday Night Live had better than normal politcal satire this weekend. Of course, they've got lots to work with. They took shots at Republicans and Democrats such as:The Michael Steele - Rush Limbaugh flap:Timothy Geithner trying to get a handle on the economy:.
SUNDAY, MARCH 8, 2009
Not to butt in on benches, but
Let me get this straight. The Spokane Transit Authority wants benches at its bus stops. A company that sells advertising has benches at many of those bus stops, where it rents the bench backs as signs for its ad customers. The city doesn’t like signs…
That was the week that was
Although there was a lot going on in national politics -- economic stimulus money pumping out to the states, an omnibus spending bill that crashed and burned in Congress, new rules on bankruptcy -- the national political media had one mantra last week.All Rush, all…
FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2009
Stimulus money for law enforcement
More than $1.5 million in federal money is being offered to law enforcement agencies in Spokane and Kootenai counties for new equipment, training or personnel. The money, part of the economic stimulus package, was added to an existing program known as the Edward Byrne Justice…
Gray wolves off Endangered List
U.S. Interior Secretary Kenneth Salazar is taking the gray wolf off the endangered species list in Idaho and other Western states.Wolves have recovered and don't need ESA protection, Salazar said. Management plans are being turned over to the states everywhere but in Wyoming, where the…
Today's fun video: If you missed Thursday
You may or may not have missed much. Here's the TalkingPointsMemo synopsis. Judge for yourself.
THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2009
Video: Cantwell grills Geithner over AIG
During the Senate's hearing Wednesday over the AIG bailout, Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., asked Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to explain "where did the money go?" The exchange below is interesting, but not terribly illuminating.
Today's fun video: Stewart raps CNBC
Jon Stewart on the Daily Show points out a few bad calls by CNBC, after Rick Santelli's outburst against "loser" homeowners.The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10cCNBC Gives Financial AdviceDaily Show Full EpisodesImportant Things With Demetri MartinPolitical HumorJoke of the Day…
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2009
That's 2 for the school campaign
The people supporting the ballot measures for the Spokane School District seem to be intent on proving that the community needs to be spending more money on education. It seems they would not last long on that FOX-TV game show, "Are You Smarter Than a…
Fun video: Tuesday was All Rush?
So it would seem from TalkingPointsMemo's quick look at the day.
TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2009
About that "stimulus package" clinic
The White House and Washington state's two Democratic senators were very happy to announce this week that a small piece of the stimulus package was headed to Spokane for a new medical clinic.Community Health Association of Spokane was awarded a $1.3 million grant Monday from…
Getting a Rush: The GOP leadership debate 3
After the weekend's Conservative Political Action Committee meeting, the biggest talking point revolves around Rush Limbaugh and his role as the "leader" of the Republican Party.Go inside the blog to view some of the videos that are fueling the debate.
MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2009
$1.3 million for CHAS
The Community Health Association of Spokane will get $1.3 million from the economic stimulus package, although the organization that operates five local clinics isn't sure yet how the money is to be used. The White House and Washington’s two U.S. senators announced Monday the money…
Fun video: Quick look at Monday
The 100-second look, courtesy of TalkingPointsMemo.
Video: In case you slept in Sunday...
...or went to church, and missed the weekend "talking head shows" here's the TalkingPointsMemo short version, that highlights Obama's stylistic differences in cabinet meetings, and Rush Limbaugh's role in the GOP:
SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 2009
Who's really marching to a different drummer?
Above photo first appeared on SteveQuayle.com, attributed to "Pam"A platoon of reservists from the 455th Engineering Co. took a walk down a street in Hayden, Idaho, last month and made a right turn into the blogosphere. Out there, they inadvertently fan the flame for folks…
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…
FRIDAY, FEB. 27, 2009
Fun video: Friday (so far) in review
Fresh off the screen from TalkingPointsMemo, the quick look at Friday.
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…
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…
Video: Obama announces Iraq drawdown
President Obama announced today the United States will be bringing combat troops home from Iraq by next August.
The Spokesman-Review's political team keeps a critical eye on local, state and national politics.