Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Shutdown A Gutsy Gop Move

Let’s have several helpings of Hot Potatoes for the whiners out there who fretted about the federal government’s shutdown. What’s that you say? The government (sniff!) was shut down (sniff!) because Newt Gingrich got a bad plane ride to the Middle East (honk!)? Horsefeathers. A shutdown was the only way Newt, Bob Dole, et al., could get this president to keep his word on balancing the budget. Bill Clinton has been promising balanced budgets out of both sides of his mouth ever since he became a candidate - in seven years, nine years and, finally, 10 years. But his idea of a “balanced budget” adds at least $1 trillion in debt over five years and an additional $100 billion in annual interest payments. This six-day “train wreck” wasn’t government as usual. It was a gutsy effort by the new Congress to get this country’s financial house in order, finally, and to protect our children and grandchildren’s futures. … Seriously, how many of you were affected by the feds’ holiday?

Wilbur pervert deserves punishment

What would you do with a 16-year-old sicko who had filmed your daughter or sister undressing for a sports event? School district officials in Wilbur, Wash., are wrestling with that question. Rightly, they’re not dismissing the action as a “boys will be boys” prank. Seems our teenage pervert rigged a remote-control camera in a locker room to film female classmates undressing for basketball games. And he might have made copies for his pals. Movie producers make money promoting this kind of “Animal House” voyeurism, but it’s not funny in real life. This boy should be expelled so he can begin his career on the trash-talk TV circuit. Next on Sicky Ricki: “Peeping Toms and Girls They Repulse.”

Vandals living up to their name

The Idaho Board of Education has ended football as we’ve known it in the Gem State. Coaches at the three Idaho universities must be wringing their hands and wondering how they can compete after the board approved a policy requiring inmates - er, athletes - to report criminal charges or convictions. The board also banned coaches from recruiting players with felony convictions. Since 1992, 17 Boise State players have been charged with crimes ranging from battery to alcohol-related offenses. The University of Idaho has 10 players with rap sheets. Meanwhile, two players were kicked off the Idaho State University team recently after allegedly having consensual sex with 14-year-olds. Seems UI founding fathers proved psychic in choosing the school mascot: Vandals.

, DataTimes MEMO: Interactive editor Doug Floyd’s “Bagpipes” column will return next week. D.F. Oliveria’s “Hot Potatoes” column runs Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Idaho edition of The Spokesman-Review. You can comment on the items by calling (800) 344-6718 or (208) 765-7125.

Interactive editor Doug Floyd’s “Bagpipes” column will return next week. D.F. Oliveria’s “Hot Potatoes” column runs Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Idaho edition of The Spokesman-Review. You can comment on the items by calling (800) 344-6718 or (208) 765-7125.