Campaign ‘96

Campaign Funnies

The Center for Media and Public Affairs in Washington, D.C., tallies all the jokes made about political personalities during late-night monologues … The report tabulated all 1,232 jokes told by David Letterman, Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien from Jan. 1 through June 15 … and finds that Bob Dole was the target of 311 late-night zingers while President Clinton came in at 243. Bipartisan examples? How about these two from Leno: “One day Dole quits his job and the next he blames Clinton for unemployment”… “Dole quitting the Senate is the greatest sacrifice a politician has made to run for president since Bill Clinton stopped dating.”…

Believe it

An Irvine, Calif.,-based public relations firm surveyed 1,100 people about how much they trust various U.S. institutions … Porter/Novelli found that “credibility in American institutions … has declined dramatically in the past five years.” Sixty-eight percent of respondents said elected officials are less credible than five years ago … 45 percent said the same about the reporters who cover the politicians … 80 percent don’t trust political advertisements. And now, for a real shocker … The tobacco industry received the lowest credibility rating - just slightly behind the managed care industry.

Web Site of the Week

Hailing itself as the “central source on the Internet for the kind of dialogue America so badly needs,” PoliticsUSA offers an online meeting place for candidates and voters … At the site, activists and web enthusiasts can pose questions, register their opinions, and buy political products and publications … Check it out at http:/ /www.politicsusa.com/ POLITICSUSA/about.html.cgi

Alternate site

And now, for something completely different … “Trance expert” Dennis Wier says in a press release that “TV campaign messages contain trance inducing elements and embedded commands, and that’s what politicians want to use in order to get elected …” Those with a burning desire to learn more about how politicians channel their way into office can log onto http:/ /www.trance.ch/trance/index.html.

Catch the Candidates

Tuesday: Jeff Gombosky, Democrat for state representative in Spokane’s 3rd District, at fund-raiser, 5:30 p.m., West Central Community Center, 1603 N. Belt.

Tuesday: Sue Kaun, Democratic candidate for Congress, at a reception, 4:30 p.m. in the Elizabethan Room of the Davenport Hotel, 807 W. Sprague.

Thursday “Soapbox” sponsored by the Spokane League of Women Voters featuring candidates for local, regional and state offices, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Japanese Gardens of Riverfront Park.

Campaign calendar

July 5: Last day to file signatures for state ballot initiatives.

July 6: Last day for minor parties or independent candidates to hold nominating conventions.

July 8: First day to file candidate petitions by mail.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Graphic: How they voted

MEMO: Campaign ‘96 is published regularly during campaign season, and is compiled by Kristina Johnson from staff reports. To submit information on a political event or a question you think the candidates should answer, write us c/o The Spokesman-Review, Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210. Or e-mail to jimc@spokesman.com. Or fax to (509) 459-5482. Or call Cityline at 458-8800 on a Touch-Tone telephone, then press 9893 to leave a message.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Compiled by Kristina Johnson from staff reports