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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spin Control archive for Jan. 1, 2009

MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2009

Today's fun video: White GOP rapper 

Something you may have thought you'd never see or hear: a White Republican rapper.Hi-Caliber is a former Jersey construction worker. So what do you think? Should he get a contract, cut some CDs and tour? Or should he not have quit his day job?

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SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2009


Roberts leans on Lincoln

MOSCOW, Idaho – John Roberts isn’t too concerned that more people can name the judges on “American Idol” than can name him or the other members of the U.S. Supreme Court. “It’s nice to be not always recognizable,” the chief justice of the United States…

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 (The Spokesman-Review)

Two bond issues, two results

Asking for voters for more money in a recession is a difficult task. The government entities that made that request last week probably didn’t know how bad the economy was going to look by election day, so most of them had to be at least…

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THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2009

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2009

This is a revised version of the map showing the difference between yes votes for the District 81 school bond issue and yes votes for the city's public safety bond issue. (The Spokesman-Review)

The difference between bond issues

Although it's too early to declare the Spokane School District's bond issue a winner, it is clear that it did considerably better than the City of Spokane's bond issue.It pulled more votes out of almost every city precinct that the two proposals shared. Sometimes lots…

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Come on by

Sen. Patty Murray wants the nation's new energy czar to come West for a visit.A visit to the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, that is. At a budget hearing Wednesday, Murray, D-Wash., extended the invite to Energy Secretary Steven Chu to stop by Hanford and the Pacific…

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Left wing, right wing, middle of the bird? 

The National Journal has developed a great resource for figuring out where your congressional delegation stands on on the political spectrum, an interactive graphic that combines the scores of several rating groups, then ranks the honorables with their photos.Rating systems aren't new, of course, but…

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TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2009

 (The Spokesman-Review)

Dist 81 bond cruises

The Spokane School District bond issue received strong support all over the city. Even in parts of the city where it didn't receive the required super majority, voters in many precincts gave it a simple majority.Note that some of the strongest support comes in areas…

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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…

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MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2009



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:.

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2009


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…

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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…

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