What’S An Occasional Expletive Between, Ahem, Friends, Right?

Thu., Sept. 7, 2000

The word’ has us J-birds tied up in knots. You know, the one Dubya used to describe Adam Clymer of the New York Times. The Times called it “an obscenity.” The Washington Times said it was a euphemism for “rectal aperture.” The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times and USA Today printed it. The Spokesman-Review printed it, too. Any journalist worth his salt has been called a “major league $*#&+!.” It goes with the territory. We’re to comfort the afflicted, afflict the comfortable. Hot Potatoes views “$*#&+!” as a compliment. So, ahem, fans, keep those faxes and e-mails coming.

Keefe catching hell for straight talk

Sweet Potatoes - to Democratic congressional wannabe Tom Keefe for having the guts to stand by a column he wrote last summer that said Republican Slade Gorton isn’t a racist. In doing so, Tom angered the race-baiters in the local Democratic party. Then, it doesn’t take much for the PC Police to get its nose out of joint … (Psst. If you want to encounter real racists, click on “The Buzz” section of spokane.net and read the rantings about any story involving the Aryan Nations trial) … French Fries (or, “Slogans for the Spokane mayor’s race”): 1, John Powers, “I hate The Cowles Gang”; 2, John Talbott, “I hate ‘em more”; 3, Robert Kroboth, “I won’t even talk to ‘em”; and 4, Jim West, “I can learn to hate ‘em if I get the job.”

Sunshine Shelly didn’t forget her roots

Hot Potatoes’ definition of Local Girl Makes Good: Shelly Monahan. Sunshine Shelly, the popular weatherwoman, left KREM-2 to make her fortune a few years back. And did. In Chicago. Now, she’s returned to raise her family. And to do the weather, of course. Contentious Spokane needs a little Sunshine … Bumpersnicker: “Pornography: Rape of the Mind” … A moment of silence, puh-lease - for “Wherever wheels are turning/no matter what the load/the name you’ll hear is Firestone/where the rubber meets the road” … Quotable Quote: “I don’t believe in misdirected or nonsensical violence. But it’s a tool - like a pair of pliers or a hammer. If properly used, I see nothing wrong with it” - Tom Metzger, leader of the White Aryan Resistance, during a break in Aryan Nations trial … This edition of Hot Potatoes was brought to you by the Nos. 98 and 94. Or, the percentage of whites, respectively, in Kootenai and Spokane counties. Or, why’d you think racist Richard Butler relocated up here in the first place?

D.F. Oliveria can be contacted at (800) 344-6718 or (208) 765-7125, or daveo@spokesman.com.

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