Not everyone found mayor’s speech riveting

Here’s some free advice for Mayor Jim West or anyone else planning to address the Spokane City Council on matters of momentous import: Be careful who’s in the seats behind you.

This isn’t a suggestion that the mayor needs to watch his back, but rather an observation from West’s speech last Monday in which he wanted to regale the council on the yearly accomplishments of the city. OK, so he made his last state of the city address in January, so it was more of a third quarter state of the city address, but why quibble?

One didn’t have to trek to the City Hall basement for the speech because Cable Channel 5 was piping the event to homes around Spokane anxious to hear what he had to say. (Shame on you for watching football instead.)

Members of local Boy Scout and Cub Scout troops, who had come to the meeting for the opening Pledge of Allegiance, had plunked themselves in the good seats near the front – and right behind hizzoner – apparently to get up close and personal with their local government. Problem was, they reached their limit in a hurry.

The longer the mayor talked, the more the kids fidgeted. Soon the movement of the Cub Scouts got to be more entertaining – or at least more distracting – than the speech. Which cherubic face would be the next to roll his eyes? Yawn? Chew a knuckle or gnaw a fingernail? Get that look that says, “Hey, I’m on the big TV screen up there”? Go comatose? Grab his neck like he was being strangled by all this representative democracy?

Maybe the Scout leaders want to rethink how long they hang around after “… with liberty and justice for all.”

Keeping it in perspective

After USA Today listed her as a White House prospect last week, Rep. Cathy McMorris was clearly not letting it go to her head. If anything, she was embarrassed by the unexpected suggestion.

Only time will tell if the newspaper’s unnamed sources have a crystal ball, but if history holds, being named as vice presidential timber is a sure way for a Washington politician to not end up a heartbeat away from the Oval Office.

Dan Evans showed up on some lists after he bucked a Democratic tide in 1964 and won the governor’s mansion as a Republican, then got re-elected two times. Democratic Govs. Booth Gardner and Gary Locke were mentioned as veep possibilities at various times. Tom Foley was mentioned for years, as he worked his way up from House Agriculture Committee chairman through the House leadership ranks, but once he was on the track to the speakership, there was no way he was going to give that up for the vice presidency.

When some Beltway pundit opined, however, that Foley was unlikely to step down as speaker to take the presidency, he just laughed. First of all, if that happened it would be his duty to follow the Constitution, he said, even if it was for a short portion of a term.

Besides, he added, however difficult and strenuous the presidency might be, it would result in one of the best jobs in the world: Former president of the United States.

They get all kinds of perks, like their own presidential library and great book deals.

On the shelves in time for Christmas

Christine Gregoire won the election, eventually, and got to be governor. Dino Rossi lost the election, eventually, and got to be … an author.

Rossi has a new book coming out next month, with his musings on business, politics and family. The Web site touting the book contains endorsements from former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, U.S. Sen. John McCain and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselback, who lauds Dino as “a great team player.”

Nothing against Rossi’s writing abilities (since the book isn’t even out yet) but wouldn’t it be better if Hasselback were reading up on opposing teams’ defense?

Catch the candidates

The Chase Youth Commission will grill Spokane and Spokane Valley council candidates on youth issues, then hold a mock election to show how they did.

Spokane City Council candidates are scheduled for a forum that begins at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the City Hall council chambers.

Valley City Council candidates are set for 6 p.m. Oct. 24 in the Valley Community Center Auditorium.

Note to candidates: Show up prepared and on time. Your panelists will be just a few hours out of school, where they are expected to do their homework and get dinged when they are tardy.

About those elections

Secretary of State Sam Reed, who is the state’s elections honcho, will be talking about changes in the way we vote, and what that might mean for cities, counties and other local districts, at an upcoming Spokane City Forum luncheon.

He’ll be at the First Presbyterian Church at 11:45 a.m. Oct. 26. Lunch is $8.50 ($5 for students); reservations are available by calling 777-1555.