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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spin Control archive for Jan. 1, 2008

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 31, 2008

TUESDAY, DEC. 30, 2008

A rare East Sider win

Peter Goldmark is a rarity in statewide politics, the Washington secretary of state's office confirmed today: An East Sider who won a statewide office.Now it's true that Goldmark did set up a residence in Seattle for the campaign, and did better in Western Washington counties…

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SATURDAY, DEC. 20, 2008

FRIDAY, DEC. 19, 2008

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 17, 2008

MONDAY, DEC. 15, 2008

Rep. Hailey resigning

Republican Steve Hailey of Mesa is resigning his 9th District House seat because cancer is leaving him unable to do the job.In a letter to Gov. Chris Gregoire late last week, Hailey wrote his "health is such that I cannot represent the interests of my…

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Spokane Republicans pick new leaders

A stand-room-only crowd selected new leaders for the Spokane County Republican Party on Saturday.Cindy Zapotocky was elected county chairwoman, and Dave Stevens vice chairman.Curt Fackler, outgoing chairman, said the crowd was bigger than expected, and bigger than the county commissioners meeting room, which he'd booked…

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FRIDAY, DEC. 12, 2008

That was the week that was

Rod Blagojavich, the governor of Illinois was arrested, released on bail and back at his desk.Barack Obama, the former junior senator of Illinois, said he had no knowledge the governor was trying to sell his old job, and called for the gov to resign.President Bush…

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THURSDAY, DEC. 11, 2008

Shogan to public: Behave or be gone

City Council President Joe Shogan will enforce a new level of decorum at council meetings, starting Monday.Anyone caught dissing the mayor, the council, individual council members or the staff will be warned once, then shown the door. Shogan issued a new edict Thursday, a "No…

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Hastings GOP head of committee

Rep. Doc Hastings was named today the top Republican on the House Natural Resources Committee.The appointment represents the Tri-Cities Republican's return to a committee that has a fair amount to do with the Inland Northwest. Federal lands are part of the panel's purview, as is…

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WEDNESDAY, DEC. 10, 2008

Today's video: from the Xmas war front

It was bound to happen. Someone would take video from the state Capitol, put it to Christmas music, and post it on YouTube.Here's something that just hit the Web today. (And we should note that colleague and Olympia Bureau Chief Rich Roesler can be seen…

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TUESDAY, DEC. 9, 2008

You better watch out

Another sign that yuletide is nigh, just like carols in department store and Bill O'Reilly complaining about a war on Christmas.State officials are set to warn people to check out charities before they contribute.Secretary of State Sam Reed and Attorney General Rob McKenna will hold…

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MONDAY, DEC. 8, 2008

Border Patrol horses to step lively

The Inland Northwest didn't really go for Barack Obama in the presidential election. The landscape outside the Spokane city limits was pretty red.No matter. The region will be represented in the inaugural parade next month when he gets sworn in.The Border Patrol's Spokane Sector will…

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SUNDAY, DEC. 7, 2008

That was the week that was

Bill O'Reilly declared war on Christine Gregoire, and generated much more attention to an atheist's Christmas display.The latest from O'Reilly on the Capitol display.How'd this all start? Click here.Spokane County finally found out who won the 6th Legislative District race. (Hint: it was the guy…

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THURSDAY, DEC. 4, 2008

Final recount total: Driscoll by 72 votes

Democratic challenger John Driscoll won – again –over Republican Rep. John Ahern at the end of a hand recount of nearly 76,000 ballots in Spokane’s 6th Legislative District.After about two days in which teams of election workers watched by party volunteers checked 75,947 ballots, the…

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Today's videos: More from the Xmas War Front

It's great to be popular, and Washington state's Capitol holiday displays certainly are popular on the cable news talking head shows.Bill O'Reilly made the holiday displays in the Washington Capitol his "Talking Point" Wednesday night. He wants Gov. Chris Gregoire to take the atheists' display…

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WEDNESDAY, DEC. 3, 2008

Recount update

This just in from Spokane County Elections HQ:As of 2 p.m., elections workers, under the watchful eyes of partisan observers, have counted 36,575 ballots from 41 precincts.There has been no change in the totals for John Driscoll or John Ahern.There is one precinct that has…

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TUESDAY, DEC. 2, 2008

Let the recount begin

The recount of some 76,000 ballots in the 6th Legislative District race begins about 1 p.m.County elections staff spent the morning separating ballots into precincts, and will start checking the votes, precinct-by-precinct, this afternoon under the watchful eyes of political party observers.Elections Manager Mike McLaughlin…

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MONDAY, DEC. 1, 2008

SUNDAY, NOV. 23, 2008

TW3 and videos for the weekend

That was the week that wasObama picked Richardson for Commerce, Napolitano for Homeland Security, Holder for Attorney General, Daschle for Health & Human Services, and (probably) Hillary, for State. For commentary on the picking, click here. Sarah Palin pardoned one turkey, but the rest of…

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FRIDAY, NOV. 21, 2008

Today's odd video: Gobbling it up

Can't quite call this one a fun video. (Be warned, it's pretty gross, particularly if you don't know how meat gets to your local supermarket.)The back story: Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin goes to a turkey farm and pardons a turkey in honor of Thanksgiving. While…

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THURSDAY, NOV. 20, 2008

A very cautious guy

State Rep. Joel Kretz, R-Wauconda, seems perfect for the Number 2 spot in the conservative GOP House caucus. How conservative is he? Consider this quote from his press release announcing he'd been named Deputy House GOP leader:“Once the votes were tallied in my district, I…

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The Spokesman-Review's political team keeps a critical eye on local, state and national politics.



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