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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

The Hot Seat A Weekly Look At People In The News

Obviously, this is a man’s party

Highly paid, high profile, mainstream media mogul Cal Thomas has told Bob Dole to get out of the way. Thomas was embarrassed by Dole’s interview on “Larry King Live.” Dole’s wife Elizabeth had the nerve to speak during the interview, causing Thomas to blow a gasket. He compared Elizabeth Dole, former head of the Red Cross, to Kathie Lee Gifford, former head of nothing important. Then he skewered Dole again for inviting New York Rep. Susan Molinari, a moderate, to give the keynote address at the national convention. Why don’t women like these guys?

We must protect the olfactory impaired

The Spokane County Health Board wants restaurants to use traffic signal colors to warn customers about second-hand smoke in dining areas. Anyone with a nose knows a smoky restaurant when they walk in the door. So, this is either pressure from the noseless lobby or just a bad idea. What about smokeless restaurants that are noisy enough to break eardrums? Or, parking-impaired restaurants that force diners to traverse crosswalks in a town full of red-light runners? This board has too much time on its hands.

Where have you gone, Joe Dimaggio, er, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar?

True Laker fans feel the signing of Shaquille O’Neal like a tequila hangover. It’s not the money. If the Lakers want to spend two hundred thousand, bazillion, dollars that’s their business. But they could at least buy someone who fits the Laker tradition. Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, Magic Johnson and the greatest clutch shooter ever, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar were enthusiastic, talented, classy players. For his size O’Neal is an average with an above-average ego. He has no outside game, plays weak defense and he can’t make a free-throw to save his life. O’Neal is not a Laker. Never will be. , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 3 photos

MEMO: The Hot Seat is an irreverent look at controversial issues in the news. The views expressed are those of the writer. Today’s Hot Seat was written by Scott Sines.

The Hot Seat is an irreverent look at controversial issues in the news. The views expressed are those of the writer. Today’s Hot Seat was written by Scott Sines.