Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Sorted by date Results 1165 - 1189 of 3750
The office of the presidency is known for wearing down the mere mortals who hold it. At the very least, it prematurely ages its occupants. Often, it humiliates them, forcing them to rehabilitate their reputations later (George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter). In the worst case, it chews them up and spits them out (Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon). It is a journalistic trope that this is happening to Donald Trump before our eyes. The media constantly write stories about how the president is panicked and cornered, barely able to handle his duties,...
Our President is crude, crass, undiplomatic and rude. I agree with many of the things he has done, but I have real issues with the way he does them. I think his America First policy is spot on. We have allowed other countries to walk on us too long. I agree with his initiatives to rein in some federal agencies. The EPA has far too much power. They have been allowed to rely on pseudo-science to make arbitrary rules. They needed to be brought into the real world populated with people. I agree with President Trump’s policy to enforce our e...
A famous letter: Dear Editor— I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, "If you see it in The Sun, it's so." Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus? --Virginia O'Hanlon 115 West Ninety Fifth Street 1897 The famous response Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or c...
What's interesting about Washington is how the first rule for its leaders has always been to make sure they don't have to follow many rules. Members of Congress have their "speech or debate" clause of the Constitution, meaning that no matter how they slander someone during their official proceedings, they won't be held legally accountable. Presidents can't be criminally prosecuted while in office without first being impeached and removed. What would normally be called "bribes" are "campaign contributions." Normal standards don't apply here....
Shakespeare famously wrote of the "sceptered isle" of Britain acting as a moat "against the envy of less happier lands." Lately, the less happier lands are winning in a rout. Britain is suffering a political meltdown as it struggles to make good on a historic vote in 2016 to leave the European Union. The decision for a so-called Brexit was a stirring statement of independence and self-government by a people who have defined themselves down the centuries by their stiff-necked resistance to anyone -- whether overweening monarchs or continental...
Oh My Gosh! I didn't think I would ever agree with anything written by Frank Watson. Yes, we are to the point where universal, government sponsored health care is desirable and possible. The easiest way to organize it seems to be Medicare for all. The systems are already in place, we just would need to ramp up the volume. The wealthiest country the world has ever known should be able to figure out a way to pay for it, besides each participant paying a modest amount, as with Medicare. Total elimination of insurance companies is a start. As in...
Once again, an editorial of yours was on the mark. Climate change is here and now. Two scientific studies in the last two months have reiterated what we have been hearing for a couple of decades, only with more urgency. Poland just hosted the 24th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP24). Although the role and influence of our government was diminished from previous years, a large coalition of local leaders and companies from the U.S. collaborated with other nations on ways to reduce...
Pet Peeves Overpriced lukewarm coffee Pothole on Main Street where construction was recently done. Don’t assume, check your facts Okeydokes WSDOT, you made a big difference The Red Brick Cafe re-opening in Rosalia ... great food, family-friendly, clean, cozy atmosphere! Tom & Janelle Stirling - your Christmas decorations are awesome! Winterfest parade in Colfax, pat on the back to Allie and Val! Public Works Department for picking up the doe at the residence on Fairview Street...
Christmas is a difficult time for anyone grieving the death of a loved one. It is especially hard when they were slain in the line-of-duty while protecting our country. It hit home again last month when Army sergeants Eric Emond, 39, Brush Prairie, and Leandro Jasso, 25, Leavenworth, were killed in Afghanistan. Both were experienced, elite soldiers who had served multiple tours in combat zones. Normally, the fallen are remembered on Memorial Day, but thanks to a Maine family and more than...
In 15 or 20 years, some of the youngsters who watched the Christmas Parade last Thursday make its loop on Mill and Main streets in Colfax are certain to be marking Christmas elsewhere. They might be off at a distant military base, or they might be working the swing shift at a large urban hospital. Maybe they will find themselves staring at taillights while repeating a long commute along the I-5 corridor. While at those locations, they might mentally go home for Christmas and think of the 20-plus minutes when they stood out in the cold, dived fo...
Pet Peeves Businesses closed on weekends & weekday shutdowns 2-6 p.m. Okeydokes Winterfest parade, petting zoo and multiple places for hot cocoa. Colfax should be proud....
The word "potpourri" has a few definitions, but for a columnist it means writing about a bunch of unrelated stuff because he's too lazy to come up with an overarching theme. Instead, he'll take a superficial look at several developments. I have long experience doing that because of my career in TV news, where the marching orders were to "Get out there and scratch the surface!" What better frivolous way to begin this potpourri than with that fist bump, or whatever it was, at the G-20 summit in Buenos Aires between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed...
Mitch McConnell just did our constitutional order an enormous favor by burying the so-called Robert Mueller protection bill, hopefully never to rise again. There's been much harumphing about how Republicans are in the tank for President Donald Trump by not getting on board the bipartisan bill, but it is a singularly misbegotten piece of legislation. Plan A, i.e., passing the thing, would have been hard enough. But its supporters apparently didn't think through a need for a Plan B or C: Trump would have vetoed the bill if it passed Congress,...
A reason the petition (Malden petition misses budget vote-Nov. 28) was necessary is because, even after the results of the Felton Hall Survey with many citizens sharing their ideas/comments, even after multiple families spoke at a council meeting regarding the need for park improvements, even after the mayor suggested during the meeting that Brad Harris and myself get together with the others on the issue, even after we did and I delivered ideas/progress/proposals over the next several council meetings, still the mayor/council ignored our...
The good news is Washington’s revenues continue to grow, and projections for the next couple of years appear promising. That is welcome news, but it is sprinkled with caution about introducing new taxes. Our state’s Economic and Revenue Forecast Council (ERFC) quarterly update shows a whopping 17.3 percent increase in state income for the current biennium. That welcome announcement comes just in time for Christmas. For background, Washington’s budget is on a two-year cycle. The current spend...
During the recent mid-term elections, Democrats campaigned extensively and at times quite successfully on health care. The specifics covered a wide spectrum. The recurring theme, however, appeared to be cost. Politicians across the board promised cheaper care. Realistically, care can only be cheaper if we reduce the quality or quantity. Twenty-five years ago, my uncle died of prostate cancer. There was nothing that the medicine of the time could do to save him. Now, however, patients have several treatment options; all of which are expensive....
George H. W. Bush, our 41st president, died last week. He was 94. He had an illustrious career. Although from a patrician family, at 18 he volunteered for the military to become a pilot during World War II. Later he served in the House of Representatives, ambassador, chief of the Central Intelligence Agency and vice president under Ronald Reagan. Then, he was elected president. Wednesday was a National Day of Mourning for him. Since his death, he has been widely lauded for his diplomacy, civility and kindness as well as for his internal...
Pet Peeves People who put studded tires on pickups, you don’t need them, cars do! Adults who gossip about children and judge their parents. Especially school employees Okeydokes The Cougs!...
Forgive my self-indulgence, but at the very start I need to point out that while I may not be young, I am immature. The immature part is familiar to anyone who knows me. But what's important here is that I'm old. So I freely admit that what I'm writing here comes with a bias: The Democrats are guilty of gross age discrimination and, might I add, hypocrisy. It is, after all, the same party that sanctimoniously pretends to oppose all "isms," but obviously that doesn't include ageism. I'm specifically talking about the ones who would fancy themsel...
It's roughly the one-month anniversary of CNN reporter Jim Acosta repeatedly telling President Donald Trump at a press conference that the migrant caravan is "hundreds and hundreds of miles away" and "not an invasion," and objecting to a campaign ad that showed migrants climbing border walls -- "they're not going to be doing that." Now, thousands of migrants from the caravan have arrived in the border city of Tijuana, Mexico, and hundreds of them stormed a border crossing, climbing the fence and throwing rocks. U.S. border agents used tear gas...
The newly released National Climate Assessment highlights the growing and extreme dangers of climate change in every region of the U.S. This week, a bipartisan bill – the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act - was introduced by three Republicans and three Democrats (Whitman County Gazette, 11/29/18.) The bill is a recognition that climate change is a human issue, no matter party or region, and that it’s critical to act now. The Act provides a template for the market itself to significantly bring down climate emissions while sti...
The Council on Aging & Human Services is pleased to report that in fiscal year 2017, 88 percent of all donations and grants entrusted to COAHS went directly to program services. The Finance Committee of the Board of Directors, Don Cox, Duane Gottschalk and myself have worked alongside our Executive Director, Paige Collins, and her talented staff, to ensure that each dollar given to COAHS is used efficiently. We are very proud of this financial metric and wanted to convey this to you, the people of Whitman County. During the upcoming season of...
In response to Mike Largent’s recent letter I’ll take the opportunity to explain Mike’s failure to fully explain circumstances of two (2) commissioner meetings. The first meeting regarding waste/trash, right-of-way encroachment, junk cars and failure to meet zoning requirements in Steptoe was on 4 Sept. 18. Steptoe was zoned in 1980 by commissioners Henning, Henley and Boone. The zoning was reviewed by the current commissioners in 2015. Discussion points were: Art Swannack stated he had discussed the problem with a number of Steptoe resid...
When Congress convenes next year lawmakers must focus on the cost and quality of health care. In November, voters made it clear, health care was on top of their minds. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation a third of voters said it was the “most important” issue. It ranked higher than the economy and jobs. What is driving Americans is their fear of losing health insurance, their home and savings to battle cancer or other life-threatening conditions. According to the Washington Post, our cou...
Something is going to happen about climate change. Just what and when is unknown. This week, a bipartisan bill was introduced in Congress. The prospects that it will be passed are not good, but this is the first bipartisan carbon tax bill in ten years to be considered. The bill will probably be introduced again next year in the House of Representatives. This comes on the heels of the defeat of I-1631 in Washington. That, too, was a carbon tax proposal. Much was wrong with it. In many important regards it was just too vague and too open to...
