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  • Letters: January 2, 2020

    Jan 2, 2020

    American heroes? Representative Cathy McMorris-Rodgers, like all members of Congress, took an oath to protect and defend the Constitution. Despite this, she and all House Republicans voted against impeachment of President Trump! Maybe, because she knew the impeachment articles would pass without her support, she chose not to stick her neck out. So much for the oath she took, huh? Russia has and still is undermining us and sowing confusion across the world. McMorris-Rodgers seems to recognize the danger because she has voted in favor of...

  • The President Goes to Trial

    Frank Watson, Freelance Columnist|Jan 2, 2020

    Before I get into the merits of the case, let me say that I am no fan of Donald Trump. Never have been and probably never will be. He is crass, rude and acts like an immature bully. He is everything that you would not want in a diplomat. I can understand why people don’t like him. On the other hand, I agree with him on many issues. For far too long, our friends and allies have taken advantage of our generosity. China uses trade as a weapon. Our national debt is growing out of control, and our lack of border security threatens our s...

  • Boeing Needs Strong Tailwinds

    Don C. Brunell, Freelance Columnist|Jan 2, 2020

    As we launch into 2020 and the ensuing decade, Boeing faces very strong head winds which are major concerns for those of us living in the Pacific Northwest. Things are vastly different now. In my first column of 2019, I wrote that Boeing was poised to have its best year ever. It had strong tail winds propelling it. It would build upon a very successful 2018. Its 737 Max was selling like hot cakes to hungry airlines and plans were in the works to expand production at the Renton assembly plant....

  • Letters to Santa

    Dec 26, 2019

    Dear Santa, How are you Santa? How is Mrs. Claus and the raindeer? Santa I have been kind of good Well let's move on Santa. I want a science kit and a camera too. Can I have a microswpe. Thank you Santa. Can I have a locker for my doll? thank you Santa. Love, Ella Dear Santa How are you? I would like Jurassic world figures and a microphone and a dinosaur I have been good! Love, Thomas Dear Santa, How are you Santa? How is Rudolph? I hare bun good. Now the toys..I L.O.L next a stuffed sort toy dog and a Rudolph plush for Christmas. How is the...

  • Yes, Virginia

    Dec 26, 2019

    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 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 children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect...

  • Christmas Donations

    Dec 26, 2019

  • Boris and Donald The

    Bob Franken, Syndicate Columnist|Dec 26, 2019

    How fitting it was that on Friday the 13th, Boris Johnson trundled over to Buckingham Palace and received permission from the queen to form his government. Fitting because it was bad luck for those who had fading hopes of somehow stopping Brexit before it actually happened, and really bad luck for those who put up a fight against Boris Johnson. He’s a serial liar and buffoon, but he had the incredibly good fortune to run against Jeremy Corbin, someone the British people despise even more than Johnson. His Conservatives were pitted against a L...

  • Homeless Encampments and the Constitution

    Rich Lowry, National Review Editor|Dec 26, 2019

    The Supreme Court just ensured that the nation’s homelessness crisis will continue. The court declined to take up an appeal of a ruling by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, covering the western United States, that homeless encampments are a de facto constitutional right. In the case, stemming from a Boise, Idaho, ordinance, the 9th Circuit maintained that enforcing a prohibition against camping in public places is a violation of the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. A quick reminder. The Eighth Amendment says, “Exc...

  • Surprised

    Dec 26, 2019

    I was a bit surprised by Colleen Winchester’s hate-filled open letter to Cathy McMorris Rogers. I was more even more surprised by what triggered her anger. A Constituency email survey on robocalls? Really? It seems that these days the most minuscule action or inaction will trigger some folks. It seems some folks will hatefully protest, calling their political opponents the most vile of names (I am not saying Ms. Winchester would ever do that―I certainly trust she would not―but some folks do) and at the same time claim they are hearing “dog...

  • Taking a train to the Apple Cup

    Jerry Jones, Gazette Editor|Dec 26, 2019

    Contrasts between the east and west sides of Washington State can be identified in many shapes and forms. This one deals with modes for going to a football game, and probably other games. November's Apple Cup game this year was at Husky Stadium, the hallowed ground on Montlake Boulevard which runs along the eastern side of the University of Washington campus. During years when the Apple Cup is at Husky Stadium, Cougar fans face the challenge of getting to the stadium and getting back from the...

  • Not too late

    Gordon Forgey, Gazette Publisher|Dec 19, 2019

    Precious few days remain for getting ready for Christmas. Gifts, food, decorations and everyday chores are just a few of the tasks ahead. Some people are done and ready for the celebration. For the rest of us, a lot remains to be finished. It is not too late, however, to gift your local town. Last minute shopping is something that is easy and important. Most local merchants take pride in providing for their local customers. The local businesses may not have marble floors and fountains, but they do have much of what is wanted and needed for the...

  • Democrats Are Own Worst Enemy

    Bob Franken, Syndicate Columnist|Dec 19, 2019

    For a town where friendship is really a matter of expedience, where Best Friends Forever, or "BFF" in kiddie talk, has become "BFT," Best Friends Temporarily, we sure have conjured up many sound bites about friendship. "You want a friend in Washington?" said Harry Truman, "Get a dog." Unless, of course, Fido can get tastier kibbles elsewhere. How about this one? "The enemy of my enemy is my friend." That one captures the transactional nature of geopolitical friendship. Collaborators in one battle can shift to adversaries in an instant. The...

  • Election Too Important to be Left to Voters

    Rich Lowry, National Review Editor|Dec 19, 2019

    The Democrats believe that the 2020 election is too important to be left to the voters. It's obvious that President Donald Trump withheld defense aid to Ukraine to pressure its president to commit to the investigations that he wanted, an improper use of his power that should rightly be the focus of congressional investigation and hearings. Where the Democrats have gotten tangled up is trying to find a justification that supports the enormous weight of impeaching and removing a president for the first time in our history. They've cycled through...

  • Pet Peeves and Okeydokes

    Dec 19, 2019

    Okeydokes: The beautiful Andrew Wyeth tones on the farm land. Frosty farms......

  • Letters: December 19, 2019

    Dec 19, 2019

    Dear Rep.Cathy McMorris Rogers, I received an email from you recently asking me to fill out a survey about robo calls. You must be joking. With all the terribly important things going on in this county, you are sending me surveys about robo calls? Do you have so little respect for your constituency? Our democracy is imploding. The Republican Party has lost any semblance of a backbone or ability to feel shame. This administration is alienating our allies and kowtowing to men like Vladimir Putin, putting us all at risk. The president has...

  • Bridges Shouldn't Have to Sink to be Replaced

    Don C. Brunell, Freelance Columnist|Dec 19, 2019

    Bridges shouldn’t have to sink to be replaced. However, at times that’s what it takes. Too often new projects succumb to years of fighting among interest groups and endless political bickering. In 2013, opposition killed Columbia Crossings project which was formed to construct a replacement I-5 bridge across the Columbia River connecting Vancouver and Portland. We all want more roads and bridges as long as they are in the other persons’ neighborhood and someone else pays. But that attit...

  • Christmas is Special

    Frank Watson, Freelance Columnist|Dec 19, 2019

    During the decade or so that I taught English to high school freshmen, I would adjust my teaching schedule to begin a block on poetry a few weeks before winter vacation. Poetry needs to be heard to be appreciated, thus, I would begin and end each class period by reading a poem aloud. The last day before holiday break, I would read Clement Moore’s epic that begins “Twas the night before Christmas.” This poem defines the American version of Santa Claus. We would then read and discuss some other traditional Christmas poems and song lyrics. I concl...

  • On The Record: December 19, 2019

    Dec 19, 2019

    REAL ESTATE Christina Wellman and Katrinka Hibler, Shelton, to Brett Shirley, lot B in Cumberland Short Plat No. 1, Pullman, $34,000, Dec. 10. Thanh-Xuan and Trong Nguyen, Pullman, to Zhongwei and Xin Tang, multi-family residence on NW Thomas, Pullman, $240,000, Dec. 10. Mathew Chaplin for the estate of Keith Lincoln, Austin, Texas, to John Egner and Ann Elizabeth Willgrube, house on SE Crestview, Pullman, $550,000, Dec. 12. Richard Richter, trustee for the Richter Notre Dame Charitable Remainder Unitrust, to AH and CJ Properties, Coeur...

  • Bloomberg: The Power and Pitfalls of Money

    Bob Franken, Syndicate Columnist|Dec 12, 2019

    This will be sacrilege to "Never Trumpers," but Michael Bloomberg and Donald Trump share some similarities. It is true that Bloomberg's charitable foundation actually does good work, while Donald Trump had to pay a $2 million fine for basically using his for self-promotion. And it is true that Bloomberg has financed gun control efforts, while Trump, as president, has groveled before the National Rifle Association. It is also true that Donald now calls himself a Republican -- in fact, he's taken over the party -- but he has switched between...

  • Party Lines

    Dec 12, 2019

    Donald Trump is close to being impeached by the House of Representatives. Hearings continued on Monday, but it is almost a forgone conclusion that Articles of Impeachment will be approved in committee by the end of the week and then voted on by the full House next week. The House, of course, is dominated by Democrats. Should the Articles of Impeachment be voted in, then they will go to the Senate. At that point, a “trial” will be conducted in the Senate. The Senate then votes on whether or not the president should be removed from office. The...

  • Titanic

    Dec 12, 2019

  • Our Faltering Social Vitality

    Rich Lowry, National Review Editor|Dec 12, 2019

    The economy is in robust good health, but our social fabric isn't. By two basic measures of social vitality, births and deaths, American society is faltering. Both the fertility rate and life expectancy are declining, in a sign that people feel less secure and, in some cases, have no hope at all. We are attuned to headline-grabbing economic statistics -- GDP growth, the unemployment rate, wages -- as monthly and quarterly metrics of American well-being, but they aren't as telling as these more fundamental indicators. To put it bluntly,...

  • Pet Peeves and Okeydokes: December 12, 2019

    Dec 12, 2019

    YYYY Well done Colfax. All of the businesses decorated and inviting to customers for Winterfest. You should be proud. WELL DONE....

  • Letters: December 12, 2019

    Dec 12, 2019

    Nigerian Christmas Nigerian Christians celebrate Christmas in special ways. If possible, most return to the village of their ancestors, even those living abroad. Beginning early on Christmas day, goats are brought to slaughter, and then the cooking and feasting begins. Children are all around, and there is a competition among grandmothers as to which “compound” is the noisiest, i.e. has the most people returning for the celebration. The day is spent attending church, feasting, visiting, discussing and arguing various topics including pol...

  • Leach Correction:

    Dec 12, 2019

    WSU Coach Mike Leach is finishing his eighth season as head football coach at WSU. Last week's editorial incorrectly said he was finishing his seventh season....

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