Another Dubious Endorsement for Bill Paul

By Tom Forbes | 10/21/09

Another dubious endorsement for Bill Paul in the Pullman City Council, Ward 1 Position 7 race, this time from pest-o-crat-in-chief Liz Siler, in today's Moscow-Pullman Daily News: I support Bill Paul for City Council. As the person who unsuccessfully spearheaded the effort to get the City Council to institute a plastic bag fee, I know it was Paul who suggested it be heard. Bill didn't agree with it, but he took my group's right to petition... read more »

Attorney General McKenna: Fagan's Experience "Sets Her Apart"

By Tom Forbes | 10/19/09

Following is the text of a letter to the editor being sent to 9th Legislative District newspapers by Washington state Attorney General Rob McKenna: I have known Susan Fagan for more than a decade and have been consistently impressed by her depth of knowledge on issues ranging from health care to education to agriculture. She has also impressed me with her ability to bring people together to get things done. For example, she has successfully... read more »

The Dubious Endorsement Award

By Tom Forbes | 10/19/09

Things are starting to get ugly in the Pullman City Council Position 7, Ward 1 race. I supported Bill Paul wholeheartedly in 2005, even though WSU student and Palousitics contributor Josh Coke was probably more deserving.  I voted for Bill back then because of his principled, steadfast stand on the Walmart issue.  Bill, in fact, signed the full page ad that Pullman Walmart supporters took out in the Moscow-Pullman Daily News in... read more »

National Federation of Independent Business Endorses I-1033

By Tom Forbes | 10/19/09

We all know who opposes I-1033: Governor Gregoire, the Washington State Democrats, the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, the Washington Education Association, Washington ACORN, the Sierra Club and every other organization in Washington with its snout deeply buried in the public trough. But how about the folks who actually PAY taxes, the small business owners?  You know, the businesses that represent 99.7... read more »

Red County Whitman County (WA) Election Endorsements

By Tom Forbes | 10/19/09

If you live in Pullman, you should have your ballot by now.  Here's how I am voting: Initiative Measure 1033 - Yes One reason alone to vote for I-1033 would be this outlandish assertion made today by the editors of the Daily Evergreen (my emphasis): The initiative would also use excess general fund revenue to reduce property taxes, which would benefit the one group of people who need the least amount of help – property owners. In... read more »

Five Years On: Lessons Learned from the Walmart Battle for the Next Pullman City Council

By Tom Forbes | 10/15/09

Hard to believe, I know, but this story appeared in the October 6, 2004 edition of the Moscow-Pullman Daily News: Wal-Mart has announced plans to locate a super center on Bishop Boulevard in Pullman, possibly as early as the fall or winter of 2005. "We have been drilling there," said Wal-Mart regional spokesman Eric Berger in Seattle, noting soil samples have been taken. "We look forward to working with the city on plans and... read more »

Jeff Williams and Bill Paul Square Off in Radio Interview

By Tom Forbes | 10/15/09

If you live in city of Pullman, Ward 1, your ballot should be hitting your mailbox either today or tomorrow.  Before you vote for your city council member, I urge you to listen to this interview of Jeff Williams and Bill Paul conducted by reporter Jeff Mannix from Inland Northwest Broadcasting and recently aired on KMAX 840 AM.  It clearly lays out the differences between Jeff and Bill on the issues.   The Daily... read more »

It's the Great Pumpkin, Al Gore

By Tom Forbes | 10/14/09

From today's Moscow-Pullman Daily News: Brad Jaeckel, farm manager for the Washington State University Organic Farm, is facing the worst crop failure he has ever had. "We lost our pumpkin crop, and we lost most of the other greens that were remaining in our fields," he said. The crops were ruined by the freezing temperatures that came earlier than usual this year. The temperature dropped to 18 degrees in the Palouse area on... read more »

Pullman City Council Scores Own Goal On I-1033

By Tom Forbes | 10/14/09

Two weeks ago, the Pullman City Council passed a unanimous resolution opposing revenue-capping, property tax relieving I-1033.  Mayor Glenn Johnson was quoted as saying,"When you do opinion polls, it sounds good to a lot of people to propose to reduce the property taxes, but...it gets really confusing when you start going through it." Last night, the city council discussed something even more confusing:  RAISING our... read more »

Obama Is Nixon, Not Carter

By Tom Forbes | 10/12/09

The standard comparison of Barack Obama has been to Jimmy Carter, particularly after the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to the president last week.  Blogger Erick Erickson of RedState said that, "Obama is becoming Jimmy Carter faster than Jimmy Carter became Jimmy Carter." But perhaps we are not looking far enough back in the Seventies for the right comparison.  I suggest Obama has much more in common with Richard... read more »