MICHAEL SWAN: PALINTOLOGY >>>

The Republicans want their party to be more like Sarah Palin.

TPM: "A majority of GOP voters now say that the party should be more like Sarah Palin.The numbers: 55% of Republicans say the party should be like Palin, compared to 24% who say they should be like John McCain."

With better spin, the GOP may have won with Palin had they prepped her better and not insulted the public’s intelligence in arguing that she had real foreign-relations experience. Of course, they could have gone even more maverick-y and chosen Tyra Banks.

MATT DRISCOLL: WATCH OUT FOR THE MAN WITH TWO FIRST NAMES >>>

Already touting one of the highest cigarette taxes in the country, legislators in Olympia, led by Sen. Rodney Tom (D-Medina), vice chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, are poised to bilk even more from the pockets of Washington’s most regulated sinners â€" smokers. Check out my thoughts here.

LINK: Previously on Weekly Volcano Web site

MICHAEL SWAN: JAN. 12-18 >>>

The 105-day legislative session began at noon Monday. … Most of the Tacoma City Council flew to Washington, D.C., looking for stimulus money for Tacoma projects. … Mixed martial arts champion Jeff Monson was charged with first-degree malicious mischief based on photographs published in the December issue of ESPN The Magazine showing him spray-painting an anarchist symbol on the state Capitol. … The Pierce County Democratic Party filed a lawsuit attempt to block the appointment of the next Pierce County auditor, but The Pierce County Council picked Jan Shabro as county auditor anyway. … An initiative was been filed in Olympia that would require state and local government agencies to help enforce federal immigration laws. ... Traffic was tangled on the Tacoma Narrows bridge for six hours Thursday while police captured a man who threatened to jump off. … The uninsured flood damage in Pierce County is around $2 million. … It was announced this week that KeyBank’s nationwide call center â€" located at 2420 S. State St. near Hilltop in Tacoma â€" will close this year, resulting in the loss of 200 jobs in our area. ... A monster truck launched a Frisbee-sized chunk of metal into the Tacoma Dome stands Friday night, killing a 6-year-old boy. The remaining shows were not canceled.

LINK: Weekly Volcano Mudroom section

MICHAEL SWAN: THE WEEK THAT WAS JAN. 5-11, TWITTER STYLE >>>

Olympia Mayor Doug Mah urged the Olympia City Council to stop emailing each other during council meetings. … Weyerhaeuser's board of directors elected Charles Williamson, 60, to become non-executive chairman. … Former sheriff candidate Robert "The Traveller" Hill went to jail for displaying a weapon, fourth-degree assault, failing to appear in court for driving without a valid license and disrupting a Tacoma City Council meeting.  … The body of a baby boy was found by authorities combing through 60 tons of trash at a dump site near Tacoma, and a teenager believed to be the mother was held on $500,000 bail. … Brett M. Smith, 25, of Puyallup, the mastermind behind a $2.4 million embezzle scheme aimed at Manke Lumber Company pleaded guilty to Mail fraud. … Tacoma firefighters will receive a 6.2 percent. … The Tacoma City Council raised utilities by 5.4 percent. … The Lakewood City Council, by a 5-2 vote, adopted a six-month moratorium on building or expanding minicasinos. … Katie Blinn of University Place, J. Richard McEntee of University Place, and former state Rep. Jan Shabro of Lake Tapps were selected finalists Wednesday for the Pierce County auditor’s job. … More than 40,000 Pierce County residents were urged to get the hell out of their area when the weather went freakin’ nuts on our asses. … Boeing expects to trim its Puget Sound commercial airplane division payroll by 4,500 workers this year, but Boeing's largest unions are wondering why such cutbacks are necessary. … Plenty restaurant in downtown Olympia closed due to economy woes. … The News Tribune reported this morning that supporters of outgoing Judge Sergio Armijo allege that Pierce County Superior Court judge-elect Michael Hecht picks up male prostitutes near Tacoma’s Antique Row, including one that Hecht recently threatened to kill. State prosecutors will review allegations.

LINK: Weekly Volcano Mudroom

MICHAEL SWAN: DEC. 29-JAN. 4 >>>

Federal Way hearing examiner Phil Olbrechts granted Pastors Casey and Wendy Treat of Christian Faith Center the right to build a heliport at their 15-month-old Federal Way church. Christmas, snow and heavy trash volume because of the holidays put trash haulers behind schedule as evident by large trash piles around Tacoma. Tacoma City Council approved a contract for construction of a kayak float at the head of the Thea Foss. U.S. Housing and Urban Development department said it will be sending more than $7 million to Pierce County to help state and local governments keep a barrage of home foreclosures from creating blighted neighborhoods. Forty-three-year-old Donald A. Dravis Jr., an escaped prisoner from McNeil Island Corrections Center captured on a ferry docked at McNeil Island. Puyallup School District Board appointed Debra Aungst as deputy superintendent. A woman died and her boyfriend was severely injured when they were hit by icefall while climbing near Crystal Mountain. First Night Tacoma 2009 was a hit despite rain and cold temperatures. State minimum wage rises to $8.55 an hour â€" the highest in the nation. The News Tribune reported that Tacoma and Pierce County spent more than $2 million to clean up the mess left by the recent snow.

LINK: Weekly Volcano Mudroom

MICHAEL SWAN: IT’S ON THE STREETS AND INTERWEB TODAY >>>

The year in preview
Here’s a quick look at changes in Pierce County the Weekly Volcano would like to see in 2009 by Paul Schrag

Looking down
The future of Olympia just got taller by Matt Driscoll

Expired
The Pierce County quality of life meter dips by Volcano Staff

LINK: Weekly Volcano forums

MICHAEL SWAN: SNOW WREAKS HAVOC IN PUYALLUP, TOO >>>

This just in from the City of Puyallup:

MICHAEL SWAN: NEWS STORIES IN THIS WEEK’S VOLCANO >>>

Bunney buster
A recent press release from current Pierce County Councilmember and County Executive candidate Shawn Bunney landed on Matt Driscoll’s desk on Oct. 7, the same day the Pierce County Council voted to endorse recommendations for a county economic stimulus plan presented by the Economic Development Division. The title of the press release: “Council approves Bunney’s economic stimulus plan.” The only problem with that is it’s not true, at least according to Democrats on the Pierce County Council. Full story here.

Curbing youth violence
Despite a few hitches, Tacoma efforts to curb youth violence are off to a good start. Tacoma City Councilmembers recently heard from city staff and organizers of the Youth Violence and Gang Prevention Program, which stumbled out of the gate, but seems to be getting its legs, based on preliminary reports. Full story here.

Pierce County quality of life meter
Two dead birds from Pierce County tested positive for the dreaded West Nile Virus this week â€" proving West Nile doesn’t just reside in Podunk farm towns east of the mountains, bubba. It’s everywhere! Spread by blood sucking mosquitoes, West Nile has the potential to lead to meningitis and encephalitis in humans, and, well, kill the hell out of some crows and magpies. Bad week to be a bird in Pierce County. Grab full meter readings here

MICHAEL SWAN: HE SAYS HE'S PROUD >>>

Business Wire reports that Mike Phillips, chairman of Russell Investments based in Tacoma, will retire in December.

Read full story here.

MICHAEL SWAN: LAWSUIT THREATENS TO EVICT TACOMA CLUB >>>

The Business Examiner reports that the Tacoma Club is being sued for back lease payments, and could be evicted.

Whoa.

LINK: Business Examiner