Back Channels: Despite critics, a message
George Lucas, the legendary director of the Star Wars saga, should have taken a few down-to-earth meetings with master storyteller Bertram Levy before he made Red Tails, the story of the African...
View ArticleBack Channels: The hard truths of newspapering
When it comes to the realities of life in journalism, no one prepared me more while I was an undergrad at Virginia Commonwealth University than Bill Turpin.
View ArticleThe bipartisan Pat Toomey
In 2004, even many Republicans thought Pat Toomey was too extreme for the U.S. Senate. Toomey was a little-known, fiscally conservative congressman from Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley taking on moderate...
View ArticleStories of valor and sacrifice
Valley Forge is no stranger to heroes. The area is steeped in tales of valor and sacrifice. Look for more next weekend. The occasion is the updating of the Medal of Honor Grove, the Freedoms...
View ArticlePresidents’ pasts catch up with them
See if you can distinguish the real news story from the overwritten fake ones. Philadelphia Public Ledger, April 1, 1789: The man who led U.S. forces through the nation’s longest war, and who this...
View ArticleFrancis G. Brown, Quaker activist
Francis G. Brown remembered a conversation in the late 1940s or early ’50s with his father, who feared that their Quaker meeting, Downingtown Friends, would soon die out for lack of members. "We never...
View ArticleWhat would replacing Obamacare look like?
Thursday was the easy part for conservatives — well, except for learning that the chief justice who once talked about calling balls and strikes also has a wicked curveball. But cranking out the press...
View ArticleBack Channels: Paul Ryan clarifies the choice in ’12 race
I thought Mitt Romney had all but announced his running mate on Aug. 1, through a Wall Street Journal op-ed by his economic adviser Glenn Hubbard.
View ArticleBack Channels: Finding racism in all aspects of the 2012 campaign
'Good morning . . . yuh-awl. This is the staff of the White House Office for Shameless Pandering. How may I assist you? I mean - wait, where's my cue card? Wut . . . kin . . . ah . . . dew . . . fer ....
View ArticleBack Channels: The vast legions of the better off
The following MSNBC special report is brought to you by the Democratic National Committee. Rachel: Last week, commentators on Fox News, the world's only biased media outlet, were all atwitter over...
View ArticleBack Channels: Everyone would benefit if Sen. Casey would debate Tom Smith
An unlikely confluence of events made Mr. Smith a senator in Frank Capra's film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. When Sen. Sam Foley dies in office, the state's governor names a replacement based on a...
View ArticleBack Channels: Rubio, in Phila., skewers Obama's record
With so much campaign coverage having a breathless "how dare Mitt Romney still run when we've declared it over" feel, it was refreshing to hear a full-throated defense of the GOP candidate. In...
View ArticleBack Channels: Romney revealing himself in careful stages
An 18-year-old who had just registered to vote seemed surprised by parts of the Republican convention as we watched in August. I'm not sure what he was expecting - lofty speeches on issues, solutions...
View ArticleBack Channels: Learn stories behind names on Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Let me introduce you to a few people, courtesy of the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Daily News. Rowland J. Adamoli, of Germantown, played football and soccer. He was an apprentice...
View ArticleBack Channels: To Bolton, Romney has right stuff on foreign policy
For those who didn't hear enough about foreign policy Monday, John Bolton was in Philadelphia the next day to continue the conversation.
View ArticleBack Channels: Romney our best hope for Ike-like peace and prosperity
Though it's not fashionable to look favorably on the 1950s, voters today might want to consider the choices people faced 60 years ago, the leader they elected, and the stability and prosperity that...
View ArticleKevin Ferris: Israel-Hamas could force rethink of 'Pacific pivot'
The recent hostilities between Israel and Hamas are a chance for the United States to think strategically. Or, better yet, rethink - specifically the Obama administration's "pivot to the Pacific."
View ArticleBack Channels: Toomey: An upside to debt debate
I interviewed Sen. Pat Toomey (R., Pa.) last week about the coming debt-ceiling debate. A part of that conversation follows, and you can read the rest at www.philly.com/toomey.
View ArticleBack Channels: Ryan sees path ahead for GOP
Paul Ryan is taking a different approach to life after a lost election than the last person who came up short in a campaign for vice president.
View Article
