Daily News - John Baer http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/john_baer RSS Feed for John Baer en-us Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:08:37 GMT John Baer: Is democracy in danger, & are we ungovernable? http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/john_baer/20091118_John_Baer__Is_democracy_in_danger____are_we_ungovernable_.html A NUMBER OF fellow Pennsylvanians in recent conversations and e-mails ask if I believe that we're ungovernable. Interesting question; I know some think we are. John Baer: That 'resign to run' talk is just background noise http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/john_baer/20091116_John_Baer__That__resign_to_run__talk_is_just_background_noise.html BECAUSE THERE IS no nuance in elective politics, the question of whether Republican state Attorney General Tom Corbett should resign while running for governor isn't likely to draw an affirmative answer or have much lasting impact. John Baer: The Fumo-ish fall of an unsubtle pol http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/john_baer/20091113_John_Baer__The_Fumo-ish_fall_of_an_unsubtle_pol.html IT'S ANOTHER TALE of the high and mighty brought low; another rise and fall, another city politician up from the neighborhood to statewide power cut down by complex charges of abuse. John Baer: Scranton's mayor joins the gang who would be guv http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/john_baer/20091111_John_Baer__Scranton_s_mayor_joins_the_gang_who_would_be_guv.html I'VE LONG suspected something's in the water up in Scranton, you know, maybe residue anthracite silt making its citizens overenergized when it comes to playing politics. John Baer: Pa. pols in the zone ... the Twilight Zone http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/john_baer/20091109_John_Baer__Pa__pols_in_the_zone_____the_Twilight_Zone.html WARNING: YOU are entering another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind - an election cycle for Pennsylvania governor with multiple candidates. John Baer: Hope, change, and the reality that 365 days brings http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/john_baer/20091105_John_Baer__Hope__change__and_the_reality_that_365_days_brings.html A YEAR AGO today, a nation fearing a crumbling economy and weary of war awoke to new expectations after electing Barack Obama on a premise of hope and a promise of change. John Baer: In court races, it looks like the GOP cashed in on the low turnout http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/john_baer/20091104_John_Baer__In_court_races__it_looks_like_the_GOP_cashed_in_on_the_low_turnout.html PENNSYLVANIA voters yesterday gamely reasserted their right to elect statewide judges, an act akin to playing a political lottery. Fifteen candidates for seven spots on three state courts were on the ballot in a municipal election year with no marquee races to generate voter turnout anywhere in the state. John Baer: For NY-Pa. sporting pols, all bets are off, except 1 http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/john_baer/20091029_John_Baer__For_NY-Pa__sporting_pols__all_bets_are_off__except_1.html POLITICIANS GO ga-ga over sports. From using tax dollars to build stadiums, to attending big games with great seats in owners' or donors' boxes, to inviting championship teams to the White House, the state House, City Hall, wherever. John Baer: Judicial campaigning under the rule of flaw http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/john_baer/20091028_John_Baer__Judicial_campaigning_under_the_rule_of_flaw.html THE NASTY RACE for state Supreme Court is making yet another strong case for not electing statewide judges. Pennsylvania, no surprise, is among only a handful of states with partisan judicial elections at all levels. John Baer: West meets East in Supreme Court debate dustup http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/john_baer/20091023_John_Baer__West_meets_East_in_Supreme_Court_debate_dustup.html IT WAS, for a judicial debate, unusually sharp and bitey. The one and only TV face-to-face between state Supreme Court candidates Democrat Jack Panella and Republican Joan Orie Melvin yesterday at Temple Law School was no warmed-over legal fare - it was pretty politically tart.