http://www.philly.com/r?19=960&32=3796&7=195457&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fdailynews%2Fopinion%2F Daily News Opinion pages en-us Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT 2009-11-12T08:01:00Z en-us http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=167751&44=69832852&32=3796&7=195457&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fdailynews%2Fopinion%2F20091112_Vail_Threat.html WHEN MAYOR Nutter announced last year that the city could no longer afford to pick up the tab for parades, many in the city panicked but many believed that it was a wise move. Parades and events are expensive, better to fund essential services. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT 48eda3bc5a237367863f9591d3f79eba 2009-11-12T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=167751&44=69832877&32=3796&7=195457&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fdailynews%2Fopinion%2F20091112_Michael_Smerconish__Again__eavesdropping_makes_sense.html HERE'S one thing you're not hearing in all the coverage of the Fort Hood gunman: Complaints that the government was reading his e-mail. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT 32790d00c61c564ec1ccfa359e5f7123 2009-11-12T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=167751&44=69832872&32=3796&7=195457&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fdailynews%2Fopinion%2F20091112_Letters__It_was_just_plain_terror__not_the__toll_of_war_.html YOU'VE done veterans and your readers a massive disservice by your left-wing approach in your editorial "A Veteran's Day Even Sadder Than Most." Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT 2280a3fdd5bdb373e3bdaf237d173d29 2009-11-12T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=167751&44=69832862&32=3796&7=195457&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fdailynews%2Fopinion%2F20091112_Letters___Mr__Cheng___friend_or_foe_.html AFTER READING about "Mr. Cheng," I realize he's not the enemy. If we really want to crack down on illegals, then crack down on those who hire them. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT 82b8299b5296e7619319cbe1a5d3d6d9 2009-11-12T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=167751&44=69832867&32=3796&7=195457&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fdailynews%2Fopinion%2F20091112_Letters__Call_it_marital_free-agency.html STATE SEN. Daylin Leach makes a passionate plea in his Nov. 10 op-ed for gay marriage as a basic right, and that gays should be able to join the " 'til death do us part" crowd. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT 1bafce3d190d24996b139c29518c3be2 2009-11-12T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=167751&44=69832857&32=3796&7=195457&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fdailynews%2Fopinion%2F20091112_The_Temple_of_Football_Joy.html IT TOOK several decades, but Temple football is finally flying high with a 7-2 record. For 20 years or so, Temple football has been a national and local laughingstock. But things have changed years under coach Al Golden, and longtime fans like me finally feel vindicated. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT 39843f147b5bf396be2a0638847ef4e6 2009-11-12T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=167751&44=69832847&32=3796&7=195457&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fdailynews%2Fopinion%2F20091112_An_easy_streamlining_move.html LAST WEEK, the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (PICA) released a report calling for the consolidation of Philadelphia's four row offices. The city's fiscal watchdog estimates that streamlining operations and moving responsibilities from row offices to other departments would save between $13 million and $15 million a year. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT d3ada06dbed159426f12ec211eadcb76 2009-11-12T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=167751&44=69737922&32=3796&7=195457&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fdailynews%2Fopinion%2F20091111_A_Veteran_s_Day_even_sadder_than_most.html THE EMERGING stories about the background of Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, acused of killing 13 military personnel at Fort Hood last week, should not obscure the importance of the story he shares with too many others: the extraordinary demands on mind, body and spirit that we impose on our military men and women, and the often deadly ways that our soldiers cope with those demands. Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT f754320ed8329a674fe202240b0fc388 2009-11-11T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=167751&44=69737927&32=3796&7=195457&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fdailynews%2Fopinion%2F20091111_Mark_Alan_Hughes__Franklin_Field_s_new_triple_threat.html WHEN John Heisman coached football at Franklin Field in the 1920s (yes, the namesake of the Heisman Trophy played and coached at Penn), it was a single-tier stadium. Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT 950018c45a5e31d50269ae410ff7293e 2009-11-11T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=167751&44=69737942&32=3796&7=195457&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fdailynews%2Fopinion%2F20091111_Letters__Welcome_outcome_for_corrupt_cop.html YOU REPORTED (Nov. 10) that ex-Philadelphia Police Officer Malik Snell was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for his involvement in a botched home invasion in Pottstown and a robbery he committed during a bogus police car stop in South Philadelphia. Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT 338384068d06ee5b5c26bbcd4d81c4ce 2009-11-11T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=167751&44=69737932&32=3796&7=195457&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fdailynews%2Fopinion%2F20091111_No_more_Charleenis.html THE STORY of Charleeni Ferreira's death is jolting and horrifying, but all too familiar: Parental abuse undetected for years. Siren calls of suspicion from school nurses who were then mistrusted. A child too terrified or traumatized to reveal that her life was a private hell. Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT f95099f66d4b3f363f525fc247cbb7fb 2009-11-11T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=167751&44=69737937&32=3796&7=195457&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fdailynews%2Fopinion%2F20091111_Letters__SEPTA_strike_sticks_it_to_us.html ONCE AGAIN, and in the darkness, unspeakable horror befell the citizens of Philadelphia. SEPTA (aka the Transylvania Transit System) is helplessly possessed by an unholy union of vampires whose minions, fearing the daylight, struck at night. Their curse is lifted - for now. Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT 9f871cc6b437597aecb7a3a3e29681a6 2009-11-11T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=167751&44=69635882&32=3796&7=195457&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fdailynews%2Fopinion%2F20091110_Voting_on_gay_rights_is_wrong.html WHEN YOU follow politics closely, every election night comes with its exhilarating wins and heartbreaking losses. Some years, there are more of one than the other, but every year is a mixed bag. This year, the toughest loss for me was the decision by the voters of Maine to (narrowly) overturn the legislature's legalization of same-sex marriage. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT be1be74c7b6985cdf2fe70fb3a894ffc 2009-11-10T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=167751&44=69635867&32=3796&7=195457&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fdailynews%2Fopinion%2F20091110_Letters__Seeing_through_strike_happy_talk.html IWAS HIGHLY amused as I watched the live press conference announcing the SEPTA strike settlement. I really felt for Gov. Rendell and Mayor Nutter as they tried their very best to sound conciliatory in an effort to help the TWU's Willie Brown save face by repeatedly saying he was only "doing his job." Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT e702416250cd3686f960d3930a0ac2e3 2009-11-10T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=167751&44=69635872&32=3796&7=195457&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fdailynews%2Fopinion%2F20091110_Letters__No_help_with_raccoon_invasion.html I'M A BLOCK captain in Germantown. There is a house on the corner where I live that needs to be renovated. When the contractors came to inspect the property, they were met with at least 20 raccoons. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT 56fca821b04dda92b51fc6f16fe1bc89 2009-11-10T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=167751&44=69635877&32=3796&7=195457&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fdailynews%2Fopinion%2F20091110_Letters__GOP_more_concerned_about_election_than_health_care.html BRAVO to the underdog majority party for passing the health-care bill. The Republicans promised to march in lockstep but one brave dissenter even stole this haughty claim from them. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT e1042b73a7e9f2f984aae20a5964325b 2009-11-10T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=167751&44=69635862&32=3796&7=195457&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fdailynews%2Fopinion%2F20091110_Judging_the_election.html LAST TUESDAY's judicial elections resulted in one new Supreme Court justice, six appellate judges and many more trial judges. Some are pleased with the results, others disappointed. But, overall, how should we grade this election? Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT bb351baa8cdbdbf7df7865399c9e9e29 2009-11-10T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=167751&44=69635852&32=3796&7=195457&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fdailynews%2Fopinion%2F20091110_The_real_recovery_act.html WHEN 219 Democrats - and one Republican - passed the Affordable Health Care for Americans Act just before midnight on Saturday, there was loud cheering and extended applause in the House of Representatives. It was deserved. In 60-plus years of talking about it, a bill aimed at providing universal health insurance had passed a house of Congress. It was an historic victory. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT dc0559a0fef9815d43de059aa388dfc8 2009-11-10T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=167751&44=69635857&32=3796&7=195457&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fdailynews%2Fopinion%2F20091110_On_the_waterfront.html FOR THOSE disgusted with events like the recent transit strike - in which deals are done in closed rooms with citizens having little say in things that directly affect their lives - here's an antidote: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT 3e034b1d802f9e1f613dbcacd4d1f8f9 2009-11-10T08:01:00Z