http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/michael_smerconish RSS Feed for Inq Col Michael Smerconish en-us Sun, 23 Nov 2008 08:01:00 GMT http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/michael_smerconish/20081123_Head_Strong__The_high_price_of_downsizing_the_news_biz.html Every election season seems to introduce us to a slew of new pundits, even if many have resumes that don't add up to the title on the screen underneath their television images. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/michael_smerconish/20081116_Head_Strong__Arlen_Specter__A_portrait_in_sheer_will.html On Nov. 7, several hundred people gathered at the National Constitution Center for the unveiling of the official portrait of Pennsylvania's longest-serving U.S. senator, Arlen Specter. The portrait captures a reflective Specter, dressed in coat and tie with his signature white pocket square, his head slightly tilted, eyes gazing downward, arms folded, and glasses in hand. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/michael_smerconish/20081109_Head_Strong__Ignoring_suburbs_doomed_the_GOP.html If retail politicking alone determined the election outcome in Pennsylvania, McCain-Palin would have won in a landslide. Speaking on MSNBC election night, Gov. Rendell joked that the GOP ticket had spent so much time in the state that he was thinking of assessing them with a state income tax. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/michael_smerconish/20081102_Head_Strong__Expert_on_behavior_says_race_may_play_a_role_in_vote.html My home office is littered with books ranging from politics to progressive rock. I have old Spectrum ticket stubs on a bulletin board alongside photos of our kids. I keep booze on my desk alongside a humidor. I'm a bit compulsive, yet an abundance of dog hair on my rug doesn't faze me. So what does this have to do with my politics? http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/michael_smerconish/20081026_Head_Strong__Floodgates_of_criticism_spread_wide.html The floodgates of criticism opened before my endorsement of Barack Obama was even published last Sunday. I gave my talk-radio audience a two-day advance warning of my decision while asking that they read what I had written. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/michael_smerconish/20081019_Head_Strong__McCain_fails_the_big_five_tests.html I've decided. My conclusion comes after reading the candidates' memoirs and campaign platforms, attending both party conventions, interviewing both men multiple times, and watching all primary and general-election debates. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/michael_smerconish/20081012_Head_Strong__What_they_need_is_old_heave-ho_from_ump.html All my worlds are colliding. This week, I dreamed that the Phillies made it to the World Series on the eve of the presidential election, and that the national pastime drew all four candidates to campaign at Citizens Bank Park. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/michael_smerconish/20081005_Head_Strong__Prescience_on_greed__arrogance_of_a_system.html When it comes to the economy, the real straight talk is being offered by John C. Bogle, founder and former CEO of the Vanguard Group Inc., the second-largest mutual fund company in the United States. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/michael_smerconish/20080928_Head_Strong_.html On Monday, I received an e-mail from a freelance scheduler who often offers me celebrities for my radio program. He had a question: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/michael_smerconish/20080921_Head_Strong__Closer_look_at_party_lines.html For weeks, Barack Obama's campaign has been trumpeting the fact that John McCain has agreed with President Bush 90 percent of the time.