Currents

Regional Commentary

Editorial: Closing Libraries

Nutter's rough year

Posted 01/04/2009

It surprised many that Michael Nutter didn't endorse Barack Obama in the Democratic primaries, because they seemed to be so much alike - young African Americans who pledged change from politics as usual.

President Bush departs as a deeply unpopular leader.

Editorial: The Bush Years

The other shoe drops

Posted 01/04/2009

Bush departs the White House as one of the least popular presidents in recent times, with some critics confident enough in their historical perspective to nominate him in various "worst" categories.

Letters: Letters - 01/04/2009: Democratic tricks?You properly note ("Rethinking Nader's appeal," Dec. 26) the unfairness of Ralph Nader being hit for $81,000 in court costs because of defective signatures in his 2004 bid to make the Pennsylvania ballot.
The road ahead - 01/04/2009: Leaders from inside and outside city government offer Mayor Nutter their ideas on getting Philadelphia's finances on track.

Brett Mandel is executive director of Philadelphia Forward This is no time for tinkering at the margins of the budget. It is time for a wholesale reconsideration of the budget's assumptions.
Food for the needy; advice for Nutter - 01/04/2009: By Brian P. Tierney, Publisher

A new year always offers us the chance for new beginnings and new directions. So, to start 2009, I'm offering a commitment to our readers, some advice for our beleaguered mayor, and my perspective on our industry.
Head Strong: Always prepared for a trivia pursuit - 01/04/2009: By Michael Smerconish

Ringing in the New Year offers an opportunity for self-assessment. How am I doing? How's my family? What are my goals and ambitions? Where am I in the big picture of life? All of that leads to New Year's resolutions.
Worldview: An early challenge for Obama: Iraq - 01/04/2009: By Trudy Rubin, Inquirer Columnist

Dear President-elect Obama: Among the first challenges you'll face when you take office is how to handle the Iraq drawdown.
An office pool for year ahead - 01/04/2009: William Safire writes the weekly On Language column in the New York Times Magazine When Dolph Camilli, Brooklyn Dodgers star slugger of the 1940s, stepped up to the plate after whiffing ignominiously in his two previous times at bat, we fans in the Ebbets Field bleachers would nod sagely and murmur, "He's due."
Pop Quiz New Year's of old - 01/04/2009: Today's quiz on New Year's Day traditions comes from ProProfs.com, which conducts an online Quiz School (http://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school):
Verbatim Mideast's 'cycle of violence' - 01/04/2009: Former President Bill Clinton gave a speech on the quest for peace in the Middle East as his presidency neared its end on Jan. 7, 2001. Here are excerpts:
Pa. gaming revenue brought wide tax cuts - 01/04/2009: Edward G. Rendell is governor of Pennsylvania Had the state imposed a nearly $1 billion tax increase, there would be a groundswell of frustration and anger.
Security efforts well worth cost - 01/04/2009: Screening, surveillance must not be discounted.

Michael Chertoff is secretary of the Department of Homeland Security As it marked the fifth anniversary of its creation this year, the Department of Homeland Security heard from skeptics who argued that the costs of its security measures outweigh the benefits. Such critics fall prey to a classic risk-management fallacy: They consider only known, past or routine risks to the nation - while ignoring those that are unknown, novel and highly consequential.
Obama must pick judges fast - 01/04/2009: Carl Tobias is a professor at the University of Richmond School of Law One of the most significant assignments that the Constitution delegates to the president is the appointment of federal judges. One of the initial tasks that President Barack Obama should undertake in discharging this crucial responsibility is to fill the two vacancies on the 14-member U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit with outstanding jurists.
INSIDE - 01/04/2009: Brain Food, C2 Multiple Choice: Dive right in to the Safire office pool. But you'll have to wait a year to see how you did.
To Reach Currents - 01/04/2009: Write to: Currents, The Inquirer, Box 41705, Philadelphia 19101 E-mail: currents@phillynews.com Fax: 215-854-4483 Telephone: 215-854-4531 We cannot acknowledge unsolicited submissions.
Pop Quiz Answers - 01/04/2009: 1. a. Babylon 2. c. 4,000 years 3. e. Spring 4. c. 11 days 5. a. Julius Caesar 6. c. The Christian Church

Editorial: The Bush Years - 01/04/2009
Editorial: Closing Libraries - 01/04/2009
Letters: Letters - 01/04/2009
The road ahead - 01/04/2009
Food for the needy; advice for Nutter - 01/04/2009: By Brian P. Tierney, Publisher
Head Strong: Always prepared for a trivia pursuit - 01/04/2009: By Michael Smerconish
Worldview: An early challenge for Obama: Iraq - 01/04/2009: By Trudy Rubin, Inquirer Columnist
An office pool for year ahead - 01/04/2009
Pop Quiz New Year's of old - 01/04/2009
Verbatim Mideast's 'cycle of violence' - 01/04/2009
Pa. gaming revenue brought wide tax cuts - 01/04/2009
Security efforts well worth cost - 01/04/2009
Obama must pick judges fast - 01/04/2009
INSIDE - 01/04/2009
To Reach Currents - 01/04/2009
Pop Quiz Answers - 01/04/2009
Editorial: Citizen of the Year - 12/28/2008
Editorial: Citizen of the Year Nominees - 12/28/2008
Letters: Letters - 12/28/2008
Worldview: Healing begins in a former Iraqi hellhole - 12/28/2008: By Trudy Rubin, Inquirer Columnist
The dangers - and opportunities - of a stimulus - 12/28/2008
Trying to sugarcoat a poison pill - 12/28/2008

OPINION COLUMNISTS

Mark Bowden | The Point
George Curry | Beyond the Spin
Harold Jackson | Under the Sun
Dick Polman | The American Debate
Trudy Rubin | Worldview
Rick Santorum | The Elephant in the Room
Michael Smerconish | Head Strong

BOOK COLUMNISTS

Sandy Bauers | Audio books
Carlin Romano | Book critic
Frank Wilson | Book editor

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