Michael Smerconish

Michael Smerconish hosts the morning drive-time talk show daily on WPHT-AM (1210). A Philadelphia lawyer turned political commentator, Smerconish is a fill-in host for Bill O'Reilly on the Radio Factor, and a guest host for Joe Scarborough on MSNBC's Scarborough Country. He has often appeared on the Today Show, It's Your World with Neil Cavuto and Hardball with Chris Matthews. His Philadelphia Daily News column appears on the Opinion page.

Tonight: Palin's 'baptism of fire'
John Baer: GOP avoids issues, but is it 'enough'?
Clout: Jailtime governs anarchists' behavior
Poll: Do you think Sarah Palin will wear her hair up or down for the big speech tonight? (455 votes)

"Sometimes loving your country demands you must tell the truth to power"
Karl Rove pops back up!
Clout: From Philly, with love...& for history

Michael Smerconish: Requiem for an era 08/21/2008: IT'S MONDAY night, and I've just joined the end of a long line waiting to enter a viewing in South Philadelphia. The obituary in the Daily News said it began at 6. When I arrived at 7, the line was already wrapped two full blocks down Reed Street. I've been up since 3 a.m., and hosted two radio shows, but I don't regret the wait.
Michael Smerconish: On vacation, and just wondering ... 08/14/2008: WHY do I never drive a minivan at home if it's my first rental-car choice every August? Every small town in America seems to have a Christian Science Reading Room on prime real estate, and yet I don't know any Christian Scientists.
Michael Smerconish: A winning veep strategy for McCain 07/31/2008: MEMO TO: McCain Campaign RE: VP Selection Here's some unsolicited advice: Announce your running mate on Tuesday, Sept. 2.
Michael Smerconish: How city can turn fat into gold 07/24/2008: NEW York City is on the move, undertaking extraordinary measures to protect residents from themselves, and earning the envy of those of us in so-called second- class cities.
Michael Smerconish: Borat's just another smug jerk 07/17/2008: IMAGINE that the ad at the right had run in the Daily News. And assume that fans of extreme fighting packed a Philly venue and got tanked up on $1 beers in anticipation of watching some cage-fighting and hot chicks.
Michael Smerconish: Summer's most sinful treat 07/10/2008: IPREDICT poor sales for trashy novels this summer. Suntan without Danielle Steel in Sea Isle. Summer sans Sidney Sheldon in Ocean City. No need for Nora Roberts in North Wildwood.
Michael Smerconish: Kenny Gamble's patriotic tune 07/03/2008: MENTION the "Philadelphia sound" to any music fan, and they'll think "Love Train" by the O'Jays, "Me and Mrs. Jones" by Billy Paul or countless classics by Teddy Pendergrass.
Michael Smerconish: Obama slips starting to show 06/26/2008: Doctors and campaign advance men share an inviolate rule: Do no harm. It's a mantra I learned 25 years ago when I began doing advance work for George H.W. Bush, which entailed working with the Secret Service to scout out the vice president's appearances and produce a minute-by-minute itinerary.
Michael Smerconish: THE OTHER MRS. JOHN McCAIN 06/19/2008: YOU DON'T hear much about the first Mrs. John McCain, who was from the Philadelphia area. But in light of her recent comments in a U.K. publication, I'm beginning to understand why. Apparently, she's not about to let others use her to beat up on John McCain.
Michael Smerconish: Randy Pausch's last lecture 06/12/2008: I'M PRAYING that Randy Pausch lives to see Father's Day on Sunday. Even if he does, he knows it will surely be his last, since he's dying of pancreatic cancer.