http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/john_baer RSS Feed for DN Col John Baer en-us Wed, 30 May 2012 10:48:45 GMT 2012-05-30T10:48:45Z en-us http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/john_baer/20120530_Corbett_shakeup_par_for_the_course.html A reboot of the Corbett administration amid concerns the Guv’s politically at sea, unable to lead and facing the prospect of becoming a "one-term Tom" is really just a replay of a long-standing Harrisburg tradition. Every first-term governor of the last quarter-century had a rough start in the Capital City. First year, first two years, all of them hit storms. Wed, 30 May 2012 10:48:45 GMT http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/john_baer/20120530_Corbett_shakeup_par_for_the_course.html 2012-05-30T10:48:45Z http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/john_baer/20120516_Gambling_on_pensions.html Once in awhile something gets dropped into the state legislative hopper more interesting than the usual bridge-naming and nonsense. Take Rep. Paul Clymer’s bill to address the public pension crisis by charging casino-goers a $2 cover charge. Thu, 17 May 2012 15:59:25 GMT http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/john_baer/20120516_Gambling_on_pensions.html 2012-05-17T15:59:25Z http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/john_baer/20120514_Handy_guide_to_protest_Pennsylvania_budget.html WITH STATE budget stuff starting to cook, seems like a good time to offer a handy, helpful protesters’ guide: How to get the most out of slogans and chants. Why? Mon, 14 May 2012 11:34:47 GMT http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/john_baer/20120514_Handy_guide_to_protest_Pennsylvania_budget.html 2012-05-14T11:34:47Z http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/john_baer/20120509_What_happened_to_the_politics_of_hope_.html IT’S PRETTY CLEAR that President Obama’s re-election effort, a/k/a the endless campaign, is intent on burying Mitt Romney even before Republicans officially offer him up as their nominee. A $25 million, nine-state (including Pennsylvania) TV-ad blitz, after a weekend of campaign kickoff rallies in Ohio and Virginia, suggests an all-out effort to define the race in ways that seek to end it early. Wed, 09 May 2012 17:12:23 GMT http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/john_baer/20120509_What_happened_to_the_politics_of_hope_.html 2012-05-09T17:12:23Z http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/john_baer/20120507_Baer__Another_no-tax_state_budget_on_the_horizon.html IF IT’S EARLY May, it must be time to get cracking on a new state budget. This means fits and starts and bipartisan bloviating as no-tax Republicans go up against active-government Democrats. Mon, 07 May 2012 10:29:25 GMT http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/john_baer/20120507_Baer__Another_no-tax_state_budget_on_the_horizon.html 2012-05-07T10:29:25Z http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/john_baer/20120502_Air_apparent__Plane_truth_about_presidential_travel.html LET’S BE plain about the president’s plane, which is yet again the subject of a political spat. Should we care? Instinctively, you want to say, no, it’s silly. But hold on. It is, after all, our plane. Wed, 02 May 2012 12:21:43 GMT http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/john_baer/20120502_Air_apparent__Plane_truth_about_presidential_travel.html 2012-05-02T12:21:43Z http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/john_baer/149419795.html GREAT NEWS, KIDS, your Legislature’s back this week after a nice long break for Easter and the primary, and, boy, it sounds as if lawmakers are really ready to work. High on the list: fiscal responsibility, private-sector job creation and cuts in business taxes. Mon, 30 Apr 2012 10:12:37 GMT http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/john_baer/149419795.html 2012-04-30T10:12:37Z http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/john_baer/20120426_Kane_seen_as_woman_for_job.html PATRICK MURPHY found himself in the wrong race at the wrong time. The former Bucks County congressman ran a political campaign for a job that voters apparently believe is better suited to a nonpolitician. Thu, 26 Apr 2012 22:42:50 GMT http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/john_baer/20120426_Kane_seen_as_woman_for_job.html 2012-04-26T22:42:50Z http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/john_baer/20120423_Boring_primary_bad_for_democracy.html TUESDAY’S PRIMARY, which promised to be a stand-your-ground gig for Rick Santorum, is now an election without any pop. Once Rick disengaged, the body politic sagged, shrugged and surrendered. Tue, 24 Apr 2012 01:40:55 GMT http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/john_baer/20120423_Boring_primary_bad_for_democracy.html 2012-04-24T01:40:55Z http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/john_baer/20120418_St__Louis_Blues__Cohen_tough_to_beat.html IT’S NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE to oust an incumbent Philly state lawmaker. About the only time one leaves is to collect a fat, taxpayer-paid pension, go to prison or, as in the case of Rep. Tony Payton, (unbelievably) fail to get the minimum 300 signatures needed to run. Thu, 19 Apr 2012 01:06:47 GMT http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/john_baer/20120418_St__Louis_Blues__Cohen_tough_to_beat.html 2012-04-19T01:06:47Z