http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/kevin_ferris RSS Feed for Inq Col Kevin Ferris en-us Sun, 03 Feb 2013 11:13:30 GMT http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/kevin_ferris/20130203_Back_Channels__Ryan_sees_path_ahead_for_GOP.html Paul Ryan is taking a different approach to life after a lost election than the last person who came up short in a campaign for vice president. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/kevin_ferris/20130120_Back_Channels__Toomey__An_upside_to_debt_debate.html I interviewed Sen. Pat Toomey (R., Pa.) last week about the coming debt-ceiling debate. A part of that conversation follows, and you can read the rest at www.philly.com/toomey. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/kevin_ferris/20121202_Back_Channels__Israel-Hamas_could_force_rethink_of__Pacific_pivot_.html The recent hostilities between Israel and Hamas are a chance for the United States to think strategically. Or, better yet, rethink - specifically the Obama administration's "pivot to the Pacific." http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/kevin_ferris/20121104_Back_Channels__Romney_our_best_hope_for_Ike-like_peace_and_prosperity.html Though it's not fashionable to look favorably on the 1950s, voters today might want to consider the choices people faced 60 years ago, the leader they elected, and the stability and prosperity that resulted. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/kevin_ferris/20121028_Back_Channels__To_Bolton__Romney_has_right_stuff_on_foreign_policy.html For those who didn't hear enough about foreign policy Monday, John Bolton was in Philadelphia the next day to continue the conversation. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/kevin_ferris/20121021_Back_Channels__Learn_stories_behind_names_on_Vietnam_Veterans_Memorial.html Let me introduce you to a few people, courtesy of the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Daily News. Rowland J. Adamoli, of Germantown, played football and soccer. He was an apprentice bricklayer who loved country music. He joined the Marines in 1961, and earned his high school diploma while serving. As things were heating up in Vietnam, he extended his enlistment so he'd be eligible for a tour there. "He was kind of a daring boy," his sister would say later. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/kevin_ferris/20121007_Back_Channels__Romney_revealing_himself_in_careful_stages.html An 18-year-old who had just registered to vote seemed surprised by parts of the Republican convention as we watched in August. I'm not sure what he was expecting - lofty speeches on issues, solutions to problems, maybe - but this wasn't it. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/kevin_ferris/20120930_Back_Channels__Rubio__in_Phila___skewers_Obama_s_record.html With so much campaign coverage having a breathless "how dare Mitt Romney still run when we've declared it over" feel, it was refreshing to hear a full-throated defense of the GOP candidate. In Philadelphia, no less. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/kevin_ferris/20120923_Back_Channels__Everyone_would_benefit_if_Sen__Casey_would_debate_Tom_Smith.html An unlikely confluence of events made Mr. Smith a senator in Frank Capra's film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. When Sen. Sam Foley dies in office, the state's governor names a replacement based on a coin flip and his children's recommendation: Jefferson Smith, their Boy Ranger troop leader. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/kevin_ferris/20120909_Back_Channels__The_vast_legions_of_the_better_off.html The following MSNBC special report is brought to you by the Democratic National Committee. Rachel: Last week, commentators on Fox News, the world's only biased media outlet, were all atwitter over supporters of President Obama who couldn't answer this simple question: Is the country better off now than it was four years ago?