http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/kevin_ferris RSS Feed for Inq Col Kevin Ferris en-us Sun, 20 May 2012 13:32:02 GMT 2012-05-20T13:32:02Z en-us http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/kevin_ferris/20120520_Presidents_rsquo__pasts_catch_up_with_them.html See if you can distinguish the real news story from the overwritten fake ones. Philadelphia Public Ledger, April 1, 1789: The man who led U.S. forces through the nation’s longest war, and who this month will become its first chief executive thanks to a lack of opposition and a unanimous vote in the Electoral College, has a dark side when it comes to environmental issues. Sun, 20 May 2012 13:32:02 GMT http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/kevin_ferris/20120520_Presidents_rsquo__pasts_catch_up_with_them.html 2012-05-20T13:32:02Z http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/kevin_ferris/151187835.html Valley Forge is no stranger to heroes. The area is steeped in tales of valor and sacrifice. Look for more next weekend. The occasion is the updating of the Medal of Honor Grove, the Freedoms Foundation’s 52-acre memorial park about a mile west of Valley Forge National Historical Park. The site pays tribute to the 3,457 men and one woman who have, according to the 1862 act that President Abraham Lincoln signed creating the medal, distinguished “themselves by their gallantry in action.” Sun, 13 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/kevin_ferris/151187835.html 2012-05-13T07:00:00Z http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/kevin_ferris/20120415_The_bipartisan_Pat_Toomey.html In 2004, even many Republicans thought Pat Toomey was too extreme for the U.S. Senate. Toomey was a little-known, fiscally conservative congressman from Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley taking on moderate Arlen Specter, who was seeking a fifth term. Yet the challenger almost won that Republican primary. Only strong backing from President George W. Bush and Senate colleague Rick Santorum saved Specter. Sun, 15 Apr 2012 16:16:02 GMT http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/kevin_ferris/20120415_The_bipartisan_Pat_Toomey.html 2012-04-15T16:16:02Z http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/kevin_ferris/20120219_Back_Channels__The_hard_truths_of_newspapering.html When it comes to the realities of life in journalism, no one prepared me more while I was an undergrad at Virginia Commonwealth University than Bill Turpin. Sun, 19 Feb 2012 11:21:20 GMT http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/kevin_ferris/20120219_Back_Channels__The_hard_truths_of_newspapering.html 2012-02-19T11:21:20Z http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/kevin_ferris/20120129_Back_Channels__Despite_critics__a_message.html George Lucas, the legendary director of the Star Wars saga, should have taken a few down-to-earth meetings with master storyteller Bertram Levy before he made Red Tails, the story of the African American pilots known today as the Tuskegee Airmen. Sun, 29 Jan 2012 08:01:00 GMT http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/kevin_ferris/20120129_Back_Channels__Despite_critics__a_message.html 2012-01-29T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/kevin_ferris/20120115_Back_Channels__In_Pa___Romney_has_avid_base_of_supporters.html Just how well did Mitt Romney do in New Hampshire? This is a primary-night post by Rich Lowry, editor of National Review: Mon, 16 Jan 2012 06:48:11 GMT http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/kevin_ferris/20120115_Back_Channels__In_Pa___Romney_has_avid_base_of_supporters.html 2012-01-16T06:48:11Z http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/kevin_ferris/20120108_Back_Channels__For_Santorum__the_cornerstone_of_the_nation_is_family__marriage.html It's always encouraging to see people go from newspaper work to bigger and better things, like come within eight votes of winning the Iowa caucus. Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:46:44 GMT http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/kevin_ferris/20120108_Back_Channels__For_Santorum__the_cornerstone_of_the_nation_is_family__marriage.html 2012-01-09T14:46:44Z http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/kevin_ferris/20111211_Back_Channels__Building_strong__committed_GOP_women_to_lead_in_Pa_.html It may be the most successful public-service training ground you've never heard of. It being the Anne B. Anstine Excellence in Public Service Series. The program, now in its 10th year, is for Republican women in Pennsylvania who want to become more involved in public life, whether as party leaders, elected officials, or community activists. Sun, 11 Dec 2011 08:01:00 GMT http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/kevin_ferris/20111211_Back_Channels__Building_strong__committed_GOP_women_to_lead_in_Pa_.html 2011-12-11T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/kevin_ferris/20111204_Back_Channels__Obama_should_have_embraced_Toomey_compromise.html Barack Obama could've done his reelection efforts a world of good if a certain U.S. senator from Pennsylvania had been by his side Wednesday in Scranton. Sun, 04 Dec 2011 10:28:37 GMT http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/kevin_ferris/20111204_Back_Channels__Obama_should_have_embraced_Toomey_compromise.html 2011-12-04T10:28:37Z http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/kevin_ferris/20111106_Back_Channels__Come_on_down__campers__Pitch_a_tent_for_free_.html 'Good morning, Camp Dilworth. How can I help you? "Yes, indeed, we do still have some choice campsites available, though it is getting a little snug out there. But that helps keep everyone a little bit warmer. Sun, 06 Nov 2011 09:01:00 GMT http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/kevin_ferris/20111106_Back_Channels__Come_on_down__campers__Pitch_a_tent_for_free_.html 2011-11-06T09:01:00Z