Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right : American life in columns

Smerconish, Michael A. (author.). Axelrod, David, 1955- (writer of foreword.).

Summary: "Clowns to the Left of Me, Jokers to the Right is a collection of Michael Smerconish's opinion columns dating back to his debut at the Philadelphia Daily News sixteen years ago and continuing through today. Smerconish has provided additional commentary after each piece; the commentary is original to the book"--

Record details

ISBN: 9781439916353
ISBN: 1439916357
Physical Description: print
xvii, 365 pages ; 24 cm
Publisher: Philadelphia : Temple University Press, 2018.
Copyright: ℗♭2018

Content descriptions

General Note:

Collection of the author's columns from the Philadelphia Daily News and Sunday Philadelphia Inquirer, 2002-2016.

Formatted Contents Note:

"Guest Opinion" -- America Offers Opportunity to Those Who Work -- High Fidel-ity: Daily News Columnist Gets up Close and Personal with Castro -- A Politically Incorrect Extravaganza -- Kobe? He's Not One of Us -- Gay Numbers & 9/11 -- The Sins of the Father ... and Mother -- That Apology? -- It's Bunk -- Rebuild 'Em! -- Want Ratings? Bring Back the Beauty -- Conspiracy: The Okla. City-Sept. 11 Connection -- Suspensions: A Wake-Up Call for Parents -- C'mon Mr. President, Show Us the Evidence -- Two Good Reasons to Oppose Tort Reform -- I'll Miss the Merry Prankster -- Maureen Faulkner, Still on the Job -- One Voice for Katz -- Summer & Smoke: My Gay Epiphany -- Robbing Dr. Barnes' Grave -- Dreaming of a Non-White Christmas -- Tough Questions from Tough Guy on 9/11 Commission -- How to Get Quasimodo a Date -- A Brush with Greatness, Thanks to a Little Truancy and Some Connections -- Jim Beasley, the People's Lawyer -- Dreaming of a White (House) Christmas -- Cos Case: It's Kobe All over Again -- Air-Travel Screening Stupidity -- Times 4 -- Postcard from Gladwyne -- Good with a Pen, as Well as a Football -- Small Gesture for a Real American Hero -- Duke Case: Revenge of the Nerds -- Setting the Record Straight -- A Dog Named Winston -- Roger Waters: The Pinko in Floyd -- The Garden of Eternal Vigilance -- Manhunt for Osama Dropping on U.S. Agenda? -- Should Free Speech Allow Holocaust Denial -- Guilty as Charged: I Don't Support Imus' Firing -- The War Comes Home -- Unexpected Memorial Day Lesson from Decorated Marine -- The World According to Bruno -- An Immigrant's Dream Still Means Something -- Proof a Son's Head Is Far from Dismal Adult Events -- A Navy SEAL's Gut-Wrenching Tale of Survival -- "Anti-Semitic" Label Curbs Talk About Israel -- The Face of Sept. 11, 2001 -- How Rush Became the King of Talk -- Why Rudy Wasn't in Iowa on Tuesday -- Specter Practices -- and Endorses -- Civility -- Mr. Chrome Dome Gets Fuzzy -- Obama Sees Route to Righteousness -- How I Got the Bird -- Russert-Brand Discourse vs. Cable Carnival Shoutfest -- Requiem for an Era -- McCain Fails the Big Five Tests -- Their Stanley Cup Runneth Over -- My Dinner with Pervez -- Jack Kemp's Winning Game Plan -- Checking in With Smokin' Joe to Thank Him for His Dignity -- 1-800-Political-Venom -- Sorry, But for Me, the Party Is Over -- Yard Sale 101 -- The Power of Pin Money -- Farewell, My DN Friends -- Investment Giant on Living Well -- and Madoff -- A Lesson in Gumption, and Its Rewards -- Can You Imagine How Christie's Son Feels? -- "Mormon Issue" Still Handicaps Romney -- 9/11 Generation Is Highlight of Speeches -- It's Time to Break the Mold on Talk Radio -- Lessons from the Cheap Seats -- Bursting a Class Bubble -- A Shattered Spirit -- Warren's Shaky History -- Zeppelin Communication Breakdown -- The Teacher Who Opened a Mind -- Unpaid but Richly Rewarding -- Pennsbury Grad Makes a Splash in D.C. -- Nightmare on Health Site -- Secret Facet of Westboro Case -- SATs Don't Always Mark a Successful Path -- Worthy Subject of Protest May Target Workers -- Mystery Tip that Broke Sandusky Case -- Recalling Gary Hart, Debating News Policy -- Overreaction in C.B. West Hazing Case -- Cat Stevens' Politics -- Go Old School on Drinking? -- My Dinner with Roger Stone -- Family Farmer Whose Labors Never End -- A Subject's Portrait of the Artist -- Take Note, Candidates, of Reagan's Words -- In Philly, Sinatra and Sid Mark Play on -- Trump's Candidacy Is Right out of Seinfeld -- A Must in Life: Try, Try Again -- My Heimlich Maneuvering -- The Right Spot for the Rizzo Statue? Right Where It Is -- Civility Wins if "Comments" Unplugged -- Yeah, Yeah, Yeah: Larry Kane, Fab Historian -- Births to Illnesses, Our Life with Grace -- Trump Not My Fan, but Quite a Loyal Follower -- A Changing of the Guard in Gladwyne -- In 2017, Getting to Know the Other Half.