By John McMullen
(The Phanatic Magazine) - Yes, this is a sports site but we are going to take a diversion today to talk about one of my true passions, politics, and Michael Smerconish's latest book -- Morning Drive: Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started Talking.
Anyone who is a regular reader here knows I have been fed up with sports talk radio in this town for quite a while. Just over a year ago, I got so frustrated flipping between 'Dingo and The Baby' on ESPN950 and WIP's daily drek that I started looking for an alternative.
That's when I discovered Smerconish over at The Big Talker 1210.
Smerconish and I have a lot in common. He's just a lot more talented, successful and plugged in than me. We are both in our 40s, bald and radio talk show hosts that been branded as conservatives.
We both love Larry David's Curb Your Enthusiasm and even have the theme of the show as the ring tone on our cell phones. And if you are reading this Michael, I've had it for two years -- How about you?
An attorney-turned-political-pundit, radio talk show host, columnist and author, Smerconish loves taking on hot-button issues like stem-cell research, immigration, term limits and his pet peeve, what he calls the "non-hunt" for Osama bin Laden.
A regular on MSNBC, Smerconish argues that the TV world presents an unrealistic, take-it-or-leave-it" liberal or conservative" view of the world.
As a fiscal conservative, who happens to be agnostic, thinks gun control is a good idea and could care less what homosexual people do in their personal lives, Smerconish's varied views and his lambasting of television for labeling everyone rings true.
Smerconish takes readers to such volatile venues as the set of Real Time with Bill Maher, where he found himself under attack in the "conservative wing-nut seat" and takes you through his guest hosting duties on Don Imus' TV show after the radio-icon was fired for racially insensitive remarks.
A contrarian, Smerconish supports torturing suspected terrorists, has a libertarian view of same sex relationships and voted for Barack Obama despite being a registered Republican.
He seems to be veering away from the GOP, claiming he wants the party to adopt a "Big Tent" philosophy and drop any litmus tests but ignores the fact that the other side is just as close-minded.
Meanwhile, Smerconish also seems to pull punches on people he likes like Obama and Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter, the living embodiment of why term limits are needed.
That said, Smerconish's Manifesto for America, featuring his thoughts on such controversial subjects as Bin Laden, profiling, Iraq, entitlements, death taxes and global warming is a must read and his daily radio show is the best in Philadelphia.
You can order Morning Drive: Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started Talking by banging the link...
-You can reach John McMullen at jmcmullen@phanaticmag.com
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