Boston Phoenix archives, 1996
All articles by Dan Kennedy
The contents of this Web site are copyright © 1997 by Daniel D. Kennedy. The articles listed on this page are copyright © 1996 by the Boston Phoenix, Inc. All rights reserved.
December 27, 1996
POLITICS: Communication breakdown
The "civility" debate misses the point. Don't fret about Beavis and Butt-head. Worry about the breakdown of our civic institutions.
THIS JUST IN: Language lab
Translation, please.
December 20, 1996
THE LOST CAUSE
Republicans blew a big chance in 1996. Democrats beware: You could make the same mistake.
DON'T QUOTE ME: Too close?
The secret Kraft meeting; plus, the Herald shuffle.
THIS JUST IN: Dept. of Chronology
Globe standard time.
December 13, 1996
BARGING AHEAD
Scott Harshbarger is determined to beat Joe Kennedy in the race for governor. But his real opponent is the Kennedy mystique.
DON'T QUOTE ME: A new Taylor
The Times Company casts a vote of confidence for the Globe's ruling dynasty.
THIS JUST IN: Media
The Globe's gay waffle.
December 6, 1996
THIS JUST IN: Media
Blacks and Jews.
November 29, 1996
DON'T QUOTE ME: Shouted down
A clarion cry of economic trouble is muffled by the Man.
THIS JUST IN: Media
A wet kiss for China.
November 22, 1996
DON'T QUOTE ME: Class act
What the media missed: Alger Hiss was one of this century's most revealing cultural icons.
November 15, 1996
CRIME: Reversal of fortune
When Violet Amirault was accused of sexually molesting the children of Fells Acres Day School, Robert Leighton was one of the few people who stood by her. He even married her. Now he's changing his mind.
THIS JUST IN: Dept. of Omission
And then there were four.
THIS JUST IN: Five
Internet conspiracies.
November 8, 1996
FOUR MORE YEARS
What really matters: An interview with Michael Dukakis.
THE THRILL IS GONE
Weld faces a reality check.
THIS JUST IN: Operatives
Goldman blues.
November 1, 1996
DON'T QUOTE ME: Cheap shot
The Globe's David Warsh takes aim at John Kerry's war record.
THIS JUST IN: The Weld-Kerry Scorecard
Monday's seventh and final televised debate was a shocker: two crisp, well-focused, passionate presentations that should actually help undecided voters make up their minds.
October 25, 1996
POLITICS: Vision or virtue?
Once considered a shoo-in, Bill Delahunt now finds himself running hard.
THIS JUST IN: The Weld-Kerry Scorecard
With two swift strokes, the Boston Globe has transformed the Weld-Kerry race into a brawl over ethics.
October 18, 1996
PARTY POOPERS
Kerry and Weld's disdain for partisan labels has drained the Senate race of passion.
THIS JUST IN: The Weld-Kerry Scorecard
A citizens' panel tried to change the script at Tuesday's debate, but the candidates quickly turned it into yet another rerun.
October 11, 1996
EDUCATION: Hard lesson
Why Boston voters are better off letting the mayor appoint the school committee.
THIS JUST IN: The Weld-Kerry Scorecard
Locals may be sick of it, but the national media can't get enough of the dueling-bluebloods angle.
October 4, 1996
POLITICS: Oink, oink
For all the high-minded campaigning, the Torkildsen-Tierney race comes down to one thing: peddling pork.
DON'T QUOTE ME: On fire
Was the arson in West Roxbury racially motivated? It depends on which paper you read. Plus, Brudnoy speaks, and the Providence Journal is sold.
THIS JUST IN: The Weld-Kerry Scorecard
It was a macho week on the campaign trail.
September 27, 1996
REV. BILL CLINTON
With so many hatemongers in the Republican camp, a little more spirituality from Clinton could go a long way.
DON'T QUOTE ME: In flux
Slate's new hires; plus, Newsweek's gain and Otherwise's rough start.
THIS JUST IN: The Weld-Kerry Scorecard
Good thing that John Kerry and Bill Weld didn't feel compelled to flash their generational credentials at Sunday's "youth forum."
September 20, 1996
THIS JUST IN: The Weld-Kerry Scorecard
With the primaries over, the hotly contested US Senate race enters the homestretch.
September 13, 1996
POLITICS: After the fall
It's a race about the new face of Cambridge. But the past looms large: Charlie Flaherty, Tip O'Neill, and the bitter divisions of rent control.
September 6, 1996
POLITICS: Buddy system
Clinton's focus will shift if Big Labor wins the House.
THIS JUST IN: Carr talk
Yukking it up over David Scondras's misfortunes.
THIS JUST IN: Follow-up
The party question.
August 30, 1996
POLITICS: The third man
The race to replace Gerry Studds reveals an interesting contender.
THIS JUST IN: Media
TNR goes AWOL on DNC.
August 23, 1996
THIS JUST IN: Politics
The great (yawn) debates.
THIS JUST IN: Never mind
Why didn't the Republicans get credit for their united convention?
August 16, 1996
LITTLE GIPPERS
They may head the ticket, but Dole and Kemp linger in Reagan's shadow.
THIS JUST IN: Dept. of spin
Ralph Reed to the rescue.
August 9, 1996
DON'T MESS WITH MATT
Since his return to the Globe four years ago, Matt Storin has tamed a fractious newsroom, set a new agenda, and raised eyebrows inside and outside the paper. By all accounts he has the full support of the Taylor family, who have run the Globe for 123 years. But now the paper is owned by the New York Times Company, and what the future holds is anyone's guess.
- Looming Times
- Right in the middle
August 2, 1996
DON'T QUOTE ME: Night vision
The Net reflects and amplifies our dark fears about terrorism.
THIS JUST IN: Tech talk
Hey, Mac: Slate polishes the Apple.
July 26, 1996
DON'T QUOTE ME: Not himself
How I unmasked Anonymous. (No, not that Anonymous.) Plus, 10-o'clock news war.
THIS JUST IN: Media
Can Jim Fallows turn U.S. News around?
July 19, 1996
CULT WATCH: Paper trail
Will cults get private records of bankrupt watchdog group?
July 12, 1996
DON'T QUOTE ME: Standard time
Can Bill Kristol's hip journal grow into a major player? Plus, conflicted at CNC?
THIS JUST IN: Politics
Blute's and Torkildsen's declarations of Newtrality.
THIS JUST IN: Dept. of perverse inconsistencies
Will the real Christian right please stand up?
July 5, 1996
DON'T QUOTE ME: What scandal?
Whitewater book blames media; plus, radio daze, Joe Fitz and gays.
THIS JUST IN: Media
Caught in the au pair whirlwind.
June 28, 1996
DON'T QUOTE ME: Slate ahoy
Kinsley heads for uncharted waters with a great on-line mag.
June 21, 1996
DON'T QUOTE ME: Reality check
A $2.8 million campaign to expose the liberal media.
THIS JUST IN: Media
Bang the cup slowly.
THIS JUST IN: Dept. of flattery
Kiss and sell.
June 14, 1996
THIS JUST IN: Media
Stripped again.
June 7, 1996
DON'T QUOTE ME: Leaderless
The real reason good candidates aren't running for office.
THIS JUST IN: Media
Stripped of dignity?
May 31, 1996
DON'T QUOTE ME: Clinton rehab
From Slick Willie to cuddly Tigger; plus, liberals and nihilists.
THIS JUST IN: Media
Newspapers for the new millennium.
May 24, 1996
DON'T QUOTE ME: Media maggots
Free-time movement shows why the public hates the press.
THIS JUST IN: Politics
Bulger rules in the State Senate?
May 17, 1996
DON'T QUOTE ME: Thin Reed
Dole puts his faith in Ralph's rhetoric; plus, Fidelity's gag order, and more.
May 10, 1996
DON'T QUOTE ME: Whitewash
Award-winning scribe gone mad or scandal of the century?
THIS JUST IN: By the numbers
Journal riches.
May 3, 1996
DON'T QUOTE ME: Meaning politics
Michael Lerner's crusade to restore our nation's spiritual values.
THIS JUST IN: Media
Globe to settle New Hampshire libel suit.
April 26, 1996
DON'T QUOTE ME: Times rules
Globe job cuts explained; a lost Clinton video; plus, TNR fallout.
THIS JUST IN: Web notes
Meet Noam Headroom.
April 19, 1996
BU'S SCIENTOLOGY CONNECTION
Earle Cooley is chairman of BU's board of trustees. He's also made a career out of keeping L. Ron Hubbard's secrets.
DON'T QUOTE ME: Pulitzer whys
Did this year's music award hit a wrong note?
April 12, 1996
DON'T QUOTE ME: Debatable
Who is Susan Gallagher? Plus, the Herald on the Hill, and bad Will.
THIS JUST IN: Media
The Globe reins in its Metro columnists.
April 5, 1996
DON'T QUOTE ME: Indestructible?
The Senate race threatens to turn Weld's armor to putty.
March 29, 1996
DON'T QUOTE ME: Liberal voice
Jim Braude thinks Otherwise; BBJ sale rumors; George bites.
THIS JUST IN: Media
Tierney nemesis pulls a fast one.
March 22, 1996
DON'T QUOTE ME: Pulitzer touch
Times's Roberts has his eyes on the Prize; race and the right.
THIS JUST IN: Media
Beyond the electronic horse race.
March 15, 1996
DON'T QUOTE ME: Radio waves
Howard Kurtz on why Limbaugh out-talks liberals.
THIS JUST IN: Media
A new newspaper (or two) for Allston-Brighton.
THIS JUST IN: Pundit scorecard
It takes one to know one.
March 8, 1996
DON'T QUOTE ME: Fine whine
Leftist scribes snatch despair from the jaws of opportunity.
March 1, 1996
DON'T QUOTE ME: Szapped
Globe suspends cartoonist Szep; the limits of civic journalism.
THIS JUST IN: Media
Playing politics at Worcester Magazine.
February 23, 1996
DANCING IN THE DARK
Even as conservatives set the terms of national debate, liberal elitists remain smugly in the past.
THIS JUST IN: Media
Frontline misses mark on breast-implant story.
February 16, 1996
DON'T QUOTE ME: Indecent act
Cyberspace censors leave a trail of anger and confusion.
THIS JUST IN: Media
Environmental activists kick Globe's asphalt.
February 9, 1996
DON'T QUOTE ME: Divided loyalties
The entangling alliances of Globe columnist John Ellis.
THIS JUST IN: Media
Conservative group, Globe battle to tie.
February 2, 1996
DON'T QUOTE ME: Clinical insanity
Frontline on the Salvi killings; Globe jitters; Herald theatrics.
January 26, 1996
DON'T QUOTE ME: Foreign affair
Libel suit against the Globe alleges tangle of sex, lies, and Albania.
THIS JUST IN: Foul play
Steve Forbes's disingenuous piety.
January 19, 1996
DON'T QUOTE ME: The doctor is in
James Fallows on how to cure what ails the news media.
THIS JUST IN: Urban eye
A left-wing bookstore for right-wing times.
January 12, 1996
DON'T QUOTE ME: Power shortage
This presidential race is strictly a low-voltage affair.
THIS JUST IN: Media
The return of Bella English.
January 5, 1996
DON'T QUOTE ME: Gag rule
A new Helms threat; cult harassment; Standard sags.
THIS JUST IN: CD-wrong
Microsoft's Encarta comes up short.