One year ago this week, America was embroiled in an unpopular foreign war that had lasted almost as long as World War II. A month earlier the unpopular president who had single-handedly embroiled his country in another land war in Asia, was repudiated at the polls when American voters gave control of Congress to the anti-war opposition party. A year later the war and the president are more unpopular than ever, except now there are more American troops in Iraq than in December 2006, and 900 fewer of them are alive in December 2007. Plus ca change. . .

A year ago Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama were considered the front runners in a crowded field for the Democratic presidential nomination. A year ago Philadelphia's murder rate was a national embarrassment. A year ago Don Imus had a job on radio. A year ago Brittney Spears, Lindsay Lohan and Amy Winehouse were self destructing in front of our very eyes. Last December South Philadelphia State Sen. Vince Fumo was under threat of a Federal indictment on corruption charges. A year ago, Philadelphia Mayor John Street was an enigma who seemed to have a knack for publically shooting himself in the foot for no reason. In 2006 Vice President Dick Cheyney shot one friend in the face with a shotgun -- (however there are still four days left in 2007.)

And yet, it's always sumpthin'. A year ago Saddam Hussein was alive and so was Anna Nicole Smith. A year ago Michael Nutter was a Muppet-voiced former City Councilman running fifth in a five-man race for mayor of Philadelphia. A year ago, the words, "Nappy-headed ho's" "Don't Tase me, bro!" "I am not gay. I have never been gay." and "I don't give a f--- who you are. I'm a reporter, you f--- dyke." were only items on a newspaper columnist's wish list for the coming year. Or as the French would say, "Vive la change."