Opinion category, Page 310
S.E. Cupp: GOP — rotting fish or bag of rotten apples?
As the ancient proverb goes, the fish rots from the head. The expression’s been used by countless leaders in business to describe the way a bad CEO can hamper productivity downstream, or to explain how corruption can infect an organization. Of course, it’s also been used by law enforcement to...
Scott S. Greenberger: Shared power used to be the norm in statehouses. Now it’s nearly extinct.
Terry Kilgore has been a Republican member of the Virginia House of Delegates since 1994. During that time, there have been four years in which the GOP controlled the governor’s office and both chambers of the legislature. For two years, Democrats held complete control. In the other 23 years, Republicans...
Joanne Kilgour: Future of Southwestern PA — decades of good-paying clean and green jobs
This region is a place where hard work and innovation go hand in hand. For years, Western Pennsylvanian workers proudly built the steel that fueled America’s economy. Now we’re ready to do it again — and we have no time to waste. While there’s been debate about the path forward,...
Letter to the editor: McCarthy and Santos
There must be a sitting speaker of the House before a member of Congress can be sworn into office. Republican Kevin McCarthy became that speaker after 15 roll call voting sessions and after he made multiple concessions along the way. One noted concession was lowering the bar to remove the...
Letter to the editor: GOP hypocrisy on documents
The hypocrisy of the GOP never fails to amaze me. Now they want to see visitor records for the White House and President Biden’s home in Delaware. And, horror of horrors, Hunter Biden stayed at the home in Delaware, so naturally he snooped through all 25 pieces of secret documents....
Lori Falce: We all need a little help with our bootstraps
My bootstraps have gotten a solid workout over my life. That’s impressive if only because I rarely wear boots. As a rule, I wear flat black dress shoes with bottoms far too slick for Pennsylvania snow or rain. They have frequently led more to spectacular falls than impressive rises. But...
Laurels & lances: Leading, charging and pulling together
Laurel: To a local leader. Westmoreland County is really having a heyday in the state Capitol at the moment. In addition to all people elected to represent the county’s constituents in the General Assembly, there is the fact that Republican Kim Ward of Hempfield is the first female Senate majority...
Letter to the editor: Not seeing many ‘wins’ from Gov. Tom Wolf
I read with interest the Spotlight PA article “Here`s what outgoing Gov. Tom Wolf will be remembered for” (Jan. 12, TribLIVE). I noticed the authors mostly sought the opinions of politicians, both Democrats and Republicans, in order to propose Wolf “leaves behind a long list of policy wins.” Except for...
Paul Kengor: Surviving Egg Armageddon
A reader and friend from Wexford ribs me about raising chickens. She finds it cute, funny, but also appreciates my philosophy behind it. She especially appreciates it right now, given the soaring price of eggs. The Avian flu outbreak in the poultry industry has sent the cost of a carton...
Cal Thomas: Lisa Marie Presley and the other side of fame
“I’m gonna live forever, baby, remember my name” — (from “Fame”) The death at age 54 of Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis, got me thinking again about the two-edged sword that is fame. Poems, books and movies have addressed fame, how some people lust after it and how it...
Hajar Yazdiha: Distortion of MLK’s words enables more, not less, racial division within American society
U.S. Rep. Chip Roy of Texas is just the latest conservative lawmaker to misuse the words of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to judge a person on character and not race. In the protracted battle to elect Rep. Kevin McCarthy as speaker of the House, Roy, a Republican, nominated...
Robert Smith: Pa.’s ‘Republican’t’ problem
Pennsylvania Republicans have a representation problem, as evidenced by two recent events. In the recent campaign for governor, won by Democrat Josh Shapiro, certain “Republicans” publicly endorsed the Democrat for governor. Let us consider a few examples from Shapiro’s own webpage to see if we can identify the allure to...
Letter to the editor: Tired of tax money going to leaders’ perks
After reading the details of Nicole Ziccarelli’s “minor” accident, I believe the repairs should have been completed at her expense or at the expense of her personal insurance carrier (“Westmoreland DA: Crash involving county vehicle was ‘minor,’ ” Jan. 7, TribLIVE). Furthermore, why do we continue to supply vehicles to...
Letter to the editor: AP article on Biden shows media bias
The article “Biden’s chosen image takes a hit” (Jan. 15) by Zeke Miller demonstrates the biased nature of the Associated Press. While reporting on President Biden’s mishandling of confidential documents, Miller couldn’t help but take unnecessary swipes at President Trump with phrases such as “after the tumult of his predecessor”...
Editorial: Let’s keep the 2023 election mud slinging to a minimum
It’s way too early for this. It’s January. The gubernatorial inauguration for the 2022 election was just this week. There are still three state House seats to be settled next month in special elections for the 32nd, 34th and 35th districts. People can’t begin circulating or filing nomination petitions for...
Letter to the editor: Trump and antisemitism
The letter “The real antisemitism” (Dec. 17, TribLIVE) stated, “I was angered and offended by another anti-Trump propaganda AP article, this one titled ‘Antisemitic celebrities stoke fears of normalizing hate’ (Dec. 4, TribLIVE). This article attributed a “surge in anti-Jewish vitriol” by citing Donald Trump hosting Kanye West and Nick...
Jonah Goldberg: GOP’s deficit reduction is a cynical performative gesture
For several years now, I’ve been told that the old consensus of fiscal conservatism and limited government was dead. So, you might think I’m delighted by the sudden rebirth of Tea Party-style budget-cutting zeal on display in the GOP’s brinksmanship over the debt ceiling. Not so much. I’ll get to...
Azadeh Masalehdan Block: An American-Iranian in Pittsburgh
Wait a minute … isn’t it supposed to be Iranian American? I was born in New Castle and we moved to Pittsburgh when I was about 3 years old. My family history dates back to 1799 in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Yet this isn’t the first impression many get of me when...
Letter to the editor: Wildlife must be managed, for their safety and ours
The letter “Goose/duck hunt at Mammoth park inhumane” (Jan. 13, TribLIVE) is way off the mark. The geese in question are non-migrating resident geese who have multiplied to where they are creating a problem with their feces all over the place. This creates a problem with disease to the flock...
Letter to the editor: Freedom Congress scores wins for American people
Hopefully the media is informing the public on what the House Freedom Caucus won in their recent pursuit to restore procedural order to Congress. Regarding the handling of bills, the Freedom Caucus secured policy for single subject bills to be debated, amended and voted on individually with a proper 72...
Editorial: Does Norwin director’s book challenge require more context?
Context is important. Context is the difference between someone running down the street being a jogger, someone trying to catch a bus or a criminal fleeing a crime scene. The actions are the same, but the intent and the outcome aren’t. Context matters. And so the context of the language...
Letter to the editor: Why do we need 3 commissioners?
I’d like to respond to both the editorial “Westmoreland County Commissioner Doug Chew’s unforced error” (Dec. 21, TribLIVE) and former Commissioner Ted Kopas’ letter “High-paid commissioners” (Dec. 30, TribLIVE), since I was a commissioner candidate four years ago. The editorial says, “No one else offered up their paychecks.” This is not...
Isaiah Trumbull: Now’s the time to tackle the charter vs. public school problem
After having moved to Pittsburgh, my parents wanted what all parents want — to send their children to the best school possible. When I was in first grade, I attended the Environmental Charter School (ECS) in Regent Square, which at the time had 75 students per grade, because it looked...
Letter to the editor: Ballots of those who don’t follow rules should not be counted
If people are not intelligent enough to understand their state’s voting rules for mail-in ballots, their votes should not be counted by either party. Clem Zahrobsky Delmont...
Letter to the editor: Bovard residents tired of trucks
Once again a tractor-trailer missing turns off 119 ended up in Bovard. This happens numerous times a year. The driver ripped electric lines and a pole at the end of Price Street and damaged property and homes. We were without power for seven hours. There is a child on this...
