The Stupid Kabuki of the statewide political races
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
My daughter is an aspiring musician/singer and as such, she often considers possible future band names — it’s a bit of a running joke between us these days.
Which is, of course, why I nominate Stupid Kabuki as both a possible addition to her list and a perfect description of Pennsylvania’s two statewide races this fall.
To be clear, Republican Scott Wagner...
Letter: Are we ‘safe’ with John Lawrence?
To the editor:
My name is Sue Walker, and I am the Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania House District 13.
I read your editorial assessment of the upcoming election on November 6th (Chescotimes 7/28/18) with great interest. You encapsulated a number of issues regarding our nation and state, and you predicted how the election will ultimately hurt the Republican party. Your piece was quite...
What are you going to do about it, kid?
By Nathaniel Smith, Columnist, The Times
After each school shooting, our national government essentially says to the survivors and their families: “Just get used to it, it’s the new normal around here.”
Or, as the Republican candidate for governor recently said to Chester County native Rose Strauss, “You’re a little young and naive” —no doubt thinking to himself: “Take...
Осенью этого года у местных республиканцев может быть только российская проблема
Translation: This fall, local Republicans may have a Russian problem
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
So, comrades, how was your week?
If you happen to be a Republican, and hold public office locally, the guess here is: not too great.
Between the missteps, lies, new infidelity claims (and tapes, lordy) and policy decisions of El Presidente For Life Donald J. Trump (seems about right for a would-be...
Op/Ed: How mandates raise your local school taxes
By Lisa Longo, President, Phoenixville Area School District Board of Education
Lisa Longo
Do you wonder sometimes why property taxes increase? I did and I decided to start attending school board meetings to understand. That was seven years ago. Now, as a member of our school board, I can share what I have learned.
I discovered a large part of a school district budget is mandated. Congressional...
Letter: A safe harbor for child-victims of sex trafficking
To The Editor:
If you’re sitting in a doctor’s office and see a patient wearing handcuffs and leg shackles, your assumption is that she is a criminal. Probably a dangerous criminal. Most likely, you’ll send glances or the body language of fear, disdain and horror.
What if she isn’t a criminal?
If Socialism comes to the U.S., it will be brought on by Republicans
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
HAVANA, Cuba — While walking the streets of this alleged “workers paradise” it was a bit hard not to see the irony when into my email box popped this messaging winner:
“PA GOP asks Democratic Congressional candidates whether they support Pelosi, Socialists, and/or Maxine Waters.” This genius move come from Pennsylvania GOP Chair Val DiGiorgio, who decided...
Ready for a new round of ‘hire a judge?’
By Nathaniel Smith, Columnist, The Times
Every U.S. Supreme Court session offers fresh evidence of confirmation bias, the human tendency to process information in a way that conforms to our prior beliefs.
The Justices know why they are there: it’s not for their great legal minds, but because their legal backgrounds served as cover for getting them confirmed by the Senate.
Upton Sinclair said:...
Beyond ‘Trump, bad’
By Nathaniel Smith, Columnist, The Times
The June 16 editorial “For GOP candidates the question is: To Trump or not to Trump?” http://chescotimes.com/?p=25893/ makes a lot of good points about this year’s enthusiasm gap between the two major parties (see also the recent Pew poll http://www.people- press.org/2018/06/20/voters-more-focused-on-control-of-congress-and-the-president-than-in-past-midterms/)...
For GOP candidates the question is: To Trump or not to Trump?
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
With summer bearing down on us (finally!), it seemed like a good idea to take one quick snap shot of the local political scene before moving into our summer hiatus (and yes, we already skipped an edition of Politics as Unusual (PAU), sensing something of a politics overload for you, the reader).
As this could well be the final edition of PAU until — gasp —...
