Bill was right: it’s a crazy system (part II of II)

By Nathaniel Smith, Columnist, The Times Our current health care “system” is such an undependable patchwork as to be, for many Americans, crazy. For years Democrats have been saying that Obamacare, officially the Affordable Care Act (inspired, incidentally, by Mitt Romney’s program in Massachusetts) is imperfect but a good step forward while Republicans (even some benefiting from it)...

Trump puts local candidates in a deplorable situation

No good choice for down ballot GOP candidates By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Um, now what? If you think the average American doesn’t know what to think about the tapes revealed Friday involving Donald Trump’s comments on women, imagine if you happen to a Republican appearing on the Nov. 8 ballot for Congress or the State Legislature. I’m not going to address the actual content of the comments...

Letter: A vote for Roe

To The Editor, Eric Roe will make an outstanding State Representative for us in the 158th Legislative District. He’s one of the hardest working men I know, and he’ll work tirelessly for the residents of the 158th in Harrisburg. He’s got the work ethic, the skill sets, the private sector experience and the professional acumen to be an effective advocate for families and seniors....

Bill was right: it’s a crazy system (part I of II)

By Nathaniel Smith, Columnist, The Times Bill Clinton was right about health insurance when he controversially said on October 3: “…The people that are getting killed in this deal are small business people and individuals who make just a little too much to get any of these subsidies. Why? Because they’re not organized, they don’t have any bargaining power with insurance companies, and...

GOP seems to be laying groundwork for two campaigns

As Trump implodes, Republicans pivoting to save down-ballot races By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times As we suggested last week, the heavy firepower is hitting Chester County now — and is likely to continue right up to the election. Already this week, we’ve seen Ted Danson in town stumping for Hillary Clinton and Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives (and former GOP Vice Presidential...

Letter: Roe is just wrong

To the Editor, As Election Day comes closer, it’s time for all Pennsylvanians to seriously decide who they are going to vote for. The media would have us think that there are only two people running for office, but we actually have several important down-ticket votes to cast in addition to President. One of those is our Representative for State House.

Welcome to the center of the political universe

National media highlights major role of Chester County in presidential race By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Well, we told you so. For most of the summer in this space, we’ve told you that Chester County figures to be ground zero in the presidential race between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump — and now multiple stories from outside the region, in USA Today, The New York Times and The Harrisburg...

Letter: Four reasons to vote for McGinty

To The Editor: For U.S. Senate, I believe Katie McGinty is clearly the better choice this November.  She understands the concerns of the people of Pennsylvania and will do a better job representing our interests. Her opponent Pat Toomey is running many TV and print ads that obscure some of his very troubling positions.  It’s time to expose them.   On Social Security: Toomey has long advocated...

Despite tech advances, pols must still knock doors

The one thing that’s the same as century ago: face to face contact matters By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times EAST MARLBOROUGH — For people not in politics, the process of running for office can seem like an endless series of rallies, speeches and moments of glamor in the spotlight. You know, cue the balloons and confetti. The truth, though, is a lot different, especially for those running...

Chester County: all quiet on the presidential front

Clinton, Trump have fairly low profile, but likely for differing reasons By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times While the usual (or usually unusual) back and forth of local congressional and state legislative races has kicked into what I lovingly call “red mist” mode (a state of hyper intense political engagement that lowers IQ about 25 points and drops discourse to that fourth grade lunch room...