Opinion category, Page 678
Paul Kengor: Christmas 1979 a tough time
Christmas 1979 marked a sobering time for America. Here in the Pittsburgh region, fortunately, we were enjoying a unique reign as City of Champions, with the Pirates winning the World Series and the Steelers in the process of a second back-to-back Super Bowl coup. These were badly needed respites for...
Lori Falce: The rights and wrongs of a decade
Just what is a decade? Who knew that was a complicated question? One of the most humbling parts of writing for a news organization every day is the never ending stream of people willing — nay, eager — to tell you exactly what you got wrong. We even make it...
Laurels & lances: Gifts of the season
Laurel: To helping new neighbors. It is hard to become part of a community that you can’t understand. That is why the mission of Literacy Pittsburgh’s English as a Second Language classes is so important. Immigrants to the area looking to learn to read and write English are finding help...
Letter to the editor: Impeachment a banana republic farce
There were many listeners to the phone conversation. One collapsed at what he heard and told a whistleblower who blew his whistle — “the world must know of this evil.” President Trump surprised them by releasing the transcript, which anyone can read and judge for themselves as to whether there...
Letter to the editor: Trump, religion & debt
I’ve seen President Trump’s spiritual adviser. What a piece of work. Do you actually think Trump is a God-fearing, religious person? Do you actually believe Trump believes or knows the meaning of the Golden Rule? Trump thinks he is going to make America great again. Good slogan, but we’ve got...
Letter to the editor: Biden’s actions in Ukraine should be examined
The longer the impeachment process drags on, the more I am convinced of two things: Joe Biden did something bad in the Ukraine, and he had the help of some corrupt Ukrainian officials. The Republican House members and lawyers keep bringing up Biden’s dealings with Ukrainian gas interests. The Democratic...
Editorial: Transit authority gets behind wheel of buses
Everyone looks for a fresh start in the new year. For Westmoreland County, that fresh start means getting in the driver’s seat. That’s really not a euphemism. The county’s transit authority takes over bus and paratransit services starting Jan. 2. It’s a very different role for the authority. Until October,...
Jonah Goldberg: We have 2 moon parties, no sun party
Here’s a theory for why our politics are so confusing these days: Neither party wants to be a majority party. From an ideological perspective, majority parties are, by nature, weird. For instance, the long-dominant FDR coalition included a strange mix of blacks and segregationists, corrupt city machines and the reformers...
Pat Buchanan: Is impeachment backfiring on Democrats?
“We’re gonna impeach the (expletive deleted).” Thus did the member from Michigan, Rashida Tlaib, declare last January to be the goal of the 2019 House Democratic Caucus. Last Wednesday night, Speaker Nancy Pelosi delivered the goods. The House impeached President Trump on a straight party-line vote. Not one Republican signed...
Christmas greetings from local leaders
In celebration of Christmas, today’s letters to the editor are not to the editor at all. They are Christmas greetings from local leaders to our readers, the people of the communities they serve. This time of year is one in which we come together. It reminds us that we have...
Letter to the editor: Muslim-Christian connection
As a Muslim American, I wish my neighbors and the rest of America a very warm and happy holiday season. It’s a popular belief that Muslims are anti-Christian and that Christians are anti-Muslim. This notion is as bizarre as it is false. I admit, there are extremist elements on both...
Letter to the editor: Impeachment coup
In case you’ve been busy and have not seen the news, here’s a summary. For two months the Democrats concocting the impeachment of President Trump told us the reason for impeaching was “quid pro quo.” Then they discovered their base can’t grasp Latin, so they focus-group-tested “bribery” and fed us...
Tom Purcell: Amid such a clatter, here’s what really should matter
‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through America, people were angry or delighted, and most uncomplimentary. Despite it being the time of the year to unite, gather and share good cheer, the president’s impeachment turned the country on its ear. “High crimes for certain,” his opponents did claim, “because...
Letter to the editor: Impeachment-crucifixion comparison blasphemous
While I appreciate that the Tribune-Review accepts divergent opinions, I believe Frank A. Novotony Jr.’s letter comparing the impeachment to the crucifixion (“Impeachment like crucifixion,” Dec. 18, TribLIVE) goes beyond the pale, and especially during the Holy Season is blasphemous. Unlike Jesus, President Trump was not tortured, beaten and put...
Letter to the editor: Questioning Mike Tomlin’s calls
An open letter to Steelers coach Mike Tomlin: Do you know which teams do not run the ball up the middle for the huge majority of first- or second-down plays? It’s the Super Bowl teams. Oh well, the only people who question your calls are the fans in the stands,...
Mallard Fillmore cartoons for the week of Dec. 23
Mallard Fillmore cartoons for the week of Dec. 23....
Editorial cartoons for the week of Dec. 23
Editorial cartoons for the week of Dec. 23....
S.E. Cupp: Roger Ailes, #MeToo & the cost of coming forward
Last Monday night, I went to a special screening of the new film “Bombshell,” which tells the true story of the downfall of late Fox News honcho — and verifiable sleaze ball — Roger Ailes. Having worked inside the corridors of Fox myself years ago, Jay Roach’s stylized, nuanced and...
Peter Morici: Giving the Fed better tools to manage financial crisis
Three times since August, the Federal Reserve has cut the federal funds rate — the rate banks charge each other for overnight loans and that strongly influences the short-term rates they charge businesses. However, Chairman Jerome Powell has made clear the Fed won’t lower rates further as long as the...
Editorial: Give gift of charity this holiday
It doesn’t matter what holiday you are celebrating. Knowing you have more people on your list than you can afford to gift is stressful. Now what if you weren’t looking at just your parents and your kids and your sister and your nieces and nephews and your friend at work?...
Letter to the editor: Westmoreland bus proposal
I congratulate the Westmoreland County commissioners on proposing to run their own bus system. This will be at least a two-year journey to save money for the county taxpayers. Two years, to give them a chance to work out the inevitable bugs, since county government has never operated its own...
Letter to the editor: Term limits, impeachment & lobbyists
I thoroughly enjoyed Lori Falce’s column “Term limits are half the story” (Dec. 12, TribLIVE). There are a couple of things she did not include but are, I believe, important. Considering the brevity of term for a representative, how can the House logically be the initiator of impeachment? Secondly: Adapting...
Letter to the editor: Abortion least of evils?
It is apparent to me that letter-writer John Watson believes he is a prophet from God, called upon to deliver his message against abortion (“Wolf’s veto of abortion ban,” Dec. 9, TribLIVE). He seems to think that God has told us that all lives must be preserved. This is written,...
Baruch Stein: A world without American aid to Israel
Several Democratic presidential contenders have discussed cutting aid to Israel if their demands are not met. The latest confrontation in Gaza provides an opportunity to understand what that means. Approximately 450 rockets were fired at Israel between Nov. 12 and 14. More than half landed in open areas between towns....
Steve Bloom: Protect taxpayers to fix ‘brain drain’
It’s a lovely family reunion. Dad and Mom — now Grandpa and Grandma — sit facing their kids, and their kids’ kids, reminiscing about old times and laughing about the trials of parenting. Then, in mid-sentence, Grandpa stutters and freezes — his face replaced by an hourglass on a black...
