Opinion category, Page 691
Ron Klink: Nancy Pelosi’s drug plan misses the mark
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has proposed one of the most ambitious health care reforms since the Affordable Care Act. She hopes her plan, the Lower Drug Costs Now Act, will reduce the “out of control” prices that are “crushing Americans at the pharmacy counter.” I served four terms in Congress...
Letter to the editor: JCC support of Planned Parenthood
JCC & Planned Parenthood The Jewish Community Center of Pittsburgh will host a Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania fundraiser Nov. 9 titled “Drag Bingo In Support of PPWP.” That the family-friendly JCC will host a fundraiser for Planned Parenthood is indicative of a general misunderstanding in the Jewish community about...
Letter to the editor: Facts are clear on climate change
Regarding the letter “Stick with evidence on climate change” (Oct. 28, TribLIVE), I wish writer Allen Clark had done so. As many as 99% of climate scientists are in agreement that human-caused warming is occurring (easily Googled), and if that isn’t enough for you, just look at the incontrovertible facts....
Letter to the editor: What’s so impeachable about Trump?
So what has President Trump done that’s so impeachable? His economic policies have made our economy great again. He’s been called the most pro-life president ever. He’s tried to protect our country from illegal immigration. And just recently, he eliminated a serious terrorist threat. Amongst other things, what has he...
Pat Buchanan: The day Nixon routed the establishment
What are the roots of our present disorder, of the hostilities and hatreds that so divide us? When did we become this us vs. them nation? Many trace the roots of our uncivil social conflict to the 1960s and the Johnson years when LBJ, victorious in a 61% landslide in...
Joel Pfeffer: ‘Public charge’ proposal could thwart hopes & dreams
Before Ellis Island was a museum that hosted tourists and middle-school field trips, it was a gateway to America for thousands upon thousands of hopeful immigrants — and the site of intense question-and-answer sessions. These early 1900s interviews included some fairly straightforward questions: What country are you from? What is...
Editorial: Marsy’s Law ruling is right
Kelsey Grammer will be disappointed. The former “Frasier” star lent his star power — and his understanding as someone who lost loved ones to violent crime — to the Marsy’s Law proposal that looks to give constitutional standing to victims. A referendum for the amendment was on Tuesday’s ballot. But...
Letters to the editor: Stand up for volunteer firefighters
I just read the article “Delmont firefighters say criticism from council hurts fundraising, recruitment.” First, take out the word Delmont and insert the name of just about any other Westmoreland County VFD — these witch hunts have been going on and getting worse. Yes, this department had, allegedly, some dishonesty/theft...
Letter to the editor: Did Pittsburgh teachers get day off for Trump, too?
Regarding the article “President Trump visit spurs road, school closures in Downtown Pittsburgh” (Oct. 21, TribLIVE): Could it be the union school teachers were also off work and available to protest Trump’s successes? Our tax dollars at work! Joe Turek Elizabeth...
Letter to the editor: Trump’s not perfect, but neither are we
Regarding the letter “What church would venerate Trump?” (Oct. 17, TribLIVE): I don’t consider President Trump as Jesus or my messiah. He is, though, president of the United States. In the Bible, David was an adulterer and murderer, but God forgave him and made him King of Israel. Moses was...
Letter to the editor: Politicians value votes over morals
Veterans are willing to give their lives for their country, but politicians are not willing to give up their jobs for their country. Trump has his party lackeys defending him on every issue, probably in morbid fear he will turn on them. It seems Trump will try to destroy anyone...
Jonah Goldberg: Apology is Trump’s best option for avoiding impeachment
In l’affaire Ukraine, the president is guilty as charged. And the best strategy for him to avoid impeachment by the House and perhaps even removal by the Senate is to admit it, apologize and let voters make their own judgment. It’s also the best way to fend off a disaster...
Tom Purcell: This Nov. 11, help stem tide of veteran suicides
The numbers are sobering, but we can do something about them. The Department of Veterans Affairs’ 2019 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report says nearly 6,200 veterans took their own lives in 2017 — and more than 6,000 took their lives every year from 2008 to 2017. “In 2017, the...
Editorial: Raise your voice, cast your vote
We were all born with a voice. We were not automatically granted the right to use it. That came by standing up and demanding it. When America was a colony, we had the rights that England gave us. We weren’t satisfied with that. We demanded a say in how we...
Letter to the editor: Fox hunting should be banned
Regarding Lynne Henry’s letter “Strange way to treat God`s creatures” (Oct. 18, TribLIVE) and the article “Fox hunting returns to Ligonier Township this weekend” (Oct. 3, TribLIVE) gave me a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. To me, fox hunting is outright animal cruelty and should be banned,...
Letter to the editor: We don’t need RestorePA
Gov. Tom Wolf is persistent if nothing else. Wolf has proposed a severance tax for five consecutive years. The interesting part is that each year, the severance tax is to fund another program, project, line item. This year Wolf has spent a great deal of time selling his RestorePA program....
Letter to the editor: Impeachment déjà vu
The Starr investigation, 20 some years ago, into President William Jefferson Clinton’s shady, possible criminal dealings in Whitewater land management brought about an endless barrage of details, some sordid. In the end, an exhausted and exasperated American public learned the House of Representatives filed charges of perjury regarding an extramarital...
Mallard Fillmore cartoons for the week of Nov. 4
Mallard Fillmore cartoons for the week of Nov. 4....
Editorial cartoons for the week of Nov. 4
Editorial cartoons for the week of Nov. 4....
Editorial: Show volunteers they are valued
We can’t afford to lose the people who keep us safe. But we are. In Pennsylvania, there are 2,463 fire companies. More than 90% of them are staffed by volunteers. According to state Rep. Bob Brooks, R-Murrysville, the number of firefighters had been falling for 30 years or so when...
Gary Alexander: New focus needed to end Pa.’s opioid epidemic
President Trump’s October 2017 national declaration to combat widespread deaths related to opioid abuse promised swift and pragmatic solutions. After all, drug overdoses killed a record-breaking 72,300 Americans during 2017, a 10% increase from 2016. This equates to more than the yearly death tolls from HIV, car crashes and gun...
S.E. Cupp: Trump defenders going after U.S. war hero is new low
Trying to keep up with the ever-changing positions of President Trump’s loyalists is hard work. Last week, Fox News hosts Laura Ingraham and Brian Kilmeade, Fox News guest John Yoo, CNN contributor Sean Duffy and others suggested that Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a Ukrainian-born American, war hero and Purple Heart...
Letter to the editor: Columbus was remarkable
Letter-writer Louis D’Emilio (“Columbus Day feature biased,” Oct. 20, TribLIVE) doesn’t fully capture the remarkable achievements of Christopher Columbus. Enduring 13 years of rejection before finally receiving his commission from the Spanish throne, he began the first of his four voyages at age 40. By 15th-century standards, he was quite...
Letter to the editor: Fix streets of New Kensington
I have a serious complaint to make to the New Kensington mayor and city council: The streets are a disgrace. They are absolutely disgusting, and are a slap in the face to residents. The solution is not patch on top of patch. Repaving is the answer. I have been a...
Letter to the editor: Pa. is hurting birds
Western Pennsylvania has been losing animal habitat rapidly (“Where have the wild birds gone? 3 billion fewer than 1970,” Sept. 19, TribLIVE). Fracking, pipelines and other energy-related adventures have not only affected birds in terms of forest and meadow lost, but we also have noise and bright lights that blur...
