Pundits - 2011

This page was last updated on January 3, 2012.

Beaver County Times	Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette	Miscellaneous

This section covers editorials, letters to the editor, opinion columns, and faux press releases on politician web sites. Do not assume I agree with an editorial or other op-ed piece just because I don’t publish a critique.

I also submit letters to the editor. There are limitations of that approach, however, and they include:

Out of necessity, newspapers place a limit on letter size. For example, the Beaver County Times has a limit of 200 words. Most other newspapers have a similar limit. The problem with the limit is that thorough discussion of a topic is tough to do in 200 words or less, especially when trying to refute “drive-by” assertions.
There is no guarantee the newspaper will publish your letter.
Newspapers occasionally edit significant content in your letter.
Some newspapers limit the number of your letters they will publish in a given period of time. For example, I believe the Beaver County Times has a limit of 12 letters per year. I believe other papers have lower limits.
The papers generally provide the letter title, and sometimes the title is misleading.

For calendar year 2010 critiques, please go to Pundits 2010.

For calendar year 2009 critiques, please go to Pundits 2009.

For calendar year 2008 critiques, please go to Pundits 2008.

For calendar year 2007 critiques, please go to Pundits 2007.

For calendar year 2006 critiques, please go to Pundits 2006.

For calendar year 2005 critiques, please go to Pundits 2005.

For calendar year 2004 critiques, please go to Pundits 2004.

Beaver County Times

Editorials
As of mid-September 2011, it appears the BCT quit writing its own editorials and now simply publishes editorials from other outlets.
News: Charter school could launch next year in Aliquippa	December 24, 2011
Protecting privacy	September 15, 2011
Doing as others do	September 14, 2011
Jobs, jobs, jobs	September 14, 2011
History lesson	September 11, 2011
Ten years after	September 11, 2011
Cutting down on calories	September 7, 2011
The real fraud	September 1, 2011
The silenced majority	August 31, 2011
Gambling on a payoff	August 28, 2011
Out of control	August 28, 2011
Pressure points	August 25, 2011
Below the surface/Intra-class warfare	August 24, 2011
Feel free to sin	August 21, 2011
Leave it behind	August 18, 2011
Money and mayhem	August 14, 2011
Showtime	August 14, 2011
Common sense	August 11, 2011
Put it into law/Fatal flaw	August 10, 2011
Look in the mirror	August 7, 2011
No joke	August 3, 2011
Handling the truth	July 28, 2011
Not a sure thing/One-way only	July 27, 2011
Put up or shut up	July 24, 2011
A happy place	July 20, 2011
Time to redraw the map	July 20, 2011
Dimming bulbs and dim bulbs	July 17, 2011
Don’t go there	July 17, 2011
Twin epidemics/Delusional farce	July 14, 2011
Closing tax loopholes	July 10, 2011
Just a dent	July 10, 2011
Profiles in courage	July 7, 2011
It’s time to grow up	July 6, 2011
Kill all the grandmothers	July 6, 2011
Taking care of themselves first	July 3, 2011
Unacceptable	June 30, 2011
The long goodbye	June 26, 2011
Welfare queen rip-off/Subtle subsidy	June 23, 2011
The cost of living longer	June 22, 2011
Sound advice	June 19, 2011
An American irony	June 16, 2011
Ripped off	June 15, 2011
Doomed to fail	June 12, 2011
Just starting	June 12, 2011
Harrisburg’s double standard	June 9, 2011
True courage	June 8, 2011
Growing pains	June 2, 2011
Eat up	June 1, 2011
Wasted effort	May 29, 2011
Getting a head start	May 25, 2011
Responsibility gap	May 25, 2011
Springing forward	May 25, 2011
Majority rules?	May 22, 2001
Water damage	May 22, 2001
Real deal SEALs	May 19, 2011
A little humility is in order	May 18, 2011
Energy costs	May 18, 2011
Buckling up	May 15, 2011
Hard workers	May 12, 2011
Real waste, fraud and abuse	May 12, 2011
Living with the consequences	May 9, 2011
Mixed signals	May 9, 2011
In bin Laden case, dead was better	May 8, 2011
Still at war	May 4, 2011
Red-light districts	May 1, 2011
Pros in action	April 28, 2011
Quick hits	April 28, 2011
All talk	April 27, 2011
Hide and seek?	April 24, 2011
Brat pack	April 21, 2011
Cruel hoax/Money trail	April 20, 2011
Breach of faith	April 17, 2011
Food fight	April 17, 2011
Quick hits	April 14, 2011
Totally unreal	April 14, 2011
Bottom line	April 13, 2011
Staying here	April 10, 2011
Texas and taxes	April 10, 2011
Forced	April 7, 2011
Quick hits	April 7, 2011
Cash rewards	April 3, 2011
Quick hits	April 3, 2011
Quick hits	March 31, 2011
Silent treatment	March 31, 2011
Quick hits	March 30, 2011
Pulling the plug	March 27, 2011
Wise words	March 27, 2011
Dangerous trend	March 23, 2011
Money matters	March 20, 2011
Power play	March 17, 2011
Quick hits	March 17, 2011
Quick hits	March 16, 2011
Corbett’s cuts	March 13, 2011
Quick hits	March 13, 2011
Public discourse	March 9, 2011
Quick hits	March 9, 2011
News: Beaver, Allegheny counties have slight population gain	March 8, 2011
No need to panic	March 6, 2011
Quick hits	March 6, 2011
Back in time	March 3, 2011
Golden years	March 2, 2011
Quick hits	March 2, 2011
Fuel perks	February 27, 2011
Quick hits	February 27, 2011
Early warning	February 24, 2011
Quick hits	February 24, 2011
Quick hits	February 23, 2011
Beyond the classroom	February 20, 2011
Quick hits	February 20, 2011
Quick hits	February 17, 2011
The real scandal	February 17, 2011
Role model	February 16, 2011
Nixon to China	February 13, 2011
Quick hits	February 13, 2011
False prophets	February 10, 2011
Quick hits	February 10, 2011
Numbers game	February 6, 2011
The big hurt	February 3, 2011
Hard facts	February 2, 2011
Mere words	January 30, 2011
Double standard	January 27, 2011
Quick hits	January 27, 2011
Snow job	January 26, 2011
Culture shock	January 23, 2011
Quick hits	January 23, 2011
Quick hits	January 20, 2011
Pointing fingers	January 19, 2011
Quick hits	January 19, 2011
Quick hits	January 9, 2011
Squeezed out	January 9, 2011
Default position	January 5, 2011
Quick hits	January 5, 2011
Over the top	January 2, 2011

Letters to the editor	Author
Santa not a one-percenter	Thomas Finch	December 29, 2011
Group not Robin Hood	John Haaf	December 29, 2011
Waging a crusade?	Stephen Kislock	December 28, 2011
Request was political	Judy Pamer	December 25, 2011
This is the America we live in	Jesse Green	December 22, 2011
Don’t force your beliefs on others	Mark Hogan	December 21, 2011
Middle class getting a raw deal	Jerry Miskulin	December 21, 2011
Let tax cuts expire	John Tomaszewski	December 18, 2011
Living in a war zone	Sherry Allen	December 11, 2011
Lead by example	Frank Bovalino	December 7, 2011
Corporate campaign donations should be outlawed	Lois Thompson	December 7, 2011
Racial goal sought?	Lonzie Cox	November 30, 2011
Why is Pennsylvania not thrilled with Obama?	Betty Bowser	November 23, 2011
Essential to know history	Lauren Beck	November 6, 2011
We no longer have Democracy	Harold Householder	November 3, 2011
When is the right time to raise taxes?	Jerry Miskulin	November 3, 2011
Can’t wait for next congressional election	Jesse Green	November 2, 2011
Governor to blame	Bernie Hall	November 2, 2011
Who are they representing?	Georgiann Mansell	October 30, 2011
Where’s the choice?	Marilyn McNees	October 30, 2011
Movement should not be branded by few	Martin Schulte	October 27, 2011
What’s wrong with this picture?	Jane Delanko	October 23, 2011
Sports team owners should be protested	Oren Spiegler	October 20, 2011
Corbett performs slight [sic] of hand	Dan Sainovich	October 19, 2011
Practice tolerance or shut up	Stanley Olash	October 9, 2011
Voter ID bill discourages many	Janet Hill	October 6, 2011
About time to pay fair share	Russell Hilliard	October 5, 2011
Collective bargaining a right	Larry Mason	October 5, 2011
Whose fault is it?	Jerry Miskulin	September 28, 2011
We need more Democrats	Dan Cogley	September 25, 2011
Fighting poverty	Bruce Simmeth	September 25, 2011
Article was one-sided	Serena Gaefke	September 15, 2011
Obama’s wishful thinking	Vondell McCoy	September 14, 2011
Another president from Texas?	Jerry Miskulin	September 11, 2011
Protect clean air standards	Michael Tracht	September 7, 2011
Bush does it right	Oren Spiegler	September 1, 2011
Selective criticism -- again	Lonzie Cox	August 31, 2001
Audit of Fed overdue	Bob Schmetzer	August 25, 2011
A fire sale of state’s assets	Stephen Kislock	August 24, 2011
Use clinics to cut costs	Lisa Biancucci	August 14, 2011
Ways to get more revenue	Dan Sainovich	August 14, 2011
Don’t tax job-creators	Clyde Parsons	August 10 2011
Don’t fall for sales pitch	Serena Gaefke	August 7, 2011
A case of voter regret	Stephen Kislock	August 7, 2011
A lot to answer for	Betty Bowser	August 2, 2011
Use the ballot box, not guns	Stephen Kislock	July 28, 2011
Unions versus corporations	Doug Piatt	July 27, 2011
Funds needed for roads	Oren Spiegler	July 24, 2011
Apology not accepted	Lonzie Cox	July 21, 2011
Corporations over people	Janet Hill	July 20, 2011
Ike set the standard	Edward Hum	July 14, 2011
We need more blue-collar jobs	John Tomaszewski	July 13, 2011
A disservice to taxpayers	Bob Grotevant	July 7, 2011
The real job killers	Alfonso Saahir	July 7, 2011
Send cop killer to Texas	Carol Tritinger	July 6, 2011
Prematurely back in power	Lonzie Cox	June 30, 2011
It’s about defunding education	Lisa Dawson	June 29, 2011
Education cuts will be costly	William Cashaw	June 24, 2011
Let’s respect non-believers	Maria Besong	June 22, 2011
Get over it	Mark Hogan	June 22, 2011
Balnce [sic] the budget wisely	Jill Marsilio-Colonna	June 19, 2011
Show us the transcripts	Bob Doughty	June 16, 2011
Don’t defund education	LaTonya Greene	June 12, 2011
Get with the times	Lynn Coleman	June 9, 2011
Stop denying reality	Sherry Allen	June 8, 2011
Try trickle-up effect	Dan Cogley	June 8, 2011
Missing the point	Stan Olash	June 5, 2011
Look long term on drllling [sic]	Dotty Loebig	June 2, 2011
Still waiting for justice	Stephen Kislock	June 1, 2011
The more things change	Mark Hogan	May 25, 2011
Profits before people	Milton Botts	May 19, 2011
Stop drilling now	Roger Cooling	May 19, 2001
Liberty and justice for some	Lonzie Cox	May 18, 2011
Energy policy long overdue	Philip Dedig	May 15, 2011
Conduct unbecoming	Omie Svetlick	May 15, 2011
Drawing on our resilience	Sherry Allen	May 9, 2011
Greed runs oil companies	Thomas Gaona	May 9, 2011
Trump is a pinhead	Lynn Gardner	May 9, 2011
Don’t send in another clown	James Jenkins	May 9, 2011
Online poker crackdown overdue	Mark Slyman	May 9, 2011
CEOS are not saints	Alex Yawor	May 9, 2011
Let’s defy history	Sherry Allen	May 4, 2011
Put a stop to gas gouging	Sara Thompson	May 4, 2011
Birthers are un-American	John Fray	May 1, 2011
‘Organic meat is a great alternative’	Susan Kraus	April 24, 2011
Don’t get fooled again on tax cuts	Bill Ralston	April 24, 2011
All things Obama aren’t all bad	Oren Spiegler	April 24, 2011
Discriminatory law is still in effect	Lonzie Cox	April 21, 2011
Our ‘autonomy is a given right’	Maria Besong	April 20, 2011
Corbett’s reasoning is lame at best	Gerald McCoy	April 20, 2011
Why won’t Corbett tax gas drillers?	Janet Caldarelli	April 17, 2011
Stop scare tactics and tell the truth	Edward Kuyweski	April 17, 2011
History gets in way of arguments	Alex Yawor	April 17, 2011
Taxes are still better in Texas	Robin Cox	April 14, 2011
Reward children for eating right	Lynn Gardner	April 14, 2011
Corbett is double talking on taxes	Dan Sainovich	April 14, 2011
Put the real blame where it belongs	William Alexander	April 13, 2011
Don’t give Reagan so much credit	Lonzie Cox	April 13, 2011
Vacation criticism was undeserved	Edward Hum	April 13, 2011
Obama will get his one-term reward	Stephen Kislock	April 13, 2011
The jive talking of right-wing hosts	Jerry Miskulin	April 10, 2011
With education, less is never more	Beth Schiemer	April 10, 2011
There are two sides to the drilling story	Bob Schmetzer	April 10, 2011
Leave Social Security alone	Mike Lavery	April 7, 2011
Florida pastor ignited incident	Oren Spiegler	April 7, 2011
‘Does our nation glorify war?’	John Tomaszewski	March 31, 2011
Forgive and live in the present	Sherry Allen	March 30, 2011
Proposed cuts will damage safety net	Bruce Simmeth	March 30, 2011
Why did we lend Brazil $3 billion?	Rita Gavert	March 27, 2011
The next time, let’s sweep them all out	Tony Mignanelli	March 27, 2011
Now’s the time for more public transit	Janet Caldarelli	March 24, 2011
We need to worry about our country	Robert Weber	March 24, 2011
Letter omitted pertinent details	Martin Schulte	March 23, 2011
What sacrifices is he making?	Jane Delanko	March 21, 2011
Where’s fiscally correct GOP?	Edward Hum	March 21, 2011
Hold all schools to same standards	Gregg Henning	March 20, 2011
Unions are needed to help all workers	William Alexander	March 17, 2011
GOP is taking us back in time	Jesse Green	March 17, 2011
‘Save education funding for all kids’	Milton Richeal	March 17, 2011
Don’t blame Social Security for deficit	Nick Chopiak	March 16, 2011
‘You sacrifice so they don’t have to’	Tony DiRienzo	March 16, 2011
Obama should run as a Republican	Stephen Kislock	March 16, 2011
Give drug tests to aid recipients	Greg Sherman/Carl Davidson	March 14, 2011
Impose extraction tax on natural gas	Carl Davidson	March 13, 2011
Drillers should be paying taxes	Martha Davies	March 13, 2011
Governments must plan realistically	Rebecca Deiter	March 13, 2011
Corbett’s priorities make no sense	Don Skinner	March 13, 2011
Corbett mustn’t cut special needs aid	Lisa Dawson	March 9, 2011
Let’s restrict SNAP to healthy foods	Oren Spiegler	March 9, 2011
What is this world coming to?	Lillian Vance	March 9, 2011
Wisconsin voters get their reward	Lonzie Cox	March 6, 2011
Free speech ruling makes no sense	Oren Spiegler	March 6, 2011
Serfdom’s shackles are on the horizon	Robert Steffes	March 6, 2011
Church takes free speech too far	Michelle Walser	March 6, 2011
Keep standards for school nurses	Carol Gaido-Schmidt	March 2, 2011
Opportunity for jobs must not slip away	Dan Bosh	February 27, 2011
An awkward time for political stooges	Robert Griffiths	February 27, 2011
Altmire’s vote does not tell whole tale	Adam Garber	February 24, 2011
Don’t touch our entitlements	Edward Kuyweski	February 24, 2011
Rich-poor divide continues to grow	Gwen Antoline	February 23, 2011
‘As with Veon, Altmire must go’	Terry Cunningham	February 23, 2011
Marshall has sided with gas drillers	Stephen Kislock	February 23, 2011
Don’t cut funding for cancer research	Mary Bryner	February 20, 2011
Republicans like Reagan needed	Edward Hum	February 20, 2011
Who are we to give advice to Egypt?	Jerry Miskulin	February 20, 2011
Boehner selective on deficit reduction	Oren Spiegler	February 20, 2011
Let’s save money for taxpayers now	Frank Bovalino	February 13, 2011
Egypt can start on road to reform	Ryan Tice	February 13, 2011
Don't let ‘noise’ drown vital debate	John White	February 13, 2011
Obama, Reagan linked by a thread	Tom McLaughlin	February 10, 2011
Don’t be deafened by noise machine	Lonzie Cox	February 9, 2011
So what if Aguilera messed up one line?	Jean Haney	February 9, 2011
Do more for poor than pray for them	Gerald Moran	February 6, 2011
Military spending must be cut, too	Edward Hum	February 2, 2011
Democracy or dictatorship?	Stephen Kislock	February 2, 2011
Could the U.S. cut off the Internet?	Geofry Lawton	February 2, 2011
Future generations will emulate us	Jerry Miskulin	February 2, 2011
Don’t ignore event’s seamy underside	Mary Pellegrino	February 2, 2011
House’s 1 percent solution is a joke	John Sear	January 30, 2011
Media must contest GOP exaggerations	William Alexander	January 27, 2011
Use sand, gravel on snowy roads	John Tomaszewski	January 27, 2011
Don’t privatize state’s liquor stores	Terry Biddle	January 26, 2011
Iraq fiasco was indeed ‘Bush’s war’	Thomas Finch	January 26, 2011
‘You, too’ charge can't absolve right	Martin Schulte	January 26, 2011
Bush’s post-invasion blunders his legacy	Mark Hogan	January 23, 2011
‘Let’s face it; the party’s over’	Mark Slyman	January 23, 2011
Working poor are in a dire situation	Ann Stanton	January 23, 2011
Put the blame where it belongs	Lorraine D’Eramo	January 20, 2011
Mass transit part of a bigger issue	Alana Miller	January 19, 2011
Right-wing should be on defensive	Stephen Kislock	January 16, 2011
Americans will get what they voted for	Lonzie Cox	January 13, 2011
Palin’s ‘symbols’ aren't so innocent	Alex Yawor	January 13, 2011
People must unite to counter drilling	Sherry Allen	January 9, 2011
Gas extraction puts profits first	Stephen Kislock	January 9, 2011
Is it racism or discrimination?	Alfonso Saahir	January 9, 2011
Where was Boehner in Bush years?	Earl Shoup	January 9, 2011
‘Notch victims’ will never get money	Alex Yawor	January 2, 2011

J. D. Prose
Conforti sticks to the truth -- but which version?	October 8, 2011
Don’t look now, but is Jay Paisley peaking?	September 24, 2011
This group isn’t a bunch of smart ALECs	August 6, 2011
Local congressmen react to debt ceiling deal	August 2, 2011
Republicans declare independence from reality	July 2, 2011
Rossi tries to derail the Payback Express	May 28, 2011
Three men enter, two men leave	May 14, 2011
Terrible Tom’s travesty	March 5, 2011
Sisk strikes pre-emptively to rally support for ‘Spamadio’	February 27, 2011
Critiques of 2010 Prose columns
Critiques of 2009 Prose columns
Critiques of 2008 Prose columns


Gino Piroli
Seniors agree that retirement is great	May 15, 2011
A lot of change in 85 years	February 27, 2011
Piroli: Internet postings can’t be taken at Face(book) value	February 14, 2011
Critiques of 2010 Piroli columns
Critiques of 2009 Piroli columns (none in 2008)
Critiques of 2007 Piroli columns
Critiques of 2006 Piroli columns
Critiques of 2005 Piroli columns
Critiques of 2004 Piroli columns

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Editorials

Letters to the editor	Author


Commentary/Forum
Gene Collier: Socialism serves fans and billionaires well	Gene Collier	February 6, 2011

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Editorials


Columns	Author


Letters to the editor	Author

Miscellaneous

Jobs and FDR’s ‘Economic Bill of Rights’	Beaver County Peace Links	December 23, 2011
Tale of Two Cities: GOP Tries to Convert America’s ‘Bedford Falls’ Into ‘Pottersville’	Beaver County Reds	December 27, 2011
Op-Ed: Look Out for the Undertow	State Rep. Jesse White (D-46)	December 26, 2011
Op-Ed: Redistricting – A Change Is Gonna Come	State Rep. Jesse White (D-46)	December 13, 2011
Is Black Friday Really Just “Occupy Wal-Mart?”	State Rep. Jesse White (D-46)	December 1, 2011
Do They Really Want ‘Specific Demands’ from the Occupiers?	Beaver County Reds	November 29, 2011
Labor [Union Management] & ‘Occupy Pittsburgh’ Join Together in Nationwide ‘Bridge’ Actions	Beaver County Reds	November 24, 2011
Op-Ed: This isn’t “the right way” on Marcellus Shale	State Rep. Jesse White (D-46)	November 20, 2011
Banksters: You Made the Mess? Pay Up!	Beaver County Reds	November 14, 2011
Democracy for America	Beaver County Reds	November 11, 2011
Young People and Poor People: Unite or Lose	Beaver County Reds	November 8, 2011
Editorial: Time Spent With Tony Amadio and Joe Spanik	John Paul	November 6, 2011
Op-Ed: Highmark vs. UPMC Is A Tough Pill To Swallow	State Rep. Jesse White (D-46)	October 25, 2011
House Bill No. 1077: A Bill To Legally Intimidate Women	My Ordinary Life	October 11, 2011
Op-Ed: Cliffs Notes Aren’t Good Enough for Marcellus Policy	State Rep. Jesse White (D-46)	October 11, 2011
Monday Musings Volume 8	Beaver Countian	October 3, 2011
Altmire Votes to Hold Emergency Aid Hostage	Beaver County Reds	September 23, 2011
Tax Credit Could Help Give Abandoned Pets a New Home	State Rep. Jesse White (D-46)	September 23, 2011
Political Battle Chess is a Bad Idea for Pennsylvania	State Rep. Jesse White (D-46)	September 21, 2011
Bush And Cheney Remind Us How We Got Into This Mess	NationofChange	September 4, 2011
U.S. Awash in Oil and Lies, Report Charges	NationofChange	September 3, 2011
Big Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?	State Rep. Jesse White (D-46)	August 31, 2011
Op-Ed: Who Exactly Are They Pledging Allegiance To?	State Rep. Jesse White (D-46)	August 9, 2011
Op-Ed: 10 Reasons Why I Voted NO On The State Budget	State Rep. Jesse White (D-46)	July 19, 2011
Tell Rep. Altmire Hands Off Social Security & Medicare Noon Wed. July 20th	Beaver County Reds	July 17, 2011
Shocking Electric Cost to Produce Fuel Dooms Todays [sic] Cars	TheEV.biz	July 3, 2011
The People’s Budget: Quick Summary of a Good Plan	Beaver County Reds	April 25, 2011
THERE IS NO DEFICIT!!!	Beaver County Reds	April 18, 2011
‘We Are One—And Ready to Fight Back!’	Beaver County Reds	April 6, 2011
Fighting for Our Future & Honoring Martin Luther King With Solidarity	Beaver County Reds	April 6, 2011
USW Pres. Gerard Message to “We Are One” Rallies	Beaver County Reds	April 4, 2011
Worker Solidarity – ‘We Have an Enemy, and It Must Be Named: Finance Capital’	Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism	February 27, 2011
Green Jobs: Frustration with Neoliberals over ‘Industrial Policy’	Beaver County Reds	February 14, 2011
Fox: The Twisted Source of News ...	Beaver County Reds	February 12, 2011
Report Back: Huge Rally in DC for Jobs, Justice, Education and Peace	Beaver County Reds	October 7, 2010
Never too young to sail solo	Marsha Keefer - Beaver County Times	September 5, 2010
Top 5 Social Security Myths	Beaver County Reds	August 8, 2010
Altmire Blows Smoke to Hide His Plan to Steal Social Security	Beaver County Reds	August 3, 2010
Beaver County Blue BS	Beaver County Reds	July 15, 2010
The Story of America’s Haiti	Beaver County Reds	January 18, 2010