Pundits - 2013


This page was last updated on March 6, 2014.


 
Beaver County TimesPittsburgh Tribune-Review
Pittsburgh Post-GazetteMiscellaneous

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.  The letter-length limit is even tougher to deal with when you want to include excerpts of a piece for context so the reader knows exactly what you are talking about.

  • 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 2012 critiques, please go to Pundits 2012.

For calendar year 2011 critiques, please go to Pundits 2011.

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, the BCT quit writing its own editorials.  It since restarted and now publishes a mix of in-house and outsourced editorials.  
   
News: Newspaper publishing more dangerous than petrochemical manufacturingNovember 3, 2013 
Gov. Corbett is out of touchOctober 10, 2013 
Legislature needs to change cyber school funding formulaSeptember 29, 2013 
Medicaid acceptance a pleasant surpriseSeptember 22, 2013 
PSSA: A limited educationSeptember 15, 2013 
Big Mac budgeting: A bare-bones approach for workersJuly 21, 2013 
Legal loophole led to lost chance for justiceJuly 17, 2013 
News: What boom? Industry pundits claim thousands of jobs will be created, but numbers don’t quite add upMay 4, 2013 
Blame the cowards, not just the NRAApril 19, 2013 
News: Nuclear safety net: Scientists skeptical of industry complianceApril 6, 2013 
News: JFK holds complex place in black historyFebruary 23, 2013 
News: Questions abound on Seitel seismic testingFebruary 19, 2013 
Scouts should stop playing straightJanuary 30, 2013 
Death to Prince CharmingJanuary 25, 2013 
A shaky ladderJanuary 13, 2013 
News: Climate center: 2012 roasts to hottest year on recordJanuary 8, 2013 
   
   
Letters to the editorAuthor 
Cuts to housing are hurtingJeffrey HuberOctober 13, 2013
Tea Party dictates Republican PartyBetty BowserOctober 10, 2013
Accurate tax figures are importantHarley BadenOctober 8, 2013
Shut down is an act of terrorismAlfonso SaahirOctober 8, 2013
We have a right to a clean environmentBob SchmetzerOctober 4, 2013
Medicaid acceptance a pleasant surprise? For whom?Robin CoxOctober 2, 2013
Congress ready to take down the countryJames ZedakSeptember 26, 2013
Repeal the SequesterBruce SimmethSeptember 17, 2013
President doesn’t have the powerWilliam DicksonSeptember 15, 2013
Obituaries are not news itemsCharles SmithSeptember 15, 2013
If you don’t have anything nice to say …Lynn ColemanSeptember 13, 2013
Fear for loss of columnDon McClintonSeptember 13, 2013
Urge Congress to pass immigration reformMary PellegrinoSeptember 12, 2013
Move away from the oil and gas mentalityRandy ShafferSeptember 12, 2013
Respond to climate changeDewitt WaltonSeptember 12, 2013
Bring back J.D. Prose’s columnJohn MukanosSeptember 11, 2013
Extend the message of Dr. King to animalsLester HimberAugust 29, 2013
Cancelled columnFrank BovalinoAugust 25, 2013
Change in priorities necessaryPhilip DedigAugust 4, 2013
Under neighbor’s thumbJerry MiskulinAugust 4, 2013
Farm money should be spent wiserCharles HansenAugust 1, 2013
Deen not good role modelLynn ColemanJuly 26, 2013
No such thing as states’ rightsJerry MiskulinJuly 11, 2013
Fight for climate solutionsRandy FranciscoJuly 7, 2013
Realistic gun control neededJason BufaliniJuly 5, 2013
Time for independenceDave NinehouserJuly 5, 2013
Stop dragging feetJan CarpenterJune 30, 2013
NRA efforts support terrorStephen KislockJune 7, 2013
Not time for corporate tax cut billSharon WardMay 22, 2013
Special thanksDan CogleyMay 17, 2013
Risk vs. rewardBob SchmetzerMay 17, 2013
Welcome to realityMark HoganMay 15, 2013
NRA Commandments?Stephen KislockMay 15, 2013
Hire local workersGeriann RybackMay 15, 2013
Think aheadLonzie CoxApril 14, 2013
Rothfus has much to learnElizabeth DouglasApril 14, 2013
Matzie shows strength of characterRobert MarshallApril 14, 2013
We all deserve betterJan CarpenterApril 7, 2013
Republicans slowing economyDan CogleyApril 7, 2013
Combined churches can do goodLonzie CoxApril 5, 2013
President earned respectLynn ColemanApril 3, 2013
Blame TeapublicansThomas FinchApril 3, 2013
Time to wake upFrank SnyderMarch 29, 2013
States should determine gun lawsPhilip DedigMarch 27, 2013
Business, not government, creates jobsNick KosanovichMarch 17, 2013
Education should be available to allAngela VillarMarch 15, 2013
Missing the pointStan OlashMarch 3, 2013
People should be priorityJames ZedakFebruary 28, 2013
Kane proven herselfMichael CicconiFebruary 21, 2013
What about female pope?Oren SpieglerFebruary 21, 2013
We can’t blame the presidentThomas FinchFebruary 20, 2013
Use common senseLynn ColemanFebruary 8, 2013
God doesn’t love gunsDave NinehouserFebruary 8, 2013
Blacks still ignoredLonzie CoxFebruary 7, 2013
Fracking not greenBob SchmetzerFebruary 6, 2013
What do they want?Dan CogleyFebruary 1, 2013
Politicians to blamePaul FreyFebruary 1, 2013
Recycle cans, kick politiciansEdward KuyweskiFebruary 1, 2013
Limit bulletsRobert HackerJanuary 31 2013
It’s your choiceStephen KislockJanuary 24, 2013
Keep guns out of schoolsDan CogleyJanuary 24, 2013
Different decisionsLonzie CoxJanuary 20, 2013
Armed guards in schools inhumanElizabeth DouglasJanuary 17, 2013
Take the plateLarry MasonJanuary 13, 2013
Pennsylvania not proudDan CogleyJanuary 10, 2013
Commissioners should protect Friendship RidgeRebecca FischerJanuary 9, 2013
Friendship Ridge neededLois SestitoJanuary 9, 2013
NRA did itself disservicePaul UnderinerJanuary 6, 2013
What oil boom?Christina SarsonJanuary 4, 2013
Time to work togetherKayla TurneyJanuary 4, 2013
The beginning of the end?Alex YaworJanuary 4, 2013
   
J. D. Prose
It was a good run, but this column’s overAugust 18, 2013 
Voter ID delayed is injustice (temporarily) deniedAugust 4, 2013 
Hanger: Opponent’s favorite status is “nonsense”July 28, 2013 
Time and apathy send DemCRO to the graveJuly 21, 2013 
Corbett’s now a parody of a viable candidate (updated 7/16/13)July 14, 2013 
Metcalfe is now the official state embarrassmentJune 29, 2013 
One man’s ‘reform’ is another man’s humiliationJune 23, 2013 
McClelland won’t mince words on Rothfus or anything elseJune 9, 2013 
White’s online antics are no laughing matterJune 2, 2013 
Calling out the GOP on their shiny object obsessionMay 18, 2013 
Really? Segment of Democrats think Corbett is doing ‘excellent’ jobMay 12, 2013 
Time to dip our toes back into the gossip poolMay 5, 2013 
Christiana says it’s time to expand the WATCH listApril 28, 2013 
Heroism in Boston and Texas, but cowardice on Capitol HillApril 21, 2013 
Easter Bunny brought a bowl of column jambalayaMarch 30, 2013 
Gutless Congress lets NRA win another oneMarch 23, 2013 
If Corbett has lost women, it’s all downhill from hereMarch 17, 2013 
Corbett’s twisting logic to reject Medicaid expansionMarch 10, 2013 
Voting for anti-violence bill before voting against itMarch 2, 2013 
Corbett’s re-election chances on orange alert!February 24, 2013 
It’s always sunny in a Fox News studio -- and GermanyFebruary 10, 2013 
Corbett’s trying, but the hits keep comingFebruary 2, 2013 
Losing GOP scheming to rig Electoral College voteJanuary 26, 2013 
Rothfus’ Sandy relief votes aren’t a good startJanuary 20, 2013 
NRA response steers it straight into irrelevancyDecember 21, 2012 
Time for talking is over, gun control nowDecember 16, 2012 
White’s got no home on the RangeDecember 2, 2012 
Here’s the least surprising endorsement everNovember 3, 2012 
No buts about it, GOP goes medieval on rapeOctober 27, 2012 
Romney’s lies don't work, but more Americans doOctober 5, 2012 
Good or bad, campaigns dance around the pollsSeptember 29, 2012 
47 percent of readers won’t like this columnSeptember 22, 2012 
No doubt about it now, Mitt Romney has no shameSeptember 15, 2012 
Fact checking a lie-free Democratic convention is easySeptember 8, 2012 
No hurricane, but Tampa’s buried by blizzard of liesSeptember 1, 2012 
One man’s brush with GOP greatnessAugust 25, 2012 
GOP’s bad week of bad press, bad polls and bad jokesAugust 11, 2012 
In politics, irony isn’t all that it’s cracked up to beAugust 5, 2012 
Maybe the GOP will go for UFO ID nextJuly 29, 2012 
Save the chain emails for someone who caresJuly 21, 2012 
Berardelli steps up to lead when comments go too farJuly 13, 2012 
There’s nothing but (censored) everywhere we lookJune 29, 2012 
Shell cracks gas, Gov. cracks the bank, we crack wiseJune 16, 2012 
Report questions jobs, cost of cracker plant tax creditJune 12, 2012 
It’s not winter, but APR skates free from jailJune 2, 2012 
Even state legislators know ALEC’s bad newsMay 19, 2012 
Political Prose: The GOP’s week to remember come NovemberFebruary 11, 2012 
Critiques of 2011 Prose columns  
Critiques of 2010 Prose columns  
Critiques of 2009 Prose columns  
Critiques of 2008 Prose columns  
   
   
Gino Piroli
Critiques of 2011 Piroli columns  
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 editorAuthor 
   
   
Commentary/Forum
Gene Collier: Socialism serves fans and billionaires wellGene CollierFebruary 6, 2011

 

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Editorials
For U.S. Senate: DO NOT Elect Casey ...October 14, 2012 
   
ColumnsAuthor 
   
   
Letters to the editorAuthor 
   

 

Miscellaneous

Brownfields, Cleanups and Anti-Union CranksBeaver County RedsDecember 27, 2013
In rural Kentucky, health-care debate takes back seat as the long-uninsured line upBeaver County RedsDecember 4, 2013
Pope Francis rips capitalism and trickle-down economicsBeaver County RedsNovember 27, 2013
How Billionaire Businesses Expect the Public to Subsidize Their Low Wages and Opposition to UnionsBeaver County RedsOctober 27, 2013
Misdeal: Setting up the Next Showdown for JanuaryBeaver County RedsOctober 15, 2013
Beaver County Reds Treasurer Supports Repeal of Income Tax, MedicareBeaver County RedsSeptember 24, 2013
Factory Workers in 1910Beaver County RedsSeptember 6, 2013
New look to editorial pageShane FitzgeraldAugust 18, 2013
Progressive Democrats Protest ALEC in ChicagoBeaver County RedsAugust 9, 2013
Why We Are Marching on Washington August 24thBeaver County RedsAugust 8, 2013
Aug 24 March Gathering New Energy: Help Us With The Buses!Beaver County RedsJuly 24, 2013
Unions Demand Democrats Fix Affordable Care Act [Obamacare]Beaver County RedsJuly 17, 2013
Rep. Jesse White (D-46), Ashley Jackson, and IRobin CoxJune 9, 2013
Central Labor Councils Pass “Resolution for Action in Defense of Social Security and Medicare”Beaver County RedsJune 4, 2013
Hidden Costs of Crumbling Infrastructure … - Bridges, not Drones!Beaver County RedsMay 24, 2013
Global carbon dioxide in atmosphere passes milestone levelBeaver County RedsMay 10, 2013
Nearly 500 Celebrate May Day in Pittsburgh with a Colorful and Festive March and RalliesBeaver County RedsMay 5, 2013
When Will We Find a Member of Congress to Speak for Our Progressive Majority?Beaver County RedsApril 27, 2013
AFL-CIO Pres. Trumka Condemns Obama BudgetBeaver County RedsApril 11, 2013
Sen. Elizabeth Warren Opposes Cut to Social SecurityBeaver County RedsApril 10, 2013
GOP Worships the ‘Hand,’ Disrespects Those Who Work With ThemBeaver County RedsMarch 4, 2013
Op-Ed: Decisions Are Made By Those Who Show Up on Election DayState Rep. Jesse White (D-46)October 31, 2012
Second Obama-Romney Debate AnalysisBeaver County RedsOctober 16, 2012
So You Want to Create Jobs? ...Beaver County RedsOctober 16, 2012
The 7 Biggest Economic LiesBeaver County RedsOctober 15, 2012
FDR’s Timeless WarningBeaver County RedsOctober 13, 2012
Headline: Anti-Semitic, Warmongering Progressive Democrats of America – PA 12th CD and Beaver County Peace Links support an anti-Semitic warmonger in Virginia raceBeaver County RedsOctober 12, 2012
Op-Ed: Ten Random PA Policy PointsState Rep. Jesse White (D-46)September 4, 2012
Coal miners and the Obama administrationBeaver County RedsAugust 28, 2012
Banksters Turn against ObamaBeaver County RedsAugust 9, 2012
Investigation Shows Rep Jim Christiana’s Ties To School Choice Groups Could Top $170,000John Paul VranesevichJuly 30, 2012
‘We’re Fired Up!’ – Protestors in Harrisburg Vow to Defeat GOP Voter Suppression LawBeaver County RedsJuly 27, 2012
Eye Chart for GOP ApologistsProgressives for ObamaJuly 23, 2012
End Student Debt!Beaver County RedsMay 3, 2012
Chesapeake Energy CEO bankrolled Corbett starting in ’04Beaver County RedsMay 3, 2012
“DID YOU KNOW?Beaver County RedsApril 25, 2012
Obama’s Mortgage Fraud Unit is a Fraud on the American PublicBeaver County RedsApril 18, 2012
Democrats Must Fight for the 99% to Win in 2012Beaver County RedsApril 18, 2012
Foreign National to Kick Off Labor Effort for Critz in PA 12th CDBeaver County RedsApril 13, 2012
April 4 Vigil Vows to Fight GOP Efforts to Deny Voting RightsBeaver County RedsApril 7, 2012
Comments about student loansBeaver County RedsApril 3, 2012
Misc comments about protests and Rockefeller RepublicansBeaver County RedsApril 1, 2012
Area Municipalities Sue State to Overturn Zoning Gift to Gas DrillersBeaver County RedsMarch 30, 2012
Do Facts Even Matter Anymore?State Rep. Jesse White (D-46)March 28, 2012
Tragedies, Crimes and Trayvon MartinBeaver County RedsMarch 24, 2012
Op-Ed: Turning Good Ideas into Good Legislation for PAState Rep. Jesse White (D-46)March 20, 2012
Elder Vogel Was “99% Against” Voter Restriction but Votes Yes!Beaver County RedsMarch 8, 2012
What The “Robo-Signing” Mortgage Settlement Means For PAState Rep. Jesse White (D-46)March 6, 2012
Democrats Will Choose Nominee for US Congress from New 12th DistrictBeaver County RedsFebruary 20, 2012
Op-Ed: When will Congress Start Earning their Pay?Jack ManningFebruary 14, 2012
Editorial: The Political Who AreBeaver CountianFebruary 8, 2012
Voting Rights Protest vs. GOP in Rochester, Saturday, Jan. 28Beaver County RedsJanuary 26, 2012
We’re All in the Same Boat?Beaver County RedsJanuary 25, 2012
‘Right-to-Work’ and the Jim Crow Legacy That Affronts King’s MemoryBeaver County RedsJanuary 16, 2012
Occupy: Resurrecting Rev. King’s Final DreamBeaver County RedsJanuary 16, 2012
Democratic Officials Line Up To Endorse AltmireBeaver CountianJanuary 10, 2012
Op-Ed: New Teen Driving Laws Now in EffectState Rep. Jesse White (D-46)January 10, 2012
Jobs and FDR’s ‘Economic Bill of Rights’Beaver County Peace LinksDecember 23, 2011
Tale of Two Cities: GOP Tries to Convert America’s ‘Bedford Falls’ Into ‘Pottersville’Beaver County RedsDecember 27, 2011
Op-Ed: Look Out for the UndertowState Rep. Jesse White (D-46)December 26, 2011
Op-Ed: Redistricting – A Change Is Gonna ComeState 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 RedsNovember 29, 2011
Labor [Union Management] & ‘Occupy Pittsburgh’ Join Together in Nationwide ‘Bridge’ ActionsBeaver County RedsNovember 24, 2011
Op-Ed: This isn’t “the right way” on Marcellus ShaleState Rep. Jesse White (D-46)November 20, 2011
Banksters: You Made the Mess? Pay Up!Beaver County RedsNovember 14, 2011
Democracy for AmericaBeaver County RedsNovember 11, 2011
Young People and Poor People: Unite or LoseBeaver County RedsNovember 8, 2011
Editorial: Time Spent With Tony Amadio and Joe SpanikJohn PaulNovember 6, 2011
Op-Ed: Highmark vs. UPMC Is A Tough Pill To SwallowState Rep. Jesse White (D-46)October 25, 2011
House Bill No. 1077: A Bill To Legally Intimidate WomenMy Ordinary LifeOctober 11, 2011
Op-Ed: Cliffs Notes Aren’t Good Enough for Marcellus PolicyState Rep. Jesse White (D-46)October 11, 2011
Monday Musings Volume 8Beaver CountianOctober 3, 2011
Altmire Votes to Hold Emergency Aid HostageBeaver County RedsSeptember 23, 2011
Tax Credit Could Help Give Abandoned Pets a New HomeState Rep. Jesse White (D-46)September 23, 2011
Political Battle Chess is a Bad Idea for PennsylvaniaState Rep. Jesse White (D-46)September 21, 2011
Bush And Cheney Remind Us How We Got Into This MessNationofChangeSeptember 4, 2011
U.S. Awash in Oil and Lies, Report ChargesNationofChangeSeptember 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 BudgetState Rep. Jesse White (D-46)July 19, 2011
Tell Rep. Altmire Hands Off Social Security & Medicare Noon Wed. July 20thBeaver County RedsJuly 17, 2011
Shocking Electric Cost to Produce Fuel Dooms Todays [sic] CarsTheEV.bizJuly 3, 2011
The People’s Budget: Quick Summary of a Good PlanBeaver County RedsApril 25, 2011
THERE IS NO DEFICIT!!!Beaver County RedsApril 18, 2011
‘We Are One—And Ready to Fight Back!’Beaver County RedsApril 6, 2011
Fighting for Our Future & Honoring Martin Luther King With SolidarityBeaver County RedsApril 6, 2011
USW Pres. Gerard Message to “We Are One” RalliesBeaver County RedsApril 4, 2011
Worker Solidarity – ‘We Have an Enemy, and It Must Be Named: Finance Capital’Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and SocialismFebruary 27, 2011
Green Jobs: Frustration with Neoliberals over ‘Industrial Policy’Beaver County RedsFebruary 14, 2011
Fox: The Twisted Source of News ...Beaver County RedsFebruary 12, 2011
Report Back: Huge Rally in DC for Jobs, Justice, Education and PeaceBeaver County RedsOctober 7, 2010
Never too young to sail soloMarsha Keefer - Beaver County TimesSeptember 5, 2010
Top 5 Social Security MythsBeaver County RedsAugust 8, 2010
Altmire Blows Smoke to Hide His Plan to Steal Social SecurityBeaver County RedsAugust 3, 2010
Beaver County Blue BSBeaver County RedsJuly 15, 2010
The Story of America’s HaitiBeaver County RedsJanuary 18, 2010

 


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