Pundits - 2014


This page was last updated on January 6, 2015.


 
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.  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 - or had - a limit of 12 letters per year.  I believe other papers have lower limits.  In 2014, the BCT either ditched that limit or made a huge exception for Oren Spiegler.  By my count, the BCT published at least 25 Spiegler letters in 2014.

  • The papers generally provide the letter title, and sometimes the title is misleading.

For calendar year 2013 critiques, please go to Pundits 2013.

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
During mid-September 2011, the BCT quit writing its own editorials.  It since restarted and now publishes a mix of in-house and outsourced editorials.    
     
Times endorses Wolf for governor November 2, 2014  
Congress needs more candidates like McClelland October 31, 2014  
News: Protesters rally for officials to ‘do the right thing’ October 28, 2014  
Public deserved to be heard on park drilling deal September 28, 2014  
News: Severance tax would not hurt drilling industry, group says June 11, 2014  
A wise decision on same-sex marriage May 25, 2014  
Raising the minimum wage would cut food stamp costs May 12, 2014  
Numbers, numbers - Obamacare figures are good, bad and irrelevant February 16, 2014  
     
Letters to the editor Author  
Doing the right thing Larry Mason December 21, 2014
Severance tax is better for residents Sharon Ward December 21, 2014
Republicans remain Wall Street lapdogs Jonas Rushman December 18, 2014
Police should be our fellow citizens Lonzie Cox December 12, 2014
Is torture OK if it works? Carl Davidson December 12, 2014
Resisting arrest shouldn’t be fatal Martin Schulte December 9, 2014
Garner’s death will not have been in vain Oren Spiegler December 6, 2014
Why not use Taser or pepper spray? Larry Mason December 5, 2014
President Obama did the right thing Larry Mason November 24, 2014
Another shutdown would doom Republicans Oren Spiegler November 18, 2014
Last thing we need is more Tea-Publicans Thomas Finch November 16, 2014
A tobacco-friendly state Oren Spiegler November 2, 2014
Tom Wolf is right for state’s future Cecelia McDuffie October 29, 2014
Keepy [sic] lobbyists away from legislators James Zedak October 29, 2014
McClelland deserves chance in Congress Mark Stephens October 23, 2014
McClelland is right on health care Gerald Moran October 21, 2014
Rothfus’ opposition to ACA questioned John Nadzam October 21, 2014
McClelland supports union membership Gilda DeFerrari October 8, 2014
‘Penny poll’ issues backed by McClelland Geraldine DeSena October 8, 2014
Rothfus voted against family values Doris Steppe October 8, 2014
Time to improve racial brotherhood Edward Hum October 3, 2014
Why did Marshall vote against bill? Dan Sainovich October 1, 2014
Labor becoming less valued Jerry Miskulin September 25, 2014
Hope we don’t get fooled again Jerry Miskulin September 8, 2014
Ferguson protests show how far we have fallen Stephen Kislock August 20, 2014
All immigrants are not extremists Doug Lauffer August 17, 2014
Time to support clean-energy methods Kathy Nelson August 17, 2014
Climate change actions necessary Dewitt Walton August 7, 2014
Vogel supported fracking on state park lands Joshua Sonntag August 3, 2014
We shouldn’t pay for lifestyle choices O.J. Schlueter July 29, 2014
Local congressional leaders fail women Stephen Kislock July 24, 2014
Time to raise federal taxes Edward Hum July 10, 2014
Let public decide on drilling in parks Robyn Miller June 17, 2014
Taliban less dangerous than Supreme Court Lonzie Cox June 11, 2014
Raccoon Creek needs EPA protection Joshua Sonntag June 9, 2014
Hillary is ready for presidency Lynn Coleman May 30, 2014
Why bring gun to restaurant? Mary Pizutti May 29, 2014
Minimum wage should be raised Philip Dedig May 16, 2014
Bush told one big lie Dave Krupa May 16, 2014
Take second look at Lebanon bombing Jerry Miskulin May 11, 2014
There were other embassy attacks Dan Sainovich May 7, 2014
Fracking demands answers Bob Schmetzer May 7, 2014
Greathouse is a hero Joan Verner May 5, 2014
Voter fraud claims meant to keep voters away Betty Hamilton April 25, 2014
Taxes are not a burden Elizabeth Douglas April 13, 2014
Minimum wage must change Jerry Miskulin April 13, 2014
It’s time to take air quality issues seriously Nick Voutsinos March 27, 2014
Attack on workers Daniel Nunzir March 26, 2014
Stay away from another Cold War Lonzie Cox March 24, 2014
Mistaken assertions Robin Cox March 18, 2014
Christiana off base David Reese March 18, 2014
Flawed charter funding more pressing Daniel Castagna March 16, 2014
Bad argument Jarrod McCowin March 13, 2014
Smokescreen to weaken unions Dan Sainovich March 13, 2014
HB 1507 isn’t what Christiana says Bill Bubb March 12, 2014
Altmire could have served a lot longer Lonzie Cox March 2, 2014
Bill a direct attack on unions Jeff Bullock February 28, 2014
Gov. Brewer should be commended Oren Spiegler February 28, 2014
B&W’s history piece well done Lonzie Cox February 3, 2014
No one owed a living William Alexander January 20, 2014
A true war on poverty Bruce Simmeth January 16, 2014
     
J. D. Prose
It was a good run, but this column’s over August 18, 2013  
Voter ID delayed is injustice (temporarily) denied August 4, 2013  
Hanger: Opponent’s favorite status is “nonsense” July 28, 2013  
Time and apathy send DemCRO to the grave July 21, 2013  
Corbett’s now a parody of a viable candidate (updated 7/16/13) July 14, 2013  
Metcalfe is now the official state embarrassment June 29, 2013  
One man’s ‘reform’ is another man’s humiliation June 23, 2013  
McClelland won’t mince words on Rothfus or anything else June 9, 2013  
White’s online antics are no laughing matter June 2, 2013  
Calling out the GOP on their shiny object obsession May 18, 2013  
Really? Segment of Democrats think Corbett is doing ‘excellent’ job May 12, 2013  
Time to dip our toes back into the gossip pool May 5, 2013  
Christiana says it’s time to expand the WATCH list April 28, 2013  
Heroism in Boston and Texas, but cowardice on Capitol Hill April 21, 2013  
Easter Bunny brought a bowl of column jambalaya March 30, 2013  
Gutless Congress lets NRA win another one March 23, 2013  
If Corbett has lost women, it’s all downhill from here March 17, 2013  
Corbett’s twisting logic to reject Medicaid expansion March 10, 2013  
Voting for anti-violence bill before voting against it March 2, 2013  
Corbett’s re-election chances on orange alert! February 24, 2013  
It’s always sunny in a Fox News studio -- and Germany February 10, 2013  
Corbett’s trying, but the hits keep coming February 2, 2013  
Losing GOP scheming to rig Electoral College vote January 26, 2013  
Rothfus’ Sandy relief votes aren’t a good start January 20, 2013  
NRA response steers it straight into irrelevancy December 21, 2012  
Time for talking is over, gun control now December 16, 2012  
White’s got no home on the Range December 2, 2012  
Here’s the least surprising endorsement ever November 3, 2012  
No buts about it, GOP goes medieval on rape October 27, 2012  
Romney’s lies don't work, but more Americans do October 5, 2012  
Good or bad, campaigns dance around the polls September 29, 2012  
47 percent of readers won’t like this column September 22, 2012  
No doubt about it now, Mitt Romney has no shame September 15, 2012  
Fact checking a lie-free Democratic convention is easy September 8, 2012  
No hurricane, but Tampa’s buried by blizzard of lies September 1, 2012  
One man’s brush with GOP greatness August 25, 2012  
GOP’s bad week of bad press, bad polls and bad jokes August 11, 2012  
In politics, irony isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be August 5, 2012  
Maybe the GOP will go for UFO ID next July 29, 2012  
Save the chain emails for someone who cares July 21, 2012  
Berardelli steps up to lead when comments go too far July 13, 2012  
There’s nothing but (censored) everywhere we look June 29, 2012  
Shell cracks gas, Gov. cracks the bank, we crack wise June 16, 2012  
Report questions jobs, cost of cracker plant tax credit June 12, 2012  
It’s not winter, but APR skates free from jail June 2, 2012  
Even state legislators know ALEC’s bad news May 19, 2012  
Political Prose: The GOP’s week to remember come November February 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 editor Author  
     
     
Commentary/Forum
Gene Collier: Socialism serves fans and billionaires well Gene Collier February 6, 2011

 

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Editorials
For U.S. Senate: DO NOT Elect Casey ... October 14, 2012  
     
Columns Author  
     
     
Letters to the editor Author  
     

 

Miscellaneous

Congressional Progressive Caucus proposes windfall for Big Union managers Beaver County Reds November 29, 2014
Op-Ed: Reforming Healthcare While Saving Lives, Money, and a lot of Partisan Nonsense Erin McClelland October 30, 2014
PA Republicans Appeal to Racism Beaver County Reds October 1, 2014
Op-Ed: Dishonest Representation AFL-CIO March 18, 2014
Brownfields, Cleanups and Anti-Union Cranks Beaver County Reds December 27, 2013
In rural Kentucky, health-care debate takes back seat as the long-uninsured line up Beaver County Reds December 4, 2013
Pope Francis rips capitalism and trickle-down economics Beaver County Reds November 27, 2013
How Billionaire Businesses Expect the Public to Subsidize Their Low Wages and Opposition to Unions Beaver County Reds October 27, 2013
Misdeal: Setting up the Next Showdown for January Beaver County Reds October 15, 2013
Beaver County Reds Treasurer Supports Repeal of Income Tax, Medicare Beaver County Reds September 24, 2013
Factory Workers in 1910 Beaver County Reds September 6, 2013
New look to editorial page Shane Fitzgerald August 18, 2013
Progressive Democrats Protest ALEC in Chicago Beaver County Reds August 9, 2013
Why We Are Marching on Washington August 24th Beaver County Reds August 8, 2013
Aug 24 March Gathering New Energy: Help Us With The Buses! Beaver County Reds July 24, 2013
Unions Demand Democrats Fix Affordable Care Act [Obamacare] Beaver County Reds July 17, 2013
Rep. Jesse White (D-46), Ashley Jackson, and I Robin Cox June 9, 2013
Central Labor Councils Pass “Resolution for Action in Defense of Social Security and Medicare” Beaver County Reds June 4, 2013
Hidden Costs of Crumbling Infrastructure … - Bridges, not Drones! Beaver County Reds May 24, 2013
Global carbon dioxide in atmosphere passes milestone level Beaver County Reds May 10, 2013
Nearly 500 Celebrate May Day in Pittsburgh with a Colorful and Festive March and Rallies Beaver County Reds May 5, 2013
When Will We Find a Member of Congress to Speak for Our Progressive Majority? Beaver County Reds April 27, 2013
AFL-CIO Pres. Trumka Condemns Obama Budget Beaver County Reds April 11, 2013
Sen. Elizabeth Warren Opposes Cut to Social Security Beaver County Reds April 10, 2013
GOP Worships the ‘Hand,’ Disrespects Those Who Work With Them Beaver County Reds March 4, 2013
Op-Ed: Decisions Are Made By Those Who Show Up on Election Day State Rep. Jesse White (D-46) October 31, 2012
Second Obama-Romney Debate Analysis Beaver County Reds October 16, 2012
So You Want to Create Jobs? ... Beaver County Reds October 16, 2012
The 7 Biggest Economic Lies Beaver County Reds October 15, 2012
FDR’s Timeless Warning Beaver County Reds October 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 race Beaver County Reds October 12, 2012
Op-Ed: Ten Random PA Policy Points State Rep. Jesse White (D-46) September 4, 2012
Coal miners and the Obama administration Beaver County Reds August 28, 2012
Banksters Turn against Obama Beaver County Reds August 9, 2012
Investigation Shows Rep Jim Christiana’s Ties To School Choice Groups Could Top $170,000 John Paul Vranesevich July 30, 2012
‘We’re Fired Up!’ – Protestors in Harrisburg Vow to Defeat GOP Voter Suppression Law Beaver County Reds July 27, 2012
Eye Chart for GOP Apologists Progressives for Obama July 23, 2012
End Student Debt! Beaver County Reds May 3, 2012
Chesapeake Energy CEO bankrolled Corbett starting in ’04 Beaver County Reds May 3, 2012
“DID YOU KNOW? Beaver County Reds April 25, 2012
Obama’s Mortgage Fraud Unit is a Fraud on the American Public Beaver County Reds April 18, 2012
Democrats Must Fight for the 99% to Win in 2012 Beaver County Reds April 18, 2012
Foreign National to Kick Off Labor Effort for Critz in PA 12th CD Beaver County Reds April 13, 2012
April 4 Vigil Vows to Fight GOP Efforts to Deny Voting Rights Beaver County Reds April 7, 2012
Comments about student loans Beaver County Reds April 3, 2012
Misc comments about protests and Rockefeller Republicans Beaver County Reds April 1, 2012
Area Municipalities Sue State to Overturn Zoning Gift to Gas Drillers Beaver County Reds March 30, 2012
Do Facts Even Matter Anymore? State Rep. Jesse White (D-46) March 28, 2012
Tragedies, Crimes and Trayvon Martin Beaver County Reds March 24, 2012
Op-Ed: Turning Good Ideas into Good Legislation for PA State Rep. Jesse White (D-46) March 20, 2012
Elder Vogel Was “99% Against” Voter Restriction but Votes Yes! Beaver County Reds March 8, 2012
What The “Robo-Signing” Mortgage Settlement Means For PA State Rep. Jesse White (D-46) March 6, 2012
Democrats Will Choose Nominee for US Congress from New 12th District Beaver County Reds February 20, 2012
Op-Ed: When will Congress Start Earning their Pay? Jack Manning February 14, 2012
Editorial: The Political Who Are Beaver Countian February 8, 2012
Voting Rights Protest vs. GOP in Rochester, Saturday, Jan. 28 Beaver County Reds January 26, 2012
We’re All in the Same Boat? Beaver County Reds January 25, 2012
‘Right-to-Work’ and the Jim Crow Legacy That Affronts King’s Memory Beaver County Reds January 16, 2012
Occupy: Resurrecting Rev. King’s Final Dream Beaver County Reds January 16, 2012
Democratic Officials Line Up To Endorse Altmire Beaver Countian January 10, 2012
Op-Ed: New Teen Driving Laws Now in Effect State Rep. Jesse White (D-46) January 10, 2012
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

 


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