Democratic strategists were wrong to assume that large numbers of voters would turn away from Donald Trump in the 2020 election. Forty eight percent of the electorate remains firmly behind the president. Trump’s brand of divisive politics and his decision to ignore the greatest health threat…
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The unkickable football, the skimpy (but meaningful) Christmas tree and the Great Pumpkin are all reminders of Charlie Brown.
The Observer-Reporter recently published an important story with the headline, “A Good Process.” In the article, both Democratic and Republican Party leaders from across our area praised the transparency and openness of our voting process. The story went on to show how officials from both pa…
For many years prior to the change of the board of commissioners in 2020, concerns were raised about the rapid deterioration of the Washington County parking garage, which is the foundation of our Courthouse Square Building. More than eight years ago, we began placing temporary shelters in o…
First, thank God the voting is over. U.S. presidential elections are too long. The problem with long election seasons is they suck up too much oxygen, and distract from governing, which should be the primary role of government. The “permanent campaign” may be good for cable news ratings, but…
Saturday, Nov. 28, will mark the 11th annual edition of the shopping holiday known as Small Business Saturday. Inserted between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, the effort to “shop small” has grown into a national phenomenon, and businesses all over Washington County are poised to take advanta…
It must be wonderful to live in a reality-free world. A world where everything is apparently going to suddenly be all milk and honey come Jan. 20. The post-election slogan Gary Stout noted in his Nov. 8 op-ed in the Observer-Reporter were, “With All Americans Pulling Together, We Can Accompl…
It is Friday morning following the election. I now feel confident calling Joe Biden our next president, notwithstanding the frivolous legal challenges. America was on the ballot, and we won. Citizens have voted in greater numbers than at any time in our history despite the pandemic It is tim…
A massive hike in the cost of new shale gas well permits raises serious questions about the operations of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and could imperil the very industry that has contributed so much to the Keystone State economy, says a scholar at the Allegh…
Most Americans are ready for this election to be over. But it’s likely that we will need to wait longer than normal for the results. Thousands of elections officials, our fellow citizens and community members need time to count every ballot with strong dedication to a fair and impartial proc…
Patients who rely on a high-quality skilled nursing facility to provide ventilator care due to an injury or illness may soon face even greater challenges in getting the care they need.
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has laid bare for all to see the importance of access to high quality health care for all. Along with the unnecessary loss of life, the obviously unnecessary devastation of the U.S. economy, and the (thankfully temporary) restrictions to the way of life we in the Unit…
With Election Day fast upon us, most voters have already made their decisions on whom to support. In fact, many have already voted by mail throughout the country, state, and even here in Washington County, with more than a third of all the likely votes cast in the county coming by mail-in ba…
This year has forced my wife and I to find pastimes other than travel until COVID-19 is under control. One alternative has been to enter a virtual time machine and to look in on what America was up to at other times in our past. On this vein the history concerning the national election of 19…
President Trump is very good at knowing his audience and telling them what they want to hear. Unfortunately, what he tells them is not limited to reality. According to the fact-checkers at the Washington Post, he’s told more than 20,000 false or misleading statements during his presidency. G…
There is no question that natural gas development in Pennsylvania has led to local, state, and national benefits. Second in the level of production in the United States, Pennsylvania’s natural gas industry has produced economic growth at the local and state level through job creation and bus…
After years of fear mongering, outright lies and mistruths, and a trail of ruined careers, lives, and even suicides, Sen. Joseph McCarthy was finally confronted by his peers and asked, “Have you no sense of decency?” The public had been captivated by the brash senator, spouting bile and auto…
As the presidential campaign heads into its final weeks, it is very obvious that President Trump’s supporters are wildly enthusiastic. Signs are everywhere. Every time he or a surrogate speaks, huge crowds appear to cheer. “Four more years” is the refrain because people understand his accomp…
Down amidst the mud and weeds of a contentious presidential election there is a positive factor to point out. Unlike 2016, there are few candidate unknowns to confuse voters as they go to the polls. The choice is between two contenders with diametrically opposed, established records that cou…
More opportunities for students. That’s the driving force that propels California University of Pennsylvania toward a proposed integration with Clarion and Edinboro universities.
As we enter the homestretch of the 2020 presidential election, Pennsylvanians have received the attention of the entire nation, yet again. Joe Biden’s campaign has now announced they will finally start an effort to knock on doors in the Keystone State. With one month to go, one must ask, why…
Saturday, Nov. 28, will mark the 11th annual edition of the shopping holiday known as Small Business Saturday. Inserted between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, the effort to “shop small” has grown into a national phenomenon, and businesses all over Washington County are poised to take advanta…
It must be wonderful to live in a reality-free world. A world where everything is apparently going to suddenly be all milk and honey come Jan. 20. The post-election slogan Gary Stout noted in his Nov. 8 op-ed in the Observer-Reporter were, “With All Americans Pulling Together, We Can Accompl…
It is Friday morning following the election. I now feel confident calling Joe Biden our next president, notwithstanding the frivolous legal challenges. America was on the ballot, and we won. Citizens have voted in greater numbers than at any time in our history despite the pandemic It is tim…
A massive hike in the cost of new shale gas well permits raises serious questions about the operations of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and could imperil the very industry that has contributed so much to the Keystone State economy, says a scholar at the Allegh…
Most Americans are ready for this election to be over. But it’s likely that we will need to wait longer than normal for the results. Thousands of elections officials, our fellow citizens and community members need time to count every ballot with strong dedication to a fair and impartial proc…
Patients who rely on a high-quality skilled nursing facility to provide ventilator care due to an injury or illness may soon face even greater challenges in getting the care they need.
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has laid bare for all to see the importance of access to high quality health care for all. Along with the unnecessary loss of life, the obviously unnecessary devastation of the U.S. economy, and the (thankfully temporary) restrictions to the way of life we in the Unit…
With Election Day fast upon us, most voters have already made their decisions on whom to support. In fact, many have already voted by mail throughout the country, state, and even here in Washington County, with more than a third of all the likely votes cast in the county coming by mail-in ba…
This year has forced my wife and I to find pastimes other than travel until COVID-19 is under control. One alternative has been to enter a virtual time machine and to look in on what America was up to at other times in our past. On this vein the history concerning the national election of 19…
President Trump is very good at knowing his audience and telling them what they want to hear. Unfortunately, what he tells them is not limited to reality. According to the fact-checkers at the Washington Post, he’s told more than 20,000 false or misleading statements during his presidency. G…
There is no question that natural gas development in Pennsylvania has led to local, state, and national benefits. Second in the level of production in the United States, Pennsylvania’s natural gas industry has produced economic growth at the local and state level through job creation and bus…
After years of fear mongering, outright lies and mistruths, and a trail of ruined careers, lives, and even suicides, Sen. Joseph McCarthy was finally confronted by his peers and asked, “Have you no sense of decency?” The public had been captivated by the brash senator, spouting bile and auto…
As the presidential campaign heads into its final weeks, it is very obvious that President Trump’s supporters are wildly enthusiastic. Signs are everywhere. Every time he or a surrogate speaks, huge crowds appear to cheer. “Four more years” is the refrain because people understand his accomp…
Down amidst the mud and weeds of a contentious presidential election there is a positive factor to point out. Unlike 2016, there are few candidate unknowns to confuse voters as they go to the polls. The choice is between two contenders with diametrically opposed, established records that cou…
More opportunities for students. That’s the driving force that propels California University of Pennsylvania toward a proposed integration with Clarion and Edinboro universities.
As we enter the homestretch of the 2020 presidential election, Pennsylvanians have received the attention of the entire nation, yet again. Joe Biden’s campaign has now announced they will finally start an effort to knock on doors in the Keystone State. With one month to go, one must ask, why…
The death of Breonna Taylor was tragic. She was clearly an innocent person whose home was violated by the police. The police officers who killed Taylor escaped punishment, which has understandably generated outrage from her supporters. But I think the outrage is misplaced. While it might be …
The problem with presidential and vice presidential debates is that they are not debates at all.
Early Oct. 3, the president and first lady announced that they were two of 50,000 Americans that day who tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. The White House decided that “out of an abundance of caution” the president would recuperate at Walter Reed Medical Center. This was prudent, given…
Last week, a farm in Nottingham Township was sold at auction. The farmhouse, sitting on 128 acres, was built in the late 1700s, and the property belonged to the same family for 125 years. It was purchased by a local developer who will look to divide it into smaller lots to build houses. This…
Probably, like no other time in our recent American history we stand before a fork in the road. Our next step will determine the future of America and more importantly the future of our children. Will the republic of America survive, or will we follow the destructive pathway toward socialism…
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States. In July 2017, President Trump was asked to speak before a gathering of 40,000 Scouts at the summer jamboree in West Virginia.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death has revealed the true nature of the current Republican Party. It is not a conservative party, dedicated to preserving traditions and what is best from our history. It is corrupt party of wealthy elites that uses the white working class and evangelicals to support …
On Nov. 3, we will elect the leader of our country. President Trump does not deserve reelection because he has failed as a leader. His first failure is that he has no interest in leading the 60% of the country that didn’t vote for him. When asked about his failure to deal with the pandemic, …
Government jurisdictions of all sizes find themselves struggling with how to recoup lost tax receipts because of coronavirus pandemic-related shutdowns and restrictions.
The recent passing of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and the subsequent announcement by President Trump that he will immediately attempt to fill the vacancy, has brought forth yet another political firestorm. These controversies continue to weigh on the shoulders of the coun…
Editor's note: This op-ed was updated Sept. 21 to remove an erroneous reference to Democratic voter fraud in Pendleton County, W.Va. In that case from earlier this year, a postal clerk pled guilty to changing the political affiliation on multiple voter ballots from Democrat to Republican.
For those who read the daily newspaper and go straight to the sports section, comics and obituaries, you may have paid little attention to the recurring full-page public notices detailing the proposed amendments to the Constitution of Pennsylvania. Who can blame you? The print is tiny, and t…
The beleaguered Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) has proposed merging six of its 14 schools into three. But an analysis by the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy concludes that would be easier said than done.
Given that President Trump’s response to the challenge of COVID-19 has been much worse than that of our peer countries, which has led to almost 200,000 dead and an economy in shambles, it is hard for him to run on his record of accomplishments. Instead, Trump has tried to distract voters fro…
I served in the Navy Reserves for 19 years and on active duty in Kuwait during Operation Enduring Freedom for one year. Nothing compares to serving in the United States military. Every time my unit stood at attention for the national anthem I felt an overwhelming sense of pride that sometime…
”I’m looking for a commitment for change, even if it isn’t done officially.” – Former Georgetown basketball coach, John Thompson
Two weeks, two national conventions, two dramatically different pictures of America that match the platforms of the parties. The Democratic National Convention was a stark, dark, pessimistic, hate-filled advocacy for socialism. In counterpoint, the Republican convention was a celebration of …
Joe Biden’s acceptance speech at the Democratic convention made a strong appeal that he is the candidate that can end the dangerous polarization threatening American democracy. To achieve this goal he must do more to convince white, blue-collar, working-class voters who flocked to Donald Tru…
Over the past year much has been discussed about the Democratic Party and its supposed move to the left, with several progressive candidates enjoying much support during the presidential campaign. Even though the term “progressive” has rarely been used to describe Joe Biden, that discussion …
Our second oldest son leaves for college this week. It will be a long, quiet, 10-hour drive to Massachusetts. There’s so much to think about and so much to say, but there will be few words to sum up our combined feelings about Jack’s next chapter. I know he’s excited and eager, but also appr…
To paraphrase and to twist an old Top 40 radio line, the coronavirus pandemic-related public policy misses just keep on comin’ on.
What do education, college football, voting and patronizing restaurants all have in common? Each of these activities is at the center of a raging debate on how quickly we should return to normalizing our lives in the face of a pandemic. Proposals that made sense in June are now difficult to …
As the presidential campaign season heats up, the business of misrepresentation, often called campaigning, gets into full swing. There is low expectation that all statements heard will be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, but occasionally statements are made that are so e…
I am in the restaurant business. I am watching my industry be decimated.
This election season has seen the rancor between those who take their politics seriously escalate to an all-time high. Fueled by social media and a nation of voters shut in by the pandemic, emotions and cognitive biases encourage voters to only give credence to opinions that confirm their lo…
The word “divisive” has become commonplace when it comes to discussions of the political landscape in the United States. And as the country ramps up for the most contentious presidential campaign in recent history, this fracturing does not seem to have any hope of slowing down. With less tha…
From one television channel to another, the news is pretty much the same: a peaceful protest burning down Seattle; a peaceful protest looting, pillaging and burning Portland; peaceful protesters burning buildings in Minneapolis. The vacuous talking heads on the likes of CNN, MSNBC and ABC ba…
Many watchwords highlight the divide between our political tribes as the 2020 election approaches. Over the past several weeks, “good trouble,” as proclaimed by the late Congressman John Lewis to describe nonviolent protest against authority in the face of inequality, has become a popular ph…
It should come as no surprise that Pennsylvania’s casinos have seen a major reduction in overall revenues during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Our hospitals and health clinics are constantly evolving, perhaps never more quickly than during the COVID-19 pandemic. Across Pennsylvania, medical facilities have made rapid changes to accommodate new patients while keeping staff safe as they treat patients with COVID-19. But the crisis is…
We sometimes think of states as competitors, given the competing interests of attracting investment opportunities and growing commercial activity. That said, the twin developments of the shale boom and ensuing manufacturing renaissance show that doesn’t always have to be the case. Recently a…
When it comes to addressing the pandemic, the federal government gets a grade of D- on its public health policy and a B+ on its monetary policy to help the economy. In explaining the poor grade on public health, the daily news cycle has rightly focused on the absence of presidential leadersh…
Recently in a social media post, Congressman Guy Reschenthaler blamed the violent unrest in Portland, Ore., and other cities around the country on “anarchists and communists” and “spoiled brats.” This cannot be further from the truth. These peaceful protests, like the various ones held in Wa…
Our son Jack graduated this past weekend from Central Catholic High School. Nothing about the day seemed ordinary. It was hot and sunny like much of the summer, sure. But in my stomach I was twisted. I felt so many things. Sadness. Frustration. Bitterness. Pride. Mainly pride. Jack is soon o…
