Russians and Americans
By Nathaniel Smith, Columnist, The Times
Governments and their people are not the same thing. That’s what Americans spending time abroad were saying to French friends in the 1960s, when the US was taking the disastrous step of picking up France’s colonial wars in the former Indochina. And it’s still true today. Let’s hope Europeans, including Russians, realize our government...
An, um, interesting year comes to a close
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
To say that 2017 has been an interesting year is something of an understatement.
From that standpoint, it has been one of the most amazing years to be in journalism — a dynamic year with no shortage of compelling stories and subject matter.
It has also been one of the most challenging — probably the most challenging year in the 34 years I have been in the business.
Moore, Trump put local Republicans at severe risk
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
As we head into the 2018 election season, we see that the two major political parties find themselves at crossroads, with one party seemingly finding its roots after years of wandering and pandering and another so lost, to as be unrecognizable from just a few years ago.
For Democrats, heading into 2018 with a wind at their back — and locally, the biggest series...
The Times’ Magazine: A sit down with Carolyn Comitta
Editor’s note: this is the first of what we hope will be a regular, magazine style feature on either a subject or personality of interest to Chester County. Like a true magazine feature, it is long-form and written from the author’s perspective. We welcome your comments, suggestions for future such pieces and input.
State Rep. Carolyn Comitta (D-156)
By Emily Pisano, Special to The...
Ryan Costello’s terrible, horrible, no good, very bad week
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Donald J. Trump, Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan are trying really, really hard to make sure U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello doesn’t get re-elected in 2018 — although it may be his own history that ultimately proves his undoing.
Oh, sure, the President and the Speaker of the House — as fellow Republicans — will swear until the cows come home that they back the two-term...
How is Tropical Storm Harvey like Donald Trump?
By Nathaniel Smith, Columnist, The Times
Tropical Storm Harvey and Donald Trump both were foreseeable disasters that have caused a lot of damage and suffering.
Republicans knew Trump would be trouble. His campaign was accompanied, but not at all impeded, by a whole litany of negative comments about him by his fellow primary candidates, former candidates and presidents, and other Republican leaders....
Van de Krol to replace Crossan as Clerk of Courts candidate
Yolanda Van de Krol
WEST CHESTER – The county’s Democratic Party announced formally on Wednesday that Yolanda de Krol will replace Maria Crossan on the fall ballot for Clerk of Courts. Crossan withdrew from the race, citing family concerns, earlier this month.
The party’s Executive Committee voted unanimously Wednesday night to back Van de Krol. She will face Republican Robin Marcello,...
The final straw
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Maybe it was when the U.S. House Representatives voted Thursday to blow up the increasingly popular Affordable Health Act and replace it with a non-vetted, closely-held replacement supported by less than 20 percent of voters (the cheering and beer party at the White House didn’t help, either).
Or maybe it was when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents...
A Q&A with Kate Young on Fair Districts PA and the fight against gerrymandering
By Nathaniel Smith, Columnist, The Times
Recently I spoke with Kate Young about Fair Districts PA https://www.fairdistrictspa.com/ and its campaign to do away with gerrymandering in Pennsylvania. Several Fair Districts presentations this spring have generated great interest. West Chester Public Library didn’t have materials on gerrymandering in its collection, so Fair Districts PA donated three...
Nobody asked me, but…