Will new COVID spike tamp down in-person voting, leading to a GOP disaster?
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa
On Saturday, The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 1,742 new cases of COVID-19, the highest number reported in the state since April. National sources reported about 55,000 new cases — without Florida numbers — and nearly 1,000 deaths.
Since there appear to be no new restrictions to limit the spread of the virus on the horizon, we’re going...
Pa. legislative Republicans show irresponsibility — again — in new COVID outbreak
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa
It’s been a long year, considering it’s just been a week.
I can’t list the entire magnum of chaos that happened this past week in D.C., so I’m going to focus on the ones that immediately impact voting in Pennsylvania and Chester County.
Keeping it local, it looks like the Republicans in the legislature were saved from themselves when State Rep....
The Pa. GOP doesn’t want your vote for president to count
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa
It is becoming painfully clear that Pennsylvania Republicans do not want you to be able to vote for president in 2020. They literally support the end of representative democracy in favor of a minority political oligarchy.
From the word of state GOP chair Lawrence Tabas, who apparently has consulted with the Donald Trump campaign over the potential for...
The fact-challenged whiners are winning on COVID, and we’re all going to lose
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa
Well, ready or not, we’re reopening.
Tomorrow, restaurants will be allowed to operate at 50% capacity, it looks like the college football leagues that initially cancelled will now try to play and there is increasing pressure for local school districts to resume in-person instruction.
Now, understand, these moves aren’t based on science or that things...
Wolf calls out Trump, GOP, saying they continue to be ‘irresponsible’ on COVID
Gov. Tom Wolf
In the wake of a ruling by a federal judge declaring some of his emergency orders during the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Tom Wolf issued a scathing statement Tuesday, calling out President Donald Trump and Republicans in the legislature (and some of the toady business groups egging them on locally).
In a lengthy, fiery statement, Wolf called out Republicans over distorting the truth, celebrating...
Trump is a racist; if you support him, are you?
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa
The truth has a mighty power to bring itself to the forefront, making it impossible to ignore. The shootings in Wisconsin this week again shone a light on what might be the mightiest truth in our country right now: we still have a racism problem.
As in too many of us white folks are pretty freakin’ racist. Still.
Still.
Here in Chester County, one of...
The Post Office thing is worse than you know, and you need to pay attention
By Mike McGann, Editor, the Times @mikemcgannpa
POCATELLO, ID — Donald J. Trump doesn’t want you to vote this fall.
Why? He knows unless turnout is awful, he’ll lose and lose badly. He figures if he stops vote by mail — although he’s voting that way — people won’t want to risk standing in long lines at their polling place during a pandemic so he and his appointed troll Postmaster General...
Mad about the pandemic? Don’t blame Gov. Wolf
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa
Don’t blame Gov. Tom Wolf.
With COVID-19 cases rising again in Pennsylvania, Wolf surgically put the brakes on — closing some bars and limiting restaurant capacity in the state this week.
Yes, for those businesses, it stinks. But such locales proved to be the nexus of infection growth since the state partially reopened.
Don’t blame Wolf. For the...
Wolf was right; early reopening is killing people & the economy elsewhere
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa
A few weeks back, I wrote a column suggesting that the people of Chester County be careful, listen to health experts, wear a mask, wash their hands frequently and continue social distancing as we worked through the process to reopen our county and state, carefully, and slowly.
And while it is clear most of the residents in the county agreed — we continue...
We need to have a real talk about race — and the police
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa
It was a quiet night in Chester County, last night. Thankfully.
But all around America, angry protests — and yes looting, burning and violence — broke out for another night over the police killing of George Floyd, captured on video that literally made it around the world. One of the officers involved was ultimately arrested and charged with third...
