Kelly’s Civil War comment takes White House into the weeds on 157-year-old issue

On Nov. 6, 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected president of the United States with 39.8 percent of the popular vote in a four-person race. Why all this is interesting now, 157 years later, is that current White House Chief of Staff John Kelly came out recently with the comment that the Civil War began because the sides couldn't compromise.

Education: Wood County Schools made right call on smoke

Wood County Schools officials had to make some difficult decisions in the wake of a massive industrial fire that spewed strong-smelling smoke into the air for more than a week last month. To their credit, they took heed of both the fears of parents and the possibility that an abundance of caution was necessary and made those difficult decisions quickly.

David Sarasohn: Haphazard tax bill a hazard to Oregon

So Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, as ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, went down to the White House recently to talk to the president about the tax overhaul process, accompanied by other Democrats on the committee. One by one, the other Democrats explained to the president their predictable priorities on the bill: helping the middle class, protecting Social Security and Medicare, not exploding the deficit.

Democrats determined to lose 2016 election again on Tuesday, and…

Will Bunch has worked at the Daily News for 20-plus years and is now senior writer. Since 2005, he's written the uber-opinionated, fair-but-dangerously unbalanced opinion blog "Attytood," covering a range of topics ; it's been named best blog in the state by the Associated Press Managing Editors and best blog in the city by Philadelphia Magazine.

Where’s Trump the negotiator when immigration reform needs him?

To my great surprise, President Donald Trump's reaction to the Halloween night terrorist attack in New York made me miss the thoughtful eloquence of President George W. Bush. Ol' Dubya wasn't known to be a master of oratory, most of the time, but when the world needed some words of comfort, hope and resolve after the shock of Sept.

Mayor Bill de Bloombio

Michael Bloomberg is a self-made Upper East Side multi-billionaire, a product of and a true believer in the free market capitalist system. For most of his adult life, Bloomberg has seen government and politics as necessary annoyances, worlds populated by hacks and riven with inefficiencies.

Cokie/Steven V. Roberts: Testing time for democracy

Orrin Hatch of Utah, the Senate's senior Republican, assured reporters that special counsel Robert Mueller is “not gonna be fired by the president.” Asked why, Hatch replied, “Because I know him. He knows that'd be a stupid move, as far I'm concerned.” “Stupid move” is a vast understatement to describe the possible firing of Mueller, whose accelerating investigation into Russian interference in last year's election has already produced two indictments against former Trump aides and a guilty plea from a third.

As president, Trump is doing the exact opposite of what he promised on the campaign trail

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders speaks beside supporters at an event calling on President Trump to uphold campaign promises on Capitol Hill in Washington on September 19. When Donald Trump campaigned for president, he told the American people that he would stand up for the working class and take on the political and economic establishment. One year since his election, he has repeatedly reneged on his promises by supporting the interests of the wealthy and powerful at the expense of working families.

Other editors: Shabby treatment of Sen. Cochran reprehensible

Sen. Thad Cochran was depicted last week as having one foot in the grave after returning courageously to Washington following a brief illness to give Republicans the majority needed to pass budget votes. "Is Cochran, the 79-year-old chairman of the powerful Appropriations Committee, well enough to serve the final half of his six-year term?" they bellowed.