Now I know that Democrats are in control of Delaware County politics.
They're starting to act like Republicans.
Or at least the way Republicans used to act in Delaware County.
For years many in the Delco GOP espoused the belief that it was this newspaper's mission to knock them off their lofty perch.
Well, it finally happened, but I don't think the newspaper had all that much to do with it. Instead, a combination of shifting demographics - including 33,000 more Democratic voters - and Donald Trump did what Democrats had been unable to do for decades.
Now the shoe is on the other foot.
And what do you know?
Democrats - at least some of them - don't much care for the coverage either.
On Friday I wrote an item in this blog spurred by the decision by longtime state Rep. Steve Barrar, R-160 not to seek re-election. I noted it was very possible that seat - which is shared between both Chester and Delaware counties - also could flop over to the Dems' side of the ledger.
That would leave Rep. Chris Quinn, R-168 of Middletown, the guy who was villified in the last election in connection with the controversy over the Mariner East pipeline, as the last man (or woman) standing for the once all-powerful Delco delegation to Harrisburg.
Gone are names like Adolph, Civera and Micozzie.
It was meant to note the changing of the guard, and the diminishing might of what at one times was one of the most powerful political organizations in the state.
What the blog item did not do was talk about the Democrats who have been winning those state races. It's not like we have ignored them in the past.
This did not sit well with the Democrats.
One of them, a winner in a state House race that had been held by Republicans for more than 30 years, took to Twitter to take issue with me.
"Genuinely curious what it will take for @PhilHeron to refer to Delco’s presently elected state reps as anything other than nameless Democrats."
Naturally I took to Twitter to respond, stating the case that this item really was not about the Democrats.
The back and forth got some good traction, which is not a bad thing. I'm always willing to chat with those who disagree with me. I just think in this case the concern was misplaced.
For the record, state Rep. Mike Zabel, D-163, now holds the seat held forever by Nick Micozzie and more recently for four years by Jamie Santora.
Rep. Jenn O'Mara, D-165, (you know, the person we just wrote about speaking at a suicide forum) showed Alex Charlton the door.
Rep. Dave Delloso, D-162 of Ridley Park (you know, the guy we devoted the front page to with his proposal to legalize adult use of recreational cannabis and sell it at state stores), now fills the seat vacated by Nick Miccarelli.
No doubt Quinn and Sen. Tom Killion are not feeling all that comfortable these days.
The political landscape in the county has changed.
But it's still nice to know one thing has stayed the same: The party on top thinks the newspaper has it in for them.
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