Saratoga conservatives question loyalty of 32 members

Basketball announcer's jab strikes chord with Albany community

David Buchyn is the acting chairman of the Saratoga Conservative Party.

Late last month, he sent a letter to 32 members of the party asking them to appear at a meeting at a Clifton Park hotel to answer questions about their loyalty to the Conservative Party.

Both the Times Union and Schenectady Gazette reported the story.

The 32 Conservative Party members were told complaints were received that they were no longer sympathetic to the views of the party. Apparently, the members were once enrolled in the Republican Party and then the progressive Working Family Party.

They were being called to the principal's office.

The letter said:

"Please take notice that a complaint has been received alleging that your views and actions are not in sympathy with the principles of the Saratoga County Conservative Party. Further, it has also been alleged that you have engaged in acts that are disloyal to the Saratoga County Conservative Party. I have reviewed the complaint and determined that a hearing is warranted to consider canceling your enrollment in the Saratoga Conservative Party."

The letter went on to request the 32 recipients appear this past Saturday to respond to charges of being "disloyal."

Does any of this remind you of Joe McCarthy and his House Un-American Activities Committee when they investigated citizens about their loyalty in the 1950s?

The fact we are back here again is frightening.

Thomas Sartin was one of six who appeared. He also brought his lawyer.

He told the Gazette that Buchyn's letter was a "witch hunt."

Sartin told the Gazette he had the right to switch political parties. He called the hearing a "farce." Other reporting suggested the meeting was part of a leadership struggle with Buchyn.

Regardless, one of the tenets of our democracy is that no one should be forced to conform their beliefs to one solitary way of thinking. Yet, our political parties try to do this all the time, sometimes by demanding loyalty.

Debate should be at the center of our political process - even among those of like-minded beliefs - and encouraged, not forced on its members.

There is a long history of loyalty oaths in our country.

The president and members of Congress take an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States, although you can argue that has not been taken seriously of late.

Anyone immigrating to the United States is required to take an oath of allegiance to the United States.

Taking an oath to a political party or position is just wrong.

Every citizen should be able to evolve and change their political beliefs on a whim.

The 14th Amendment says in part:

"All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

Neither should any political party.

That's what a loyalty oath does. It limits freedoms. It is another reason not to belong to one.

In recent primary elections, political candidates are asked whether they will endorse the eventual nominee. That's wrong, too. We all should be encouraged to vote for the best candidate.

In the past, Republicans were forced to sign a pledge - thanks to Grover Norquist - to ever never, ever raise taxes, despite the fact there are many reasons taxes should be raised.

Nationally, we are seeing Republican politicians forced to be loyal to Donald Trump or face the consequences.

The American ideal is essentially based on a free-thinking populous that can openly protest and disagree with our leaders.

The Saratoga County Conservatives should embrace that was well.

This weekend was not an example of that.

Low-ball from Lobo

ESPN basektball announcer Rebeca Lobo couldn't resist the one-liner during the Iowa-LSU women's NCAA game Monday in Albany.

As Iowa star Caitlin Clark put the finishing touches on a victory to send her team to the Final Four, play-by-play announcer Ryan Ruocco told a story about Clark's family reaching out to her before the game Monday.

“She (Clark) told us, ‘They’ve been reaching out to me, and I’ve told them: Just go find something to do in Albany; I’m staying in my room and just waiting for the game,’ ” Ruocco said.

With the line all teed up, Lobo immediately responded, “And, by the way, good luck finding something to do in Albany.”

Of course the Albany mayor responded by tweet and others defended Albany.

  Since Lobo graduated from UConn, I'm not sure she has the credentials to judge Albany. If you've ever been to Storrs, CT, you'd understand.

Newspaper - The Play

The Times Union reported on the revival of Adirondack Theater Festival's commissioning program.

There was a mention of the adaption of my book The Last American Newspaper to the stage for the summer of 2025. The play will bring to life some of the editors and reporters who worked at The Post-Star and will tell the stories of many of the stories we covered.

Some of the story will be very familiar to local newspaper readers.

I continue to work on the play. Hoping to see it in workshop form by the fall.

Cleveland weighs in

Cleveland Plain Dealer editor Chris Quinn made national news this week with a column castigating presidential candidate Donald Trump.

There is really no new information in the column. It is just a common sense review of the facts of why electing Trump as president again would be the worse possible thing for the country.

Quinn said on Tuesday that the response to the column has been a resounding vote of support and a thank you to Quinn for writing it. Quinn said readers just want someone to hold our leaders accountable.

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