I, along with many others had never heard of Charlie Kirk. Odd how the event of his death made him more known than in his life. Someone I know went to the gathering in City Park. Was very surprised to see so many people. Was he supposed to be a secret???? To me he was a complete unknown. Anyone have any ideas??
When told by a friend of Kirk's demise, I thought he was a retired Florida congressman, no idea his actual identity. After reading a couple articles, I'm glad I didn't know who he was, nor did I care. I was saddened to see that a 31-year-old person was so propagandized into the Conservative movement that he already led a full, hate-filled life. And he, naturally, was a millionaire grifter with a huge following of suckers who, for some reason, hate America just as much as Kirk.
Walked away from a 44-year career in local newspapers in June. Resigned, not retired. I never thought I'd leave. New owners have no plan/clue/didn't value us or the community. In the end it was just me in News, writing/photographing 12-15 stories a week plus all the other weekly journo stuff, 7/70. Today? The paper is an embarrassment. Don't regret quitting, but the dearth of coverage of what's soooo important here breaks my heart.
I delivered PS during elementary/high school years. Graduated HS in 1972 and got a job as a "gofer" in advertising department until "graduating" to NIBCO factory work, which taught me to get a college education (LOL). Couple years after college graduation, with journalism degree in hand, became a reporter -- back at PS. Pay was $150 per week in 1981 (bad enough that I got a part-time study hall monitor job at GFHS that paid nearly as much). Headed off to the then-Schenectady Gazette, for which the PS served as a kind of minor league farm system. I actually loved my PS reporter job for many obvious reasons. I still read the PS all those intervening years and witnessed the decline, disrespect and declining advertising/subscriptions. Its ownership has always been the paper's worst enemy, with Lee Enterprises pounding the final nail in the coffin. This is the same buffoonish company that, already saddled with its own media decline, decided to "purchase" Warren Buffett's media holdings maybe eight years ago, with most of the purchase price in the form of taking on billions of dollars of Buffett debt. What followed was the strangulation of PS and other newspapers under Lee. Just brilliant. And the now-Daily Gazette is following in Lee's footsteps.
Best of luck to Lisa Reider. She’s got a tough job there. At least she’s outlasted the tourist what’s-his-name.
Not sure where I draw the line with Elise Stefanik on “is it gaslighting or is it a lie.” This one seems like an outright lie.
I’m curious how she runs for governor of a state which contains a majority whom are proclaimed by her party (Donald Trump) to be vermin, scum, enemies of the state and whatnot. Being UltraMAGA I’m sure she shares that view of all unmutual Democrats, Republicans and independents.
Unfortunately, NYC stinks to high heaven every time Trumpty Dumpty visits. Especially pungent during and after that "speech" he stumbled through at the U.N. Makes skunk odor under my front door smell like perfume.
StefaniQ learned the art of the grift by being Trumpty Dumpty's lapdog (figuratively and literally) and spreading her hate to pick up the support of disaffected, brainwashed, uneducated, bitter populace who, for various reasons, hate their positions in life and being in NYS. It's what they made of their lives in a free America. And StefaniQ has made millions off the backs of the population who hang on her every word. She'll raise millions more in campaign donations (regardless of whether for governor or Congress), spend the remainder on herself (with such lax campaign spending laws on the books), then become a lobbyist (if she loses either race) to make millions more influencing her former nitwit colleagues to continue the revenge tour.
Don’t know if I’ve seen a recent photo of the Belle of the North Country. She seemed to have been hitting the Ozempic pretty hard when she was going for that UN job. Looked like she had some facial work done, too.
I’m a little disappointed she hasn’t gone full Mar a Lago face, tho.
Whatever gets her out of Schuylerville. She’s disgracing a village named after a true patriot of the Revolution.
I couldn’t read Dan Clark’s full article on Stefanik getting it wrong(paywall) but I was impressed by the time he spent digging into the mess that she made.
Great column today and we still subscribe to the Post Star and Daily Gazette in order to support local papers. Today’s Carella poem is wonderful, with no disrespect to the fun poem by the retired Ripon prof. We don’t hear much about Ripon here in the East
Lisa Reider’s introductory Op-Ed, and her subsequent personal coverage of local issues in the digital and paper deliveries of the Post Star, have been impressive and inspiring. Your interview provides even deeper insight into her professional background and steadfast journalistic goals which members of our wider local community would appreciate.
I’ve always received prompt responses to emails I’ve sent to Alex Portal and Natasha Vaughn-Holdridge re: their articles, and to give them a heads up re: potential local news breaks. Luke M. (? Mosseau?) has provided great story coverage also.
More emails supporting our remaining hard-working Post Star staff would certainly boost their morale!
I agree. I stayed with the Post Star, as I want to support a local paper. I can get national news anywhere. I appreciate that Reider is focusing on local news, and doing a decent job of it.
Thanks for Graham’s “Love” poem. It really hit home. Every M-W-F around 7:00 am I have half a banana as I head out to Planet Fitness, and I leave the other half on the kitchen counter for Meg.
Guess I have a new definition: “Love is half a banana on the kitchen counter.”
I agree with D. Collins. I recently received emailed newsletter from Stefanik. It went on and on spreading the story about the CDL's being issued to illegal immigrants per NY gov policy. We go months without hearing from this "representative"& this newsletter of little substance is what we get.
And her hate-filled newsletter is the best taxpayer money can buy! Every state and federal elected official gets an allocation to send newsletters, updates, bulletins, etc... to their constituents. Sure would be interesting to determine if StefaniQ's newsletter was funded by we, the taxpayers, or if she's required to pay for her personal, venom-filled newsletter.
Although I am sorry that Charlie Kirk tragically perished, let us not forget what he preached. Spewing hatred and vitriol is not something to be celebrated. Kirk was no Jesus Christ who taught kindness, compassion and forgiveness. Making him a martyr will only resonate with some . Elevating Kirk to saintly status is far from the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Great suggestion re: why Kirk’s demise wasn’t a page 1 story. I was puzzled by the implication that real people thought it was.
I, along with many others had never heard of Charlie Kirk. Odd how the event of his death made him more known than in his life. Someone I know went to the gathering in City Park. Was very surprised to see so many people. Was he supposed to be a secret???? To me he was a complete unknown. Anyone have any ideas??
When told by a friend of Kirk's demise, I thought he was a retired Florida congressman, no idea his actual identity. After reading a couple articles, I'm glad I didn't know who he was, nor did I care. I was saddened to see that a 31-year-old person was so propagandized into the Conservative movement that he already led a full, hate-filled life. And he, naturally, was a millionaire grifter with a huge following of suckers who, for some reason, hate America just as much as Kirk.
Agree with you 100%!
Loved the poem.
Walked away from a 44-year career in local newspapers in June. Resigned, not retired. I never thought I'd leave. New owners have no plan/clue/didn't value us or the community. In the end it was just me in News, writing/photographing 12-15 stories a week plus all the other weekly journo stuff, 7/70. Today? The paper is an embarrassment. Don't regret quitting, but the dearth of coverage of what's soooo important here breaks my heart.
I delivered PS during elementary/high school years. Graduated HS in 1972 and got a job as a "gofer" in advertising department until "graduating" to NIBCO factory work, which taught me to get a college education (LOL). Couple years after college graduation, with journalism degree in hand, became a reporter -- back at PS. Pay was $150 per week in 1981 (bad enough that I got a part-time study hall monitor job at GFHS that paid nearly as much). Headed off to the then-Schenectady Gazette, for which the PS served as a kind of minor league farm system. I actually loved my PS reporter job for many obvious reasons. I still read the PS all those intervening years and witnessed the decline, disrespect and declining advertising/subscriptions. Its ownership has always been the paper's worst enemy, with Lee Enterprises pounding the final nail in the coffin. This is the same buffoonish company that, already saddled with its own media decline, decided to "purchase" Warren Buffett's media holdings maybe eight years ago, with most of the purchase price in the form of taking on billions of dollars of Buffett debt. What followed was the strangulation of PS and other newspapers under Lee. Just brilliant. And the now-Daily Gazette is following in Lee's footsteps.
It's a labor of love, but when no one loves you back, what is the point?
Thanks for introducing us to Lisa Reider, Post Star editor. Her staff news reporter Alex Porter has a good eye for important local news.
And Will, I enjoy reading the poetry of Mr. Carella.
Diane Collins
Best of luck to Lisa Reider. She’s got a tough job there. At least she’s outlasted the tourist what’s-his-name.
Not sure where I draw the line with Elise Stefanik on “is it gaslighting or is it a lie.” This one seems like an outright lie.
I’m curious how she runs for governor of a state which contains a majority whom are proclaimed by her party (Donald Trump) to be vermin, scum, enemies of the state and whatnot. Being UltraMAGA I’m sure she shares that view of all unmutual Democrats, Republicans and independents.
“I Hate You” is such an interesting campaign slogan.
Don’t forget that Trump told people they should leave NY.
I ❤️ NY and the more MAGAs that listen to Trump and leave, the more I’ll ❤️ it.
I understand the NYC area smells much better since Trump left.
Unfortunately, NYC stinks to high heaven every time Trumpty Dumpty visits. Especially pungent during and after that "speech" he stumbled through at the U.N. Makes skunk odor under my front door smell like perfume.
StefaniQ learned the art of the grift by being Trumpty Dumpty's lapdog (figuratively and literally) and spreading her hate to pick up the support of disaffected, brainwashed, uneducated, bitter populace who, for various reasons, hate their positions in life and being in NYS. It's what they made of their lives in a free America. And StefaniQ has made millions off the backs of the population who hang on her every word. She'll raise millions more in campaign donations (regardless of whether for governor or Congress), spend the remainder on herself (with such lax campaign spending laws on the books), then become a lobbyist (if she loses either race) to make millions more influencing her former nitwit colleagues to continue the revenge tour.
Don’t know if I’ve seen a recent photo of the Belle of the North Country. She seemed to have been hitting the Ozempic pretty hard when she was going for that UN job. Looked like she had some facial work done, too.
I’m a little disappointed she hasn’t gone full Mar a Lago face, tho.
Whatever gets her out of Schuylerville. She’s disgracing a village named after a true patriot of the Revolution.
Thanks for the shoutout, Will!
I couldn’t read Dan Clark’s full article on Stefanik getting it wrong(paywall) but I was impressed by the time he spent digging into the mess that she made.
Great to hear about the new Post Star editor! We may give it another try!
Ken Tingley - I like your style!!!
Will Doolittle actually wrote this one.
Great column today and we still subscribe to the Post Star and Daily Gazette in order to support local papers. Today’s Carella poem is wonderful, with no disrespect to the fun poem by the retired Ripon prof. We don’t hear much about Ripon here in the East
That is great to hear.
Lisa Reider’s introductory Op-Ed, and her subsequent personal coverage of local issues in the digital and paper deliveries of the Post Star, have been impressive and inspiring. Your interview provides even deeper insight into her professional background and steadfast journalistic goals which members of our wider local community would appreciate.
I’ve always received prompt responses to emails I’ve sent to Alex Portal and Natasha Vaughn-Holdridge re: their articles, and to give them a heads up re: potential local news breaks. Luke M. (? Mosseau?) has provided great story coverage also.
More emails supporting our remaining hard-working Post Star staff would certainly boost their morale!
I agree. I stayed with the Post Star, as I want to support a local paper. I can get national news anywhere. I appreciate that Reider is focusing on local news, and doing a decent job of it.
Thanks for Graham’s “Love” poem. It really hit home. Every M-W-F around 7:00 am I have half a banana as I head out to Planet Fitness, and I leave the other half on the kitchen counter for Meg.
Guess I have a new definition: “Love is half a banana on the kitchen counter.”
I love that
Thanks, Don!
I agree with D. Collins. I recently received emailed newsletter from Stefanik. It went on and on spreading the story about the CDL's being issued to illegal immigrants per NY gov policy. We go months without hearing from this "representative"& this newsletter of little substance is what we get.
And her hate-filled newsletter is the best taxpayer money can buy! Every state and federal elected official gets an allocation to send newsletters, updates, bulletins, etc... to their constituents. Sure would be interesting to determine if StefaniQ's newsletter was funded by we, the taxpayers, or if she's required to pay for her personal, venom-filled newsletter.
Love the poem. I’m glad your post is not of the things I read this morning.
Although I am sorry that Charlie Kirk tragically perished, let us not forget what he preached. Spewing hatred and vitriol is not something to be celebrated. Kirk was no Jesus Christ who taught kindness, compassion and forgiveness. Making him a martyr will only resonate with some . Elevating Kirk to saintly status is far from the teachings of Jesus Christ.