64 Comments
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Richie Bittner's avatar

Moth or butterfly... I was under the impression that if the wings lay flat when not flying it's a moth, if they are upright, a butterfly.

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Julie Wash's avatar

Wow, Will. Powerful compilation from NY-21. There is a tremor in the force. VERY interesting pivot from Clinton County, it is fascinating politics, but thank you for grounding it in the known integrity of individuals, the embrace of democratic process and rural political work over generations. And then there is the evil protagonist and her sidekick. Makes for good reading.

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Ken Tingley's avatar

Good reading. Unfortunately, this is how Stefanik does business.

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Julie Wash's avatar

Don’t I know it’s how she does business. I have DMs from Lenny Alcivar that point out my address, and more. It’s nice to finally see more of the underbelly in print.

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Julie Wash's avatar

Yes that Lenny Alcivar who worked for $tefanik after working for Giuliani. Anyone say goombah?

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John Casserly's avatar

Republicans standing up to Stefanik is encouraging.

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mike parwana's avatar

This column is so full of gold that Apple CEO Tim Cook should present it to Donald Trump as a gift!

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Susan Andrews's avatar

WOW…Jeff Luck’s commentary is a true Profile in Courage!

Though Stec/Stefanik may never read or heed it, it’s enough to know Mr. Luck’s message will be read and hopefully heeded by North Country county Republican and DEMS alike… to remind them what moral and political integrity looks and sounds like…despite this era of democratic decay.

Thanks, Will, for this research, and reporting and exposing the pathology that plagues so many levels of local/federal politics…and shining light into the darkest places of sick strategies. A rebellion within the Republican ranks may be our best hope of restoring true law and order within both parties in the days ahead.

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Ken Tingley's avatar

Wonder what other Republican chairs are thinking in the district - like in Warren County?

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Dominic Tom's avatar

Ha-ha! All of the county, town, city GOP chairs throughout 21st are only thinking of how much longer they can keep their heads buried in the sand without coming up for air. Someone should check for sales of air packs from fire department suppliers and scuba diving stores to ensure first responders don't run out of the equipment.

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Richard's avatar

"All Stefanik's and Stec's intrusions have accomplished is hardening the determination of the Republicans in Clinton County to continue following the rules." -Thank you, Mr. Stec: and Ms. Stefanik!!!

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Bob's avatar

Another commentary that takes us from the profane to the sublime. Thanks, Will.

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Sandra M. Watson's avatar

TY for clearly reporting on the issues the Clinton county Rep. Chairperson is handling.

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Ken Tingley's avatar

This is the value of having an experienced journalist with institutional knowledge write commentary and analysis. And some healthy reporting, too.

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Maureen V's avatar

Maybe a crack in the cement wall of Stefanik/Stec where they thought they were indestructible?

But, then again, we've all seen how Stefanik treats those who dare cross her. She surrounds herself with the likes of deGrasse and she gravitates towards those like Trump.

A perfect example of the words of Aesop-"A (wo)man is known by the company (s)he keeps”

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Anthony Galligani's avatar

Not a chance. These people don't learn. They would rather tear their eyes out than see the truth. Just because they complain when the leopards eat THEIR faces doesn't mean they've changed one iota. Don't mistake this for "integrity". They'll go home, switch on Fox News and go back to their culture war bullshit while American democracy dies in living color.

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Jeannie Snyder's avatar

Yes, so heartening! Abiding in the process working! Stick-to-it-ness paying off! Clinton county voters should be proud ...

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Deborah Weiss's avatar

At this stage of the game you have to be living under a rock to believe that Stefanik respects the law, common decency or her constituents. She supports a pussy grabbing president, felon and financial fraudster. She's rotten to the core!

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Ken Tingley's avatar

Since she won by a healthy percentage last November, apparently there are a lot of cave-dwellers in the 21st Congressional District.

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Deborah Weiss's avatar

Yes there are, and proud cave dwellers at that.

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Dominic Tom's avatar

How about we turn the tables -- or votes -- on StefaniQ and the radical right by calling loudly and in big numbers for investigations into her reelection based on lies, campaign finance irregularities, election stealing/rigging, unscrupulous GOP/Conservative election commissioners in each of the 13 counties (well, 12 now), buying votes, ballot box stuffing, loyalists voting more than once, fraud, mismatched signatures at polling places, unguarded early voting boxes, and on and on -- everything Trumpty Dumpty and his minions have lied about at every election. Maybe even storm the field offices of StefaniQ, Stec, Simpson, et. al. and destroy stuff, etc... No one can win elections with such wide gaps. Very suspicious. And we wouldn't even need any proof!

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Kevin Robbins's avatar

Since that’s the way politics is done nowadays. If it’s good enough for Trump to weaponize DOJ and go after Obama, Clinton, Comey, Brennan, Jack Smith and all seems perfectly appropriate for Tish James to open investigations into Stefanik and any number of Republicans. I’m sure if she looks very hard she can indict our little ham sandwich.

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Ken Tingley's avatar

Well, there is an ethics violation before the Town Board right now that it refuses to act on. A town board member is also the chairman of the Warren County Republicans. Ethics board said that looked like a conflict of interest to them. Board has done nothing to address.

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Dominic Tom's avatar

Had the same thing in Moreau, complainants couldn't find an ethics board in town or Saratoga County to consider the issue. Then-supervisor, two town board members (more like his breathing mannequins) and the supervisor's family ran/run town GOP committee and squash all attempts for new blood on the committee, while the supervisor also served three straight years as county board of supervisors' chairman. His 22-year reign of terror ended when Moreau voters finally got fed up, turned out in big numbers 11/23 and booted him out in landslide fashion. Moreau has two board seats in next election and I, as an independent, will never vote for anyone who is endorsed by the decrepit family GOP committee, regardless of their "popularity."

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KC Scott's avatar

My question to the Republicans in this district...if you are so committed to the rules and the truth, why on earth did you all vote for trump???

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Kevin Murphy's avatar

Most of the support comes from those easily duped.

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Dominic Tom's avatar

Because they're liars. Period.

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KC Scott's avatar

And Will, you have inspired a nickname for stefanik...'Almost Elise' since she has almost achieved her goals time after time.

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Kevin Robbins's avatar

Poor Elise. First, Trump snatches the UN gig (and penthouse) away from her. Now the nobodies in upstate NY aren’t bending to her will.

Great post, Will. Blessings on Manning, Locke and Luck for being heroes in an era that never has enough.

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Kevin Murphy's avatar

Will, excellent work and great writing. Jeff Luck’s comments give me hope.

Thank you.

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Mary Ellen Collins's avatar

WOW WOW WOW!!! FINALLY, the "blush is off the rose"....looks like Stefanik and Stec just might be on their way OUT! Pissing off the County Chairs is NOT a good thing...AND for them to publicly chastise them is unheard of!!! Looks like our North Country Republicans are finally waking up and standing up to both these carpetbaggers...YAY!!!

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Dominic Tom's avatar

It bears repeating (at least by me) that the TU initially exposed StefaniQ's not-so-secret visits with the 13 county GOP chairs a couple months ago during which she demanded they all resign. Their sin was to interview GOP hopeful candidates in anticipation of StefaniQ leaving for the U.N. No decisions were made before Trumpty Dumpty stabbed Elies in the back, part of the "team player" MAGA playbook. So, she went on her own revenge tour, still stinging from such a public rebuke by her master. Maybe someone here has a TU subscription and can search the recent archives for the article. BTW, none of the chairs resigned, so I'll allege the GOP MS-13 North Country gang is going after Manning as a new way of satisfying Little Miss Priss' hurt feelings.

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Ken Tingley's avatar

I think this is the story you were talking about. Published back in May:

https://www.timesunion.com/capitol/article/elise-stefanik-pushes-new-leadership-20322984.php

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Dominic Tom's avatar

Bingo! Meanwhile, I recall reading a wire service article early in Trumpty Dumpty's first horrendous term in which Congressional Repuklicans somehow redirected hundreds of millions of dollars appropriated to improve the military service members' lives off the battlefield (Pentagon had separate budget) to pay for repairs to and new southern border wall. No, Mexico didn't pay for it and American taxpayers got stiffed for its utter failure. The article pointed out that StefaniQ rabidly supported the shift -- despite the entirety of Fort Drum being in the 21st at the time. The money was for salary boosts, improved housing and facilities, and other projects to better the lives of active-duty soldiers and their families. Ugh.

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