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June Woodard's avatar

We can't fix 'stupid' Ken. Maybe we can get rid of her the next election. Maybe NOW it will start sinking into her little pea brain that Trump doesn't want people around him that might outshine him. She became real popular, and that sealed her fate. He's letting her know that won't be tolerated.

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Mary Vetter's avatar

I love to read your stuff, but when you said she had to go back to her roots, I had to laugh. She doesn’t have any roots here. The north country was never anything more than a steppingstone.

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Ken Tingley's avatar

I was trying to be hyperbolic, but that doesn't' always work.

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Mary Vetter's avatar

I know. She just makes me so angry, I lose the ability to sense anything else.

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Kevin Robbins's avatar

The tourist from Albany.

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Mary Vetter's avatar

More like DC. I don’t think she ever want to come back to the North Country.

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Harris Semegram's avatar

A unified effort by the 15 county chairs of the Democratic party in NY21 built up the momentum which did portend the potential of the Democrats flipping the district. We've seen small shifts in the landscape, most recently with a state senate seat in PA which had been in Republican hands for 100+ year. This coming Monday's special election in FL6 is moving into margin of error territory. A flip of this seat, which was Trump +20 (or more) in 2024 would be a cataclysmic signal. Democratic leaders should not view this as a sudden outburst of love for the Democratic party. It's a manifestation of anger and shock among segments of voters seeing the Project 2025 agenda being implemented after being told by POTUS that he "knows nothing about it." We are in the 2026 election cycle right now. Savvy members of the Democratic party must seek to capitalize on these anti-authoritarian, anti-DOGE feelings and not be fooled by a glitzy, hyper-patriotic facade created for an attention diverting sestercentennial celebration on July 4, 2026.

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Ken Tingley's avatar

I think Constantino's threat of running as a third candidate spooked them as well.

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Edward Low's avatar

Can you imagine if constanino now decides to 'primary' pos_tfnKKK..

Eventually someone on the gQp side of life is going to realize that nothing is better in ny21 because of pos_tfnKKK all that IS better is so in spite of her

(in one year build back better created more jobs in the district than all the jobs that were lost in the 10-year tenure of pos_tfnkkk)

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Kevin Robbins's avatar

I thought about that too. I’ve also thought about a normie Republican challenging her. My hopes and dreams for Jill Nichols were not fulfilled, but I’m sure there’s one out there somewhere. Dan Stec is not it when he feels the need to cosplay in his MAGA gear.

By next year Ultra MAGA may not be the place to be positioned. Jill might just have been two years too early.

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Edward Low's avatar

I truly believe that any challenger in the republican party has/is/will be bought out. I don't know why Ms. Nichols dropped out...

I have seen various 'statements' usually saying things of not having enough signatures... which if a republican needs signatures to challenge pos_tfnkKK all they would have to do is go to democrats and she would get more than enough...

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Maureen V's avatar

I watched him being interviewed on MLPBS' Mountain Lake Journal. He would fit right in the thuggish world of MAGA and Trump.

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Kevin Robbins's avatar

It’s maybe some kind of karmic justice that ES is going to have to be here defending whatever disasters the Trump Regime is responsible for when she runs for re-election.

We’re only 1/24 into his second fiasco and the wheels are looking a little wobbly with his brain as checked out as the MAGAs liked to portray Biden as.

When Trump was initially asked about Signalgate his response was bewilderment that seemed genuine. Yesterday he was asked about the 4 soldiers who died in Lithuania and he once again was clueless.

Republicans seem to already be worried about races in Florida of all places and they just lost a special election in PA so next November might be a chance to send Elise back to Albany for good. Not betting the ranch on it yet tho.

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Ethel Weeks's avatar

Just when we thought things couldn't get worse 😖. Thank you for that summary of our ghost congressional rep's wrap up with team trump, Ken. Time to start sending her emails and to call her with all our concerns. Who knows? Her new staff may actually do the job of tallying what we say. We must support The Atlantic for its brave stance against what happened last week. My optimistic self keeps thinking that a Waltz staffer may have included Jeff Goldberg in that group chat on purpose to blow the whistle on the improper behavior of that "insecurity" team of lying fools heading our national security these days. If so, it played out well. There may still be some patriots left on that side. Some days I do feel that I am having a nightmare with my eyes open.

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Janet Flinchbaugh's avatar

Ghost indeed

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Ken Tingley's avatar

Goldberg appeared at the New Orleans Book Festival last night and 1,800 filled the auditorium and gave him a standing ovation. Another 350 were in an overflow room. I was among the hundreds who did not get in. Damn streetcars!

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Maureen V's avatar

I enjoy watching Goldberg whenever he is hosting Washington Week on PBS. Of course the GOP is looking to "defund" the Corporation of Public Broadcasting mainly due to folks like Jeffrey. I am proud to be a sustaining member of my local PBS/NPR stations as well as to The Atlantic

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Edward Low's avatar

personally I have enjoyed how he played his hand in 'signal-gate'

First his story left out details... as he probably should because there were classified issues discussed in the group chat.

Then the hmpy trmPEDO administration lied* and lied and lied (it is their only mode I guess) while calling Goldberg a liar. So Goldberg showed the texts

And if that wasn't enough, under oath these same folks lied to congress.. saying 'they didn't recall' I wanted to screen at the computer: "You morons, look at your signal text chat, it is still there... now you are expect America to be dumb and to believe your lies!"

* to this day few people are pointing out that in a major military mission not only was hmpy not part of the meetings, none of the participants informed him of the decisions

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Ethel Weeks's avatar

That is great news, Ken. To think that the traitors tried to blame Goldberg. I'm glad he moved forward and shared screenshots of the law breaking chat with the rest of us.

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Maureen V's avatar

As I was reading on I started to think that the Stefanik Smile may be like that of a Cheshire cat.

So I looked up the origins of that saying. Wikipedia stated that, "The first known appearance of the expression in literature is in the 18th century, in Francis Grose's A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, Second, Corrected and Enlarged Edition (1788)". My attention was drawn to the word "vulgar".

Fits pretty much with what Stefanik's smile reflects. A void. An emptiness. And the vulgarity of what today's Republican Party has become under Trump and his MAGA ideology.

Sadly, we will now be subject, once again, to her endless hate filled postings on social media, her cable appearances on right-wing shows, and her weekly newsletter of MAGA propaganda. Along with her disdain for anyone that does not heap praise or dollars upon her.

Stefanik sold her soul to Trump and MAGA ideology. And like a bad penny, she keeps turning up.

Except of course, at in-person town halls.

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Ken Tingley's avatar

A void, emptiness sums it up about right.

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Kevin Robbins's avatar

Vulgar as common and as profane both work.

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CONNIE BOSSE's avatar

As much as I hate the thought that Elise is my congressperson, I do hope we use this gift of time wisely. Blake Gendebien needs to be aggressive in getting in front of voters. He needs to hit all 15 counties with town halls and show how and what Elise has done with her votes in Congress. His supporters need to help him meet friends and neighbors in the district. This district can flip if we all keep our eye on the prize.

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Sara Idleman's avatar

I'm on the same page. My guess is he will do exactly that.

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Ken Tingley's avatar

Especially, if the Trump cuts remain because rural voters in North Country will be among the first to feel those cuts.

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Kevin Robbins's avatar

They’re also going to feel the effects bigly of Trump’s tariffs sending Canadian tourism into a death spiral. Anyone dependent on that should contact her.

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Don Shuler's avatar

Saw a Canadian tour bus on the way to Planet Fitness this morning. It was turning north off Quaker/Aviation on to Rt 9. Wondered if it were one of the last.

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davidtbritt@gmail.com's avatar

They are already raiding dairy farms.

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Patricia Ryan Brouwer's avatar

Have you signed up to work for hud campaign? There could be other candidates that come forward and a primary is needed.

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Edward Low's avatar

agreed.. I think (and posted elsewhere) that he should be holding the town halls that

pos_tfnKKK is NOT holding

not only will this gain him some exposure, but it will be a good way to hear what people have to say....AND hopefully start putting policy forward on his various web pages

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The Godly Humanist's avatar

As I've said before great read.

For all of the North Country residents who read this? Keep making noise lets flip the seat in the next election. Better yet put any person regardless of party affiliation in who will lead with a conscience.

Couldn't help but smile because people in general are speaking loud and free. Trump is going to try to avoid our voices being heard let's take it loudly and Elise Stafaniks remaining time let's continue to rattle the cage and make her listen. Because you know she is.

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Sara Idleman's avatar

I laughed out loud with the comment about Stefanik returning to Schuylerville. Actually, I'm still laughing. I have many friends in that community. Once the Stefanik news hit, a friend from that Hudson River community posted on fb...."She really thought she was going places but Schuylerville sucks ya right back in." Best quote of the day!

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Ken Tingley's avatar

That is a great quote.

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Kevin Robbins's avatar

Sounds like Hotel California. 🤣

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Al Bellenchia's avatar

Elise, we didn’t hardly know ye. Dang.

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Upstate Peep's avatar

Actually, why should she even bother to reopen her offices? All she has to do is stay in Washington and obey her Dear Leader's commands. It's not much different here in NY 21 with or without her. Here's hoping after her team player appearance she flung herself onto her bed in her DC townhouse and had a good, long snot dripping cry,

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Ken Tingley's avatar

This is true.

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Oldsalt65's avatar

People Like our Elise don't cry. They just recalculate.

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Oldsalt65's avatar

Elise is a true believer in the Republican religion. When my religious friends encounter misfortune they say "It's God's will". For Elise, "It's Trump's will".

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Edward Low's avatar

that is choice... thanks for the smile!!!!

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Mary Ellen Collins's avatar

I love this..it

s true.."You can't fix stupid"....I suggest we get behind the democratic nominee to challenge her. With all the upheaval, I think she may finally be vulnerable...

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Mary Silitch's avatar

Thank you!

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Hometown Team's avatar

She’s a little rich girl with zero interest in representing anybody but herself. She checked out of her “North Country” interests and responsibilities months ago. We don’t want her back. She’s turned into nothing but an empty-promise typical politician. How bad does it sting for you now, Elise?

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Edward Low's avatar

the results of pos_tfnKKK's "Apprentice" audition....

'YOU ARE FIRED!'

ha ha

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Alan Stern's avatar

All on point Ken. Indeed, she never built any bridges, only stairs for her own ascent. I also subscribed to the Atlantic - I love getting the hard copy of the magazine.

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Ken Tingley's avatar

Great line!

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Kevin Robbins's avatar

Be nice to the people you meet on the way up. You meet the same ones on your way back down.

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MaryLou Stern's avatar

I was able to actually speak to one of her staff in her Ogdensburg office a couple of weeks ago, asking when her next in-person town hall would be. He "would get back to" me. Still waiting, but now ever so hopeful I might get that phone call? Maybe I'll call again today, see what dates she has on her calendar.

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Emily Hall's avatar

Yes, call! I just did. No answer so far.

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