North Country papers divided on Paladino

Carl Paladino is, if nothing else, polarizing.  He’s drawing very different reactions from the North Country’s newspapers.

In Monday’s lead editorial, the Adirondack Daily Enterprise generally pans the tea party bat-wielder, condemning the Buffalo businessman’s “new morality.”

While it’s old news that Mr. Paladino forwarded disgusting e-mails to dozens of associates, columnist Bob Herbert described in detail the e-mails’ racist, sexist and pornographic content.

We won’t get into it here – find it online if you like – but we hadn’t realized quite how bad they were. Really, the vileness can’t be overstated.

Second, at least four of Mr. Paladino’s campaign staff members have sordid histories.

The Glens Falls Post-Star sees Mr. Paladino differently, asking whether his “act may be just what the state needs.”

Maybe a wild-eyed candidate that is in the people’s corner, willing to stomp around like a crazed bull, will get the attention of a Legislature that is out of touch with reality, but destined to be re-elected almost unanimously.

There is your real dysfunction.  So everybody get out of the way. Carl Paladino is coming out swinging and somebody might get hurt.

So what do you think?  Are you ready for a little wild-eye Carl in Albany, even if it means a whole lot of complicated and even creepy baggage?

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13 Comments on “North Country papers divided on Paladino”

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  1. knuckleheadedliberal says:

    The opinion attributed to the Post Star was in a column by the managing editor. I don’t believe, and I hope it isn’t the position of the editorial board.

    The Post Star has been a very strong proponent of open government in recent years and backing a candidate that threatens reporters who try to follow up on the candidates own allegations (which turn out to be false) would be a sad turn in direction for the paper.

  2. mervel says:

    Too bad about the baggage. I think for him to do what he says he wants to do; these sorts of things will kill him in Albany. He would spend the whole time yelling at reporters and tabloid guys who reported on his past. If he is really going to do what he claims he will do his total concentration would have to be spent on that and he will not need distractions. He is going to be taking on very powerful vested interests, they WILL fight back and sometimes they will fight back in very dirty ways, this is to be expected, is he ready for that, is his past ready for that? How much more is there?

  3. Brian says:

    Wow, knuckleheadedliberal made BOTH points I was going to be make, so I’ll just echo them.

  4. oa says:

    “Too bad about the baggage.”
    Agreed, Mervel. Too bad about the insanity and hypocrisy and lying, too.

  5. knuckleheadedliberal says:

    Thanks Brian, sometimes I get lucky.

  6. JDM says:

    So what do you think? Are you ready for a little wild-eye Carl in Albany, even if it means a whole lot of complicated and even creepy baggage?

    Yeah. Like New York is such great shape from the last two wizards that we’ve had.

    Couldn’t be any worse, and may be better.

  7. Mervel says:

    I don’t personally mind the baggage. I mean we have a gov now how has done dope and not as a youngster and who has had affairs, we had the last gov meeting prostitutes in hotels wanting sex that the prostitute was uncomfortable with (what a guy), we have our last leader of the senate indited. The influence of organized crime is relatively high among many of the members. No the baggage is fine and is the norm for NY politics.

    The problem is how Paladino handles it. I mean Elliot was cool, he resigned as he should have done, and now is headlining on CNN, calm poised; hes back. I think Paladino will end up punching someone and have to be dragged of.

  8. Bret4207 says:

    Let him come out swinging in Albany. The worst result will be no different than putting Cuomo in. Another 4 years, at least, of “More Of The Same” isn’t going to do anything about fixing the problems we have.

  9. If Clapton is God, Warren Haynes is Jesus says:

    Personally I could give two “you know what’s” about his baggage. What I’m more concerned about is his personality. He just doesn’t seem to take criticism all that well and whenever confronted or called on the carpet he resorts to threats. Just how does he anticipate reforming Albany with that kind of behavior? Given the amount of dysfunction down there, any real effort at reform requires a little bit of nuisance and political skill. Paladino just doesn’t seem to possess the skills necessary and seems hell bent on going off half-cocked most of the time. Can you imagine him acting this way with Sheldon Silver? Silver will either laugh in his face or ignore him altogether.

  10. Pete Klein says:

    Could the newspapers and other reporters please include the Manhattan Madam in the race for the governor?
    She should be included in any debates with Cuomo and “have gun, will travel” Paladino.
    That’s Entertainment!

  11. oa says:

    Just a reminder that elections aren’t merely vehicles for mass entertainment: If you elect Paladino, you elect a man who believes that if your wife, daughter or mother is raped and impregnated, the government must force her to carry the baby to term. No exceptions.

  12. Mervel says:

    That is true oa. I don’t know how much power the Gov of the state of NY has over abortion rights, but there is no doubt he would work to limit abortion in every way that he could. But you are right it is not just entertainment.

    His abortion view is out there as his clear stand. Its a loser politically in this state but that is what he believes. I am much less bothered by that stance than I am about a guy who threatens people in public or sends out racist emails though. (probably because I am basically anti-abortion).

  13. Bret4207 says:

    I don;t men to be negative, but every time I hear, “Yeah, but Palidino wants ….” I can’t help but think, “Okay, I understand the concern, but what does Cuomo want?”. What DOES Cuomo want? I looked at his website and all I see is the same political speak talking points we always see. Jobs, tax relief foe targeted groups, jobs, entitlements, jobs, spending. It all means nothing. It’s fluff, he’ll continue on just like the rest, doing what Daddy and the party tells him to do.

    Maybe it’s time for a shake up, someone who yells and screams a little. It worked for Harry Truman, it almost worked for Howard Dean. Why not give Palidino a chance and see what happens? It won’t be any worse than Cuomo.

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