Democracy in Action

The Romans called it “Purgatorio”, a cleansing or purification of history and thought. It’s most famous example came from the reign of the Emperor Caracalla around 211 AD. After murdering his brother, his allies and assuming total power over the Empire, Caracalla ordered all traces of his brother’s image and name removed from the public record, from buildings and hopefully from the public consciousness.

We expect to find such notable examples of blind fear and irrational thought in history. The Spanish Inquisition and the Salem Witch Trials certainly rank with the brutality of Caracalla. But history should have taught modern man a lesson. Surely we have grown to accept, at least in this democracy, that differences in opinion are healthy expressions which teach and enrich our diversity.

Sadly, these lessons have not been learned by the new Chairman of the North Greenbush Democrats or his allies on the party’s local committee. They are determined to erase all references to the party’s former leader Dan Ashley and C.B. Smith whom they revile as “disloyal and corrupt”.

Their modern day Pugatorio's most reviling chapter begins tonight at the County Grove Restaurant at 7PM when Spain, Town Clerk Kathryn Connolly, Receiver of Taxes Kyran Devery and several other Committee members will hold what amounts to a trial of Ashley and Smith to remove them from the County Committee Seats for corruption and disloyalty.

County Democratic Chairman Thomas Wade has warned them emphatically that their actions are unlawful and will not be recognized by the County Chairman or County Committee. But their hate and intolerance for political opposition has blinded any application of reason. Loyalty Oaths are the rule and exceptions appear not to be tolerated. It began with a demand that Highway Superintendent Mark Premo issue a public letter of repudiation of Ashley and Smith in exchange for Spain’s political support for re-nomination. Now a show trial is scheduled in which the Court is a renegade Chairman and his loyal juror committeemen. They are supplanted by an attorney whose desire for revenge on Smith for filing a complaint against him with the Committee on Professional Standards has led to this Democratic Party Pugatorio.

The attorney, Josuha Ehrlich, was convicted of offenses in Colonie Town Court which he allegedly failed to report to the Committee on Professional Standards which polices the conduct of attorneys. The Code of Professional Responsibility requires an attorney to report any criminal convictions to the Committee on Standards which then reviews the convictions and may act to discipline that attorney.

Hence we have an attorney giving specious legal advice to a town chairman who can’t figure out he’s being played like a violin and is challenging the authority of the County Chairman and Committee by defying his order and strong advice that his actions are illegal and will not be recognized.

The North Greenbush Pipeline urges folks to attend the Trial tonight at the County Grove at 7PM. Togas and Kangaroo suits are optional. But don’t miss this opportunity to see first hand what reform means to the folks who took control of the Democratic Committee in North Greenbush, Democracy in Action. Caracalla would be proud!