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I've made my thoughts known. 
My ex-wife was a reporter for The Citizen. She broke a story that received national attention (and AP awards) back in the late 80's (enough that we received death threats - you just DON'T mess with the local political machines, I found out). She was wooed by large dailies and we moved around the country for a few years - going paper-to-paper until it was a bit much for me; we split and I moved back to CNY.
Exciting time, but I don't miss it.
The local Dem chairman and relative of 2 city councillors was kicking back loads of $$$ on water dept contracts from a company he didn't own on paper, except for one document that she found which proved he owned the company in question. Perhaps run-of-the-mill local hijinks, but it caught the attention of AP. Her reporting was solid and intricate - it was a web of intrigue.
AP gave her a national award for it. We even met John Chancellor at the awards banquet! After that, several large dailies offered her a job. We moved, and she would get a better offer, and we'd move again. All the moving made me insane, as I was just getting settled at one job and whoosh, off we'd go to another city.
..."Tell your c*** wife that she's fucked with the wrong people. Keep looking behind you!"
I was like 23. I didn't know whether to shit or go blind!
My family has been involved with the local Democratic Party since the 40's (myself, I have been an active Dem since 1966 - as a 1 year old in my Dad's campaign posters when he ran for School Board). People I'd known and grew up with; friends of my parents (who were very active Dems) were attacking my wife simply for doing her job. It was painful for me to experience it, but the local Dems here were corrupt. 
Despite this, I'm still a VERY PROUD Democrat!!!!!
...it's because they have less scrutiny and more patronage jobs to disperse.
Go south of the Mason Dixon line. Those machines are still running on calendars that show 1865!
