DISQUS

ANTIHAVERHILL · 1 year ago

Wow the arrogance of this guy ... his first term on the council and he thinks he is the senior member and should be treated as such .. I hope he is not re-elected the guy is a baffoon and should focus on educating his students rather than besmirching his felllow Councilors.... Oh well Karma is a B*&% and can bite you in the A$$

Craig · 1 year ago

I think Donahue is 100% correct. How is stating his own opinion through "blogging" make him a borderline criminal?

Boo Radley · 1 year ago

There wouldn't be a problem if he was "stating his own opinion" using his own name....or one anonymous alias even

cityworker2 · 1 year ago

Interesting that Hall, with all his bluster, would chastise another for being critical. If he only said he was sorry- what a joke. Donahue was an idiot for what he did, but I support his right to have said it. Now let's get back to the business at hand shall we?

lol@haverhill · 1 year ago

What happened to Freedom of Speech? As long as it wasn't defamatory or libel, he can state his opinion all day long. Anyone that comments here should know politicians are not in the same catagory as a private citizen when it comes to public criticism. It appears this guy hurt some ego's and feelings, too bad. I can't wait to get out of this City of Stupidity and patronage.

Buford Pusser · 1 year ago

Conduct unbecoming. He's a public servant, not self-employed.

ohoh · 1 year ago

As an elected official you have all the freedoms anyone else has BUT we also have the right to not vote for you again, because of your opinions and actions. Mr Donahue had made himself a one and done term councilor by he actions on the web and his actions last night. His comrades would have done noting if he just put his tail betwen his legs and let the voters take care of him. Now we have another divided council to go along with a divided school committee. BY BYE Jim !!!!!!!!!

Carrot · 1 year ago

I believe our elected officials need t be held to higher standards and that they implicitly agree to this when they run for office.

Does Donahue have the right to post on the Internet? Sure. Does he have the right to post under a variety of alases? Sure.

Should he be held accountable and answerable for his behavior? Sure.

This isn't about rights, this is about behavior. I believe he deserved to be censured.

I also believe he's lying about the 'activists' posting for him; if these activists actually exist, why hasn't one stepped forward to quell this scandal?

BB · 1 year ago

Does he have an expectation of privacy on a website that guarantees such an expectation ??? SURE!

elliscee · 1 year ago

I agree w/Carrot and Oh. Yes, of course elected officials are free to "speak" their truth, but do it in public, and w/ a measure of reponsibilty. Caveat: When you make neg comments, or bring other people's names into your comments, you involved them. 'Mr. Sunday School Teacher' needs to "Treat others as he would like to be treated."
What if the shoe was on the other foot? Suppose some other elected official posted anonymously about HIM?
Would he feel that his rights were violated?
Mr. Donahue stated at the meeting that he was merely engaging in "political satire." He needs to leave this genre to professional journalists, as he is not too skilled at this.
Hmmm... seems to me that he admitted that he in fact, wrote all of those pseudo-anonymous posts. He outted himself by caling his one-man smear campaign: "Policial satire."
Many of you who are commenting here, appear to be angry that the ET 'outed' him. At least we have more info on Mr. Donahue's 'character' than we had before. I think the public needed to know.
Also, alot of our comments from yesterday were removed when the ET rewrote the orig draft of this story. Did others notice that? Again, what if the shoe was on the other foot? "Treat others as you would want them to treat you!"

Elliscee · 1 year ago

Sorry about my spelling errors this morning. I just hope that "English Grammer" isn't eading these posts! ha!

ohoh · 1 year ago

Maybe all those activists are just in his mind ? Former Councilor James' Sybil" Donahue

Boo Radley · 1 year ago

Ahhhh a new nickname for Donahue.....

Jimmy Sybil

elliscee · 1 year ago

Oh, it turns out that he was only engaging in "political satire", with himself. Got that? Lol!

axe grinder · 1 year ago

i can't believe people are actually supporting this clown.
sure, we are all entitled to free speech but at the expense of the city coucil's reputation.
taking jabs anonymously on this website is wrong and intended to divide this town. he should be punished.
here's an idea, how about the council all work together to turn this dump around!

Johnlovesbushmccain · 1 year ago

How about you reveal who you are?
Don't want to?
Then do not try to justify the E-T revealing someone's id.
Free speech unless you don't agree with my political opinion, sounds a lot like the Nazi's and Busshies.

Buford Pusser · 1 year ago

Or the "Fairness Doctrine" liberals.

Mike · 1 year ago

After watching the meeting last night, it was clear there were no winners. Donahue, Macek or the council. As ususal the losers are the citizens of Haverhill and the readers of the tribune. The tribune's expose and follow up editorial (reported in the best interest of the city) was nothing more than self serving.

I am not justifying or condoning Donahue's unprofessional behavior however it seems to me that if the tribune was truly concerened about the best interests of Haverhill, they would have blocked his IP address and not hid behind a disclaimer which gives them the right to out anonymous bloggers.

The net result here is Haverhill is left a council that will not function as well as it did a month ago; and a newspaper and reporter that have lost the public trust.

wow · 1 year ago

Free speech is important even in Haverhill.
.The apple cart been has been flipped over.
keep up the good fight Jimmy Donahue,

censured for blogging what a joke...

Buford Pusser · 1 year ago

Censured for conduct unbecoming.

This isn't the Haverhill High School newspaper.

He acted like a 15 yr old girl, and now he reaps the consequences.

ohoh · 1 year ago

Just look at the picture for this article, he is arrogant at it's fullest. BYE BYE

Johnlovesbushmccain · 1 year ago

"I TELL YOU THE 3 MCDONALDS IN HAVERHILL ARE THE SLOWEST AND WORST RUN AROUND. I CAN'T GO TO THE ONE BY WESTGATE CUZ I DON'T SPEAK SPANISH! THAT'S ALL YOU HEAR TALKED THERE." -ohoh

Arrogant? At least he isn't a racist! Who are you ? Why hasn't the trib let everyone know who are? Or will they?
Its all about the political agenda of the trib.

ohoh · 1 year ago

That is not being a racist, that is a fact. English is the language of 98% of us understand. To try to tell someone you want a double cheeseburger and they look at you like you have 2 heads, shouldn't be working with the public or the front counter. I don't stop at the convenience store in Bradford cuz they don't understand English there also !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's my money and I can spend it where I want to. If the person behind the counter doesn't understand ENGLISH, what good is it to the employer they are working for ???
IT HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH RACE!!! IT'S ABOUT GOOD BUSINESS AND CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Would someone who only knew Greek go to a store that only spoke ENGLISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

neutral · 1 year ago

I can't believe the Eagle Tribune disclosed the identity of the blogger, just delete blogs that are out of line, this will be my last post!!

personwithanopinion · 1 year ago

I believe that the Tribune, before releasing this information, had many internal discussions on whether to release this information to the public. But, because of the enormous amount of misrepresented blogs by Donahue, the Tribune
felt that the public should know. I'm glad I now know.

Sgt · 1 year ago

So your saying the Tribune, an unbiased reporting agency took a political side and you are ok with it?

I like how the Tribune edits comments too . If you slam a liberal, it's a silent delete. If you use foul language, it gets deleted with a note.

Copa · 1 year ago

Here you are again. Sgt.
Who are you? And why do you try to post as someone else?
Register yourself, and take the chance everyone else takes as a registered user SGT.

Sgt · 1 year ago

Someone else? What the heck are you talking about?

Loser · 1 year ago

Another sheep running with the herd.

Boo Radley · 1 year ago

Let's see how we all feel after the Trib's next "outing"

Should we start a pool to bet on who will be outed next by the Trib ?

ohoh · 1 year ago

Watching the meeting last night, was that Bozo the Clown up front sitting on the left hand side. I thought I saw a clown on the council.

personwithanopinion · 1 year ago

And...............I'm glad my child does not have him as a teacher!!!!!

LARRY BIRD · 1 year ago

I THINK MR. DONAHUE SPOKE THE TRUTH. HE'S NOT THE MAYORS PUPPET. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND DON'T TAKE THE OTHER PUPPETS CRAP.

LARRY BIRD · 1 year ago

OH AND BY THE WAY, RUN FOR MAYOR. YOU DON'T NEED THE COUNCIL.

ANTIHAVERHILL · 1 year ago

You must be the Head "Activist"

Badman · 1 year ago

I think what Mr.Donahue was wrong for what he did, but well within his rights. The only action needed was by the voters next election. I think the Tribune did something far more reprehensible by disclosing the blogs. The Tribune should stick to reporting the news. Their editorials have become so far left of center it is clear they are attempting to sway public opinion on many issues with far greater effect than the blogs that a much smaller amount of people read. LET'S SEE WHAT THE MAYOR POSTED!!!!!!

Copa · 1 year ago

Left? are you some kind of nut?

anti-idiot · 1 year ago

Funny how most of you don't care the Mayor did the same thing and isn't being held accountable. Seems to me people should be concerned about the Mayor and what was said by him on the blog as well as Mr. Donahue.

ANTIHAVERHILL · 1 year ago

You still out chasing people's I.P. addresses .. then threatening them about it ...... I bet you dont even know what the true definition of an IP address is .. oh and thanks for trying to copy my screen name ... its a sincere form of flattery

ANTIHAVERHILL · 1 year ago

anti-idiot
5 days ago
in Haverhill fire captain, mayor head for confrontation Weinburgh refuses to go to work as he organizes firefighter competition on The Eagle-Tribune
Goo to see that the Mayor could take time from his vacation to chime in from the beach. Hope vacation is going well AT THE BEACH. We can trace IP address like the tribune.

ANTIHAVERHILL · 1 year ago

Your just mad cause the Mayor wont stupe to your level and give in to your demands on the fire fighter contract .. even though you guys waste more money than you care to acknowledge ...Hows that $26,000 in Union Time going this year

ohoh · 1 year ago

THE MAYOR DIDN'T USE 38 ALIASES, USE IT TO PROMOTE HIS AGENDA(MERRIMACK RIVER) AND/OR SUGGEST TO THE VOTERS CERTAIN PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE RE-ELECTED. EVRYTHING HE WROTE ABOUT WAS IN THE POSITIVE OF HIS AGENDA OF WATER LIKE PEOPLE WERE SUPPORTING HIS STAND. ANYONE CAN JOIN US IN DISCUSSION ON THE SUBJECTS WRITTEN IN THE TRIB. IT'S FUN IT'S BANTER ITS EVERYONES OPINION AND SHOULD BE USED FOR KNOWLEDGE AND ENTERTAINMENT. DON'T TAKE YOURSELF SO SERIOUS!!!!

Tribune is a rag paper · 1 year ago

Why did he bother to blog on this rag paper. Think he would be smarter than that.

ANTIHAVERHILL · 1 year ago

You just proved everyone's point .. good job and I quote

"Think he would be smarter than that."

camper · 1 year ago

i THINK ITS TIME FOR THE TRIBUNE TO MOVE TO THE CHECKOUT COUNTER WITH THE OTHER CHEAP RAGS

Althea · 1 year ago

Shame on the Eagle Tribune for disclosing James Donahue's identity! I don't agree with his decision to post anonymously about his fellow councilmen, but it should've remained anonymous! As an organization, The Eagle Tribune has no dignity and has lost me as a subsciber.

Jamie · 1 year ago

Look at the picture of the smug little dirt bag! If a public official hasn't got the guts to say it in public and have their name attached to it, then STFU.

personwithanopinion · 1 year ago

Is this the same Donahue that ran the religious education program at All Saints Church in Haverhill?

taxguy · 1 year ago

Yes....

Haverhill Taxpayer · 1 year ago

Mike was right when he blogged "it was clear there were no winners."

While Donahue was within his rights to blog (ostensibly) anonymously, creating a phantom constituency was, in my opinion, beyond the line ethically. Clearly, with the Tribune outing him like they did, Donahue lost.

Many (most?) bloggers probably blog with the expectation of anonymity. While I understand the Tribune sees a responsibility to protect the public from a government and/or government officials gone astray, perhaps a better way to handle this would have been to remove Donahue's posts and call/email him to let him know that IF he continued to try to use the Tribune to deceive the public by creating a phantom constituency, THEN they would out him. By violating the expectation of anonymity on the part of many/most bloggers, the Tribune lost.

Given the bad press Donaghue got from all of this, there was nothing of substance to be gained by censuring him. Watching the proceedings on TV, it appeared to me that I was watching a modern-day tar-and-feathering designed to humiliate him further. I expect my elected officials to be above that. This voter lost a lot of respect for the city council, To the extent I am not the only one who feels that way, the city council lost.

Lastly, human nature being what it is, tar-and-feathering a councilor with whom the other councilors have to work until at least the next election only creates an environment for further strife within the council (as Ryan seemed to be implying). So we residents of Haverhill lost.

As Mike said .... no winners. :-(

Private - Donahue Supporter · 1 year ago

I think the City Counsel is out of line. I think Counselor Donahue's privacy was breeched. He has every right to send notes to the local newspaper in the capacity of a private citizen! If he would like his comments to remain confidential due to his public identity he has every right. He is also a resident and entitled to his opinion. However, I do feel if he has issues in the way the City Counsel handles certain matters he should find a way with his position to try and make changes.

Boo Radley · 1 year ago

I would agree with you if it was only one alias.....he chose to be deceptive and post as 38 different private citizens

Haverhillsincebirth · 1 year ago

This is just another example of a wasted city council meeting - good work guys, maybe Donahue's complaints weren't all that off base if these buffoons waste their time on stuff like this

Anonymous · 1 year ago

I just wanna say that this is all a bunch of bull. Donahue did nothing wrong. He might have gotten some people mad, yes, but I watched the city council meeting last night, and I totally agree with him. Other politicians talk about other politicians all the time. I don't know why he's getting in this much trouble. Anyone ever hear of Freedom of Speech? I would also like to say that he was my U.S. History teacher this past year at Whittier Tech, and he's a really good guy. He was actually one of my favorite teachers. He wouldn't hurt anyone. I don't know why he's getting this much criticism. I'm sure Macek has attacked other people too in his career, just nobody knows about it. I can't see why Donahue can't say his own opinions. For instance, people who go on YouTube and leave nasty comments to videos all the time don't get anything, and they say a lot worse language than Donahue did. People talk about George Bush all the time and make fun of him and call him this and that, and nothing happens to them. Everybody should be free to say their own opinions. The city of Haverhill is making him look like a bad person, and they are acting as though this is a communist country and that you can't say anything about someone without getting in trouble.

Keep fighting for your rights Mr. Donahue!

camper · 1 year ago

Ya know. Next election I'm with Ryan and Donahue. I am sick of these jokers on the Council. What has Macek done in 20 years? NOTHING BLOWHARD AS IS OBRIEN. And Quimby,,,your ALL DONE

germany · 1 year ago

Here I am using a proxy server that makes me look like I'm in Germany.

I have nothing to say about this foolishness.

Tommy Carcetti · 1 year ago

Um, it's not blogging. It's commenting. Blogging is something very different.

James · 1 year ago

Never under estimate the stupidity of the American public when trying to be anonymous on a computer. EVERYBODY is tracked; just ask my ex-wife…and now you can add councilor Donahue!

wow · 1 year ago

what about the Mayor. Did everyone forget that he was posting too? Why won't they show us his posts?

lol@haverhill · 1 year ago

LoL! We're talking about a liberal paper, which I assume control the rights of this site, so they can do pretty much as they wish. From a journalistic pov, discloure of his identity, whether you like the guy or not, is in poor taste. It's a public forum, where most would expect a reasonable expectation of privacy. Here, someone had an axe to grind to identitfy someone behind the computer, what a joke. I don't know the man personally, but Haverhill is a dump, and will continue to be that way for a long time (as it has been). Until an indifferent Council, Mayor and voting public (which most are not), Havehill will will continue to be a city along the lines of Springfield, Fall River and Lawrence.

bertcj1002 · 1 year ago

Wow,I posted in the other donahue article that the Trib could be in for a lawsuit and they were hypocritical printing his name ,as it goes against freedom of speech and freedom of press and protecting sources,and I can't get in that blog now

Pat D · 1 year ago

I think Councilor Donahue needs to learn about anonymous web browsing using services like idzap.com Anonymous web browsing masks your ip address so you won’t get caught in a STUPID situation you got yourself into.

Your council members did a great job to censure you. Now I hope your students create some grief calling you names behind your back.

You are no Councilor, no teacher to mentor students. Instead I think the citizens of Haverhill consider you spineless creep.

Grow some balls and become a man and apologize to everyone for being STUPID.

amazed · 1 year ago

"Your council members did a great job to censure you. Now I hope your students create some grief calling you names behind your back."
I can't believe how immature some people are.

keen observer · 1 year ago

IF anyone should be censured it is Macek.

He has accused a fellow councilor of 'borderline criminal" activity without specifying the specific criminal lawl that Donahue broke.

Censuring members of a legislative body for criticizing other members is unconscionable, but that's what the haverhill council did. It is worse because indoing it, macek engaged in behavior which is worthy of censure, accusing a colleague of criminal activity when he can't back it up. THAT is the type of conduct that should be censured, not calling for someone's defeat

thaneb · 1 year ago

ko: I think your deriding Kacek is off-base. USC 18 pt I Ch 63 S1343, Wire fraud, seems apt. Given this is a state matter, that would make Donahue's actions "borderline" illegal. The councilor used multiple screen names to influence, by weight of opinion, public policy. He need not have materially benefited. IMHO this was the fraud. Moreover, Donahue's initial story of "activists", now family members shows a guilty conscience.

Boo Radley · 1 year ago

good post!

lol@haverhill · 1 year ago

Federal cite on something that really doesn't have anything to do with the guy exploiting the 1st Amendment? The guy can call himself Yogi the Bear and it doesn't matter. This is a political arena, politicians, from case law, are "expected" to bear the brunt of criticism. Here, a politician criticized other politicians, a liberal newspaper didn't like like what the guy said, and released who the guy was. There were no criminal acts committed, and the integrity of The Eagle Tribune, whatever it had, is completely gone. People may disagree with the Councilman, but the Tribune has put into jeopardy any journalistic integrity into question it may have had.

thaneb · 1 year ago

I disagree: Not sure what you mean by "exploiting the 1st Amendment". Fraud clearly falls outside the Bill of Rights. You are asking the politicians to "bear the brunt" of Yogi the Bear and 37 others (Donahue's own statement) who are likely one and the same person, not 38 different constituents. Thus, the only "brunt" follows from Donohue's fraud. In my opinion Donahue's own actions demonstrate he knows he was wrong to do this. As to the Trib's action, not sure of the Terms-Of-Use but for many, if not most other blogs posting under multiple names is a violation. As to the aptness of the USC cite [a criminal statute] I clearly drew the state/federal distinction, and as I was specifically responding to a prior post questioning the "borderline criminal[ity]" statement of Kacek I stand by the aptness of that cite.

camper · 1 year ago

TRY GOING TO LAW SCHOOL

skepsis 22 · 1 year ago

Jim is in good company with the late Betsy Conte. His other seven colleagues (excluding Mr. Quimby) could learn a valuable lesson from him. Do what your heart tells you is right and your head will follow. He and Quimby are the only ones who stand steadfast and true. The other councilors operate under the philosophy of doing as I say not as I do.