I was the token conservative columnist for seven years at the Aspen Times, the local lefty newspaper of Aspen, Colorado.
Despite Democrats outnumbering Republicans in Aspen by about a three-to-one margin, the clicks on my column dwarfed the pack of liberal columns and their predictable progressive pusillanimous pattering. In fact, my column was often the most popular thing in the entire newspaper, sometimes drawing more clicks than frontpage news.
I was occasionally picked up by national outlets like Real Clear Politics, Powerline, Lucianne, American Thinker and Instapundit. I drew clicks to the little Aspen Times from around the country.
But I was supposed to be a token, not a success. Last Christmas Eve without warning or discussion, they fired me via an email. They said my “values” were contrary to theirs. They also took some parting potshots at my writing, apparently forgetting that without complaint they’d published hundreds of iterations of that very writing.
They offered no thanks for my service, nor for my performing that service without compensation (the Aspen Times ordinarily paid its columnists, but I’d always declined any compensation).
Readers flooded the newspaper with letters objecting. It made no difference. The newspaper published only a small fraction of those letters.
It all worked out fine for me. My blog at theAspenbeat.com took off and I increased my readership nearly ten-fold. National outlets now link to my site more than ever.
Meanwhile, the Aspen Times is being smacked around by a sassy bitch named Karma. The internet is undermining their biggest source of revenue, namely real estate ads. Layoffs loom. They’ve been reduced to begging for charitable donations. They may need to change their name to Aspen Hard Times.
Karma still wasn’t done with them. The Aspen Times holds an annual “Best of Aspen” competition each fall where locals and visitors cast votes for their favorites in various categories. One category is “Best Columnist.”
Guess whom the readers decided was “Best Columnist” for 2020. Yep, even though the Aspen Times technically fired me as a columnist back in 2019 and so I wrote only a blog in 2020, their readers voted me “Best Columnist” of 2020. (See page 8 here.)
A friend suggests that the newspaper should throw out those turkey leftovers. They have a full plate of crow to eat.
the Aspen beat 
We will do it again next year, too!
They’re not about to eat crow. You obviously didn’t fit their narrative and now there’s nothing to disturb their echo chamber.🤭 It’s like fighting against the tide, but do keep it up.
Congratulations: I was one of your loyal voters and long time reader. I love it when a plan comes together.
Poetic justice — perfect irony!
Love it! Congrats!! ..or…as Ralph Kramden would say……”How sweet it is’11
Frankly I’m surprised they would even include “Best Column” in the poll this year. I guess you could credit them for admitting they would have to eat crow…
Looking forward to your exposing Biden and the Dems in 2021!
Don’t bring a knife to a gun fight. Publish the names, e-mail addresses, and phone numbers of all of the people who precipitated your firing. Trust me, your supporters will let them know that they made a fatal mistake (and very quickly).
Nope. Decent people do not Doxx others.
Congratulations, Glenn! Can I spell schadenfraude? Oops, apparently not, but that’s probably close …
Not closely related, but people visiting here will probably find it worth their while to read this latest from David Horowitz: https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2020/11/david-horowitz-where-we-are-and-what-we-face.php
Schadenfreude. Yes, very close!
What should be happening is happening. This realization lifts weight from the spirit, who can / should go forth to confidently be. To be is to be the Presence of God, no less.
Thank you, Mr. Graham.
Glenn
Proof that what goes around, comes around. Congratulations!
Glenn, Congrats! Enjoy the gloating! You deserve it!
Glenn,
By chance, could you send links of your articles that caused you to fall out of grace with the Aspen Anointed?
Continue to sharpen that pencil.
P
I was never told which columns they objected to. But the ones that immediately preceded my firing included one noting that Aspen insiders such as the newspaper editors seemed to get especially lucky in the taxpayer-subsidized housing lottery, and a Christmas column about Christ at https://theaspenbeat.com/2019/12/15/heres-what-i-know-jesus-is-not-our-mom/
Revenge is sweet indeed. I read the thing waiting for contest results and was appalled. Like looking at the world through a cookie jar. Hunter Thompson’s ghost is long gone. I done even want to visit any more.
Was Dominion Voting Systems software at work here? Like Biden, you’ve been elected to a position which you’ve done absolutely nothing to earn during the past year. Oh, well — in this case, at least, my vote wasn’t disenfranchised. Let the beatons continue.
Excellent news. Good for you.
So poetic!
I am glad I discovered you (via Powerline) and Aspen sounds like the type of place despite its wealth that I would not want to ever live in or even visit. Berkeley in the mountains.
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