Dammit

[VeloVT]

I've always been an admirer of Eliot Spitzer. Even if I refrain from making any kind of moral judgement here, WHAT WAS HE THINKING???? For someone who has built a career on integrity, on fighting corruption, this is political suicide.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/10/nyregion/10cnd-spitzer.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ei=5088&en=6ed828c78d717f5b&ex=1362888000&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

<<sigh>>... Couldn't he have just had an affair? It would have been less sordid.

I'm so upset.

[Zen]

Sometimes men seemingly have no control over their appendages.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I've always been an admirer of Eliot Spitzer. Even if I refrain from making any kind of moral judgement here, WHAT WAS HE THINKING???? For someone who has built a career on integrity, on fighting corruption, this is political suicide.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/10/nyregion/10cnd-spitzer.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ei=5088&en=6ed828c78d717f5b&ex=1362888000&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

<<sigh>>... Couldn't he have just had an affair? It would have been less sordid.

I'm so upset.

You're telling me. What a complete idiot! And thinking he would not be caught??? HELLO?????? And we trusted him and had so much hope. :mad:
The "Emperors Club"??? Ugh. Well I guess the 'Emperor' has new clothes now.

The only chink of light in this whole dark tunnel mess is that Lt.Gov David Paterson is most likely going to do a good job in taking over for the term. He has lots of experience, is well liked, and highly respected.

[tulip]

If this was any other country, it would be over by now. Yeah, dumb move, but it shouldn't be the end of his political career. People are people are not perfect. I hope he doesn't resign.

[VeloVT]

If this was any other country, it would be over by now. Yeah, dumb move, but it shouldn't be the end of his political career. People are people are not perfect. I hope he doesn't resign.

Not sure about this. Affair, yes; prostitution, I think it would still be a scandal in lots of places. And, again, apart from moral judgments, it shows such a lack of "common-sense" judgment and awareness of the political ramifications of his *personal* actions, it makes you wonder about other things he might do, other personal decisions that might jeopordize his political credibility... Just so stupid... And so bad for democratic congressional and senatorial hopefuls in NY...

[kelownagirl]

If this was any other country, it would be over by now. Yeah, dumb move, but it shouldn't be the end of his political career. People are people are not perfect. I hope he doesn't resign.

I was thinking that too. He has bad taste in women but it doesn't make him a bad politician does it? I have no clue - I don't live there.

[kjay]

If this was any other country, it would be over by now.

I beg to differ. I believe we've all heard of some countries that might take lethal action.

[VeloVT]

I beg to differ. I believe we've all heard of some countries that might take lethal action.

Well, lethal action against women, maybe. Seems like men are usually exempt from this???

ETA. Sorry. I'm not trying to pot-stir in general here. I was just miffed at Spitzer. Partly because the political climate is so polarized in this country, and the margin is so close. It's either lefty-left or religious right, which means he just alienated everyone who voted for him who wasn't a lefty-left but liked his integrity.

(For the record, I'm a lefty-left... but I want dems who can win elections).

[mkidd]

I agree completely re: this being a big deal b/c it was a prostitute. I actually think we should consider making prostitution legal, but the fact is it isn't and when he chose to prosecute protitution during his stint as Attny Gen, he lost the right to even argue that this is a victimless crime. He broke the law and this is not a "private matter."

I was in shock and thought it was a joke. We don't have tv so I didn't even know until this evening.

I attended a few political lunches to fundraise for him. I guess that "Women for Spitzer" souvenir glass is going in the recycling.

What must his wife be feeling? According to the affidavit transcripts he would "ask for stuff most would consider 'unsafe'"--so does that mean he was asking for kinky stuff or was actually looking to have sex with a prostitute without a condom??? And his poor daughters.

Crazy.

[Zen]

I guess that "Women for Spitzer" souvenir glass is going in the recycling.
I guess it has a whole new meaning now. see if it sells on ebay.

And his poor daughters.


How old are they? This could really skew their perspective on men.

[Mr. Bloom]

Sometimes men seemingly have no control over their appendages.

Hmmm...I'm not sure this is a uniquely male anomaly:rolleyes:


If this was any other country, it would be over by now. Yeah, dumb move, but it shouldn't be the end of his political career. People are people are not perfect. I hope he doesn't resign.

I respectfully disagree...I think the issue is that the guy isn't who he made himself out to be. He's deceptive and in light of his previous sanctimonious and self righteous attitude invoking 'his definition' of right & wrong...well, he's made his own bed...and now it's time to sleep in it (presumeably alone;))


And, again, apart from moral judgments, it shows such a lack of "common-sense" judgment ... it makes you wonder about other things he might do, other personal decisions that might jeopordize his political credibility... Just so stupid...

Amen, you need to understand that Spitzer is viewed by many (including me) as starting on a right and correct track, but taking it WAY too far in his pursuit of corruption...he took it so far that he ultimately found fault with everything and anything...here's a parody that was published in '05 (http://www.bankstocks.com/article.asp?id=9880636). This to me is political power gone awry...Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely...and he thought he was above the law...

Don't get me wrong, I'm pained for both he and his family, but he's here because of his own choices...

I will give him credit though...he's not denying the truth...

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

As the supreme example of a hypocrite with his former credibility in shreds, Spitzer will now be completely ineffectual as our governor and needs to step out of the way and let David Paterson get in there to start effective governing again.

[mimitabby]

What must his wife be feeling? According to the affidavit transcripts he would "ask for stuff most would consider 'unsafe'"--so does that mean he was asking for kinky stuff or was actually looking to have sex with a prostitute without a condom??? And his poor daughters.

Crazy.

from the look on his wife's face in the news photos, I'd say she's pretty disgusted. and he asked for unsafe stuff?

ICK!

off with his head! (in a figurative sense)

[MM_QFC!]

As the supreme example of a hypocrite with his former credibility in shreds, Spitzer will now be completely ineffectual as our governor and needs to step out of the way and let David Paterson get in there to start effective governing again.

Yes, I agree...he's got to be made accountable for the choices and behaviors that he alone chose. Just for starters, it seems to me that he's gotta whole lotta work and time that he needs to devote to rebuilding that trust he shattered with his wife and daughters too. In his very brief statement he mentions that he "must now dedicate some time to regain the trust of my family" - ha! I'll say he does...but to read that, it seems like a trifle, an errand - instead of really taking responsibility for his stupid, hypocritical, hurtful actions and lies, and making the honest effort to his family in hopes of salvaging his personal life.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

from the look on his wife's face in the news photos, I'd say she's pretty disgusted. and he asked for unsafe stuff?

ICK!

off with his head! (in a figurative sense)

Yeah. And think what his three teen aged daughters are going through right now. Ugh. He needs go crawl under a stone somewhere and live there for a while. Emperor, indeed.

[MM_QFC!]

washingtonpost.com http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23568768/ has an interesting article this morning on the "ritual of repentance" - seems that this is a formulaic response - ick, again!

[teigyr]

And linked to the "Ritual of Repentance", I found this :eek:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23575221/

[MM_QFC!]

whew! she's always a firestorm starter, isn't she; sure got lots of um strong responses to her comments on this...I think I'll refrain for a change and keep my (native New Yorker) mouth tactfully shut this time! :mad:

[mimitabby]

"but honey, all the other guys were doing it"

[mimitabby]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/dayart/20080312/335cartoon20080312.gif

[MM_QFC!]

thanks for the grin, Mimi!

[mimitabby]

might as well laugh, crying isn't getting us anywhere

10. Hey, what's new?

9. It's Barack Obama. Remember our conversation about being my running mate? Nevermind.

8. Ralph Nader here, glad to hear I'm not the only politician who has to pay for it

7. I'm calling from the 'New York Post.' Would you rather be known as 'Disgraced Gov Perv' or 'Humiliated ***** Fiend'?

6. This is John McCain, if it makes you feel better, I once got caught having sex with Lincoln's wife

5. It's Dr. Phil, call me if you need any horse**** advice

4. This is Senator Larry Craig. Do you ever go through the Minneapolis airport?

3. It's Wolf Blitzer. Call me if you ever want a hot Spitzer-Blitzer three-way

2. Paris Hilton here. I would have done it for free

1. It's Arnold Schwarzenegger. Thanks, I'm no longer America's creepiest governor

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

He's outta here. And none too soon. I just hope he wasn't able to plea bargain his way out of any serious charges he might have been guilty of, such as using taxpayer's money or money laundering.
I still feel so betrayed.

[MM_QFC!]

I agree w/you, Lisa - it was bad enough news that came to light, but then to have him hole up in his NYC digs...and delay doing the right thing, only made me more mad - in thinking that he was demanding a deal before he resigned. The prosecutors should NOT be in any kind of a dealing mind-set, IMHO; prosecute him as tough as he has with so many others. Otherwise, it just extends the hypocrisy, right?

[Zen]

:D Mimi :D
Especially 6, 5, and 4

[Geonz]

It's not so much that he was "only human," but that he pontificated so well about others' "humanity."

If we knew he didn't really *care* about things like fidelity, then nobody would, for example be able to blackmail him. And who knows? Could be that some of those "funds going nowhere" were to people he was asking to keep quiet so he could keep on doing his good deeds as governor (I'm sure he considered them thusly, and I trust others did too).

Power corrupts... absolute power corrupts absolutely.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

It's not so much that he was "only human," but that he pontificated so well about others' "humanity."

That doesn't even matter so much to me. What matters to me is simply that I expect my Governor to not be sneaking around frolicking with prostitutes -at least during the time he is in office.