Re: Eliot Spitzer

[pegkerr]

I am not very knowledgeable about the New York governor, I will admit, although he had taken some actions that I admired, and he was one of those Republican for whom I did feel a certain amount of respect. I was mistaken; he's a Democrat.

My burning question for today is: how could he be so stupid? Did he really think nobody would notice?

Ah, well, I thought that of Bill Clinton, too. Another extremely bright and promising man who did much good work in public service--and who apparently couldn't keep his pants buttoned and suffered from the delusion that no one would notice or care in the least.

No opinion on the impeachment issue. It's early days yet.

Comments

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's hard to believe that he thought a governor could do that and not get caught. But I guess self-deception is rampant among politicians. I'm never amazed at what they do--I always expect the worst, from all of them.

BTW, Spitzer is a Democrat as far as I know. I might be wrong.

[sternel.livejournal.com]

He is a Democrat. The Republicans in Albany are salivating over this, typically. We have the most inefficient state government in the Union, and it looks like that's not going to improve any time soon. ::sighs::

Regardless of his guilt or innocence, this has already hurt the state of New York a great deal, and it's only going to get messier. The budget is due in a month, not that I have my breath crossed we'll see it on time.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Okay; I've corrected my post; not sure where I got the idea he was a Republican. Well, either/or, as you say, it's going to distract him from the people's business which he should be doing.

[sternel.livejournal.com]

Indeed. According to the Times, he's spent the day hiding in his Fifth Avenue apartment, while the Lt. Governor has no idea what's going on. He's earned a heartfelt Bronx salute from me.

[mayakda.livejournal.com]

Note that he was caught because of his money transfers, not because of any investigation of the ring.
They are watching your bank accounts, srsly.

[auriaephiala.livejournal.com]

Why is this anyone's business, except his and his family's? Unless he used government funds or resources, why does it impact him as Governor?

I always thought politicians were impeached for approving bridges that fell down, or taking bribes, or directing contracts to their friends, or leaking government secrets, or similar breaches of the public trust. Much as I deplore men sleeping with prostitutes, it happens, and I don't see why it matters in the context of doing a good job as Governor.

The state doesn't belong in the bedroom of anyone, including Governors.

Am I missing something in all this furore?

[skg.livejournal.com]

I believe it is the hypocrisy in that he prosecuted prostitution rings and was elected largely on his reputation as a crusader for right.

So it is a breach of the public trust.

Plus, last I checked prostitution is illegal in NYS. This isn't another intern sex scandal. It is a pay-for-sex scandal, law-breaking and therefore NOT just the business of his family.

[skg.livejournal.com]

Oh, and just in case it matters, I voted for him. I thought he was great.

I'm very, very disappointed. I would have liked to see him go far.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Exactly. Not only is he the governor, sworn to uphold the law, but he is the former Attorney General.

[nwl.livejournal.com]

Am I missing something in all this furor?

Well, yes. The media always focuses on the most juicy part (i.e., sex) of a story and the rest tends to fall away. The reason why he was being looked at in the first place was suspicious bank doings. He was making bank deposits of just under the reporting limit. While there may be nothing there, most illegal activities make similar deposits to either hide or launder money that is not reported to the IRS. I'm not a lawyer, but I think this is one of the things that characterizes racketeering and other illegal activities. So, this was done enough times that it looked like he was hiding money. Being governor, it was suspicious behavior. From some reports, he may have been an investor or some sort of owner in the prostitution ring he patronized and this is where the money came from. And why he was hiding it. I suspect that the money laundering part of the story will get buried by the press, since people only want to hear about the sex.

The state doesn't belong in the bedroom of anyone, including Governors.

So governors are above the law? In just NY state, maybe the state doesn't have a case, but having a person cross state lines for the purpose of sex, in this case prostitution, is against federal law, the Mann Act, I believe. The Mann Act has been around a long time and I think originally the law had to do with prostitution rings kidnapping young girls and taking them to a different state to be prostitutes.

Had he stayed just in New York State, he would not be facing possible federal charges for prostitution, although the money laundering, if that was going on, is also federal.

Considering all the talk show chat about "Why Men Stray", one thing they never bring up is how politicians really can't do the marriage therapy thing - the public is happy for themselves to go into therapy, but recoil in horror if an elected official would do the same.

[creepygirl-chow.livejournal.com]

What makes the stupidity even more mind-boggling to me is that he prosecuted prostitution rings when he was New York's Attorney General. He more than anyone else must have known the many clever tactics that could catch him. And he did it anyway.

I read an article that said he was considered a possible Vice-Presidential candidate. I'm glad this story broke before that could happen.

[skg.livejournal.com]

My burning question for today is: how could he be so stupid? Did he really think nobody would notice?

This. Did he learn nothing from Clinton? And on top of that, did he think that illegal sex was somehow better?

It is so disappointing. He did so many good things and had so much promise. Lame, lame, lame.

He is expected to resign today.