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NY Gov. Eliot Spitzer Linked to Prostitution Ring | 195 comments (195 topical)

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That's the end of one political career (5.00 / 2) (#4)
by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 01:27:26 PM EST


It didn't end (none / 0) (#12)
by Lil on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 01:31:20 PM EST
for Vitter. Have times changed? No, we just hold Dems to a different standard. We should make a word for that: Demist?

[ Parent ]
I'll hold him to a different standard (none / 0) (#14)
by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 01:32:22 PM EST
He committed a crime. He must resign.

[ Parent ]
I agree (none / 0) (#128)
by desmoinesdem on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 02:26:39 PM EST
He should resign.

Time to think of a new answer for the "who will be the first Jewish president" sweepstakes.

[ Parent ]

Baruch Obama. n/t (none / 0) (#133)
by LarryInNYC on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 02:28:51 PM EST


[ Parent ]
Yes. Dems resign, they don't get Jesus (none / 0) (#138)
by lilybart on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 02:31:26 PM EST
Or go to rehab or just stay like Vitter.

[ Parent ]
innocent until proven guilty (none / 0) (#151)
by oculus on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 02:34:17 PM EST


[ Parent ]
Didn't Vitter commit a crime? (none / 0) (#181)
by jcsf on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 02:54:57 PM EST
Yes?

[ Parent ]
Vitter's involvement was some time ago (none / 0) (#135)
by litigatormom on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 02:30:05 PM EST
Spitzer's was last month.

Perhaps we expect Louisiana politicians to be more corrupt?  The fact is, as Spitzer just said (CNN did not have a camera, just audio): "I have violated the standards I set for myself."

Spitzer's reputation was built on his being squeaky clean.  I don't think he can survive this, whether it is fair or not.

[ Parent ]

P,S, If Spitzer resigns (none / 0) (#137)
by litigatormom on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 02:30:54 PM EST
NY will have its first African American governor, David Patterson.

[ Parent ]
What about (none / 0) (#167)
by lisadawn82 on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 02:43:21 PM EST
Patrick Deval?

[ Parent ]
Sorry (none / 0) (#168)
by lisadawn82 on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 02:43:54 PM EST
I missed the "NY" in your sentence.  I apologize.

[ Parent ]
Deval Patrick, not Patrick Deval (none / 0) (#187)
by gyrfalcon on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 03:01:25 PM EST


[ Parent ]
Lousiana (none / 0) (#146)
by Socraticsilence on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 02:33:18 PM EST
That's actually kind of fair, I mean can you imagine Jefferson getting re-elected somewhere outside of New Orleans?

[ Parent ]
Adam Clayton Powell? (none / 0) (#170)
by oldpro on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 02:44:34 PM EST
Ever heard of him?  He wasn't from Louisiana...he was from New York.

[ Parent ]
Depends on The Replacement (none / 0) (#188)
by pluege on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 03:01:42 PM EST
I believe the standard is that a pol resigns only if their replacement is assured of being of the same party (see Craig, Larry, alias "wide-stance"); if not, the Standard says 'than hang in there baby' (see Vitter, alias "do as I say, not as I do Vittman").

[ Parent ]
Reprecussions for State legistature? (none / 0) (#20)
by HadIt on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 01:35:27 PM EST
I wonder if this will have bad repercussions for Dem NY state legislature gains in the future.

[ Parent ]
I don't know, but we managed to (none / 0) (#26)
by tigercourse on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 01:37:06 PM EST
gain a seat just a week or two ago, despite Spitzer's already low popularity. ANd in November we cleaned up in local races.

[ Parent ]
That's why I was wondering (none / 0) (#56)
by HadIt on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 01:48:26 PM EST
isn't it one seat away from changing hands to the Dems? Could this throw a wrench in things come this November, or is there enough momentum?  I suppose if his negatives were already high, this might not change things on that front.

[ Parent ]
We should probably hear... (none / 0) (#36)
by Jerrymcl89 on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 01:41:00 PM EST
... what he has to say before writing his obituary. But if it's true, combined with his existing (and self-inflicted) unpopularity, it's hard to see him surviving.

[ Parent ]
I would want him to resign (none / 0) (#41)
by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 01:42:09 PM EST
myself.

[ Parent ]
I wouldn't (5.00 / 1) (#51)
by Jeralyn on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 01:45:06 PM EST
I think it's a personal matter. He's not AG now, he's Governor. If he was still AG, I'd think differently.

[ Parent ]
Ok (none / 0) (#67)
by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 01:51:24 PM EST
I buy that.

[ Parent ]
Fair enough (none / 0) (#71)
by JoeA on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 01:52:41 PM EST
but,  this will depend alot on what exactly he is accused of.  

I think Democratic voters and the party will want to hold him to a higher standard than Vitter or Larry Craig.

[ Parent ]

David Vitter, yes. (none / 0) (#79)
by OrangeFur on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 01:56:23 PM EST
I suppose Larry Craig pleaded guilty to something, but I don't think he necessarily did anything illegal.

[ Parent ]
Possibly not (none / 0) (#86)
by JoeA on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 01:59:54 PM EST
Having said that,  I'm not a values voter, far from it.  However I would still not be keen on my married elected representative procuring sex in airport bathrooms whether it was straight or gay.

[ Parent ]
Listening to Peter King right now (none / 0) (#141)
by inclusiveheart on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 02:31:56 PM EST
on MSNBC essentially gloating over this and saying repeatedly that Spitzer is "self righteous" makes me want Spitzer to hang in there.

I don't recall any Democrat going after Vitter or Craig this emphatically in public.  King wants Spitzer to resign.

[ Parent ]

Remember, too the NY AG is not like (none / 0) (#84)
by scribe on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 01:58:35 PM EST
other states' AG - he is not the chief law enforcement officer of the state.  Each county's DA is charged with enforcing criminal law in that county.  The NYAG is much more concerned with supervising corporations, trusts, charities, non-profits, etc.  Most of what Spitzer did as AG was actually in the civil-enforcement side of things.

So, it's nowhere near like a cop or prosecutor being on the take or anything.

[ Parent ]

The headlines (none / 0) (#112)
by MKS on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 02:19:19 PM EST
made it sound like he was running the ring:   "...linked to prostitution ring...."  That would have put him into big trouble...

Isn't solicitation, etc. a misdemeanor?  Why shouldn't this be handled as a DUI?  

[ Parent ]

Crossing state lines (none / 0) (#115)
by Democratic Cat on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 02:21:30 PM EST
NYTimes says a women was sent to from NY to DC for a liaison, which apparently makes it a Federal crime?

[ Parent ]
Hope She Wasn't (none / 0) (#123)
by squeaky on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 02:24:25 PM EST
A 'bomb', because then the patriot act would come into play.

[ Parent ]
Yes. It's an outgrowth of (none / 0) (#127)
by scribe on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 02:25:45 PM EST
the Mann Act.

[ Parent ]
Why? (none / 0) (#129)
by Maria Garcia on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 02:27:20 PM EST
Why send for a prostitute from DC to NY? This just seems dumb to me.

[ Parent ]
Why have aides use the police to track (none / 0) (#150)
by tigercourse on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 02:34:05 PM EST
a political opponent? Spitzer has done some plenty dumb things as Governor.

And the reason I would give is that he trusted the organization in New York, and didn't want t just go up to congressmen, nudge them and ask if they knew of any good brothels.

[ Parent ]

It would be hard to believe (none / 0) (#186)
by badger on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 03:00:27 PM EST
there's a shortage in either place.

[ Parent ]
He really, really liked her. (none / 0) (#189)
by oculus on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 03:02:06 PM EST


[ Parent ]
Because (none / 0) (#190)
by squeaky on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 03:02:07 PM EST
He has powerful enemies.

[ Parent ]
Does he have the chutzpah to push for legalization (none / 0) (#114)
by jerry on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 02:20:21 PM EST
I think prostitution, like marijuana, should be legalized, regulated, and taxed.  As Governor, he could have played a role in that.  He still should, but I suspect there's no way he'll be going that route.

[ Parent ]
If it's true, I agree. (none / 0) (#50)
by Jerrymcl89 on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 01:44:50 PM EST
For one thing, it's a crime.

For another, unlike Vitter, Spitzer will have a major impact on the state party's performance, and shouldn't allow himself to become a millstone.

[ Parent ]

NY Gov. Eliot Spitzer Linked to Prostitution Ring | 195 comments (195 topical)

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