oh boy

ALBANY, N.Y. - With pressure mounting on Gov. Eliot Spitzer to resign over a call-girl scandal, investigators said Tuesday he was clearly a repeat customer who spent tens of thousands of dollars — perhaps as much as $80,000 — with the high-priced prostitution service over an extended period of time.

snip

In the court papers, an Emperors Club employee was quoted as telling Kristen that Client 9 — Spitzer, according to investigators — “would ask you to do things that … you might not think were safe,” and Kristen responded by saying: “I have a way of dealing with that. … I’d be, like, listen, dude, you really want the sex?”

A law enforcement official said Tuesdsay the discussion had to do with Spitzer’s preference not to wear a condom and the call-girl’s insistence that he use one.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200.....ostitution

wasnt the ringleader an IRS man

Yup. I think they targeted him to find “anything” “anywhere”….I don’t believe the whole bank/IRS crappola….Somebody was watching him, and somebody knew what he was doing, and somebody leaked that “Client #9″ was Spitzer. And, somebody authorized it. Mukasey must have okay’d it. Just in time to bring it out now.

This is not an accident or an innocent…oh, well, we were just following the IRS rules, etc.

Plus…this took place at the Mayflower Hotel…where politicians and diplomats like to “hang out”…you know it must be bugged to the hilt.

I call major, major BS.

The fact that Spitzer is a bonehead is not BS though.

The thing that will keep this alive for longer than it should is the money. What do you get when you pay that much? There must be cheaper aternatives.

*sigh*

Yeah, and the ringleader was an IRS man….the whole thing stinks. Who told Spitzer about the Emperor’s Club….what? He found it online….BS.

This is a political sting and a set-up, and there will be others ensnared.

Here is the federal statute for structuring. From what I know of Spitzer’s case, they are going to have a hard time making a charge under this statute fly. They better stick to the Mann Act….

EPU’ed

Missed the Fallon thread. With him gone, the likelihood of a military strike on Iran just increased to better than even odds. It will probably be done using Israel as a surrogate with us providing intelligence and access to Iraqi air space as well as looking the other way for missile firing Israeli submarines operating in or near the Gulf.

Cheney may be in the Middle East to coordinate with Israel and make sure the Arabs won’t organize an oil boycott in retaliation. If you look at the twisted way these guys think, it is also likely that Bush-Cheney will argue since we did not actually pull the trigger that Iran has no case to shut down the Strait and that the Saudis et al will back any military action on our part to keep the Strait open. What this means is that there will almost certainly be a US-Iran military confrontation with the likelihood of spill over into Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, and possibly Syria. There could be sabotage and terrorism throughout the Gulf where there are Shia minorities in many countries. There will be a worldwide condemnation by all Moslem countries and many non-Moslem ones as well. The price of oil will hit $200/bbl overnight and move on into the $250-$300 range. What is important to understand about this is that a militarily effective closing of the Strait is not necessary. A few attacks alone on tankers and shippers will not ship and underwriters will not insure.

The upshot of such an attack would be to push a world economy already headed toward recession into depression. I can not begin to convey how utterly stupid and bankrupt this all is, and so unnecessary.

It is as if this Adminstration is determined to destroy the country before it leaves office. In any case, start checking your calendars for new moons. An attack will likely occur on one plus or minus one to two days.

Hmmmm…wonder who else stayed at the Mayflower in the last 6 months? The Mayflower is notorious for this kind of crappola…it has been for 50 years.

Democrats need to learn from Republics: do this kind of stuff on overseas junkets. Neil Bush, Rush, the list goes on and they suffer few consequences when caught.

Really….Motel 6.

Fools.

I like the Rude Pundit…

And she assured me that, for only a couple hundred bucks, she could make the Rude Pundit experience weightlessness. Time will tell.

Rawk on! ;-)

The NewsHour has Time Magazine’s Mark Thompson on spinning furiously the Bush line about the departure of Fallon.

Again you need to parse everyone’s words. Gates, for example, says that Fallon’s leaving does not mean we will attack Iran. This, of course, says nothing about what the Israelis will do and what we will help them do.

It is as if this Adminstration is determined to destroy the country before it leaves office. In any case, start checking your calendars for new moons. An attack will likely occur on one plus or minus one to two days.

and the Full Moon is March 21, so the moon just waxes

Hey Hugh, your list was cited with approval on the current thread at EW, “Republicans Uncork A Fine Whine Spitzer”.

SHORT RIDE and McShame planning the grande tour of europe as we speak…of course WE PAY

I sincerely hope that all of this Spitzer spying crappola eventually exposes the domestic spying abuse for political purposes in this country once and for all. Then it would be worth it.

This is a free lunch for the Rethuglicans. They can launch their attacks with all those army surplus toys from their Clinton witch hunt. Eliot should make the government prove it’s case; as in Alabama, they’re hoping that most of the trial takes place in its domesticated “press”.

I agree that prostitution should be legalized and regulated. Imagine the tax revenue when people no longer have money to bet or buy alcohol and cigarettes. Imagine the improvements in public health. Making it illegal is about as effective as prohibiting alcohol; it’s too subject to the vagaries of differential prosecution and the criminal courts aren’t effective at sorting out its social costs. Making it legal - but not mandatory - would do away with blackmail and pimps and potentially considerably improve the lot of those in the business. It would also make the Gooper Fundies rend their garments in despair at the victory of the anti-christ.

But it’s not “victimless” for many women and children, especially in SE Asia and Eastern Europe, who don’t voluntarily become or stay prostitutes.

Compared to Ferarro, Spitzer is a cartoon character. As a New Yorker, it is obvious we have hacks aplenty all looking for jobs with the Clintons or they are on Fox. At least the Clintons lose a superdelegate, likely.

An aside, it appears that Spitzer is trying to get some form of immunity or non prosecution agreement. But since he apparently dallied in many states, he will have an issue with the locals.

And I do not understand why Ferarro is not the bigger story here.

while they are planning whosale MURDER in IRAN

“I look down the lane and here comes Scooter, finally free from the prosecuter”

Can we impeach this prick now, please!

yea keep talking about SEX

I guess I don’t fathom not calling for his resignation. Since I’ll never be a high-powered prosecutor or governor, maybe I’m not aware of what the situation is like, but it strikes me as profoundly stupid for a powerful married political figure to make a lifestyle of betraying the trust of his family, his party, and his constituency through such dangerous, reckless behavior.

The fact is, Spitzer helped the neocons. He helped set up the Democratic party for this black eye. So why NOT call for his resignation? What are the benefits of keeping him in place? Is he protecting New York State from some neocon threat? I’m not being facetious, he may BE doing so - maybe if he were removed suddenly Wall St. would go on an unregulated anti-social rampage (well, MORE of one), or a poll tax would get introduced or something? Since he’s not my governor, I don’t know.

I don’t care about the fact that this is a sex case so much as this is a case about an apparently very narcissistic and reckless man in a position of public trust, who having betrayed that trust risks further burdening his allies by insisting on staying in office. Why should anyone close ranks around Spitzer? Even if this is a vast right-wing conspiracy, what kind of moron allows such a thing to happen following Monica Lewinsky?

Exactly.

I’m sick of the Dicktatership.

we are being pwned again

I really want to hear from the Justice Department on exactly what initiated the Spitzer probe. The DOJ needs to come clean. Tell all. No, “trust me”, nonsense. This is not information we need to fear the terrorist will use to attack us. They got this ball rolling so now we need to know how, when and why?

Speculation just keeps us wallowing in the mud.

The Clintons, according to David Geffen

Now the NewsHour has a discussion of the surge. One of the two experts is the surge architect Fred Kagan so he naturally says that it has been a big success. They do have Nir Rosen on and he is intelligent. So we have one delusional bozo and one guy who knows what he is talking about. The problem I have with this is it is a little like givin equal time and credibility to an astrophysicist and a flat earther.

I think Spitzer is a prick.

The question is who, why, how, did they target him and bring him down politically. If they are doing it to him, they will do it to others…deserving and not deserving.

Who owns the Mayflower? Please don’t tell me John Galt.

I agree with all of that, and, I’d like to add the high probability that the Iranians would use the Chinese Silk Worm missiles they’ve got on the Kuwaiti, Saudi, UAE, etal’s… refineries and ports, nothing to ship then…! 8-(

Call Mukasey in, pronto.

start checking your calendars for new moons.

the navy helpfully provides this table. i like the one with pictures.

i’m checking the our carriers too - although i don’t know if their location matters. and prof foland recommend the dynamics of cats for carrier watchers.

Chinese Silk Worm missiles

The Navy calls them ship-killers.

Thanks for the mention, bmaz.

Thanks Jane.

this is a bad day,got any left over ribs?

Speaking of Libby, I thought this was remarkable:

But rather than say “okay, he’s not guilt of doing what we thought he was doing, let’s go home” — they seem to be pursuing “money laundering” charges… There’s not a lot to go on at this point, but it all feels a bit staged, vague and weird as the political pressure for Spitzer to step down mounts — based on sexual allegations that don’t seem to have anything to do with what the Feds might potentially charge him with And unfortunately what we get today is a lot more about Spitzer’s sex life, rather than an explanation as to how this all went down.

Isn’t that likewise a perfect description of the Libby prosecution? Where it was quickly determined that Libby wasn’t the source of the Novak story, but Fitzgerald kept poking and prodding until he got to perjury and obstruction? What’s the difference?
It strikes me that perhaps the rights’s view of Spitzer is much like the left’s view of Libby.

Call Mukasey in, pronto.

I’d love him to give his waterboarding torture slippery eel tapdance. That would reveal a lot. If he has nothing to hide he can talk straight - well, as straight as Mukasey can be. Hummmm!

O/T
Wowzah! I just heard Chris Matthews tear a new a-hole in the a-holes at the Gridiron Dinner after playing the video of Bush’s “serenade”…I know it’s a repeat on Hardball, but it bears repeating over and over and over.

You go, Chris Matthews. I will never call you Tweety again.

Now, I hope he tears into Ferraro and Hillary for their methinks the lady doth protest too much RACIST attack against Obama. Yeh, they hit my hot button. I have pretty much had enough of NY politicians.

Only a couple, but, you’re welcome to ‘em…! 8-)

The Mayflower is like a Dem flytrap:

http://canadianpress.google.co.....dz9udCWkow

if he trys real hard,he could regain my respect lol

that good huh?

Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for Isr*el.

Just got up from my nap and saw Chris Matthews taking his fellow reporters to task over that video of Bush singing and the reporters all laughing about Brownie, about Scooter, the whole video, essentially. Said there was nothing funny about Brownie or the mess he made of Katrina, or Scooter committing perjury and treason by revealing the identity of a CIA agent! He gets plenty of criticism here, but credit where credit is due, and he deserves kudos for this one.

l hate…dst

this is a bad day,got any left over ribs?

Well, Adam had one but I think it got used to make Eve.

(((sadlyyes)))

The Goopers talk about hypocrisy, personal betrayal and calamity. But only someone else’s; for their own, they have enormous tolerance - eg, Vitter, Craig, Foley.

The real calculus is about political power - destroying an opponent’s via the use of taxpayer-funded political prosecutions. Were Spitzer not a wealthy, prominent and Democratic politician, the Goopers would have given him a discount on his Club dues, not tried to parade his “personal life” through the courts.

The Mann Act, for example, from 1910, has largely only been used to federalize a “crime” for purposes of political persecution. Even Al Capone, who reputedly transported lots of women across state lines for immoral purposes, was prosecuted for tax fraud, not Mann Act violations.

Personally, I would leave sexual behavior for the voters to consider in the context of what else he accomplishes, or fails to accomplish, as a public figure.

man what will happen now with Fallon gone? ive been hopefull till now

What? Is that a bad joke or are you just that uninformed? Clearly you have bought wholesale into a pile of right wing crap about what really happened in the Libby case. You can start by researching this line you trot out:

Where it was quickly determined that Libby wasn’t the source of the Novak story, but Fitzgerald kept poking and prodding until he got to perjury and obstruction?

Because that is the biggest bunch of bull dung I have seen in a while.

The missiles have the range and the capability to strike all the ports and refineries in the region…!

1,783 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND…

Citizen Hamsher:

I have always respected and admired the way your mind works and your ability to cut thru the horseshit to save what’s left a the pony so I jest hafta say “thanks” for putting the Spitzer thing in clear enough perspective to give us some space ta see what’s really goin’ on here.

Now if you would please go ta work on those Clinton-McCain folks…I think Mrs. Clinton jest fired a cruise missile at both women’s’ rights and racial justice. My God, is there any more argument why this person should NOT be president??!!

KEEP THE FAITH AND PASS THE AMMUNITION, THEY’RE COMIN’ AFTER ALL OF US!!

Thanks Jane,

I thought from the get go he was set up some how. It doesn’t “excuse” his seeing a hooker. He either thinks it’s ok or he’s a hypocrite.

I can’t see why anything he did financially would send up a red flag. He seemed to have been caught in a fishing operation when someone ratted on the hookers to the feds. Once they had him in the net they opened up the PR floodgates and are milking it for all it’s worth.

He sure was careless in his mischief.

The Republiclans are conducting political witch hunts across the land. IRS ivestigating Obama’s church, IRS imposing a lien on Michigan’s Democratic governor’s election committee, Spitzer affair, of course Siegleman. How many other are under the radar.

i would raather my spouse go to a paid hooker for recreational SEX, then fall in love with another woman,but thats just me,or go after little boys?

My last comment disappeared.

wow ,yup connecting the dots… Calif governor Davis to

Earlier variations, I believe, were used to devastating effect in the Falklands War between the UK and Argentine in 1982. Low fast and hot, the resulting fire from an impact can melt the aluminum in a ship’s hull, with nasty effects all round.

O/T: Clinton campaign manager Maggie Williams is suggesting that it’s the Obama camp that played the race card in the dust-up over the Ferraro comments.

Wow. Whatever respect I had for Ms. Williams and the campaign is gone.

New Yorkers, is this one and the same Mayflower Hotel of which we speak?

New York Times (March 11, 2008)

But according to rival bidders and real estate executives, the Mayflower property is owned by the Goulandris family, a wealthy Greek shipping family with a large art collection and an obsession with privacy.

Donald J. Trump has long wanted the Mayflower.

Good ol’ Dershowitz, like a defense atty should, jump in to defend someone being prosecuted on shakey grounds.

Now, mind you, if Eliot was a Muslim sending money to a company in the ME some place, Neocon Alan would advocate “other forms” of justice, and not a legal defense.

Wow! Did anyone catch this?

British Cop who Investigated CIA Extradition Flights found Dead

Circumstances sound very suspicious.

The major reason is to make them show their actual case, and make it less likely that they can bring down other Democrats by leaking stuff to the press that would never hold up in court and then making a deal with them to go quietly, but never having to prove their case.

If we didn’t have a Justice Department with a history of political prosecutions, I would tend to agree with you. The problem is, plenty of powerful people do dumb things, and if the only ones being pursued are Democrats and no one stands up to the thugs, then this will only continue.

… stop attacking old white women ! ( /snark)

“Aldrich Ames, infamous CIA officer and Russian spy, received his first $50,000 from the KGB [Soviet intelligence] at the The Mayflower Hotel (127 Connecticut Ave. NW).”

Clearly, the Mayflower is “connected” and “wired” to the hilt.

Sting hotel.

Circumstances sound very suspicious.

Isn’t Cheney out of the country?

Shizzola.

Iran has lots of advanced Russian missiles as well … I hope Congress reminds Bushco that attacking Iran without their approval is grounds for impeachment …

It’s interesting how there was no Republican outcry over Senator David Vitter or Senator Larry Craig and their recreational sex. Nor for that matter was there any outcry a couple of years ago when a male prostitute (masquerading as a member of the WH press corps) was signing into the White House for overnights.

It couldn’t have anything to do with party affiliation, could it?

That whirring sound you hear is the Founding Fathers spinning in their graves.

No, we’re talking about the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, not New York.

Yup. There is only one “Mayflower Hotel”…

I believe it is a CIA thingy…anyone who stays there should STFU, because the walls are listening….diplomats stay there, politicians stay there….

The Dutch and French seem to have more realistic expectations about human sexuality. Regulate and tax it, and don’t bring “it” home or inside the family. Let families and churches and voters “regulate” the behavior, not the criminal courts. Perhaps we should thank the English for seeding us their religious extremists.

ROFL

((((( EG )))))

IOKIYGAR

it’s OK if your genitals are Republican

The Mayflower in DC, is “the” Mayflower. Now owned by Marriott apparently…oh yeah, and Marriott owns hotels in most of the places that the Emperor’s Club operated.

First, the Feds are after you. Then they snoop into every nook and cranny of your life. They find something. They dig up all the dirt they can find and publish it worldwide.

It must be something to have all that tax payer money to fund your dirty projects, have a massive agency at your fingertips and a megapress owner who will disseminate all the dirt.

Where it was quickly determined that Libby wasn’t the source of the Novak story, but Fitzgerald kept poking and prodding until he got to perjury and obstruction?

I don’t think that was the point of the post at all and I don’t think that it was necessary jump all ugly like that either. How bout that?

EGGSACTLY

Yep, sunk the HMS Sheffield … my brother lost a friend on that ship …

Hugh, I left you something end of last thread.

LMAO

Kirk, give up the practice and do standup … you’ve been on a roll these past couple of weeks …

Glenn Greenwald quoted one of his commenters DCLaw1 about the Spitzer case:

I have always found it very curious that one of the following, but not the other, is illegal:

(a) Two people have sex, one of them gets paid for it;

(b) Two (or more) people have sex, all of them get paid for it, and it is videotaped and sold to third parties as a commodity.

I have yet to hear a convincing argument why this difference makes any actual sense.

It is a different but valid perspective as far as I can see.

I have been thinking the same thing, someone needs to tell the republic clowns calling for Spitzer’s resignation that Spitzer should resign just as soon as Craig, and Vitter are gone.

Yes, it purports to be a very high-end hotel, lovely bar and brunches and half a city block big. Near Connecticut and K, it’s close to the White House, K Street and several other upscale hotels, lots of lawyers and lobbyists are nearby, and one of the more visible offices of the Secret Service.

Humorously, its “rear entrance” is catty corner from from the National Geographic headquarters. A wild time for all.

A hypocrite is hypocrite, who gives a shit what party they are in?

I hope Congress reminds Bushco that attacking Iran without their approval is grounds for impeachment …

LOL. in a black humor kind of way.

last year the house wouldn’t even vote to tell bush not to attack iran without consulting with congress. see hugh’s list #280

Thanks for clearing that up. I thought they were a chain. If the Marriott owns the DC Mayflower, aren’t they the goddie goodie staunch conservative family?

A lot of people apparently. On both sides of the partisan divide.

Yea, and I think it’s bullshit.

don’t know if anyone posted this–

on newshour, ray suarez said that the ap said the total amount of money involved in spitzer case is $80,000

wow.

It’s also across the street from ABC “news”.

I thought Waxman had warned him about this in 2007, is that incorrect ?

O/T: Clinton campaign manager Maggie Williams is suggesting that it’s the Obama camp that played the race card in the dust-up over the Ferraro comments.

Wow. Whatever respect I had for Ms. Williams and the campaign is gone.

Sorry, that just will NOT fly! Ferraro raised the subject and chose to use the language she did. If any scripting went on it was from the Clinton side. And what’s really funny is that now Ferraro is saying that her own VP candidacy was because “I was a woman. You wouldn’t even know about me if I was named Gerald Ferraro.”

Yes…we sort of wished we didn’t know of you, Geraldine.

And what does this say about the forthrightness of Hillary’s “offer” to put Obama on her ticket as VP. Not because he is qualified? But because he is BLACK?

And only after all that sanctimonious crap about how Obama isn’t qualified to be President, and how McCain would be better than Obama as Commander In Chief?

If something happens and you are incapable of performing your role as President who is going to take over? BILL? The Constitution says that the Vice-President is the one who is in charge…yet Hillary says she would appoint someone that she considers unqualified to the position? That says a lot about Clintons own decision-making process…either about what she will say about someone else to get elected, or the decision in selecting qualified people for their role. Say anything, do anything…in order to win the election.

I have to say that at this point I don’t care about these details. Spitzer must go, and NOW. Then we’ll talk.

Thanks! I’ve been looking for something socially useful to do…. *g*

On another note, as a patriot who reveres our Constitution, I love your idea:

I hope Congress reminds Bushco that attacking Iran without their approval is grounds for impeachment …

Yet - though I share the wish - Nancy has made the topic a very bitter joke.

Sigh.

Run by devout Mormons, who nevertheless make lots of money from non-believers.

Many major hotel chains will have hotels in all those cities. Proving precisely nothing.

i do not know.

Thank you, interesting read. I don’t buy all the aspects but it does convey admirably the ever widening circle of consequences that a strike on Iran would engender.

And only after all that sanctimonious crap about how Obama isn’t qualified to be President, and how McCain would be better than Obama as Commander In Chief?

There is NO way a republic can be allowed in the White House in ‘08.

I am old enough to criticize Ferarro.

Wonder if they have the same ppv that the Hyatt in Denver had this weekend?

It has always been a place for diplomats and such to meet and “talk” in the bar, or in the rooms.

Thanks, Hugh. It’s based on the premise that when people conclude they’ll never have a better chance, things can happen very quickly.

There is NO way a republic can be allowed in the White House in ‘08.

That only seems fair: since ‘01, the WH hasn’t allowed a Republic.

I was snarking her comment as well … do you think it will help or hurt her cause ?

I agree, but if you have a chain with ownership that cooperates…spying can be done. That’s all I’m saying. No proof, you are quite right.

I would summarize