sad and disturbing

Fund of Wall St Journal, on wnyc, sez Spitzer was not a fan of civil liberties. For once, I agree with WSJ.

Good Morning Jane.

Goes on to say that Spitzer once threatened to arrest someone in front of his pregnant wife. Not a nice man.

sad and disturbing

Even though Spitzer is an idiot for placing himself in this position I still smell a DOJ ratfuck in progress-let’s not forget that.

Tha Mann Act? Are you kidding me???

Helicopters following the Sptzer limo. Shades of OJ.

lol, that’s a little over the top.

Fund pointed out that the vast majority of NYS wanted him impeached if he didn’t resign. So, even if you’re right, they did the right thing for the wrong reason. Spitzer’s a bad guy, in oh so many ways.

CNN having great fun “punditing” about negative impact on Hillary.

yep–

And Slida Wall will be at his side when he makes that announcement. And it’s not really a presser. He’ll make his announcement, then he’s off and will NOT be taking any questions…

And poor Contessa Brewer, who’s mentally challenged in other ways, keeps calling her Silda…

have to say, your making me feel better about not liking him that much.

If one knows that the forest is full of neocon hyenas, painting oneself in gravy and running naked through the forest should not elicit sympathy, even if the hyenas are despised.

Dina Matos McGreevy–another hapless ex-wife–on now, saying Slida will get through this. I guess she would know…different experience, though. Eliot is straight, whereas Jim is gay…qualitative difference, IMHO…

He should make a run for it! Then we’d have the ultimate media event.

And poor Contessa Brewer, who’s mentally challenged in other ways…

You’ve noticed that too, huh? *g*

Shadenfreude for me, since I didn’t like him since before Day One. We don’t need Ds like him.

As I said yesterday, I think it’s wrong to watch car wrecks, but in my dotage I’ve come to do it. Not attractive, but there it is.

I hope he doesn’t resign but he probably will. I also hope the press finds out more details about this “investigation” which will probably not happen.

Is that what the reported “Might want to do things you think are ‘Unsafe’” amounts too? Gravy? Who knew. What’s the 7 diamond ticket, foie gras?

Come, come, come, now. Let’s maintain a shred of dignity. *g*

Is it Slida or Silda? Last night on Extra it was spelled and pronounced Silda.

I don’t get it. Sex brings a man down, but endless killing, lying to get us into a war, spying on Americans–you name it–doesn’t. How skewed are our values?

Wish I’d said that!

Who said I had even a shred *g*

I’d be interested in seeing the rest of the client list, myself. Wonder if there are any Repubs on it…

Wasn’t trying to tut-tut you at all.

In a country where only 34% of Americans think George Bush should be impeached, I find that really shocking.

Apparently, I will have to explain this to you, Jane.

A) IOKIYAR

B) It’s about all sex. Screw a woman not your wife is really, really bad. Screw a country, not so much.

I don’t get it. Sex brings a man down, but endless killing, lying to get us into a war, spying on Americans–you name it–doesn’t. How skewed screwed are our values?

fixed your typo Spotsy ;)

Good point.

However, don’t think for a minute that it was sex that brought Spitzer down. It was his enemies, which he made with great gusto in great numbers.

W has made a very careful plan to create a protective zone around himself. And making people like him. Big difference.

You more than make up for that miniscule weakness abundance of caution, heh.

I’ll take your word for it, but it would be much better if that neocon weenie John Fund resigned also.

You will never hear another word about those other clients. This was to get Spitzer, not about prostitution.

If it were just that, I’d agree with you. But I understand we dasn’t since it involves the all-important subject of MONEY. Oh the horror!

Yep. I said “for once” and I meant that literally. Worse than a stopped clock, which is accurate twice/day.

This country needs to be collectively slapped upside the head.

WNBC/Marist poll say that 7 out of 10 registered Democrats think he should resign, and if he doesn’t, 2/3 think he should be impeached. In a country where only 34% of Americans think George Bush should be impeached, I find that really shocking.

Disgusting.

Slida Wall…

You know that and I know that, but I still think it’d be fun (well, not really) to spread the abundance of dirt around. Then we could point out all the times that the right opened their pieholes in outrage.

Personally, I don’t see it as being that much different from what McCain was supposed to have been doing with Ms. Iseman. The main difference there is that the prostitutes have to register with the gov’t, and they get a nicer job title.

Yep!

It’s OK for Democrats to call for Spitzer’s resignation but Republicans have to clean their own house first before taking a “moral stance”. Let me see, where should they start, besides the obvious suspects – Larry Craig and our family man Vitter. How about Bill Bennett, Mr. Moral Crusader. His ugly face still pops up on TV as a conservative analyst – of what – morals?

Did GOP moralist, William (Bill) Bennett give up gambling yet? Uerrrr…He says yes. Amazing how quickly he kicked the habit. He is still the leading voice of conservative morals and so well suited for the honor. He qualified his moral stance on his gambling habit as controlling “excessive gambling”. Does that mean a drunk drive can get behind a wheel drunk if he isn’t an excessive drunk? What defines “excessive”?

Was that Ted Wells?

… unless they are Democrats

Busted – gotta link on that 34% figure ? thx

Dina Matos McGreevy

She still looks heavily medicated…

very twisted values………

i said it…no presser, just an announcement, then he’s gone forever, making way for my 17-year-old son to become the first Jewish prez–17 years from now–he’ll be 18 on April 10th (his mother is Jewish–albeit secular..)

Ding!

Shadenfreude for me, since I didn’t like him since before Day One. We don’t need Ds like him.

What, you mean self-righteous hypocrites don’t suit your fancy? *g*

I took the quote from Jane in her post.

Family values from the pro-life party.

Teddy,

yep, but saw somewhere on the toobz, he decided on that firm bec his former AG lieutenant, a woman, would be the operations person for the case

According to wiki, it’s Silda.

yep..i’d be..can you imagine that experience? That your hubby of so many years, and with a kid, turns out to be gay? Absolutely nothing wrong with being gay…but simply the deception…

What a flashback

IMO, he did the right thing, and the party is the better for it…

WNBC/Marist poll say that 7 out of 10 registered Democrats…

Caller ID is a wonderful invention.

Suggest generous measure of skepticism twd all polls especially this particular year. Seriously.

Enemies it is. Dubya’s pecadillos were either severely glossed over or completely taken off the radar by powerful forces both inside and outside of government. That a horse’s ass like Dubya didn’t take comfort with Mexican prostitutes while growing up in Texas (or at other times in his “adult” life) is more unbelievable than the supposition that he did. – Yet, nary a word has been spoken about it.

well, wiki’swrong on this one. I know people who know the Spitzers…it’s Slida…

That is inaccurate. All the other sources I checked spell it Silda, and that’s the way it has been pronounced on every audio I’ve heard.

So we found out what made this Sammy Glick character run… it would
never have happened but for the strength of his enemies and the election
coming in the fall. Character is fate.

Spitzer just called her “Silda.”

There’s something really fucking wrong with American psyche if a prostitute forces someone to resign/impeachment process, but a fraud and lie ridden war do not.

Biodun,
Here’s “Silda” on the (now-ex) gov site
http://www.ny.gov/firstfamily/sildabio.html

Ted Wells is a partner in the law firm that Spitzer hired.

I’d guess he’d know, but after the last few days, I’d doubt even that.

Slida or Silda?

And the NY Social Diary will never get it wrong, trust me. That would be scandalous…

Spitzer is a deliberate MSM diversion to hide the real news, as usual not reported in the USA. From the TimesOnline: “Dow soars as central banks pump $280bn into markets” Note not $200 billion as reported in the US media but $280 BILLION! and this on top of $200 BILLION last Friday. “Shares on Wall Street yesterday recorded their biggest rise in five years after central banks pumped more than $280 billion (£140 billion) of liquidity into global markets…This is on top of $200 billion that the Fed made available last Friday.” And what is the Fed accepting as security?, “They are basically accepting busted securities as collateral for loans. I don’t ever remember central banks coordinating globally like this. That should scare the hell out of everybody.”
http://business.timesonline.co…..533695.ece

“Money is the most important subject intellectual persons can investigate and reflect upon. It is so important that our present civilization may collapse unless it is widely understood and its defects remedied very soon.” Robert H. Hemphill

congrats on your incipient fledgling.

pretty soon, you’ll find you begin being considered smarter by same.

then the day will come that he begins worrying about you. ;->

Peter Baker in WaPo:

Spitzer has been a bad-luck charm for Hillary Clinton up to this point. His proposal on illegal immigrant driver’s licenses arguably led to the first time she was truly thrown off stride in this campaign. Fairly or not, her muddled answer at a debate in Philadelphia about whether she supported it played into the narrative promoted by opponents that she is more about calculation than principle. That led to a bad patch for her that lasted all the way through the Iowa caucuses. Her advisers pinpoint that inartful two-minute answer as the moment when the race turned.

Now Spitzer may throw her off stride again at a moment when she needs to keep her momentum going.

very twisted values………

As had been the history of America, handed down from a majority of puritanical generations before us. Consider the supposedly “far left wing, liberal,” world that is the Movie industry. The holier than though crowd persists in casting Hollywood as the modern day Sodom; but look at the ratings requirements for their products. A movie showing buckets of blood, and man’s inhumanity to man in prodigious amounts…torture, dismemberment, whatever…will receive no more than an “R” rating. But you show one act of penetration in a sexual circumstance…BOOM BABY, you’re making pornography and that’s a whole ‘nother ball of wax. Where’s the values there?

sad indeed!

My poor 17 year old has a Jewish (albeit secular) father and a Mennonite mother. He hasn’t quite figured out what that makes him (he’ll be 18 at the end of July). We have just hit silly season of senior year. He’s impulsively trying to toss all his rational plans (journalism at a medium university) about the future to go play soccer for a $2,000 scholarship at a small Mennonite school. All he wants to do is have one last round of playing ball with the boys….

Good thing my hair is already gray.

Cool! America has its first legally blind guv, and NY has its first Black guv.

NYT has a nice bio on Paterson today, and I noticed a comment here the other day from LHP saying Paterson is great, so perhaps a nice trade-off. The NYT story says Paterson is considered more Liberal than Spitzer by many in NY politics.

Paterson apparently takes more of a “compromise” approach to politics, as opposed to Spitzer’s aggressiveness. Each style has its advantages.

Gang:

Just go to Google and type in “Slida Wall” and wait for results…

Did Wells “well up?” He’s very Boehner-like in that respect.

Thanks much! I’ve also appreciated your support…much more than you can imagine…*g*

Hillary just lost another superdelegate in Spitzer.

yep..i’d be..can you imagine that experience?

I absolutely agree with you, biodun. And this has to bring it all back in a vicious manner. I’M not judging as much as I’m observing. She looks like she really loved her ex.

It is the wives who really love who suffer the most in these ratfucks…

OT- Has anyone seen this?

The Spitzer news managed to completely swamp

1. The Fed’s attempt to bailout Wall Street
2. The deadliest day in 2008 for American soldiers in Iraq
3. The GOP losing Denny Hastert’s seat
4. Cheney’s trip to see his bosses in Saudi Arabia
5. Fallon’s retirement

Anything else we’re hearing nothing about?

it scares the hell out of me and I am all but illiterate in these matters

frankly, Bernanke’s/Fed actions looks like a de facto nationalization to this dfh

hey johnSwifty…John and I went to to a swell party in St. Paul last Friday…

Remember his attempt to “cry” in his closing at the Libby trial, guy
gets big bucks for it.

Patience and vigilance, Grasshopper. This too shall pass.

Please see my #67. ;->

In U.S., bottled water lacks drug safeguards

Most every thing I’ve read her name is Silda. However, some publications are spelling her name Slida. Could this be a spelling error that reprinted and reprinted? Anyone? Accuracy, please?

25% of teen girls having STD’s?

Paterson is much more liberal that Spitzer, who is a DINO. Here’s a Brian Lehrer interview with him.
http://www.wnyc.org/news/articles/94977

However, a consensus seems to emerging that Paterson (who has played his legislative role by getting everyone to like him) is too much of a nice guy and that, in a state with a powerful legislature, they’ll run all over him.

I have no opinion of my own; just reporting.

seriously? does the office, or the person, hold that position?

Notice how it came out on a Monday morn, instead of Fri night. Further proof to me that this was a Repub fueled sting from within the DOJ.

I voted for Spitzer, I was hoping for some change since Pataki screwed up the college funding. Spitzer had way too much opposition in the state government to get anything done.

Patterson gets to make his own choice.

Didn’t watch the news conference. I had read yesterday that Wells was a partner in the firm Spitzer hired. Somehow I don’t think Bush would pardon Spitzer like he did Scooter.

When you hear *one* MSM mouth mention that, I owe you a soda (or drink of your choice).

Did Spitzer as DA, justifiably go after Wall Street Crime? Did Spitzer abuse his discretion to prosecute as DA in NY?

It’s the person. Hillary’s site had every mention of Spitzer removed by Mon afternoon. She had a lot about his endorsement prior to all this.

Paterson already was included in her superdelegate total, so that’ll remain the same.

frankly, Bernanke’s/Fed actions looks like a de facto nationalization to this dfh

eh-hem… it’s called “free-market” when it helps da capitolists

Paterson with one-T, just for the record.

I also noticed that the media kept using the term “prostitution ring” to make it sound more ominous…

Yes. Yes.

Somehow I don’t think Bush would pardon Spitzer like he did Scooter.

Bush can’t pardon Spitzer, ’cause it wouldn’t fit into a song to rhyme with “prosecutor”…

LOOK!!!

It’s a Shiny Object!

How could that possibly be here now?

Who would have exposed this Shiny Object now?

Why would anyone want to expose a Shiny Object now?

Who Would Jesus Waterboard?

Got Torture?

awwww shucks. twarnt nuthin.

Best advice we ever got: parenting never gets easier or harder, just different.

Trust me. He luvs ya. How could he not?!

“Spitzer was one of the highest ranking progressives we had. With him at the helm there was a real chance, on a state level, to oppose corporatism and enact meaningful healthcare reform.

This is a really sad day for progressives.”

Day? I don’t see much difference between “progressives” and “Conservatives” at all. Both sides speak with forked tongue.

There’s something really fucking wrong with American psyche if a prostitute forces someone to resign/impeachment process, but a fraud and lie ridden war do not.

You’re not getting it. It’s not about sex. It’s about trust and recklessness. Trying to cast everyone who wanted Spitzer to resign as purse-lipped moralists is dishonest.

Strategically and tactically Spitzer demonstrated outrageously bad judgement. He gambled with the trust of his family, his party, and his constituents – gambled and LOST, by the way. Don’t you see? This mess is HIS fault.

YES the Neocons are a bunch of lawbreaking, hypocritical, anti-American bastards. Spitzer painted a big target on himself and BEGGED them to eat him alive.

This is his fault. He set everyone up for this, and now he’s facing the consequences. That sex is involved is an incidental but aggravating circumstance.

Spizter is done on St. Pats!

http://ifiwerespitzer.com/

FISA attack ads…

Meant to tell everyone a week or so ago how happy I was to hear the ACLU FISA ad on mainstream radio in the Bay Area (KCBS), only to be very dismayed this morning at hearing the Defense of Democracy ad target Jay McNerney.

I don’t know much about McNerney, but I didn’t like the ad.

from the NY Social Diary:

• Slida Wall Spitzer & Eliot Spitzer

What we have here is a case where several so-called “authoritative sources” are simply wrong…

Look: fact-checking is just one of the things I do professionally for a living, per exemple, for BBC News World Service. My ass would be grass if i get my facts wrong…Anyway I gotta scoot…later…

I don’t have anything of substance to add, so I’ll just make this one observation. Some news person said that Spitzer’s wife has visibly aged in the past few weeks. I’m inclined to think that she could have been “glammed up” if that was the impression people wanted to make. “Suffering, but loyal” is a much better look for this sort of public appearance.

From my personal interest, it is a loss. I was on Board os SUNY-New Paltz Foundation and am now on a Board of an historic preservation organziation. Spitzer would have increased funding for both. Now, who knows.

As for voting for Spitzer, 70% did, including me. What was the choice? I don’t even remember who the Rs dredged up to run against him.

The NYT article today addressed this issue. Paterson is quite aware of this critique and actually relishes it since he can sneak up on people that way…sort of killing them with kindness (these are my words…not from the article).

I’ve always thought of Obama’s style as being similar to this, and can often be the most effective way of making things happen IMO.

Spitzer. Seigelman. What’s the difference? I see too many similarities. This reeks.

And yes, he is a rat for cheating on his family.

One less superdelegate for Hillary, since Paterson was already a superdelegate.

okay. thanks!

Was this a “whack job” even though “Spitzer” fkdup/enabled it, IYO?

Teddy, did this get any play in the US?

http://www.commondreams.org/ar…..3/12/7642/
British Campaigners Arrested at Sea in Diego Garcia Protest
from CommonDreams.org

Two British human rights campaigners have been arrested at sea off Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean after protesting against the island’s use in British and US military operations. The two men were demonstrating against the island’s admitted use by the US for rendition flights and the historic removal of the Chagos islanders from their […]

I think you miss the point. What, exactly, did Spitzer do that was worse than what George Bush does on a daily basis? That’s what’s being asked, and I defy anyone to provide a reasonable explanation for why there is so much outrage over one but not the other.

Don’t forget BushCo’s first-term takedown of Gray Davis in California, with help from their friends at Enron!

Well, I was just languishing in the western suburbs, all dressed up with no where to go ;-)

The Spitzer news managed to completely swamp

1. The Fed’s attempt to bailout Wall Street
2. The deadliest day in 2008 for American soldiers in Iraq
3. The GOP losing Denny Hastert’s seat
4. Cheney’s trip to see his bosses in Saudi Arabia
5. Fallon’s retirement

Anything else we’re hearing nothing about?

Little Georgie Vetoed the bill specifically outlawing waterboarding as torture…

That’s not talked about anymore. Unless the talk is about how Democrats Failed to over-ride the veto of a schmuck with a 30% approval rating.

There’s nothing for you here… Move along…
Look at the Bright Shiny Object…

Will the Spenis become as infamous and distracting as the Clenis?
How bright and shiny is the Spenis???

ripple effect, eh.

Yea, well it’s basically winding down and if the powers-that-be here decide to sick us on a certain issue, we’ll make sure the “the media” hears about it.

This isn’t being reported either …
http://www.commondreams.org/ar…..3/12/7640/
The U.N. investigator on torture said on Tuesday the United States had denied his request to visit U.S.-run jails in Iraq and insisted a visit could help clear its legacy of the prison abuse scandal in Abu Ghraib. Manfred Nowak, United Nations special rapporteur on torture, said he had received credible information the situation had improved […]

Don’t know the rules.
Does Superdelegate status come and go with the office?
If so, does that apply to the Loot as well?
Is the Loot automatically a Dem in NY?

This is a GOOD day for Progressives, because we no longer have an arrogant fool placing our interests at risk. The cost is dreadfully high, but the progressive political landscape is better for removing this dangerous, reckless person from it. And Spitzer’s resignation casts the non-resignations of Vitter, Craig, et al into sharp relief.

And now that he has resigned we can return to discussing the REAL news that his immolation has obscured.

Man, you’re staking too much on this. The NY State website spells it that way, but none of us really give a rat’s ass. Either way, her parent’s played sort of a dirty trick on her.

Well, I’m sure you’ll forgive us for not assuming your infallability…there was a reason to question, so we did. Nobody is questioning your professional credentials. Relax.

This is easy for people to understand and condemn. Any moron knows this is wrong. The things that Bush and his ilk do aren’t as easily understood by ordinary people. It makes our heads hurt. Also they have the “but we’re protecting you from bad guys” argument. There’s just now way–that I know–one can spin a sex scandal that way.

From Peter Baker’s chat at WaPo this morning:

San Francisco: Paterson was already a superdelegate; with Spitzer’s resignation there’s one less superdelegate for Clinton, actually.

Peter Baker: Yes, just checked the list. Paterson’s a superdelegate by virtue of DNC membership. What I don’t know is whether the DNC would give that superdelegate slot to someone else. Anyone know?

Not sure what you’re asking, but here’s my take. Spitzer whacked the financial corps he prosecuted. They much deserved what they got, but his tactics were sleazy. In fact, one might argue (without knowing how dificult this hypothetical pathway might have been), that if Spitzer had pursued the financial misdoings with more straightforward legal methods, they might have gotten into more trouble with greater reforms coming out the other side. Instead, they paid fines, got a temporary black eye, which is now forgotten, and continued to do business as usual.

Spitzer was whacked, IMO.

Without or without Spitzer’s “shiny object” (ahem…) getting so much attention, I doubt those stories would really have gotten much attention anyway from BigMedia. Now that’s it’s basically over, and David Paterson takes his place which could be a positive, I think we came outta this just fine.

There is no reasonable explanation other than it is easier to take down
a governor than a president… the press runs scared from their corporate
owners at the hint of impeachment, that is why the democrats took it off
the table, no support from the MSM. This tabloid character story sells
and is confined to a corporate enemy.

I think you miss the point. This is not about what he did; it’s about who he is.

point well-taken–and absolutely no offense taken. But I can be obsessive about names and proper spelling. Just Christy…*G*…or Jane for that matter…

But: no offense taken. FDL is part of family…I’ll now go and chill…*g*

What’s Ted Wells doing there?

SPitzer is being represented by his former #2 at the NYS AG’s office, Michelle Hirshman who is now at the Paul Weiss firm. Ted Wells is partner there.

BTW, Michelle in fucking brillinat!!!! SPitzer is in the best possible hands

He’s an “Obamanation” ?!

Good grief, where do these losers come from? I mean, I love bad puns but that’s just so sad.

I think you miss the point. What, exactly, did Spitzer do that was worse than what George Bush does on a daily basis? That’s what’s being asked, and I defy anyone to provide a reasonable explanation for why there is so much outrage over one but not the other.

I’ll tell you EXACTLY what Spitzer did that’s worse than what Bush has (yet) done.

He was disloyal to his family, and his party.

Bush, for all that he’s a trained f-ing monkey, is 100% loyal. He has not (as far as we yet know) placed his personal interests above those of his family and his party.

He’s betrayed the Constitution, his Oath of Office, the American people as a whole, and he’s broken the law left and right. But until some scandal is revealed he has been LOYAL to the dreadful, horrible people who support him.

Spitzer was not. Spitzer risked everyone’s trust in him, and he lost.

And that’s why it was good for Spitzer to resign. He douses the controversy he started. He allows the political ship to right itself. If he’d stayed in office he would have eaten up news cycle after news cycle of the MSM.

Spitzer, February 14, 2008:

“Not only did the Bush administration do nothing to protect consumers, it embarked on an aggressive and unprecedented campaign to prevent states from protecting their residents from the very problems to which the federal government was turning a blind eye.

Let me explain: The administration accomplished this feat through an obscure federal agency called the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). The OCC has been in existence since the Civil War. Its mission is to ensure the fiscal soundness of national banks. For 140 years, the OCC examined the books of national banks to make sure they were balanced, an important but uncontroversial function. But a few years ago, for the first time in its history, the OCC was used as a tool against consumers.

In 2003, during the height of the predatory lending crisis, the OCC invoked a clause from the 1863 National Bank Act to issue formal opinions preempting all state predatory lending laws, thereby rendering them inoperative. The OCC also promulgated new rules that prevented states from enforcing any of their own consumer protection laws against national banks. The federal government’s actions were so egregious and so unprecedented that all 50 state attorneys general, and all 50 state banking superintendents, actively fought the new rules.

But the unanimous opposition of the 50 states did not deter, or even slow, the Bush administration in its goal of protecting the banks. In fact, when my office opened an investigation of possible discrimination in mortgage lending by a number of banks, the OCC filed a federal lawsuit to stop the investigation.”

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/031208J.shtml

lol. I never obsess. Just don’t ever say “close proximity” around me. :>)

BTW, Michelle in fucking brillinat!!!! SPitzer is in the best possible hands money can buy

Just did a wee little edit there :)

Jane. I suspect that at the root of why the media does not frame comparisons between illegal war vs. illegal sex you will find fear. Plain & simple fear. The media fear Bush, Rove, and Republicans in general, while they do not fear Democrats. They ear the R’s for good reason-they know Bush is a petty, vindictive, spoiled dry-drunk who happens to control their lives, through controlling their access.
Fear, plain & simple. IMO.

BTW, Michelle in fucking brillinat!!!! SPitzer is in the best possible hands

I thought “Kristen” had his favorite hands…

(sorry, I’ll go now…)

Hillary just lost another superdelegate in Spitzer.

Which brings a question to mind: If Spitzer is no longer a superdelegate, doesn’t the new governor, Paterson, take his place as superdelegate, and who will he support?

And Spitzer’s resignation casts the non-resignations of Vitter, Craig, et al into sharp relief.

Same response I gave QuakerGirl – when you hear this pointed out by the MSM, I owe *you* a soda, as well.

For the most part, the superdelegate status is with the office. That is, US Senators, House of Representative members, Governors and members of the Democratic National Committee.

Exceptions where it is with the person: former presidents, vice-presidents and I believe Chairs of the DNC.

There are hundreds of thousands of people dead, America has become a nation of torturers at Bush’s hands…are you serious?

I mean, really, Spitzer cheats on his wife, and this is worse?

Are you really making this argument?

“Spitzer was one of the highest ranking progressives we had. With him at the helm there was a real chance, on a state level, to oppose corporatism and enact meaningful healthcare reform.

Actually, he was not all that progressive. The budget that the State Senate is supposed to vote on today (a budget proposed by Spitzer) is chock full of regressive fees and tariffs that he wanted so that he could honor a pledge not to raise taxes on the rich.

David Paterson is MUCH more progressive than Spitzer. I have always thought very highly of Paterson. Don’t get me wrong, Spitzer has always been nice to me, but many other people complain that he’s too rough, and doG knows, he is hard to get a hold of (many layers of gatekeepers).

David, has always been approachable, smart as a whip, and easy to deal with. (though as Gov. maybe he will get many gatekeepers? Who knows?)

He’s already endorsed Hillary and was a super already, so that’ll be the same.

I guess there’s a question of whether a new superdelegate gets picked to take Spitzer’s place, and if so, who this NEW superdelegate would pick. Not sure of the rules on that.

Paterson was already a superdelegate through his membership in the DNC.

I believe Paterson was already a super-delegate as a member of the DNC and supporting HRC.

Bush, for all that he’s a trained f-ing monkey, is 100% loyal. He has not (as far as we yet know) placed his personal interests above those of his family and his party.

I wonder, can you really make that statement about a dry drunk? It might be all crap but there are plenty of apocryphal stories about “Coke Freak George” having a little come to Jesus with Laura in the eighties. He helped her get over killing her high school classmate and she helped him become an angry dry drunk, and then Daddy helped him take it out on the nation. It’s a Faulknerian story of magnanimous proportion.

Waccamaw, pay up…just heard some discussion of Vitter on MSNBC…*g*

Here’s your coke!

Paterson was already a superdelegate, and there is no provision in NYS law for selecting another Lt. Gov. So net, superdelegates go down by one with Sptizer’s resignation.

Ah, but Bush has betrayed his Oath of Office and His Country.

Michelle Hirshamn spent almost her entire career in public service, making a tiney fraction of what she is worth. She did not go to PaulWeiss until Spitzer left the AG’s office to become Gov. thereby leaving her out of a gov’t job.

She is a wonderful lawyer, was an impeccable public servant and I have always been a fan.

about that 34% above,

if this is the referenced poll, please note that 53% polled favored impeachment, the 34% is “all voters”

btw, 61% polled say Cheney should be impeached, 43% of “all voters”

hi lhp !

Chris Bowers agrees with ya ;)

There are hundreds of thousands of people dead, America has become a nation of torturers at Bush’s hands…are you serious?

I mean, really, Spitzer cheats on his wife, and this is worse?

Are you really making this argument?

No, YOU’RE making THAT argument. The argument that I’m making is that Spitzer betrayed his supporters, and Bush has not. In the Divine Comedy, Dante assigned the lowest levels of Hell to those who have been disloyal.

Bush has betrayed the American people, but he has not betrayed his own supporters. Spitzer betrayed his own supporters.

What Spitzer did was legally inconsequential… but politically far worse.

The Spitzer resignation is taking attention away from the Fallon resignation.

Either way, her parent’s played sort of a dirty trick on her.

Ohgoodgawd! Now THAT just caps it!?!

Check thru all the Scandinavian languages before pulling that, or all the “creative” name affixiating and affectations abounding in todayz whirled of peas.
How ’bout blaming all the African American folks who have the blatant audacity to carry surnames tracing back to slave-owners’ creatifying in the past???

I know. Calm down people. Me-uh culpuh liketywize…

…moving on…

I would like to point out that Spitzer’s quick resignation will at least serve to get the story out of the way of other news.

Many here are lamenting the amount of coverage of the Spitzer case to the exclusion of other, more important news. He got out quickly, and the world, after one more news cycle, can now spin again.

He did something ridiculously stupid, immoral, and hypocritical. But to his credit, he got the hell out of the way, and I’m already hearing MSNBC bringing up the David Vitter issue again. The Democratic party looks so much better by comparison…

Yes, prostitution should be legal – but outside of Nevada, it isn’t. A foot soldier has been sacrificed in the pursuit of the moral high ground, and the party is better off.

Republicans don’t resign, they are “forgiven”.

LHP -

Whaddya think of the notion that’s being floated that Paterson is *too* nice and is likely to be run over by stronger pols?

RonD -

Oh, mercy, you don’t mean! (That’s a Southern abbreviation. *g*) I have flat died and gone to heaven.

The Spitzer resignation is taking attention away from the Fallon resignation.

Now THAT’S more to the point!

And, what will transpire from having Fallon removed as a governor to the war machine throttle? Full speed ahead into Iran?

Bush…, is 100% loyal. He has not (as far as we yet know) placed his personal interests above those of his family and his party.

And his party??? I would argue that he has put his (and his family’s) personal interests (i.e., staying out of prison) above the interests of the country many times. I would argue that disloyalty to country is far more odious than disloyalty to party, which is at times appropriate.

I didn’t like spitzer trying to sneak in RealID via the drivers license for the undocumented deal.

he’ll be back…………

What Spitzer did was legally inconsequential… but politically far worse.

What Spitzer did provided a bright shiny object so that a lot of other stuff got overlooked this week. But he did not bring his party to it’s knees.

The Dem party both National,NY State and NY City, is not appreciably damaged by this. In fact, it may even be improved if Paterson is able to get the previoulsy poisonous atmosphere in ALbany to mellow out.

Shrub has f**cked the republicans for a generation.

Spitzer was just one vote. Ferarro is the focus with her racist nonsense. She is a repeat of all the racist nonsense about affirmative action which is her message; carried through Barack would not have gotten into Harvard Law School if he was not black, would not worked for the poor if he was not black, would not have gotten on Harvard Law Review if he was not black, would not have been elected Senator if he was not black, would not run for President if he was not black. All of this from Ferraro who was some two bit two and a half term congresswoman picked by Mondale because she was a woman and nothing else.

I guess she just needs to draw attention to herself on Fox to keep the ratings up for her paid appearances, all with the approval of the Clintons.

OT: Had this dream last night I was watching the next State of the Union speech, and there was Obama, with John Edwards and Nancy Pelosi behind him. What a change from the last 8 with Shrub, DeadEye Cheney, and Denny’s Hasturd.

Welcome to the new America! (I hope)

OT…FERRARO is either unhinged or highly paid,fromhuffpo commentor

What Mrs. Ferraro said is beyond outrageous. Doesn’t she realize all 43 presidents of this nation have been white men? So what does she mean Obama would not be in this position if he were white?
What is more angering is the fact Mrs. Clinton has not distanced herself or fired Mrs. Ferraro. Does her lack of action means she supports Ferraro’s statementss? Mr. Obama fired his adviser for saying Clinton was a monster. That was not racist, it was stupid.

I think it’s actually Shakespearian. He overthrew all his father’s pragmatic world policies, disdained all of his father’s advisors, promoted his father’s political enemies. His father faced the issue of loyalty to his ungrateful wastrel offspring or to his country.

Faulkner would only treat the neurosis and decadence part.

He did something ridiculously stupid, immoral, and hypocritical. But to his credit, he got the hell out of the way,

Exactly. We all screw up. Dumbledore pointed out that since he was “rather cleverer” than most people, his mistakes were “correspondingly huger.” By taking responsibility for his rather huge mistake, Spitzer takes the first step towards someday restoring the respect of his supporters. But refusing to take responsibility and insisting on staying in office, at the continued expense of his supporters, would have postponed his rehabilitation.

bonkers i like your dream, but can we get an understudy for the part of pelosi?

Of course, with Spitzer now out as a super delegate, that means there are now 4048 available delegates so theoretically, the D nomination COULD end in a tie.

Just another little wrinkle to think about.

I wish Geraldine Farrero would stop trying to defend her comment that Obama is in the position he is in because he is black. Is that also true of Hillary, because she is female?

I suggest she look at this from another perspective. Here are two well qualified people each with his/her unique ability they bring to the table. We all choose based on what appeals to us. Since she threw her comment at Obama, specifically, I’d like to point out to her that he is well qualified to be a candidate based on his personal merits and not because of his (which ever) race.

When I requested a particular person give me my weekly shot, I made that request based on who did the best job and not because she happened to be black. Since I was on the receiving end of a needle, I made certain the best in the clinic messed with my arms.

Geraldine, give us some credit, will you!

not if he could make the case that it was a doj witch hunt.

Shrub has f**cked the republicans for a generation.

I hope that is true but if the Clinton campaign continues to poison the well, the Democratic party could still manage to fuck this thing up. And, I’ve said it before, if the dems can’t wrap it up after 8 years of what history will prove to be the worst Presidency for in our history and for generations to come…well then the Democrats are just done and they might as well pack it in.

Whaddya think of the notion that’s being floated that Paterson is *too* nice and is likely to be run over by stronger pols?

One of my favorite Paterson stories was on NPR this morning: When he was Senate Minority Leader, his gov’t car got damaged and the repairs took a long time. For insurance reasons his gov’t driver wasn’t supposed to drive him in a private car (for those who don’t know, he is legally blind).

So, GOP Senate majority Leader, Joe Brune (the same Joe Bruno that Spitzer was in the death match with) loaned his state car to Paterson.

Paterson ets what he needs by being nice. What he needs to get done, gets done.

BITE YOUR TONGUE!!!!!!

sorry Albatross,

but do the names Rumsfeld, Powell, Tenet, Gonzales, Abramoff, Allen, Ney, DeLay, Abizaid, Tobin ring any bells ?

Well, I certainly wouldn’t have said anything to further injure her. But, either way, it brings to mind either silt, or slide, neither of which bring bright airy images to my mind. Further, I got stuck with a difficult first name myself, and gave all of my children the commonest of names so that they didn’t have the difficulties I did. I think they resent not having exotic names.

Sounds about right… some tried to portray Junya as prince Hal morphing
into Henry the king… turned out he stuck with hal and partied on in
a different manner.

I won’t disagree with your Shakespearean reference since, every time Bush opens his mouth, the quote that comes to my mind is, “a tale told by an idiot,” and Faulkner was merely ripping off the bard for all that sound and fury!

Whaddya think of the notion that’s being floated that Paterson is *too* nice and is likely to be run over by stronger pols?

This has been said about Charlie Crist in FL as well, but he’s been very effective.

Well, Steny is next in the hierarchy and would be the most likely replacement. Which means we’re better off with Nancy IMNSVHO.

And the reality is, Obama pretty much needs to pick someone for his Veep with some foreign policy creds, whether it’s a Biden type or retired General. HRC’s red-phone and compliments to McCain notwithstanding, this will be an issue in the GE.

Jefferson’s fear for the Republic! The rise of a corporate aristocracy, (ENERGY), and the usurpation of constitutional law under the color of law in the name of endless corporate profit! Cash cows, gas tanks and the “Iraq Oil Plot” Please note news reports: “Iraq Budget Surplus from Oil Revenues?”

Who is buying the oil?

Natural Selection “Corporate Treason” and “Executive Oil”

Wesley Clark?

swifty and Crosstimbers,

I always wind up back here -

Illusion is the first of all pleasures – Voltaire

fallon?

So here is a writeup from the New York Post

Note the picture with caption “CHARGED: Tanya Hollander (above left, with lawyer), leaves court yesterday. She allegedly helped pimp out women like “Daniella” (right).”

There are only two women in the picture – the one on the left was charged.

The one on the right is the lawyer. No, the prostitute. No, the lawyer.

Both?

anything else? Good question.
How about turning the spotlight on some hack partisan US Attorneys. Just when is Congress going to get back to that? Still waiting for Harriet Miers to show up?

‘Cause that worked out so well with our current Administration?
I think he needs to pick a good Cabinet and the next veep can attend minor foreign dignitary’e weddings and funerals.

No, you MADE that argument:

I’ll tell you EXACTLY what Spitzer did that’s worse than what Bush has (yet) done.

That’s exactly what you said. What Spitzer did was worse than what Bush has “yet” done. I did not put words in your mouth, so if you want to continue this conversation, stop making stuff up.

Obama pretty much needs to pick someone for his Veep with some foreign policy creds,

I know there are some who have issues with Wesley Clark, but he seems like an obvious choice…all the foreign-policy and military cred you could ask for, plus a bridge to the Clinton wing of the party. Works as a reconciliation factor as well.

Agreed, very sad day for progressives. I was really impressed by his earnestness in fighting for equality.

Very big scalp on somebodys wall. Sucks that I even have to question the DOJ’s motives, but….

Exactly right.

This is some kinda “Naughty” stuff regarding some folks in Colorado..:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/…../44/474913

I doubt if Fallon would do so. Clark is an option with a two-fer since he is a Clinton supporter I believe.

My comment was actually directed at Spitzer. When you have his bank account, you can go for the best attorney. That privilege isn’t there for most people. It was also a play on his high price prostitution conduct. Didn’t mean to confuse.

Also, in the steroid case by the DOJ, several of those people accused were just working stiffs and not people of means. They didn’t have much of a choice about what attorney could give them sound advice. They went to jail. Twice. And can go again. Man, when the Feds come after the Average Joe, he hasn’t a chance.

Wesley Clark?

Oh, for the love of all that is holy, please – no.

Hi looseheadprop, thanks for the update. Hope little prop is well.

Bush has betrayed the American people, but he has not betrayed his own supporters

I disagree. Bush has betrayed his own supporters. That is why his support is in the 20’s and 30’s. The hangers-on are just too stupid to realize they’ve been had.

Ferraro said in her response that she wouldn’t have been selected as a VP candidate if she wasn’t a woman either. Apparently she thinks of herself as a Straight Talker, just as McCain’t does about himself.

What many self-proclaimed Straight Talkers don’t seem to understand is that this stuff isn’t true anymore. The next generation of leaders taking over think differently for the most part.

BTW, she’s saying she was Mondale’s VP candidate just because she was female? Nothing to do with her abilities and accomplishments? Where are feminists screaming that Hillary should drop Ferraro from her campaign?!?

Just go to Google and type in “Slida Wall” and wait for results…

I did:

Results 1 – 10 of about 27,300 for “Silda Wall”. (0.07 seconds)

Results 1 – 10 of about 28 for “Slida Wall”. (0.13 seconds)

*bites tongue* @ clarke idea.

I tend to have a small amount of faith that the Dem options are not bat sh*t crazy MoFo’s on meds from multiple heart bypasses.

And IIRC, Gore was selected as Clinton’s Veep choice because of his foreign policy creds.

HAHA! Yea, certainly have started feeling that way as well!

Re Fallon, isn’t it interesting that Bush always makes the argument that he listens to his generals (except in Fallon’s case where he said something Bush didn’t want to hear)?

Ah yes, Wesley Clark & Samantha Powers will team up to bomb any country that doesn’t meet bleeding heart liberal standards.

yup, so long as it is a pr firewall.

Wes Clark? Chris Dodd? Or Bill Richardson, who would help to attract the Hispanic contingent–if he does a better job this time of advertising his Hispanic credentials.

isn’t it interesting that Bush always makes the argument that he listens to his generals

Well, he’s never said that after listening, he wouldn’t fire their ass, now has he?

Dodd: Department Of Democratic Defense!

He does listen to his generals. If they don’t tell him what he wants to hear, he fires them.

Why isn’t Hilary as outraged by Ferraro’s remark as she was about Shuster’s “pimp” remark, or the Obama girl’s “monster” remark.

Ferraro is doing HRC’s very dirty work and everyone knows it.

Fallon wasn’t a general.

My comment was actually directed at Spitzer. When you have his bank account, you can go for the best attorney. That privilege isn’t there for most people. It was also a play on his high price prostitution conduct. Didn’t mean to confuse.

Ah. Michelle has tremendous credibility in SDNY. An many old friends of hers are pretty high up the foodchain there. In fact, severl folks in upper management trained under her.

WHat she has to say will be taken VERY seriously.

Yeah, the Spitzer money can buy a lot of lawyer talent. BTW, since everybody in NY knows he’s rich, does it strike anyone as odd that they are saying it started out as an investigation into possible bribary?
Why would a guy with his kind of money be taking $5-10K bribres?

It may not be a preferred choice and everyone’s ideal but the reality is, foreign policy IS going to be an issue in November. So Obama will pretty much need someone back there who can stand up to McCain’s bio/rhetoric and be considered credible in calling BS.

As a long time DFH, I wish that weren’t the case but reality is, the DFHs are a small fraction of the voting public. We don’t need another John Kerry, saluting and saying “reporting for duty.” But we do need someone that the VSP has to acknowledge knows what the feck they are talking about.

Re Fallon, isn’t it interesting that Bush always makes the argument that he listens to his generals (except in Fallon’s case where he said something Bush didn’t want to hear)?

Yes. That’s why we have a massive population of retired brass from many parts of the military.

Fallon’s objection to war with Iran may have just been a question of timing. The admiral, when pressed on the question of war with Iran:

“‘Get serious,’ the admiral says. ‘These guys are ants. When the time comes, you crush them.’”

h/t to GregB

MSNC – Spitzer Prosecutor says no deal has been made

It is easy to see that what George Bush and his henchman have done is far more egregious than Spitzer, and I must say there have been a loud and long chorus for his impeachment. However, just as Bill Clinton betrayed the Democratic party with his lack of judgment, Spitzer, if he truly is progressive, betrayed his own principles and those who follow him, and in a way that he should have very well known would come out. But the biggest political error that Spitzer has made, and why the populace is in such an unforgiving mood, has been trotting out his wife, heartsickness written all over her face, for photo ops. The nation wants her to have some brothers give the governor a good talking to, and in lieu of that will have settled for running him out of town, so he doesn’t forget.

Great news! The little I’ve read about him has been very positive with the exception of that one question. Sugar vs. vinegar can be very effective. The man’s gotta have a razor-sharp mind AND memory to get where he is with a visual challenge.

I think that you owe me a Coke.

Or maybe I owe you one – this is an issue that has always confused me… *g*

Since there is no way I’m going to jump into the Jane/Albatross, um, discussion, I’ll instead comment on Obama’s potential running mate:

Jim Webb.

http://webb.senate.gov/jim/

Talk about your foreign policy creds…AND he’s a decorated vet.

Ferraro is doing HRC’s very dirty work and everyone knows it.

There it is right there. More dog whistle stuff to shore up some of the Penn. white racist vote. They’re thinking it worked well with the Muslim stuff in OH/TX, so let’s double down.

Seems so blatantly obvious, especially since Hillary won’t “denounce” Ferraro’s comments or kick her off the campaign. In fact, they have Ferraro repeat them more and more to the Poz Newz audience! See a trend here? They are going on Lush Limpdick’s show, and Pox Newz like crazy recently to blow the dog whistles. Shameful!

Good. If this is the result of US Attorney partisan hackery building a case in reverse for oh say. . . policy for instance, rather than the actual “crime”, I hope his attorney rips it wide open.

I’ve become a wee tad more leery of Webb over the past two years.

Yeah, the Spitzer money can buy a lot of lawyer talent. BTW, since everybody in NY knows he’s rich, does it strike anyone as odd that they are saying it started out as an investigation into possible bribary?
Why would a guy with his kind of money be taking $5-10K bribres?

Yep! That is just the loophole they used to justify why he was targeted. I’ve transfered money around putting them into CDs and no Fed agent came after me. Should I feel shunned? :(

I’ve noticed a real weakness of many commenters here to pick heros, pour all your hopes into them, and be unaware of their weaknesses. In fact, often when someone points out flaws is flayed. Very self-defeating.

Agreed. I applaud him for kicking Maccaca out of the Senate but he is still one of the true believers about Vietnam and he was still SecNavy under St Ronnie of Ray-gunz.

I’m so far gone down the cynic path, I don’t even agree with you.
Good thing this is in EPU-land.

To my way of thinking, duhbuh ain’t loyal at ALL, to nothin’ nor nobody. He wobbles through life, following his nose wherever the scent takes him to self-serving [fill in the blank], thoroughly and completely enabled by those who maintain his bubble.

It seems never to have occurred to him* that he is merely a useful, albeit broken, tool. *[until recently??? - per hiz lame-joke advice to StVain at last week’s presser, “be careful who you appoint to choose a vice preznit” d’oh!]

HIS parents are NOT to be commended, or even pitied. Despicable bunch, the lot of them. Absolutely NO snark intended, implied or inferretated.

P E A C E dammit!

but, but but YOUR candidate is a saint while mine Teh Sux!

Wow. I thought I stepped onto the Eliot Spitzer commiseration thread, but it seems to be the Clinton v. Obama thread.

Can you give me one link where I ever said that my candidate was a saint? The only one I supported was John Edwards, who I thought had zero chance of winning, so I never pointed out all the weakness I thought he had.

So would it be okay if I say I don’t care much for his name?

Ferarro is a bad apple. Always has been and she is just trying to make money on Fox, all with the Clintons’ blessings. The Clintons could never have been president if they had started in Illinois instead of Arkansas or if they had to run against Barack instead of Gary Hart, Bush, Dole. What Barack has done for me is open up the Clintons to scutiny, finally. Not Ken Starr stuff. But who are these people. Who are they really?

Yep, it’s a weakness, a human weakness. But if the alternative is to remain entirely cynical towards any outcome of endeavors embarked upon by prospective leaders, then I would feel foolish giving my opinion on any subject as it would never be anything but negative.

So, I poor my hopes and dreams upon the heads of my heroes. That’s my bag baby. What’s yourn?

I was teasing!

I phrase it the way I did so that it doesn’t usually require the /s tag. To be honest, I have no idea who were supporting.

To pick the least bad of the alternatives.

Hi Boo. Actually Littleprop managed to cut her thumb rather badly last weekend and lots a lot of blood. Nine stitches in her right thumb. we spent last Friday night inthe ER.

With kids it’s always something.

Adie, I agree with you…I was quoting someone up thread, touting Bush’s supposed “loyalty”…I was remarking on how the person seemed to consider betrayal of party more severe than betrayal of country.

I thought you might be teasing, but wanted to make sure to make my point. The reason why you don’t know who I’m supporting is because I don’t support anyone. See my post right above this one.

Ahhgh, sadly our differences are cliche. My intent is the “half full” side of the equation whereby I hope to pick the most good.

Hey, LHP – you are so right – when my son was 3, we ended up in the emergency room with stitches after he put his elbow through a glass door (don’t ask). The doctor had to revive…ME..while my son sat there holding the needle and thread.

Haven’t seen any “most good” pols in quite a few decades. Wish that it were different.

be my guest. *g*

i’m obviously having issues with my tempertantrum combobulator adjusticator today.

deep breath

hold

release slowly

again

on to upstairs thread

sigh

Here’s the thing. This investigation was supposed to be about suspected bribe taking by Spitzer. But if they are looking at “structuring” under the BSA, it means the amounts of money being moved around where all under $10,ooo.

Spitzer is seriously rich! Apartment on 5th Avenue and all that jazz.

Why would they even suspect him of such small bribes? I understand how his transactios got reported to the IRS, “politically exposed persons” get a higher score on the computer software filters the banks use. But lots of stuff gets reported and ignored by the Gov’t. I’m gonna work up a proper post about this.

Also, under the BSA, you have to prove that the money is the proceeds of illegal activity, not that it is going to pay for illegal activity.

I just haven’t seen anything in the press that tells me he has exposure under this structuring theory. I had a discussion with some white colar defense lawyers and a alw professor this morning and non of us can figure out how he could be charged under the BSA.

Mann Act, yes, I think he has exposure there

Now you’re pulling my leg. Your handle belies the possibility that your are one who passes makes decisions based upon statistics or polls.

There was a time when it wasn’t “all long knives, all the time”. I am too far removed from NYS to know all the currents and eddies of the political river. However, we all know that there are important goals and milestones to be achieved. What does that list look like? Most pressing I see right out the gate is 4 billion dollar shortfall in budget. NYS legislature was notorious for not completing budgets on time. Situation still the same? What else is on the list?

Also, under the BSA, you have to prove that the money is the proceeds of illegal activity, not that it is going to pay for illegal activity.
And that is weird. What do you think his lawyer will do? I want justice if they were monitoring his activities improperly.
It sounds like they were on him like a . . . (can’t think of any proper metaphor) with these relatively small amounts of money.
Hope you post soon.

apologies. please to see 247. thanks! *sigh*

That’s exactly what you said. What Spitzer did was worse than what Bush has “yet” done. I did not put words in your mouth, so if you want to continue this conversation, stop making stuff up.

What you tried to do was compare the LEGAL foibles of Bush and Spitzer, and they do not at all compare. What Spitzer did was legally inconsequential – he wouldn’t even do jail time for it. What Bush has done makes jail time too good for him.

What I’VE been saying is that what Spitzer did was POLITICALLY far worse. Not legally. And its that legal comparison that’s off base.

Ask yourself this – why IS Bush still in office? Even with only 20% public support? I’ll tell you why – because he has been loyal to the 20% that support him, and so they continue to support him.

Do you believe that Bush would remain in office for an instant if the neocons believed he had become a liability to them? If they believed he was working against them?

What this demonstrates, in fact, is the power of a loyal and committed minority over the fractured majority. Again, Bush is the worst president ever and should be tried in the Hague… but he remains in power because he and his cronies hang very tight.

Spitzer betrayed his supporters and would have been a continued liabilty, so he’s gone.

What we REALLY need is for someone to seduce the president…

How “nice” to see alleged progressives falling into the Rove Turdblossom Pit of Despair … just to the right of the Screaming Eels for you Vizzini/Princess Bride aficionados.

We got people parsing “what the prostitute said” about Love Potion Number 9. According to JH’s post above, we got registered Democrats tripping over their own private bits to screech “Resign Resign” or “Impeach Impeach.” We got people analyzing every twitch in “the wife’s” face during the PC.

Rove and his Daddy Dead Lee Atwater would be proud.

How about this, folks? Anyone who has watched Elliot Spitzer take down Wall Street Thugs et. al KNOWS Elliot does not take a shit without a multi-year, all-ducks-in-a-row back-up plan.

I don’t care where he did or did not put his dick. I care about the next step: How he takes out the scummy NeoCon repuke-lican ass hats clogging NY’s Albany arteries. JH mentioned the Top Scummer above:

Republican Joe Bruno says that he’ll look forward to working with David Patterson. Yes, the same Joe Bruno who is is being investigated by the FBI. As if he won’t immediately commence the destruction of Patterson to clear the way for a Cuomo/Bloomberg 2010 battle.

BTW — Lt. Gov. David Patterson is legally blind. Just like Joey the NeoScum Bruno to help him across those traffic-laden political streets.

Can we get out of Elliot’s tightie whities and figure out where this is really going? And any so-called Democrat who shrieked “Resign” or “Impeach” to show how fair and balanced they are when dealing with the Repukes … Don’t forget to take your KoolAid cyanide pill tonight.

Some progressives. Bringing cabbage patch dolls to the knife fight. Sheesh.

Great lead the charge then. I don’t know the ins and outs of New York politics but I am not happy with an elected Democratic governor being brought down by means that don’t exactly pass the smell test. I always think letters to the media are a good start.

Spitzer Linked to a Prostitution Ring
by Dan Vera

“Everyone always has a secret life” Kim says.

Spitzer. The good boy DA.
The anti-corruption crusader,
Now found to have ordered in at the Mayflower.
A $4000 dollar tab
8 floors up from
where J. Edgar and Tolson
lunched in monotony for 20 years.

“But he was sucha straight shooter” I say,
“No one saw any signs.”

“Those are the one I immediately suspect” she says
“Those are the ones I suspect.”

mui1 at 256:
…I am not happy with an elected Democratic governor being brought down by means that don’t exactly pass the smell test. I always think letters to the media are a good start.

Yes, it’s a start, albeit a sputtering silent start when we are dealing with Letters to the Editor sections of newspapers that tip Olden Days Right. (That goes for where I live in Upstate NY … and the Albany Times-Union … and, with Billy the NeoCon Kristol, even the Gray Lady Times.)

But, maybe mentioning Spitzer and prostitutes in the same breath as David Vitter and Larry-Craig’s-Boys in newspapers across the country, maybe that would course correct a little bit.

I’d also suggest following whatever Bob Fertik at Democrats.com (The Aggressive Progressives) cooks up. I signed a Spitzer support petition there only this morning. Alas. But Democrats.com don’t spend much time wringing hands or sniffing Elliot’s undies. They’ll come up with SOME ACTION. See http://www.democrats.com/spitzer or http://savespitzer.com .

Also, I believe we need some grown-ups with historical memories posting at political blog sites … like this one and others. People who remember what was done to Seligman in Alabama, as a poster above noted. People who remember the Tom DeLay Clones illegally sic-ing Homeland Security Goons on New Mexico legislators who fled to Oklahoma, to deprive the state of a quorum to pass one of Dead DeLay’s little re-districting shenanigans. (The Homeland Security Goons said “What the F*ck?” when they got to OK motel rooms in search of “domestic terrorists.

You said it “doesn’t pass the smell test.” That is cuz these are all cut from the same block of rotten cheese. But unless people with memories longer than a mayfly keep reminding viewers on blogs such as this, then it all devolves to what happened here at FDL: The Hillary / Obama Shoot Out.

If you have any other ideas, I’d love to hear them. I’m not a lawyer; but I know when the cheese stinks.

From Jon Taplin’s Blog (see bio below)

Eliot Spitzer & The NSA
March 11, 2008 ·

I’ve been tough on Spitzer, but we can’t forget that the reason he got in trouble was because of the new NSA domestic surveillance apparatus that was so brilliantly depicted in the Wall Street Journal yesterday. Here’s the Lede.

Five years ago, Congress killed an experimental Pentagon anti-terrorism program meant to vacuum up electronic data about people in the U.S. to search for suspicious patterns. Opponents called it too broad an intrusion on Americans’ privacy, even after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

But the data-sifting effort didn’t disappear. The National Security Agency, once confined to foreign surveillance, has been building essentially the same system.

Spitzer was what the data-mining experts at the NSA call a PEP–a politically exposed person. Banks now monitor PEP’s money wiring activities figuring they are classic targets of blackmail or bribery. Spitzer got caught in the data mining screen. I know people will probably say that even Mukasey had to sign off on an investigation as explosive as this. Spitzer was a self-destructive idiot, but at the end of the day, we have to realize that nobody has any privacy anymore.

Eros & Thanatos
March 10, 2008

From Plato to Freud we have mapped two powerful forces at war in human consciousness: Eros and Thanatos. Eros is the life instinct, the fount of our culture, our love, our connection to divinity. Thanatos is the death drive which compels us to engage in risky, aggressive and destructive behaviors. The signs of this schizoid war are everywhere though Thanatos seems to be gaining the upper hand. The murder rate begins to climb again. Drugs like crack and meth savage city and countryside alike. Famous radio talk show hosts succumb to the lure of prescription painkillers. Senators risk their life’s work for a fling in a men’s room. We watch intently as young singers play with death and addiction. And other addictions like gambling claim many a middle class household and we live as a nation beyond our means.

I would suggest that Eliot Spitzer is Exhibit A in the rise of Thanatos. What I can’t figure out is why would politicians like Spitzer and Bill Clinton, at the height of power, risk everything in the pursuit of meaningless sex? Do they want to get caught?

MSSS at 259:

I would suggest that Eliot Spitzer is Exhibit A in the rise of Thanatos. What I can’t figure out is why would politicians like Spitzer and Bill Clinton, at the height of power, risk everything in the pursuit of meaningless sex? Do they want to get caught?

Considering the well-documented fact that Bill Clinton was chewed up in the Republican-NeoCon Hate Machine — making way for the coup d’etat of 2000 — and that Elliot Spitzer had the same target markings on him for cutting off Wall Street Thugs at the knees …

I’d say anyone pondering the rise of Thanatos vs. Eros during this Constitutional screw is … how you say? come se dice? … playing with themselves. Tell us when you’ve come. So we can run out for Cheetos.

Okay yes, I am frustrated that discussion turns into “should she stay or should she go.” Our DOJ is corrupt and the person who is responsible for some of the hiring and firing of US attorneys testified she owes allegiance to the preznit and not the constitution for gosh sakes(to Patrick Leahy’s horror). From what Jane and LHP and others have reported there’s more to this, *as* one might suspect, given all the other malarky–suspect prosecutions of elected Dems or surrogates, and firing of attorneys like Iglesias and Carol Lam–since the shrimpenfuhrer took office. I don’t have any ideas right now. I am trying to learn more and I hope LHP writes a post soon.

Okay … Time for some Democratic Party leadership to speak up:

1. What is going on with DOJ that this leaks so quickly?

2. Where is the pressure on diaper-wearing Vitter as opposed to on Spitzer? What is the Senate Ethics Committee there for?

mui1 at 261:

I am trying to learn more and I hope LHP writes a post soon.

Yes! I forgot that resource, LHP. I’ve found that LooseHeadProp is no such thing. :) Hope we hear some ordinary folk legal analysis soon.

Also glad to see the names of the fallen (David Iglesias — did you know that the character played by Tom Cruise in “A Few Good Men” was loosely based on Iglesias as a Navy JAG? — and Carol Lam of San Diego, who was obviously shaving too close into Southern CA politicos’ bikini waxes) repeated here. Very appropos. These ALL are cut from the same stinko block of cheese.

These ALL are cut from the same stinko block of cheese.
Yep. The suspicion mounts.

One of the benefits of FDL: legal stuff explained in layperson’s terms.

Thanks to Jane and Albatross for having that discussion here in the thread rather than email or phone. Cleared some of my fog.

I always thought the GREAT UNSPEAKABLE was the “other” Johns. After all, he was #9. Who were 1-8 and 10-through-infinity? And why weren’t they “outed”? And why aren’t more people clamoring for (a) who leaked Spitzer’s name, and (b) where are the others, and (c) why this particular group in the DOJ was involved? Reminds me of the quote, “Only thing that gives me an understanding of infinity is the extent of human stupidity.”

Regarding your referral to Roger Stone in your March 10 article, Some Questions About the Spitzer Incident, in addition to his previous crimes against democracy, there are still many who believe he also participated in the multiple destruction of Dan Rather, Bill Burkett and author James Moore in one fell swoop.

Hillary’s stumbling is not Spitzer’s fault. He didn’t put his foot out to trip her and she stumbled over it. Hillary stumbled because of her own character. If she were less wishy-washy and take a firm hold of her opinion on the issues there would never have been a so-called stumble. Unfortunately Hillary, like most candidates running for office, is trying to be everything to everyone.