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March 11, 2008
The more we learn, the duller it gets
I was on the road yesterday, so got 100% of my information about the Spitzer scandal from text messages from friends who were at work. The first vague message I got--"Eliot Spitzer in prostitution ring"-- was by far the most interesting part of the story.
Whoa!, I thought. This is big news! Was he getting paid off to look the other way about something he uncovered in his Attorney General days? Why would someone as rich as he is need to make extra money by renting out girls, or getting hush money? Or, wait, is Eliot Spitzer involved in human trafficking? Maybe it's an international syndicate! Maybe he was trading Colombian children for guns for FARC!
Then I eventually got more specific text messages, and figured out that Spitzer was just some regular asshole who was going to hookers. Yawn. Sure, it's shameful, but receiving further confirmation that Eliot Spitzer is a self-righteous jerk who thinks he can get away with treating people like crap is hardly a surprise.
It also serves as a reminder to all us Democrats that we're not shielded from this kind of thing. Our elected officials can pose around all high and mighty about bringing ethics and morals to Washington/Albany/Spokane while secretly engaging in exactly the kind of behavior they claim to be fighting, just like the most family-values Republican can.
The Times offers an overview of the mess Spitzer had already made of his first year in office, as well as a psychological profile ("reckless"). And a good piece from Clyde Haberman on how building a career based on moralizing from on high means you've got an extra long way to fall when you screw up this bad.
However boring this scandal is, I guess he'll probably resign, because now he's "lost the respect" of New Yorkers--something he'd already been doing pretty well for the past year all on his own.
categories:
Crime, NYC, Politics
posted by amy at 2:35 PM | #
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Comments
No other scandalized politician can hold a crackpipe to Marion Barry. The best non-quote Spitzer produced in his taped call was a nerdy "Yup, same as in the past. No question about it," about where his prostitute should meet up with him.
The other magnificent Barry-related quote was his campaign slogan for his 1992 post-crack-bust run for city council: "He May Not Be Perfect, But He's Perfect for D.C."
He won, of course. Then he also won another term as Mayor, and is currently on the city council. The man is incredible.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marion_Barry
Posted by: amy at March 11, 2008 5:45 PM
Agreed. The story is a bore. The NY Times headlines yesterday were excellent though: SPITZER LINKED TO PROSTITUTE RING, etc. I thought *he* was hooking for a minute. Or at least the pimp behind it all...
Posted by: msosostris at March 12, 2008 11:20 AM
It is a little dull. In DC our mayor at least had the style to get caught with a hooker while smoking crack, and then to pass on to the world the immortal quote "Bitch set me up." Top that, Eliot.
A friend of mine submitted a design to the US Mint for the DC quarter with that on it. I'm guessing since they turned down "Taxation Without Representation", "Bitch Set Me Up" won't be coming to a vending machine near you anytime soon.
Posted by: T-Rock at March 11, 2008 4:44 PM