Spitzer resigns

[bill]

Source: WRVO

Just heard it live on NPR. Effective March 17. Link added

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/12/spitzer/index.html

[Seeking Serenity]

1. Here's one

It is the NY Post, though.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03122008/news/regionalnews/spitzer_to_resign_in_the_hour__sources_s_101629.htm

[Seeking Serenity]

2. Here's another (NYT)

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/12/nyregion/12cnd-resign.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

[RoccoR5955]

3. I heard it on the Albany NPR affiliate.

And watched it on CNBC.

Tears are running down my face. What a tragic time. What a bunch of bull hockey.

WHY DOES SEX TRUMP TREASON?!?!?!?!?!

Each and every member of Bushco, Inc. should be held responsible for their crimes. Why is it always that it's okay for Republicans to remain in office after a sex scandal, but if it is a Democrat, they have to go?

Bunch of hypocrites!

[question everything]

6. How can you talk about hypocrites while defending Spitzer

The Bush administration and the war have nothing to do with Spitzer who broke the same law that he prosecuted while the Attorney General.

[erpowers]

11. I'm With You

My first thought when I saw the report on msn.com was the next time this happens with a Republican the Democratic Party better raise some mess and make sure the guy resigns. I too am tired of the situation in which when Republican get caught doing things wrong they get standing ovations, but when Democrats get caught doing something wrong they sould be impeached or have to resign from office. In my opinion, if Spitzer had been a Republican he would have never been asked to resign.

[goodgd_yall]

30. He would never have been investigated if he was a Republican n/t

[BearSquirrel2]

21. Agreed but ...

I'm in agreement that Bushevicks should be held accountable. However, we must hold our own to even higher standards if we are to be taken seriously by the American people.

[goodgd_yall]

29. He was targeted, there's no question in my mind.

Here's someone who also thinks so: http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/03/12/7639 /

I like the last sentence in this article.

Too bad the anger being directed at Spitzer isn't directed at the "stop at nothing" BUSH regime and all his corporate minions that are holding its grip on our country.

[Tom Joad]

4. good riddance,Elliot war whore spitzer. I won't miss you a bit.

hope to see you next time i want someone to check my oil.

[leftynyc]

7. Doubtful

Even if his wife soaks him in a divorce, he's still a very wealthy man and unless they yank his license, he'll just join a top law firm. He'll be fine.

[rexcat]

10. If the allegations are true...

he violated the Mann Act and committed a felony. He won't have his law license much longer if convicted of a felony and even if he is not convicted or charges brought up he could still have to forfeit his law license for ethical violations.

[leftynyc]

17. Which I already mentioned

IF he doesn't get his license yanked. I have a feeling that's why it took so long for him to resign. He wanted to get the feds to back off first. And it's not just the Mann act, money laundering has been brought up as well. Either way, he can join one of his buddy's law firms as a consultant and make a very nice living. My point was that he isn't going to be working at a gas station.

The money problems are spelled out in this NY times article

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/12/nyregion/12legal.html?_r=1&scp=4&sq=spitzer&st=nyt&oref=slogin

[BadgerLaw2010]

20. You can still lose your law license for what you *did*, not what you were charged with.

State bars do not have to, and do not, follow "beyond a reasonable doubt" or "not guilty" as standards for disbarring someone.

[leftynyc]

28. I understand perfectly

and they can yank his license for breech of ethics without him breaking the law. I suspect he'll wind up doing just fine somewhere. Then he only has to worry about what his wife is going to do to him.

[BearSquirrel2]

22. I think it's just the solicitation ...

Honestly, I think it's just the solicitation he has to worry about. I think they have enough dirt to charge him with money laundering and Mann act violations. However, I think a good lawyer will be able to point out the nature of these crimes really didn't rise to the spirit of the law.

The thing is that running escort services are legal. Things only become illegal when there is an explicit quid pro quo. As long as Spitzer was just engaging the "company" of these ladies, he'll be fine. If they want to have sex with him, that's their business. If there is no quid pro-quo, there is no solicitation and hence no money laundering or Mann Act violations.

[question everything]

5. Good. It is the hypocrisy, stupid

When we criticized Gingrich, and Livingston, and Foley, and Craig and, yes, Gary Hart, it was not because we thought it was our business what is going on between a married couple, but because they were flaunting their oh, so holy values.

Spitzer did prosecute prostitution rings, never offered anyone a break.

So it is time for him to step down. It has nothing to do of whether he was set up as far as money transferring. It is the undisputed fact that he engaged in what he previously prosecuted with vengeance.

[FourScore]

15. I agree. My beef is that Vitter is STILL in office. n/t

[Freddie Stubbs]

26. The GOP did plenty of damage to themselves by allowing his to remail in office

[FourScore]

35. Like what? Most people don't even know about him. n/t

[katty]

8. it's the hypocrisy that does you in - except in the bush/cheney

admin--they have done anything and everything without an ounce of consequence.

[goodgd_yall]

31. Exactly---different standards for different political parties

is the name of the game.

[ashandaurynsgramma]

9. why should we care

what he does in private - did he spend any state money on this ? If he didn't, shouldn't it be between his wife and himself to handle ?
Dam if you can't keep it in the pants, you get impeached, but if you kill and maim over a million, you get re- elected.
Bizarro - just bizarro.

[RaRa]

12. For me, it's about more than the hyprocrasy

I think people in elevated positions of power should be held to a HIGHER standard than everyone else. If not, what do we have to look up to? It makes me sick when I hear "police brutality" in cases where the police are ATTEMPTING MURDER. Catholic priests molesting children...if you substituted the "Catholic priests" with "Kindergarten teacher" or "electricians" do you think that they would get away with the same way? WTF! Spitzer was the Attorney General prosecuting the same crime he was committing. He damn well better be disbarred at the very least. Yes, what Bush is doing is worse...yes he deserves to be sent to the Hague. It's apples and oranges. I'm so tired of the dumbing down of everything in our society...even basic morales. (I'm referring more to the breaking of the law than anything else in Spitzer's case) It's no wonder Linsday Lohan interests so many people.

[ReformedChris]

13. Such Wasted Talent, probably would have been Attorney General if there was a Kerry Admin in 04

Remember, We Democrats are BETTER THAN THE REPUKES!, we should hold ourselves to a higher standard and Spitzer had to go. Its a damn shame and Spitzer could have been so much in the future. And to anyone worried about Bu$hCo, they will get theirs in the end. History will show the world what a failure and disaster Dubya has been. We can only hope it ends in handcuffs and a prison cell.

[slackmaster]

16. Having the USAG getting involved in a prostitution scandal

Would have been a whole lot worse for our party than having the governor of New York go down.

[FourScore]

14. When he was NY AG, he prosecuted protitution rings.

There is enormous hypocrisy there. He has to go. Just like Vitter should.

I am still shocked that Spitzer could do something so stupid. Unbelievable.

[dflprincess]

19. I agree with everthing you said

but I can't help wondering, when did the wire taps actually start and when were the warrents for the wire taps issued? I'm betting the warrents came much, much later.

Given what's been going on with Bushco's DOJ, it makes Spitzer extra stupid.

[FourScore]

34. Exactly! n/t

[Freddie Stubbs]

27. Did he prosecute the clients as well?

:shrug:

[Muttocracy]

32. from NY Times, yes

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/12/nyregion/12prostitute.html

"And with his typical zeal, he embraced their push for new legislation, including a novel idea at its heart: Go after the men who seek out prostitutes.

It was a question of supply and demand, they all agreed. And one effective way to suppress the demand was to raise the penalties for patronizing a prostitute. In his first months as governor last year, Mr. Spitzer signed the bill into law."

[Freddie Stubbs]

33. Ouch

He sure has dug himself into one heck of a whole.

[ShockediSay]

36. Meanwhile, who are clients 1-8 ?++

Blocked by the repug AG?

Even handed/ transparent law enforcement requires they be ID'd

[Freddie Stubbs]

37. The Duke of Westminster was one of them

By LARRY McSHANE
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

The richest man in Great Britain was a customer of the same high-end prostitution service patronized by Gov. Spitzer.

The Duke of Westminster, listed as the world's 46th richest person by Forbes magazine, hired four hookers over a six-week stretch in late 2006 and early last year, the News of the World reported last year.

Despite his incredible wealth, multi-billionaire Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor haggled with one of the Emperors Club girls for the cost of their date, according to the report.

Prostitute Zana Brazdek, then 26, described the 56-year-old Grosvenor as dull and demanding.

more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2008/03/12/2008-03-12_richest_man_in_england_also_a_regular_of.html

[ellie]

18. Good riddance, dummy

Next time keep it in your pants.

[denverbill]

23. When will David Vitter resign? What is different about him? n/t

[Thepricebreaker]

39. You can't impeach a senator.... They had to votes to impeach Spitzer.

[Doctor_J]

24. Probably wishes he was a Repuke

He'd be still working and getting standing ovations instead of losing his job.

[emad]

25. He sure put a lot of crooks away...Maybe one of them grassed him up

and did a deal with the Bushes to knock him down soon as the primaries are under way...

[robcon]

38. That's a fantasy.

He's been paying the prostitution serve for ten years - and probably has used other using other services during that time. Your idea that he was 'tricked' into paying for tricks is a reprehensible and dumb fantasy, IMO. He's admitted doing it, and has disgraced NY state as governor.

[emad]

40. Reprehensible and dumb fantasy...

Didn't say he was tricked. The timing though is poignant....


The intoxication of hubris lures gamekeepers into becoming poachers.

Some of his 'enemies' may be safely behind bars for a long long time.

But a good number are not.