Official says NY Gov. Spitzer to resign

[catgirl]

ALBANY, N.Y. - A top state official says New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer has decided to resign amid a prostitution scandal.

The official tells The Associated Press the resignation would be effective Monday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the announcement had not yet been made.

Allegations surfaced this week that Spitzer was linked to a federal investigation of a call-girl ring and spent thousands of dollars for a night with a prostitute named Kristen at a glitzy Washington hotel.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080312/ap_on_re_us/spitzer_prostitution

This means Hillary loses a Superdelegate (it doesn't transfer to his replacement).

[Demeter]

1. A Sliver of Silver Lining in That

[catgirl]

3. I feel bad for his wife and children

Their lives are turned upside down.

[Pab Sungenis]

2. Who cares if she loses a superdelegate or not?

The important thing is that a crooked politician is being ejected from office. Unlike the Republicans, we don't shelter our wrongdoers.

The fact that people feel the need to recast this story in terms of the delegate race makes me sick.

Besides, Paterson can resign his DNC seat once he becomes Governor, and the State Committee can name a replacement, which would give Hillary her delegate back.

[catgirl]

5. Um, hello?? This is the Primary page

It was just an aside. Chill out.

[Demeter]

7. Crooked?

It's a so-called "victimless" "crime", for which I doubt anyone will do anything except suffer public shaming and exposure. This isn't extortion (except by the FBI and Attny General), fraud, murder, kidnapping, or anything like that.

[leftynyc]

16. It's not just the sex

The Mann act is involved and it looks like money laundering as well. As one of his contituents, I'm very disappointed in him and feel awful for what he's putting his family through.

[Demeter]

17. Money Laundering?

Where do you get your rumours from?

[leftynyc]

18. No rumors

The money was being transferred into a dummy company to pay for the hookers- that's how the hooker ring wanted it. This is actually how he got caught. Weird transfers of money and the bank alerted the FBI - they thought he was being either blackmailed or bribed. I don't deal in rumors - I'm a very disappointed constituent. Here's the article from the NY Times about the whole sordid mess.

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

[Demeter]

19. Spitzer Wasn't the One Doing the Laundry Then

and it's not reasonable to say he was.

[leftynyc]

20. Did someone say he was?

I certainly didn't. You accused me of rumor mongering and I pointed out you were very wrong about that. Anytime you want to admit you were wrong is fine with me.

[NightWatcher]

4. this big time sex scandal has me missing Bill

Elect Hillary and we can get Bill's schlong back on the nightly news

[0007]

6. Who said that the Superdelegate vote is not transferable?

Then Patterson has a loose vote, huh?

[Demeter]

8. I Assume He Hasn't Committed

and there's no reason why he would commit to Hillary, seeing as she's not doing herself or Democrats any favors lately.

[bicentennial_baby]

9. Patterson is already a Superdelegate, actually

What this really means is that, by the rules of succession, the new Lt Gov, will be a Republican. Bruno, I think his name is?

[MaineDem]

11. But he can't be two superdelegates

One is automatic because of the governorship. He's also a DNC member. I tend to think he'll resign that position.

[bicentennial_baby]

12. This is true

:)

And we are assuming that he will accept the governorship as well. Who knows? :shrug:

[MaineDem]

13. Good point. n/t

[MaineDem]

10. His support doesn't transfer automatically, of course

His replacement may be a Hillary supporter or not. It's up to the NY Dem State Committee.

The replacement may very well be uncommitted.

[catgirl]

15. I read it somewhere on the net

Sorry, I can't retrace my steps. I was surfing a lot this morning. It sounded like
the NY SD vote would just disappear- I could be wrong.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

14. I'm hearing chatter that Paterson may not accept the Governorship then Bruno(R) would become Gov.

oh dear gods please do not let this happen....Bruno is a rabid repuke