Remember Eliot Spitzer?

[Nictuku]

I have to give Credit to (you won't believe this).... Michael Savage... for connecting the dots. (even though this was mentioned by Randi Rhodes some time ago, when Eliot Spitzer was indicted for the horrible (sic) crime of using prostitutes.)

But in our 24/7 news cycles, many issues get pushed off the table. But now is a good time to think about this. Before he ruined his career (or his career was ruined), he was known as 'Wall Streets Sheriff' and 'Wall Streets Top Cop'

Clearly the powers that be had to get rid of him. I always wondered just how it was that he was targeted for wiretapping.

To me, this is clear evidence of using wiretapping for political (and greed motivated) purposes. One reason why wiretapping without a warrant is so damn sickening.

Here are some articles about why he was hated by the fat cats on Wall Street:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/05/23/60minutes/main555310.shtml
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1003960,00.html

And here is an article about his fall from grace:
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/03/10/america/10york.php

Kind of makes you wonder....

[Nictuku]

1. Thanks for the Recc!!

I hardly ever post here, so getting a recc is encouraging. Of course I realized my folly after making the post by mentioning that sick-f**k Michael Savage. When NovaM is on commercial, I sometimes turn to see what kind of verbal vomit he is making, and today was kind of surprised to hear him talking about this.

[Muttocracy]

2. I was thinking a few days ago how absurd to hear McCain and other GOPers

trying to use Spitzer's reform rhetoric.

Spitzer's ego got the best of him after he became governor, and I'm still heartbroken about it - I had high hopes for reform in NY.

Paterson is doing well, though he's stuck dealing with the huge budget shortfalls in NY, in part due to the implosion of the financial sector. I don't think Spitzer could have prevented all this due to federal rules.

[Merlot]

3. Wasn't he on the wasy to washington to testify regarding wall street?

If he had only NOT made that fateful stop on the way to testify...even on the way home would have been better...

[Nictuku]

6. It looks like he did testify

http://www.state.ny.us/governor/press/0214081.html
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 14, 2008

GOVERNOR SPITZER TESTIFIES BEFORE CONGRESS REGARDING BOND INSURER CRISIS
Speaks to Contributing Factors, Fiscal Implications and Possible Remedies

Governor Eliot Spitzer today testified before the U.S. Congress regarding New York State's ongoing effort to find solutions to the growing bond insurance crisis that is threatening the stability of the financial markets. The testimony was given to the U.S. House of Representatives’ Financial Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises.

Governor Spitzer provided testimony about the growing problems in the municipal bond insurance market and how they are affecting New Yorkers and Americans. The Governor offered insight into the contributing factors, how the problem became so severe, the potential implications for the wider economy, and why New York is leading the effort to structure a resolution.

“If we do not take action, this could be a financial tsunami that causes substantial damage throughout our economy,” said Governor Spitzer. “The Bush Administration has looked the other way as this crisis moved from the financial markets into the entire American economy. This will affect the cost of college loans. It will affect museum budgets. It will affect state and local taxes. A collapse of bond insurers will adversely affect municipalities, investors and, if unchecked, many average Americans. ”

<more at link>
*******************************

The accusations of links to a prostitution ring came only 3 weeks later on March 10, 2008

[Crabby Appleton]

4. Elliott Spitzer wasn't indicted

no criminal charges were file against him.

[Nictuku]

5. Thanks for the correction

I wasn't sure if he was or not, but I know he resigned from his office. I really felt bad for his wife. Either way, he was 'neutered' and no longer a threat to Wall Street.

[fulllib]

7. Wow. I'm stunned

Especially since he wasn't indicted; Wasn't the proof strong enough?

[stillcool]

8. maybe they got what they wanted..

[fulllib]

9. Exactly.

[JDPriestly]

10. Spitzer is actually a hero. I'm sorry he had personal problems.

They disqualify him as a politician, but his voice is sorely missed. It is unfortunate that he was silenced.

The wiretapping has to stop --- and it has to stop now. I doubt seriously that it has.

Obama was absolutely crazy to sign on to the FISA Amendment. It does not adequately insure that only terrorists are being wiretapped, spied upon. It is a serious problem.

[leveymg]

11. Spitzer went after AIG chief Greenberg in 2005

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/17/13812/8968/371/601687

AIG's Ties to McCain, Bush & China
by leveymg
Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 10:22:27 AM PDT

AIG's former Chairman Maurice Greenberg has been compared to Citizen Kane for his political ambition. He's a major contributor to the Republican Party and, before his fall, had his hands on the levers of government and public opinion. At the time of his indictment in 2005 by Eliot Spitzer on stock manipulation charges, Greenberg was in the process of attempting to takeover the New York Times.

A more apt comparison of Greenberg, until 2005 Chairman of AIG (the 18th largest company in the world), is to the late Armand Hammer, Chair of Occidental Petroleum, benefactor of the Soviet Union and the GOP in the 1970s and early 1980s. As one of his last acts as President, George H.W. Bush pardoned Hammer, who had been convicted of fraud.

Both Greenberg and Hammer were extremely successful agents of influence, and very much at or near the top of the American foreign policy establishment.

Greenberg has been a contributor to Senator John McCain, as well as a trusted ally of George H.W. Bush's wing of the CIA and of the People's Republic of China.

MORE:

[shadowknows69]

12. Wasn't he my Governor for about two days?

New York's great new hope. Why do all the potentially great leaders have trouble saying no to their dicks?

[natrat]

13. america is now officially a farce

[Scriptor Ignotus]

14. as I understood it

police or maybe FBI were investigating this prostitution ring first, and then Spitzer's name came up somehow during that investigation. That's when they started wiretapping his phone. It wasn't done out of the blue, or for nefarious reasons, as you're suggesting.

[catzies]

15. I remember hearing about this at the time...they needed him gone; his personal

pecadilloes gave them cover to eliminate him.