Too bad, too bad, too bad

Being a fan of Eliot Spitzer's tenure as New York's state attorney general, when he went after Wall Street and corporate misconduct, I am seriously grieved at the news the governor's been linked to a high-priced prostitution ring. The guy was one of my role models for public officials. I bet right now a lot of rich guys in tall buildings are clinking their glasses and laughing their tails off.

I am sure the U.S. media will handle the story with the sensitivity and grace for which we are so well known.

I almost wish, almost, almost, that this were not enough to ruin him. But of course that implies tolerance for infidelity, mistreatment of women, etc., all of which are unacceptable. I can't see how it will turn out in any other way than the end for him, unless there's some unprecedented burst of tolerance on the part of the public. Part of me still would be glad to see it.

But then, I also thought our former state Rep. Bob Allen, R-Merritt Island, should have stayed in office after he was convicted on charges coming from his arrest in a men's room, so maybe my views on these things are out of touch.

Comments

[Ron]

Unfortunately, when you are the "Law & Order" guy, you can't go around breaking the law. According to the smoking gun, he mailed cash for the service, then crossed state lines to accept the service. I wouldn't be surprised to see him indicted.

[Howard Troxler]

Ron, you are quite right, sounds like a deliberate and planned violation of the law across state lines to boot. But the "real" crime is the sex itself, so he would be in just as much political trouble had he been caught with a NYC streetwalker, true?

(That is assuming NYC still has 'em... )

[Ron]

NYC doesn't have streetwalkers anymore!!. Between Eliot & Rudy, they cleaned that town up.

Seriously though, you're right. Politically, he'd be in the the same trouble, but personally, this might very well turn into a ferderal crime.

The funny thing is that even the Governor of Nevada (whoever that may be) would probably be in political trouble if he was caught with a legal prostitute.

[Will.I.Am]

for $5,500 bucks for an hr with one of the escorts, he needs to have his head examined and plead insanity.

[Rodger]

lol lol, yeah there arent any street walker in NYC, lol lol. $5000.00 an hour. No warm fuzzy is worth even 1 dollar "its priceless". His wife is cute whats his problem? It must just be a dirt bag thing cause I dont understand his way of thinking.

[guy]

He is to blame for no hookers in NY

[guy]

Wait till you see the archives they dig up, with Hillary screaming how great he is LOL LOL

[Phillip]

LOL

The liberal main stream media has their panties in knots over this, and it cannot make me happier.

Any politician who goes after business and investment types with questionable tactics as Spitzer did will get more than the benefit of the doubt.

Let's see Barney Franks solicited a male prostitute and still has in job while Mark Foley resigned over his scandal.

The lesson:: The MSM want wayward Dems to stay in office and Republicans to resign.

[rowdy]

Just knew someone would bring up party affiliation. DUMB!

[Dr Arnold Ziffel]

Well if they go after him, lets stop saying Client #9 and release all the corporate heads hollywood and political names that are in those books..

Time to bring down all the idiots instead of just a few selected choices.

[Steve]

I'm "clinking my glass and laughing my tails off." Typical Dem.. Reminds me of Clinton.

[guy]

Clinton would say,
"It" all depends what you mean "by number 9" what is "BY"
or "IT"

[David]

You are so right steve. No member of the GOP would have been caught doing that. If it had been a member of the GOP he would have been tapping on some guys foot in a airport bathroom!!

Personally, I don't think being linked to prostitution *has* to be bad. Yes, it shows a disrespect for the law and that alone could and should raise questions regarding the decision making skills of someone who is to uphold the law. But in regards to prostitution and infidelity, what about those couples who enjoy open relationships? And with prostitution, my uneducated inclination is to say legalize it. Monitor it. It's a disgusting abusive trade now, if it is monitored would that slow? It will never stop, but if it slows, if it keeps down the spread of diseases, if it keeps pimping down, can it be all bad? In Nevada since testing was required not a single positive test for HIV. If someone wants to pay for sex and the person is willing, is that all that bad? To me, the bad parts come in with the abuse, the pimps, the minors, the diseases, the risks. Not the sex or exchange of money.

[gene]

Ah, no sweat...
he's a Democrat...
he'll just blame the Republicans,
and continue on as does Teddie, Bill,
etc.

[Karpo]

Do as I say but not as I do, just is not working. Sorry maybe he should have worked harder to correst morality laws and this would not be a problem. Just saying?

The NOW gang is going to scalp Spitzer aren't they. Wow, who would have figured that a Democratic Leader like him had such a disrespect for women. He just doesn't get it.

[Jb]

WOW,did the citizens of New York pay for this?His career is probably over,punishment enough?what do you New Yorkers think?I'm not from up there,so I can't really say,don't know the man

[Matthew]

Phillip-

Take a look at politician David Vitter.

[sophie]

Steve, Guy and Phillip.. You don't need to look too far into republican party to see that they have members doing the same thing. As matthew says look at Vitter. he apologized for his sin and refused to resign after visiting DC call girl. Get your facts straight

[bulletinizer]

No "maybe" about it Howard... you are "out of touch"

[Dave]

I am not familiar with his career, but I immediately knew he was a Democrat when I heard he was soliciting a woman for sex.

Republicans only pay men for that service.

[Clakalackin]

Your role model is exposing his wife to who knows what in the disease category. His kids will be ridiculed and teased forever. This egotistical jackass was just a fake all along.

[Boo Boo]

What an idiot! When your in the public eye you just don't do things like that. Will "Client #9" become the new catch phrase for a John now?
Clakalackin you are so right, she may cost $5500 an hr but but when you wheigh the risk its stupdid. Did you see the way his wife looked at him during his news conference?

[Howard Troxler]

On the Democratic-Republican thing, it seems difficult to me for one party to claim the other is somehow inherently worse about sex scandals, but if y'all want to try, go right ahead.

As a non-affiliated observer, I would say that a president has to count for more points than, say, a U.S. senator. Ordinarily I would count a senator for more points than a governor, but the governor of New York, I dunno...

[Lou A.]

Re: "Rich guys in tall buildings." I spent 20 years as a reporter with large papers, hating big, bad business just like Bobby. Then I started a business and was amazed at how many good, hard-working people make this country work. Guess what? Most of them were honest. My guess: Troxy loves Spitzer because Bob has the typical media bias against business, capitalism and people who make things other than words.

[Matt]

6:58 - How refreshing to see your comment. I agree with you. While I personally wouldn't go to a prostitute, the truth is they're there. They're not going away as long as there are customers. And there always will be. I support your idea of making it legal, controlled, and hopefully more safe. But, our society is not open for that. Never will be.

Now, clearly, I do not condone cheating. In fact, I have no respect for it. The Gov'r likely has to go - not for cheating, but for breaking the law. With that said, I think we have to stand above any political gains and certainly personal vendettas. The witch hunt that now will continue is unfortunately highly political. Democrats and republicans alike use prostitutes. The other side cannot claim purity here - enough creeps have proven that in just the last year or so (airport, rest stop, instant messages). Is it ever going to go away? Hardly.

My wish for this process now, with the Governor's case, is that whoever gets to judge on his continued tenure ONLY looks to what law he broke and the impact of such - not in any way the politics behind it.

I've read all posts today. Floors me to see comments about whether GOP of DNC use prostitutes. It's about people, people, not politics.

[Annette]

All I keep thinking is; when you have a lot, you have a lot to lose. It really is that simple!

[Larry]

Howard, it is nice to see a democrat caught up in a sex scandal for a change.

[kitty]

Phillip, Barney Frank chose ADULTS. mark foley cruised intern dorms trolling for underage boys. Your comparison is like comparing apples to orangutans.

[Curt]

I think it is funny after listening to Glen Beck this morning. He is all over this guy. They keep stressing that he is a democrat. I am no democrat and I am not a republican, but this guy is over looking Foley, Larry Craig and Frank. These guys were trolling for strange gay sex, and are all republicans. What looks worse? I think polititions by nature are scum bags. You can't attack political parties over this, because there is dirt on both parties in this area. There is no denying that Eliot Spitzer is a joke. I would bet he made his connection with the ring when he was Attorney General on his quest to clean up the streets of New York. He probably got free service to not prosecute. I smell conspiracy.

[HCB]

This country is far too obsessed with sex. The problem here is a guy who is a governor overseeing a huge budget. He has no problem in spending enormous amounts of money on his personal frivolity - those girls cost as much as $30,000 a day and that doesn't include dinner. A guy who so freely spends so much on such frivolous impulses should not be running a state. That's what leads to half billion dollar ball parks and multi-trillion dollar wars.

[arlene]

Matt, you're the only adult responding to this. All this petty bickering about whether the guy's a Democrat or a Republican. We're one country we have to learn to live together as "Americans" not Dems or Repubs. You all need to grow up and look beyond sex scandels. We have serious problems here more important than prostitutes!

[Carl]

Where was this guy's protection team? You know the team assigned to him by the New York State Police.

[Reality]

The Spitzer incident, and a host of others in kind, should at the very least prove to everyone once and for all… that corruption, perversion, hypocrisy, and a true lack of honor does not belong to any one political party.

Stop weighing their qualifications against the size of their campaign account; stop picking them from commercials, billboards, flyers, and mailers; stop wasting your time with American Idol and start paying attention to our world and its leadership… and we just might be able to elect representation that could return the integrity and respect to what was once the greatest nation on the face of the planet.

I miss America; and I want it back!

[DHG]

HCB, You are right. An official with access to this kind of money can not be given a pass. (Interesting that he was caught because a bank told the IRS about the large sums of money which were flowing through accounts.) What does he know? To whom is he indebted? It's not about sex: it's about power and its abuse. Of course, it's titillating that Spitzer is such a holier-than-thou target. Isn't this the year of Authenticity? Well, we're seeing the authentic Spitzer, that's for sure.

[pacfandave]

Yet more evidence of liberal hypocrisy.
I'm amazed New Yorkers elected a Democrat governor after Cuomo brought the state to near bankruptcy. And what is it about male Democrats that they can't keep their pants zipped up, or wives of Democrats who enable their adultery by standing by them? Can we attribute it to the left's moral ambiguity? Why is it that Republicans like Clarence Thomas are vilified for allegedly making risque remarks to female employees while Barney Frank, whose male live-in lover operated a male prostitution ring out of Frank's basement, and Teddy Kennedy, who said to Mary Jo, "Now, honey, you hold your breath for six or seven hours while I swim for help" both get passes? With liberals it's not what's right or wrong, but whether you're right or left.

[ENough]

So which is preferable? Liberal hypocracy or conservative hypocracy? Why does everyone in a party have to be painted with the same brush? But everyone in the GOP or the DP isn't a hypocrit. Never ran for office myself, cause I knew that I could never cover up the indiscretions of my youth. LOL. So let's all grow up! It isn't about hypocracy or morality. It is about following the law and doing the right thing (even if I don't agree with the law.)

[John Gibson]

Matt, 6:58, and others so inclined.

I am always amazed at those who think that decriminilization results in a win-win for everyone.

I think we need to look no further than pornography to see this is not true. You can buy photos of any dispicable and disgusting act you want.

And yet, you will never be able to make any convincing argument that society is in any way improved by this.

Go ahead, give it a try...

[Kay]

Mr Gibson, the point is not about improving society. Of course it (legalization) doesn't. What it does do is prevent government from "legislating morality" - which does not improve society either. Filling up our jails with "cheaters" provides not one benefit to society. As a matter of fact, it is costly - how is that beneficial? Further, regulation and taxation of this would benefit not only society, but also the individuals involved.

[John Gibson]

Kay,

Filling jails with "cheaters" (read criminals) is extremely beneficial to society, no matter what mental gymnastics one uses to justify otherwise.

I will grant you that prisons put a costly burden on society, but one that must be paid and has the direct benefit of removing the criminal element from the streets.

The law is all about the legislation of morality. In fact, that is ALL it is about. It is the codifacation of the rules society will live by. Flout the rules, pay the price.

If an act has a detrimental effect on society as a whole, then society has the right to write rules to outlaw it. If you don't think prostitution applies, then maybe you should have a talk with Ms. Spitzer.

Decriminalization carries with it the burden of knowing where to stop. Think about it. We are willing, no, eager to haul into court any parent who leaves a child out of a car seat, or leaves off the seat belt, but you want to put coke dealers on the street and tell them its ok?