Eliot Spitzer paid for sex? So? (Robert Scheer)

[struggle4progress]

Tell me again why we should get all worked up over the revelation of the New York governor having paid for sex? Will it bring back to life the eight U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq that same day in a war that makes no sense and has cost this nation trillions of dollars in future debt? Will it save those millions of homes that hardworking folks across the country are losing because of financial industry shenanigans that Eliot Spitzer, as much as anyone, attempted to halt? Perhaps it provides some insight into why oil has risen to $108 a barrel, benefiting most of all the oil sheikhs who our taxpayer-supported military has kept in power? ...

The sad truth is that reporting on major corruption, say the rationalizations of a president who has authorized torture, doesn't cut it as a marketing bonanza. Just days before this grand expose, President Bush vetoed a bill banning torture, and instead of horrified disgust, the president's deep denigration of this nation's presumed ideals was met with a vast public yawn. Torture, unlike paid sex, doesn't have legs as a news story ...

I wouldn't have written this column had I not read the Wall Street Journal page-one news story headlined "Wall Street Cheers as its Nemesis Plunges into Crisis." The article starts out with the crowing statement that "It's Schadenfreude time on Wall Street," and then goes on to quote those whom Spitzer went after over what should be considered the criminal greed that has predominated in the financial world. It was Spitzer, as much as anyone, who sounded the alarm on the subprime mortgage crisis, the obscene payouts to CEOs who defrauded their shareholders and the other financial scandals that have brought the U.S. economy to its knees.

The best rule of thumb these days is that ordinary Americans should be mightily depressed over any news that Wall Street hustlers cheer, for they have been exposed as a dangerous pack of scoundrels, quite willing to rob decent hardworking people of their homes. And of course, no one on Wall Street ever paid for sex.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/11/EDBNVHVOC.DTL

[Skittles]

1. K & R

:thumbsup:

[rpannier]

2. Because a man who prosecuted people for these same actions was involved in doing them

At the very least it's hypocracy

But, to me, it's an arrogant abuse of office and a criminal act.

This is NOT about what DUH-bya has done, or vitter or any of the others.

The guy who shot up NIU killed maybe 20 people.
Should I say, "So What? DUH-bya has killed more?"

No.
I don't play that game.

Mr Scheer can take his shiny keys someplace else.

[MercutioATC]

4. Exactly. Spitzer has intentionally styled himself as the "Law and Order Superman"

I have no problem with prostitution as a practice. I believe it should be legalized, regulated and taxed.

I also have no issue with who my elected representatives are fucking, as long as it isn't me.

This has nothing to do with either of those issues. Spitzer chose to create the persona he did. He pretty much deserves the flak he's getting.

[BB1]

13. Why tax prostitution?

I could never have the missus dress up as a slut during our role-plays anymore. The IRS would want to come and look...

[aquart]

5. "Arrogant abuse of office"?

I must have missed that.

So in your mind which sees things in big broad strokes, teenaged prostitutes held against their will are identical to the ladies of the Emperor's Club?

Will their ever be anyone perfect enough to meet your standards? And how many good and useful public servants will you be happy to see destroyed because of one small flaw?

[rpannier]

7. Oh please

The man's a career prosecutor

Not some guy off the street with a weak understanding of the law.
This guy prosecuted people for picking up prostitutes and he's doing it himself

That's arrogant
He knew he was committing a crime and he did it anyway

[question everything]

9. Excellent. Wish I could recommend your response (eom)

[snot]

3. question in this vein:

for a blog post:

Can anyone confirm whether Spitzer's alleged conduct amounts legally to anything more than a misdemeanor?

And can anyone direct me to a concise list of "high crimes" reasonably believed to have been committed by Bush and/or Cheney? I'm hoping for something informed by actual knowledge of the applicable laws and persuasive to independents as well as us wild-eyed liberals.

[aquart]

6. First check the impeachment standards for a NYS governor.

Different constitution.

[struggle4progress]

10. Here's the 2002 version: I don't see much in the way of standards

http://www.senate.state.ny.us/lbdcinfo/senconstitution.html

[question everything]

8. Because he built his career on prosecuting prostituion rings?

Because, like the Republicans who were caught, he preached one thing and did the opposite?

[struggle4progress]

11. Actually, he built his reputation on prosecuting big money crooks -- banks, stock dealer scams, &c

[hamnose]

12. liberal media bias

Not that I feel like I should have to defend this guy but it is being reported: Spitzer has connections or is involved with prostitution ring which sounds pretty bad, instead of what it really is: He paid for a prostitute. Big deal. Where's that liberal media bias we hear so much about? I mean its not like he was porking some congressional aides or arranging for some 5 year old to be brought to him from Minnesota.

[MISSDem]

14. Because it is illegal? But then to say to a politician that something

is illegal is kinda like Sera, the prostitute, said to Ben in "Leaving Las Vegas", "isn't drinking and driving illegal?"