Eliot Spitzer is Zakariah's guest now on the GPS program on CNN

[eleny]

Discussing Spitzer's ideas about the financial situation.

[eleny]

1. AIG is the center of the web...

The relationship between AIG and Goldman Sachs ought to be pursued.

[uponit7771]

6. Yeap, why Paulson would let his former employer survive but let his competitor fail should

...be a question that needs to be addressed

[polichick]

2. No wonder so many tried to discredit him - he knows too much for them.

[eleny]

3. The complete erosion of his credibility helped them, for sure

[defendandprotect]

5. Who knows what the truth of all this is -- and basically who cares if

he likes prostitutes . . ??

Spitzer is someone who knows where the bodies are buried and he should be working

for the people!

[eleny]

8. Given his knowledge about the financial situation, he's a valuable voice

[polichick]

9. Yep - which is why he was tarred and feathered. Glad he's speaking out!

[screembloodymurder]

13. It's his money, isn't it.

The real question is, why did the FBI put 15 agents on a guy who just wanted to fool around?

[defendandprotect]

32. I think there's a lot we don't know yet . . .

but prostitution is still illegal ---
so there isn't much wiggle room if this truly happened.

But, wow, how easy for GOP to knock off Democratic Governors these days ---

Spitzer, Siegelmann, Grey-recall -- ?????

[MarjorieG]

12. Yes, he gave them ammo, like Bubba, but anytime you have GOP operative Roger Stone, it's dirty.

[defendandprotect]

33. Had to look up Roger Stone . . .

and found this interesting article . . .

When Roger Stone predicted last year that Gov. Eliot Spitzer would soon be toast, it sounded like the rantings of a partisan attack dog.

Turns out, the Republican operative is a dragon-slayer who helped bring down New York State's most powerful man.

"Everything surrounding Eliot Spitzer is bizarre. It gets more bizarre now when Roger Stone is ," said Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf. "It's like this is all from a movie."

Stone, who boasts of being the sleaziest man in American politics, declared on Dec. 6 to conservative radio host Michael Smerconish that the then-powerful Gov. Spitzer "wouldn't serve his full term."

The comments didn't draw much attention at the time since Stone was a well-known enemy of Spitzer who worked for the governor's nemesis, Majority Leader Joe Bruno.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2008/03/24/2008-03-24_gop_operative_roger_stone_helped_bring_d.html

and this from someone who commented on the article . . .

steveiny Mar 24, 2008 5:29:37 PM Report Offensive Post
Republicans are already talking about Joe Bruno being the Governor if Paterson resigns or is impeached.Joe Bruno a Republican.

I like the trend of governships moving into the hands of Democrats but Paterson is a question
and Bobby Kennedy, Jr. might be the one to run -- or is he not a New Yorker . . . Connecticut?

Bruno has long had control in Albany -- I don't think he liked the change to Spitzer!

[Phx_Dem]

18. No one discredited Spitzer, He discredited himself by doing the

exact thing he was actively prosectuting others for. In other words, it's illegal if you do it, but it's okay if I do it.

Not so much.

Edited to add: That doesn't mean he's not a smart man. I've always been a fan of Spitzer, but he brought about his own downfall. I predict he'll recover though. It wasn't an unforgivable sin -- especially with respect to what we're seeing today.

[eleny]

19. He has acknowledged as much

But this doesn't undermine the accuracy of what he's alleging today.

[Phx_Dem]

25. I agree, and didn't say it did. I simply said he wasn't discredited

by anyone but himself after you implied that he was.

And bully for him for admitting the err of his ways after he was caught red-handed. Maybe he should get a bonus.

[eleny]

28. Oh, I see what you mean now

I agree.

Bonus? :rofl: Good one!

[JitterbugPerfume]

4. interesting

[eleny]

7. He just said that there were enough laws on the books to regulate....

What was lacking was judgment - which can't be regulated.

He also just said that "Obama is doing stupendously." His largest most difficult task is to control the outrage - to use it to get good policy in place. He's worried about us winding up with "rank populism".

[defendandprotect]

34. Well, that's far from encouraging ....

Granted there are enough laws on the books still --
the New Deal restrictions/laws that were overturned must be reinstituted . . .

Spitzer should be calling for re-regulation of criminal capitalism --

Right -- use justified anger to move to practical, common sense solutions.

"Rank populism" . . . ??

Well, everything can be cheapened by distortion . . . !!!

[eleny]

10. He thinks Pres. Obama ought to call CEOs into the Oval Office...

And tell them that everyone has to make sacrifices. Their companies, too, need to suck it up and accept some hits.

Spitzer believes that the financial corporations shouldn't be getting so many cents on the dollar as they're getting. They need to sacrifice as the rest of us are doing.

Recklessness and greed got us into this mess along with misunderstanding what Capitalism is all about Financial services don't make wealth. Thus the bubble ginned up by the financial industry.

[defendandprotect]

35. Call them in and then announce a renewal of NEW DEAL restrictions/regulations/laws .. .

and an end to corporate control of government ---

thru lobbying, privatization of government programs, etc.

Capitalism is a rotting corpse which feeds on government and the public ---

that's all.

[Jennicut]

11. Spitzer makes a lot of sense. Its too bad he messed up personally

because he would be great in the WH imo.

[eleny]

14. He said that if a company creates a security, they ought to manitain some ownership and share risk

Even if they sell the security, they ought to keep 10% of it to be at risk themselves.

That makes sense.

[Jennicut]

16. Totally. I really wish he would advise President Obama on some

of this.

[defendandprotect]

36. Everyone is at the president's command . .. no one would refuse . . .

but Obama has chose DLC-corporate-driven solutions . . .

[whistler162]

23. It wasn't just the prostitute problem... that was the last straw...

it was his total incompetence in dealing with the legislature including the Troopergate scandal.

[eleny]

26. How was Spitzer involved with Troopergate?

I'm kind of thrown off course here. I thought Troopergate was a "Bill Clinton in Arkansas" deal. Help me out with a link and I'll do the rest myself.

Thx!

[whistler162]

31. New York Troopergate.... not

Alaska or Arkansas.

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/013/980cljul.asp

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eliot_Spitzer_political_surveillance_controversy

[defendandprotect]

37. Well, the second article is a bit better . . .

haven't read all of it yet ---

If Spitzer had suspicions that Bruno was misusing public assets for travel . . .

why didn't he turn that info over to official corruption investigators for the state?

This might have set Roger Stone loose?

Meanwhile, we don't gain anything when Democrats turn to outlaw methods and imitate Repugs!

[eleny]

15. He said that the media failed us - not inquisitive enough

[defendandprotect]

38. Overturn the New Deal and its regulation/laws controlling finance . . . ????

The role the Senate played in all of this -- having been bought out by corporations/lobbyists?

The buying of government isn't the primary movement which is bringing the nation down --

eating away at democracy?

[eleny]

17. Merril was ready to deal when Spitzer took action, but wanted the evidence made secret

Spitzer refused. He felt that the public needed to know where the financial system was flawed.

He said he tried not to vilify individuals. He felt it was the structure that was the problem.

[defendandprotect]

39. Spitzer's was right . .. but evidently Merril got a better deal elsewhere .. .eventually . . .

Meanwhile, I'd like to hear Spitzer talk about the records that were lost --

SEC records -- Enron and other convictions -- in the 9/11 Building #7 fall!!!

[Traveling_Home]

20. Treasury Sec Spitzer??????? nt

[eleny]

21. Does he have the background for that job?

He said he contributes where he can, writing an article for a paper and giving a talk to groups. He said he's only interested in helping where he can.

He didn't appear eager to be back in government. But I personally doubt that. These guys are political animals. I bet that given the chance, he's be back if asked. But that's just my thoughts without anything much to back it up.

[Jennicut]

24. I don't know...I wish.

[whistler162]

27. He has the background but NEVER in his lifetime

will he ever again hold a elected or appointed office.

[eleny]

22. The Spitzer segment is over...

The interview was substantive and I urge all to watch the replay or find a video.

[KittyWampus]

29. thanks so much for your synopsis

[eleny]

30. Your welcome - the subsequent round table was an eye opener, too

Henry Blodget, analyst and former Wall Street darling, was pontificating on the panel. But it's worth watching.

:hi:

[defendandprotect]

40. Yes . . .enlightening . .. thank you!