I'm disappointed in Eliot Spitzer.

[Renew Deal]

(oops, meant to post this in GD, not GDP)

I'm a NYer who had to decide between Spitzer and Suozzi in 2006. Both guys were amazing public servants and I knew both would make fantastic governors. I was so wrong.

I had the choice between Spitzer and Suozzi and I agonized over it. I live in Nassau County, so I know how good of a county exec Tom Suozzi really is. He's a true liberal leader. He takes brave stands and he cares about Nassau County and Long Island. I also live in NY, and I have seen Spitzer at his best. He was the ultimate fighter for the little guy. He took on Wall Street, business, and crime so aggressively that there was no where for crooks to hide. Spitzer was the icon of public service. He was everyones choice for Attorney General if Kerry got elected. He was someone I admired for his bravery and tenacity.

I am so fucking disappointed that you wouldn't believe it. I was fooled BIGTIME! What Spitzer did wasn't just adultery, or just criminal, or just immoral, or just amoral. It was a violation of the trust that millions of NYers put into him. And Spitzer wasn't just some politician. He was one of the best. Spitzer in many ways is our Mark Foley, or Ted Haggard, or Larry Craig. He's a hypocrite of the greatest magnitude. Spitzer needs to go away fast. He's a disgrace to this state and to the Democratic Party.

I am also disappointed that Suozzi didn't get to be governor. The whispers in NY were that Suozzi would never have gotten himself into so much trouble with drivers licenses, and other combative behavior. Suozzi would have been a great governor. On primary day in 2006, I voted for Suozzi because I felt that he earned my vote. I was so right on that day, and so wrong overall.

Some of you will accuse me of "casting stones." Not at all. I'm not elected to be the ethical leader of a state.

[Ordr]

1. Recommended.

n/t

[madaboutharry]

2. I completely understand your feelings about this.

It is all about betraying a trust.

[THUNDER HANDS]

3. yup

you know I live here too, I've seen them both up close and there was no way of knowing at the time how horribly Spitzer woul dhave turned out.

He was like a 1:5 favorite in the Kentucky Derby finishing in last place. i mean, it's just shocking how bad he's been. Now this?

If there was one guy the GOP could probably never bring down it was Spitzer, and that was true. He brought himself down.

It's almost Shakespearian in it's complete fall from heights.

As I said in a post last night, this presents an opportunity for suozzi to run again (and you and i both know he will).

But it also opens the door to Clinton running for governor, which would be a very interesting development that could impact the primaries right now.

[TomClash]

8. Hillary doesn't want to be Governor

That's like Madonna playing the Knitting Factory.

[Renew Deal]

11. NY governor is a great and prestigious job.

There have been some "great" NY governors that have gone onto the presidency. Martin Van Buren, Grover Cleveland, Teddy Roosevelt, FDR. There have also been several party nominee's in the bunch. Also, there have been a couple Clintons'... George Clinton, Dewitt Clinton

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

[TomClash]

12. Hillary will not run against David Paterson

. . . assuming he becomes Governor and runs for re-election. She doesn't want the job anyway. She's not going to want to hang around Albany, listening to local pols, when she can either be President, VP, or a Senator with increasing seniority. No one in NY really wants her to lead the party anyway.

[Renew Deal]

14. I agree

Though, if she successfully ran NY, I might be willing to support her.

[soleft]

4. Disappointed, Disallusioned, Pissed as hell

I'm starting to feel like we can't trust any of them. I feel SO bad for his daughters. And his wife. For every trusting New Yorker who looked up to him.

[ScreamingMeemie]

5. When I read that he had pushed for more wiretapping I was sickened.

That so many can make this about sex astounds me. I really believe the time is now for us to stand up against politicians who think they are above the law. It makes all of us look like fools, and those of us who want to pin this on conspiracy look like bigger fools. It is what it is.

[Lavender Brown]

6. Well said

I wish I had given Suozzi more credit at the time. Now I can't even comprehend how much damage Spitzer has done to New York.

[boobooday]

7. Me too

There is no excuse.

[TomClash]

9. How do you know Tom Suozzi would have been any better?

Everyone has skeletons.

[Renew Deal]

10. Suozzi has a better track record at governing than Spitzer did.

Suozzi has been county exec in Nassau for 6 years now. It's a similar position to the governor. Suozzi has been a great county exec. He's on the ball. He gets things passed through the legislator. He's got a balanced budget. And he fights the fights that need to be fought. Spitzer actually didn't have a track record at governing. He never had to answer to anyone or compromise. He ended up being pretty bad at it. Also, I don't think Suozzi would bang hookers, though I've learned that truly anything is possible.

[Johonny]

13. can't argue with that

Talked to everyone back home and they are all saying the same thing.

[Cherchez la Femme]

15. K & R

with the caveat in terms of 'hypocrite of the greatest magnitude'

I'm not going to go the Repuke route and defend anybody of my party right or wrong -- if they do wrong, I'll call them on it. Wrong is wrong no matter who does it.
Spitzer prosecuting others for the same things he was involved in is incredibly hypocritical but there are many others eminently more hypocritical than Spitzer ever was. Unfortunately at one time or other even the best of men, for all their vaunted strengths, will sometimes let their helmet head do the thinking. Along with aggression, it is one of their greatest weaknesses; however both are innate and hard-wired into males of practically all mammalian species. No human can escape nature nor imperfection, but one would hope either intelligence or control would put brakes on such behavior.

However, he deserves the epithet of stupidity of the greatest magnitude! Indulging with prostitutes in this political climate with the Repubes controlling retribution-free spying (wire-taps-for-all!) is the height of insanity, stupidity or naivety; none keywords of an effective politician.

One can ask 'What was he thinking?' and have many answers to that one question.
I feel sad that New York State will probably lose an able and intelligent politician and representative even with his particular, unspectacular peccadilloes; but I feel for his wife and family most of all.

[Nite Owl]

16. Yesterday I was stunned

today the anger is setting in. I've been on the phone talking to people for hours and everyone feels the same: betrayed. Why? How could he do this to his family to his state? All the hope and joy we felt on that innauguration day and to have it end like this. At this point with the talk that he was 'set up' I can't even care if he was. He is no dummy, he had to know the position he put himself and all of us in by doing what he did.