Eliot Spitzer needs to be arrested, booked, and prosecuted.

[BuyingThyme]

On CNN they're talking about the possibility of a deal where he theoretically could avoid prosecution if he agrees to step down from the governorship.

How did we get to the point where some people stand so far above the law that they can trade in their jobs to avoid crimninal prosecution?

Will I ever have such "opportunities" in life?

Mr. Spitzer, please pack up your little whore wagon, go to hell, and never come back.

Bye!

:hi:

[ScreamingMeemie]

1. ...and disbarred.

[Mojorabbit]

2. This is what I don't get

If I was a man and got popped for what he did, would they offer to let me resign my job to avoid prosecution?

[JDPriestly]

11. Same treatment for you. They would probably embarrass you and send you home

with a plea bargain. Spitzer committed what was probably a misdemeanor. The prosecutors are building it up into a felony because the prostitute allegedly crossed state lines. Prosecutors throw the book at people to strengthen their position in negotiating a plea bargain. This sort of thing happens every day across the U.S. It would be highly unusual if Spitzer spent much time in jail for this.

Have you heard about any of the other prominent men who must have been clients of this service? Was Spitzer targeted? This is really weird. The service had a pretty impressive bunch of pictures on its website. There have to be other clients. Who and where are they? Are they facing prosecution?

I'm all for justice, but as you all have been saying, let's make sure it is equal justice.

[ben_meyers]

32. I don't think violation of the Mann act is a misdemeanor

He would be aware of that, maybe he can plea bargain down.

[JDPriestly]

37. The Mann Act violation is rarely invoked with professional prostitutes.

The prosecutors are invoking the Mann Act either to leverage more in the plea bargain process or for political purposes, i.e., selective prosecution as in the Siegelman case. Spitzer may or may not have violated the Mann Act, but the prosecutor can choose to bring such a charge or not. Usually, prosecutors try to think of every charge they can although they know they might not prevail or might not really want to prevail on the charge. I'm not an expert on the Mann Act, but it would seem to me that the it is appropriate in cases in which a woman is enticed across a state line or treated as a white slave.

Hey! I'm a woman and not tempted by prostitution or such things, but face it, if every man who visited a prostitute or even hired a prostitute to cross a state line were actually jailed for any period of time, we would have a serious problem. Our jails are so overcrowded as it is that violent criminals serve only partial sentences. This is a slap your hand and don't do it again offense. It is an embarrassment mostly. Spitzer was obviously endangering his wife as well as himself with this irresponsible behavior, but people do these things every day.

Remember, prostitution is legal in many parts of the world including most European countries.

[MattBaggins]

54. I lived for 6 years in Germany

Prostitution is indeed legal there.

Despite being legal it is still run by murderous thugs and populated by women who are nothing more than slaves possessed by drug addictions. Women who become prostitutes have deep seated emotional problems and need help.

It may be fashionable to take the idiotarian view of women doing what they want with their bodies but the truth of the matter is that prostitution is the most insidious exploitation of women. The fantasy of "pretty woman" and the myth of high class hookers is so much nonsense.

I'm sick of the "legalize prostitution" arguments. Prostitution is an insult to women and only exists because we men are pigs willing to make pathetic arguments trying to glorify using women as mere receptacles for our discharges.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

3. Respectful Question:

How will you feel if it turns out that he was targeted for surveillance by the same people and methods, seeking the same outcome or one close to it, as Don Siegelman?

[BuyingThyme]

4. That would be bad too.

[msongs]

5. it is not about who surveils him, it is about his own personal behavioral choices nt

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

12. Agreed.

He did make some bad choices and his prosecutorial record just exacerbates the situation. Yes, it does reek of hypocrisy and assumed privilege.

That said, I find the spectre of the NSA domestic intercepts to be far more troubling than some politician getting his pole waxed by a hooker. In fact and in comparison, Spitzer's behavior is trivial in comparison, if there is such a comparison, which I do not think there is.

Question #1: Why were they monitoring Spitzer's financial transactions in the first place? Did they have a FISA warrant? Did they think that Spitzer was involved in the funding of domestic terrorism? I know they had a court order, ultimately, but what was the basis for the probable cause that got them that warrant?

I am not as sanguine about all this as some of you. My prediction is that as more comes out(and it will...), Spitzer will not look any less stupid for his behavior, but some here will not be crying for his scalp as loudly.

[ScreamingMeemie]

15. Why was Spitzer okay with this before it happened to ensnare him?

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

18. I don't see that it matters that it was ok with him.

The more important question is "Is this OK with us? Is this what we want our nation to be?".

I am sure he is presently reconsidering a lot of stances right now.

[ScreamingMeemie]

19. No. I want him gone. I want Craig, Vitter etal gone. I will not back up

and/or make conspiracy themed excuses for one so bold as to think he is above the law. There is no different. It is not okay with me that we be willing to protect a man against prosecution created by the very same means he championed. Championed to use against others.

[LanternWaste]

42. You appear to have the courage of your convictions...

"I will not back up and/or make conspiracy themed excuses for one..."

You appear to have the courage of your convictions in calling for all lawbreakers to face the consequences. That is something that seems to be rather lacking in DU today...

:hi:

[ScreamingMeemie]

46. Apparently, in the minds of some, it makes me a Bush backer. As they

willingly participate in the spinning that the Republican party is so fond of. :(

[truth2power]

52. Thank you for bringing some sanity to this whole...um, affair...

Spitzer is a hypocrite, for sure. He should probably step down on that account alone.

But I think that Rove and the boys are probably laughing their asses off right now because everyone is being distracted from the real issue, which is, IMO, their great hit job.

[acmavm]

9. How do you feel knowing that he was a high profile guy who

prosecuted hookers who was friggin' ignorant enough to patronize the same company he prosecuted? And nobody set him up for that one.

[theboss]

23. I would think he's an idiot who mailed thousands of dollars to a whore

I can't get beyond that.

This was not a G. Gordon Liddy "Let's send hookers to the hotel room" type of set-up. He was committing federal crimes.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

34. I don't argue the idiocy.

But what if the law is fundimentally a bad and intrusive law, one that allows unconstitutional surveillance driftnetting?

[theboss]

35. If a judge issued a warrant, I have no problem with the monitoring in and of itself

You can find the warrant on appeal if you want. That's the way the system works.

[selador]

6. please

people ROUTINELY make plea bargains,and in the case of a governorship, that is a good chip to bargain

solicitors of prostitutes routinely get probation at most, and a fine. the vast majority of the time

and given successful completion of probation - the conviction willusually get wiped

in many states, a continued without a finding means no conviction is ever filed as long as probation terms are met

mann act, structuring aside, this is technically a petty crime that is routinely dealt with that way for EVERYBODY.

spitzer deserves the same lenient treatment

he's still an arrogant idiot, and still committed a crime. not excusing him

[napi21]

7. FOR WHAT? Paying for sex from a very expensive prostitute?

Like I also heard on CNN this AM, we're talking about a victimless crime here! You have a very wealthy guy paying a $5,000 an hour call girl!

I asked my husband this AM if he could ever imagine any guy paying $5,000 for ONE HOUR of ANYTHING???? His answer was, hey, if he has the money, why not!

[acmavm]

10. No, for breaking the law.

[napi21]

20. Then treat him like any other John that gets caught. A fine &

probation. Some don't even get THAT! It's insane to hear prople calling for him to be disbarred, and sent to prison!

[acmavm]

21. The guy prosecuted the very people he was fucking. Does that

not get though to some people???

[napi21]

24. Yes, he prosecuted the GIRLS and the guys who ran the rings.

From what I've heard, those prosecutions involved a lot more than prostitution, but extended into drugs & crime family operations. At least so far, it doesn't sound like Elliott did anything but pay for high priced sex.

[acmavm]

40. And are you trying to claim that's not a criminal act???

[napi21]

43. It's a misdemeanor. Check NY laws. n/t

[acmavm]

44. Bullshit. Transporting a person over state lines with the intent of having

sex for hire isn't.

Go on, tell yourself whatever fairy tales you want. I don't care, I've wasted too much time already.

[L. Coyote]

49. BULLSHIT. There you go, hanging a man for "INTENT" to do something w/o knowing if he DID.

How do you know he had the intent to have sex?

He hired an escort. That is not illegal, and never has been, and never should be.

Where the HELL are the civil libertarians?

Gov. Spitzer has rights too.

Those do not go away for being a DEM, right? still? not? I hope! :rofl:

[acmavm]

53. He hired a hooker with no intent? Do you really expect anyone to

believe anything you say from here on out? I mean, after making a statement like that? After having paid for sex for a llloooooooonnnnnnnnngggggggggg time? After spending thousands and thousands?

Good luck with that one.

[BuyingThyme]

14. Let him explain it to a judge as the rest of us would.

[napi21]

22. I have no problem with him explaining his circumstances to a judge.

My problem is that it sounds like way too many people want him punished far HARSHER than anyone else would be. Elliott has done a LOT OF GOOD during his career, and I just can't get excited over him playing with a few call girls!

[McCamy Taylor]

8. Spitzer is being used to scare Congress into giving immunity for warrantless wiretaps.

Every time a DU posts a thread like this, Congress thinks "If the feds spy on me and catch me in a victimless crime and report it to the press, DU will throw me under the bus, too."

[BuyingThyme]

17. What's your logic?

What about Spitzer makes any Congressperson approve of immunity?

[L. Coyote]

48. That borders on delusional, and, *** NEWS FLASH *** Congress does not think about DU

and probably never will in decision deliberations.

[Perry Logan]

13. I think they took him out because of the abortion-rights bill he was pushing.

[opihimoimoi]

16. Wait a min...was Bondage, animals, slavery, etc Involved?? If so, he is a DINO

A Hated Pub dressed up as a Dem...?? LOL

[VeraAgnes]

25. That's really a conservative

approach to sex by a democrat. I'm simply shocked at the cold blooded, ruthless attacks expressed by fellow democrats.

It's very unattractive.

[BuyingThyme]

28. The conservative approach is to look the other way and

take impeachment off the table.

Welcome to DU, VeraAgnes!

:hi:

[baldguy]

26. These are two separate issues.

Or maybe three.

First, there's the criminal case. Is he innocent or guilty? That's a matter for the courts to decide.

Second, has he done anything to abrogate his oath to serve as governor? That's a matter for the legislature.

Third, has he done anything which would make him an ineffectual leader in the party & in the state government which will force him to resign? That's his decision.

[Ichingcarpenter]

27. The problem I see is that a Foreign National owned the emperor's club

which could have lead to International Blackmail.

He needs to go

[raincity_calling]

29. I am disappointed by Spitzer's conduct,

and he should resign, BUT, I think the bigger story is that it looks like he was being targeted, looking for dirt upon which to prosecute him. He is investigating the subprime debacle, he is a rising star Democrat and planned to build the Democrats in the NY legilature. A lot of reasons for the GOP and the GOP controlled Justice Dept to bring him down. This really scares me.

[theboss]

36. His bank was clearly a tools of the Rovian Machine....or probably not

Am I denying that the current Justice Department is probably more vigorous in investigating Dems? No. They probably are.

But everything seem to go by the book on this case. Maybe they turn a blid eye if Spitzer is a Repub. I don't know. I hope not. But he gave them the case on a silver platter. A first year prosecutor could have put this case together in a few weeks.

[marions ghost]

39. ditto

While I think he's pretty stupid to do this and did jeopardize his position and betray the public trust, I also think he was targeted in a way that is very disturbing.

So if he resigns, ie. gets hounded out by dubious means, is that OK?

I could see this debate going on for awhile./.....

[annabanana]

30. The Mann Act... that's the statute.... Transporting persons across

State Lines for "immoral purposes"


Yep... string 'im up...

[Jed Dilligan]

31. I agree with Spitzer on this, in this case

http://www.observer.com/2008/spitzer-v-simmons

Russell Simmons went on NY1 News last night to announce his support of Barack Obama for president, and took the opportunity to attack Eliot Spitzer for not doing more on Simmons’ pet issue: reforming prison sentences for drug offenders.

Today in Genesseo, Spitzer responded to a reporter’s question about the criticism.

Spitzer said, “We are trying to come up with something that will be reasoned and that will maintain safety. People should not forget we have seen a dramatic decline in crime over the years in New York State. And that is because, I can say this as a Prosecutor, we prosecute crimes and we are tough. We lock up those who are guilty. So we have to be very measured and reasoned in what we do and we will be.”

[EFerrari]

33. This is why Republicans keep beating us.

In a crisis, they turn their self righteous stuff on us and not on each other.

[GenDem]

50. Agree N/T

[librechik]

38. for crimes against anyone's common sense

stupid stupid dickhead.

How dare you fall into a trap of your own design.

Just go away.

[rucky]

41. No he doesn't.

The monologues on late night TV should suffice as punishment for us all.

[leftofthedial]

45. maybe they should publish his picture in the newspapers.

that's what they do to johns around here

[L. Coyote]

47. IF, that is IF, I say IF, there is proof he committed a crime, and IF

this is not just a political trick.

[stewert]

51. I Disagree

Most men are never even charged when they get caught buying a hooker. And even when they are they almost never go to jail, it's usually just a fine.

David Vitter was a current Republican Congressman when it was reported he was buying hookers from the DC madam. Not only was he not charged with anything, he did not resign, and he is still a Congressman as I type this.

Vitter gave a press conference with his wife, said he was sorry, then went back to his $150,000 a year job as a Senator. Vitter is in his first Senate term after serving six years in the House. During his Senate campaign.

I think Spitzer should get the same thing most men get for buying a hooker, a slap on the wrist and a fine. I dont even think he should resign, Vitter didn't so why should he?