Ben Stein On Spitzer: Elections Are More Important Than Hookers

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Video @ the URL below.

Stein On Spitzer: Elections Are More Important Than Hookers

By: Logan Murphy on Sunday, March 16th, 2008 at 6:02 PM - PDT



http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/03/16/stein-on-spitzer-elections-are-more-important-than-hookers/

This morning on CBS’ Sunday Morning Ben Stein gave his take on the Eliot Spitzer scandal and his thoughts may surprise you. I’m no fan of Stein, but I think he may have made some valid points. As with many political scandals involving sex, it’s the naughtiness that gets the coverage and many important issues are often overlooked. As Stein puts it, it sets a dangerous precedent when a handful of appointed officials brings down elected officials, seriously impacting the will of the voters.

“…However, in Governor Spitzer’s case he got humiliated, disgraced and then the voters lost the guy they voted for. It is deeply scary to me that a few employees of the federal executive branch can start a train rolling that has such immense effects on the electoral process. Basically a few career civil servants have nullified the will of the voters of the Empire state, over something clearly wrong, I don’t doubt that, but it’s not a political crime, not treason, not terrorism…”

What do you think? Does he have a valid point?

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. I hate to have to agree with Ben Stein

:puke:

[TomClash]

2. "A few employees of hte Federal Branch"

How naive. This was a political hit.

[WillyT]

3. And Check This Out !!! - Intrigue: Novak suggests GOP operative behind Spitzer fall

From RawStory

Link: http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Novak_suggests_Republican_operative_was_behind_0317.html

That operative??? None other than Roger Stone.



And for a real puke-fest, check out the name of the 527 he's running this cycle.

What a putrid POS!!!

:mad:

[grasswire]

4. no surprise there

Honestly, some of us had this figured out from day one. Always assume the worst from the right, and you will be consistently proved correct.

[NashVegas]

7. More On POS Stone

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

In 1996, Roger and his wife Nydia purportedly placed an ad in Swing Fever magazine looking for single men and couples to join them in group sex. According to reporting in the National Enquirer and the Star, the copy proclaimed:

C-161,787-DC* INSATIABLE COUPLE

We are hot, athletic and very fit. We are seeking similar couples or exceptional muscular, well hung, single men. She's 40DD-24-36 and bi. She loves to fuck hard and deep. He's 195 lbs., trim, muscular and 8" +. She prefers jocks, miliary men, and body builders. No fat people or smokers need respond. Send photo and phone. No photo, no response! We are interested in DC, VA, MD, NYC, Miami, and LA.

VOICE MAIL 12209

In August 2007, Stone vehemently denied having left the following message on the telephone answering machine of New York Governor Eliot Spitzer's father:

"This is a message for Bernard Spitzer: You will be subpoenaed to testify before the Senate committee on investigations on your shady campaign loans. You will be compelled by the Senate sergeant at arms. If you resist this subpoena, you will be arrested and brought to Albany. And there's not a goddamn thing your phony, psycho, piece-of-shit son can do about it. Bernie, your phony loans are about to catch up with you. You will be forced to tell the truth and the fact that your son's a pathological liar will be known to all."

This despite the fact that according to caller ID logs, the call was placed from a phone number registered to Stone's apartment. Stone added: "Putting together a voice tape that sounds like me wouldn't be hard to do." (And how would he know that?)

http://www.nndb.com/people/844/000047703/

[Johonny]

5. no

A few career civil servants did not out Spitzer, the other elected officials the people also voted for told him to leave or they were going to impeach him. I see no indication from the people I know in New York that they were sorry to see Spitzer exit. He was not that popular a Governor. The prospect of the governor facing clear violations of federal charges certainly seems like a high crime. Sure the crimes themselves many have problems with, but this man knew the law. He clearly knew what he was doing wasn't just illegal, but highly illegal. He clearly shifted his money around in bank accounts to try to hide the money transactions. Frankly I think most Americans want their civil servant to do their jobs and not ignore laws when they go against their political party. In this case would I feel better if the civil servants ignored or covered up the Governors activity, instead of making it public? No way! Politically polarizing the civil servants is been one of the true horrors of the Bush administration. The fact that Bush administration hasn't been hiring the best and brightest but simply those that are loyal is one of the truly unAmerican acts of his administration. It is also the gift that will keep on failing America for years to come.

I think the difference is what Spitzer did was so clearly recognizable as illegal by people it was easy to attack him. Just about every American knows prostitution is illegal, but few Americans know what water boarding is to know if it is or isn't torture and if that torture is against the constitution.

[NashVegas]

6. Please. 48 Hours. Tell Me NYers Were Not in a State of Shock

And that the GOP didn't capitalize on that.

[Johonny]

8. ?

Please what? Don't you think in those 48 hrs he polled his parties support against impeachment in the legislature? The fact he resigned pretty much tells you how that back room polling was turning out for him.