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The Picture Of Emperor Eliot (The REAL Eliot Spitzer)
Dealbreaker.com ^ | 10 MAR 2008 | John Carney

Posted on 03/10/2008 3:29:07 PM PDT by Libertarian444

There’s a certain poetic quality to this final act of Spitzer's. His extraordinary popularity with members of the press (now presumably extinguished) was rooted in his willingness to leak, sotto voce, allegations of misconduct in the personal lives of the subjects of his investigations. The press loved the juicy headlines. His motivation was apparently to embarrass and intimidate the subjects of his investigations so that they would be forced to comply.

We admit to enjoying the spectacle of watching a man so given to the high moralistic tone brought low by such a misdeed. As one commenter on the New York Times wrote, he’s gone from Eliot Ness to Eliot Mess. But this is not just schadenfreude. There’s a matter of serious public concern beneath the cheers and smirks of those who won’t be sorry to see Spitzer fall from the bully pulpit.

That a man so versed in the blackmail style of prosecution would so readily open himself up to that dark art is, at the very least, extraordinary. One would think that a man who deployed his aides to whisper about a corporate executive allegedly “banging” his assistant, would be wise enough to the ways of the world to avoid putting himself in a position where he could be blackmailed. That he lacked such wisdom—or ignored it—shows a reckless disregard for the responsibilities of the high office to which the people of New York elected him.

That reckless disregard is coupled in Spitzer’s character with a steadfast self-regard. Even in his brief apology, he focused mostly on how he had violated his own standards of conduct rather than those of the public’s mores and statutes. It is as if, in the kingdom of Spitzer, there is no crime worse than violating the standards of Spitzer.

(Excerpt) Read more at dealbreaker.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: blackmail; caveatemperor; client9; hooker; mafia; mob; spitzer; spitzmas
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1 posted on 03/10/2008 3:29:08 PM PDT by Libertarian444
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To: Libertarian444

BTTT


2 posted on 03/10/2008 3:29:59 PM PDT by greyfoxx39 (We need 2 pills, one to prevent cancer , one to prevent old age...HURRY! I am past 60!)
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To: Libertarian444

Be gone with him.


3 posted on 03/10/2008 3:31:35 PM PDT by Jeff Head (Freedom is not free...never has been, never will be. (www.dragonsfuryseries.com))
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To: Libertarian444
His extraordinary popularity with members of the press (now presumably extinguished)

As of this writing they're still covering for him.

We'll see, (as Hillary said) what happens. That is, how soon before the weasels throw their own under the bus.

4 posted on 03/10/2008 3:31:40 PM PDT by the invisib1e hand (dehumanize: the model prescribes the required behavior. disincentives ensure compliance.)
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To: Libertarian444
Client #9
5 posted on 03/10/2008 3:34:14 PM PDT by byteback
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To: Libertarian444

6 posted on 03/10/2008 3:34:50 PM PDT by The Mayor (The purpose of prayer is not to get what we want, but to become what God wants.)
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To: Libertarian444

He will serve out his term.


7 posted on 03/10/2008 3:34:58 PM PDT by Old Sarge (CTHULHU '08 - I won't settle for a lesser evil any longer!)
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To: Libertarian444
I had read that the prosecutor character (portrayed by Stanley Tucci) in the latest version of Kiss of Death was based on Eliot Spitzer. That guy was a blackmailing weasel who got caught in his own game as well.
8 posted on 03/10/2008 3:40:20 PM PDT by Ghengis (Of course freedom is free. If it wasn't, it would be called expensivedom. ~Cindy Sheehan 11/11/06)
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To: Old Sarge

Not if he used public money to pay for it.....

” It’s a letter addressed to the king..... and it’s from you governor....”


9 posted on 03/10/2008 3:41:03 PM PDT by Walkingfeather
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To: Old Sarge
He will serve out his term.

I wonder if New York state has the recall.

10 posted on 03/10/2008 3:41:31 PM PDT by John Jorsett (scam never sleeps)
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To: Libertarian444
Even in his brief apology, he focused mostly on how he had violated his own standards of conduct rather than those of the public’s mores and statutes. It is as if, in the kingdom of Spitzer, there is no crime worse than violating the standards of Spitzer.

This writer nails it. Having only heard his statement it was the same impression I got right away. Me, I, mine...etc. I think it is fair that this entire blockbuster fall from..ahem...grace is an example of stupidity born of an egotistical persona.

11 posted on 03/10/2008 3:42:22 PM PDT by torchthemummy (W's Margin Of Victory In Florida 2000 - 537 / FL House Bill Number To Move Up Florida Primary - 537)
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To: John Jorsett

No but, after the way he threw Hevasi under the bus, they will be only too happy to impeach him. In addition, he has technically violated the Mann Act. He is toast. Once he is served with the Grand Jury Subpoena, its bye bye elliot.


12 posted on 03/10/2008 3:43:43 PM PDT by appeal2 (r)
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To: Libertarian444

I like seeing a rat caught in his own trap. More likely, though, this will qualify him to run for president in four years.


13 posted on 03/10/2008 3:44:48 PM PDT by sergeantdave (Governments hate armed citizens more than armed criminals)
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To: Libertarian444
I will BTTT, but, one question for everyone. A Federal wiretap was used to catch this guy, why? Do we really want the feds wiretapping prostitutes? I would think our resources could be put to better use.
14 posted on 03/10/2008 3:48:04 PM PDT by eastforker (Get-R-Done and then Bring-Em- Home)
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To: John Jorsett
I wonder if New York state has the recall.

Even if New York had such a mechanism, do you really believe that this sort of thing will sully his image in such a dark blue state? Democrats don't care about these problems. He not only could serve out his full term if he chose to, but he would also have no problem being reelected if he felt like running again.

15 posted on 03/10/2008 3:50:16 PM PDT by pnh102
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To: eastforker

Internal Revenue was involved..They caught him while pursuing a large prostitution ring..

Spitzer’s hypocrisy is breathtaking..The crime buster got busted.


16 posted on 03/10/2008 3:53:12 PM PDT by MEG33 (God Bless Our Military)
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To: eastforker
probably part of an IRS, money laundering and interstate criminal probe.

Just so much fun seeing that ferret faced weasel drag his wife out in front of the press and 'fess up.

I bet he knew it was a bad day when he got the call from the FBI.

17 posted on 03/10/2008 3:54:15 PM PDT by Dick Vomer (liberals suck....... but it depends on what your definition of the word "suck" is.,)
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To: Old Sarge
Carville is a busy little bee right now, already trying hard to question whether some mysterious political gambit was behind Spitzer having been found out and charged.

This is nothing more than another case of absolute power corrupting absolutely.

18 posted on 03/10/2008 3:54:29 PM PDT by Max7
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To: eastforker
Do we really want the feds wiretapping prostitutes? I would think our resources could be put to better use.

While I agree that government resources should be spent dealing with 'real' crimes, the fact of the matter is that Eliot Spitzer took an oath to uphold all the laws, even the ones he feels he can disregard. If he wants to engage in prostitution, the he can move to make such activity legal in New York.

19 posted on 03/10/2008 3:55:20 PM PDT by pnh102
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To: MEG33

Yup. the good old IRS, Had he paid a tax on that pussy cat would it be OK with you then???


20 posted on 03/10/2008 3:56:13 PM PDT by eastforker (Get-R-Done and then Bring-Em- Home)
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