NY Times: Gov. Spitzer linked to prostitution ring

[J. J.]

Does the Mann Act mean it's illegal to be in a state bordering Nevada and hire a Nevada prostitute to come in to your area?

Yes, basically.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Does the Mann Act mean it's illegal to be in a state bordering Nevada and hire a Nevada prostitute to come in to your area?

Yes, basically.

Wow, fascist.

[Keystone Phil]

Does the Mann Act mean it's illegal to be in a state bordering Nevada and hire a Nevada prostitute to come in to your area?

Yes, basically.

Wow, fascist.

Uh, how does that make him a fascist? He's stating a fact.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Does the Mann Act mean it's illegal to be in a state bordering Nevada and hire a Nevada prostitute to come in to your area?

Yes, basically.

Wow, fascist.

Uh, how does that make him a fascist? He's stating a fact.

I'm calling the law fascist, not him.

[Beet]

Maybe he was saying that the law was 'fascist'.

What really bugs me though is that there are women living in this country who would turn to prostitution. Are these 'high class' escorts who actually choose their work/have it as a part-time or temporary thing? Or are they foreign imports/Drug addicts/otherwise exploited poor?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Maybe he was saying that the law was 'fascist'.

What really bugs me though is that there are women living in this country who would turn to prostitution. Are these 'high class' escorts who actually choose their work/have it as a part-time or temporary thing? Or are they foreign imports/Drug addicts/otherwise exploited poor?

I'm reminded of what a peep show girl once told me. She masturbates all the time for free, so why not get paid for it?

[J. J.]

Does the Mann Act mean it's illegal to be in a state bordering Nevada and hire a Nevada prostitute to come in to your area?

Yes, basically.

Wow, fascist.

Uh, how does that make him a fascist? He's stating a fact.

I'm calling the law fascist, not him.

Not fascist, just interstate "commerce."

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

I think the most unfortunate part of this is that Spitzer, having been the Attorney General (and possibly patronizing the prostitutes during that time in office), should have held himself to a far higher standard than your run-of-the-mill politician.

After all, if you can't trust the "top cop" to follow the law, who can you trust?

[Keystone Phil]

Politics1 is reporting that the NY GOP is thrilled with the idea of Governor Patterson. Apparently, Patterson has some ethical problems also.

[Tender Branson]

"Spritzergate" -> For the meaning of this, learn German.

[12th Doctor]

You know, I just sat through three news reports on this in a row and not a single one of them mentioned that Spitzer is a Democrat.  Typical.

Hell, I guess we should just be lucky they aren't saying he is a Republican on the front page now and then issuing a page 12 "retraction" three days later.

[Bacon King]

Hell, I guess we should just be lucky they aren't saying he is a Republican on the front page now and then issuing a page 12 "retraction" three days later.

Only Fox News has tactics that low

[StateBoiler]

Politics1 is reporting that the NY GOP is thrilled with the idea of Governor Patterson. Apparently, Patterson has some ethical problems also.

And how are the Republicans going to ever win a gubernatorial election in New York in the near future?

[Sam Spade]

Dude, step into reality. Spitzer won 69-29. Your vote did not matter then, so why do you act as if this scandal stabs you with a knife? If you hadn't've voted for Spitzer and instead voted for Faso, nothing would've changed.

Because it was an affirmative vote for me, not one that I made under the *lesser of two evils* scenario that is often presented.

The fact of whether the vote mattered to the final outcome is immaterial.  Only very rarely does one's vote really affect the final result in any election.

Well, it happens. Just remember that politics is little more than a parlor game where people compete for the right to fulfill their ambition for power. If you remember that simple point for everyone, it should come as little surprise that the majority of politicians are scumbags.

Well, look, I cast no aspersions about the sanctity of politicians, but I would certainly like to see better than what we've gotten out of Spitzer, which is quite frankly, much worse than Pataki, something I thought not possible.

[Sam Spade]

Politics1 is reporting that the NY GOP is thrilled with the idea of Governor Patterson. Apparently, Patterson has some ethical problems also.

And how are the Republicans going to ever win a gubernatorial election in New York in the near future?

It's happened before, it'll happen again.

Presently, Paterson is being sued for employment discrimination, as I recall.  THat's it, I think - on the ethical side, for now.

[J. J.]

Just heard.  The GOP will begin Impeachment proceedings if Spitzer doesn't resign in 48 hours.

[J. J.]

Politics1 is reporting that the NY GOP is thrilled with the idea of Governor Patterson. Apparently, Patterson has some ethical problems also.

And how are the Republicans going to ever win a gubernatorial election in New York in the near future?

It's happened before, it'll happen again.

Presently, Paterson is being sued for employment discrimination, as I recall.  THat's it, I think - on the ethical side, for now.

The only thing I've seen is some minor resume fudging.

[JSojourner]

You know, I just sat through three news reports on this in a row and not a single one of them mentioned that Spitzer is a Democrat.  Typical.

Hell, I guess we should just be lucky they aren't saying he is a Republican on the front page now and then issuing a page 12 "retraction" three days later.

Actually, Soulty -- lots of news shops have policies that strongly discourage reporters and anchors from mixing party with scandal.  For example, the story of David Vitter (which received far less coverage than Spitzer) was reported by certain networks as "Senator David Vitter of Louisiana..." not Republican David Vitter. 

When I ran a newsroom, I allowed it -- as long as it was done equally for both parties. 

Often, the party becomes obvious anyway -- based on who defends or condemns the accused.

[JSojourner]

Dude, step into reality. Spitzer won 69-29. Your vote did not matter then, so why do you act as if this scandal stabs you with a knife? If you hadn't've voted for Spitzer and instead voted for Faso, nothing would've changed.

Because it was an affirmative vote for me, not one that I made under the *lesser of two evils* scenario that is often presented.

The fact of whether the vote mattered to the final outcome is immaterial.  Only very rarely does one's vote really affect the final result in any election.

Well, it happens. Just remember that politics is little more than a parlor game where people compete for the right to fulfill their ambition for power. If you remember that simple point for everyone, it should come as little surprise that the majority of politicians are scumbags.

Well, look, I cast no aspersions about the sanctity of politicians, but I would certainly like to see better than what we've gotten out of Spitzer, which is quite frankly, much worse than Pataki, something I thought not possible.

Sam, can you fill me in on Pataki?  I always kinda liked him and wonder what the scandal was there?

[opebo]

The Mann Act is a fascinating, rather old piece of legislation.  Nice to see it being brought off the dust-heap.

Blatantly unconstitutional of course, but not with the 'courts' we have...

It really is astounding that the sort of activities Spitzer allegedly engaged in here are illegal in the Police State.  In most civilized countries it would be considered normal and very personal male behaviour.

[Sam Spade]

Dude, step into reality. Spitzer won 69-29. Your vote did not matter then, so why do you act as if this scandal stabs you with a knife? If you hadn't've voted for Spitzer and instead voted for Faso, nothing would've changed.

Because it was an affirmative vote for me, not one that I made under the *lesser of two evils* scenario that is often presented.

The fact of whether the vote mattered to the final outcome is immaterial.  Only very rarely does one's vote really affect the final result in any election.

Well, it happens. Just remember that politics is little more than a parlor game where people compete for the right to fulfill their ambition for power. If you remember that simple point for everyone, it should come as little surprise that the majority of politicians are scumbags.

Well, look, I cast no aspersions about the sanctity of politicians, but I would certainly like to see better than what we've gotten out of Spitzer, which is quite frankly, much worse than Pataki, something I thought not possible.

Sam, can you fill me in on Pataki?  I always kinda liked him and wonder what the scandal was there?

No scandal, just classic Albany, somewhat incompetent, but not overly so.  Tax and spend and screw upstate NY.    A lot of this has to do with the NY governmental system, however.

[JSojourner]

Dude, step into reality. Spitzer won 69-29. Your vote did not matter then, so why do you act as if this scandal stabs you with a knife? If you hadn't've voted for Spitzer and instead voted for Faso, nothing would've changed.

Because it was an affirmative vote for me, not one that I made under the *lesser of two evils* scenario that is often presented.

The fact of whether the vote mattered to the final outcome is immaterial.  Only very rarely does one's vote really affect the final result in any election.

Well, it happens. Just remember that politics is little more than a parlor game where people compete for the right to fulfill their ambition for power. If you remember that simple point for everyone, it should come as little surprise that the majority of politicians are scumbags.

Well, look, I cast no aspersions about the sanctity of politicians, but I would certainly like to see better than what we've gotten out of Spitzer, which is quite frankly, much worse than Pataki, something I thought not possible.

Sam, can you fill me in on Pataki?  I always kinda liked him and wonder what the scandal was there?

No scandal, just classic Albany, somewhat incompetent, but not overly so.  Tax and spend and screw upstate NY.    A lot of this has to do with the NY governmental system, however.

Thanks.

I know there was some talk of him running for President, and I wasn't sure what prevented him.  I didn't know if it was a corruption scandal or just the realization that he was ineffective as Governor. 

[Sam Spade]

Dude, step into reality. Spitzer won 69-29. Your vote did not matter then, so why do you act as if this scandal stabs you with a knife? If you hadn't've voted for Spitzer and instead voted for Faso, nothing would've changed.

Because it was an affirmative vote for me, not one that I made under the *lesser of two evils* scenario that is often presented.

The fact of whether the vote mattered to the final outcome is immaterial.  Only very rarely does one's vote really affect the final result in any election.

Well, it happens. Just remember that politics is little more than a parlor game where people compete for the right to fulfill their ambition for power. If you remember that simple point for everyone, it should come as little surprise that the majority of politicians are scumbags.

Well, look, I cast no aspersions about the sanctity of politicians, but I would certainly like to see better than what we've gotten out of Spitzer, which is quite frankly, much worse than Pataki, something I thought not possible.

Sam, can you fill me in on Pataki?  I always kinda liked him and wonder what the scandal was there?

No scandal, just classic Albany, somewhat incompetent, but not overly so.  Tax and spend and screw upstate NY.    A lot of this has to do with the NY governmental system, however.

Thanks.

I know there was some talk of him running for President, and I wasn't sure what prevented him.  I didn't know if it was a corruption scandal or just the realization that he was ineffective as Governor. 

He was ineffective, but any Presidential run would be derailed by the fact he has the charisma of a dead bullfrog.

[Keystone Phil]

Politics1 is reporting that the NY GOP is thrilled with the idea of Governor Patterson. Apparently, Patterson has some ethical problems also.

And how are the Republicans going to ever win a gubernatorial election in New York in the near future?

The GOP Senate leader would be installed as Acting Governor until a Special is called.

He was ineffective, but any Presidential run would be derailed by the fact he has the charisma of a dead bullfrog.

Yeah, I'll never forget that "campaign." He appeared on Road to the White House once at a house party. It was one of the most awkward things I've ever watched.

[Mr. Morden]

I know there was some talk of him running for President, and I wasn't sure what prevented him.  I didn't know if it was a corruption scandal or just the realization that he was ineffective as Governor. 

There was only talk of him running for president in 2012 or 2016.  He was only just elected governor in 2006, so 2008 would have been way too early for him.