The shaming of the sheriff

by patrick arden / metro new york

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MAR 11, 2008

NEW YORK. The so-called Sheriff of Wall Street rode a white horse into Albany last year, promising to root out corruption and proclaiming, “On Day One, everything changes.”

But yesterday Gov. Eliot Spitzer looked like he might be run out of town over charges that he paid thousands for a call girl.

Facing demands for his resignation, Spitzer delivered a brief statement, apparently dismissing the episode as “a private matter” before once again picking up the mantle of the reformer.

“We sought to bring real change to New York, and that will continue,” he said.

But if change does come to New York, it will likely arrive without Spitzer, said political analyst Ken Sherrill, a professor at Hunter College.

“He’s in deep trouble,” Sherrill said. “He hasn’t been convicted of any crime, but paying a prostitute is a crime in the state of New York. I suspect that almost any prosecutor would take his resignation as a deal for a criminal sentence. He’ll probably lose his license to practice law, too, so he doesn’t go to trial.”

That would be a humiliating end to what had been an honorable career, though Spitzer stumbled more than once during his first term in office. This latest scandal could even hurt his party’s chance of reclaiming the state Senate. The bad news landed just as it seemed Spitzer was finally overcoming the problems that had hobbled him, including his unpopular plan to give driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants and an alleged plot by his aides to trap Republican Majority Leader Joe Bruno.

Then, as now, Sherrill said, his problems grew out of the “arrogance of power.”

“He thought he could get away with it,” Sherrill said.

Albany politics will boil as Spitzer saga plays itself out

Gov. Eliot Spitzer has two choices: quit or fight.

If he quits, Lt. Gov. David Paterson would finish his term. An attorney and former Senate Minority Leader, Paterson would be the first black and first legally blind governor.

If Spitzer stays, it might be hard to hold on, as he could face impeachment.

A vote to impeach would have to come from the Democrat-ruled Assembly, but the trial would be run by the Republican Senate.

Spitzer far from beloved

new york. Eliot Spitzer could use some friends now.

Yet Spitzer’s career was built on making enemies, from bringing down powerful CEOs to calling Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno “senile.”

Just after taking office, Spitzer was unabashed about threatening Republican Assembly Leader James Tedisco.

“I am a f------ steamroller, and I’ll roll over you or anybody else,” he was quoted as saying.

Yesterday Tedisco had what may be the last word: “Eliot Spitzer must resign immediately.”

On the streets: The thoughts of three NYC prostitutes

“Everybody needs a little love ... what’s the big deal? ... He should have called me. I would have kept him out of trouble.” – Toni, from Craigslist

“I would say that everyone has their own dark secrets. No one is really honest. Every politician, every one of them, has a mistress, or a private girl on the side, escort, whatever.” – Vivian, from backpage.com

“Prostitution is illegal. But people will do whatever they want. That’s their problem. I got a business, it’s freedom to work at home.” – Vanna, from Craigslist

Pimp: Just legalize it

NEW YORK. Describing himself as America’s “pimp master general,” brothel owner Dennis Hof called politicians hypocrites and extended them an invitation to his Moonlite Bunny Ranch in Nevada.

“Another hypocrite bites the dust,” Hof said following the news of New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s connection to prostitutes.

Legalized prostitution, he said, “eliminates exploitation by dirty pimps ... eliminates disease ... eliminates money going into a criminal environment.”

Hof said when clients use Nevada’s legal brothels, they avoid the precarious situation of dealing with “criminals,” which can lead to blackmail.

“[Here], you’re paying for anonymity,” he said of his establishment, “you’re paying for it not to ruin your life.