The Important Spitzer Question
All evening I haven't seen anyone explain what the heck kind of federal investigation is it that goes after a prostitution ring? ABCNews is on the case and through TPM comes the story: the feds were called in because of the suspicious money transfers. They thought they had the Gov in a bribery or money laundering case, but after some investigation and a wiretap they figured out where all that money was going: seriously over-priced sex.

What an idiot.

And for a guy who spent his career prosecuting white-collar cases that involved similar kinds of evidence, the stupidity is that much more pronounced.

I have lots of sympathy for all kinds of personal indiscretion. You know, people make mistakes, and have issues. But this is so profoundly dumb, and shows such incredible hubris, it's a bit hard to fathom. You don't get to that level of public service by yourself, but on the backs of lots of people who pour their hearts and lives and pocketbooks and reputations into helping you get there because they believe in you and what you can do for the public good. To then - after all that - be willing to risk throwing it all in the toilet for something so asinine, and throw your wife under the bus with it (she surely held down the family while he was out being Eliot Ness and running for Governor) in public humiliation...it pretty well boggles the mind. There's gratitude for you.

All that being said, if Senator Craig and especially Senator Vitter didn't have to resign, I don't see why Governor Spitzer should have to. After all, he didn't in fact launder public money or engage in a bribery scheme, like they thought. He paid for sex, just like Vitter. And went so far out of his way to hide it, that he was caught. Would have done better to go out Hugh Grant style. But then, wouldn't we all.