How does this chameleon change his color so quickly? His whole life as a journalist has been to sell his writing to moneybags across the seas writing in pink papers to promote their viewpoint. His writing is typical of Fabianism which many English print and visual media in India specialize standing on two stools at the same time and invariably falling in between. The same coolie journalist would have shouted "moral policing" if someone of India's CONgress party, esp the newly (English media) annoited Yuvraj, lumpen was caught in the act. Maybe that is the reason the entire Print and visual media is deafeningly quiet on the gangrape of poor Sukanya Devi on Dec 3, 2006 in Amethi. Swaminathan, I dare you to take up the cause of poor Sukanya Devi in your favorite pink paper (that auctions it's editorial space) like your visual counterpart TIMESNOW took up the cause of Jessica Lal or Nitish Katara murders? Or are afraid the Turino Mafiosi would put a bullet through your forehead?

I hope Newsweek/ Washington Post take up the case of poor Sukanya Devi (who is hiding herself to escape from the hired lumpens to kill her, Intellibriefs have complete details of this rape) so we are rid of the mafiosi with links to some of Interpol's most wanted list:
1. Virginia Cover de Rodrigues
2. Manuel Noreiga
3. Sicilian Mafia lord by name Michel Sindona now dead
4. Archbishop Marcinkus now hiding in Sun City.
5. Pablo Escobar (dead)
6. Late Agha Hassan Abedi, the founder of the Pakistani Bank known as BCCI (Bank of Credit
and Commerce International) - another drug money laundering outfit and major donor to the Indira Gandhi Memorial Foundation.
7. Drug Cardinal, Cardinal Posadas-Ocampo of Mexico killed in agun battle who was an agent of the notorious Colombian drug baron Pablo Escobar, and possibly also of Noriega

FINALMENTE A CRISE MOSTROU OS CULPADOS, MAS SEM CRIMES

Somente depois da recente reunião realizada na Basiléia, Suíça, sede dos BIS ou USB (Banco Central dos Bancos Centrais), com a presença de Governadores ou Presidentes dos Bancos Centrais dos países do Grupo do G-10, compreendendo Bélgica, Canadá, França, Itália , Japão, Holanda, Suécia, Suíça, Inglaterra e Estados Unidos, foi possível saber, de direito, porque de fato já sabíamos, que os responsáveis
Pela propalada e administrada “Crise Mundial...” são os Cartéis do Sistema Financeiro e os Bancos Centrais, por omissão.

Essa reunião da Basiléia deixou bem claro que os Bancos Centrais dos Países mais ricos do Mundo, venceram a queda de braço contra o Tesouro Nacional americano e mostraram, sem nenhum constrangimento, que são verdadeiros agentes do sistema financeiro mundial. Enquanto o Secretário americano defendia ajuda restrita às vítimas inocentes das subprimes, limitada aos USD 160 bilhões, o FED (banco central americano) cobrava a ampliação desses benefícios aos especuladores e aos Bancos, indistintamente e foi o grande vencedor da peleja, em prejuízo de bilhões de dólares a milhões de contribuintes. E o FED está fazendo redescontos de títulos com garantia de 85% do Valor de Face, quando é sabido que a cotação desses papéis não passa de 10%. E uma prova transparente de que as Raposas continuam Fiscalizando os Aviários.

O interessante é que o sistema financeiro , através dos Bancos Centrais, sem necessidade de compromisso com o povo ou de representatividade através de eleições populares diretas, conquistou poderes absolutos para manipular mercado , inflação, juros e ainda com a vantagem de sacar do Tesouro Nacional, sem limite, recursos para a cobertura de fabulosos prejuízos ( R$ 48 bilhões foram sacados recente pelo BC Brasil) FAZ BEM LEMBRAR o que disse THOMAS JEFFERSON, EX-PRESIDENTE AMERICANO: “Se o povo americano alguma vez permitir aos bancos controlarem a questão da nossa dívida, primeiro através da inflação, depois pela deflação, os bancos e as corporações que crescerão privarão o povo de toda a prosperidade até que os seus filhos acordem sem casa no continente que os seus pais conquistaram”. A profecia está se materializando e mais de dois milhões dos americanos (vítimas inocentes) estão abandonando as suas casas, porque foram enganados e manipulados pela ganância da especulação financeira.

A era Greenspan, de juros negativos e de excesso de liquidez, com os ganhos abusivos nos países em desenvolvimento (continua até hoje), alastrou a especulação habitacional e de outros ativos de risco, mostrando uma prosperidade irreal e deixou os Bancos totalmente livres para a manipulação do mercado financeiro Mundial . E os Bancos Centrais não estão sendo capazes ou não querem mostrar a dimensão dessa crise e até parece que desejam que a instabilidade e as incertezas continuem. De acordo com o IIF ( Instituto de Finanças Internacionais), os Emergentes devem receber um fluxo de capitais de mais de US$ 730 bilhões este ano, sendo somente que US$ 260 bilhões em investimentos Diretos e o restante para giro na especulação financeira volátil, que não gera mais produção , emprego ou renda. E esse capital nocivo continua vasculhando o planeta, em busca de atrativos ganhos em países como os do Brasil, que infelizmente sempre privilegiou esse capital em detrimento das prioridades maiores da Nação.

A fraqueza do Tesouro americano. demonstrada frente ao seu Banco Central , como vem anunciando alguns jornais, já despertou em muitos países a necessidade de devolver ao Congresso Nacional o controle do dinheiro e a sua volta às mãos do povo, mas com competência, seriedade e total TRANSPARENCIA. As lições valiosas do passado, a partir de 1929 de nada serviram ou estão servindo, exatamente porque os países democráticos continuam socializando prejuízos de bilhões de dólares (do povo) em favor de uma ínfima minoria de especuladores e banqueiros internacionais. Esperamos que o governo brasileiro tenha maturidade suficiente e não seja embevecido com o noticiário bajulador da imprensa internacional, mostrando o País como o berço da prosperidade para esse capital nocivo. Basta lembrar, com uma certa tristeza que o crescimento real estupendo das receitas do Tesouro não foi suficiente para conter uma dívida de US$ 157 bilhões em janeiro de 1991 que passou para R$ 1,333,8 trilhão em 2007 e deve chegar a R$ 1.540 trilhão em 2008, de acordo com projeções do Banco Central.Tudo isso, depois do pagamento, no mesmo período, de alguns bilhões de dólares em juros e encargos financeiros. Somente de 2007 para 2008 haverá um crescimento nominal da dívida em mais de R$ 200 bilhões, independentemente dos juros que serão pagos com o aproveitamento do superávit primário. E de 1991 para cá esses bilhões de reaias que estão gerando novos endividamentos estão sendo direcionados única e exclusivamente para alimentar a ciranda financeira ou o capital de “motel” e a concratação de riquezas. Esperávamos, sinceramente, que os Bancos Centrais e o FMI , na reunião da Basiléia apresentassem soluções concretas para o MONITORAMENTO DO SISTEMA FINANCEIRO, NA DEFESA DE BILHÕES DE PESSOAS.OS AMERICANOS E A UNIÃO EUROPEIA, EM NOME DA CRISE, ESTÃO GANHANDO ALGUNS BILHÕES DE DÓLARES ANUAIS, ROLANDO DÍVIDAS DE MAIS DE US$ 20 TRILHÕES A CUSTO ZERO OU MESMO NEGATIVO. NADA MAU PARA QUEM ESTÁ EM CRISE.

what i want to know is when hillary turned to look at bill with a knowing look in her eye, did bill at least look contrite?

I think what's more important is that be commited a crime, and a Felony in the process. Plenty of politicians have had extra marital affairs. His was amazingly criminal. I mean, look in the house and senate. I think if he hadn't crossed state lines you would be hearing him playing a different tune. That, and the fact the FBI got him on tape. Why is it that prostitution, the oldest profession on earth, is a crime?

Exploitation you say? Is that what $5500/hr is? Exploit me baby!

The issue here is not privacy but legality implication of his action. While he it is legal to have a wife and a concubine, sorry a mistress, in our society, Prostitution and polygamy are illegal. If what he did was illegal under the law than he should resign and the law should be applied on him.

If he committed a crime it's not personnel. Our congressional,state and local leaders should lead by example.We need to be careful when we use the word personnel.

No wonder India is such a sh!t hole. The people that live there have sh!t for brains. And this moron is one of the smartest India has to offer.
Hey sparky, it really does matter if your politicians are corrupt criminals. Calling it "a personal matter" is typical left wing BS.
Get a brain idiot!

private and public issues are involved. shame? should be, but even more for the effect on his family. I too have 3 daughters and a wife that would be horribly affected. maybe it's just a US cultural phenom, but that relationship and the need to repair would supercede any other. of course, Eliot the idiot didn't seem to get any of that, shown by the further humiliation he subjected his wife to. consentual? he paid for it, which brings the laws he swore to uphold into it. forgiveness? that's their business and God's

What's wrong is that Spitzer's use of a prostitute makes him vulnerable to blackmail. When the CIA or NSA interview someone for an especially sensitive job -- at least, this is the way it used to be, "back in the day" -- one of the questions they ask, among others, is "Have you ever had an affair?" If you answered affirmatively, you were no longer considered for the job, regardless of your other qualifications. Why? Because you were vulnerable to blackmail, and the agency did not want blackmail-able people to have access to national-security information. Same reasoning applies to Spitzer: no one in that position should be vulnerable to blackmail. JIM

Mr. Aiyar is unbelievably naive and ill-informed. The Spitzer affair involves a variety of allegations, including: violation of IRS regulations concerning cash transactions by attempting to "structure transactions" in such a way as to circumvent the law concerning reporting; interstate transportation of persons for the purpose of prostitution; and the governor of New York having a working relationship of long standing with elements of organized crime. This has nothing to do with sex and everything to do with corruption and would have been equally horrifying to observers of our system of government if the ultimate transactions had only involved tax-free cigarettes or knock-off jewelry.

Sorry but between consenting adults and between anyone and an illegal prostitute are not the same thing. Prostitution is illegal in most states in the US.

It's not his "private business" when he violates state and federal laws. He didn't just have an affair, he broke the law.

It is not personal! He was an elected official who betrayed the public trust, and exposed himslef needlessly and recklessly to blackmail by organized crime.

This is not personal!

Other elected officials have committed felonies (e.g. perjury) when called to testify (see Clinton cops a plea)

Look up the following on the New York Times web site. He copped a plea on his last day on office to avoid going to jail for perjury.

TRANSITION IN WASHINGTON: THE PRESIDENT; Exiting Job, Clinton Accepts Immunity Deal

Published: January 20, 2001
In a stunning end to the long melodrama and pitched legal battles over President Clinton's relationship with a White House intern, Mr. Clinton today agreed to a settlement in which he will avoid the possibility of indictment in exchange for admitting that he gave false testimony under oath and agreeing to surrender his law license for five years.

The only thing illegal about all this is the absurd laws that prevent consenting adults from having sex, whether it's paid for or not. The moral majority, religious right, or whatever you want to call them are to blame for all this--they strive for laws to prohibit pleasure! If sex was more generously available, from you spouse or whomever, people would be much happier! We must rescind laws that prevent personal freedom--and yes, paying for sex should be a personal freedom. I vote for hedonism!

completely agrees. Those imbeciles who voted for Bush, believed in WMDs etc, now call him a hypocrite, as if going to a prostitute and ripping off people at Wall Street would be the same. God save America...

Like hell it is "his business." This guy violated state and Federal laws, and committed a felony. This is way outside "his business" at this point. If he wanted to go have an affair somewhere, THAT would be "his business." Once you get into breaking laws to have your giggles, it becomes public business.

Obviously social norms and morals don't matter in India's political system. They do in the U.S. contrary to what people say in the media. The only reason try to rationalize and say that it has nothing to do with a politician's job is our rapidly decline sense of social responsibility.

He prosecuted two prostitution rings while he was the District Attorney for New York. So, at a minimum he is a hypocrite. Also, as an elected official sworn to uphold the law one cannot break them, repeatedly. He's done it is too bad as well, I was a fan of him work when he was the DA. He made a real attempt to treat crime in the suites, like we treat crime in the streets.

"Mr. Spitzer focuses on his personal plight"

March In The District
(Japanese Magnolia Blossoms)

The soft felt in the blooms of Lafayette Square
Exotic flower part the lips with hardly a care
Native dogwood holds the squirrel's nest
Twitchy tails mate feigning their zest

The cherry's blush has yet to leak
The winter's crush upon their cheeks
Sherman's steed looks the other way
Best laid plans about to go agley

Claude Strickland March 12, 2008

I'm actually tired of hearing about sex and politicians - I don't care anymore. I just want the country run well. Spitzer did a great job of going after some greedy cons on Wall Street and seemed to be doing a good job running New York. Who he has sex with his business. I also think in this case it really was a victimless crime - $4000 for 2.5 hours... I think there are a lot of women who'ld jump on that deal (heck add a zero to that number and I might think about it with Spitzer). The prostitution laws really need to be changed - it wastes a lot of time and energy we could spend on other things.
Why should we lose the abilities of good politicians just becuase they like sex - heck - if they are masculine and strong leaders they should like sex!

He was paying for prostitutes with taxpayers' dollars! That may be okay in India; it isn't here!

There are many things in Spitzer's behavior that are obnoxious, and they have nothing to do with sex, although that will inevitably become the public perception. First, there is the hypocrisy of zealous prosecution of crimes in which one also benefits. Next, there is the violation of trust within his family, which occurs not because of WHAT he does but because he HIDES it rather than admitting and facing the problem. These are both extremely serious failings in PRIVATE life, first with respect to oneself, and second as it affects those to whom one most owes the duty of openness and fairness. I would prefer that the affairs of my government not be conducted by such a person; however, I also recognize that Mr. Spitzer is by no means unique among government figures in his PRIVATE perfidious behavior. The others just haven't been caught. Of course, it really isn't my place (or anyone else's) to judge Mr. Spitzer's behavior (which appears to be appalling) without being able to understand his motives, i.e., "walk in his shoes." Or is this a Republican "dirty trick" set up months ago by Karl Rove? ;-)

Eliot Spitzer should resign.

What Spitzer did was not have "sex between consenting adults," as you mention above, and as some of the other recent sex scandals involving politicians have been.

Spitzer PAID somebody to have sex with him, which makes it prostitution, which makes it ILLEGAL. Besides targeting Wall Street, Spitzer made it a point of targeting sex operations while he was A.G. of NY. This was NOT an affair, which WOULD have been "sex between consenting adults," and a PERSONAL matter rather than a LEGAL matter. Whether prostitution should be legal or not is another matter entirely.

As a legal professional and former State Attorney General, he KNEW what he was doing was illegal. He probably thought that he would never be caught, he'd get away with it since nobody would EVER suspect him of such behavior. Not only did he pay a prostitute, but he paid her to cross several state lines in the effort - which is also illegal (the Mann Act, 1910, an effort to suppress human trafficking).

If Spitzer is waiting to get a deal from the Feds, I don't see what cards he has. They have already nailed the proprietors and office staff of the prostitution company, and probably have all they need to also arrest the other employees. So, what could he offer them in order to get a deal? Don't you usually have to have something they want? Of course, there could be other things we DON'T know yet, but it seems they're already well on their way to busting this ring.

The devastation this will cause Spitzer's family is terrible, but if he does not step down he will also distract the NY legislature from continuing their work for the people of New York State. This would be a disservice to the people of NYS - we deserve better.

why am i blocked when i use the word hooker?

hay dnarep
it is illegal when you pay for it.
its a federal crime when you cross a state line.
and when you bust the hookers who you are not having sex with and leave the ones you are having sex with alone, when you are the attorney general, its selling your office.
if it had been his secretary it would not have been illegal but the may spent 80,000 dollars on hookers - that is a lot of different times he violated the law.

Don In Canandaigua NY:

COME ON!!! So what that a powerful man in office had sex with a hooker to relieve the stress of a powerful ob that most of us wouldn't want or could handle doing.

-the man no doubt just train wrecked his family in a bizarre way. He's the governor of NY and he practices what he prosecuted. Thats very poor judgment. I woudnt trust this moron to run a state.
To excuse this is just ridiculous.How could anyone public or private trust this guy's judgement?

Hello! This isn't sex between to consenting adults, what he did was not just immoral, it was ILLEGAL!!!

Then again he is a Democrat and since when Dems have Morals anyway.

It doesn't matter if it is "private." It is illegal in this area. He is a member of the executive branch and his duty is to enforce the standing laws. He is not exempt and this issue is not a mere discussion of morals. He has broken the law.

COME ON!!! So what that a powerful man in office had sex with a hooker to relieve the stress of a powerful ob that most of us wouldn't want or could handle doing. This event has nothing to do with his job or how well he does it. What consenting adults do in privact is nobody's business. Of course now out marches the religious right and the more moral than thou clan to publicly show that they are shocked. Get out of people's bedrooms and hotels for dirt and look into the boardrooms and offices. At least as a Democrat he had the class to seek out women, unlike most Republicans who search out boys and men for their bedroom antics. The problem with this country is we are more concerned with what everyone else is doing in private, than in our own homes. I SUPPORT Eliot!!!

"In a free society, sex between consenting adults should be their business", says the panelist. And other say he's hypocrite because he prosecuted prostitutes. Others say we should forgive him. All are are irrelevant. It is matter of the rule of law. It really is that simple.

To "BobC"
For another shining moral example of your beloved "democracy" in action, please refer to the report under the headline "HUD e-mails" in today's Wash Post...
To "Robin"
Careful kid...that brand of criticism may get ya "audited" by some right-leaning bureaucrat at the IRS!
Thx

The answer really lies in the Bible when Jesus said while defending a prostitute "Ye without sin cast the first stone."

Somehow I think that many of those calling for Spitzer's resignation are not without sin.

This is an issue between Spitzer and his wife. If she forgives him why shouldn't we do the same?

Yea it is his bussiness.Laws dont apply to democrats.

I have to disagree with you on that one its American citizens who vote for these people if he is that dishonest to his family, how honorable is he as a politician and his country.
No integrity at all.

" robin:

It is astonishing that America has such a problem with nature. The USA can happily blow up hundreds of thousands of grandmothers, grandfathers, mothers, fathers, sons and daughters but god forbid somebody may have sex. What a pathetic, puritan hypocritical bunch of monsters you are."

Robin, let's explore societies that are more free and more open? Very few. Churchill had it right: "It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried."

Don't like us, then don't buy our stuff, visit our websites, or take our money. Enjoy living it a cave. We innovate, we grow, we build, we thrive, and we reserve the right to defend ourselves.

Hey Robin, It's not about the SEX, it's about Eloit Spitzer being a hypocrite. I could care less about the sex.

Three words: Rule of Law

You either abide by it or have it changed, but you don't break it--that's how it works in a democracy. He was happy to apply the law to others, why not to himself. In addition, by crossing state boundaries, he broke more of those pesky laws.

Who comes up with those things anyway--oh yeah, we do through our elected representatives.

Spitzers mistake was being holier than thou. I live in NY. I did not vote for him because I didn't trust him. Now we all know why.
For me it's not so much the prostitute. It is the fact that he is a hypocrite. The setting up of a dummy company so he could pay to have sex with a prostitute and crossing state lines that is the crime. He ran on the platform of cleaning up NY. I guess he should clean up his own life first.
So far as it is know, he channeled his own money to pay for his activities.
I no longer feel sorry for his wife, she is said to be encouraging him not to resign. I do however feel very bad for his children.
I can not even imagine what it must be like for them.
Others can be so cruel.
He needs to resign now. He has lost all crediblity.

It is astonishing that America has such a problem with nature. The USA can happily blow up hundreds of thousands of grandmothers, grandfathers, mothers, fathers, sons and daughters but god forbid somebody may have sex. What a pathetic, puritan hypocritical bunch of monsters you are.

Just musing on the governor's resume:

Strong proponent of abortion rights (may have been reinforced by his alleged actitivies with prostitutes), same-sex marriage, advocate of proposal to issue driver's licenses to illegal aliens, and now this, involvement in a prostitution ring that may have spanned over a period of six years.

Although he might have brought SOME good to New York State, he doesn't appear to have strong morals otherwise...

I just wished to make the point that in addition to the many points made by others here that mitigate in favor of the resignation of Governor Spitzer, there's also this:

the public has a right to decide for itself what kind of leader it wants. The criteria includes leadership potential, experience, character, and many others. The public is thus justifiably shocked because obviously he compromised his character. As we elect 'em, we can determine the standards to which we will hold them.

And please D, knock off that silly liberal intellectual gibberish in favor of the governor's activities.

Its simple. If he broke the law that he was supposed to uphold he should RESIGN....
Its not about SEX.............
I really could care less if the guy had an affair or not....
However, if he channelled $$ in illegal ways, that I CARE ABOUT!!

Here we go again. What part of illegal activity don't those saying "it's his business" understand?

Spitzer broke the law in spectacular fashion, repeatedly. Say goodbye Governor.

David Nance, he didn't use government funds. They investigated him because he was transferring under 10K in cash frequently. Try to actually read the news.

I agree fully with Swaminathan Aiyar. I also think that this things have become highly politicized with nearly everybody have their own agenda mostly personal.
Spitzer is not the only one doing these things. When politicians go to junkets they behave worse. They are mostly silent.
The press, especially the opinion makers, are blowing it out of proportion in order to get unwarranted attention and sell their papers. They have become judge, jury, and executioner. They should be ashamed. They have no legal and moral rights considering they have their own biases and interests. Nobody voted for them to become the "watchdogs" of the society.
They are supposed to report it objectively not with innuendos, hearsays, and a lot of malice. The press for me, has become a monster.
I hope the society can invent another way of reporting things and make these "hypocrites" obsolete.
Let us judge the press. Let us find a way. Let us give them a dose of their own medicine. But let us do it morally or we will just be repeating the offensive things that they are doing.

To Cheryl Cotterill, thanks for posting that article. All people have flaws or issues, when a politician does the right thing for the people I can overlook a lot.

To Charles, NJ, sorry, normally "johns" are not prosecuted, only the prostitutes are, your argument does not hold.

To everyone on his being a hypocrite, I don't know yet, my understanding is he went after prostitution rings that were basically using slave labor. That is very different, I'll wait to decide on that when I have more info.

Here's a thought, have you never done anything illegal? Broke a law you found was plain wrong? Are you gay? Because for a long time if you were a male homosexual in Texas, having sex was illegal. Did you drink alcohol before you were of legal age? Do you speed? Are you white and did you marry someone black when that was illegal? Do you really think prostitution should be illegal? Does it make things better or worse?

Finally to all of you. Please take some of your time to be outraged over the Bush administration's use of secret spying on americans. Take some of this angst and use it to call and email your congress person, if immunity is granted to the telecoms we will never know what laws Bush broke. It's so much more important than the NY governors sex life. And I won't be back to see the, so why are you posting this messages so don't bother with that. Just let our reps know you care about loosing our democracy bit by bit.

You need to pay more attention!

The guy appears to have used government funds
is that okay too?

"sex between consenting adults should be their business and theirs alone." is true when the sex does not violate the law. In Spitzer's case, he violated the law--and it appears that he violated the law on several occasions. Whether he agrees or not, prostitution is illegal in New York and in Washington DC.

Further, as governor of NY, Spitzer is responsible for the "execution and enforcement of state laws." When Spitzer demonstrates a flagrant disregard for the the laws of which he is responsible to execute and enforce, then he needs to be held accountable for his actions by the citizens.

If Spitzer were the governor of Nevada, it certainly would be a private matter as prostitution is legal in Nevada.

People should care (especially Spitzers NY constituents) because it makes him vulnerable to blackmail which of course could impact his ability to govern effectively .

If he were not an elected official I would say 'who cares'.

Hmmm, I would like to know a bit more about his prosecution of prostitution rings before I say he's a hypocrite. If indeed he outed those that were not using what amounts to slavery then yes he is a hypocrite and should resign. Not because he had sex but because he violated his own ethics.

So far as whether it is ethical to have sex with a prostitute, I think that is between the people involved. I see nothing wrong in having sex for fun so long as the prostitute is not coerced. I think based on the profiles of these women, they were willing to do this "work".

As far as his infidelity is concerned, that is between him and his wife. For all we know they had an "understanding", not unheard of...we don't know and shouldn't be judging what that. It really is their personal life.

Governor, Say Goodbye!

Although I feel sorry for his wife and three daughters, I will not shed a tear for the governor. He rode to the governor's mansion on the back of anyone who broke the law as he was required to do by law. What he was not required to do was persecute the people he prosecuted. If there’s anyone who is emblematic of the Joe McCarthy era it was the governor. Those that support him will say it is a tragedy that such great leader was caught in this trivial sexual affair. For those who have experienced his attacks directly or as bystanders, his departure will call for a celebration, as he was the devil incarnate. For the rest of us it was another political soaring egomaniac that soared to high and failed to understand he could not fly. Overall, his demise will be good for New York and maybe even be good for Senator Clinton, a good place for her to land.

Matt Levine, Candidate
www.thevirtualcongress.com

Victorian America once again meddles in the personal lives of its politicians (Sen. Craig, Bill Clinton, etc.). In Europe, this would be a non-issue. Consensual relations with grown adults (yes, even prostitutes) should be between those adults, and none of us. Hal

If Spitzer were any other citizen I may have agreed with you, but he is not. This is a man who climbed the ladders of public power by aggressively prosecuting and sending people to prison for breaking our laws. I personally do not believe prostitution should be illegal, but it is. And I will enjoy seeing Spitzer hung by the same noose he has used to hang others. All hypocrites have that coming, but especially one who thinks he is going to manifest power over others hypocritically--and get paid handsomely to do it!

The real outrage is the WIRETAPPING of America by Republicans controlling FBI, CIA, everything else.

Bush-Cheney's terrorism is TERRORISM ON AMERICANS.

Wait until YOUR employer, insurance, creditors, etc., get hold of negative information on YOU.

Why do Americans punish sex, but don't PUNISH CORRUPTION? We have the most corrupt Republican administration in history running Washington DC.

Dear CHRIS
Thanks for your comment

"So, if Spitzer's wife gets a sexual disease from the man who was unfaithful to her, that's okay with you folks?"

Is that the strawman comment of the day? The question is whether a person's infidelity should be blarred across the media, not whether it is ok to pass an STD onto a spouse.

Maybe he should be scolded for asking for "unsafe things" with the little call girls, and for his reputation for being "difficult" with them! My goodness...

that prince of New York...
Or maybe just forgive him wholesale, because he is a member of a "prominent New York Jewish family", as we keep hearing.

So, if Spitzer's wife gets a sexual disease from the man who was unfaithful to her, that's okay with you folks? This was just a personal thing? How many times must we see and realize that this is not just a private thing, and how many lives and families are damaged by this? Mrs. Spitzer wasn't up next to her man out of the goodness of her heart - her heart was breaking. Did anyone else see her pain?

Well, no it's not just "his business".

If he paid some chick for sex in his hometown, yeah, maybe.

He contracted for a girl to travel across state lines. That's a criminal act and he knows it. And then, yeah, probably we could let that go too. It's the "agency" that had the girl cross state lines.

OTOH, he also has busted up similar operations in the past.

He's a "crime fightin'" politician. So why is he committing a crime or consorting with those who do for his jollies?

He has to resign. Period.

I agree that whereas Clinton was sought primarily for political reasons here there seem to be a real criminal dimension. Clinton's lies under oath were trying to hide his UNPAID private (parts) matters. This seems to be much more serious. Sorry I did not read the whole report.

Try reading the European tabloids and then post the same comment with a straight face.

If I did this, I would expect it to be kept personal but then, I did not take an oath of office which he probably just violated.

are you kidding, this is not personal when he is gov. of a state, and especially of who he is, this is a man who prosecuted prostitution rings, who ruined lives , who said he was going to clean up wall street, and was mr. clean, give me a break, what a hypocrite he has turned out to be, and he has been doing this for awhile, he even pd. in advance for the next time. this is worst then anything I have heard on any politician, even clinton!!!! he is out!!!!!

Are your serious - this is JUST "PERSONAL". BECAUSE IT INVOLVES SEX? Come on. Is that not a American privileged politicians best lame "excuse" or what? Indeed Gov. Spitzer just loved to go after "PERSONAL" seeking illegal "common man" johns just like himself - the only difference is Eliot Spitzer for 10 years enjoyed doing so with high priced illegal call girls and then went home to a UP AND RISING PROFESSION, A WIFE and THREE TEENAGED DAUGHTERS while the ones targeted for the same illegal activity by Gov. Spitzer himself went to jail, had THEIR LIVES RUINED BY HIM, had their wive and lives taken away from them - perhaps no pretty Harvard educated wife to stand beside any of them on the worst day of THEIR Gov. Spitzer sought after lives...
This is NOT "personal". This is reality. A man who seeks out to prosecute others for the very same ONGOING crimes KNOWS THAT FULL WELL. And yet he and his Harvard educated wife want to "think" about it?. Ick. Really - Gov and Mrs. Spitzer? - Ick. Yuck.

I do agree that in most cases this should be the business the individual and no one elses. However, if an individual goes out of their way to not only condem but to prosecute other individuals for that very same behavior, they should be held to the fire. Live by the sword and die by the sword.

I certainly disagree. Had Spitzer had an affair, then I would agree it's his business and the voters would have a chance at the next election to decide his fate. But this was not just an affair, it was a violation of the law. From the money transfers, to her going between states, to the actual act of paying a prostitute. In that case, he has to go. It's no longer 'personal' when it's criminal in nature. It is NOT just a case of sex between consenting adjults.

He should prosecuted just like anyone else. However, as far as his job goes the same law should apply. You and I should not have right to make him quit.

He made a career out of puting person in prison for just such behaviour. Do we release them for their private behaviors?

The sex thing, who cares, that's his own business. When he breaks the law to accomplish the sex thing, that does matter. IANAL but I believe transporting someone across state lines to have sex with them is a crime. IANAL (still) but I believe there was some $$ shenanagans (hiding funds, etc...) that may constitute a crime.

It's not an automatic that you resign when caught sexing the wrong person (Craig, Vitter, and that page diddler from Florida), but resignation should be a sure thing if you break the law (although sometimes you can linger for quite some time after breaking laws, ie Delay, Bush, Cheney, Don Young, Josh Bolten, Karl Rove, etc...)

another part:
HE COMMITED STATE CRIMES:
prostitution is a crime in NY even if you are governor.
HE COMMITTED AT LEAST ONE FEDERAL CRIME:
he violated the mann act - 1910 - when he had a woman cross a state line for an act of prostitution. that law is 2 years short of being over 100 years old and there are people in jail today for violating it.
BUT THE WORST IS USING HOOKERS WHILE YOU PROSECUTE THEIR COMPETITION. HE WAS SELLING HIS OFFICE!

HE NEEDS TO GO TO FEDERAL PRISON!

AND LASTLY - YOUR NOT AN AMERICAN SO TAKE CARE OF INDIA AND MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS

lets try again but in parts:
if he had not been paying for it so that it was a crime - you might be right.
bue here is what he did:
HE SOLD HIS OFFICE!
he was prosecuting some hookers while he was using others. it has just come out that he was using hookers when he was prosecuting them. that means he was putting the competition of the wh**e houses he was using out of business. if he had prosecuted the ones he was using his political career would be history. maybe some of the pimps were running this one he was just busted with.

SO YOU CANT DISAGREE WITH YOU ON THIS BOARD? OF COURSE NOT - INDIA IS NOT A FREE COUNTRY AND YOU THINK YOU CAN TELL PEOPLE WHAT THEY CANT WRITE.
lets see if this prints.

While I agree wholeheartedly that "sex between consenting adults" should be their business and business alone" I would add that there is another dimension to this matter. The use of the word "business" was inadvertently unfortunate because that is what is the distinction here. Spitzer, an elected offical broke the law. He was not just having an affair - a private matter -he was enagaging in prostitution. As a Liberal Democrat - even as one who feels that prostitution should be legalized and controlled for myriad reasons - I recognize that the Governor broke the law. That is not something I would expect of someone holding public office. I know nothing of his personal life and would not consider judging his actions from a moral perspective - but, he broke the law. He should resign. He violated the public trust. After that, how he and his family resolve the issue should remain private.

One more thing - The State Republicans threatening impeachment are acting like hooligans and they should be branded as such.

The Spitzer case has nothing to do with legalizing prostitution, or consenting sex between adults.

It has to do with honesty, integrity, responsiblity, cheating, lying, public and private trust, and obeying the law while in public office.

Call me moralistic, but those are the things that are important in a public official.

You want to cheat on your wife, fine.

If she puts up with it, fine.

Screw around with the law and the public trust while you're in office, not fine at all.

You are out in my book.

Prostitution is illegal in Washington, D.C., New York and in most of the United States. It is not "just sex between consenting adults."

Remember the ramifications Joe Wilson faced after his op-ed "What I Didn't Find in Africa" was published in the New York Times?

Well, more people should read Eliot Spitzer's column published in the Washington Post less than a month ago entitled "Predatory Lenders' Partner in Crime." We need to applaud and support those like Eliot Spitzer who aren't afraid to stand up and tell the truth because there aren't enough of them. Yet.

Predatory Lenders' Partner in Crime
How the Bush Administration Stopped the States From Stepping In to Help Consumers

By Eliot Spitzer
Thursday, February 14, 2008; A25

Several years ago, state attorneys general and others involved in consumer protection began to notice a marked increase in a range of predatory lending practices by mortgage lenders. Some were misrepresenting the terms of loans, making loans without regard to consumers' ability to repay, making loans with deceptive "teaser" rates that later ballooned astronomically, packing loans with undisclosed charges and fees, or even paying illegal kickbacks. These and other practices, we noticed, were having a devastating effect on home buyers. In addition, the widespread nature of these practices, if left unchecked, threatened our financial markets.

Even though predatory lending was becoming a national problem, the Bush administration looked the other way and did nothing to protect American homeowners. In fact, the government chose instead to align itself with the banks that were victimizing consumers.

Predatory lending was widely understood to present a looming national crisis. This threat was so clear that as New York attorney general, I joined with colleagues in the other 49 states in attempting to fill the void left by the federal government. Individually, and together, state attorneys general of both parties brought litigation or entered into settlements with many subprime lenders that were engaged in predatory lending practices. Several state legislatures, including New York's, enacted laws aimed at curbing such practices.

What did the Bush administration do in response? Did it reverse course and decide to take action to halt this burgeoning scourge? As Americans are now painfully aware, with hundreds of thousands of homeowners facing foreclosure and our markets reeling, the answer is a resounding no.

Not only did the Bush administration do nothing to protect consumers, it embarked on an aggressive and unprecedented campaign to prevent states from protecting their residents from the very problems to which the federal government was turning a blind eye.

Let me explain: The administration accomplished this feat through an obscure federal agency called the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). The OCC has been in existence since the Civil War. Its mission is to ensure the fiscal soundness of national banks. For 140 years, the OCC examined the books of national banks to make sure they were balanced, an important but uncontroversial function. But a few years ago, for the first time in its history, the OCC was used as a tool against consumers.

In 2003, during the height of the predatory lending crisis, the OCC invoked a clause from the 1863 National Bank Act to issue formal opinions preempting all state predatory lending laws, thereby rendering them inoperative. The OCC also promulgated new rules that prevented states from enforcing any of their own consumer protection laws against national banks. The federal government's actions were so egregious and so unprecedented that all 50 state attorneys general, and all 50 state banking superintendents, actively fought the new rules.

But the unanimous opposition of the 50 states did not deter, or even slow, the Bush administration in its goal of protecting the banks. In fact, when my office opened an investigation of possible discrimination in mortgage lending by a number of banks, the OCC filed a federal lawsuit to stop the investigation.

Throughout our battles with the OCC and the banks, the mantra of the banks and their defenders was that efforts to curb predatory lending would deny access to credit to the very consumers the states were trying to protect. But the curbs we sought on predatory and unfair lending would have in no way jeopardized access to the legitimate credit market for appropriately priced loans. Instead, they would have stopped the scourge of predatory lending practices that have resulted in countless thousands of consumers losing their homes and put our economy in a precarious position.

When history tells the story of the subprime lending crisis and recounts its devastating effects on the lives of so many innocent homeowners, the Bush administration will not be judged favorably. The tale is still unfolding, but when the dust settles, it will be judged as a willing accomplice to the lenders who went to any lengths in their quest for profits. So willing, in fact, that it used the power of the federal government in an unprecedented assault on state legislatures, as well as on state attorneys general and anyone else on the side of consumers.

The writer is governor of New York.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/13/AR2008021302783.html?nav=hcmodule

No one was going in anyone's bedroom - quite the contrary.

Its interesting how this gets deliberately twisted.

Everything Spitzer did in the commission of these crimes has been prosecuted by him when someone else did it.

Now, if Spitzer is placed upon some pedestal by his supporters for doing so - are not his actions then equally worthy of prosecution?

After all, when Spitzer was prosecuting prostitution, were any of his supporters suggesting he lay off - its personal?

Legalize prostitution, problem solved.

You miss the point. Prostitution is a crime. The man is a former prosecutor and the executive of the government of the state of New York.

Craig, no matter how disgusting and degenerate, didn't break any laws of consequence.

Spitzer, evidently has. Whether or not he will be indicted is a function of his position. It appears the feds will pass on that if he resigns.

I don't understand that one. It would seem that if the evidence is there, he would have to be indicted.

But the with the office comes the perks.

It would seem there possibly could even be RICO statutes broken, if it can be proven he used his offices resources in an ongoing manner to facilitate engaging in illegal activity.

Then, there is the issue of a police body guard. Would he not be compelled by the oath of his office to at least notice the illegal behavior?

Again, one rule for them another for us.

Was he threatened by Spitzer to keep quiet?

The good thing is, unlike Craig, he CAN be impeached. Which won't preclude him from running for higher office - see Alycee Hastings - but it will keep him out of the White House.

Steam roll that Spitzer.

The same sheep who defended Bill Clinton by saying it was all consensual between two adults (thereby ignoring the perjury, the ethical violations, the abuse of power) are now here defending Spitzer's illegal actions by calling them consensual acts between two adults.

Is it just stupidity, the inability to determine right from wrong, some kind of mental disease, or a combination?

"Critics" indeed should be "shocked". Just as "shocked" as they were to learn BushCheney has, by deceit, directly caused the deaths and disfigurement of hundreds of thousands of innocents.
He neither lied to nor misled his constituents....he got laid.
"High priced prostitute"? So...I understand he inherited a $140,000,000 trust fund?
I'm not an unsophisticated reader and, as reported in the NY Times, I had quite expected to hear he was managing or directing the hooker operation and living off the proceeds.
I trust that the IRS review of his filings was, indeed, "random" but given the current US administration's clear and chronic abuse of the public service, I remain cynical.

1) Was he wiretapped because he is terror suspect?
2) Does prostitution warrant job loss in NY?
3) Can his job performance be related to his extra job behavior (favors etc.)
I do not like what he did. However, I should not have right to make him quit. Also, he was a GREAT public servant. BTW what happened to Larry Craig, he once chastised Bill Clinton.

Maybe you forgot that he has prosecuted prostitution rings and now he is patronzing them. It's not the infidelity; it's the law!

n no other civilized / modern country do people treat anything sexual like this like we do in the USA. Everyone thinks on one hand we have to be these moral do-gooders for the world...when we go in and bomb the hell out of countries...killing innocents and not a single word of outrage from all you people trying to crucify this man. What a man does in his personal life is his business. We will lose another very good politican because some of you think you are so perfect.

I assume you are talking about the illegal invasion and bombing of Serbia - correct? Remember the no bid services of Halibuton during that? The lack of UN acquiescence? The veto in the UN security council after which the "cowboy" clinton led nato into Serbia anyway?

Talk about not a word of outrage.....

How does a hypocritical, crime committing, woman abusing scumbag become "another very good politician?"

I suppose when the yardstick is a clinton - it doesn't take much to measure up.

What some people do is not always only their "private business". Elected officials, like professionals, must behave in an ethical fashion, else their effectiveness is jeopardized. Whatever you think privately of prostitution, or marital unfaithfulness, these things are arguably not generally considered ethical in the eyes of the general public. Breaking the law, at least under these circumstances, is certainly unethical. And beyond simply unethical, which in itself would be enough, his actions have exposed him to blackmail pressure, which is not just stupid, but makes him easily (more) corruptable - an untenable liability for someone in his office. And even beyond that, his double-standard behavior has exposed him as actually corrupt, in word and deed.

This is not just a private citizen, whose private life is his own affair. This elected official must go. It's not a question of honor, but of the reliable integrity which are a non-negotiable item in his job description, and he has demonstrated he is unsuitable.

This isn't about 2 consenting adults, this is about hypocrisy at the highest levels of our government. This author just doesn't get it.

What the good swami doesn't quite get, is that sex between consenting adults, for a price is prostitution. Which is against the law in America.

When a former prosecutor is involved in prostitution - and has vigorously prosecuted others - it is even worse.

In America, we have laws. We really do not care what happens in India. As a matter of fact, we would like what happens in India to stay in India.

Martiniano--

"If a person can't control their libido, what else can't they control?"

What's that supposed to mean? Lots of us can't control our libidos, but we don't commit crimes, cheat on our taxes, or vote for Republicans.

Actually it is not personal -- I guess you don't read the news. The issue is NOT THE SEX -- but the money. The issue is the source of the money and if it resulted from an abused of office. Please read the news in the US PRESS, NOT THE STUFF FROM INDIA before you post such nonsense.

To "Screwed Up Nation" - where have you been, my friend? Don't you know that 80% of Americans have and ARE expressing outrage over the immoral and unethical - even murderous - actions of the Bush administration?

Are you suggesting that our political leaders do not have to work within the law as long as our president is a terrorist?

I disagree. Bush is a monster who should be stopped however possible and it will take decades for us to regain our moral standing in the world. That does not mean we should ignore every other politician who breaks the law.

Here is why it is important to me as a US citizen, not a NY resident: Americans have an expectation that our chosen leaders live by the moral guidelines, the ethics, of our nation. Anytime that a US citizen steps forward as a representative of the public they must be aware that they are signing up to lead within the laws and guidelines they are sworn to uphold.

If this man Spitzer cannot control his libido then what else can he not control? If he missed such a basic moral lesson as fidelity - a mainstay of American marriages - then what other lessons did he miss.

If he is guilty, and he seems to have admitted that he is, then he is not fit to lead the public. He should resign.

In no other civilized / modern country do people treat anything sexual like this like we do in the USA. Everyone thinks on one hand we have to be these moral do-gooders for the world...when we go in and bomb the hell out of countries...killing innocents and not a single word of outrage from all you people trying to crucify this man. What a man does in his personal life is his business. We will lose another very good politican because some of you think you are so perfect.

Pathetic that this even gets the press it does.

I agree with you that it should be between consenting adults and it should not be a crime. However, Governor Spitzer spent his life and years as Attorney General prosecuting people for the exact crime he was caught doing. He should resign because of this, not because of the prostitution charges, because of his hypocrisies.

If additional elements are present here, would you maintain your position?:
a. Did he violate a law by paying a prostitute. And has he prosecuted others for violating such a law?
b. Does his oath of office, or the standards for that office, require that he avoid acts of moral turpitude?
c. What was the source of funds for paying the prostitute? If any public funds, or credit cards for public funds, were used, wouldn't that violate state laws?

I'm not sure how they do things in India, but in Amercia it is illegal to facilitate the transportation of women across state lines for the purpose of prostitution. Such conduct is also called human trafficking. Moreover, it appears that he violated U.S. banking laws by surreptitiously moving money around several shell companies. How can you not object?

This is about the abuse of power.

This is also about someone in a position who enacts and upholds the laws of his state.

This is about a lack of self control by someone who has been VOTED by the people of New York to be their Govenor..to GOVERN.

It has everything to do with what he did. Do I want a guy who runs my state to have these psychological issues? Do you want someone who has psycho. issues to run your state?

Lets take this a step further. If you have an infant in a child care facility, would you want the person who is supposed to care for your child to smoke crack before they get to the childcare facility? After all, its their personal business right? Or better yet, how about the same childcare provider who goes to teen porn sites in their spare time? Do you want them watching YOUR children?

Its all the same. it DOES matter what you do in your spare time depending WHAT you do for a living.

If the NY GOP trys to impeach Spitzer should the National Democrats start Impeachment proceedings against GW?

Could be an interesting political season.

Mike

THE TIME IS NOW!

so what, no ones perfect

That's exactly the problem with this Spitzer thing! It's absolute hypocrisy on his part if he doesn't resign given his zealous prosecution of prostitutes! The question isn't 'should prostitution be legalized', the question is 'did he commit a crime that he zealously prosecuted & would presumably be against?' He should resign on his own. He's an absolute embarrassment to the party.

When Eliot Spitzer took the oath of office to uphold the laws and the Constitution of the State of New York and then broke those laws by hiring a hooker and transporting her across state lines he is not fit to hold the office of governor.

This has nothing to do with sex between consenting adults. Spitzer broke the law he swore to uphold. This has nothing to do with morality. Spitzer broke the law he swore to uphold. This has nothing to do with an Evangelical society. Spitzer broke the law he swore to uphold.

Stick to the facts and do not inject your own morality into this argument. Spitzer swore to uphold the laws and the Constitution of the State of New York and broke that oath. This has everything to do with his ability to serve as governor. He's proven he cannot uphold the law he swore to uphold.

Shouldn't we be a few centuries beyond obsession with other people's sex lives? Spitzer has been a hero -- a real crusader against white collar crime. To force him to resign over this is absurd. Yes, he very seriously harmed his wife, and that is shameful. But why should we even KNOW about this, much less care? Shouldn't his performance in the office of Governor, and not in the Mayflower Hotel, be the measure of his political worth?

Of course not. We're a nation of puritans.

In my view, Spitzer's worst sin is stupidity. So similar to Bill Clinton: a brilliant man, strong on policy and understanding the complexity of issues, yet dumb enough to think that he could get away with sneaky sex without the media catching on.

The hypocrisy issue can't go unnoticed, I admit, but rather than prosecute Spitzer to put him on an even playing field with regular citizens subject to the law.... why not just make prostitution LEGAL, like we should have done 2,000 years ago? Idiotic law to begin with, written by people who don't even enjoy sex, I would imagine.

Terry in Virginia

There has been so much shocking behavior on both sides of the aisle these past three years - pedophiles, prostitution, solicitation - yet only the republicans have threatened impeachment on an elected official - what was done was truly offensive and ugly endangering his health and his wife's (most likely) as well as his soul - but I do see a double standard of holier than thou behavior on the part of the republicans.
The Bible states in the words of Jesus" let the man without sin throw the first stone" - lets investigate the impeacher as well - lets see if he has committed adultry, embezzlement, fraud, or the like - if you want to weld the hammer then let's see if you are worthy, clean, free from sin
- if not you aren't any better than he is and your attack is just a tactic to distract the public from your own malfesance or just pay back for hurting some crooked friends of the impeacher.

Um, sex between consenting adults is legal, but prostitution is still illegal in this country, except for parts of Nevada.

I, personally, think that prostitution should be legalized so it can be regulated like any other business, but the fact remains that it's not legal. He committed a crime. He should pay. And he probably will pay with his career. I think he absolutely deserves it, given his history of prosecuting prostitution rings and his promise to clean up the seedy aisles of government in Albany.

If this was just an affair, then I'd say fine, whatever, that's between him & his wife, but this was prostitution. It's sheer hypocrisy on his part if he doesn't commit political hari-kari.

Sorry, but even though I agree that betrayal of his family is strictly a personal matter (meaning I disagree with the first half of Charles's post, all of which is about things that in and of themselves are none of our business), violation of the law by an official charged with upholding that law is another matter altogether. Besides, it is he that made it the public's business, by making a crusade against just this type of behavior part of his argument for the public to put him in this position. Effectively, he obtained his position by fraud.

As a Democrat, I don't want him carrying my banner. Get him out.

Mr. Aiyar has not objections to Governor Spitzer's activities. Does his wife know this?

"i swear to god, i didn't think anyone would find out!"

absolutely correct ... sex between consenting adults is their business and totally legal. It has nothing to do with Spitzer's ability to serve as governor.

When will this ridiculous evangelical society get past Plymouth rock and join the rest of the civilized world?

How could it possible b just personal. Family life is a preparation for social and or political life. He was not loyal to his :
a) kids
b) wife
c) a vow of marriage that everyone these days rush to take but do not take so seriously.
It's in family interaction that we learn how we should expect others to treat us and how we should treat others. If family is the most important thing to him what dos this say of his loyalty or passion to getting things done in his position of leadership. Leadership in the home and leadership on the bigger stage.
I am not sure if he should resign, but if he broke the law, committed any crimes he should go to jail. Or everyone in every state in this country should be let out of jail who are not convicts for crimes related to money and illicit prostitution.
Maybe he goes to jail then runs for governor again ? Transporting a prostitute across state lines for sex is a federal Offense. THe suspicious money concealment stuff is a crime too according tot e report.
When we pick our leaders and then judge them with such a double standard that they don't go to jail like everyone else for doing the same things, no wonder they can make these "Tough on crime laws". WHY ? Because they know they will Never have to be punished by or submit to the very laws they create.
We are the ones giving them a free ride while if it was just a regular citizen they would have the police locking us up and a judge sentencing us to 10 to twenty years in Jail.