Spitzer Hatred and the Importance of McCain's Running Mate
I browsed some of the responses to my last post about Eliot Spitzer.
Thank you to those that expressed understanding of my main point. However, I was sorry to see two things here. One was the vitriol expressed toward Spitzer's work as New York Attorney General, particularly his investigations and prosecutions in the financial services field. I direct your attention to a recent profile of Louis Auchincloss in the New Yorker magazine. Auchincloss hated FDR, as did his Silk Stockings friends. Later in life, Auchincloss grew to appreciate Roosevelt's regard for the integrity of financial markets in this country and reevaluated FDR's creation of the SEC.
So much hatred spewing forth about Spitzer's convictions. There is tremendous corruption on Wall Street. Is America becoming a land where "I stole it fair and square" is becoming the ethical order of the day?
The second thing that no one commented on was my David Paterson admonition. McCain's choice of running mate will be the most crucial since 1960, when millions presumed Kennedy alone was not enough and needed to be bolstered by a Veep with greater experience. The result was an historically close election.
For altogether different reasons, watch McCain's choice. Few men (or maybe, craftily, a woman?) will enter the West Wing with a greater chance of becoming president than this VP. McCain is not what one would consider a healthy man. Inheriting the Bush mess certainly holds no cure.
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Spitzer - I never heard of him before his this. I guess scandals like that make such people famous and later on they may even become heroes of their nation - only possible in the US, I assume.
Regarding Europe's future as well as the world's I hope a Democrat will win the election - I don't care about who it will be finally, as long as it is not a Republican. That does not mean that I am a fan of Democrats, it is just the less of the two evils.
Alec, you are so right about who the candidates might choose for the VP spot. Equally as important is who the potential leader of the free world chooses as his or her spiritual leader and mentor. We certainly can't select our relatives but the person that we credit with our greatest influences should certainly be examined.
Bob agrees. You sound as though you are throwing in the towel...much more important things are happening in our party that need to be focused on...like...how will Mr. Obama and hillary beef up our national defenses in the wake of the vacuum that a total troop pullout will create?...
Hottie...you sound like you are sure that a republican is going to be elected...
I am of the opinion that Spitzer's work as AG had a lot to do with his "gotcha". He did fulfill the obligations of AG very well. I am sure over time people will look at him differently.
"vitriol?" You couldnt just say noxious? I had to go to a dictionary to understand you - such linguistic prowess from a kid from Massapequa, hehe. I once got lost in Massapequa going to My Father's Place.
America has become the land of the "free to take you for a ride." How about this recent interest rate cut? The Fed and the media have become so proficient at snowing the American people that most dont see b.s. even if it hit them in the face. "I stole it fair and square" screams sociopathic pride in being able to get over on anyone and everyone, yet it is a sad, but true depiction of America. It starts at the top and trickles down.
"The second thing that no one commented on was my David Paterson admonition." All I can say to that Mr. Baldwin is OY VEY for the state of NY.
My sense is that McCain's running mate may very well pale in comparison to McCain, if that is possible.
Alec,
As for the first thing: my only negative feeling about Spitzer stems from the way I feel he trashed his family, not his political accomplishments.
Second thing: I noticed your admonition and noted that you did not elaborate. I took that to mean you were less than thrilled, but didn't want to say anything negative about the guy before he was even sworn in.
As for the VP spots, I'm conserving my energy at the moment. I'm thinking there will be plenty of time for hysteria when all the speculation is over and the actual short lists come out.
The two most likely candidates for McCain's VeeP are Gov Pawlenty of Minnesota and Gov Crist of Florida. Florida will be in play again and Crist would help McCain. Clinton doesn't have a shot in Florida and Obama probably doesn't either. Pawlenty could put Minnesota into play.
It won't be Huckabee or any other Revival Tent Repubican. Nor will it be someone from the far right like SCarolina's Gov Sanford. Losers don't get onto national tickets so there will be no George Allen. Besides racists need not bother to apply.
There will be a total and clean break from Bush. Or at least an attempt. If by some twist of fate, Clinton should end up the nominee, the GOP will reunite for one last huge hurrah.
Thank you once again Alec for a great post. I think the Bear Stearns situation is a grim reminder of why New York needed Spitzer and why they now probably have a governor who is a nice guy but not a pit bull like Spitzer. I saw Romney running for VP last week and it scared me -- because he is someone who thinks the country is a company that just needs a good CEO - who no doubt would fire all of the people who actually work, increase upper level management and continue on Bush's road to nowhere. I don't think it's a coincidence that the media talks about Spitzer, Obama's pastor and the new season of Dancing with the Stars. Why were there no reports about McCain's helping a French company get a lucrative defense department contract? Because they were busy talking about whether it's good or bad to be a hooker. I'm just grateful for truth talkers like you and Keith Olbermann who at least try to keep the discussion real --
Since, you have most people, on point, this time, I am going to give myself permission to go off point.-- but for a point! Spirited Dona wishes a Happy St Paddy's Day to you and your clan as I implore St Patrick to send your family his luck and positiveness! Happy St. Patrick's Day to each reading this and an individual blessing to each reading this, just for you. I toss an individual blessing to you, too, Alec! ! I pay tribute to thank with all my heart, Moira Reddy Smith , NYPD, Tower 2, 9-11. Before fate, the daughter of Irish immigrant parents, like I always loved to see fictionalized, as a child , in book, or televisision, or movie. She was the real deal! She had a hubby, James Smith, with whom she kept faith with a Clauddaugh ring, and a daughter, Patricia! Heaven is a place like Ireland and Ireland is a place like Heaven!
It's nice to think about something positive, like St Patrick's Day for a change, on our home front. If he wasn't the first, he might as well have been; Malachy McCourt, ( author of the book, "The Clauddaugh Ring"), asked a long time back that the national guard, ( New YorK's) , return to our shores to protect us. That is my first political issue, which, would effect the economy positively. We see not the war dead nor their families in this war, so with McCain people suffer abroad; here at home, people won't be affording raising kids, "decently". Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton, is like my big sister; a generation ahead of me, who saw the Vietnam era economy , like myself . More importantly, viewed the war dead and their loved ones in that era! (If anyone is for Hillary or into humor, about our election plight, I google Spirited Dona; you'll see democratic blog), We are blessed to have America! With the national guard away, I have promised to defend Massapequa "and " Tennessee. But I am only one woman. Somebody else, take Hoboken and Georgia!
Secure? I doubt that. My Troubled Psychic Inner Eye 'sees' the suddenly unfortunate residents of gated communities being dragged out of the homes and eaten to feed everyone who has been thieved and lied to by these gov't jackals unless things improve within the year, regardless of who is in office. And don't blame the messenger--- I'm just always prescient.
Honestly, is it possible for someone to ramble on without making a point than you did in this one? Were you in a hurry to go help your brother win The Apprentice? Oh wait, he got fired. So what could possible have caused you to type so much, and say so little?
Everyone else seem to get it just fine.
The Troll Reading Room is this way -> http://www.billoreilly.com/index.jsp
jimpryor99,
Honestly, is it possible for someone to ramble off topic by making less of a point than you did? Here's a tip - "Don't read it". You are a guest on this site so show some decorum.
Mr. Baldwin, always love reading your blogs. True, whom McCain nominates for his running mate will be critical. I think he nominate a governor who is conservative, I still Huckabee is the leading choice or possibly Crisp. He will nominate someone who will be safe to him. On the Democratic side, I still think Senator Webb of Virginia, Tailhook not withstanding. Both Obama and Clinton need someone with strong military credentials. The crucial thing for Senator Obama will be to get Colin Powell's endorsement. With the economy scaring the crap out of everybody and the continued drain on American financial resources in Iraq I still think that the Democrats will still win unless the fight between Senator Obama and Senator Clinton goes down to the convention. It has to stop after the Pennsylvania primary.
it's sickening that Wall Street celebrates as Spitzer goes down.
But this is what we are teaching our children now. Screw anyone to make a dime and
never be held responsible. Thank you George Bush.
You're right. McCain could go at any moment. But as we note who is VP choice is, let's work to make sure they never make it to the WH.
"Screw anyone to make a dime and never be held responsible. Thank you George Bush"
Funny, but I believe the complicit participatants in Whitewater held office before G-Dub. We can go way back before the Clintons to see this kind of operation in America. Way back.
And Spitzer should not be held accountable?
Whatever you think of prostitution and whether or not it should be legal, their is a huge amount of hypocrisy in Spitzer's actions, given his heavy handed prosecution of prostitution.
I wonder if the Condi Rice talk is all hype or not. She is young enough, and does not seem to have any skeletons, and has a lot of experience, just not as an elected official.
Hillary Clinton will get the nomination, regardless of whether she or Barack Obama has the most votes from real voters. The elite Democrats and Super Delegates are behind Clinton, and that's the way it's going to be.
This means that it is almost a sure thing that John McCain will be our next president.
So, how could it get worse? Well, McCain could choose (or be told to choose) Michael Chertoff as his running mate -- and you probably thought having Dick Cheney as VP was as bad as it could be.
I would not be surprised to learn that there is already some discussion of Chertoff on the ticket with McCain. Chertoff has concentrated agencies and power under his command that make him personally almost as powerful as Bush, or even Cheney. In addition to the officially recognized consolidations, Chertoff also has taken over much of the responsibilities of the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense. No matter how much he screws up or launches silly new rules to protect us from an unseen enemy, he seems to be immune from criticism.
Next, ask a life insurance actuary what McCain's chances are of serving out even his first term, let alone the second term. He is a 71-year-old cancer survivor (malignant melanoma).
Then we have the frightening possibility of President Chertoff.
Chertoff will not be VP choice. Guaranteed. Besides who ever McCain chooses, you will be frightened, but most of USA will be secure.
kundera: "... you will be frightened, but most of USA will be secure."
How secure would you say, in comparison to how secure we were on September 10, 2001, under a similar no-nonsense, tough-talkin' Republican?
Like the Repubs kept us safe from the 9/11 attacks? You know by either ignoring all the warnings or even actually encouraging the attack? Guess we'll never know since 911 has yet to only recieve a cursory investigation. All the obstruction of the investigation by the Bush admin makes most of us wonder what they are trying so hard to hide. We still are missing answers to the 70% of the 911 Comission's original questions. That's a lot of unknowns if you ask me.
Do me a favor Mr Republican troll. Don't offer to protect me. You suck at it
What in blazes is going on here? You don't honestly think this country's dumb enough to reward the Republicans with another four years...after this last seven--plus? Then again maybe we are, but I ain't. This simple answer is 'ABAR' - Anybody But A Republican...and especially not this Republican (This Country Ain't for That Old Man).
And be careful what you wish for. I recall making a joke after the 1980 election...'Reagan in '80 - Bush in '82'. And look where that got us.
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