I voted for Spitzer

So, the first governor I ever had the opportunity to vote for has disappointed me tremendously. I vividly remember the day- I got to the polling site at 6am, because I had to work at 7. I was groggy, un-caffeinated and hungover. i voted for Spitzer because he had decided as attorney general not to intervene in the matter of gay marriage in New York, and because he had a strong record of fighting corruption and big business wrong-doings. He had busted several large prostitution rings. He was ethical. He was charismatic and young, yet stern and demanding. The perfect combination, I thought. When he introduced a controversial plan to give illegal immigrants driver’s licenses, I thought it was a little bold of him, but I supported the bill.

Little over a year later, I find myself disillusioned and, frankly, kinda pissed.

For those of you who live in another state, or under a rock, Eliot Spitzer just resigned as governor of New York because it was discovered that he has been using an "escort service" that charges over $1,000/hour. And investigations are underway to determine whether he used state money to pay for sex. It’s been reported that he has requested the services of a prostitute at least eight times during his tenure.

Now, I have no problem with prostitution. I think Las Vegas has it right- make it legal so that you can regulate the business and make it safer for both clients and employees- because the oldest profession will not go away, ever. I do, however, have major issues with a man who busted other prostitution businesses and may have used my tax money to solicit some damn expensive nookie. If he had to be a player, he’s the governor of New York. Couldn’t he have gotten some SUNY Albany chicks on the basis of power alone? Did he have to turn himself into a giant hypocrite?

There are other politicians who suck, GWB included. But I don’t vote for sucky leaders. Or so I thought.

How his wife, Silda, could stand next to him as he publicly apologized for his misdeeds, I will never understand. Perhaps they had an open marriage- who knows? And how are they explaining this to their children? The whole thing is so sad.

I find myself wondering how many people who voted for Bush are feeling this way now. The man can’t even deliver a coherent speech. He can’t name the leaders of countries that we are currently bombing. He makes inane arguments and seems like he forgot his daily dose of Ritalin at press conferences. He openly admits that he doesn’t read news briefings. But I always had that comfort of "I didn’t vote for him, and neither did about half of the country".


This time, I can’t be so haughty.