Posted on 07/08/2013 7:11:51 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Move over, Anthony Weiner! The New York City ballot this fall will have to make room for not just one disgraced ex-pol running for redemption on the taxpayers’ dime. Joining the King of the Selfies on the ballot will be former Governor Eliot Spitzer, who was forced to resign after his patronage of high-priced prostitutes became public knowledge. Spitzer wants taxpayers in the Big Apple to trust him with their money:
That Spitzer is running for office again isn’t terribly surprising. He clearly regretted his decision to resign as Empire State governor in March 2008 amid revelations that he had taken part in a high-priced prostitution ring. And as soon as 2009, Spitzer made clear he wanted to return to politics.
Political creatures — and Spitzer is one through and through — find a way back into politics. The question for Spitzer, as it was for fellow disgraced politician Anthony Weiner, was when — not if — he would run again. And now Spitzer and Weiner, who is running for mayor, will appear on the same primary ballot this fall. (Before you make too many “Spitzer = Weiner” observations, read this piece by Ben Smith on how the two men are nothing alike.)
The real question as it relates to Spitzer is whether he can win. The answer, according to interviews with a handful of New York City political consultant types, is quite clearly “yes.”
“He wants back into public life and this is the first real opportunity,” explained Hank Sheinkopf, a Democratic political consultant based in New York. “He can win because he has a name, dough, and looks like the expert in a financial position.”
Before Spitzer can compete, though, he’s going to have to get better at picking a slogan (via Twitchy, emphasis mine):
With Mr. Spitzer’s name recognition and three million Democrats in the city, this should not be a difficult task, but he plans to flood the streets and supermarkets with some 100 signature gatherers starting on Monday.
“I am going to be on the street corners,” he said. “We will be out across the city.”
Say, wasn’t that what got Spitzer in trouble the first time?
And as if the election hadn’t turned into a big enough joke, Spitzer’s going to face a tough competitor:
In a twist of irony, Kristin Davis, the “Manhattan Madam” who admits she supplied Spitzer with escorts, is running as the libertarian candidate for the office Spitzer announced Sunday night he’s running for.
“Kristin Davis vs Eliot Spitzer for NYC comptroller!” Roger Stone, her political consultant, tweeted Sunday night in celebration of Spitzer’s announcement.
With Stone’s help, Davis — convicted in 2008 of promoting prostitution sent to prison for four months — has enjoyed publicly taunting Spitzer. She ran for governor of New York in 2010, for example, and previously threatened to run against Spitzer in 2009 if he ran for state comptroller.
Davis announced this spring that she’d run for the city’s comptroller position. According to her website, she is running on a platform of “legalization, regulation and taxation” of marijuana in the city. “We sell regulate and tax tobacco and alcohol, both more damaging to public health than pot.”
If it’s possible to take any of this seriously, here’s a question for New York City voters. Do you see elections as a way to make rational choices about public-sector leadership, or a platform for self-centered politicians to demand absolution for their past transgressions? If it’s the latter, then this ballot is perfectly crafted for the occasion. If it’s the former, voters in the city should make it clear that public service is about the public and not the bruised egos of those who broke trust when voters offered it to them earlier.
I don’t care. I’m not planning to ever go back to New York. The idiots who elect these people deserve whatever they get. I just wish there was some way to prevent them from infecting the rest of us with some of their decisions (Shumer, Clinton, Weiner, etc.).
Spitzer isn’t running for Mayor, He’s running to be the CFO of NYC’s humongous BUDGET -— COMPTROLLER of NYC.
This job encompasses a variety of responsibilities, from overseeing accounting and monitoring internal controls to countersigning on expenses and commitments.
RE: I’m not planning to ever go back to New York.
I gather you used to live in the Big Apple until you decided to move to the Blue Grass State?
To develop the position to steal massive quantities of money from via mortgage loan derivatives Eliot Spitzer was delegated the task of destroying Hank Greenberg so AIG could be taken over to provide insurance for the worthless securities. Hank was ousted.
As it turns out, old Hank was a billionaire and he had enough pocket change to make a very throuhj private investigation of the Governor. Hank learned about the whores. His revenge was sweet
RE: As it turns out, old Hank was a billionaire and he had enough pocket change to make a very throuhj private investigation of the Governor.
WOW, who woulda thunk... where did you get that piece of info?
oh sorry I just thought since he said this he wanted to be mayor..I have to admit I did not read the article just glanced through it. those two make me want to puke..
“I am going to be on the street corners,” he said. “We will be out across the city.”
Actually I was born there, but left in 1977. Lived in Utah, California, Colorado, Texas and Indiana before coming to Kentucky.
It is a logical conclusion to analysis of events.
Hank was a guest several times on Cavuto and made no bones about his disdain and disgust for the governor
“what do you have to do to become unelectable in NY?”
Being a pro-life Bible-believing Christian living for the Lord for starters. And throw in defending both the spirit and letter of the Constitution and you will go down in flames no problem.
They always come back. These ‘scandals’ are a resume enhancer for democrats.
It’s only normal people who let ‘scandals’ torpedo their political career. democrats could care less.
Where is Donald Trump. - he could win this one. . .
As the dems long ago have been assimilated by the Godless communists, they have no moral compass so any deviant will be not only accepted in their party but celebrated as brave.
As a Western New Yorker, I can only dream of a time when NYC becomes the 51st or 57th state and leave the rest of us to have a more civilized culture.
Be a white male conservative. Well, probably just white conservative, since they’d never vote for Sarah Palin. Or maybe just conservative, since they’d never vote for Allen West. Or even Thomas Sowell, and he’d blow them all out of the water. The good people don’t want to be in the political sewer, and I can’t blame them.
You have to say one thing for Spitzer: at least he had the “decency” to run for an office several steps below the one he left in disgrace, unlike Weiner who thinks his scandal qualifies him for the second most powerful position in the country. Not voting for either of them, mind you.
A pervert, a dyke and a John walk into a bar.....
The jokes write themselves, don’t they?
Endless possibilities for campaign slogans, but every time these guys open their mouths another double entendre pops out. Ooop, shouldn’t say “pops out” in reference to Weiner. ;-)
Apparently New Yorkers see this as a way to out pervert San Francisco.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.