Monday, March 10, 2008
an unfortunate trip Back to the Future
I watched the fall of new York Governor Eliot Spitzer unfold today with the same fascination most people did. But I'm surprised how jaded I have become.
Here was this crusading crime fighter turned Governor who steamrolled over crooks and creeps from the backrooms to the boardrooms suddenly taking a swan dive into sex scandal infamy. Why wasn't I more shocked?
Because 10 year and two months ago, I came to live in D.C. with my family. And got a front row seat as an oversexed power-groupie and a chief executive high on indignation and low on self-control nearly toppled a presidential administration. I didn't want to believe it all then. And hated trying to explain it to my (then-young) children. Seeing the faces of Spitzers daughters and wife in video was the only thing that tugged at my emotions today.
The only piece of the Spitzer story I didn't believe - is that he didn't quit instantly.
And if I'm one of Hillary Clinton's campaign people ... I'm running for cover as the history of political sex-scandals gets cranked up again. THAT can't be good for her cause - who wants to be reminded of how high-minded leaders can go so low... and then end up stumping for their humiliated spouses a decade later ?
Maybe Mrs. Spitzer has a political career ahead of her.
Here was this crusading crime fighter turned Governor who steamrolled over crooks and creeps from the backrooms to the boardrooms suddenly taking a swan dive into sex scandal infamy. Why wasn't I more shocked?
Because 10 year and two months ago, I came to live in D.C. with my family. And got a front row seat as an oversexed power-groupie and a chief executive high on indignation and low on self-control nearly toppled a presidential administration. I didn't want to believe it all then. And hated trying to explain it to my (then-young) children. Seeing the faces of Spitzers daughters and wife in video was the only thing that tugged at my emotions today.
The only piece of the Spitzer story I didn't believe - is that he didn't quit instantly.
And if I'm one of Hillary Clinton's campaign people ... I'm running for cover as the history of political sex-scandals gets cranked up again. THAT can't be good for her cause - who wants to be reminded of how high-minded leaders can go so low... and then end up stumping for their humiliated spouses a decade later ?
Maybe Mrs. Spitzer has a political career ahead of her.
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