re punishing spitzer like any other criminal, you say "Honestly, I don't know what else can be done to make the point any clearer."

You've stated exactly what punishments you believe are usually handed to those soliciting prostitution and that spitzer should be likewise punished.

If you want to be clear, submit what punishments should be handed to various right wing figures and whether or not they should resign or be impeached. You need to be fair. If spitzer's hypocrisy isn't factored in, then neither should anyone else's.

So, what should happen (or have happened) to craig, vitter, frank, b clinton (for lies, not BJs), bush, rove, libbey. Let's toss in randy duke cunningham for the fun of it.

I did conflate some of the stuff from war room with greenwald's blog. They we're harder on craig and vitter over there. GG did go out of his way to point out the unequal responses to craig and vitter. OK fine. He also ranted a fair deal about hypocrisy on the right. Hell, he even has a book out about it.

That focus appears to be that they take moral stands and act immorally in private. How is spitzer different? Why was spitzer's hypocrisy admitted then downplayed while other people's is focused on?

Oh yeah - my stupid little brain can find and link to articles to. Like:

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2007/08/28/craig/index.html

Where in the article are craig and vitter defended to any level approaching that of spitzer.

Not an auspicious introduction to the new feature. K-fed on broadway really matters to most of us. Right Now!

I don't recall GG defending Larry Craig or Vitter. Suddenly, we need to just lay off of spitzer because other people ignored those other guys. Those other people or hypocrites. So what does that make GG and spitzer's other defenders? At least those who joined the dog pile on craig and vitter.

Is this just a case of realpolitik? THAT I can buy.

A prostitution ring is simply a group of people who jointly act to further acts of prostitution. It includes whores, clients, and intermediaries.

Prostitution is illegal in almost every U.S. jurisdiction because of the laws of those jurisdictions.

It is newsworthy because it is titillating, because it has a certain schadenfreude, and because us americans love to tear down people after building them up.

Prostitution is worse than adultery in most places because adultery is largely either legal or is defined by statute as a lower level crime.

Note: I am note endorsing these vice laws, I'm reporting them. As long as they are the law, breaking them is illegal.

Regarding civil disobedience.

Are you implying that acts of civil disobedience go unpunished? I've seen that notion put forth many many times and don't understand where it came from. Civil disobedience is about doing something that is against the law with the full knowledge that you can be punished. Acts of civil disobedience are acts of great courage.

If you are implying that Spitzer could still be a hero, although a bit of an outlaw, for committing acts of civil disobedience, then I agree. Spitzer screwing a hooker, however, doesn't rise to the level of Rosa Parks.

You ask: what is he guilty of exactly?

In NY, Articles 230.02 - 230.07 cover patronizing a prostitute.

In DC, DC Code 22-2701 covers engaging in and soliciting prostitution.

It is the law regardless of whether you approve of the law. If you don't like it, get the law changed. If you think people should pick and choose the laws to obey, then you must be a fan of our current president.

It's always a shock when someone transforms from being one dimensional into a full 3-D person. Heroes should always strive to stay slightly out of focus.

So - Spitzer is a whoring, crime fighting, governor. The new findings do not diminish what he accomplished. They do, however, show that Spitzer shouldn't be trusted. Regardless of the rationality of outlawing prostitution, it is illegal. It isn't OK cause it is just a little law. Bush co. say the same thing about FISA etc. It doesn't make them right either.

We need public officials who obey the law. Spitzer needs to go.

Don't invest in companies with these sorts of compensation packages. As an investor, it is your money that is being handed to these guys. If they don't bring value, don't buy.

On a similar note, consider the effect of executive compensation on the price/quality of goods. Honda and Toyota put their money into engineering and product quality. GM and Ford subsidized their execs snorting coke off a hooker's ass. So, how is it that foreign automakers are taking over the world markets?

Someone asked "Why do they pay these guys so much?" There are a couple of reasons. Cronyism is a factor, but I think botique shopping is the main one. The boards of really big important companies want really big and important CEOs. So, they pay a massive premium for the biggestest and importantest CEO they can get.

It's kinda like car buyers going to boutique brands. They cost a lot, have relatively poor reliability, and usually middling performance when they do work - but damn it makes a statement. Wow, Bill got a jag! He can really afford to piss away money!

Sadly, CEOs can't be kept in the garage and occasionally paraded about. They are actually daily drivers and, as expected, leave you stranded with alarming regularity.

It's amazing that Novak thinks she knows what manliness is. Displays of strength can be an expression of manliness, but don't necessarily lead to feeling manly.

What we like is spoiling our honey and being appreciated for it. It really is that simple. It isn't opening the jar, it's what comes after. The smile, pat on the arm, or peck on the cheek is where the action is.