The MSM's headlines are all about Spitzer's "ties" to the "prostitution ring" ("Prostitution Ring," that is SO Walter Winchell!), about his being "linked" to a prostitution ring. Very little about their headlines reveals that he was simply a customer. Are we "linked" to our local grocery store? Do we have "ties" to the dry cleaner down the block. As usual, the MSM is more interested drawing a crowd than in anything like an accurate depiction of events.

...blame the Republicans and defend Spitzer.

Given what he has done, do you really think Spitzer gives a crap about us?

Please...

He is a reckless scumbag who deserves the skewering he is getting.

Thus ever to zealots, Mr. Sptizer.

May you after a long life of humiliation, come to reside in that special room in hell for hypocrites who victimize others for their own advancement.

-- ChanRobt

Salon has some real odd commenters. It's not like he was strapping dynamite to his body and blowing stuff up. Did you ever get an education, and if so, where? A madrasa?

Given what he has done, do you really think Spitzer gives a crap about us?

Please...

He is a reckless scumbag who deserves the skewering he is getting.

-- Uncle Monty

Just look at his prosecutions and notable cases. Don't any of you people know how to to research on the web? Or do you all just read the crap and believe it?

"...I doubt he was going after this kind of high class operation but most of the press don't bother to look at this..."

Hahahahahah!

More like "expensive operation".

Prostitution = violence towards women.

Dear Writer:

Great piece, but you forgot to mention one thing, or one person: Tom Suozzi. The Nassau County Executive ran well against Spitzer in the last gubernatorial primary.

Though he came up short, he is still a rising star in the Democratic Party, for no other reason, that he cleaned up a traditionally Republican stronghold.

No one should underestimate Michael Bloomberg's billions, but nothing in politics is a done deal. Tom Suozzi could be the real dark horse come next time.

Leonwatcher

Upper East Side

He was ruthless and reckless as AG. Unfortunately, sometimes the right thing happens for the wrong reason. Great evidence, not much of a crime.

"Spitzer had sued Kenneth Langone, a member of the board of the New York Stock Exchange, for his role in approving a $187.5 million pay package for Richard Grasso, former head of the exchange. For six months, Spitzer had tried to settle the case. Still, once the fight turned bitter and personal—“Howard Dean without the charm” was just one of the names Langone’s press person called Spitzer—Spitzer seemed to get a taste for the fight. “I’m not going to be intimidated by the gutter behavior of Ken Langone,” says Spitzer. If that wasn’t enough, Spitzer, according to Newsweek, told a friend to tell Langone he intended “to put a spike through [his] heart.” The trial is pending."

It's fine to be outraged by excessive executive pay, but the entire basis for this "crime" was that the New York Stock Exchange is a nonprofit institution. However check out the listed corporation NYX. It's now a $15 billion company. Talk about a technicality.

So now Spitzer may be going out for what is a low level misdemeanor. Instead of abuse of power, press leaks that may have been illegal, and personal vendettas as AG. It seemed like Gretchen Morgenson of the NYT had a direct line to the AG's office. I suppose leaks are just 'common practice', and fact that they came from material that was obtained by subpoena and part of grand jury proceedings, and included embarrassing personal details was just part of the game.

So now Elliot has to deal with tactics that he employed with relish. The misdemeanor will get inflated to absurd felony charges and he will be threatened with a deal or jail. The most ironic thing about this is that he was apparently ratted out by his banker.

The guy was merciless. What goes around....

-- L.W.M.

"...I doubt he was going after this kind of high class operation but most of the press don't bother to look at this..."

Hahahahahah!

More like "expensive operation".

Prostitution = violence towards women.

-- Uncle Monty

What kind of conservative are you? The kind who watches Law & Order and MSNBC to get your education about the criminal justice system? L&O isn't bad but it is drama. There are all types of sex workers out there. Not all of them are street walkers. If that's violence, sock it to me, baby. 5000 an hour and jetsetting around the globe? where do I sign up?

Just don't send me to the Sultan of Brunei.

Controversies

In 1997, former Miss USA Shannon Marketic filed a lawsuit against the ruling family of Brunei for $90 million.[6] In the case, Shannon alleged that she and 6 other young women were paid $127,200 each for a modeling job in Brunei (whereas on the ABC news program "20/20", Marketic said she was supposed to provide "intellectual conversations" with visiting guests of the royal family). These other women include former Miss Teen USA and future Miss USA Brandi Sherwood, who was invited along by Shannon, and Miss United Kingdom runner up Paula Bradbury.

Marketic maintained that she and the women were held as "sex slaves" and were "intimidated and coerced into performing physically and morally repulsive acts of prostitution."[7] They were apparently ordered to dance for 5-6 hours every night at parties during which their bodies and private parts were groped and grabbed by men. During the dances Shannon was also allegedly abused verbally with comments made about her bare breasts.[8] The women were often told to go with a man to have "tea" with him and then had sex with him.[9] In her interview on "20/20", Marketic said that after 32 days of being held against her will, she managed to smuggle a letter out to the US Embassy; shortly afterwards, she was allegedly paid $10,000 and forced to fly back to the United States alone.[10] The case was thrown out due to the immunity of the ruling family as heads of state.[11] There has been no further investigation into this case although there are allegations both supporting and refuting her claims. Paula Bradbury separately sued the Sultan and won £500,000 in settlement.[12]

The king of Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf spoke well about the Sultan to the Swedish press after a meeting with him, creating a minor controversy in Sweden.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hassanal_Bolkiah