A Modern Greek Tragedy

Winners

The New York Times, fresh
from its weakly sourced story on John McCain’s girlfriend, or not, gets
a temporary respite from critics who contend that it has a liberal
bias. Those critics obviously never read Judith Miller’s reporting on
Iraq prior to the war, but in any case the old gray lady is an
attractive target that the right wing likes to beat on. Hard to find
bias when the Times takes the lead in bringing down the nation’s most liberal governor.

Kristen, a.k.a. Ashley Dupre, who is likely to soon cash in on her rendezvous with the steamroller. With book deals, Penthouse spreads, maybe even a movie in the cards, this blues diva could be singing a different tune very soon.

New York state, because now-Gov.
David Paterson may actually be able to do what Spitzer promised but
could not deliver because of his arrogance and failure to grasp the
role personality plays in politics. And Paterson, because now he’s the governor. 

Sen. Joseph Bruno, because not
only has his nemesis resigned in disgrace, he’s now been promoted to
next-in-line to the governor—and he doesn’t have to give up his day job.

Bill Clinton, because, although he would never say it, he must be thinking that this makes him look good. After all, he never paid for it.

And me, who noted a half-year ago
when Spitzer was riding high in all the public opinion polls, that the
man was headed for a fall. “Everyone who bumps into Spitzer gets that
feeling that he is absolutely the smartest kid in the class,” I wrote
in “Emotional Intelligence,” the Oct. 3 Sanity Fair column. “But you
also get the sense that he knows it, and that sometimes he seems to
believe that the rules don’t apply to him. Does he think that because
his personal popularity puts Bruno to shame he can do things as he
wishes, without regard for the rules?” 

Luv Guv means always having to say you're sorry: Spitzer with wife Silda and youngest daughter Jenna at last year's New York State Fair.

Losers

Barack Obama, because Spitzer,
like Obama, campaigned on the notion that he was to be trusted, that
his personality and integrity mattered more than specific policies. He
somehow mobilized idealistic young people, and now they have had that
hope shattered. People will, with justification, now ask to see the
fine print. 

Prostitutes, who have had their profession dragged through the mud by association with politicians.

Clients 1 to 8, because waiting for the phone to ring can’t be much fun.

Kristen’s boyfriend, who really thought she loved him.

Upstate New York, as we wait to
see what Paterson has to offer us. In a week when Bear Stearns goes
under and the hotel project at Armory Square goes on hold due to the
credit crisis, which one grabs his attention should tell us a lot.

Spitzer’s staff, many of whom
will hang on to their jobs for the moment. But there are, as last week
made abundantly clear, no sure bets in Albany.

And as for Spitzer? He’s still the
landlord to an awful lot of people with very fine addresses, and
doesn’t have to worry much about paying rent. Leave him and his wife
and children to see what they can patch up behind closed doors. There
may be a charity or two that can put up with the stench of him long
enough to take his money and fund-raising efforts.