NY Governor Spitzer's star power dimmed by driver's license reversal, other blunders

[DeepModem Mom]

CNN/AP: November 23, 2007
Spitzer's star power dimmed by license reversal, other blunders


New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer abandoned a plan to issue drivers licenses to illegal immigrants.

ALBANY, New York (AP) — He was once untouchable. Eliot Spitzer barreled into the New York governor's office barely 11 months ago riding a record-setting wave of popularity. Time magazine had named him "Crusader of the Year" when he was attorney general and the tabloids proclaimed him "Eliot Ness." The "Sheriff of Wall Street" who had made corporate titans cower then pay up for their misdeeds was going to take the same no-nonsense approach to fixing one of the country's worst governments. But then he got to work, and hasn't had but a handful of good days since.

At the Capitol, he's been hit with scandal and derided as a rich brat who doesn't play well with others. "Eliot's Mess," mocked the tabloids. The low point came two weeks ago when, battered in the polls and amid concerns that he was threatening to unhinge Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential bid, he surrendered on his plan to give driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. Instead of a rising political star, he is now seen as the standard for rapid political collapse. "It is very, very unusual for someone to dive this far, that quickly," said Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf, who worked on President Clinton's successful re-election campaign in 1996 and handled Spitzer's ads in his first two campaigns.

Before he was elected governor, Democrats, Republicans, conservatives and liberals loved the two-term attorney general: This new, tough-on-crime, fiscally conservative Democrat who for eight years policed the world's financial markets to protect the little guy. His father, millionaire real estate developer Bernard Spitzer, boldly told a magazine his son would be the first Jewish president....

At Spitzer's inauguration, he vowed to usher in a new era of vitality, reform, openness and government working for the people. He spoke of working with all, and all seemed to know that if that didn't work, he had the smarts, the political support and the popularity to smash the status quo. And it worked, for a while. He led and scared lawmakers to unprecedented reforms of the budget process, ethics, and a bloated worker's compensation system that for decades cost employers too much while paying injured workers too little.

Then the status quo fought back....

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/11/23/spitzers-star-power-dimmed-by-license-reversal-other-blunders/

[PATRICK]

1. Education

I for one and heartened by the blunders even though they have consequently weakened all the good points. Namely that the middling compromises and ambitions of his fighting AG years did not settle down into a DLC swamp of self-satisfaction. Like the Clinton neo-Kennedys we always wait for, he went for it. Went for it with political maladroitness that was almost refreshing were it not for the ego and the scandal-ridden arrogance. He chose his battles immediately and with enthusiasm though not at all wisely.
I'd like to think he was learning, but even if he is not had for supper by the miasmic empire and his seething enemies, I don't think he ever was naturally in touch enough as the people's champion he now wants to be- within the imperial robes of the Governor. In that there are several sources for confusion and lack of connection with various realities.

After the dust settles wll the real Spitzer find his stride? Could he even in a retreat to moderate corporatism and the supposed status quo? Or will he flame out to the delight of his enemies(and ours) trying to find his inner DK within the attractions of power?

[DeepModem Mom]

3. Thanks for your post. The article points out that Bill Clinton had such a rough first term...

that he was not re-elected, and had to run again two years later. More recently, Deval Patrick had a rough start in Massachusetts. So, it will be interesting to see how things evolve with Spitzer, and/or how Spitzer himself evolves.

[BeyondGeography]

2. His main blunder was underestimating the intransigence of the Legislature

led by the hacks Bruno, Silver and their entrenched minions. He tried to go over their heads to public opinion early, but they care far more about retaining their power and their perks than does the citizenry about cleaning up the mess. He needs more friends at the legislative level if he is to achieve anything, and he has three years to figure it all out. Stick with it, Eliot. NY needs you to succeed.