vip in the city

Shock and awe

What a day.

When news of the scandal first broke on The New York Times website (via the Metro Desk) shortly after 2PM yesterday afternoon, the details were scant. (“Spitzer Is Linked to Prostitution Ring“? How maddeningly vague!) Like most New Yorkers, I was caught up in this story, not just because the coverage was relentless and unavoidable, but because the unfolding sordid tale was just so shocking and incomprehensible.

The headline writers at the New York City tabloids live for times like these, and over the course of the day there was much speculation (and off-color suggestions) over what would be emblazoned on the front pages around the city. For sure, The Post could be counted upon to rise — or sink — to the occasion; these were the people that brought us “Axis of Weasel” in January 2003, after all.

That night, David Letterman listed the “Top Ten Messages Left on Eliot Spitzer’s Answering Machine” (#7: “Hi, I’m calling from the ‘New York Post.‘ Would you rather be known as ‘Disgraced Governor Perv’ or ‘Humiliated Whore Fiend’?)

After the initial shock of Monday afternoon wore off, I was left with a feeling of deep disappointment that extended well beyond the personal failings of one man. HYB reminded me of a passage from Douglas Adams‘s The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, which I last read over two decades ago:

To summarize: it is a well-known fact that those people who most want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it.
To summarize the summary: anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job.
To summarize the summary of the summary: people are a problem.

Tags: governor, scandals, Spitzer