Hubris
There’s really nothing else that describes it. As I’ve been sitting here this morning thinking about this Spitzer debacle the image that keeps coming back to me is that of Pentheus in The Bacchae: a man who is so sure of his moral rectitude and correctness on all issues that he manages to degrade and destroy himself and those around him utterly. Look at his biography, and especially at the scandals he’s been bogged down with since taking office and his manner of treating with people. A horrid, brash, egotistical, well, pig really. HotAir has a nice segment on what a great guy he really is.
Look at his statement yesterday
“For the past nine years, eight years as attorney general, and one as governor, I have tried to uphold a vision of progressive politics that would rebuild New York and create opportunity for all. We sought to bring real change to New York and that will continue.
“Today I want to briefly address a private matter. I have acted in a way that violates my obligations to my family and violates my, or any, sense of right and wrong. I apologize first and most importantly to my family. I apologize to the public, whom I promised better.
“I do not believe that politics in the long run is about individuals. It is about ideas, the public good, and doing what is best for the state of New York. But I have disappointed and failed to live up to the standard I expected of myself. I must now dedicate some time to regain the trust of my family.
“I will not be taking questions. Thank you very much. I will report back to you in short order. Thank you very much.”
What strikes me most about his opening paragraph is his inclusion of the phrase “I have tried to uphold a vision of progressive politics…” This may be the only honest thing he says. His political view, shared by most in his party and sadly by too many on the other side of the aisle as well, is the elitist progressive agenda, where all power and wisdom is the sole domain of the bureaucrats and experts, where it is our Harvard/Yale educated ruling class that knows what is best for us and it is Government’s duty to wisely dispense blessings on us, as we are too foolish to decide for ourselves what we need. And woe be unto he who questions the wise government sages!
These people disgust me, these Spitzers, Clintons, Craigs, Cuomos, Corzines, Kennedys, McGreeveys; mostly Democrats it’s true but the Republicans all too often fall prey to the same sirens as well of late. Much like any human institution inevitably does, both parties have become corrupt institutions more concerned with maintaining their own existence as opposed to actually implementing a distinct philosophy of government, and that’s why there’s frankly very little difference between them. Bigger government is better, and they use our money to bribe us. And we let them.
And so here we have another politician coming out with one of these non-apologies, hoping to ride out the storm. This is not some “private matter;” “…doing what is best for the State of New York” requires you to resign. Now.
And it requires us to closely think about who we elect, and how well we are served by these party machines we have allowed to evolve.
Politics | tree hugging sister | 
March 11, 2008 9:14 am
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Conservatives saw this a long time ago. Were some of his Wall Street targets greedy? Certainly. Engaged in illegal behavior? Probably not.
He was and is a bully.
And when bullies fall, they fall hard.
Good riddance to the creep.
(I still want the $4300 gig, if anyone’s got the moolah.)