"The former New York attorney general never believed normal rules applied to him, and his view was validated time and again by an adoring press." --Kimberly A. Strassel
The term "Spitzer" belongs in the dictionary, and its definition should be "any politician." We ought to think of all politicians as Spitzers. No, they don't all have lurid involvements with prostitutes. But they all have an inflated view of their superiority over the rest of us.
Suppose that we define "Spitzer" as someone who believes in the aggressive use of political power. A Spitzer believes it is his mission to tell us what to do for own good.
Is Barack Obama--who also comes from a Harvard Law School background, and who identifies the "audacity of hope" with government expansion--a Spitzer? Absolutely. Is Hillary Clinton--who sees the the state as a substitute for a village, making it also a substitute for the family--a Spitzer? Positively. Is John McCain--who Virginia Postrel describes as "an instinctive regulator who considers business a base pursuit"-- a Spitzer? Unfortunately, yes.
The term "Spitzer wife" also belongs in the dictionary. Its definition should be "someone who tolerates and enables abuse by a Spitzer." As Kimberly A. Strassel pointed out, the press is a Spitzer wife.
What about the rest of us? To the extent that we root for strong politicians, join political cults, invest our hopes and desires in charismatic leaders, all of us are Spitzer wives.
As Ann Althouse points out, the late-night talk shows are having fun at Eliot Spitzer's expense. He has become a subject of mockery.
It is a shame that we only laugh at a Spitzer when his secret sex life is revealed to us. Instead of mocking Spitzers for their private foibles, we should be contemptuous of their public pronouncements. Whether it is "cleaning up Wall Street" or "giving everyone health care," the Spitzers are making extravagant promises that only result in expanded government power.
This summer, the nominees for President will give their acceptance speeches at their parties' national conventions. We should see these speeches as being delivered by a Spitzer. With every grandiose pronouncement, we should let out a belly laugh. "What a Spitzer...Look--another one...Go Spitzer...Spitzer again...All Spitzer all the time!"
Whenever the subject of politics comes up in conversation, try to bring up the name Spitzer. Yes, he's a real Spitzer all right.
The Spitzers in the legislature say they need to spend more of our money this year? What happened, did the Empereror's Club raise their rates again?
That Spitzer wants to tell me what light bulb I have to buy? You tell Spitzer what socket he can stick it in.
Eliot Spitzer has left public life. But generically, Spitzer is still all around us. In relating to politicians, we need to start acting less like Spitzer wives and more like Lorena Bobbitt.
