Centerfield

So IOW he's more of a pimp than we thought! :-)

Build that cross and pop that corn folks, this'll be quite a show.

Another opp to play "name that party."

When I first read this story, the fact that Spitzer was a democrat was mentioned in the 3rd paragraph. Now it doesn't come up until later, in a sidelong mention to "a fellow democrat." CNN choked on this one, too. And InstaP reports the NYT has buried it, too.

I've been watching this for a few months now. Almost Invariably, GOP membership is mentioned in the first paragraph or two of any corruption story. but when the actor is a democrat, it's usually buried.

Perhaps part of the reason (beyond media bias, of course) is the that GOP has been making a lot of noise over the years about their superior morality. Especially with regard to sex. That might tend to make membership in the GOP on the part of the accused arguably more relevant than membership in the Democratic Party would be for the same offense.

Just as it would be more relevant to mention the party of a politician who was found to be deeply involved in, for example, running sweat-shops or engaging in arms dealing if he was a Democrat. If you make a big deal as a party about how virtuous you are in a particular area, you have to expect to get noticed when one of your prominent members fails in that area.

Just as it would be more relevant to mention the party of a politician who was found to be deeply involved in, for example, running sweat-shops or engaging in arms dealing if he was a Democrat.

Or like, say, Mr. Penn's company's union-busting....

If you make a big deal as a party about how virtuous you are in a particular area, you have to expect to get noticed when one of your prominent members fails in that area.

Like, say, running deficits after making a big deal out of fiscal displine election cycle after election cycle?

I disagree." Arguably relevant" is a very weak argument. Journalists ought to report the party along with the name in the first paragraph in every instance.

Well, it would have the virtue of consistency to report the party in the first paragraph every time. But as long as each party gets top billing when they are running counter to their most loudly proclaimed ideals (thanks for the Penn/union busting example, Jon!), I'd say it's fair play. Not ideal, perhaps, but still even handed.

You could argue that wj, but the way it has worked out in the period I have been monitoring (about 2 months now) it is that GOP critters usually get a mention right away, and dem party ID is either buried at the bottom or even not mentioned.

And most of the time the corruption charges relate to some sort of graft or shady bidness deal. Presumably that's strongly counter to the ideals of BOTH parties. Neither party is more strongly anti-bribery than the other, right?

I recall that when the case first came out about that guy Jefferson who had cash stashed under the ice cubes in the freezer, I had to do additional research to find out his party ID. I cheerfully acknowledge that's not AT ALL conclusive by itself. Couldda been crappy reporting, which is why I'm committed to tracking it informally for a year or two anyways, just as an idle hobby for a newsreader.

But the pattern is already emerging. I have not read a single story where dem party ID has come sooner than the 3rd paragraph, and it's usually lower. GOP crooks have already gotten ID'd in the first graf more than once.

Spitzer has undoubtedly solidified Hillary's determination to go all the way to the convention. She is just a hooker away from the nomination.

Letterman.

Top Ten Eliot Spitzer Excuses

Top Ten

Oh come on, like you were never involved in a prostitution ring

Hookers is fun

Just trying to help the economy

Have you ever been to Albany?

It's part of my new MTV prank show "Spitz'd"

Haven't been myself since Roy Schieder died

Uh, tainted beef?

Whether it's a hooker or your wife, you're always paying for it -- you married fellas know what I'm talking about

Wanted to be known as the Charlie Sheen of politics

I thought Bill Clinton legalized this years ago