The disclosure that New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer hired a high-priced prostitute during a recent visit to Washington, DC first reported by the New York Times has quickly led to speculation that Spitzer will be forced to resign his office. The Wall Street Journal reports this morning Spitzer is expected to resign "perhaps as early as today, according to a person close to him." The Washington Post says "even sympathetic analysts said the governor...did not have a reservoir of goodwill to draw upon that might help him overcome this latest controversy." Republicans in Albany "said that if the governor tries to keep his job, they will probably question whether his state police bodyguards, who provide him 24-hour protection, were complicit in his actions, and whether any state money or facilities were used."
USA Today headlines its front-page story "Revelation Could Cost Spitzer Political Future," and reports "some Democrats may be hoping for a quick resignation to minimize the repercussions of the explosive disclosure, Democratic strategist Peter Fenn says." The Wall Street Journal notes in a front-page story that if the Governor does resign, "the state constitution calls for the job to pass to Mr. Spitzer's lieutenant governor and running mate, David Paterson, a legally blind former legislator." Paterson, adds the Journal, "is as widely liked as Mr. Spitzer is controversial," and "would become the state's first African-American governor."
On Monday, USA Today reports, Spitzer made a public appearance alongside his wife in which he "apologized to his family and the public." In its Style section, the Washington Post says "nearly every post-scandal news conference is like every other. There's a script to these things, as we all know, and...Spitzer followed it to the letter yesterday in seeming to acknowledge his involvement with a prostitute and apologizing for it." Noting Mrs. Spitzer's presence at yesterday's event, Dana Milbank writes in his "Washington Sketch" column for the Washington Post that "whatever Spitzer...did with a petite brunette nicknamed 'Kristen' on the eve of Valentine's Day last month at Washington's Renaissance Mayflower Hotel, it probably wasn't as monstrous as what he asked his wife to do yesterday."
The Christian Science Monitor reports "the case is being handled by prosecutors in the public corruption unit of US attorney Michael Garcia's office."
All three networks led with the story, devoting a total of 14 minutes and 55 seconds to it. ABC World News referred to the scandal as "nothing short of a political earthquake." On NBC Nightly News Dan Abrams of MSNBC said, "When you are talking about federal crimes, there is specific federal statutes that talk about enticing, inducing, transporting, someone to cross state lines to engage in prostitution. And that is the sort of crime that he can be charged with -- and you are talking about something like up to twenty years." The CBS Evening News reported, "In the turbulent world of politics, this could be a category five storm."
On ABC World News, George Stephanopoulos said, "I think it's going to be very, very difficult if not impossible for him to continue in office." NBC Nightly News said "the pressure on Spitzer to resign is already immense." Likewise, the CBS Evening News noted "there is real pressure on Spitzer tonight to step down."
Writing in The Politico, Ben Smith remarks on the Spitzer's "dramatic fall," and also says that "in his hour of political need, Spitzer has few important political allies," as he "rubbed politicians the wrong way, in particular, with his insistence that every fight be a matter of personal principle -- a bruising style that takes on bitter irony given his current predicament." The Christian Science Monitor reports Spitzer's "long history of morally righteous statements is prompting speculation that he will be forced to step down. The reason, say political analysts, is that the public, which forgives many political sins, abhors hypocrisy."
The Los Angeles Times notes "plenty of salacious details" about Spitzer and his ties to the prostitution ring have already emerged, and proceeds to outline them. The New York Times also runs a detailed account of the run-up to the alleged encounter under the headline "Affidavit: Client 9 And Room 871."
The New York Times says in an editorial that Spitzer's "short, arrogant statement simply was not enough, not from the Sheriff of Wall Street, not from the self-appointed Mr. Clean who went to Albany promising a new and better day." In an editorial, the Wall Street Journal writes, "The stupendously deluded belief that the sitting Governor of New York could purchase the services of prostitutes was merely the last act of a man unable to admit either the existence of, or need for, limits."
Clinton Sidesteps Questions About Spitzer The AP reports, "Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton carefully sidestepped questions Monday about the sex scandal." Said Clinton, "I don't have any comment on that. Obviously I am sending my best wishes and thoughts to the governor and to his family."
In The Politico, Ben Smith writes Clinton is "the most powerful New Yorker in politics," and "though Spitzer supports her, she and her aides bear him no goodwill. They view his abortive plan to issue driver's licenses to illegal immigrants as the beginning of her fall in the polls, and his recent refusal to travel to Ohio for a campaign event did little to repair the breach." USA Today notes Spitzer "is a 'super delegate' supporting Clinton against Illinois Sen. Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination."
Meanwhile, the Washington Times reports, "The accusations that...Spitzer patronized a high-priced call girl tarnishes, if not undermines, the Democrats' attempt to portray the Republican Party as the party of corruption in this year's elections, even as it probably ends his own political career."
Fox News' Special Report reported that the House Judiciary Committee "has filed a federal lawsuit to force White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and former White House counsel Harriet Miers to provide information about the firing of several US Attorneys." McClatchy says the suit demonstrates that the "constitutional battle between Congress and the White House is far from over." The lawsuit "comes after Democratic-led congressional hearings probed the firings, the Justice Department released thousands of internal e-mails and documents and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales resigned."
Roll Call says the judge hearing the case "was appointed by President Bush in 2002," and that "may be bad news for House Democrats." Judge John Bates, who "also serves on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court," ruled against the Government Accountability Office "in Walker v. Cheney, in which the agency attempted to get information about energy executives who met privately with Vice President Cheney in 2001."
The Los Angeles Times reports, "The politically charged lawsuit faces uncertain prospects," because "there is no federal statute that authorizes the House to directly enforce its subpoenas through the courts." The Washington Post says it is "the first time in US history that either chamber of Congress has sued the Executive Branch to enforce a subpoena, according to a spokesman for the House Judiciary Committee." The House, adds the Post, "passed the contempt citation by a vote of 223 to 32 after most Republicans boycotted the proceeding," but "Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey said White House aides involved in the case cannot be prosecuted because they were following legal advice from the Justice Department."
The AP meanwhile, quotes House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers saying, "We will not allow the administration to steamroll Congress." The Washington Times reports House Speaker Nancy Pelosi "said the suit was needed to 'defend Congress' subpoena power against the efforts of any administration to hide information in order to prevent the exercise of Congress' oversight and lawmaking responsibilities.'" White House Press Secretary Dana Perino, notes The Hill, called the Democrat's move "partisan theater."
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The Wall Street Journal reports, "Defying White House demands to pass a surveillance measure to expand domestic spy powers and provide legal immunity for companies that assisted the government with warrantless eavesdropping, House Democrats are drafting a new proposal that refuses to grant immunity." Congressional Quarterly adds, "The latest proposal would sidestep stalled House-Senate negotiations over an overhaul of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. But most aspects of the new legislation were developed without Senate consultation, and so it is unlikely to break the logjam."
The Wall Street Journal reports the House "could vote as soon as Tuesday to override President Bush's veto of a bill that would have outlawed the interrogation practice of waterboarding." Congressional Quarterly says the vote "will allow Democrats to continue to criticize President Bush's interrogation policies and highlight opposition to the bill by the presumed Republican presidential nominee, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, Democratic aides said."
McClatchy reports that "an exhaustive review of more than 600,000 Iraqi documents that were captured after the 2003 US invasion has found no evidence that Saddam Hussein's regime had any operational links with Osama bin Laden's al Qaida terrorist network." The Pentagon-sponsored study, "scheduled for release later this week, did confirm that Saddam's regime provided some support to other terrorist groups, particularly in the Middle East, US officials told McClatchy. However, his security services were directed primarily against Iraqi exiles, Shiite Muslims, Kurds and others he considered enemies of his regime."
The AP reports President Bush announced yesterday that he is dispatching Vice President Dick Cheney to the Middle East "to get Israelis and Palestinians to hold firm to the promises they've made toward peace." Bush said Monday in the Oval Office that Cheney would "reassure people that the United States is committed to a vision of peace in the Middle East." The Wall Street Journal says Administration officials "suggested that Mr. Cheney, with his no-nonsense style, will be pressing for speedier progress on peace talks. He also will be seeking to advance the broader US vision of security in the region, anchored in a peaceful and democratic Iraq" during his trip that will take him "to Oman, Saudi Arabia, Israel and the West Bank, and Turkey beginning Sunday." The Los Angeles Times notes Bush "has repeatedly said he hopes to have concrete results in the negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians before he leaves office in January."
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USA Today reports on its front page that Sen. Barack Obama "beat back any notion of giving up his presidential bid to be" Sen. Hillary Clinton's "running mate, urging people voting today not to be tricked by the New York senator or former president Bill Clinton, who have fanned the idea in recent days."
On NBC Nightly News, correspondent Lee Cowan said, "I talked to a Obama aide just a short time ago, and this whole notion of Barack Obama on a Hillary Clinton ticket as vice president, he said, in his words, 'was the most twisted bit of logic he had seen in this entire campaign.' That said, however, Barack Obama thought it was still something he had to address today and that means that took time away from his real message." Obama was shown saying, "I want everybody to be absolutely clear. I'm not running for vice president. I'm running for president of the United States of America." Obama also said, "I don't know how somebody who is in second place is offering the vice presidency to the person who is in first place." The CBS Evening News showed Obama saying, "With all due respect, I have won twice as many states as Senator Clinton. I have won more of the popular vote than Senator Clinton. I have more delegates than Senator Clinton." The Illinois senator went on to say, "It's like when somebody's trying to bamboozle you. When they're trying to hoodwink you. You. They are trying to hoodwink you."
The Washington Post notes Obama "also said, with evident delight, that the Clintons' notion undermines their central challenge to his candidacy -- that he is not prepared to be president. 'I don't understand,' Obama told the crowd at the Mississippi University for Women. 'If I'm not ready, how is it you think I would be such a great vice president?'"
Clinton Camp: Obama Could Meet "Commander-In-Chief Test" By Convention Time The Hill reports, "Senior advisers" to Clinton "on Monday sought to reconcile the campaign's assertion that...Obama...has not passed the 'commander-in-chief test' with the Clintons' hints in recent days that the New York senator would tap Obama as a running mate." Howard Wolfson, Clinton's chief spokesman, "said during a conference call with reporters that Clinton would reject any running mate who has not met the 'national security threshold,' as Clinton's military advisers and Wolfson put it on the call. But he added that it is possible Obama could meet that threshold by this summer's Democratic convention."
Despite a lack of consensus on how to resolve the impasse over the status of delegates from Michigan and Florida, it appears at least one group is moving ahead with a plan. The Politico reports, "Florida Democrats were moving forward Monday with a plan to redo their presidential primary using privately-funded mail-in ballots, a key state party official said, even though some congressional and party leaders had yet to sign on to the idea. ... The official said the state party expected both the Clinton and Obama campaigns to eventually agree to the plan." The South Florida Sun-Sentinel adds that "Top Florida Democrats" said "they are looking into hiring a private accounting firm and a direct-mail house to send ballots to 4.1 million Democratic voters ... The party-run primary seemed to be overtaking an earlier idea, floated by Republican Gov. Charlie Crist, that the state itself could somehow administer a do-over election, paid for by Democratic donors." In a story headlined "State Democrats rush to plan revote," the Palm Beach Post reports, "Sources said party leaders expected to emerge with details of a plan this week, but some Democrats questioned whether the expensive revote would be worth the risk."
Democrats go to the polls today in Mississippi, the last contest before a six-week break before Pennsylvania's April 22 contests. U.S. News & World Report reported on its website, "If the conventional wisdom is correct, Barack Obama will be celebrating another victory in a southern primary Tuesday night. Obama leads Hillary Clinton in Mississippi's Democratic presidential contest by 58 percent to 34 percent, according to the latest American Research Group survey," but "Clinton will garner a healthy share because the delegate allocation will be proportional, not winner take all. So the pattern of the Democratic race won't change, with neither candidate able to mount a decisive surge week to week."
While Clinton is focused on Pennsylvania, Obama campaigned hard yesterday in Mississippi. The AP reports that Obama "painted Clinton as part of the Washington establishment whose time has come and gone" during a rally in Jackson yesterday. The Hattiesburg America adds that Obama "said Clinton didn't offer the kind of true change that he could. 'I respect Sen. Clinton,' Obama said to an audible intake of breath and a smattering of boos from the crowd. 'She would be a large improvement over George Bush, there's no denying that. The kind of change that she is offering is just a change in party, and that's not enough.'" The Biloxi Sun-Herald reports Obama "spoke to the estimated 9,000 people who were able to jam themselves into an arena on the campus of Jackson State University on Monday night. Many thousands more weren't able to get inside for the speech, which at times had the atmosphere of a crowded free concert."
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While Sen. Barack Obama was campaigning in Mississippi, Sen. Hillary Clinton yesterday kicked off what is expected to be a major push in Pennsylvania. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports from Old Forge, Penn., "Hundreds of supporters lined South Main Street in this small town outside of Scranton on Monday eagerly waiting to greet 'hometown girl' Hillary Rodham Clinton as she kicked off her campaign in Pennsylvania." The Pocono Record adds Clinton "promoted her northeastern Pennsylvania family connections during a visit here Monday and fired up her supporters with vows to change the priorities of President Bush. ... Clinton's late father, Hugh Rodham, grew up in Scranton. Clinton was christened in a Scranton church." The Scranton Times-Tribune related, "The biggest surprise" in Clinton's speech at Scranton High School, "was her announcement that she will attend the St. Patrick's Day Parade this weekend. Second to that, her biggest applause line of the night was: 'It took a Clinton to clean up after the first (President) Bush; it will take a Clinton to clean up after the second (President) Bush.'"
Philly Mayor's Support For Clinton Could Hurt Obama USA Today columnist DeWayne Wickham writes, "You'd think Barack Obama and [Philadelphia Mayor] Michael Nutter would be kindred souls. They are part of a new wave of black politicians." However, in the 2007 Philadelphia mayoral election, Obama backed Rep. Chaka Fattah, "a close ally of John Street, the outgoing mayor whose administration was plagued by allegations of corruption and mismanagement," even though Nutter "championed good government...the kind of change that is the rallying cry of Obama's campaign." With "little friendship between Philadelphia's mayor and Obama," if Mayor Nutter "can deliver 20%-25% of the black voters in Pennsylvania's largest city to Clinton, he might succeed where Obama failed in trying to influence the outcome of an important election in the Keystone State."
Sen. Hillary Clinton has based her campaign on her experience, and has often cited her work in the Northern Ireland peace process as an example of foreign policy experience gained as First Lady. However, new questions are arising about the extent her actual involvement. Fox Special Report reported, "Former Northern Ireland First Minister William David Trimble, who shared a Nobel Prize for his peacemaking efforts in Northern Ireland, is contradicting Hillary Clinton's statements that she played an instrumental part in the peace process there, calling her claim 'a wee bit silly.' Clinton said Wednesday, 'I helped bring peace to Northern Ireland.' She has used the example to try to bolster her foreign policy credentials as she tries to draw a contrast with Barack Obama." Trimble said, "I don't know there was much she did apart from accompanying Bill (Clinton) going around. ... Being a cheerleader for something is slightly different from being a principal player."
NBC Nightly News reported Sen. John McCain "addressed questions today about his health after a New York Times report this weekend focused on his history of melanoma." McCain "said he had a regular checkup this morning, sees a dermatologist regularly, and is in good health with no recurrence of skin cancer. The McCain campaign also plans to release the Senator's updated medical records in about a month."
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Jay Leno: "God bless him, President Bush says we are not in a recession. By we, he means himself and the board of Halliburton."
Jay Leno: "Here is a...wonderful story. Last week, Frank Buckles, the oldest living American World War I veteran, 107 years old," visited "the White House and met with President Bush. Yeah. The sad part: After the meeting, Bush sent him to Iraq."
David Letterman: "The big news scandal here in New York City just breaking a couple of hours ago" is that New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer was caught in "one of those sting deals." They "caught Spitzer...with a wire, recording him soliciting a prostitute. And I'm thinking holy cow! We can't get bin Laden but by God, we got Spitzer. We got Spitzer!"
Conan O'Brien: "This Friday, President Bush is going to be in New York City to give a speech on the US economy." The "speech is made up of only two words, 'It blows.'"
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