2008 was an election year and it was full of political blunders. New York Governor being identified as client number nine in a prostitution sting did not go over very well. He lost his job, his wife has stood by him, and more than likely he is still in the dog house at his home. There was the Big Three automakers CEO jet setting it to Washington in private jets to beg for money. There was poor Ted Stevens who 40 year political career ended with seven convictions. Sarah Palin while entertaining may not have been the best choice for a running mate. There was also Hillary Clinton’s “misspoke” about sniper fire. Sniper fire is not one of those things commonly misspoken about.
1) The Governor of New York, Elliot Spitzer also known as client number 9. Elliot Spitzer was “caught on a federal wiretap arranging to meet with a high-priced prostitute at a Washington hotel” according to a New York Times story reported March 10, 2008. The article stated “the person briefed on the case and the law enforcement official identified Mr. Spitzer as Client 9.” He offered an apology stating “I have acted in a way that violates my obligation to my family and violates my or any sense of right or wrong.” Spitzer continued “I apologize first and most importantly to my family. I apologize to the public to whom I promised better.” I am sure his wife Silda and their children appreciated his apology. Elliot continued “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.” On March 12, Elliot Spitzer resigned the Governorship of New York.
2) Eighty four year old Alaskan Senator Ted Stevens was convicted of seven counts of wrong doing reported by ABC news on October 27, 2008. ABC reported “A federal grand jury indicted Stevens, 84, in July on seven counts of making false statements, for allegedly lying on U.S. Senate financial disclosure forms for the years 1999 to 2006.” ABC reported the outcome “the jury of eight women and four men deliberated for five hours Monday before returning guilty verdicts on all seven counts.”
3) The CEO’s of Ford, GM, and Chrysler fly private jets to ask for more money. I am sure all three CEO’s could have found a flight from Detroit to one of the three major airports near Washington, DC. ABC News reported on November 19th “The CEOs of the big three automakers flew to the nation’s capital yesterday in private luxurious jets to make their case to Washington that the auto industry is running out of cash and needs $25 billion in taxpayer moneyWashington cost his ailing company an estimated $20,000 roundtrip. In comparison, seats on Northwest Airlines flight 2364 from Detroit to Washington were going online for $288 coach and $837 first class.” Assuming the other two CEO’s air costs were in the same ballpark, that is about two salaries of two working stiffs for the year. I can only imagine what their accommodations and meals cost the company. to avoid bankruptcy.” The ABC report used one of the CEO’s travels as an example “Wagoner’s private jet trip to
4) John McCain’s pick of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to be his running mate for Vice President. The reasons were there. She would appeal to the more conservative republicans. However, she did bring her own baggage to the campaign such as Troopergate. In the end she gave Saturday Night Live new skit material and she even was a guest on the show.
5) Hillary Clinton said “I remember landing under sniper fire. There was supposed to be some kind of a greeting ceremony at the airport, but instead we just ran with our heads down to get into the vehicles to get to our base” on March 17th according to an associated press article on MSNBC. The article ran March 25 clarified the statement “Hillary Rodham Clinton’s campaign said she “misspoke” when saying last week she had landed under sniper fire during a trip to Bosnia as first lady in March 1996. She later characterized the episode as a “misstatement” and a “minor blip.”
Sources:
“Spitzer is Linked to Prostitution Link” New York Times, March 10, 2008 by Danny Hakim and William K. Rashbaum.
“Senator Convicted on Corruption Charges, Vows to Fight Verdict” ABC News October 27, 2008. Jason Ryan, Pierre Thomas, and Theresa Cook.
“Clinton ‘Misspoke’ over Bosnia sniper Claims” March 25, 2008 Associated Press, story appearing on MSNBC
