All Over Albany

Well, if I hadn't spitzered myself...

Now, Barack, I made a mistake, but...

What's the wash cycle for disgraced public figures these days? A year? Six months?

In what's maybe not a surprise, Eliot Spitzer seems to be testing the limits.

He pushed himself back into public life this weekend with a piece in the Washington Post about his advice for Barack Obama regarding the financial meltdown.

The short version: I was right.

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It was just too easy

Welcome to the rest of your life.

When the feds announced they wouldn't be prosecuting Eliot Spitzer for his involvement with prostitutes, headline writers in newsrooms all over the world probably couldn't contain themselves. Can't. Not. Make. Cheesy. Pun.

"Spitzer Gets Off, Prosecutorially Speaking" -- Gawker

"Spitzer Gets Off! No Charges for Fallen Gov" -- Village Voice

"WHAT A RELIEF! SPITZ GETS OFF" -- New York Post

"Eliot Spitzer gets off too easily" -- Kansas City Star

"Luv Gov Gets Off" -- NBC Bay Area

"Eliot Spitzer gets off free" -- Daylife

"Spitz' Criminal Charges Get Swallowed" -- TMZ

Eliot Spitzer hails his own cabs now

Apparently he agrees it is more like Aeschylus than Shakespeare.

Over the weekend, NYT followed up on what Eliot Spitzer's doing these days (aside from, you know, "hanging out" with his kids). A few of the highlights...

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What's Eliot Spitzer up to?

Because we know that you've just been worried sick about what Eliot Spitzer's been up to since he, you know, spitzered himself, here's a report from the steamroller himself in Time Out New York:

These days I prefer hanging out with my kids--having dinner and encouraging them to do their homework and put aside Facebook for awhile.

Client #9 answered a few other questions for TONY, including who's his favorite New Yorker (badass Teddy Roosevelt).

And the former gov's downfall continues to pay media dividends. New York mag's "Spitzer's Brain" was nominated for Cover of the Year by the American Society of Magazine Editors.

Soares dumps Spitzer-Bruno documents, state official recommends firing Saratoga teacher, buried in the backyard, a two million dollar horse

David Soares' office released more than 8,000 pages of documents from the investigation into the Spitzer administration's "Let's get Joe Bruno by tracking his travel on state aircraft" plot. The short story: the Spitzer admin tried to hatch the plan while keeping the former Gov publicly out of it (though he was involved behind the scenes). Also: Spitzer didn't like Bruno, which probably comes as a surprise to, well, no one. [TU]

A hearing officer for the state Department of Education has recommended that a tenured Saratoga Springs teacher be fired for having what was apparently a platonic, though weird, relationship with one of his students. The 36-year-old teacher and 14-year-old emailed, texted, and IM'ed each other about poetry and met up at places such as Uncommon Grounds. No criminal charges have been filed. [Daily Gazette] [Saratogian]

The Albany Airport Authority moved a historic house, intact, more than 200 feet yesterday in order to clear it from a safety zone. [TU]

A woman who recently moved to Schenectady's Hamilton Hill neighborhood was flipping over old patio stones in her backyard and one turned out to be... a grave stone from 1849. A local historian says most of the neighborhood was once a cemetery. Said the historian to the Gazette: "It's a great little piece of Schenectady history. I think a lot of people didn't realize they're living in a former graveyard." No, that probably wasn't in the MLS listing. [Daily Gazette]

A horse went for $2 million last night at the Fasig Tipton Selected Yearling Sale. That was the highest price paid at this year's sale. The horse has bloodlines that run back to Secretariat. [TU]

Tom Roohan -- of realty fame -- would rather you steal his horse and admire it rather than kick it. [TU] [Saratogian] [Fox23]

Spitzer aides accused of breaking ethics laws, gun buyback in Troy, Colonie EMTs upset about being grounded, lower gas prices if you pay cash

A report from the State Commission on Public Integrity says four former Eliot Spitzer aides violated state ethics laws while taking part in the "Let's get Joe Bruno by using the State Police to track his travel on state aircraft" plot. The report left the former governor off the hook, a move that some are calling a "whitewash." [NYT] [TU]

Dean Skelos, the new State Senate leader, was at The Track yesterday and said he gives his "commitment" that he would continue Joe Bruno's upstate economic development projects, including the proposed AMD chip fab at Luther Forest. [Daily Gazette]

The Albany gun buyback program is being expanded to Troy. (Earlier on AOA: The Albany gun buyback: buyer's remorse?) [TU]

The Troy police chief is in the running to head up the police force in Marco Island, Florida. [TU]

Colonie EMTs are protesting the town's decision to discontinue the medics' participation with State Police rescue flights around the region. Paula Mahan, the town supervisor, says Colonie needs the resources focused on the town. [WNYT]

Gas stations around the region are starting to offer lower prices to people who pay with cash. The stations says credit card transaction fees are taking a big bite out of their revenue. [Daily Gazette]

The head of the Metroplex Development Authority in Schenectady says the Big House night club project is back on track. [Daily Gazette]

Flooding from all the recent rain damaged the wood floor at the HVCC sports complex, probably closing the facility for the rest of the summer. HVCC is hoping it can save the floor -- a replacement would cost about $200,000. [Troy Record]

To spitzer

Check it out: someone posted our definition of "spitzer" to the Urban Dictionary -- and it's currently the number one ranked definition for the word!

(Thanks, Chip!)

Dopp kicked

NY Mag has a story this week about how Eliot Spitzer let Darren Dopp, one of his former top aides, get thrown under the bus -- and then watch as the bus stopped, backed up, and ran over Dopp a few more times. Among the juicy details:

+ After agreeing to take the fall for "Troopergate" -- the plan to "get" Joe Bruno by leaking records of his state aircraft use -- Dopp learned about his suspension not from Spitzer or adminstration officials, but from blogs.

+ When Dopp told Spitzer that Bruno would be "torqued" if the records of his aircraft use were released, Spitzered reportedly told Dopp to "Shove it up [Bruno's] ass with a red-hot poker."

+ During his investigation of Troopergate, Albany County DA David Soares reportedly told Dopp that he'd met murderers with more honor than some of the people on Spitzer's staff.

+ Spitzer, who apparently is famously anti-therapy, is now seeing a therapist.

photo: ny.gov

Spitzer, Spitzer what did you do?

The downfall of Eliot Spitzer, as explained by a three-year-old:

Siena ends upset run, Spitzer story keeps turning, norovirus suspected at Great Escape, tournament pool busted, school fundraiser fatigue

Siena's NCAA tournament run ended Sunday with an 84-72 loss to Villanova in the second round. [TU]

It seems that word of Eliot Spitzer's call girl habit was circulating as early as last Fall. Republican political operative Roger Stone reportedly sent the FBI a letter accusing the former Gov of going to prostitutes. How did Stone find out? He heard it from "a social contact in an adult-themed club." [NYT]

Oh, and remember how Spitzer said he wasn't involved in the effort to catch Joe Bruno misusing state aircraft? According to testimony from a former aide, that seems to have been a lie. Spitzer was not just involved, he was coffee-spewing-from-his-mouth, calling-at-all-hours involved. [NYT]

The reported count of gastrointestinal illnesses from the Great Escape is nearing 200. The infamous norovirus is suspected to be culprit causing diahrea and "projectile vomiting." The park has now closed one of its restaurants in an attempt to stamp out the bug. [TU]

Yet another candidate has jumped into the race for the 21st Congressional District (McNulty's seat). The latest: Republican Steven Vasquez of Ballston Spa, which isn't even in the district. [TU] (AOA's Local Congressional Scorecard)

The breach of Hannaford's transaction system came after the network was certified to be in compliance with security standards. [AP]

An auction-style NCAA pool involving tens of thousands of dollars was busted in Warren County. Among those present at the private auction: Warren County officials. [Troy Record]

Suffering from fundraiser fatigue, Niskayuna School District officials are working on a new policy for school fundraisers. Don't worry, the junior prom seems to be safe. [Daily Gazette]

Everyone's job is under pressure these days. In Waterford, real border collies are being replaced by wood cutouts of dogs in an effort to chase away Canada geese. [Troy Record]

It's a tragedy, sure, but Shakespearean or Greek?

Shakespeare, Spitzer, Aeschylus

Sure, the story of Eliot Spitzer spitzering himself is tragic, but no self-respecting journalist would just leave it at that. Simple "tragedy" is never enough... it has to be some kind of tragedy. And, of course, the two go-to categories for tragedy are Shakespearean and Greek.

Both have gotten a fair share of use this week. Maureen Dowd can always be counted on for a Shakespeare reference, but she wasn't alone. As for the Greek treatment, USA Today has helpfully compiled examples.

OK, but which is it? If you're going to take the time to sound like a cultural elite, you might as well be right. So we checked with an expert.

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Speed reading even more of the Spitzer coverage

Yep, according to the Times, that's her.

OK, here we go again. We've picked through piles of the coverage of Spitzer spitzering himself to pull out facts and details so you don't have to.

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Speed reading more coverage of Eliot Spitzer and his spitzering

Hey, look, the media circus is in town.

Updated Wednesday at 11:59 AM

So, he's done. We've read through the piles of coverage about it so you don't have to... many new bite-sized facts and details from Wednesday's coverage after the jump.

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Speed reading the coverage of Eliot Spitzer spitzering himself

Wrecked steamroller.

Updated Tuesday at 4:04 PM

We've read through the piles of coverage so you don't have to... many bite-sized facts and details after the jump.

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A new definition for screwing up

spitz · er

v.tr.

1. To unexpectedly -- and spectacularly -- destroy your career in a single act so obviously wrong that having someone tell you "you should know better" would be blatantly redundant: Bob was on track to make regional manager until he spitzered himself

n.

1. An act as described in the logs of a federal investigation in which [REDACTED BECAUSE THIS IS A FAMILY WEBSITE]

Albany DA to investigate Troy cops, the budget flu shot, easy win for Siena

David Soares' office says it will into the alleged use of excessive force by Troy police in Menands. The two men arrested Friday night are now being represented by Terry Kindlon, who calls the situation "a Rodney King-type incident." Kindlon asked Soares to get involved because of says he doesn't trust the Troy PD and, in a letter, called its investigation a "charade." [TU] [Record]

Governor Spitzer compares his proposed budget, which is out today, to a flu shot: "You know there's a momentary sting, but it's good for you in the long run." [WXXI Public Radio]

Siena took it to Canisus last night in a 77-49 win at home. The Saints are now 7-1 in the MAAC. [Daily Gazette]

Morning Blend: State of Upstate, Jeanne Neff retires, convention center cost, Saratoga botanical garden

Eliot Spitzer delivered the first "State of Upstate" speech yesterday in Buffalo. He said the the part of NY that's not the city is facing and economic storm. His solution? Take $1 billion and spray it all over upstate (OK, not literally, but close). Also part of the plan? Everyone's favorite economic development idea: tech parks! [NYT]

Jeanne Neff, president of the Sage Colleges, announced she's retiring in June. She's headed up the school for 13 years. [TU]

Remember that plan for a convention center in Albany? The projected cost is now $325 million -- that's $125 million more than the original estimate. [CBS6]

There's a small movement to build a botanical garden at Saratoga Spa State Park. An official says it's "a nice idea," but he's not sure where it would fit. [Saratogian]

State of the State: the super quick scan

Sure, you could actually read Eliot Spitzer's State of the State speech. But why read when you can scan? Here's the text of the speech broken down into the 75 words that appeared with the greatest frequency. Think of it a little like that refrigerator magnet poetry -- just arrange the words into some sort of plausible order to make it sound like you actually know what's going on. For example:

Co-worker: Hey, how about that State of the State?

You: Oh, yeah, Spitzer really talked a lot about health and education... and, um, New York.

OK, so there are limits. Use with care: