Comments on: Unfuckingbelievable

By: NefariousNewt

NefariousNewt — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 01:08:45 +0000

@mischiefmanager, @Spark: I would, if only because by doing what they did, they abused the power of their office, and the faith entrusted to them by the electorate. After all, Sanford had his staff cover up his transgressions for him, and no doubt Spitzer, a former Attorney General, used his influence to keep his pecadillos out of the public eye. Any moral issue is separate — in both cases they abused their office.

By: Pilgrim Soul

Pilgrim Soul — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 22:56:12 +0000

“Help her avoid humiliating herself” is my guess. Ah, underminery.

By: Ocean_breeze

Ocean_breeze — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:39:59 +0000

I want to know how they had “offered to help her”. Seems to me she was well on the way to help herself unless they would somehow go to court for her and represent her.

(Maybe they thought she needed a ride?) I don’t understand.

By: Rachel_in_WY

Rachel_in_WY — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:15:09 +0000

@Ocean_breeze,

I got the impression that the involvement of the state police was a pretty huge issue too. Lord knows, you don’t want to be on the wrong side of a law enforcement agency. Nobody can make your life hell like they can, and I’m sure they were pretty good about masking some serious threats in the “friendly” conversation in which they “offered to help” her.

By: Ocean_breeze

Ocean_breeze — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:04:16 +0000

Regardless, the fuss they made on talking to the woman makes it seem like there is something bigger to hide. Or is that just what I’m reading between the lines?

By: Spark

Spark — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:00:17 +0000

@mischiefmanager: I wouldn’t put Spitzer and Sanford in the same category either. Sanford cheated on his wife with a consenting woman. Spitzer hired prostitutes.

By: mischiefmanager

mischiefmanager — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:54:14 +0000

@PSoul and Yvane: Oh, absolutely. Paterson’s behavior includes every layer of intimidation: as one human being to another, as a male over a female, as a boss to an employee and as a figure of political power to someone without it.

@NN: I can’t equate sexual misconduct with what Paterson did. Personally, I don’t care what kind of consensual adult sexual behavior politicians engage in, as long as it doesn’t influence the way they do their jobs. The betrayal was to their wives, not to the voters. Paterson, on the other hand. specifically used his office to frighten an innocent woman. Sanford and Spitzer are stupid; Paterson is evil.

By: NefariousNewt

NefariousNewt — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:49:36 +0000

@Rachel_in_WY: Nothing wrong with quoting Spider-Man; when I read that as a kid, it had a profound influence on me, because I came to realize that power comes in many different forms, including cognitive power. If you have a capacity or capability to do something most others cannot, you have an inherent obligation to use that power responsibly.

And here’s another quote that make come from a movie, but is apt: “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.” There’s a mantra that I wish most politicians would chant daily, before they go meddling in affairs that only benefit themselves, and not the people who elected them.

By: NefariousNewt

NefariousNewt — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:46:08 +0000

Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Why should it come as any shock that Paterson would protect his own, by using his power as Governor? Is this any more unbelievable than what Eliot Spitzer did? Or Mark Sanford? No. Men in positions of power (and I think this goes for women, too) require iron will not to give in to the abuse of their position. When it dawns on you one day that you can make a single phone call and alter the outcome of something, and you gain that sense of unbridled authority, your trip down the slippery slope has begun. Very few people in positions of power can resist the siren call — heck, look at (poor example, I know) Sarah Palin. Governor of Alaska, she used her power to influence the firing of a state police officer. No one can be considered immune.

By: Rachel_in_WY

Rachel_in_WY — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:16:29 +0000

I’ve often wondered why the recurring meme in just about every superhero movie about the responsibility that comes with power never gets extended in “guy culture” to cover this kind of bullshit. (“Remember Peter – with great power comes great responsibility…”) Somehow men are socialized to “get” the whole “if you’re some sort of really strong mutant then it’s your job to carry helpless women out of burning buildings” thing, but not so much with the “if you’re in a position of political or economic power you ought not to intimidate women into acting against their own best interest” thing. I agree that this is a bit more subtle, but it’s not really that hard to wrap your head around. I guess it’s just that abstaining from intimidating abused women isn’t glamorous or romantic – nobody will think you’re a hero for it – whereas you’ll be presented with the key to the city for pulling off the burning building stunt.

I just quoted a Spiderman movie – unfuckingbelievable.