Dear Media,

yes, we get it, he had some fun on the side. Yes, people understand that since he told you the story first, you have to report it. Yes, of course, this is an awesome, titillating story so soon after that other unpleasantness. And absolutely, his wife did some dallying too, as we now know. This matters, to someone, I'm sure.

Sure, it's understandable that you'd overlook the fact that the Patersons - like the Spitzers - have children, children who are probably being traumatized into years of therapy even as we speak.

But seriously, is this what you really have to give wood to on his first full day day in office? And by wood, I mean frontpage hundred and twenty point type?

Can't you every once in a while, instead of telling us who's up and who's down, who's doing who for how much and how often, report on stuff that matters? There's a budget to be produced. That matters. That budget has a 4.4 billion dollar gap. That matters, too, and even more, what matters is how it gets closed.

There's more to cover, no question. Our legislature is a laughingstock. Upstate is rotting before our eyes. The Senate is about to flip - what does that mean? Why is this important?

So much to write about, and this - this! - is what consumes the entire news cycle? Come. On. Seriously?

Welcome, Governor Paterson: New York's Progressive Community stands with you.

Statement on the accession of Governor Paterson by New York's Progressive community

New York, March 17th, 2008 – For Immediate Release

The Progressive community of New York State – activists, bloggers, fundraisers, organizers, ordinary men and women from all walks of life – welcomes our new Governor, David Paterson, as he assumes our state's highest office. We recognize that Governor Paterson is the first person of color to hold the office of Governor of New York and the first legally blind person to ever hold the office of Governor in the history of the United States. We are inspired by his life achievements to date, by his impressive and daring record of reform, and we are supremely confident that he is ready to lead our state.

We understand that Governor Paterson will face challenges and opportunities as he takes office. Our new Governor's long history of working with all stake holders will prove a valuable asset in delivering for New Yorkers. We believe that both houses of our legislature require drastic changes in their operations. Transparency and open government still elude our state, and too often, our citizens are shut out of decisions that affect our lives. The voices of too many New Yorkers still do not get heard in our state Capitol. These things must change. Governor Paterson's distinguished record of reform gives us great confidence that he will be an agent of this change.

The Progressive community of New York State is ready to support our new Governor in bringing about the change New York needs; the change that New Yorkers voted for in the 2006 election. After the trials of the recent past, we believe that New Yorkers want Governor Paterson to step forward with a bold plan for change that returns our government to our people and creates a better future for all New Yorkers. We look forward to working with our new Governor as we build a lasting Progressive majority, in Albany and around the state, conversation by conversation, vote by vote, district by district, until New York is again a beacon of Progressive governance bright enough to illuminate our entire nation.

As we look forward to the challenges and opportunities ahead, our thoughts are with Governor Eliot Spitzer and his family in their difficult time. We salute Governor Spitzer's achievements, and wish him and his family the best.

Signatories after the jump.

The Spitzer scandal and resignation probably still has a few days to go - Sex! Money! Power! Fall from Grace! Read All About It! - and there are a few gems in the flood of dross.

The Nation profiles incoming Governor David Paterson.

Feministing spotlights the harrowing tale of Dr. Laura Schlesinger, who has found the root cause of the Spitzer scandal: Silda.

"When the wife does not focus in on the needs and the feelings, sexually, personally, to make him feel like a man, to make him feel like a success, to make him feel like her hero, he’s very susceptible to the charm of some other woman making him feel what he needs,”

Oh, fuck you, Dr. Laura.

Scott Horton in The New Republic asks "Was the investigation of Eliot Spitzer politically motivated?" Look for that story to not be picked up by the Times, Post, News, and so on.

Just wrong: The New York Times finds the young woman at the center of the affair, complete with links to her freaking MySpace page. In contrast to the Horton piece, look for this story to be picked up by every media outlet under the sun.

Well, this is awesome. With Eliot Spitzer's resignation expected today and effective Monday, we have a new governor: David Paterson.

We also have a new lieutenant governor: Joe Bruno.

The lieutenant governor fulfills the duties of the office of the governor whenever the governor is incapacitated or outside the state, per Article IV, paragraph 5 of the state constitution.

In case the governor is impeached, is absent from the state or is otherwise unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office of governor, the lieutenant-governor shall act as governor until the inability shall cease or until the term of the governor shall expire.

Joe Bruno is now the lieutenant governor. And that means that a man currently under Federal investigation for corruption will be, at various points over the next few years, the acting governor of the state of New York, whenever David Paterson leaves the state, say, to give testimony to Congress.

We just wasted the biggest electoral victory in the history of the state of New York. It's totally okay to begin throwing up right about now.

Well, according to the New York Times, it's over, and the only open question is when Governor Spitzer's resignation will be announced.

Per CNN, transition talks have started between David Paterson's and Eliot Spitzer's offices.

Oh, and way to go, Bush Justice Department. You nabbed yourselves another Democrat.

Congratulations, also, to the people of New York. Your governor just went down over a Federal investigation into prostitution; because of that, you have a new Lieutenant Governor, Joe Bruno, whose consulting company has been actively investigated for public corruption by the FBI since Spring 2006.

No word yet on whether that investigation will ever be completed, of course.

[Update]: Per the TU quoting Spitzer's office, reports of an impending resignation are inaccurate.

DEM, IND, WOR
David A. Paterson
State Senate Minority Leader
Campaign Website: http://www.paterson2006.com

REP, CON
C. Scott Vanderhoef
Rockland County Executive
Campaign Website: http://www.johnfaso2006.com/aboutcsv.html

GRE
Alison Duncan

LBT
Donald Silberger

SWP
Ben O'Shaughnessy