 sj |
||
|
||
BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do??
|
|
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: autolycus Date: 16 Mar 08 - 03:16 PM I haven't, of course, made the trip, no. Ivor |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: Stilly River Sage Date: 16 Mar 08 - 11:49 AM Have you visited her My Space page? The support there is apparent. Perhaps a generational thing, but also an acceptance that what she did isn't really so wrong. Buying the song for .98 is also a vote of support, and I think that is a major part of it. She apparently had posted it for free on a music site and when this broke someone (wisely) set it up to charge the max (.98). It at least gives her some cash for paying an attorney and certainly to make a career shift. Her cover is blown, so to speak. SRS |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: autolycus Date: 16 Mar 08 - 10:44 AM Yuh I know,Em. It's the point of it escapes me. Ivor |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: Emma B Date: 16 Mar 08 - 07:36 AM Nothing 'new' about it autolycus ......'Then there's our blase reaction to scandal. The days when government- toppling temptresses retired in shame have long gone. Christine Keeler was always a sulker, but if the Profumo affair happened now, Mandy Rice-Davies would have landed a record deal, a bra campaign and a TV show before the War Minister's head hit the House of Commons floor......' 'You couldn't make it up' - the cult of celebrity The Independent, May 1999 |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: autolycus Date: 16 Mar 08 - 04:54 AM i GUEST,meself - PM Date: 15 Mar 08 - 09:38 AM To put the best light on it - no one had heard of her or her song previously - now they've gone to her site, listened to her song, and by golly some of them liked it ... I'm still in the dark. With all the music in the world, why does hearing about someone's sexual activity lead to an interest in their songs? Ivor |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: Stilly River Sage Date: 15 Mar 08 - 11:49 PM On Wait Wait Don't Tell Me! today they said they were having trouble with the Spitzer jokes because so many people already beat them to it. But in the musical clue for the three events in the week's news, they played an old favorite from Sweet Charity--Big Spender. It about brought the house down. Earlier today Scott Simon played the Shirley Bassey version of the song. And that version rocks! He interviewed Bassey this morning on the occasion of her latest album. She's great at 71. SRS |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: Stilly River Sage Date: 15 Mar 08 - 11:37 PM Can't let this number blow by without notice, so to speak. . . 100 |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: Charley Noble Date: 15 Mar 08 - 10:52 PM Very nice of you, Don, to revive that old mermaid song. Lord, I haven't heard that one in years. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: GUEST,Appaloosa Lady Date: 15 Mar 08 - 07:10 PM VAT? Luxury item.... |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: Peace Date: 15 Mar 08 - 06:49 PM OK. I understand about the $4000. WTF is the $100 for? |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: Bobert Date: 15 Mar 08 - 06:46 PM That's one song I don't think I can cover... But fir $4100 I'd sho nuff give it a try... B~ |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: Stilly River Sage Date: 15 Mar 08 - 02:50 PM I love that song! Though I don't see him often, Stan must be resigned by now to it being a regular request of mine. It was when I was a kid, and it still is now. :) |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: Don Firth Date: 15 Mar 08 - 02:46 PM On the subject of Bobert's Couzin Rufus's piscatory paramour, my warning by resurrecting the Gill Man, and various other aspects of nautical love affairs, especially those with mermaids, I think the ultimate word goes to my old friend Stan James in this little ditty he sang at one of the Sunday afternoon concerts at the U. N. Pavilion during the Seattle World's Fair in 1962. Take it away, Stanley: GURGLE!! Don Firth |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: Charley Noble Date: 15 Mar 08 - 12:06 PM I wonder when the Kristin/Ashley action figure will be marketed? I would guess that there would be more interest in hers than one of Spitzer, but I could be wrong. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: frogprince Date: 15 Mar 08 - 09:56 AM "high-class hooker"... Definitely; every one knows that that's synonomous with "high-priced"... |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: Mooh Date: 15 Mar 08 - 09:46 AM Seems to me to fall squarely in the catagory of having enough blood to operate a brain and a penis, but not both at the same time. I visited some pretty nice guitar shops this week and four thou would have satisfied my horniness quite nicely, thank you very much. Where can I get some of that. Peace, Mooh. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: GUEST,meself Date: 15 Mar 08 - 09:38 AM To put the best light on it - no one had heard of her or her song previously - now they've gone to her site, listened to her song, and by golly some of them liked it ... |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: autolycus Date: 15 Mar 08 - 08:57 AM Can anyone explain why her song is being bought in bigger numbers than before all that happened? Cos I'm blowed (UK slang for 'at a loss' roughly) if I can see why anyone would see any meaningful connection between the news and the song. Ivor |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: Amos Date: 15 Mar 08 - 08:25 AM Hustler boss LARRY FLYNT has offered the prostitute who brought down New York Governor Eliot Spitzer a $1 million (GBP500,000) deal to pose naked for his magazine. Spitzer has announced his resignation and will officially step down as New York's Governor on Monday (17Mar08) after news of his dealings with $1,000 (GBP500)-an-hour call girl Ashley Alexandra Dupre went public via the New York Times newspaper. And Flynt is convinced the high-class hooker, who works for prostitution and escort agency the Emperors Club VIP, would be a perfect fit for his men's magazine. Flynt says, "We think this is an item that is going to stay in the news for some time. "We think it's not bad for a 22-year-old to make $1 million for a few hours work. It beats what she was making at the escort service." |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: JohnInKansas Date: 15 Mar 08 - 05:01 AM I didn't know prostitution was legal in only some places in Nevada. While "paying for sex" is illegal in Las Vegas, "having sex" isn't. The usual arrangement is that you must call a location outside the county, and provide a credit card number. The payment is thus not made in Las Vegas. When the payment is verified (which takes less than an hour) your "date," who likely is already in your hotel, will be called to tell her (assuming that's your preference?) that it's okay to meet you. I don't know if this "custom" is observed elsewhere in Nevada where there are restrictions; but it's been frequently reported by "travel agents" for Las Vegas and a couple of other casino locations. You must be careful though, about giving her(?) a tip in person. There appear to be additional "conventional behaviors" associated with tipping that are less fully defined. John |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: Stilly River Sage Date: 15 Mar 08 - 01:36 AM The tone on this thread makes it better than the Spitzer thread for placing this next story. It ought to get this kicked up above the line, it brings in substantial information about her music (has anyone listened to it?) link Kristen krazy: cyber storm for 'Client 9' callgirl With Penthouse and Hustler already knocking on her door, the woman linked to the downfall of New York Governor Eliot Spitzer has become, through the power of the web, an overnight music sensation. Ashley Alexandra Dupre aka Kristen, a budding R&B singer, placed her first song up for sale on the independent music download store Amie Street, which prices songs based on supply and demand. Before the scandal erupted and Dupre's identity was revealed, the song What We Want was free. Now it is on sale for the site's maximum price, 98 US cents, and has been played by the most popular radio station in New York. Dupre, 22, whose MySpace page received two million page views in under 24 hours and is now pushing six million views, has since uploaded a new song, Move ya Body, which is also selling for 98 US cents. It is not clear how many songs she has sold but Amie Street's figures show Dupre's tracks have had 209 548 "listens". The site's most popular act, Barenaked Ladies, had 494 378 listens. Hustler and Penthouse said they were keen to contact Dupre, a high-priced callgirl, with offers to appear in their magazines. Dupre, whose arrangements for a rendezvous with Spitzer at a Washington, DC hotel were secretly monitored by the FBI, appears to be taking the advice of one of her MySpace friends: "I guess one good thing came out of this. You became an overnight star. Now run with it." The Spitzer scandal has also sparked a modern-day gold rush as internet domain name traders race to register hundreds of web addresses related to Spitzer and "Kristen". They include client9spitzer.com, governorspitzerporno.com, spitzerringtones.com, spitzerswallows.com and kristenspitzer.com. A full list is available here. Others are attempting to profit by selling T-shirts on sites such as cafepress.com and zazzle.com. One simply has "Client 9"with a large lipstick smooch over the top, while another has "Just Call Me CLIENT 9". Facebook groups have already sprung up in support of Dupre under names such as "Ashley Alexandra Dupre is the next American Idol", "I want Ashley Alexandra Dupre in the oval office!" and "Leave Ashley Alexandra Dupre Alone". Google Trends show "ashley alexandra dupre" was the most searched for query on Google on March 12, the day the story broke. On March 13 it was the 10th most popular query. On the Yahoo search engine, Dupre's name is the second most popular term, while "Spitzer" ranks fourth. The New York Times, which broke the news of Spitzer's involvement in a prostitution scandal, said it saw a 60 per cent increase in web traffic after the story was published. Most of Dupre's biographical information on her MySpace page has now been removed. She said she left a broken home in New Jersey to pursue a music career on her own in New York. "I have abused drugs. I have been broke and homeless. But, I survived, on my own. I am here, in NY because of my music," she wrote. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: Stilly River Sage Date: 15 Mar 08 - 01:19 AM I posted this on another thread, but it could go here, also. Woman files lawsuit against AMR because passenger next to her masturbated while she slept A 21-year-old Harris County woman filed a $200,000 lawsuit against American Airlines alleging employees on a flight to Los Angeles from Dallas/Fort Worth Airport failed to protect her while she slept from another passenger who masturbated to her and ejaculated in her hair, according to a lawsuit she filed last week in Tarrant County. The Harris County woman alleges employees knew of the risks associated with failing to "police the passengers to ensure that passengers do not hurt one another," the suit states. Airline officials did not return calls seeking comment. In a statement to a Houston television station last year, a spokesman said the company regretted the incident, but the flight crew took appropriate action. The woman and her lawyer could not be reached for comment. The Star-Telegram does not identify victims of sexual crimes. Destined for a Spring Break visit with family and friends March 19, the woman flew from Houston to DFW Airport and had settled into her seat for the last leg of flight 2074 to Los Angeles about 11 p.m., the suit states. The woman slept most of the flight, but awoke about 20 minutes before landing when the pilot announced the plane was on decent into Los Angeles. When the woman opened her eyes, she saw that an unknown man had moved into the seat next to her and was staring at her as he masturbated, the suit states. The woman turned toward the window in embarrassment and in an act of nervousness began to run her fingers through her hair where she noticed "a substantial amount of an extremely sticky substance in her hair," the suit states. The woman began to cry and tried to get the attention of a flight attendant, but was unsuccessful, the suit states. Finally a passenger in the row in front of the woman comforted her and verified the semen in her hair, the suit states. When the plane landed, employee called airport police and the man was arrested. The suit alleges that the during the investigation, American Airlines employees told police they witnessed the man move from his assigned seat into the row where the woman was sleeping. The woman is seeking punitive damages and a jury trial. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: Charley Noble Date: 14 Mar 08 - 10:29 PM Don- I hate to confess but I recognize your link to the "creature from the black lagoon." Cheerily, Charley Noble |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: Stilly River Sage Date: 14 Mar 08 - 07:55 PM Eew! I liked my second mermaid best. She's been around the block but the exercise did her good. :) |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 14 Mar 08 - 07:45 PM Following on Emma's last link... |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: Amos Date: 14 Mar 08 - 06:46 PM It's a lot cheaper in Colorado, guys... A |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: Emma B Date: 14 Mar 08 - 06:04 PM further (musical) progeny :) |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: Bobert Date: 14 Mar 08 - 05:48 PM Hmmmmmmmm, Don... Kinda resembles Cuz... But seriously... Ya' know, the guy had barely gotten his confession outta his mouth when the Repubs in New York State started clammoring for his resignation... That's what I don't get... When Vitter did the same thing I don't rememeber the Repubs calling for his resignation... But nevermibnd the hypocrisy... I'm wonderin' why his wife felt she had to appear with him at both press conferences??? That one I can't figurate out... B~ |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: Stilly River Sage Date: 14 Mar 08 - 05:48 PM Don, I went looking for a more convincing depiction of a cross between human and fish. Your contribution is a distinctly human/reptile cross. first (and you might poke around the site--very interesting!) second and posted mostly because it is interesting--refreshing that an attractive older mermaid can still flaunt it! ;-> SRS |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: Don Firth Date: 14 Mar 08 - 05:28 PM Bobert, maybe you'd better warn Couzin Rufus about the possible consequences of his unusual love affairs. One never knows. There could be offspring! Don Firth |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: Emma B Date: 14 Mar 08 - 01:54 PM A 'crime' is defined by society. In some countries prostitution is legal while soliciting is not. In others it can be a crime to use the services of a prostitute. Hypocrisy is a very real issue here however which, although it may not be a 'crime', could be a serious handicap to the political status of someone who while propounding one thing does not, for reasons of arrogance etc, believe that it applies to himself. Personally I am opposed to the sexual exploitation of people of either gender by those with the cash or 'power' to make that possible. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: Bobert Date: 14 Mar 08 - 01:47 PM First of all, I did not have sex with that fish but my Couzin Rufus says there's nothin' tighter than a female catfish... So tight that it's waterproof... Now, that is tight... No, he ain't a blood releative... B~ |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: Donuel Date: 14 Mar 08 - 12:18 PM I for one do not see a crime here except for excessive patriot act like powers of wire tapping and bank spying. When certain women feign such disgust that some man disobeyed the exclusivity claims that a wife placed on her genitals, it makes me think that certain woman are selling their genitals without even knowing it. Right before I was married my lady said it was ok to see a prostitute but anyone she knew was out of bounds. With no taboo in place I have found it easy to have remained 100% faithful for 20 years. ( I am neither bragging or complaining) Trysts and triads were mesy enough when I was single. Why bring them into a marriage. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: Bryn Pugh Date: 14 Mar 08 - 12:14 PM At risk of thread creep, and Mama being American : A Briton inquired how he might become an Alaskan. He was informed that he had to drink a quart of moonshine rye whisky, wrestle a bear and fuck an Inuit woman. The quart of whisky went down, and our Briton was directed to the bear cave. (Cue sounds of growling, yelling, tearing noises . . . ) Our Briton stggers out of the cave, blood and snot everywhere and inquired "Where is that Inuit woman I have to wrestle ?" I'll get me parka . . . |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: Donuel Date: 14 Mar 08 - 12:00 PM Spaw, fucking fish is purely a cultural practice of opportunity. In the Amazon there are fresh water dolphin who are orten raped by the non tribal population. While a dolphin is not a fish, you indeed could have a good ol fashioned fish fucking party in Brazil. If there were fresh water dolphin in Texas there would be fewer sheep jokes. I have seen the participants speak about the practice on PBS. It seems that lots of alcohol is part of the ceremony. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: PoppaGator Date: 14 Mar 08 - 11:51 AM I heard an interview on NPR last night with an academic researcher specializing in the sociology of prostitution and its clientele. An interesting fact: between 1/5 and 1/6 of men have ever patronized a prostitute. (Of men in the US, I assume.) I would guess that those who say "everybody does it" would be among the 20% or less who actually do (or whose spouses do). SRS is right about whatshername: she'll come out of it OK, not superrich, but pretty well compensated for the aggrevation she's going through now and for several weeks to come. She can hardly be accused of "greed" ~ she didn't set up the bust, and it could just as easily be another of her co-workers as her that happened to be the designated mid-price service provider on the fateful day. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: Stilly River Sage Date: 14 Mar 08 - 10:21 AM I should have put it in a block quote so you could see more easily it was written by the almost-ex wife of the former governor or New Jersey. I heard it referred to on the Diane Rehm show yesterday. Fortunately I've never been in such a position! Skarpi said makin millions on another mans misserry, this is sad , its called greed I think. Skarpi, he made his own misery, and even without this job he'll land on his feet easily and it will blow over quickly. The woman in question is one in a string, but she is the one that was fingered. Hooker Russian Roulette. She has to hire an attorney to protect herself, and she no doubt isn't a multi-millionaire to easily afford it. For all that the Playboy photos can be considered tacky, the magazine is tasteful in its nude photography (that isn't an oxymoron--it isn't Hustler or Penthouse) and she'll have Hugh Hefner as her new best friend. He at least can help ease some of this from a criminal act to a "wink wink" situation where she gains some level of minor celebrity and a little income. SRS |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: Bryn Pugh Date: 14 Mar 08 - 09:59 AM Oh, sorry, SRS - like the four-fingeres eighteen carat eejit I am, I conflated you with the author of 'Stand by Yourself'. My sincere apologies - I don't know where to put me face, now. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: Bryn Pugh Date: 14 Mar 08 - 09:49 AM I posted in another thread, now, rightly, closed, that speaking only for self I have never understood a cash transaction for a shag, whether it be 2 quid or four thousand dollars. How to say this next without sounding smug ? I am married to the love of my life, and I endorse what Appaloosa Lady said at her post of 13 March, 11.18 a.m. My thoughts are with Silda, and also with Stilly River Sage. As someone who was betrayed in my first marriage, all I can say to you is that it won't always hurt like this. In looking at the photo of Silda Ward in the papers, the poor lass's eyes are empty. Surely it can't be just a case of a standing p*ick having no conscience, and a gaping c*nt no pride ? |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: Sorcha Date: 14 Mar 08 - 09:12 AM As a friend of mine once said.... Well, he's an Alpha male. What do Alpha males DO? And it seems that in Oakland, California (maybe other places too?) they are snatching the 11-12 year olds off the streets to 'turn' them. Sick. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: GUEST,Coyote Breath (with irony galore) Date: 14 Mar 08 - 08:47 AM Yah, you're probably right but how disapointing. I guess it's that old "power corrupts(sp)" thing. I didn't know prostitution was legal in only some places in Nevada. I knew of one place, years and years ago, off of hwy 95 at Lida junction called the Cotton Tail Ranch. Never went there, it was the only structure(s) in the area and I could never figure out why someone would think it was a good location. When I first saw it (before I saw the sign) I thought it might be a mining operation since it had an airstrip and was surrounded by a chainlink fence. Some local folks told me it catered to Asian clients who they flew in from SF and LA. I guess that's possible but the buildings were real plain double and single wides like what you might see at a construction site. I would imagine that any client who could cover the costs of a private jet would want something fancier, maybe a replica of Scotty's castle or some other fantasy like the ones so common in Lost Wages. Maybe they were nice on the inside. I have mixed feelings about the oldest profession. I feel it could be a good thing since the contacts, if properly governed, could provide relief for the sexually frustrated without encumberances but I think, also, that it is a sad life for the workers and a sad comment on a culture that can be so messed up about sex. So it goes. WYSIWYG's comments made me think. What a hideous experience for someone working in the trade. God, I hope they see a better life somehow. And not to add another level of sillines, but interesting: Did the Beatles know something? "Number nine, number nine, number nine..." CB |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: Charley Noble Date: 14 Mar 08 - 08:42 AM I would hope that Ashley/Kristen would review the fine songs we've been composing above the BS-line. I think there's a lot of potential for something titled "Number 9 Gettin' His Ashes Hauled." It's all very sad but that's why we has the blues! Cheerily, Charley Noble |
|
Subject: BS: Paying for Sex and that US Governor From: Bryn Pugh Date: 14 Mar 08 - 06:43 AM Speaking only for self, I have never understood prostitution, or more accurately, never understood a cash transaction for a shag. That said, in the context of the US Governor who has stood down over alleged dealings with a hoo-er - what kind of shag could it have been to have cost the equivalent of £2, 000 ? Believe it or not this is a serious query. In my time I have known socially women who are or who have been on the game to fund a drug habit ; and in two cases, to put food on the table for their children. But, a two-thousand quid, or four thousand buck shag ?
-Joe Offer- |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: skarpi Date: 14 Mar 08 - 05:40 AM this is scandal , she makes millions of dollars if she agree to sit in front page of penthouse and others magazine , makin millions on another mans misserry, this is sad , its called greed I think . I still think some one was after his chair or did not agree with his way in work . ATB Skarpi Iceland |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: autolycus Date: 14 Mar 08 - 12:58 AM QUOTE I As someone who has stood by her politician husband during his public — and anemic — mea culpa, all I can say is: It's a personal decision. There's no right or wrong answer UNQUOTE And in true journalist style, having said 'all I can say is;, she says more. As far as I can work out, prostitution and society are inevitably linked. Because most matters sexual function according to different rules and forces from those of society. And the 'rules' of society 'prevent' secuality occurring naturally. Maybe we've just been too successful at surviving [and maybe the locusts are jealous :-) ]. imo, sexuality is essentially the life force. Every single last one of us is here because of it. it's because of both social rules and our respective uniquenesses that sexuality manifests so diversely. And some allow themselves to express the individuality of our sexuality; I was going to say 'and others....', but decided against bringing politics into it. Also some are rich enough to express their sexuality more individualistically. As you can see, I haven't the faintest idea what I'm talking about. What might be interesting is discussing why we decide which matters in life to not argue the toss about and which we want to discuss till , well, till the next arguement comes along. [Loke companioes and parliaments send thru finance bills jus' like that, and spend hours on the cost of paperclips; or let our country indulge in bad international behaviour and rage instead at the quality of service in the shops. Sheesh. Ivor |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: Stilly River Sage Date: 14 Mar 08 - 12:39 AM Ashley/Kristin. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: Stilly River Sage Date: 13 Mar 08 - 11:53 PM Stand by Yourself, an op-ed by Dina Matos McGreevey in yesterday's New York Times. MY heart aches for Silda Wall Spitzer. Not only do she and her children have to weather the storm brought on by her misguided husband, she also has to endure the judgments of the commentariat, many of whom have asked, with some frequency, why on earth she would stand by her man during his public — and anemic — mea culpa. As someone who has stood by her politician husband during his public — and anemic — mea culpa, all I can say is: It's a personal decision. There's no right or wrong answer. Who knows why powerful men conduct themselves this way? Maybe it's the thrill, the rush of trying to get away with something. Maybe it's just arrogance. The only thing that's clear is that they're blithely unaware of the lives their actions will destroy. Certainly that seemed to be the case for my ex-husband, James McGreevey, the former governor of New Jersey. But no, there's no protocol for the spouse or partner stuck in the klieg lights. Sure, political consultants will tell you that it's better to see a politician standing up with his wife by his side. But who cares what they think? At that stage, it's over anyway. What are the advisers trying to salvage? For me, I was essentially in the dark about what my husband was going to say. He never told me he was gay; he simply passed me a copy of his speech an hour before the press conference. I was in a fog. I certainly didn't volunteer. I was in no emotional state to make a rational decision, and there simply wasn't time. He asked me to stand next to him, and I did. Frankly, all I was thinking about was my daughter. If I had to do it over again, I'd do the same thing. I did it for my daughter's father. I wasn't the first such person in this situation, and Ms. Wall Spitzer isn't going to be the last. This will happen again. And when it does, let's skip the psychoanalysis and judgments heaped on the wife. She's not the elected official. Let him face the cameras on his own. Let's get away from this notion that an elected official's wife has to stand up there. If she wants to be there, great. If she doesn't, that's fine, too. But whatever you do, respect her privacy in the face of what is already an overwhelmingly painful situation. Dina Matos McGreevey is the author of Silent Partner: A Memoir of My Marriage. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: Peace Date: 13 Mar 08 - 10:05 PM Dang. Don. Sorry. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: Peace Date: 13 Mar 08 - 09:53 PM That's another one of those Rorschach tests. Thay all look like butterflies to me, Bill. |
|
Subject: RE: BS: $4100 a Night??? Whatcha want me to do?? From: Don Firth Date: 13 Mar 08 - 09:50 PM Butt-ugly? Don Firth |
