When I voted today, I felt a little like I was in the old Soviet Union, and not just because my Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn neighborhood is dominated by Russian immigrants. When looking over the ballot, I saw my congresssman and state senator running unopposed, and my state assemblyman running on BOTH the Democratic and Republican tickets. Of course, at the top of the ticket, I at least theoretically had a choice, although in reality the campaigns were long since decided–with no serious opposition facing Eliot Spitzer in his quest for the governorship, or Senator Hillary Clinton in her reelection bid. With a heavy heart, however, I cast my vote for the insurance industry's nemesis, Attorney General Eliot Spitzer.
There is no doubt Mr. Spitzer is a bully. (Which prosecutor isn't?) There is no doubt he abused his authority and used the media shamelessly as a club to browbeat targets into settlements.
However, there is also no doubt that he uncovered serious wrongdoing, not only in the insurance industry (catching big brokers and carriers red-handed in bid-rigging and contingency fee abuse), but earlier on exposing outrageous anti-consumer behavior by the mutual fund business and the investment banking community.
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