So That's How You Do It

A few days ago I promised I wouldn't weigh in on the Spitzermania that is gripping the nation. I'm sticking to my promise - but that doesn't mean I can't comment on what other people have been saying about the scandal, right?

Politico's Roger Simon weighed in this morning on what will no doubt be an award-winning column. Simon, asking "What was Spitzer thinking?", provides us loyal readers with viable alternatives the governor could have pursued to allow him to scratch that itch without getting caught. For example:

Hasn’t he ever heard of interns? If you have an affair with an intern and get caught, you get to hold on to your job, and years later, millions of people still look upon you as a hero. But paying for sex? That crosses the line.

It gets better:

Has Spitzer never heard of bars? I hear people sometimes buy a few drinks and go home together even if they are not married. And even with drink prices being what they are (appletinis are not cheap), the tab rarely reaches $4,300.

I can just picture straight-laced Simon sitting down at the computer typing this piece.

The whole column isn't just tongue-in-cheek, though. Simon does analyze the psychological aspects of Spitzer's decision to pursue this form of entertainment: "Why do people like Spitzer take such risks? I think it is the delusion that power makes them invulnerable. The opposite is true, of course. Power makes them more scrutinized."

And so the drama continues. Senator David Vitter, anyone?