How Eliot Spitzer Missed His Money Shot
Eliot Spitzer’s political career, gravely injured after a collision with reality on Monday, finally passed into the great unknown two days later. But Spitzerism — the soul, that is, of his career — expired months ago.
Unlike virtually every other Democratic politician in the country, Eliot Spitzer understood markets. He believed in the potential of widespread investing in stocks to build and spread genuine wealth, and as attorney general, he was like a Money magazine editor on crack, targeting enemies of small investors: self-promoting analysts, corrupt mutual-fund traders, predatory lenders. Spitzerism wasn’t about taxing and regulating profits; it was about diffusing profits to people who have never received a dividend check.
it just happened
David Paterson: ‘The Only Whores I Know Are Lobbyists’
David Paterson just gave his first public address since Eliot Spitzer’s resignation yesterday. He made noises about “getting back to work” and the budget, talked about being black and blind, indicated he wasn’t planning any major changes to his predecessors more controversial policies, and became the first human being in government to express sympathy for Spitzer himself. “My heart goes out to Eliot Spitzer, his wife Silda, his daughters,” he said. “I know what he’s gone through this week. In my heart, I think he’s suffered enough.” Paterson also displayed a rather awesome sense of humor. “Just so we don’t have to go through this whole resignation thing again,” one ballsy reporter asked, “have you ever patronized a prostitute?” Patterson thought for a minute. “Only the lobbyists,” he said.
in other news
As We Win One Hooker, We Lose Another
In the excitement surrounding the unveiling of Kristen, the Jersey-grown hooker who (accidentally) brought Eliot Spitzer down, we almost missed the fact that last night, the city lost another famous prostitute. Andreia Schwartz, the “millionaire” madam who was arrested last year for running a brothel on West 58th Street where call girls got paid between $700 and $1,500 an hour (how quaint!), was quietly deported back to her native Brazil after twenty months in prison and, the Post tells us, serving as a source for the federal authorities who were probing Spitzer. Schwartz’s biggest client was Time Warner CFO Wayne Pace, who she said paid her about $200,000 and helped her buy the apartment out of which she ran her business. He denied it and got off with only a terrible reputation, but now we’re wondering … who were clients one through eight?
Kinky Link to Brazil’s Bombshell[NYP]
Earlier: Eliot Spitzer’s ‘Kristen’ Somehow Much More Adorable Than Anticipated
company town
New York Newspapers Tanking More Slowly Than Papers ElsewhereMEDIA
• Of the top twenty American newspapers, the circulation of New York ones suffered less than others over the past few years. [Mixed Media/Portfolio]
• We hear … that gossip Website Jossip.com is up for sale. [NYP]
• And that ESPN The Magazine is beefing up its fashion coverage. [WWD]
intel
‘Kristen’ and Eliot Issue Dual Releases
Last night Eliot Spitzer finally released his official letter of resignation. It was short, simple, and hand-signed:
Dear Speaker Silver and Majority Leader Bruno,
I am writing to advise you that I am resigning my position as Governor of the State of New York effective 12:00 noon on Monday, March 17, 2008.
Sincerely,
Eliot Spitzer
Governor
We love that (a) he’s still governor until noon on Monday, which is surely a few extra hours that Paterson didn’t ask for (think of how many personal checks pardons he can issue in that time!) and (b) how he had to put “Eliot Spitzer, Governor” at the bottom of the letter. Savor that, dude. “Eliot Spitzer, Attorney-at-law” just doesn’t have the same ring to it.
But more importantly, as Vulture pointed out, our beloved “Kristen” had a very important new release today, too. Her latest song track! It’s called “Move Ya Body.” We were going to make a joke about that song title and Eliot Spitzer, but then we realized that every pop name ever could be a pun about hookers and governors.
Resignation Letter Released [NYDN]
Kristen Releases Another Song! [Vulture]
Earlier: Eliot Spitzer’s ‘Kristen’ Somehow More Adorable Than Anticipated
in other news
Marc Jacobs and John Galliano Are the Blair and Serena of FashionWe didn’t notice that Times Styles section writer Eric Wilson had left us an extra-special present inside the Runway blog last week until just now. Apparently he was having lunch at the Mercer last week when he witnessed a dramatic exchange between John Galliano, who was wearing a “fabulously grommeted” beret and his fellow LMVH designer Marc Jacobs, whose hair is (fabulously?) blue. It was recently reported that Jacobs was overheard trash-talking Galliano at his gym, but he wasn’t mean to him at all!
“Hi, John!” Mr. Jacobs exclaimed. “How are you doing?”
“Good, nice to see you,” Mr. Galliano said. “Oh, you’ve gone a little darker, I see.”
“Navy!” Mr. Jacobs said. “Na-vy.”
“Oh, that would be a little chicer,” Mr. Galliano said. “Indigo!”
“Well, if you ever feel like having tea or coffee, I’m sort of bedridden for a few days, so I can’t move far,” Mr. Jacobs said. “I had an operation.”
“Oh really?”
“Sex change.”
This totally makes up for last week’s Gossip Girl being a rerun.
If Nothing Else, There’s Applause [Runway]
show and talk
Fabiola on Fashion: Dispatches From the European Couture Shows
With the European couture collections almost finished — Valentino will wind things up tomorrow with a show in Rome — fashion correspondent Fabiola Beracasa checked in with Daily Intel via BlackBerry last night. What follows are highlights from Beracasa’s lengthy account of fabulousness — we’re holding the rest back because we don’t want to blind readers with too much of the lavish excess. So what did Fab learn this year? That even when you pack 28 dresses, you still forget the right one; that military outfits are hot; and that the power of Karl Lagerfeld’s genius extends even to the weather. After the jump, her lessons from this season’s runways.
in other news
Countdown to iPhone: The Lines Begin
What hope does a covetous indie-film star have? The iPhone doesn’t go on sale till 6 p.m. Friday, but as Racked reports, queues at the midtown and Soho Apple stores started forming yesterday. Here, the first guy on line at each location. (We suspect this isn’t the first time the guy in midtown has slept out for days for something.) Good luck, kids.
iPhrenzy: The First People in Line [Racked]
company town
Will Dior Ditch Galliano?FASHION
• Are John Galliano’s days at Dior numbered? [NYP]
• Alice Roi’s been busy: Her acclaimed Uniqlo collaboration hits shelves this week, and her pop-up store will open in May. [The Shophound]
• Anya Hindmarch reportedly sent her ecoconscious “It” bag to editors in a plastic bag. [Fashionista]
obit
Galliano’s No. 2, Steven Robinson, Is DeadSteven Robinson, John Galliano’s right-hand man, was found dead in his Paris home Wednesday, most likely of cardiac arrest. The 38-year-old had been working on the new Dior resort collection, which is expected to show this summer. Robinson was credited by colleagues as the “huge engine and realizer” at Galliano and Dior. Fashion writer Suzy Menkes called him “a robust and burly figure in the shadows, but the one who made everything work.” Now Galliano, often touted as a fashion maverick, will really go it alone.
Steven Robinson, Dior Designer [IHT]
gossipmonger
Anderson, CelebutanteFox News compares Anderson Cooper to Paris Hilton, and CNN isn’t happy. (Which we imagine was the point.) Steve Madden will underwrite Fashion Week’s Designers for Darfur even though IMG backed out. Hillary Clinton is trying to infuse her campaign with some stand-up comedy. Jeremy Piven jokes that he’d like to settle down with a girlfriend if he weren’t “gayer than Liberace in 1972.” Parsons fashion chairman Tim Gunn to become chief creative officer of Liz Claiborne (but still do Project Runway). Bill Clinton will not be the next president of Harvard.
show and talk
The Menswear You Missed in Paris
Snappy suits, ninjawear, Technicolor hues, and icy whites. That’s what we found at the Paris menswear shows this week. We’ve got Gaultier and YSL, Vuitton and Watanabe, and more. Watch our slideshows to find your favorite looks for fall. Then click and repeat until the tents go up at Bryant Park. It’s almost Fashion Week!
Fall 2007 Menswear [NYM]
intel
And Another East Village Rock Club Goes Away: Sin-é
It’s last call for another of Manhattan’s hard-rocking music venues. Sin-é, the epicenter of the nineties St. Marks scene, shut its doors once before and relocated to the Lower East Side in 2003. But come March 31, it’ll close — for good — at its Attorney Street location. The original Sin-é hosted some of the most infamous songwriters of its decade and produced the seminal Jeff Buckley album Live at Sin-é. The current incarnation gave play to New York staples like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the Walkmen. “It’s over,” said Shane Doyle, Sin-é’s owner. “It’s all changed around here. I’m just not gonna keep doing this.” —Annmarie Pisano
