No love for the luv guv

Two conclusions about Eliot Spitzer: First, he should keep it in his pants….or at least in his wife. Second, his chances of a political comeback are about as good as Dick Jauron’s chances of a career in standup comedy.

In a new Marist poll, 69% (how ironic is that number?) of registered voters in New York DO NOT want Spitzer to run for statewide office next year. He doesn’t do much better in his own party….62% of Democrats say stay away.

And how’s this for a kick in the ass? If Spitzer challenged Governor Paterson, Democrats would support Paterson by a two-to-one margin. And Paterson isn’t exactly the people’s choice….his approval ratings are down there with Jauron, and in a poll earlier this week, two-thirds of the Democrats said Paterson shouldn’t run next year either.

Now we should point out, in a recent interview Spitzer appeared to rule out the possibility of running for office again. But this is New York….anything is possible. And we may not like our politicians, but they’re never dull.

Political poll dancing

This just in….New Yorkers don’t think very highly of state government.

There’s a new Siena Research Institute poll out today, and 54% of the voters surveyed believe state political leaders have less integrity and work ethic than politicians of the past. So here’s my question….why do ONLY 54% feel that way? Hello? Have we forgotten what’s been happening in Albany this year?

Let’s recap some of the highlights of the last few months at the Capitol:
*Budget fiasco
*Republican coup
*Democratic re-coup
*Tom Golisano plays Bigfoot
*Taxpayers get screwed

The same number….54%....wish they could throw the bums out and start over. But before you get your hopes up and think this poll means change is coming…a little history. Voters usually have short memory. A few years ago, when Erie County was in its budget mess, county residents said they were outraged at the county legislature. A bunch of legislators chickened out and decided not to run for re-election. But every incumbent who did run, was re-elected. And the next state election is more than a year away.

But on the other hand, we are talking about Albany….so there will probably be plenty of opportunities for state lawmakers to keep the voters angry.