Spitzer attacks music industry

October 21, 2004 10:32 PM

Go Eliot, Go!The real Ralph Nader has now targeted the record companies and radio networks. Payola is back and wrecking radio. Salon has been hammering on this, Tom Petty wrote a song about it, we all have been feeling its effects, and finally maybe something will be done. At the very least, a serious attack dog is on the issue.
posted by caddis (14 comments total)

The next Attorney General of the United States of America? I think he's a damn strong candidate.
posted by mr_roboto at 10:35 PM on October 21, 2004

SWEET!
posted by drezdn at 10:42 PM on October 21, 2004

At some point he's going to be brought down for overstepping his bounds though.
posted by drezdn at 10:43 PM on October 21, 2004

" The next Attorney General of the United States of America?"

It's the prospect of people of this caliber returning to the executive branch that excites me most about a Kerry presidency, more so than Kerry himself.
posted by 2sheets at 10:49 PM on October 21, 2004

People of this caliber? Meh.

And, caddis, Salon hasn't "been hammering on this." They gave it up a year and a half ago, when (as the article states) Cox Radio, and later Clear Channel, said they would not renew their contracts with any promoters. Uncanny sense of timing on that guy.
posted by Kwantsar at 11:04 PM on October 21, 2004

Eliot Spitzer (among other things) makes me proud to be a resident of New York. If he does eventually run for governor or President, he would definitely have my vote.
posted by stefnet at 5:35 AM on October 22, 2004

At some point he's going to be brought down for overstepping his bounds though.

Spitzer's prosecutions are the direct result of Reagan, Bush, & Bush's (not to mention the rest of the Republican's) drive for "State's Rights". If you don't want the Federal Government to regulate things, well the individual states will. So I don't get the NRO and WSJ getting all upset at Spitzer doing exactly what they profess they want him to do. It makes me laugh because it puts a lie to their phrase, "states rights" which is really only code for, we want to be able to discriminate all we want, regulate no one, and feel good about being in the Federalist Society. Not to be rhetorical (ok, maybe) but where has he overstepped his bounds?
posted by plemeljr at 6:36 AM on October 22, 2004

Slate also has a great article on him from yesterday. He's been a great AG because he knows how to play the game- basically, he's a bully for good, using the press rather than the courts to achieve his ends. He's taken advantage of the broad powers given to him to achieve what no one else in an equivalent role has been able to, and I say, good on him.

Unfortunately, his exploitation of these loose rules could open the door for very destructive behavior at the hands of an AG with less savory interests at heart.

But, yeah, a great public servant. I hope he runs for higher office.
posted by mkultra at 6:39 AM on October 22, 2004

I agree totally with stefnet, Spitzer is the shining light in the midst of the muck that is NY State government. I have to believe that if he ever moves on to bigger and better things, his replacement will be carefully chosen to be completely unlike him.
posted by tommasz at 7:16 AM on October 22, 2004

It's hard to take Spitzer down, cause he can simply say he is enforcing the law. His prosecutions are always solid and corporations are scared shitless of him. He wins.
posted by Slagman at 9:28 AM on October 22, 2004

I also have a lot of praise for the man and his ability to get things done when others haven't. However, I do have concerns over the potential for the markets to over-react (in the short term) when investigations or even suits are announced as in the HMO case earlier this week.

Now, do I think fear of what market forces would do should stop someone like Spitzer from doing his job - of course not. But I do think his team needs to be mindful of getting too overzealous and causing irreparable harm to a company over an issue that isn't deserving of that harsh a penalty.
posted by 10sball at 9:39 AM on October 22, 2004

I hope he is our next Attorney General (altho i've heard he may run for Governor).

If the market gets spooked by Spitzer, it's a sign he's actually doing his job. The analysts know all about the shit that goes on anyway--they just hope no one else (especially no one like Spitzer) notices.

Spitzer, Hevesi (our State Comptroller), and Thompson (our City Comptroller) have all been doing incredibly good jobs, and using their power--financial and legal--for good. It's such a change from Bush and pals.
posted by amberglow at 10:12 AM on October 22, 2004

Maybe he (along with the rest of the country) is sick and tired of atrocious commercial radio. Between this and Stern moving to Satellite radio, and XM-radio getting the MLB account, I'd say they (i.e., Clear Channel, Infinity, Cox) are in deep doo doo. Which is neat-O.

Of course if we had an FCC commisioner who actually gave a shit, maybe Spitzer wouldn't have to deal with this nonsense.

Thankfully there are still freeform stations like WFMU in NYC where you almost feel like who really needs commercial radio stations anyway?
posted by Skygazer at 11:27 AM on October 22, 2004

Spitzer is de' man!

And speaking of AGs, Asscroft isn't good enough to be the toilet paper that wipes Spitzer's ass.

It would definitely rock to see him at the helm in DC!
posted by nofundy at 6:27 PM on October 22, 2004