The Democratic governor of New York is bailing out right now—with an almost unbelievable self-aggrandizing statement, and his wife standing next to him for some unknown reason.

UPDATE at 3/12/08 9:07:11 am:

Spitzer continued to the end to insist that this was a “private matter,” with no acknowledgment that he was endangering the security of New York by opening himself up to possible blackmail. This was absolutely not “private” in any sense of the word.

UPDATE at 3/12/08 9:09:18 am:

Radio Equalizer has a post about the clumsy, ridiculous attempts by left-wing radio to defend Spitzer: Libtalkers Look To Mitigate Eliot Spitzer Political Fallout.

UPDATE at 3/12/08 9:29:08 am:

This guy was really a piece of work.

Gov. Spitzer knew his life was about to implode last Saturday night, so what did he do?

He went to Washington and partied until near midnight with the power elite at the Gridiron Club dinner, never once betraying a hint of the sexcapades about to overtake his life, say those who hobnobbed with the governor at the posh dinner.

“There was absolutely no indication that there was anything of concern on his mind,” said Stan Lipsy, the publisher of the Buffalo News and Spitzer’s dinner partner that evening. “He was jovial and joking with people all night.”

The happy-faced mask obscured a dark secret - the day before, federal prosecutors told Spitzer he had been taped in the act of hiring a high-priced call girl.

The governor traveled to the fancy, white-tie affair knowing that his dirty laundry could be exposed at any time - and before he told his wife, Silda, about the looming scandal.

UPDATE at 3/12/08 9:44:11 am:

Here’s a strange twist: the New York Times says his wife was urging him not to resign.

In the two days since news of Mr. Spitzer’s involvement in the prostitution ring surfaced, he has been engaged in an intense legal and family debate about whether to resign or, as aides said his wife was urging, to stay on.

(Hat tip: JamesTKirk.)