In the Spitzer

If you're a prosecutor, it's hard to get in trouble when you use the police to look for dirt on people. It's just part of your job! So what if you leak damaging stories about defendants to the press? The press doesn't complain.

But if you're governor of New York, and your staff uses the state police to look for dirt on a rival, and then - when they can't find real dirt - feeds false stories to the press, you can get in all kinds of trouble.

Or, rather, your staff can get in all kinds of trouble. After all, you didn't know anything about it.

"Finally, I apologize to the people of the state of New York for letting this matter become a distraction from the vital work at hand."

I like that. It's just a distraction. Move along. Nothing to see here.

He was on a crusade
To get rid of crooks,
But his staff mislaid
Their ethics books.