Former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer announced Sunday that he’s returning to electoral politics by jumping into the race for New York City comptroller. A few months after his March 2008 resignation following a prostitution scandal, Spitzer began writing The Best Policy, a column for Slate. What started as a biweekly column eventually became a daily blog, which Spitzer kept up till early 2013.
Spitzer the Slate writer was very much like Spitzer the politician: aggressive, impatient, infuriated at the ongoing corruption of Wall Street, and hungering for big ideas and plans. His pieces show him to be angry but not cynical: They vibrate with the conviction that the right policies can improve the lives of all Americans—so why do those morons keep pursuing the wrong ones?
Here are a few of my favorite Spitzer blog posts and columns.
Six Obvious Lessons From Obama’s Victory
Posted Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012.
It’s Time To Target Cerberus, the Private-Equity Firm That Dominates the Gun Industry
Posted Monday, Dec. 17, 2012.
Originalist Sin
A brilliant article shows that the Founding Fathers not only supported mandates, they passed laws imposing them. Take that, Scalia!
Posted Monday, April 30, 2012.
Save the State of the Union!
Obama wants an hour for his speech. Here’s how he can do better in 10 minutes.
Posted Monday, Jan. 23, 2012.
“We Own Wall Street”
How small shareholders, pension funds, and mutual funds can stop corporate America’s worst behavior and ignite a political movement.
Posted Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011.
What Should Occupy Wall Street Do Now?
Three organizing ideas and five policy ideas that could make the protests even more successful.
Posted Friday, Nov. 4, 2011.
World Defeats U.S. in Four Sets
How the decline of American men’s tennis can explain global economics.
Posted Monday, Aug. 29, 2011.
How Can Republicans Hate the Individual Mandate?
The individual health care mandate is a conservative concept that conservatives now say they despise. What gives?
Posted Monday, Jan. 10, 2011.
Tax Fraud
Debunking the claim that higher income-tax rates reduce GDP.
Posted Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010.
Chamber of Horrors
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce must be stopped. Here’s how to do it.
Posted Oct. 15, 2009.
Fed Dread
The New York Fed is the most powerful financial institution you’ve never heard of. Look who’s running it.
Posted May 6, 2009.
The Real AIG Scandal
It’s not the bonuses. It’s that AIG’s counterparties are getting paid back in full.
Posted March 17, 2009.
America’s Fear of Competition
How cronyism and rent-seeking replaced “creative destruction.”
Posted Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009.
