Black Box Report

For anyone out there who's confused if not angry at the Spitzer, join the club. Governor, what happened to the promises of overriding the legislature if need be? What happened to the righteousness, saying this was the right thing to do? What happened to all the tough talk?

If your answer is, “I delivered on my promise,” please sell that to someone who doesn't know better. This Real ID plan is such a joke, it's not surprising the brain trust behind it are the same geniuses who managed the Katrina relief. This disaster has actually managed to unite all parties behind the consensus that it's unworkable and unacceptable.

The conservatives still say it rewards illegality, and the once-backers of Spitzer say he sold out with a plan that all but puts a scarlet letter on any cardholder.

So why did Spitzer cave? Is it really possible that some two-bit loudmouth like Lou Dobbs made him put politics above principle? I'd like to think that's not the reason but why else would the governor reward a misinformation campaign that makes New Yorkers less safe become policy. Nobody in their right mind thinks immigrants will sign up for the cards and even fewer believe they'll stop driving.

So in the end, the status quo prevailed, and even fewer people are willing to stick their neck out for Spitzer. For me it's simple Eliot, if you’re going to talk the talk - you better walk the walk.

I don't know what's harder to stomach, the free-for-all that’s ensued since Spitzer caved to political pressure, or that the nauseating loudmouth Lou Dobbs can claim victory. It's well documented that I think this plan made sense. It dealt with the real world, not the make believe one Dobbs and friends seem to occupy. That being said, Spitzer allowed this debate to be framed by those who oppose all immigrants, and he allowed the facts, the Homeland Security experts and common sense to be held hostage by the xenophobes.

For a guy who held the political world in his palm last November, he has taken a mandate and in less than a year finds himself on the outs with not only Republicans, but members of his own party. Spitzer may be able to recover his governorship, but for a guy who once bragged of being the "steamroller," his political courage on the licenses resembles a pushover.