The Broward Palm Beach Blog



Add to Technorati Favorites

Blogroll

Blogroll

California Blogs

Contact The Pulp

Florida Authors

JournoSites

Newspapers

The Eliot Spitzer Takedown

Thu May 01, 2008 at 01:43:13 PM

When Ron Gunzburger isn't advising Lori Parrish, he's digging up political dirt and running his massive Politics1 website. Sometimes he has some interesting stuff, like this post from a while back about the take-down of former NY Governor Eliot Spitzer, which involved locals like "Republican dirty trickster" Roger Stone and Big Sugar man Pepe Fanjul Jr.

Let him tell it:

NEW YORK. A Politics1 Exclusive. John McCain's National Finance Co-Chairman played a key role in the recent downfall of former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer (D). Reliable sources informed Politics1 that DC super-lobbyist Wayne Berman -- a longtime confidant of insurance executive Maurice Hank Greenberg -- authorized a private Investigation that discovered the links between Spitzer and a Florida escort service ring. Operating under the alias code-name "Wallace C. Bernheim," Berman directed an 18-month effort that cost an estimated $2.2 million. The investigation was allegedly paid for by a highly-secretive shadow committee Berman directed, informally nicknamed "The Group." Sources tell Politics1 that The Group included Greenberg, Home Depot founder Ken Langone and former New York Stock Exchange Chairman Ken Grasso -- all high-profile targets of Spitzer when he was Attorney General. Key players in funding the anti-Spitzer effort also included wealthy New Jersey businessman Joseph Jingoli and Florida sugar mogul Pepe Fanjul Jr. Berman also retained veteran Republican dirty trickster Roger Stone to transmit the information to the FBI five months ago. The Group also funded an on-going effort by Stone to challenge Spitzer on the "Troopergate" and illegal immigrants drivers license issues. Berman and Stone were previously partners in the Black, Manafort, Stone & Kelly consulting firm, whose former clients included Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Angolan guerilla Jonas Savimbi , US Sugar, Phillip Morris Tobacco, and developer Donald Trump. Stone also had a very public sexual scandal in that past, as he was fired by Bob Dole's 1996 Presidential campaign when it was reported that Stone and his wife were advertising for other couples in sex magazines and participated in swingers sex parties. Stone also organized the so-called "Brooks Brothers Riot" in November 2000 that shut down the Miami-Dade Presidential recount. The funders decided against giving the money to the coffers of New York Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno (R) -- a sharp Spitzer foe -- because of lack of confidence in Bruno strategist John McArdle.

Category:

7 Comments:

RonaldReagan says:

Bob, you are a good writer, with an eye for bullshit. Why are you wasting your time on a 4th rate pro-gay agenda rag like this ?

Huh? says:

In response to the above comments, am I missing something here? How is this a "pro-gay agenda" story?

Brenda Bukkake says:

I’m a proud graduate of one of the nest journalism schools in the country (Go Gators!) and I’ve spent a number of years as a journalist.
But sometimes I don’t understand what the new media is all about.
Especially when it comes to telling our readers what they need to know.
And doing it accurately.
Take Barak Obama who is running for president.
Why do the media keep calling him black?
Because he is half black and half white.
Which means, the media could just as easily call him white.
The thing is, if the media wanted to be accurate, journalists would refer to Obama as half-black, or half-white.
I all this up at the last meeting of our Diversity Committee and they told me to get a life to which I said, “I already have a life and I am trying to talk about accuracy as a professional.”
Now what prompts all this is this is this business about the “take down” for Eliot Spitzer on Ron Gunzburger’s blog which you have re-published which I read with professional interest.
But not once does Gunzberger mention that Spitzer is Jewish and that he also is. Nor does he mention that Pepe Fanjul is a Cuban-American. Or what Wayne Berman or Hank Greenberg are because they both have Jewish last names. Or Roger Stone whose real name could be Stein. Because if this is all about Jews against Jews over boffing a hooker with a Cuban-American thrown in than that’s a REAL story our readers need to know about. Otherwise…
But here’s my point:
Why is it the media insist on calling people This, or That – but not always.
Like the media repeatedly told us how Mitt Romney is Mormon. Like somehow that matters. But I’m still waiting for somebody in the media to tell me what John McCain is. Although what McCain is doesn’t matter as much as Romney being Mormon. But I’m still curious.
Frankly none of this makes any sense.
But it raises serious questions about the issue of accuracy and consistency on the part of the media.
Oh yes.
Some of my best friends are Gay. Which is what “RonaldReagan” can kiss my pahtootie, if you’ll pardon my French.
Fact is, being liberals, my husband and I have been trying to adopt a Gay baby for more than a year now. But the adoption agencies we’ve contacted haven’t been any help. Like they don’t keep any records about an orphan baby’s sexuality – other than girl, or boy which any damn fool can tell just by checking their plumbing.

Brenda Bukkake says:

PS
Isn't it wonderful that the media is covering the Big Girl contestant in a British Beauty contest?
Frankly, this sort of things makes me very hopeful about the 21st century.
Of course, I have no idea why the media HAD to tell readers the British Beauty Queen is "plus-sized."
I mean, anybody could see how she is a tad on the "plus" side just bv looking at her.
Also, I am sorry about the typos in my previous post. But sometimes things just get me worked up. Which is why God made copy editors (Hah-Hah).

oh lookie lookie look there's a girl in the sky says:

In unrelated news, check out the Post's new publisher, Doug "The Machete" Franklin, talking about his plans for "a smaller company":

Folks,

Now that I’ve completed my first month here at Palm Beach Newspapers, I felt the time was appropriate to communicate with you on the state of our company. After one month of “drinking from the fire hose” to learn about our people, our market and our business, I can see a lot of challenges, but even more opportunities ahead.

I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting each and every one of you. You’ve made me feel very comfortable here, and you all have been very welcoming. There is a tremendous amount of talent here at PBNI. In the past few years, you’ve demonstrated your ability to band together and successfully battle an aggressive competitor. Now, we need to channel our talent, determination and collective energy toward future successes here.

It’s no secret that the current state of the newspaper industry, coupled with South Florida’s dramatic real estate decline, has significantly impacted our company. In just two short years, we have lost 25% of our advertising revenue base — primarily in the lucrative Real Estate segment, but also in many categories that feed off a healthy market…such as employment, automobiles, furniture, and even restaurants.

I truly believe that our market — Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast — promises a prosperous long-term future for us. When the market rebounds — and it will — we need to be in a better position to capitalize on this opportunity. This will require a re-tooling of our company to be more efficient in our processes, and with a broader portfolio of products to capture new readers and website viewers.

The reality is that if we do not change, we will not operate profitably this year or beyond. We’re going to have to re-evaluate and prioritize what is most important for our audience and for our advertisers. We will have to make tough choices about where we invest in our products and throughout our operation. We are working on plans now to become a smaller company, but one that remains a necessary part of the lives of our readers. I know that you are anxious to know how we will get smaller. Obviously, this is difficult and sensitive work, and I will communicate with you as soon as we have some specifics to report. I also plan to have department employee meetings during the summer with you.

We will also be working hard to turn our revenue performance in a positive direction again. But revenue performance aside, our audience numbers are stable with 50% of the market reading us in print and online — second best in the state amongst major metro newspaper companies. Among local media companies, PalmBeachPost.com reaches the largest online audience in this market. We need to leverage this strength for more print, niche and online products to drive new revenues.

We are working on plans to fix our cost structure but we will quickly turn our attention back to growing our audiences and revenues. We plan to step in to 2009 a much stronger media company positioned to withstand the current economic challenges and begin growing our business through the strong relationships we have with our customers.

We will continue to be the leading media company in print and online in our marketplace for years to come. Thank you for your continued commitment to this company, to your colleagues, and to our readers and advertisers.

Doug

Doug Franklin

Publisher

The Palm Beach Post

Palm Beach Daily News

Florida Pennysaver

La Palma

John de Groot says:

What an F**king asshole!
As if the poor Posties needed another reason to sit shiva over Tom Giuffrida.
Also,how did the Tribune and Slammin'Sammy miss this guy?
Like he's clearly one of the few corporate journalist types slick enough to out-bullshit Howard from Broward in writing a cheery Bend-Over-It's-Comming Memo Department.

OldHack says:

Gee, I'd think the folks who put together the super secret grou that ousted Spitzer (which sounds like a load to me -- it was the Fed investigation) would at least know the name of one of the three leading funders. KEN Grasso? Doesn't he pitch for the Indians' minor-legae team? I believe the former NYSE chairman who tangled with Spitzer is named RICHARD Grasso.

And if he can't get the names right ....

Post a comment

Comments may not show up immediately after submission. Please wait a minute after posting a comment for it to appear.




Broward Palm Beach Insiders

  • Local food, music and news blasts
  • Free Stuff