NYT/AP: New York's New Governor, Democrat Eliot Spitzer, Sworn in at Midnight

[DeepModem Mom]

NY's New Governor Sworn in at Midnight
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: January 1, 2007

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- Democrat Eliot Spitzer, vowing to ''replace delay and diversion with energy and purpose,'' was sworn in as New York's 54th governor during a private ceremony at midnight Sunday at the governor's mansion.

''Day one has begun,'' Spitzer said to a resounding cheer after being sworn in. ''It is a joy to be here. It will be exciting. I will do my best as the public has asked me to do.''...

***

Taking over for three-term (Gov. George) Pataki, who did not seek re-election and is eyeing a run for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, Spitzer inherits a state government facing significant future budget deficits and recent scandals that have caused, among other things, the resignation of the state Comptroller.

Spitzer, New York's two-term state attorney general who gained international celebrity by taking on major Wall Street institutions, won the governorship on Nov. 7 with a landslide victory over former state Assembly Republican Minority Leader John Faso.

A public inauguration ceremony was be held in a park outside the state Capitol on New Year's Day....

Also being sworn in was Democrat Andrew Cuomo, the elder son of former Gov. Mario Cuomo who was elected to replace Spitzer as attorney general. The younger Cuomo, who had served as federal housing secretary under President Clinton, had unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for governor in 2002.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Spitzer-Oath.html

[killbotfactory]

1. He seems like one of the good ones

Hope he does well.

[Hieronymus]

2. New York is lucky to have Governor Spitzer.

:bounce:

[ClintonTyree]

3. At long last....

our state nightmare is over. The Pataki era is over! :party: :woohoo:

[DoYouEverWonder]

4. How could someone so boring

give you nightmares?

And why do all these Repugs who couldn't win reelection for offices they already held, think anyone would want them for President?

[Missy M]

5. I am looking forward to the Spitzer era and hope he....

realizes there is a central and western part of the state. Pataki didn't seem to know that.

[Judi Lynn]

6. NY's new governor promises reforms

Jan. 1, 2007, 3:41PM
NY's new governor promises reforms
By MARC HUMBERT Associated Press Writer
© 2007 The Associated Press

ALBANY, N.Y. — Democrat Eliot Spitzer, who built an international reputation fighting corruption on Wall Street, took office as New York's governor Monday, calling for an end to "the politics of cynicism and division" and signing a series of ethics measures.

Spitzer said frequent deadlocks between Republican Gov. George Pataki and the Legislature thwarted school improvements, ethics reforms, efforts to cut the nation's highest taxes and attempts to revive the state's economy.

"New York has slept through much of the past decade while the rest of the world has passed us by," Spitzer said in his inaugural address. "Today is the day when all of that changes _ when we stop standing still and start moving forward once more."

Spitzer, New York's two-term attorney general, was nicknamed "the sheriff of Wall Street" for his high-profile investigations of corporate corruption.

He won the governorship on Nov. 7 with a landslide victory over former state Assembly Republican Minority Leader John Faso. Pataki, who served 12 years, did not seek re-election and is eyeing a run for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination.
(snip/...)

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/4437808.html

[AngryAmish]

7. Was he sleepy?

I was sleepy last night at midnight.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

8. Good.

I hope he delivers. He was a great AG.

[Cha]

9. Go Spitzer! I was thinkin' about this

last night..how happy I was to start the New Year, literally, with Elliot Spitzer as the Guv and ol' foamin' at the mouth pataki.. out to pasture.

[lovuian]

10. I love Spitzer and I hope he exposes the 9/11 coverups

we can only hope