Thought Exercise: Gov. Spitzer reaches midpoint of second term?

[OswegoAtheist]

How different would New York politics be had Spitzer not hired prostitutes, leading to his subsequent exposure and resignation? For whatever reason, it's been something I've been thinking about lately, and I'd like to hear some DUer thoughts.

There are quite a few obvious differences; Sen. Gillibrand would very well be Rep. Gillibrand still, as she was named Sec. Clinton's replacement following a contentious fight between Gov. Paterson and TPTB in Albany and New York City. But who else would have Spitzer named? Anthony Wiener? Andrew Cuomo? Carolyn Maloney? Would he have gone Upstate or Downstate (however you choose to define those terms)?

What would Spitzer have done as governor during the 2008 bailout and beyond? Would he have been as Populist a voice as he is now that he's out of office? Would he have continued what was a long prosecutorial streak when dealing with corporate entities? Would there have been an Occupy Wall Street? Would it be facing the same animosity as it does from the Cuomo and Bloomberg Administrations?

Would gay marriage still be legal in New York? Would prostitution be legal ;)? Who would have been Spitzer's opponent in 2010? Would Carl Paladino have been nominated against Spitzer? Or would it have been an establishment GOPer like Rick Lazio? Would the rent still be too damn high?

My answers: A safe House Dem from Downstate; He'd probably have investigations but Cuomo as AG wouldn't have been nearly as proactive as Spitzer had been; there'd definitely still be an OWS, but they'd still be in zucchini park and on friendlier terms with the state government; gay marriage would have been all that was legalised; he'd have run against (and crushed) an establishment GOPer (not Lazio tho), and the rent would still be too damn high.

Thoughts?

Oswego "#occupyoswego" Atheist