Elliot Spitzer?

If the presidential election did anything for me, it really brought home the notion that, if progressives want to make any sort of change, we can’t do it at the federal level – at least in the short term. Of all of the successes I have heard of, around the country, most have been fairly small in scope, local. This is not to reduce their importance. Everything from electoral reform, to social justice issues, to drug reform and more have triumphed at various levels across the nation in the past few years. To say that the conservative agenda triumphed in 2004 is to only look at half the picture.

But the defeat in November reinforced the old adage that the way to create change in America is through grassroots efforts. None of the progressive triumphs on the federal level were ever founded there. They were always the result of small-scale efforts.

And as names are floated for possible 2008 Democratic presidential candidates, my heart fills with dread. Topping most lists are lackluster tools from the DLC, an effort to further conservatize the Democratic Party. This is why I look forward to the 2006 midterm elections. Specifically, the race for governer in New York State. Governor George Pataki is currently polling far behind Attorney General Eliot Spitzer in a theoretical race between the two. Pataki has yet to announce whether he will run for re-election, Spitzer has already expressed his intention to run.

Eliot Spitzer you say? Besides name recognition, and usually knowing what office he filled, I knew little about the guy. I still can’t claim to know a whole lot about him, but what I have turned up seems promising. Especially in light of the opposition.

Spitzer has made quite a name for himself over the past few years as Attorney General, from attacking insurance companies and Wall Street, to enforcing environmental standards. Browse his obligatory government site if you want. His official campaign site for 2006 is right here. I’ll be keeping an eye on the guy.