In a story that recalls the heyday of New York's seedy Times Square sex trade, Governor Eliot Spitzer has been linked to a high-priced prostitution ring known as the Emperor's Club VIP. Spitzer—identified as "Client 9" on a federal wiretap—had previously prosecuted at least two prostitution rings during his time as state attorney general.

In a statement delivered Monday, the for-now governor announced that he had "failed to live up to the standard" expected of himself, and that he would "dedicate some time to regain the trust of my family." Hard to do when the news is nothing but a stream of embarrassing revelations...among them, that prostitutes at the Emperor's Club could be hired for upwards of $5500 per hour.

Okay, so maybe we're in a recession, but $5500 an hour? What can a governor actually get for that these days?