For the past few weeks, we've been hearing what everybody else in Albany thinks of Eliot Spitzer's political moves. His efforts to undermine Joe Bruno by catching him misusing state helicopters or not paying all of his taxes are "dirty tricks" and "smear tactics." But what is the governor thinking about all of this? "Obviously, things haven't worked out precisely as I had planned," says Spitzer. Well, not Spitzer actually, but New York Sun reporter Jacob Gershman, who pens an essay today from the governor's point of view. When we saw the headline, we were expecting something fun and funny, but Gershman's essay turns out to be a sober, well-thought-out analysis of what Spitzer's probably thinking. So logical, in fact, that we're surprised by the end to realize the simplicity of the problem Spitzer's made up for himself.

I concluded early on that I would never succeed in pursuing my agenda as long as Joe and Republicans stood in the way. This breakdown in civil discourse is regrettable, but a conflict was unavoidable. I simply did not have the patience to wait for the Republicans to die a natural death. There's nothing left for me to do but to tough it out until 2008. While, I've gambled everything on that election, I'm confident that Malcolm and the Democrats will finally take over the Senate. Because when voters see the gridlock of the first two years of my administration, they won't hold me responsible.

They will put the blame squarely on Joe, the man who didn't pay all of his taxes.

Is this really what is going on in that big, dreamy gourd of his? Who knows? But it's probably not a stretch. The problem is, with all of the lengths he's going to in order to bring Bruno down, he's the one who looks like he's creating gridlock – and that will affect the Democrats in 2008. Since Spitzer is Bruce Willis in his own version of this action thriller, he thinks he has to blow everything up himself to get things done. Silly Spitzer! Joe Bruno doesn't need much help at all to look like an ass.

Reading Eliot's Mind [NYS]