Spitzer reports back

However, the distinctive drone of bagpipes soon shattered this illusion of modesty. Preceded by the Local 608 Pipe and Drum band and surrounded by a large group of supporters, Spitzer re-entered the room moments later, waving and grinning like a prizefighter before a title match.
Leaving his abhorrence of what he has termed a “Masters of the Universe” complex back at the office, Spitzer basked in the adulation of the enthusiastic, largely male crowd as he spoke about his five-day trip to Dublin and Belfast in March.
“I use New York as a benchmark for all cities, and Dublin is as exciting as New York,” he declared.
“In all the years we were sending back ideas and models for Ireland to follow, now I think we should look at some of their ideas and send them over here.
In Dublin, everywhere you look there’s construction. I refer to it as the crane count — the more cranes, the better. 15 years ago Ireland was the sick economy of Europe, it was the joke. They’ve turned that around and it’s down to two things; they’ve lowered taxes and they’re educating their kids. That’s the model we need.”
Despite a busy schedule that included speeches at the Smurfit Business School in University College Dublin and the Dublin and Belfast Chambers of Commerce, Spitzer had plenty of time for fun on his five-day tour of Ireland.
Amongst the highlights of his trip were a visit to the Book of Kells in Trinity College (“The long room is like something out of Harry Potter!”) and singing “Molly Malone,” with his three daughters at the Abbey Tavern pub in Howth. He vowed to return to Ireland one day — hopefully as governor.
Spitzer’s communications director, Darren Dopp, said that the trip, which Spitzer paid for “out of his own pocket,” was a mix of business and pleasure.
His supporters in the Irish American community think it was important for the attorney general to see Ireland for himself.
“Coming to Ireland showed him our traditions,” said Eddie Boles of the New York Fire department, who accompanied Spitzer on the trip.
“He saw over there part of the reason why Irish people are so successful over here. He strikes me as the type of guy that doesn’t forget.”
Said Tom Moore of the Elevator Contractors Union: “It was like being on tour with a rock star. Everyone was happy to see him and happy to hear his message.”
Randi Delirod, president of New-York based communications company “Voxpopuli,” was one of the few women at the briefing. She was not deterred by the lack of females in Spitzer’s Irish-American support network.
“I think his politics equality-based, which is exactly what women are looking for.”