As a Parting Gift, They All Got Driver's Licenses

Your poll ratings are in the toilet, you're mired in scandal, so what's a neophyte governor to do?

Why, let 215 killers walk free!

Only in New York, baby!

SPITZER LETS 215 KILLERS GO LOOSE

Nearly every one of the 225 violent felons authorized for release during Gov. Spitzer's first 11 months in office had been convicted of murder, records made public by the state Parole Board yesterday showed.

The figures revealed that 215 of the inmates granted parole were convicted murderers while the rest had been convicted of either attempted murder or kidnapping.

"This is greatly disturbing," said Senate Crime Victims, Crime and Corrections Committee Chairman Michael Nozzolio (R-Seneca Falls), who held a hearing on Spitzer-administration parole policies earlier in the week.

"We're not just seeing violent felons released, we're seeing murderers get out-of-jail-free cards," he continued.

Division of Parole spokesman Mark Johnson, however, said the figures were not surprising because the overwhelming number of those convicted in the A-1 category of violent crimes were guilty of murder.

The new figures were made public in the wake of published reports that the number of violent felons released on parole dramatically increased after Democrat Spitzer succeeded Republican Gov. George Pataki, who had ordered the Parole Board to restrict the release of dangerous inmates.

In 2006, Pataki's last year in office, 148 prisoners guilty of A-1 felonies were granted parole, while in 2005 the figure was 73.

Among the high-profile killers granted release last year were one-time wealthy Long Island surgeon Charles Friedgood, 89, who was convicted in 1976 for murdering his wife.

Also granted release last year was William Phillips, a former New York City police officer and one-time Knapp Commission witness who was convicted in 1975 for the 1968 murder of a pimp and a prostitute.

Keep it up, Eliot. You may just be Vice President material at this rate.