According to the New York Post, Governor Spitzer's first job is to wage war on Silver and Bruno. Although I don't usually agree with the Post, I too had concluded that things aren't going to get any better without the removal of all three men who spent the last 12 years in the room, hence my pre-election preference for Suozzi. But the election is over, and a war is not in the cards. Instead Spitzer is going to travel another road to change things.
To the extent that the public knew what it was doing, it voted for change from the inside, backed by an appeal to the people, in voting for Spitzer. All the insiders realized Spitzer was going to win, and got behind him, and will now be calling in their favors. Theoretically Spitzer will be able to tell them that he is on their side, but they've taken too much and have to give some back to everyone else. Otherwise, a Suozzi might be in their future. Theoretically existing privileged interests will look at his mandate and go along with his changes, extracting a few symbolic victories to save face. And that's how things will improve.
At the very least, however, what Spitzer has to prove is that he is prepared to launch a war if things don't change. Otherwise, he won't get his agenda through. That could mean admitting defeat in the short run, admitting that not enough changed on Day One. Thus, Bruno and Silver might try to bluff him, and offer the enhancement of his reputation and career with a few symbolic victories in exchange for no substantive change to existing priorities.
Thus far, Spitzer has fought this by inflating expectations, in effect putting a gun to his own head, an encouraging sign. But I'd say he has to be prepared to drop the bomb, and convince Bruno and Silver he means it, if he isnt' going to drop it on Day One.
What would I, a political neophyte, suggest for what it's worth? I believe that, having hired his underlings, outlined his agenda, and gotten his underlings to work on it, Spitzer should spend much of the next few months going around the state and raising campaign funds on a big scale. The money would be placed in a separate account to "raise public consciousness" (ie. to oppose ads by existing interests) and "for the 2008 legislative elections, if necessary." He should also take a page out of the health care industry's book, and have some ads prepared to show them. The bigger the war chest, the less likely he is to have to use it.
I'll be paying close attention to Spitzer's first few speeches, which I don't generally do, since (knowing what I do) speeches by politicians usually aggravate me. We also almost never contribute to political campaigns, although we did send a few bucks to Suozzi. If Spitzer says what I want to hear and sets up a fund as I suggest, perhaps I can negotiate a contribution to that as well. There is little opportunity to vote for a better future and fairer present, the way the election system is today. Perhaps we'll have to bid for one.