In the days when grammar school children were taught civics (those golden days before "deem and pass"), New York youngsters thrilled to the State's motto: "EXCELSIOR!" which, we were informed, meant "Ever Upward." And we believed it -- buttressed by incontrovertible proof: the Yankees of the DiMaggio-Mantle-Rizzuto-Berra-Lopat-Ford era.Alas, times have changed. The new State motto might better read: "decelsior" -- "ever downward" (translation subject to correction by the Latinists among us).From today's New York Times:

Five top state officials have now fled Gov. David Patersons side, the latest of them being his press secretary. The terms of their departure made it clear that they were either implicated in or appalled by what appears to have been an attempt by Mr. Paterson to suppress charges of domestic violence against one of the his closest aides.It is always hard for us to believe that things can get worse in New York States so-called government, but Mr. Paterson keeps proving us wrong.He has left Albany paralyzed, run in name only by a governor who appears to have little influence, and even less power, and is facing at least two investigations. In addition to the domestic violence case, Mr. Paterson also is in trouble for allegedly lying about paying for prime Yankees seats.Meanwhile, the governor is clinging to his vow to stay in office until the next governor is sworn in, still refusing to be candid with the voters about what happened and failing to provide any evidence to refute the mounting evidence against him.

And the Times concludes:

We believe that the only way the governor can hang on to his job is to prove quickly and convincingly that he did no wrong in the matter of the abuse case or the Yankees ticket scandal. If not, he should resign.Mr. Paterson is using the investigations as a shield. But the governors delay in talking straight to New Yorkers does not offer him the kind of protection he seeks. His silence only makes his departure look more inevitable.

On this President Obama was prescient!