First, nothing I am about to say is in any way a defense of Eliot Spitzer. Second, I would encourage you to read this article, and ask yourself the following questions:
Is the Patriot Act devised in a such a way as to be directed at terrorists, and nothing but terrorists? No. Can the Patriot Act be applied in such a way that it catches non-terrorist skunks like Spitzer? Yes. Given the answers to the foregoing questions, is there any reason why law-abiding citizens (non-terrorists, non-skunks) who are doing nothing but minding their own business have cause to be worried about the new powers of intrusiveness that our government now has? Yes, absolutely.
To paraphrase one of the founders, maybe Jefferson, those who give up liberty to obtain security deserve neither.