Has nothing to do with terrorism, but he was the mayor, not the police chief. And when the police chief who accomplished most of the miracles Rudy took credit for got top billing in Time Magazine, Rudy fired him.
He was articulating the Islamist threat way before any pol I can think of. Way before 9/11. That was one of the reasons he kicked out Arafat despite the shrieks of the NYTimes.
I asked for facts. Point me to a speech he gave about the "islamist threat", and then explain how that speech prevented any deaths on 9/11. Tell me how kicking Arafat out of a theater stopped the terrorists from bombing our embassys, or solved the Israili/Palistinian crises, or prevented any terrorist attack. Don't just say "he's strong on terror". I already heard that, I want some proof.
His response to 9/11 despite what others say was heroic.
What did he do? He ran his city. He didn't personally run into the building and rescue people. He didn't put his own life in danger. He reacted well when you wanted him to react well.
Meanwhile, ordinary citizens were sacrificing their lives on a plane over Pennsylvania, firefighters and police were running up the stairs of a building doomed to collapse.
Donald Rumsfeld was running INTO the burning pentagon. Firefighters from all around DC were rushing to a place that could be hit again, to rescue people.
Sure, some people wouldn't have done so well, but he didn't really do anything. He did get on TV though.
Provide 3 specific examples of things Rudy did on 9/11 that were extraordinary either in bravery or in action. Should be easy for you. Again, I didn't ask you to repeat the assertions, I want facts. What did Rudy DO on 9/11 that showed him to be far above anybody else? What did he DO that was more than what any competent manager would do?
His speech following 9/11 slapping around the UN was fantastic.
Words are not deeds. A lot of people can say the right thing. I could make a speech that would run rings around Giuliani, and I'll never be presidential. A speech is not an act against terrorism. And everybody whose anybody can slap the UN around. What did he actually DO? What acts did he take that showed the terrorists wouldn't win?
Watching those buildings collapse around him and attending all those funerals....he more then any other pol knows the nature of the enemy...he’s qualified.
He saw the building collapse? We all saw the buildings collapse. That's the "he was there, so he is tough on terrorism" argument. In what way does watching the buildings collapse make him no more than "any other pol" the nature of the enemy? Romney doesn't understand? Gilmore (who was the Governor of the state in which the Pentagon was hit) doesn't understand? McCain doesn't understand the nature of the terrorist threat? What has Rudy done to show he knows the nature of the threat more than any other pol?
To summarise, he's strong on terror because he employed more cops than the next 4 cities combined just to get a 20% better crime rate, he kicked Arafat out of a theater in a pique of authoritarian rage, he watched the towers fall, and he made a good speech.
I'm sorry, but I am unimpressed.
The Giuliani supporters have a habit of lying and distorting his liberal record to try to convince us to vote for him. It has the effect of our discounting the good things that he has done.
Let’s not make the same mistake. Rudy was a great Mayor, and he is up on the Arab threat. He did a good job on 9/11.. well, people like you and I who govern ourselves with logic don’t see what the big deal is, but apparently the country thought so.
There is no need to diminish the good job that Rudy did as Mayor. The fact is, however, that basically he is a liberal and not fit to run our country.
” I’m sorry, but I am unimpressed.”
However, I am impressed with your post...
I agree with your well reasoned post. Many people would have handled the aftermath of 9/11 as well or better than Rudy. It is ludicrous that the above actions translate into Rudy will fight the WOT better than any other Republican.