Posted on 08/24/2006 3:03:32 AM PDT by Eagle Forgotten
The bias of the book authors is more to the point. As I told Congressman Billybob, Barrett (one co-author) has been savaging Giuliani in print for years. I would not expect him to give a balanced account. Still, even if this is only one side of the story, the detailed attack is one that Giuliani supporters will have to answer.
Now let me turn it around. Everybody stop firing at Henican and Barrett for a moment. Answer me this: What basis is there for considering Rudy Giuliani a particularly effective leader against terrorism? He happened to be Mayor on 9/11. He performed well on television that day. Anything else? Even if you reject the attacks on his performance, can you point to anything substantive that would be in his favor? He'll need to be able to point to something when people start bringing up his adultery and his general rejection of social conservatism.
The point I want to make is he is a war time leader. We need one.
Friday after 9/11 we all went to St. Pat's. They had a special memorial service. Cardinal Eagan said let us call it "Ground Hero" instead of ground Zero. After the service Rudy came out of the church as we all stood outside and cheered him with Rudy chants. You felt good seeing him in person. Felt the comfort of poised leadership. Chills all over. Smoke still coming from Ground Hero.
Pick him apart. Have at it.
But he is a leader for the WOT unlike anyone else we will see for sometime.
It was a different problem here. The NYPD had radios, the FDNY had radios, but the systems were incompatible and couldn't communicate. Police helicopters had (literally) a bird's-eye view of the progress of the fire and the destruction in the upper stories of the towers, but they couldn't get that information to the firefighters rushing into the building at ground level.
Regardless, I think Rudy is a hero; the way he comported himself in the days after 9/11 will be always fresh in my mind ....
I think that's what it comes down to. You (and quite a few other people) put a great deal of weight on that factor. I respectfully disagree. These are desperate, dangerous times, and we need competence more than comportment.
When this happened, he didn't run away, unlike John F. Kerry (seen beating feet down the steps of the capitol as fast as he could go.)
Hillie must really be worried about Rudy running to attempt the character assassination this early.
I'm just not going to rely on a leftist reporter like this one for my information. Aside from how well I think Rudy handled 9/11, he cleaned up NYC and made it safe to visit again. Like all people, he has flaws; haven't met anyone yet who doesn't.
I also wouldn't be surprised to find McCain's hand in this as well.
I felt good when W addressed the joint session a week or so later and the Congress all with war faces on.
Sadly, feelings are temporary. Silly me, I was even envisioning a great self examination by the nation at large and repentance for our sins.
That's great. I would not mind at all Rudy being on as VP. I really do not think he can win a presidential election. It is our side that has trumpeted Character and Rudy's Affairs will be front and center in the election campaigns. Regardless of his performance on 9-11 he will stifle zeal among Christian Republicans. Most may not even volubly oppose him but they will suffer a certain lassitude in November.Where we need a candidate that makes voting the primary activity for the day, Rudy will convert it into,"well maybe I'll go vote or maybe I'll mow the lawn," for a substantial segment of the Republican constituency.
I tend to think Romney might be a stronger candidate than many think. The word is that he has a very good team in Iowa.
Anyway, this will be an interesting primary, since we really have no front runner, and we don't have anyone who seems to have grabbed people's hearts.
I have a lot of concerns about Giuliani as well and I think you are absolutely right as to a lack of enthusiasm for him. I think he performed admirably on 9/11 and the days following, but I don't see that translating into a viable candidacy. He's got the problems of his personal life and his liberal social views for a start. I think his judgment might be called into question relative to the Bernard Kerik nomination, and I don't know if Giuliani has any foreign policy experience. I believe a lot of conservatives are going to have a difficult time coming up with a reason to vote for him. He deserves enormous credit for his fortitude and strength during 9/11, but how does that translate to the presidency? Fortitude and strength are a key qualification for the office, no doubt, but standing alone, aren't sufficient to bring me out to vote for someone with his personal baggage, questionable judgment, and liberal social views. I think one can commend and admire his work in NYC without making it a stepping stone to the presidency.
Beyond the demonstration of leadership on 9/11, Rudy has a record of performance as mayor of New York. When he entered office the city was a third world country. Dirty, dangerous, out-of-control. He saved New York, which was no small task.
How's that Rudi's fault?
I remember this little factiod being bandied. It doesn't wash. Fire and police regularly communicate....they must....for the daily, run o' the mill emergencies. It sounds like a warped interpretation of actual facts. Where have you seen this published in an official document??
The systems may be incompatable, but there are links at communication centers between the two....either human dispatchers, or electronic links. That the two departments operate on different frequencies is the usual thing. No communication is possible between the two but for central dispatch....in my large city, anyway. It wasn't an oversight, I think.....just the way things are always set up. If the main antenna was down (likely on the WTC), the two departments were cut off. Who could have forseen that?
Surmise based upon actual experience in a patrol car, working fires with a walkie, and spending a couple years in a unified fire/police 911 dispatch center. I reserve the right to be incorrect.
I never thought he was a hero. An opportunist who made personal hay out af a tragedy maybe, but never a hero.
"But he is a leader for the WOT unlike anyone else we will see for sometime."
Leadership is a quality that is hard to define, hard to pin down into neat little categories, but Rudy has it and has demonstrated it...
Rudi is a threat to the Dems...so of course they wish to tear him down. I'd take him over McCain any day. Rudi was a wonderful Mayor. He is a take charge guy. He drover hookers and druggies out of Times Square returning it to the people. He was tough on crime and cleaned up New York. I do not share his views on social issues, but he is a much closer to my beliefs than any Dem.
That's it! The war has started!
Since we've really had only one 'fighting-president'(the others favored the Jean Francois Kerry approach) and all Dems and more than a few Republicans are wilting in the face of Islamo-fascism... Giuliani's rhetoric stands above the pack. His refusal of the Saudi Prince's bribe is a perfect example.
I'm not a Giuliani backer... but I would rate him higher than ANY Dem in understanding what we face in radical Islam.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.