I'd probably feel the same if I hadn't lived in NYC during his tenure as mayor. The first time he ran and lost to Dinkins, I really wasn't very enthusiastic about him, but I voted for him anyway. At his concession speech, he was trying to give a very gracious concession and his supporters wouldn't stop yelling. He told them, literally, to "Shut up." They did so immediately. At that moment, I knew he was exactly the man we needed as mayor of NYC.
I realize that this doesn't go to backing up his statement about judges, but in my experience with Rudy, when he says something, he not only follows through, but does so with a voracity that I've not seen in another politician. In other words, not only do I think that he'll appoint strict constitutionalist judges, but he won't take an ounce of crap from the Dems about it.
I'm not one of the Rudy horn blowers on this board, but in my opinion, many of the people who say that they'll 'never vote for Rudy' will be the ones that will be the happiest with his political tactics. He's one tough SOB that won't shy away from getting in the Dems' faces. If you think the Dems hate Bush, just wait till they get a load of Rudy.
I think he was probably the perfect guy to be Mayor of NYC and from the people who hated him I would say he must have done a great job. But that doesn't necessarily translate into being a great -- or even a good -- president. I am very concerned about the kind of crap he would tolerate and even condone and promote from a democrat congress.