I don't get it. Please list Rudy's qualifications that make him the guy who "can best handle the job as CIC." If I recall correctly, Rudy has no military training or experience whatsoever. Even dropped out of ROTC and got a deferment from serving in Vietnam because he was a much needed law clerk. Clinton did the same thing and we all called him a "draft dodger" not the man best suited to lead as CIC.
You won't hear a 'squeak' from the Rudy-apologists on that one--likely the same ones who slammed Slick over his draft-dodger status.
In addition to that, Rudy's 'train wreck' of a personal life--makes him the only candidate in either party running for President,,,,to make Clinton look like a "GOOD HUSBAND AND FAMILY MAN"!!
You won't hear the Rudy-apologists say much about that one either (other than the pathetic, time-honored, ad nauseum, cop-out, of saying, "Rudy isn't perfect".) I will agree with them on that one, though,,,Rudy most certainly IS more imperfect than any of the other candidates!
Jim, the fact is, we as a nation are running out of veterans from meaningful engagements. Congress is bereft of members with military backgrounds and so are the rest of this country's institutions. Our future is most likely to have more Wesley Clarks than George Pattons.
The military of today faces the sad reality that Uncle Sam died on long ago battlefields, and he won't back you no matter what. The attention span, and aversion to discomfort of our populace, no longer offers comfort to our allies, if in fact, we have allies.
FYI, my active duty began a scant twelve years after the end of WWII.
We are not likely to return to the America that people of our generation knew, as sad as that is.