Posted on 06/21/2006 8:11:44 AM PDT by Great Communicator
Kevin Keating's film, the latest in a seemingly never-ending series of politically themed documentaries presumably designed to have an impact on the upcoming elections, deals with former New York mayor and possible 2008 presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani.
But while "Giuliani Time" offers a wealth of important information that many might have long forgotten, its impact is diluted by its heavily biased nature and lack of balance.
The film, actually in the works for nearly a decade, offers a comprehensive overview of its subject's career, from his early days as a prosecutor to his stint in the Justice Department to his two-term mayoral reign.
It begins with his appearance at the 2004 Republican National Convention, where he related his anecdote about turning to his police commissioner Bernard Kerik on September 11 and famously uttering the phrase, "Thank God George Bush is our president."
Although there is some token effort made to include pro-Giuliani commentary into the proceedings, most notably from Myron Magnet, a conservative writer and editor of the City Journal, the film is primarily highly critical of the former mayor's policies.
It most scathingly debunks his "quality of life" campaign, which many credit with bringing down the city's soaring crime rates. But it also delves into his First Amendment issues, his checkered family history and his workfare and welfare reforms.
Far too much screen time is allocated to journalist Wayne Barrett of the Village Voice, who rehashes much of the criticism contained in his scathing book, "Rudy: An Investigative Biography."
While the film is indeed very effective in its thorough dissection of Giuliani's controversial policies, the heavy-handed presentation ultimately detracts from its persuasiveness.
They are not defending him they are urging their pinko brothers to do a better work smearing Giuliani.
Giuliani would trounce Clinton by a margin in the electoral college that looks something like 415 EVs to 123 EVs. Rudy's challenge is the primaries; he must convince a solid amount of social conservatives that he will appoint judges in the mold of Alito and Roberts.
Nah.
They trying to help their lefty friends and brothers understand that Guiliani is just what they want, whether he's Democrat or 'Pubbie.
Rudy is a social lefty and a fiscal conservative.
Giuliani said: "If we do X, then Y will follow."
He did X as he promised and quite soon Y followed, and it followed in precisely the manner he predicted.
Giuliani's QOL policy is easily one of the most important, effective and transformative public policies ever implemented in a US municipality.
Remember: These are the same folks who put their hands over their ears and scream that Reaganomics doesn't work, even though it's worked twice now.
Even if your non-vote puts Mrs. Bill Clinton in the WH?
President Hillary Clinton is not a tactic. It is something not to be weighed lightly.
"President Hillary Clinton is not a tactic."
Nope, it is a pipe-dream. She will not even get the nomination. She cannot win on the national level. I tend to take polls lightly but I do find it interesting that everybody they put up against her in the national polls, defeats her soundly and with margin. She simply cannot win and will not get the nomination.
Where did you get that from?
Rudy has stated on NYC channel 1 that he is backing Bloombergs campaign (regarding guns).
He hasn't wavered one bit on gun control and is more far to the left on the issue then even Hillary Clinton is (or at least he is more open about it then she is).
FWIW, Bloombergs gun campaign is one of the biggest I've seen in years.
Rudy Giuliani will absolutely positively replace Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Anthony Kennedy with pro-gun control. pro-gay marriage, pro-abortion, SCOTUS justices. How is this any different from Clinton, who tacitly supports the Iraq war?
Sorry, that's New York politics. You can't get elected unless you adopt gun-hating measures. But I think Giuliani will be different on the federal level, at least, he will not push those measures.
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