Posted on 03/09/2007 8:16:49 PM PST by NormsRevenge
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Voters are lining up behind Rudolph Giuliani, who became "America's mayor" on Sept 11, 2001. But many New Yorkers remember the mayor before that day with less affection.
New Yorkers may have enjoyed Giuliani's success at taming the untamed city but are quick to recall the combative mayor who insulted constituents, bullied opponents and made crossing the street in the middle of the block a punishable offense.
That's not to mention his multiple marriages, a divorce so acrimonious a judge ordered Giuliani's mistress out of the mayor's mansion and a son so estranged he plans to play golf instead of campaign for his father.
Nevertheless, as he builds on the reputation earned guiding New York after the World Trade Center attack, polls show the moderate Republican leading in the race for the party's nomination for the U.S. presidential election in 2008.
New Yorkers familiar with Giuliani's brash style and hot temper wonder how those traits will play on the national stage. Giuliani is focusing on issues of national security and strong leadership as he woos voters across the country.
"He was mean-spirited, he was harsh, but I'm not sure that hurts him on the Republican national stage," said former city councilman Stephen DiBrienza, a Democrat who calls Giuliani the "most divisive elected official in modern history."
"One can only hope that the arrogance of power he displayed and the abuse of process his administration often engaged in will not be mistaken for leadership," said DiBrienza, who now lectures on government at Baruch College in New York.
Term limit rules forced Giuliani to leave office in 2002, after eight years, with high approval ratings over low crime, a strong economy and healthy job creation rate.
But his successes came at a price. While crime fell to the lowest rates in a generation and aggressive panhandlers disappeared from city streets, reports of police brutality climbed.
'HIM?'
Human rights group Amnesty International accused New York police of abuse, especially against minorities. The fatal shootings of two unarmed black men by police deepened racial divides.
The city was criticized for going too far -- citing hot dog vendors who parked carts on the wrong corners and making welfare too difficult for poor people to apply.
Giuliani proposed new homeless shelters be located in the districts of political opponents, set up a "decency commission" to review artwork at publicly funded museums and told a caller to a radio show he was "deranged" and needed a psychiatrist.
Former Democratic Mayor Ed Koch, who battled Giuliani off and on for years, says the nation is meeting a calmer man. "It's a much more muted style than it was in New York City," he said. "He is a control freak, capable of controlling himself."
But Giuliani's national success puzzles plenty of New Yorkers. A New York magazine cover featured Giuliani and the headline "Him?"
"He could not have been re-elected on 9/10 in New York City," Koch said. "I still believe he couldn't be re-elected in New York City even after 9/11."
Giuliani's temperament could be deceiving, said Fred Siegel, author of "The Prince of the City" on Giuliani and New York, who called the mayor's anger "tactical."
"Most of the time he worked very effectively and very quietly," Siegel said. "If you think about the major accomplishments in terms of welfare reform, crime reform ... there was very little in the way of tirades."
Political columnist Michael Tomasky suggested Americans may never see Giuliani's "ill temper and his obnoxious side."
"He just has a way of seeming to a national audience the epitome of reason," Tomasky said. "I imagine somebody sitting in Tulsa or Omaha thinking, 'What's the problem with all those crazy liberals in New York that they don't like this reasonable man?"'
Hmmmmm....doesn't sound bad to me....
Until Fred Thompson tosses his hat in the ring … by, by Giuliani.
The only people supporting Rudy are the MSM and RINO's . His candidacy is hollow and quite shallow on ideas .
This article is Exhibit A re Libs hating Rudy. I still cannot believe he won back in '93- although those middle class GOPer Rudy voters have long since left NYC under Bloomberg's reign.
Only the rich (and upper upper middle class) and the poor exist in NYC now except for portions of Staten Island and isolated pocket in the other boros. The middle class moved to NC, etc. when Bloomy came to town.
I hope the RNC is using him for cannon fodder... a strategy meant to distract people (and position someone better).
"but are quick to recall the combative mayor who insulted constituents, bullied opponents and made crossing the street in the middle of the block a punishable offense."
That's the kind of Mayor NYC needed, and it's the kind of President America needs.
Rudy gets under the skin of lefty's like no other!
The only people Rudy insulted were muggers, thieves, welfare queens, assorted criminals, newspaper reporters, and liberals. Needless to say, Rooters was never very fond of him.
We would welcome a President that would stand up to the Democrats and shut them up. I am sick to death of turning the other cheek.
I don't know which is worse...the Right trashing Rudy Giuliani for his liberalism or the Left trashing Rudy Giuliani for his conservatism, often by feigning shock at Giuliani's liberalism in order to make him seem less palatable to the Right (known as "Foleyizing").
I don't know if I would vote for him but it's obvious the agenda of practically every story written about him.
It's also no surprise that the media is suddenly trumpeting Newt's affair during Clinton's impeachment saga. It's transparent that they want to damage Newt before he gains momentum among Republicans. They don't care a whit that he had an affair other than to try to tarnish his image with the Right.
I guess the Clinton War Room is definitely back in business. We should have done to the Clintons what we did to Saddam.
Mark my words- Rudy is a liberal's worst nightmare. They despise him. He will fight them more than you can imagine and certainly more than any Washington GOPer (RINO or not) will ever dream of.
Republicans have not seen a fighter like this in our lifetime.
"One can only hope that the arrogance of power he displayed and the abuse of process his administration often engaged in will not be mistaken for leadership" said DiBrienza, who now lectures on government at Baruch College in New York.
I like to think that only a current or former member of NYC's corrupt Democratic political machine would utter something so hypocritical. The big apple's Dems wouldn't know good government if someone bribed them with it. I'm not an expert on Rudy, but the fact that the liberals hate him makes me think he's probably a good guy.
Al-Reuters starts trashing Guiliani to push their hero, Hitlery.
Because he will win moderates unlike Hillary and Obama.
"The only people supporting Rudy are the MSM and RINO's"
Make your points about the candidate, or even attack him, but please every body, let's not play the game of "the only people that support X" are this or that, after all we are all freepers here and we probably wouldn't be discussing candidate X if he didn't appeal to some of our fellow conservatives here.
Welcome to FR, Neu Pragmatist
That's exactly why I like him. I am sick to death of the namby pamby Republicans, who are afraid to stand up and tell the Democrats to shut up. Ann Coulter is one of the few who wasn't intimidated into political correctness.
I can't get over the fact that Bush let Libby go through that travesty of a trial. I can't get over the fact that Bush is not speaking out on the firing of the U.S. attorneys. I can't get over the fact that Bush doesn't say anything about Sandy Berger. There are just so many things that Giuliani wouldn't let go by, that Bush just doesn't seem to have the guts to take on.
Wrong. He splits the GOP, probably irreparably.
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