Posted on 03/15/2007 10:54:45 PM PDT by appeal2
I hesitated posting this thread because of many Freepers demonstrated antipathy towards Rudy. A client of mine is very involved in the Rudy 2008 campaign so I decided to attend his NYC fund raiser. I felt that this event was history in the making. And as it turned out, it was, although the MSM would never let you know.
By way of background, I attended my first and last fundraiser (until now) when Rudy announced he was running for mayor the second time. I always had a feeling that Rudy would run again, as I felt he was a man who didn't like loose ends.
The event was in the very same room at the NY Sheraton. Rudy had a lot more hair then, although he had the beginning of a combover. He spoke about how in 1950 there were just 350 murders in NYC and that he would like to bring the level back down there. That year Dinkins was making his competence level known and there were over 2200 murders. We all looked at each other like he was nuts. It couldn't be done. He also talked about cutting welfare and government dependence and that he had a plan. We all smiled knowing that these were hollow campaign promises that would never come to pass.
Boy were we ever wrong. Shortly after the election I learned never to doubt Rudy. He forcibly merged the NYPD, the NY Transit Police and the NYC Housing Police into one 41000 strong police force. The powers that be had talked about this for 40-50 years but no one had the guts to take on the unions. Before the merger, all the police forces used different radios and couldn't communicate. In addition, no one wanted to serve on housing or transit as it was considered a step down. This one act had more to do with cutting crime than almost anything else other than the appointment of William Bratten and the implementation of Compstat. But I digress.
Fast forward to 2007. Rudy has survived 9-11, prostate cancer, his ex-wife, his kids, Hillary, Bernie Kerik and a bunch of completely ungrateful libs who not only aren't thankful to Rudy for rescuing the City but resent him for riding roughshod over the poor and the ACLU.
Rudy is also 18 years older and so am I. He now has a more human approachable quality about him. He talks from the heart with very few if any notes. He sounds familiar themes but they are now spoken by the voice of experience. He now connects with his audience. I am two rows back from him and he looks me in the eyes at least three times. His message is a bit fragmented and needs work, but his message does work. Everywhere he goes, he says, "People want to know why no one can get anything done?" Good question to which I hope he has the answer and the solution. As he says, his vision "is one of solutions."
I am sure to get a lot of blowback here from you hard and fast pro-lifers, pro-gun, etc. But here's the fact, listening to Rudy, you realize that not only can he win, but he can rule. The man knows to use power, something the current occupant of the Whitehouse is clueless about. I agree that the dems are scum and have obstructed him every step of the way, but he let them do it. The second term has been an unmitigated disaster for the country. Not necessarily economically, but in terms of addressing problems and finding solutions, we are no better off than in 2004. And we have a dim congress which I put at Bush's feet.
But enough of that. Rudy is in this to win. He is a quick study, a workaholic who gets by on several power naps a night but pretty much is working 20 hours per day, 7 days per week. He has the ability to grasp what every agency is doing and what their mission should be. And god help them when they screw up. I remember meeting with Rudy's finance director once. He said he loved Rudy but that if you let him down, you only got one more chance.
In closing, I will relate an anecdote he told. After cutting the hotel occupancy tax by a paltry $35million, it was previously the highest in the country, his finance director came running into his office. "Rudy congratulations, you just made the largest tax cut in NYC history." Rudy replied, "Are you kidding me, its only 35 million bucks?" "Rudy," the director responded, "this was the first tax cut in New York City's history!"
Rudy is a poser. He won't get anywhere. The support he has is from a sympathetic media and a few vocal freepers who shout others down. Rudy... next.
Thanks for the report!
LOL. Yeah, any minute now his support will collapse. We keep hearing that from certain quarters, while all evidence is to the contrary.
Oh yes! All evidence is to the contrary! Put down the crack pipe.
IT's NEVER OVER UNTIL THE FAT LADY SINGS!
FReepers who give Rudy a bad time violate Ronald Reagan's "Eleventh Commandment."
They also don't realize that an intensely long campaign such as this might tend to bring some compromise between candidate and supporters.
Mr. Reagan himself made a few compromises. They worked.
Thanks for the report.
Then please state your evidence to the contrary. Hint: there is none.
Freepers don't need to give Rudy a bad name.
You people are funny. Personality worship. Oh Rudy!
"LOL. Yeah, any minute now his support will collapse. We keep hearing that from certain quarters, while all evidence is to the contrary."
And now, for the rest of the story--Howard Dean. Yeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaa!
Good night you open-minded progressive liberals. ;^)
Interesting. Thanks for the report. It would be great to have a president who works this hard and knows how to make things happen.
Fortunately for us, in 1776 our ancestors got fed up with being ruled, took up arms, and fought for independence. I don't want to go back to those days.
Did would-be Ruler Rudy give even one specific action he'd take as President, or did you feel it unimportant to mention his plans? Bleating about cutting the hotel tax 15 years ago isn't going to get him very far.
Thanks for the report and your perspective. Of course your post will be attacked, but many of us appreciate your comments and the history you have observed of this leader. It seems he has evolved with the years and certainly has always been dedicated. He doesn't see anything as "impossible", we could use that approach nationally.
I was living in NYC in 1992. I am against Giuliani for President, but he was a great mayor, and this was a good post.
Thank you. I enjoyed reading your essay. But, like Rudy, you will soon (if not already) feel the wrath of conservatives and liberals alike.
The United States is a Free country. We don't need a GD ruler, and assistant rulers. The office of the President calls for a leader that respects freedom and the rights of the people, not a ruler that dictates, licences and runs a police state.
" "Rudy," the director responded, "this was the first tax cut in New York City's history!""
whoopty doo. That says very little about Giuliani and a lot about NYC.
Translation: you have no evidence to the contrary.
http://www.nysunpolitics.com/blog/2007/03/political-video-of-the-day-team.html
Check out this train wreck of a woman Rudy wants to be our first lady.
I can't understand why Republicans fail to stand on principle when it's important (like defending the fact that US Attorneys are part of the Executive Branch and are hired and fired by the President) while going crazy over a litmus test that won't bring new voters to the party.
Each year, the voting population gets younger and more non-white (particularly Hispanic). He appeals to them. People like watching him. In a debate, nobody would accuse Rudy of invading Mrs. Clinton's "space" if he handed something to her. She will look like her arrogant, strident self by comparison.
Presidents win or lose on the Saturday before elections Tuesday. Voters, particularly males (who are critical to winning anything), sit down in front of the tv with a beer and figure out which candidate they would rather have to watch on that tv for the next 4 years. It always boils down to the more telegenic, charismatic character. I think that people would rather watch Rudy than have four years of Hillary yelling her post-menopausal head off in a typical shrill harangue.
And, after all, wouldn't you rather see him in a dress on Saturday Night Live than Hillary in one on The View?
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