'STALLION' RUDY

NY Post ^ | March 21, 2007 | ZEV CHAFETS

[veronica]

March 21, 2007 -- RUDY Giuliani's supporters call him "America's Mayor." But he is something more: the first serious presidential candidate in history with a vowel at the end of his name. Oddly, so far in this year of ethnic- and gender-identity politics, Rudy's Italian-American heritage hasn't been much of an issue. Much more attention has gone to Hillary's "favorite daughter" campaign, Barack Obama's quest for African-American authenticity, Bill Richardson self-depiction as the first Hispanic candidate and the Mormon beliefs of Mitt Romney.

Almost nobody has focused on Rudy as the Italian Stallion. Yet.

"Italian-Americans aren't usually thought of as an electoral bloc," says Dr. Diane Heith, a political scientist as St. John's University. "They aren't even polled separately."

Nobody even knows how many Italian-Americans there are. The 2000 census reported almost 16 million, making them the fourth largest white ethnic group - and the only one that experienced growth in the last decade. The National Italian American Foundation puts the number at 25 million, close to 10 percent of the population. Either way, it is possible that there are more Italian-American voters than either blacks or Hispanics.

Not only that, Italian-Americans are strategically located. In four states - New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Connecticut - they make up more than 15 percent of the population. They are also heavily concentrated in the key swing states of Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Florida and California. These are mostly Democratic states; the Republicans haven't had a candidate who could challenge in all of them since Ronald Reagan.

[Gop1040]

"So which senate committee did Rudy chair?? Which accomplishment are you going to use to show us his foreign relations strengths?"

Being chairman of a Senate Committee is not in itself an extraordinary accomplishment. It simply means you get to bang that big gavel anytime you want. It's getting to the bottom of an issue or a scandal on your own terms, and not on your opponent's terms that is relevant.

Regarding Rudy's accomplishments in Reagan's Justice Department and as Mayor of NYC, there is plenty out there and much has already been posted on FR. The one big accomplishment that I'll mention is the transformation of NYC with its 7 to 8 million people, from the crime capital to the safest big city in the country. As another poster once put it, under his watch 1,000's of ordinary people left went to work and returned home safely to their families.

[CharlesWayneCT]

Or Al Gore.

Maybe he meant FIRST name.

George Bush.

[Clemenza]

1. Most "Italian Americans" just consider themselves to be white Americans.

2. Most lived scattered in the suburbs living among other Americans.

3. Per US census, the majority of Americans of Italian extraction marry non-Italians. I am the spawn of such a union.

4. I will not be voting for Rudy.

5. The only ethnic bloc that Rudy will appeal to are the Medieval types with the furry hats out in Borough Park and Crown Heights. Other than that, he has to convince the rest of America, regardless of race, to see him as the media created "America's Mayor", not as the lecherous, situationally moral, Rockefeller Republican that he is.

[M. Thatcher]

Get a grip. I think you don't know what you are talking about.

Exploiting someone's past cancer to make any kind of political point, ever, is indefensible. But you go right ahead and make your lowlife smears. All it does is reflect poorly on you, and proves your impotence in halting Giuliani's success.

[FreeInWV]

You did not mention any recent (last decade) experience that is relevant anywhere outside of the boroughs of NYC. The ability to go to work & safely return home is not a major accomplishment for the rest of the country.

Has he done anything that is not domestic? Anything??

[wireman]

My brother-in-law and best friend from high school (we joined the Marine Corps together) are IT-lians.

WTF is an IT-lian?

Also, if i USE a LOT of capital LETTERS for no apparent REASON, will my POSTS look as STUPID as yours DO???

[BlueDragon]

Aaah HA! Now I see why you are such a Rooty rooter!

"...This is about Italian Americans if you don't mind."

This is about "Italian Americans" you say? You must be Italian, and blinded by the popularity of some other Italian...hoping some of the shine will rub off on you?

Looks like semi-racist, but full on neo-tribalism, to me.

You Italians have contributed more than a few graphic hand (hand AND arm?) gestures, which could be used to indicate what you can do with your "tribalism".

Gun-grabbing Rudy-the-rino gets no vote from me. Ever.

Your unflagging support of him on this forum makes me wanna puke...

[motzman]

Hahahaha!

[jmc813]

It's amusing that a man who went after the Mafia in NY, was a law enforcement big in Reagan's administration, and who became a symbol of American strength after 9-11, is insulted here by some keyboard commandos as being a wimp.

Anybody who is afraid of guns is a big wimp.

[ClaireSolt]

You are certainly a self-indulgent scold. I exploited nothing. I implied that his skirt chasiong days are over, that is all. Don't reply, as I don't enjoy attacks by cavemen.

[M. Thatcher]

You are certainly a self-indulgent scold. I exploited nothing. I implied that his skirt chasiong days are over, that is all. Don't reply, as I don't enjoy attacks by cavemen.

You wrote: Isn't having prostate cancer like getting gelded? That is a disgusting post, and on this forum if you don't want attacks, don't earn them.

[Revenge of Sith]

"The only ethnic bloc that Rudy will appeal to are the Medieval types with the furry hats out in Borough Park and Crown Heights."

What's wrong with the Hasidim?

[Gop1040]

"You did not mention any recent (last decade) experience that is relevant anywhere outside of the boroughs of NYC. The ability to go to work & safely return home is not a major accomplishment for the rest of the country."

Oh, I get it. The ability to protect the health and welfare of citizens under one jurisdiction is not transferable to another jurisdictions or to the rest of the country as a whole. That's a novel concept.

Regarding anything outside NYC, remember "FALN" the acronym for the Puerto Rican terrorist group Armed Forces of National Liberation? Or how about Mark Rich? Well FALN between 1997 and 1983 committed over 130 terrorists acts, mostly bombings in NYC and Chicago killing dozens and injuring many more. Mark Rich in the early 1980's was buying oil from the Ayatollah Khomeini regime in Iran in direct violation of the US Trade Embargo. Rudy Guiliani as US Attorney prosecuted both case and got convictions. Then guess what, Hillary Clinton and her co-president Bill, pardoned them the day they left office.

So now, how about you providing some major accomplishments that Fred Thompson achieved while in public office, or for that matter that as you put "is not domestic"?

[FreeInWV]

Ignore that poster. I do. She lives in a different plane of existence. She argues against what she thinks or wants you to have said, not what you actually did say. She even changes your quotes.

Last time she posted to me, I didn't even read it. Its not worth your time responding.

[Clemenza]

I don't trust any group of folks who vote as their "leader" tells them. You can respect your minister/rebbe/priest/swami, etc., but obeying his orders on politics is a little too much for me.

That being said, the Hasidim are a colorful bunch and are good family people. Those are my thoughts.

[SJackson]

You sure about the FALN? They've been prosecuted all over the world, but I'm fairly certain that at the least 11 arrested in Evanston and I believe more of the 16 pardoned by Clinton were prosecuted in Chicago. Can't remember the name of the Evanston mayor or the prosecutor at the time, maybe they'd be solid mayoral candidates.

[SJackson]

What's wrong with the Hasidim?

The hats.

You learn something here every day.

Besides, they might vote for Republicans.

[FreeInWV]

I clearly said last decade. 1983 is like 25 years ago. Lots can happen in 25 years. At that time, we were still friends allies with the Taliban, Saddam Hussein and Milosevic.

I noted that you did not mention one foreign government or anyone officially connected to a foreign government that Rudy dealt with. Only criminals.

The leader of the free world must be able to work with foreign governments ya' know.

[SJackson]

Looked it up. Joseph Hartzler was the US attorney in charge of the FALN prosecutions in Chicago. He went on to prosecute Tim McVeigh. Never made a connection, didn't remember his name. Wonder what he's doing now. Experience in prosecuting terrorists he's got.