In defense of Rudy, I think that his second-wife and the mother of his children was a poor role model as far as political wives go. It was all-about-her in any interview she had while he was mayor. Her job, her maiden name, her needs, etc., etc., etc. She competed with him for the limelight rather than supported him and that behavior ultimately became a distraction in his job and undermined their marriage. During his inauguration his son stood in front of the podium and aped his father's speech while the mother stood there and laughed. The kid appeared severely ADD and probably should not have been at the event to begin with or in the hand-held companionship of another family member. This was a poor reflection on her "performance" as a mom. Her need for attention was accentuated during her acting stint in the Vagina Monologues. Given what I saw of her on tv, I can imagine that telling her he was leaving her on tv was the only way to get the message across. The fact that the kids don't want anything to do with him is totally understandable given the actions of both parents and the hatred that the mother probably feels. But was it love with her or just her ego? Was she really willing to sacrifice anything for him or was his career a Clintonesque career booster for her?
I don't respect that he left her for another woman--and afterall, did he leave wife #1 for witch #2? But in comparison with the Clinton's, everything becomes relative and his marriage to wife #3 can't be any more of a sham than Billary.
Good post. No doubt their marriage was long over before Judith. She was not a supportive wife. what can one expect from a liberal and, no doubt, her children are, also. She placed the wedge between them and their father - that’s all too easy to observe. It’s done all the time by the vindictive spouse.