Posted on 01/13/2008 1:06:58 PM PST by america4vr
Rudy Giuliani's plan to ride in a Miami-Dade firetruck in Sunday's Three Kings parade has outraged some firefighters who say the presidential candidate has ''lied'' about his 9/11 record because he did too little to equip and protect emergency workers.
The controversy -- unwittingly set in motion by County Commissioner Rebeca Sosa -- has politically pitted firefighters against one another in Miami-Dade as well as in New York. To quiet the feud, the IAFF's local Miami-Dade chapter, 1403, will cover its numbers on the union-owned firetruck by draping it with an American flag.
Giuliani's campaign said he will probably ride in the truck and walk beside it with firefighters.
The campaign responded to questions about his record with a statement that stressed his generous spending on New York emergency management agencies. It also dismissed some firefighter attacks on his mayoral record as a partisan smear linked to the Democratic-leaning International Association of Fire Fighters union, which released a popular but questionable YouTube video and website calling the Republican's leadership an ``Urban Legend.''
Jim Riches, a recently retired New York firefighter featured in the union's media, told The Miami Herald that Giuliani doesn't deserve to go anywhere near a flag-draped firetruck.
(Excerpt) Read more at miamiherald.com ...
I've been very dubious of all the accolades he's been more than happy to take credit for. What specifically can he point to that would indicate he acted in any way other than lame-duck mayor? I find it all a mystery.
There are two specific matters about Giuliani that disturb me above anything else and that have received no mention at all.
Does anyone recall his very odd, disturbing, really, not to say, for lack of a better term, un-American,, request to stay on beyond the term he was elected to as two-time limit mayor, in some unprecedented, undefined, governmental care-taker status because of the emergency situation New York seemed to be in? Very troublesome.
Secondly, I find it very difficult to believe with all the convictions/incidents of criminality, morally dubious shenanigans his former police commissioner, right-hand man, business associate, Bernard Kerik, he could possibly have remained unaware of all that transpired under his watch, before nominating him for head of Homeland Security. And if so, is just as damnable.
Please realize that this is a UNION objection. What does that tell you?
The police and firefighter unions have hated Giuliani for a while because he held the line on salaries - his whole program was based on more manpower, not the same amount of manpower at higher salaries. The fact is that New York City is a liberal city where Kerry defeated Bush 70% to 30% in 2004. Which means that Giuliani had a choice of more manpower at the same salaries or the same amount of manpower at higher salaries. He went for the first choice, and got the grudging acceptance of NYC’s liberal electorate. They never loved him, but they acknowledged he was an effective mayor. All city employees hated him, because he either halted or slowed down their gravy trains. Able-bodied welfare recipients hated him, because he made them sweep the streets or pick up garbage in order to collect their checks. The liberal media hated him throughout his terms and they hate him today. In their view, Giuliani was not more responsible for NYC’s rejuvenation than Reagan was for America’s new vigor in the 1980’s. What do you expect from liberals - the truth?
Giuliani is a cross dresser, that is enough of a reason for me to oppose him.
Thanks for pointing this out to me.
Yes....
Having dressed up as a woman in the city’s yearly media/play event,I’m not sure if your comments are merely meant as sarcasm.
Let it be noticed that after the 1993 Twin Tower bombing...Bubba did NOTHING to enhance security......And then he refused to take out Osama. Thanks Bubba!!
Cooking the books to cover up trips to his mistress are far more damaging than the fact that Rudy looks down right ugly in drag.
I am not a big Rudy fan, but I do try to be level headed about criticising him. I think you’ve touched on some issues that others have, so I don’t fault you. I’m just very leary of siding with a Union objection, because I know there’s a lot more at work here than legitimate safety concerns.
When the equipment arguement comes up, it occurs to me that fire chiefs, city council members and other legitimate issues impact those decisions. It isn’t something that Rudy would be solely responsible for, and I back off taking him down on that matter.
I’d venture to say that many many communities still used the same equipment New York did on 09/11, and I would wager many of those cities had come solid citizens serving as their city officials at the time.
You take care. I’m saying this so others will see it, but I’m not saying it because you deserve to see it too. Like I said, I’m not faulting you for a logical conclusion that may have been made without considering some other factors.
Thanks.
I have offered a few ideas.
Push for more gun control?
Sue gun manufacturers?
Expand sanctuary cities?
Encourage more illegal aliens by telling them that they are NOT really illegal?
Encourage even more illegal immigration by publicly affirming citizenship for kids of illegals?
Allow gays to openly serve in the military?
Continuing to tell muslims that Islam is a ‘great religion’ (like he did at the CNN debate)?
Locate emergency command centers to the most likely targets (like he did in NY)?
Make quality appointments to important positions like his recommendation to President Bush of Bernie Kerik to head Homeland Security?
It is OUTRAGEOUS to even think that we need a LIBERAL like that to aggressively and successfully fight the WOT!
"Refuse to prosecute illegals until they commit A SECOND crime (since they are already breaking the law by just being here in the first place)"?
I’m not familiar with that contract, but I wouldn’t be a bit surprised. I also think it’s because Hillary might not want a guy who could compete with her that was that much in step with some of her ideas, who had the 09/11 personna to go with it.
This is the IAFF. Just a bunch of union, leftist kooks and thugs.
Are you speaking of the leadership or the membership?
A good portion of this bile comes from FDNY. Most of that comes from them having to use a radio system they complained about for years, and that was put in place and kept in place by Rudy. Also under Rudy, many firefighters felt that they were ignored when they began experiencing medical problems related to serving on “The Pile”.
Make no mistake...perhaps the only politician in the race that is hated more than Rudy is Hilary. The anger FDNY members feel towards Giuliani has little to do with partisan politics.
Now...the extent that the international uses this anger...thats another story.
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