Posted on 12/09/2007 6:19:49 PM PST by Liz
WASHINGTON - Rudy Giuliani doggedly insisted Sunday that threats against then-girlfriend Judith Nathan prompted the NYPD to launch her taxpayer-funded chauffeur services. "These were all based upon threat assessments made by the New York City Police Department ... of what was necessary to protect her life, my life, other people's lives," Giuliani told NBC’s Tim Russert. "Every single thing done here was done based upon the assessment of someone else that this was necessary." His explanation of Nathan's car service doesn't square with Friday’s Daily News exclusive report, citing multiple witnesses and a law enforcement source, that she was being protected by city taxpayers months before the affair was revealed in May 2000. "The threats were after" their romance became known, Giuliani maintained yesterday.
The only guest on Russert's "Meet the Press," Giuliani endured the most exhaustive and at times withering examination of his personal character and business dealings of his campaign. To the glee of fellow Presidential contenders who've grudgingly marvelled at his political staying power, the Republican frontrunner spent nearly all of an hour playing defense, attempting to deflect a flurry of questions about his relationship with indicted pal Bernard Kerik and Kerik's mistress Judith Regan, controversial corporate clients and his own tangled personal life. "He's held up in the polls a lot longer than anyone thought," a neutral GOP consultant predicted, "but the baggage is finally starting to catch up with him."
Giuliani said again that he did a poor job of vetting Kerik but denied he allowed personal loyalty to trump his judgment. He said he knew Regan was Kerik's publisher but wasn’t aware of their Ground Zero love nest in a pad reserved for recovery workers. He defended the activities of his security and legal businesses as "ethical, lawful, decent work," but said he won’t release a list of his clients because he's promised many of them confidentiality.
In one seemingly contradictory answer, Giuliani said he’ll consider further disclosures at a later date: "I'm not going to do more than what is absolutely required, and we'll go further than that." Predictably, Democrats piled on. "Rudy Giuliani's refusal to be honest about his shady past is becoming a chronic habit," Democratic National Committee spokesman Dag Vega jabbed. As voters learn about his penchant for covering up scandals, they will continue to turn away from his candidacy."
The usually-combative candidate was uncharacteristically subdued throughout the grilling. Somberly dressed in a dark suit, white shirt and TK tie, Giuliani employed many of the timeworn techniques of damage control. He turned the tables on his inquisitor - "that's a stretch," he politely complained once - and borrowed from the Watergate scandal's signature "mistakes were made" rationale.Stealing a page from Hillary Clinton’s script, he wielded a tactical laugh now and then. He blamed the media for hyping the facts, and invoked the memory of a fellow ex-mayor to explain his poor judgment about Kerik. "As one of my predecessors, Fiorello LaGuardia, used to say, 'I don't make many mistakes, but when I make them, they're big ones.'"
That was a reference to LaGuardia's celebrated 1941 wisecrack: "When I make a mistake, it's a beaut." In a rare interlude from his self-defense chores, Giuliani took issue with ex-Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's 1992 remark that homosexuality is an "aberrant" lifestyle. "I don't believe it's sinful," he said. "It’s the various acts that people perform that are sinful, not the orientation that they have." The corps of sinners, he added, includes His Honor: "I've had my own sins that I’ve had to confess and had to deal with and try to overcome, and so I'm very, very empathetic with people, and that we're all imperfect human beings struggling to try to be better."
With David Saltonstall
LOLOL. Somebody appears to be taking us more seriously than we take ourselves.
Besides, everyone knows my criteria are highly secretive :)
Yep, you’re right Liz, it did take away her aura of presidential qualities.
bump
Rudy lovers should not be banned from this site simply because they are Rudy lovers. So long as they keep their love of Rudy to themselves and are not trying to infect others with their perverse views, no problem.
Rudy lovers should be treated like homosexuals in the military - "Don't ask, don't tell."
Rudy did not do well in the interview. Too much baggage. He fits in well with the Democrats. Difficult to believe him. Democrats no doubt wish for either Rudy or Huck, both are weak and liberal.
Bahbah! pssst, could you send your criteria to me... maybe by carrier pidgeon. I don’t post much but I love the Sunday thread.
The most informed, articulate and NICEST people post there.
I would love to win an award, if I just knew how.
Maybe there is a secret handshake?? something? anything?
LOL. Actually, altura, I am pretty sure you have been among my choices. Your posts are both insightful and fun. You are a winner in my book.
The simpering Rudester giggled at Russert’s questions about embezzling city funds to pork his mistress.
Tim actually had to reprimand him-—”these are serious questions.”
Giuliani’s arrogance and cocksuredness can only mean his neopuke handlers have nefarious plans in the works-—maybe staging a terrorist attack to showoff their boy Rooty.
Everything Rooty’s said so far is a contradiction of what he said (or did) in a previous life...........his memory underwent an Extreme Makeover.
Giuliani’s “values” wouldn’t fill a thimble. He worships at the Church of Whatever Works For Me.
This egomaniacal braggart thinks he can force on Americans the irrational mindset stinking up Mideast hellholes.
Nothing, sir, is stopping you from stopping into the thread and voicing your opinion. We don't like Russert. It's not that we like Giuliani, although some of you here on Free Republic are so blinded by your myopic, deranged hatred of him that it makes you look like utter fools. Our point of view is that of the media analyst and critic; we look at both the host and the guest. Yes, we have a tendency to be particularly hard on the hosts, but we have no problem criticizing RINOs on the thread (I know Huckabee has earned my wrath numerous times).
I assure you, this is not an old boys club-- I've been winning the "awards" (they're JPEGs for crying out loud!) for the past few weeks and I only joined that thread a couple of months ago. My second week of posting there got me "first prize." We are not some sort of cabal that looks down upon outsiders as scum. The Thompson and Hunter supporters made visits to the thread when their candidates were on the shows, and save for a few who acted rudely toward the other posters, we have never had any problems. If you have something to contribute while watching these shows, you are welcome to show up and voice your opinion.
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