Posted on 12/19/2007 11:56:23 AM PST by Phil Harmonic
WASHINGTON -- In an effort reminiscent of the bitter "Swift Boat" campaign during the 2004 presidential race, a group of New York firefighters who lost sons in the Sept. 11 World Trade Center attacks is organizing a political committee to take on former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani in Republican primary states.
A leader of the 9/11 Firefighters and Families group met Tuesday with union leaders and political consultants, readying plans to set up a tax-exempt committee that would fund appearances and a media drive against Giuliani.
Jim Riches, a New York deputy fire chief whose firefighter son was killed during the attack, said the group aimed to raise doubts about the central premise of Giuliani's presidential campaign -- his leadership role on Sept. 11. "If we have to follow him around all 2008 we'll do it," Riches said.
[snip]
The 9/11 group is already being compared by some political observers to the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth group that damaged the candidacy of Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) in 2004 by impugning his Vietnam War service in the Navy. Both groups feature a self-sustaining constituency of passionate supporters and are aided by outside political forces eager to use them as vehicles in the presidential race.
[snip]
The 9/11 group's effort to raise questions about Giuliani's performance before and after the attacks "takes on Rudy's strength," said Republican consultant Tom Edmonds. "I'm not sure that will go over with an American public that was impressed with what they saw."
But Riches and fellow activists, seared by their losses and offended by Giuliani's emphasis on Sept. 11 as the crucible of his leadership, say they expect to travel to primary states early in the new year to turn up the heat on the former mayor.
"Stay tuned," Riches said.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
No, they just did the heavy lifting while Rudy garnered glory. Rudy is toast
Right, and Rudy is a hack!
He's nearly gone,
And he won't be back!
Say goodbye to Rudy.
I could care less about this. Rudy Toot is simply not a conservative. He will not get my vote under any circumstance.
May I suggest you’re missing the point of my post.
I’m no fan of Giuliani either, but the hypocrisy and transparency of Kerry-toady Stephen Braun promoting this pseudo-”swiftboating” is highly amusing.
However, given the season, I suppose opportunistic, knee-jerk, opponent bashing topic hijacking is to be expected.
Goodbye Rudy! I wasn’t voting for you anyway. But you did more for public safety in New York than any mayor since LaGuardia despite inheriting one of the most corrupt city governments in the U.S.
Certainly has been lately.
Osama and Bush were never oil buddies.
There where business ties to the bin laden family in the context that we don’t know all investors in some ventures.
To say Bush and Osama are oil buddies is BS.
Osamas brothers plane was in work at my place of business on 911, does that make us islamo buddies?
Julie has been criticized from day one by the NY firefighters and police. This isnt new
Good for you!
I can't believe that ANYONE could vote for a phony like Rudy. Just as he could not gain the respect of New York's first responders (as evidenced by this article), he could never gain the respect of our troops.
How could any decent human being try to force our troops to salute someone like Rudy?
Gad, that is one of the dumbest statements I have read in a long time. That one belongs at DU where reality bites the dust along with brain cells.
Start my own what?
Rudy has more baggage than any Republican candidate and its no secret.
Rudys reliance on 911 will destroy him. He just wasnt all that on 911.
Then there are the unsavory tales if his personal life.
Gangsta daddy, cheatin husband, abortion, gun grabber.. need I go on?
Rudy stinks to high heaven
And my wife has 9/11 tattoed on her thigh. I get up at 911 AM everyday and retire at 911 PM. I only buy cars that get 9 to 11 miles to the gallon. I live on 911 Ninth Street at the corner of 11th Avenue.
9/11 is the lottery number I play everyday. I'm buying the 7/11 store chain and renaming it 9/11. I dated my 9 yr old cousin when I was 11. I had my first sexual experience when I was 11 years old; it lasted 9 nanoseconds.
Elect me and I will make 9/11 a national holiday. I will make sure 9/11 will be forever embedded in the memory of post-9/11 America."
Rudy is a hardcore administrator. That runs amuck in his own life. Thats the last thing I want for America
I assume you go out for lunch!!
No, you missed my point. I was directly addressing your point by stating how irrelevant it is.
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