[quote]gdol wrote:
JeffR wrote:
gdol wrote:
Didn’t the last seven years teach you guys anything about politicians who talk tough with nothing to back it up?
gdol,
Please explain yourself.
I think cleaning up New York and what he did after 9/11 is pretty damn “tough” work.
Further, being at odds with all the other candidates and many primary voters is “tough.”
Rudy is plenty “tough” enough, especially, in comparison to the democratic candidates.
JeffR
I think the allusion to Bush was clear enough, a guy who used his father’s connections to get into the Air National Guard during Vietnam because, as he told a crowd in 1994, “I didn’t want to go to Canada,” then portrays himself as a warrior, with publicity stunts like the “Mission Accomplished” landing and “bring 'em on.”
As for Rudy, another guy who avoided Vietnam with student deferments and then an employer’s letter, while McCain was enduring the Hanoi Hilton and Chuck Hagel was a decorated sergeant BEFORE going off to college.
Then he somehow becomes “America’s Mayor,” which is basically just saying he looked good on TV and talked a good game in the dark months after September 11. Meanwhile, he set up his command post for terrorism in the World Trade Center, which had previously been a terrorist target. You can find basic details of this on his Wikipedia page.
Some firefighters also blame his decisions on communications equpiment for causing needless deaths on 9/11, which may have been tied to patronage issues.
As for cleaning up New York, I’d certainly give him credit for changing the tone and rescuing the city from the permissive atmosphere that many of its elites had given birth to. But community policing and the “broken windows theory” that accompished so much in New York pre-date Rudy by a long time. Rudy also pushed Bratton, his successful Police Commissioner, out of office because he was getting too much of the limelight.
As for tough talk, great, he can’t run away from his record on abortion, gays and gun control. But when tough talk and accountability was really needed, when it became apparent in 2004 that the war in Iraq, the “central front in the war on terror,” was being egregiously mismanaged, Rudy offered only the most tepid protests against how badly the Bush administration was bungling its central challenge. Some tough guy.[/quote]
Hey, gdol.
Well, as usual, I couldn’t disagree with you more.
You usually are pretty good about reading linked material. Don’t fail me.
Here are some hard numbers:
www.nyc.gov/html/records/rwg/html/bio.html
These are huge improvements in New York’s overall health.
Further, you are certainly in the minority about post-911.
He was an inspiration and did exactly what George should have done after Katrina.
Now, if you want to minimize those accomplishments, go right ahead.
I know you’ll vote for some reject under the guise of “I’m a discontented Conservative.”
However, there are plenty of open minded individuals who are going to give a serious look at a guy who is tough minded and gets results.
If he can clean up New York and keep it afloat during one of it’s greatest crises, then he should be taken seriously.
He is eloquent and knowledgeable. Where George is weak on specifics, this guy is in command. Where George allows the dem press to dictate the agenda, this guy will use them as a mouthpiece for his initiatives.
If he can move the Republicans to broaden their base of support with his moderate stances, then he should be looked at.
I think the base will come along.
Besides, what alternative do they have?
hillary?
No chance.
I, for one, am weary of having to explain the President’s thinking.
I’m ready for President Giulani to do his own speaking.
JeffR