It seems that the Kerik indictment has finally put the Rudy-Kerik story into the thick of the 2008 presidential debate. And why not, Rudy put protecting New York City in the hands of a crooked cop. And he tried to do the same with the whole country.
To date, almost all of the attention to the Rudy-Bernie relationship has focused on the eight year between 1993 and 2001 when Rudy helped Bernie mount and then shimmy up the greasy pole of New York city public safety officialdom.
But it seems to me that that’s not where the choicest story is going to be told.
Remember, after they left city government, these heroes of 9/11 guys went into business together. And things were going gangbusters for three long years — 2002, 2003 and all but a couple weeks of 2004. That’s when the real money started flowing. And it’s when these two were working together possibly closer than they ever had. International clients, lots of government contracting work. Plenty of material there for some first-run muck if you’re dealing with folks who aren’t exactly straight arrows. And think who we’re talking about.
Another swing-district House Republican heads for the escape hatch.
Is Rudy trying to pull a Dole on 9/11?
For the younger among you, in pretty much every campaign he ran, former Sen. Bob Dole (R-KS) ran heavily on his heroism and grievous wounds suffered during the Italy campaign in World War II. And there was nothing to be ashamed of in his doing so. The 21 year old Dole had his body shattered by German machine gun fire in northern Italy just before the end of the war. He spent something like a year in Army hospitals recovering. And remained permanently disabled — most visibly in his paralyzed and withered right arm.
The thing is that in pretty much every campaign when he discussed this part of his life it was presented as the first time he’d chosen to discuss it. In other words, as though he’d never been ready or willing to discuss it until this campaign, whichever campaign it was. And the press would fall for it each time.
Now comes word of the latest from Camp Rudy. It seems like that while Rudy’s supporters have been pushing his 9/11 heroism, Rudy himself has been unwilling to focus on it. This from the (Rudy-affiliated) New York Post in today’s story about the 9/11 flyers Rudy is sending out in Iowa and New Hampshire …
Rudy Giuliani is trumpeting his leadership in the wake of 9/11 in campaign mailings to voters in Iowa and New Hampshire.
In one piece, Giuliani is hailed as “America’s Mayor” who displayed “Strength through Leadership.”
While Giuliani’s supporters have long boasted about his performance after the attacks, he himself had not, until now, mentioned it as prominently.
“After the worst attacks on US soil, Rudy Giuliani went to work rebuilding New York City and faith in America,” reads the mailing, which features a photo of the former mayor set over the city skyline.
So it seems like Rudy has finally overcome his issues and resistance to discussing his 9/11 heroism.
I’m sorry, no choice but to review Rudy’s 9/11ism …
Fred Thompson supporters in the House: Why’d we get behind this idiot?
Seems Sen. Stevens (R-AK) has a history of threatening reporters with retribution for reporting on his and his family’s various scams.
New ABC News/Washington Post poll shows Obama with lead in Iowa.
Very interesting new poll out of New Hampshire.
Rudy’s has fallen to third, a big 17 points behind frontrunner Mitt Romney. And look at McCain. In second with 18%. See the rest here.
Wingnut bloggers rejoice that AP photog held by U.S. military will now face trial with inadequate defense.
DC grand jury investigation of Iraq shootings goes beyond Blackwater.