Rudy calls on Hillary 'to correct mistake'

Posted: Sunday, October 28, 2007 4:57 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC/NJ's Aswini Anburajan
Peterborough, NH -- At a town hall here today, Giuliani offered Hillary Clinton "a chance to correct her mistake" in saying that she would send emissaries abroad as president-elect of the United States.

Giuliani opened with a quote Clinton had given to the Des Moines Register, in which she said -- as she has done in the past -- that she would send envoys abroad the day after she was elected president." The day after I'm elected, I'm going to be asking distinguished Americans of both political parties to travel around the world on my behalf with a very simple message to the governments and the people alike: The era of cowboy diplomacy is over."

But quoting an expert from that Des Moines Register article, Giuliani said that Clinton's action would seriously undermine the authority of the sitting president of the United States and possibly set a dangerous precedent. "The danger is that you have two presidents conducting foreign policy, one with all the power and no moral authority, and one with no power," he said, quoting James Lindsay, director of the Robert S. Strauss Center for International Security and Law at the University of Texas at Austin. "Presidents-elect should not exercise their authority before they have it."

"Hillary is not president-elect last time I checked," Giuliani said. "She's not even the nominee of the party. It's very, very premature to talk about sending ambassadors around the world even before she becomes president," Giuliani told the crowd.

"This is why I think Senator Clinton should correct this," he added. "The president of the United States is the president of the United States. He's going to be the president of the United States until the new president takes over. Until then, that's the only one conducting foreign policy in this country. And we can have our political debate within this country on what's right and what's wrong. But nobody should be creating a spectacle saying they're sending emissaries out around the world before they are sworn in as president of the United States."

Giuliani went on to say that he wasn't "criticizing Senator Clinton" or "charging her with anything," instead he wanted to offer her a chance to correct her statement. "I know I make my own set of mistakes, and I wish I could correct things I've said... Let's give her a chance to explain what she meant and withdraw it," he added in a conciliatory tone.

The rest of Giuliani's town hall here was dedicated to making an impassioned defense of tort reform, calling for greater public choice in schools, and defending his hardline stance on Iran.

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Comments

Anything you said about Hillary or Giulina won't create any reponse to your bolg because we have enough of them. can't you see that?

Tibwa (Sent Sunday, October 28, 2007 5:54 PM)

No comments

Tibwa (Sent Sunday, October 28, 2007 5:57 PM)

I think it is refreshing for politicians to inform voters on their future plans if elected. How else will we be able to decide to vote?
I really like Senator Clinton's plan. Why wait until January to start restoring America's standing when she can do it 2-3 months before? It's not like Bush will have much left to do, or much power and respect in with to do it with.
Bravo Senator Clinton.

Ryan, WV (Sent Sunday, October 28, 2007 5:59 PM)

Hillary: Don't always say what you think.

Giuliani: What? That's not secretive enough. Say less.

Obama: A career focused on ethics reform and government transparency

Which one sounds like the anti-Bush?

Shadow, Hamden, CT (Sent Sunday, October 28, 2007 6:18 PM)

Rudy is sending a message around the World that Cowboy Diplomacy is still underway, right up to the election, and will continue if he is elected, albeit in a New York Cowboy way.

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Sunday, October 28, 2007 6:33 PM)

[i think that Rudy is correct. what does she mean? I could easily beleive that she is going to find out what other countries would like us to do so she can follow their lead and not offend anyone. Also, this can give her an excuse for not voicing a clear position on the "clear detailed position that she has calling the republicans to set forth. Does anyone recall anyone thinking it wise to explicit plans to our adversaries in any past conflict so they could optimise their plans to respond to our plans.

I am so fed up with the Republican conduct of the war and the economy that I will probably vote for anyone who proposes a sane alternative regardless of party. Any party that plans to continue to cripple the future economy for our children and our seniors will not get my vote. Anyone who can't see the absolute folly of not paying for current programs (even those that are beneficial such as health care) while we are enjoying relatively good times will also not get my vote.

Remember the saying that, "Rome wasn't built in a day" It is also true that the Roman empire didn't die in a day. It dies in almost imperceptable steps of living beyond their means. Our current largess is only supported by borrowing and thus living on the backs of our children and grandchildren.

So far. no political party has offered a renewed vision of making a solid contribution to make a better future for the next generation. what they are offering is a cleverly desined illusion that we can live forever on borrowed money. Wake up America!

M Curtis (Sent Sunday, October 28, 2007 7:10 PM)

M Curtis (Sent Sunday, October 28, 2007 7:11 PM)

Rudy you are worse than Bush, if people think you
fit for president, then the republican party is in
more trouble than I thought, and thats doing something.
those that know you rudy, knows that you are more
stubborn than bush, and thats saying something, and if
a black ever vote for you he should have his head
examined. you let the police gun down a helpless black man
in fact it was an execution that even the mafia
could not match. while you set by emotionless:
you are not qualified in my book, to bring this
country together, and heaven knows it is Essentual.

james jones warrenton, NC (Sent Sunday, October 28, 2007 8:11 PM)

Guiliani is an idiot. Bush is hugely unpopular here and abroad.The quicker the new President sends a message there is a new sheriff in town, the better.

amy B Portland ME (Sent Sunday, October 28, 2007 9:09 PM)

Today's Rasmussen poll has a 9 point jump for Rudy Giuliani who now leads Hillary Clinton:
http://www.campaigndiaries.com/2007/10/morning-polls-is-mitch-mcconnell-really.html

Daniel, NY (Sent Sunday, October 28, 2007 9:59 PM)

Hillary constantly reminds us that she lacks the ability for forethought required of a President of the USA. Another exampple is that within 24 hours after upstart Democratic challanger Frank Lynch posted that he did "Ten time more for women than Hillary" she responded with the ridiculous offer of $5,000 for every newborn, then was forced to take it back with the childish explantion: "I have so many ideas that America cannot afford them."

To end "cowboy diplomacy" we need a President who can think before speaking, which Hillary clearly foes not.

Frank Lynch (Sent Sunday, October 28, 2007 10:47 PM)

i heard this statement made by hillary clinton last week in seattle. and i fully agreed with it. this country is in one heck of a mess. bush will go down in history as the worst president ever. and all the money he is barrowing from communist china is a crime. you are no better than he is. go hillary!

melody, snohomish, wa (Sent Sunday, October 28, 2007 11:04 PM)

Hillary apologize??? GIVE ME A BREAK! She doesn't know the meaning of the word. Another word she has no clue about is INTEGRITY !

Mildred Kolar (Sent Monday, October 29, 2007 12:35 AM)

Giuliani is a very impressive and formidable foe. Unfortunately, he is also amoral.
He does provide a public service though, in attacking Hillary, and her own opponents in the party have not done so adequately.
We have been saddled with a presumptive nominee who half the country already can't stand, and much of the other half will grow tired soon enough.

Clinton should not be talking as the president. Edwards and Obama will likely beat her in Iowa where she actually has to meet and talk to people instead of bombarding people with millions of dollars of television adds.

She is not a very likable person.

Oscar (Sent Monday, October 29, 2007 12:55 AM)

Is it just me or is Guiliani being a jackass. This isn't some fucking mistake. If Hillary Clinton wins next November, she damn well better not wait to start repairing our fucking image. This line is in her fucking stump speech. If Guiliani disagrees with Clinton then he shouldn't pretend like she is some poor woman. He ought to say why she's wrong and what he would do different. Frankly I think he sounds like a sexist pig, but I guess I already had that impression.

Craig McGillivary, Boise Idaho (Sent Monday, October 29, 2007 1:14 AM)

Juliane continues to make sense and show how Clinton contiues to exercise poor judgement. The giddy press continues to give Hilliary a free ride. Its time the people relate her poor judgement to her making a poor president.

Dave Kelley (Sent Monday, October 29, 2007 1:43 AM)

Rudy Giuliani is an idiot. Go Hillary!

Jason, Seattle, Wash (Sent Monday, October 29, 2007 1:46 AM)

Giuliani continues to make sense and show how Clinton contiues to exercise poor judgement. The giddy press continues to give Hillary a free ride. Its time the people relate her poor judgement to her making a poor president.

Dave Kelley (Sent Monday, October 29, 2007 1:46 AM)

guliani has stated many thing he would do on the first day he's elected president. Frankly, what senator clinton is doing is the same thing. Difference is that shes not using cowboy diplomacy, which means bombing without talking. She is stating that cowboy diplomacy is over, and that talks will resume to create peaceful negotiations. I found nothing wrong with what she did. Undermining the current president is not difficult to do, in fact, just by stating that you will use more diplomacy undermines this president, b/c he doens't understand the concept of diplomacy. He sure understands the concept of sending troops out to pointless and useles wars to die for nothing.

dkm, san francisco, ca (Sent Monday, October 29, 2007 1:48 AM)

President-elects should not be involved in the decision about foreign affairs but sometime they do. Is it not widely believed that Reagan/Bush I interfered in the negotiations about the Iran hostages? Why else would they be released the moment he took office.

Opa2 (Sent Monday, October 29, 2007 2:16 AM)

Give her an oppurtunity to explain why there were WMD in Iraq when her hubby was POTUS and there was'nt any when we got there.

Will intellegence services perform as poorly under her as they did for her hubby?

JackO (Sent Monday, October 29, 2007 3:13 AM)

If Hillary and bush both administer foreign policy there would still be only person handling foreign policy. bush would just be screwing it up as usual.

Bob Kokomo IN (Sent Monday, October 29, 2007 7:40 AM)

Bad idea... and it was an incredibly dangerous idea when Pres. Reagan went under the table while Jimmy Carter was president and ensured the release of American Embassy hostages after the election.

Jim Murphy, NYC, NY (Sent Monday, October 29, 2007 8:42 AM)

She don't owe rudy squat...it may not be right to jump the gun so to speak but hillary doesn't owe the likes of rudy or anyone like him an apology or anything else...hey rudy how many wives and girlfriends have you had concurrently and how do the family values pukes feel about it?

Rick, WS, NC (Sent Monday, October 29, 2007 8:47 AM)

Then Rudy must think that cowboy diplomacy is working for us. Hillary is right, the quicker we get the message out that it is over the better off we will be, even if, and it is a big if, she is the president elect. The people want change Rudy, and that is why you don't stand a chance, you are coming off as bush light in drag.

beaverdambob (Sent Monday, October 29, 2007 8:57 AM)

That's the lamest attack I've ever heard...

Jimmie Dean (Sent Monday, October 29, 2007 9:03 AM)

"Presidents-elect should not exercise their authority before they have it."

Rudy, maybe that is why you did not attend the Reagen Day Dinner in Iowa. The last president-elect to interfere with U.S. foreign policy was Ronald Reagan during the Iran hostage crisis. By doing so he assured the release would not happen until after he became President, taking credit for the release even though it was the Carter administration that arranged it.

That type of game playing is not what Sen. Clinton is talking about. She wants reassure foreign leaders that, if elected, her administration will be tough but tempered in executing U.S. foreign policy.

It is the Bush administration's recklessness in the exercise of U.S. foreign and defense policy that makes any President-elect need to "hit the ball running" come January 20, 2009!

I find it refreshing when any candidate is willing to tell voters some specifics of what they plan to do should they win the general election. It helps to reduce the likelyhood of "buyers remorse" once that person is in office.

Gary, Franklin, WI (Sent Monday, October 29, 2007 9:29 AM)

Yes, they fear the G-man. Soon Rudy will be eating brats and drinking Miller in Franklin, WI and having Sunday Brunch in Maders in Milwaukee.

Dan G., Pensacola, FL (Sent Monday, October 29, 2007 10:13 AM)

Unfortunately it is too late for Julie's father to correct his mistake.

nuanced (Sent Monday, October 29, 2007 10:45 AM)

Question, just how exactly will Hillary Clinton unite everyone in the United States? Answer that one before you worry about what someone thinks about us in Poland or France. I think we all know the answer to that one. Oh, BTW, the courtesy extended to Bush is going to be even worse in what Hitlary is in store for.

Rick Fletcher (Sent Monday, October 29, 2007 11:10 AM)

To: Dan G., Pensacola, FL

There is a difference between fear and distain. Only your pal GWB could take the tremendous amount of international sympathy and support the U.S. garnered following 9/11 and turn it into the level of distain and distrust that exists between nations today.

Turning the "war on terror" into a never ending assault on reason is not a foreign policy. It is an abdication of U.S. leadership.

I'm sure Mader's will be happy to serve Rudy, after checking his credit card records! And he will find significant support in Franklin, WI (a RepubliCANT stronghold in largely Democratic Milwaukee County). However, a lot of Democrats are infiltrating Franklin, weakening the RepubliCANT majority and making it necessary to spend time here should he win the GOP nomination.

The G-man is laughable, whether in drag or not! Anyone not willing to say what they would do if elected is a coward. He should get out of Dubya's butt and run as his own "man".

Gary, Franklin, WI (Sent Monday, October 29, 2007 11:40 AM)

Rudy is upset because he feels Hillary is trying to usurp the power of the sitting president. Thats rich. The sitting president has driven the Office of The President and the Image of the U.S.A. right into the ground. I would like to see a candidate say they would have bush arrested along with his administration the very next day after inaguration and would start independant investigations right this moment.

Pacheck, Huntington Beach, Ca. (Sent Monday, October 29, 2007 11:59 AM)

Why should anyone but Rudi's parents apologize for that hideous mistake?

Planned Parenthood Advocate (Sent Monday, October 29, 2007 1:45 PM)

Pacheck, do you live in the Slater Slums or in Westminester? Just checking...

Rick Fletcher (Sent Monday, October 29, 2007 2:05 PM)

Rudy eating brats? Why I just spank the crap out of my brats when they act up and then get myself a Miller out of the fridge to calm myself down. Rudy wears dresses and marries his cousin and now he eats brats? Disgusting!

billiejo, Hollar, tenn (Sent Monday, October 29, 2007 2:39 PM)

Rudy isn't about Cowboy Diplomacy. All his advisors on foreign policy are card carrying members of the New York Neo-Con Club. He backs all of Bush's policies but wants go go one further. He wants to be the first republican to win a war--and do it Roman style.

With Bernie Kerik at his side, he will start a new era of foreign affairs--Gangster Diplomacy.

J.D. in California (Sent Monday, October 29, 2007 4:56 PM)

what ever Hillary could possible say about rudy is
not enough to justify who he really is,not only is
he ruthless, and arrogant, stubborn and think he knows
it all and have that nobody can tell me nothing because I am superior attitude, this man justify anything he
does and never consider himself wrong,and have no
respect for women at all,at least none for his wife
he flaunted his girlfriend in his wife's face when
he was mayor and apologized to no one, and the news
media gave him a pass for doing so, even the mafia
dont't like this man, if you think that Bush have
harm this country you elect Rudy and you wont know
what country this is anymore, if you think bush have
used extreme measure's execising his power, give it
to Rudy, this man is cunning, and cruel, in his actions

james jones warrenton NC (Sent Saturday, November 03, 2007 7:43 PM)

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