Giuliani rips Dems on debate

Posted: Wednesday, October 31, 2007 2:01 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: 2008, Giuliani

From NBC/National Journal’s Matthew E. Berger
BLAUVELT, N.Y. -- Giuliani said Clinton “did something extraordinary in American politics” by taking both sides of the issue of New York drivers licenses for illegal immigrants at Tuesday’s debate.

“She did the worst attack on herself,” he said outside a diner at a hastily called press conference. “She did the one thing in a debate you never want to do.”

Giuliani also defended his own record after being criticized by Biden. Giuliani questioned who had written Biden’s comments that Giuliani was not qualified to be president and that every sentence he utters has “a noun and a verb and 9/11.”

“Did he read that?” Giuliani said when asked by a diner. “I think somebody wrote that for him. Remember Joe doesn’t write his own material.”

He went on to reiterate his qualification, including his executive experience.

“I think my qualifications speak for themselves,” Giuliani said. “I’d like to know what city, what state, what government or what business any of those people ran. They haven’t, and it isn’t the time to get on the job training.”

Giuliani said he was pleased with the amount of attention the Democratic candidates paid to him at the debate.

More Giuliani excerpts on last night: “They clearly are worried about running against me,” he said. “And I got out of it without making a mistake.” …

“The reality is I am running on my entire record. Joe doesn’t have a record like that to run on. He’s never run anything. Neither has Hillary, neither has Barack, neither has John Edwards.” …

“I was very pleased with the position I had in the debate last night. I was mentioned more often in that debate than any of the Democrats. I actually am claiming victory in the Democratic debate. I was mentioned more often than the Democrats; they clearly are worried about running against me. They hardly mentioned any of the other Republicans; they mentioned me. And I got out of it without making a mistake. I didn’t take two positions on something, and I didn’t say I saw an unidentified flying object. I came out of it pretty good.”

EMAIL THIS

Comments

Biden is pretty much finished anyway......

I wonder who wrote his answers last night?.....

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Wednesday, October 31, 2007 2:07 PM)

Rudy G, the President-to-be. Let Hillary and the Dems self-destruct so Da Gigolo can be the next Darth Vader---this one with a Brooklyn accent.

Class Warrior, D.C. (Sent Wednesday, October 31, 2007 2:09 PM)

Rudy G, the President-to-be. Let Hillary and the Dems self-destruct so Da Gigolo can be the next Darth Vader---this one with a Brooklyn accent.

Class Warrior, D.C. (Sent Wednesday, October 31, 2007 2:09 PM)

Hey Rudy, you were mayor of NY. That doesn't make you any more qualified than the mayor of Moscow, Idaho in my book. I'm sure he's cut crime too. Get over yourself!

Wilson, Seattle (Sent Wednesday, October 31, 2007 2:10 PM)

Guiliani is a joke and his willingness to put forth epidemiological statistics (to make a political point) which are not only flat our wrong but require interpretation within clinical context, just shows that he would be another bullsh*tter in chief (just like the present occupier of the oval office) who would be willing to speak and act upon things of which he knows not.

I know that one has to have a big ego to run for the presidency but one who's ego allows him to drive blind folded is really a dangerous sort. Joe Biden is almost right when he calls Rudy the most unqualified man to be running for the presidency. Actually, GWB probably has Rudy beat for that title.
Obama '08

Mitchell Feldman, Vestal, NY (Sent Wednesday, October 31, 2007 2:14 PM)

First jully has to win the pucker contest and it seems like they are on to him,multiple wives nice defence of marriage, mob ties with bernie kerick good law and order platform,dressed in drag nice oppisition to the gay lifestyle help protect your right wing kids from catching the gay.Yea I think liberal gun hating dems would actually be ok with him,he just giving lip service to the conservitives just like bush with the centrist and that copassionate conservitive crap.RON PAUL IS THE TRUE REPUBLICAN>

kenn (Sent Wednesday, October 31, 2007 2:15 PM)

Come on, Biden! Giuliani sometimes uses adjectives and adverbs too.

Asad (Sent Wednesday, October 31, 2007 2:34 PM)

Joe Biden writes nearly ALL his comments. He does not employ a battery of speech writers. Rest assured, Mr. Giuliani, Joe probably wrote the line himself. When and if Mr. Giuliani ever accepts Joe's invitation to a debate, he can get a first hand experience of Joe's knowledge, passion and candid comments.

Marty, Memphis, TN (Sent Wednesday, October 31, 2007 2:37 PM)

Mr. Lisp has spoken!

bb (Sent Wednesday, October 31, 2007 2:57 PM)

I think the DEMS mentioned diplomacy at least fifty times in their debate...as if diplomacy (Neville Chamberlin style) is an end in itself. Just to keep the facts straight the current administration has conducted more diplomacy than any previous administration including "vigorous diplomacy" anothe DEM buzword...These DEMS have no idea how to defend this nation, they will just adjust to a nuclear armed Iran and N.korea (a giant step backward)and protest "vigorously" They will get us all killed...

Paul Revere, Boston MA (Sent Wednesday, October 31, 2007 2:58 PM)

Mitchell, what in Obama's experience qualifies him? State legislator? 2/3 term senator? As much as I dislike her, Senator Clinton has more qualifications than the Senator from Illinois.

Heck, after the buildup from his campaign, I thought he'd step it up last night.

Perhaps he doesn't want to be president.

Bruce, NV (Sent Wednesday, October 31, 2007 2:59 PM)

Please, please, please let Guliani be the GOP representative. He record is incredibly easy to rip apart. I dont see the conservatives coming out to vote for someone who supports a woman's right to choose.

John Doe, Greenville, SC (Sent Wednesday, October 31, 2007 3:00 PM)

Yes, we have seen some of Joe Biden's comments......

"I've had a great relationship. In Delaware, the largest growth in population is Indian-Americans moving from India. You cannot go to a 7-Eleven or a Dunkin' Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent. I'm not joking," Biden said.

Maybe he could use a little help.......

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Wednesday, October 31, 2007 3:00 PM)

Voting for this raving fascist is like getting off the Titanic to get on the Lusitania.

Lee in Ca (Sent Wednesday, October 31, 2007 3:00 PM)

Hey Rudy, Mayor Pike cut crime in Mayberry too.
You are about as qualified to be president as him also.

Blue state baby (Sent Wednesday, October 31, 2007 3:07 PM)

Joe Biden would rip Rudy G apart in a debate. For Rudy to say Biden doesn't have a record to run on is the most insane thing I've ever heard. He's only been in the Senate for 35 years. He's only the chair of the foreign relations committee. I mean, Biden knows more about foreign policy than Rudy knows about cross-dressing. This is pathetic, Rudy. Biden would mop the floor with any of the candidates in a one-on-one debate.

Brett Dalton, Overland Park, Kan. (Sent Wednesday, October 31, 2007 3:11 PM)

i think that rudy g would be more comfortable and effective at the "Bada Bing" than the oval office. check out who he would appoint to a cabinet post, bernie kerik no less.

george jacobs indio, ca (Sent Wednesday, October 31, 2007 3:25 PM)

I love his constant, "no one else has run anything" mantra.

WEIRDO and a LIAR

Betty in Baltimore (Sent Wednesday, October 31, 2007 3:25 PM)

Come on, Biden's line was hilarious! It makes me laugh just to think about how true it is.

Second, "“I’d like to know what city, what state, what government or what business any of those people ran. They haven’t, and it isn’t the time to get on the job training.”

Oh, ok. Now I see that Giuliani has SOOO much more experience running a city, state, or government than any of his opposition. I mean, all that foreign policy experience being the mayor of NYC is just mind-boggling. I guess if you want to look at someone and say, "If you want to know what NOT to do, here's your guy." He would be good in that capacity.

He has way more experience than say, Joe Biden, who has been a Senator and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for THIRTY YEARS.

The only thing Giuliani is qualified for is to be the FEMA director for the George W. Bush Administration.

CitizenJ (Sent Wednesday, October 31, 2007 3:26 PM)

Interesting. The background in Rudy's picture says "join Rudy." I didn't know he had come apart!

nuanced (Sent Wednesday, October 31, 2007 3:37 PM)

Rudy! Rudy!Rudy!
I'm sure you have a staff of writers! What you need is a staff or readers and listeners. Americans WANT change. You are too much like Dubya. That will not get you into the White House! We want CHANGE, if we didn't Dubya's approval rating would be higher than it is, doncha think?
"A noun and a verb, and 3 numerals (9 11)! Oh, and a cell phone!

A.Brocco, Albuquerque,NM (Sent Wednesday, October 31, 2007 3:42 PM)

With only, two terms as Mayor of New York, Giuliani doesn't very much government experience to be touting. Senators Biden and Dodd easily pass his level of experience in public service.

Dot, Illinois (Sent Wednesday, October 31, 2007 4:04 PM)

Rudy is woefully ignorant of foreign policy, Biden's strength. We have a president now that farmed out his foreign policy to his VP, and still there is a struggle between Cheney, Rice and Gates who all have different approaches. If we want lack of coherence, with overemphasis on the use of force- vote for Rudy. Biden- at least understands the complexities of the problems we face abroad and offers complex solutions.

kim, crofton, md (Sent Wednesday, October 31, 2007 4:05 PM)

Biden is the most qualified Democratic candidate, and if Rudy and Biden were their parties nominee's Giuliani would not survive a one on one debate with Biden. Not merely because Biden has proven he's an excellent debater, and has an unparalleled memory for facts, but the facts are also on Biden's side. Biden is the only candidate in either party who warned of our countries risk of a terrorist attack prior to 9/11. At least since 1999 Biden was given speeches on our misplaced security priorities and the countries need to protect against a terrorist attack, our countries most likely security risk. What did Rudy do prior to 9/11? His record won't stand up. Biden's got more knowledge, depth, and experience than Rudy on all issues (except divorce, marring your second cousin, announcing your divorce to your wife through the media, etc. Senator Biden has no experience on those matters)

Molly, Iowa City (Sent Wednesday, October 31, 2007 4:24 PM)

Marty, Memphis: Apparently you haven't done YOUR homework. Biden does have an array of speechwriters. This is not the first time questions have been raised about his speeches. He does not write his speeches plain and simple, that is why when goes on salivating at the mouth he continues to put his foot in it. He has to be scripted to stay out of trouble. the man is just a blowhard. I ask, What executive experience does he have? That is wat I thought....The man may have passion and opinions (to which we all do), but he is about as sharp as a bowling ball sometimes.

IntheMiddle, TX (Sent Wednesday, October 31, 2007 4:36 PM)

Rudy Mussoliani, oops slip of the tongue, I meant Giuliani, never smears. The only smear he has ever done was of Dr. Papp.

nuanced (Sent Wednesday, October 31, 2007 4:54 PM)

Seems like Rudy has his tails between his legs.

Scott, PA (Sent Wednesday, October 31, 2007 4:56 PM)

Biden doesn't write his own stuff? Well that's just Guiliani spreading lies. The truth: The plagiarism story is proof that the Swift Boat Veterans for Lies were nothing new. Biden always quoted Kinnock on the stump, but forgot to make the citation during an Iowa State Fair debate because he'd spent the previous few days working on the Bork hearings instead of properly preparing for the debate. Just once, he forgot to say "As Kinnock said," and readily admits that he made a mistake in not gathering the reporters afterwards to say, "Hey guys, I messed up." It only became a scandal when Dukakis aide John Sasso leaked a tape of the slip-up: reporter after reporter refused to print the rubbish, until Maureen Dowd took the bait and ran a hack job. The result? Dukakis *fired* Sasso, but most folks had already bought the MSM bull hook line and sinker. I also want to point out that this “scandal” dates back almost 20 years, to before Biden’s life-altering brain aneurysms and “long slog back to credibility.” Given the challenges we face in today’s world and the fact that people change with time, a non-scandal from a different era should not be an issue.

Nathan E., Hanover, NH (Sent Wednesday, October 31, 2007 7:05 PM)

Hey paul revere the north koreans are coming the north koreans are coming oh thats right they got the bomb under tough guy bush way to stop them,meanwhile...................

ken (Sent Wednesday, October 31, 2007 8:59 PM)

Julie knows the fix is in, so he's already acting as if he and Clinton are the nominees, running a post-convention campaign against Hillary before the convention. He's faced the facts the also-rans, Dem and GOP, won't face.

Class Warrior, D.C. (Sent Thursday, November 01, 2007 10:32 AM)

Jerry:
Seems everyone but the Indian popukation in Delaware tried to make more of Joe's statement than was intended. He in fact spoke the truth, Subways,Seven Elevens,Dunkin Donuts, Liquor Stores, Motels, Doctors, pharmacists,and on and on it goes for the Indian population in Delaware. Truth is as he was pointing out Delaware has a very large population of sucessful Indian and Pakistani people who contribute to the state's growth.

Virginia Delmar,Delaware (Sent Thursday, November 01, 2007 10:55 AM)

Rudy's qualifications speak for themselves? Really? They should speak louder than, because I haven't heard anything remotely impressive. I have heard him say things that my me question his sanity, so I guess that would make him an appropriate follow up to Bush.

Biden's comments were my favorite moment of the debate. I'm not voting for him, but I enjoyed the comic relief.

Jen (Sent Friday, November 02, 2007 12:28 AM)

SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

Your name, city and state (John Doe, Seattle, Wash.):

Your e-mail address (jdoe@msnbc.com):

Your website (it's okay if you don't have one):

Remember me? (We'll keep it private) Remember me?

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=441188