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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



What was NY to do before Rudy?

Posted: Wednesday, November 21, 2007 10:11 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under:

From NBC/NJ's Matthew Berger and NBC's Lauren Appelbaum
Giuliani
introduced his third ad for the New Hampshire market in a week Wednesday. The new 30-second spot focuses on New York City's transformation from before Giuliani's mayoral stint to after, and uses George Will's proclamation that Giuliani led a successful conservative government. 

During the first part of the ad -- "The world's 17th largest economy. Swimming in red ink. Record crime. Runaway taxes. A million on welfare. That was New York" -- pictures of despair in New York City are shown in rapid fire succession. The announcer then says "Until Rudy," and the mood changes -- with cheerful music and pictures more pleasing to the eye.

The terminology in the ad, entitled "Challenges," is telling: "In America's most liberal city, Rudy delivered. And he can do it again, in a place called Washington, D.C." It is almost mocking the politics of the city Giuliani ran for eight years, but could be very well-received among the Yankees-haters in the Boston market.

What the ad doesn't do is implicitly mention 9/11. While New York imagery is everywhere, this ad doesn't feature Giuliani speaking, or talking about being "tested" or dealing with crises. Most voters will equate those buzzwords with the terrorist attacks, even as Giuliani talks about cutting crime and welfare rolls.

Here's the script:
CHALLENGES (TV: 30)
ANNCR: "The world's 17th largest economy. Swimming in red ink. Record crime. Runaway taxes. A million on welfare. That was New York. Until Rudy. He cut taxes 9 billion. Welfare 60 percent. Crime in half. The most successful conservative turnaround in 50 years. In America's most liberal city, Rudy delivered. And he can do it again, in a place called Washington, D.C."

GIULIANI: "I'm Rudy Giuliani, and I approved this message."

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Comments

You know the fat cats benefited by the thousands with the so called tax cuts. The rest of us got enough to buy a couple of pairs of sneakers for our kids. So you know what if the Dems want to tax people making more then 200k a year, let them. If it helps fix the broken system that Bush has left for all of us. Another thing how can the Dem. congress do anything with Bush Veto's. How stupid can people be. Bush makes the mess and blames everyone else for not fixing his mess.
Personally, I hope Rudy gets the Republican nomination.  Talk about an easy target!  Even Hillary's dog cold beat the bum.  Let ole NV9-11 (i.e. noun, verb, 9-11) just try to match wits or brain power with ANY one of the Democrats running.  Shoot, I'll get out the popcorn and soda to watch that!  Maybe even tape it to get a laugh later on.
Just give me a President that isn't a member of the neo-con think tank known as the Council on Foreign Relations.  Vote for your corporate candidates if you feel like it, but neither you or your children will gain anything from it.

PEACE
Frank from Smithtown is right, before Rudy NYC was a mess under the idiot Dinkins! I know, I lived here the past 55 years. Rudy is a no-noncense and a natural leader.
thinks that by using scare tactics and sacrificing more lives and trillions of dollars for Israel he can easily be elected as president. Think again!! America is changing..we want CHANGE....no more zionists dragging America down the drain...

Sue

Wow Sue I don't know why you changed this debate from political to religous.  The fact is that Israel has been our most effective ally in that region since its inception. They provide us with our best middle eastern intelligence, and represent what would ultimately be most beneficial to American foregin policy; a friendly, relatively secular democratic capitalist society with free trade and friendly relations with America.  Bush isn't the only one to have supported Israel, in fact EVERY US president since 1948, REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT ALIKE has supported Israel.  And your reason for abandoning one of our last true remaining allies is what? Because you're scared of islamic extremists hating us? NEWS FLASH! THEY ALREADY DO! Those so-called muslims who believe in blowing themselves up in the name of god firstly believe in "jihad" until they make the ENTIRE WORLD follow their very narrow belief system or die trying to convert you. Secondly hate America NOT ONLY for their support of Israel but because they view us as infidels on their home soil. So unless you have an alternate energy proposal that would eliminate our nations thirst for oil so we would no longer need a presence in the middle east, please SHUT UP and go do some research before opening your mouth. Sue says blame the jews....are you sure you're not al-qaeda because I believe that's the extent of their political thought process as well.
Rudy seems a master at claiming the credit for other people's accomplishments and sluffing off his errors on others
Why did Giuliani build his zillion dollar bunker? it was supposed to be for things just like 9/11..only strangely Rudy wasn't in his bunker on 9/11...why?  he knew it was set to fade into it's own footprint just as building 1 and 2 had done...the guy that had the lease on all the buildings had said "they decided to pull it" (on videotapetape)..gee they decided to pull it that very day...funny though a demolition like that one takes almost a month to rigg not on a day when there is massive chaos going on...it couldn't have been accomplished on such short notice...HERO??? I think NOT!
Giuliani blows whichever way the wind blows....
McCain and Obama or Rudy? My God you people never learn. Thank God there are enough posts condemning the tyranny these people want to impose on foreign countries who didn't want to sign Oil deals in the Kissinger era. You talk about countries that attacked you, but Iraq NEVER attacked you, Iran poses as much threat to the world as Uganda, and has been intervened by your CIA for years, even overthrowing a democratic elected government. The biggest threat in the world right now is your oil infested foreign policy. I hope you people have enough self respect to get Ron Paul or Gravel to a significant place in politics. I used to love USA for those values, now it's all arrogance and deceit from your government to serve corporate interests. It's not difficult to check. Rudy hasn't said anything intelligent so far. All his speeches talk about terror, but he doesn't speak of the terror his administration caused by making stupid mistakes while playing hero on 9-11. Do you really think a guy that has nothing to say for himself other than using the tragedy of 3000 murders to make politics through lies is worth to have as a president? If you do, you probably deserve him, but please make sure you keep his hands off the rest of the world.
Eddie B, Newark, DE: I saw that Russian guy on Bill Maher I think Chris Matthews said it best "he's playing chess and we're all playing checkers"  
when is this egotistical, self loving, half brained idiod going to realize he is not running for president of new york, and that he's running for president of the united states. is it because he doesn't know enough about anything else to talk about. why is he trying to take credit for anything good that happened in new york, but leaves out the things that were not so good. both attacks on the world trade center happened on his watch and he didn't learn enough after the first attack to listen to individuals who were trying to get him to move the communication center out of the trade center as it was too vulnerabla to leave it there. he thought he was smarter than everybody else and left it there. we all know what happened because of his idiotic stubbornence. there was absolutely no communication between the security forces in the city ahich led to mass confusion and the deaths oh many people that didn't have to die. yet he flashes his thin lipped grin and pats himself on the back as is he is the savior of this country. he knows absolutely nothing about foreign affairs, the military or terrorism, yet he walks around like he's some kind of know it all. he is a lier, a deceiver, totally in love with himself and totally lacks the ability to be president. you know what's funny, i just described our current president. think about it.
Rudy is possibly the worst thing since... well Bush.  He makes the most unlikely Rep. candidate.  Social liberal, not religious, and war happy.  Before the Bush era, Rep. were actually not for policing the war.  Can you imagaine if another Neo-Con gets into office?

The only true believer in our constitution is Ron Paul!  
I going Independent for the first time. I'm sick-and-tired of mealy-mouth, weak-kneed Democrats and greedy, crooked Republicans. In order to find any kind of legitimacy in the U.S. government, you would need a time machine - running in reverse, of course.
I have been living in New York City since I was born in the mid 1960's. I did not vote for him as Mayor and I would not vote for him as President. I think he's a cold hearted dictator who's taking advantage of a terrible situation in order to further his political career. I remember watching the news and he was asking reporters what they knew because he was clueless. I can't understand why anyone would want him as President.
American politics is a dirty, filthy game. It's my greatest fear that the dirtiest, filthiest players will win - once again, and what little positivity this country still enjoys will be converted to negativity , in the name of "patriotism" (capital gains).
Hay after looking at all these I think the only one left is Ron Paul, we all know he right about firing the whole damm bunch and starting over. As for us Mainers looks like we should have stayed part of Canada. Well at least their all here doing their Christmas shopping now that the dollar is in the tolet. Thanks Dubba we need the money.
the best thing rudy did was to ride the coat tails of his first police cheif not the one who was indicted
Well, all I can say is "Thank God, Rudy saved us all".
He almost like... he's almost like...Beowulf!

Dr. Doug
Why J.Rand, I do believe you are a democrat.
I do believe everyone needs to go back to Arkansas in the "CLINTON DAYS" to0 see some real Treachery...and then tell me that Hillary is our best choice
Hillary- Married Bill and.......thats it!? what a resume too.
All i hope is we get a Democrate president.Republicans had run this country for 12 years and  they gave our idiot of a president a free pass to have and do what he wanted and look what it has done for this country. Bush is dyslexcia.He cannot read or write.He has an ear piece and someone is telling him what to say.That is the reason he cannot speak a whole sentence. Remember Bush looking all around his office for weapons.He looked like a child.Republicans put our country deep in debt and hated by the whole world.What has a Republican PRESIDENT given to the people.A Democrate president gave the people social security and Medicare,And Bush tried to take it away from the people.
You sure Rudy didn't help Albert Gore, the million aire, who only gave $245.00 to charities, invent the internet,
Mark Bradley elgin il:

McCain might be a good military advisor to a President, but I do not think he would be able to handle our monetary/financial situation in America, infact I think he would want to continue spending more money that we do not have on warmongering and with Bushe's agenda. Our country is in big financial trouble, funny thing is the world knows that but our American public wants to sweep it under the rug and pretend it isn't happening. Rudy is too caught up with all the special interest groups and lobbyists, and I think he can be very easily swayed into the North American Union, which I think he is already involved in. I cannot vote for a President that thinks it's okay to reward or even have illegals in our Country as Rudy does.  I stopped sitting on the fence when I decided to vote for the person and not the party. The only logical choice for me is running as a Republican.  I was a Dem at one time in my life, but the cost of their Social programs, such as their Healthcare plans, and their willingness to allow illegals to live here that sap our economy turned me to look elsewhere.  So I started looking at the Republicans, and didn't see much of a difference, unil I read about Ron Paul. He wants our troops home immediately, some Republicans say that is crazy, and I ask why?  In order for this country to survive without having to turn to other countries for help, such as Canada and Mexico, we have to change drastically. Ron Paul is the only candidate that is willing to make the changes necessary to save our country.  It will take some getting use to, but I do believe it will be in the best interest of our country and it's CITIZENS.  Unfortunately, America has turned it's back on our Constitution, and we need to start governing our Country for our CITIZENS again, and not for big government, corporations, and illegals.  Please people, vote for the candidate, not the party.  In a recent nationwide poll taken by something like 1009 Dems, Repubs, and Libertarians, folks were given information regarding some of the Republican candidates, this poll did not include the names of these candidates by the way, guess who came in first with 33%, none other than RON PAUL.  Does that surprise you?  It did not surprise me, because if you take out the names and the party affiliation, most people would pick RON PAUL. He follows the Constitution, he is honest, and he will not let America be sold off to other Countries as most of the candidates will do. SAVE AMERICA, VOTE FOR RON PAUL.

http://RonPaul2008.com

Research Ron Paul, you won't be disappointed.
I'm so sick of Rudy making himself the hero of 9/11.

He happened to be at the trade center when all the chaos occured and when he and his entourage made their way out of the lower level,he started doing his JOB ,nothing more.
I'm sure if he had been in the Bronx when all that happened he would have stayed put. He really had no choice in the matter.
There were many heros that day and he should be ashamed of himself for thinking he is one of them...His 15 minutes ended soon after those dark days
MSNBC: "Clinton led Obama by at least 20 points among voters age 35 and older. Obama's strength was with younger voters, leading Clinton by more than 30 points among voters between the ages of 18 and 34."

Thank GOD our next generation is yearning for CHANGE. CHANGE away from the zionists who have infiltrated our democracy and who drag our system down the drain by supporting Israeli terrorism by trillions of dollars and by waging their wars for them. Thank GOD. And Rudy...it won't take long before you are as obsolete as absinthe. The sooner we wake up from the mess zionism has made to our politics the better.
Rudy Giuliani legal actions to nullify the Line Item Veto Act as unconstitutional brings in question his fiduciary responsibilities as a manager.  Basically Mr. Giuliani claim as a municipal tax cutter as a Mayor of NYC does not hold much water since he used Federal pork to fund much of the improvements of NYC off the backs of Federal tax payers.  I am of the mind, that I would not trust any politicians from New York State (Giuliani and Clinton) or any current member of Congress with executive fiduciary responsibility and the economy.  Why do so many New Yorkers move out of New York State every year?  I will tell you why, sky-rocketing NY State and municipal taxes, low job growth, high cost of living, over-population and poor quality of life issues for families and children.  Senator Clinton and Mr. Giuliani fix these problems in your state first, then run for the presidency.  How can we ever trust you both with the problems of the federal government, when you failed to fix the problems of your own home state?
I would rather call rudy the "I never met an illegal alien I did not welcome mayor" I am under the opinion he is cheerleader of all illegals whoes pompoms read:come cutthroat the middle class !
Reality check:
I have lived through 2 Democrat administrations in and 2 Republican administrations. I am first hand witness to the transformation of NYC. In this ultra liberal city under Democrat administrations it was literally a rundown welfare state, with rampant fraud and corruption in government, crumblimg vermin infested infrastructure, the highest crime, and fiscal imbalance on the brink of bankruptcy. The condition was getting worse every year. Every day. Instead of a conscientious plan, an expectation of results, an an attempt at innovative solutions, the plan was crisis management. The city got to live another day. I will tell everyone in Oregon and from  wherever else these comments originated (including the young fellow from Brooklyn who I suspect is a tranplant from SOCAL), in all honesty Rudy Giuliani did break through the partisan politics, took risks on innovative solutions, had a personal mantra (in my opinion) of zero tolerance for incompetence and stupidity in government transcending party lines. Rudy's first term was the beginning of New York maximizing it's tax money to it's fullest potential, through smart management of agencies and policies, real streamlining and eradication of bureacracy and redundant layers of government, amd using those tax  savings to bring the infrastructure and into the 21st century. He used those same techniques in combatting crime. His plan together with William Bratton the police commissioner was to get rid of the petty criminal who one day will be a violent criminal. They knocked out crime in 2 categories at once. That is why crime dropped so fast and stayed low for so long. In Rudy's 2nd term the change really began to hit it's stride, petty criminals were no longer a danger to the newly built infrastructures, no longer consumed resources. The fiscal budgets didn't just balance because of the waste that was eliminated and replaced with services, we began to see budget surpluses continuously which continue to this day. Many of the surpluses went back to the people and still do today. Businesses got back money too. Lots of it. Those businesses grew with that money and invested in the city, in more employees, continuously. NYC was continuously on the brink of reaching it's full potential, and then it would raise the bar a little more. That was the real heart and soul of the culture under Rudy. His penchant for no nonsense problem solving and results was bred in the United States D.A's office years before where he successfully prosecuted one mob case and one dirty wall streeter after the other. Under Rudy the government began to serve the citizens with programs, services, fiscal responsibility, and innovative solutiuons unprecedented in my lifetime. You would have to go back to Fiorella LaGuardia to see the type of change for the citizens that took place. All before 9/11/2001. This is all fact folks. It is also a fact what he did in those early days of dispair. It is a matter of record. Everywhere. At a time when he was a lame duck politician, contemplating his next move, New York was thrust into the worst crisis imaginable. A national crisis. The Nation really didn't have a leader that was capable and strong enough to handle it. NY State had a weak Republican Governor as well. But Rudy with his leadership took responsibilities and decisions more fitting for the President and his cabinet to handle. His words and his actions affected people and resources. It impacted the Nation in ways many people will never see or realize. Not having Rudy in those days alot of things would have gone differently. There would have been a monumental leadership vacuum. A vacuum of foresight that is necessary to make the right decisions. A vacuum of guts to do what is right. New York post-Rudy needed a few years to bounce back. New Yorkers had the foresight to elect Mike Bloomberg. Mike, not Rudy, is the smartest and most productive administrator I have seen. Staying on topic, after taking a hit like 9/11 all of Rudy's gains for most politicians would have gone the wayside. But Rudy's basic policy and structure while not perfect was so sound and solid that Mike managed to bounced back from 9/11 and build immeasurably on Rudy's gains. Now imagine a new President, with an untraditional profile, taking over a government with a fatal leadership vacuum and lack of focus, and then providing the kind of focus and continuity to the White House that Rudy did in NYC, with a plan, a goal, a vision, and that each successive administration after him even in spite of national tragedy and extreme adversity is able to stick with that focus and build onto it because it was so sound and structured in the first place. That's what Rudy did. Tell me who else did?    
RE:- GUILIANI:- Before 9/11 Guiliani was policitally and fanicially finnish Guiliani & his friends that includes his fancy women now his wife made a lot of money of of that terrible tragetly, during his last 3 months in office all hedid was show the VIP,\s the WTC site for photo ops.
He did not attend the 2000 RNC  the party did not want him especially BUSH & Co the FBI must have a special file on him and his police comm. KIREK, the truth will come out
Since I have lived in New York City for 46 years, my comment is a little more relevant than most:from the third term of Mayor Koch[a term rife with corruption]and Mayor Dinkins' term[the most self-indulgent and self congratulatory]New Yorkers were prisoners in their own homes, after 8pm. I and many I knew, were seriously considering leaving NYC for good. Within ONE YEAR of Rudy Giuliani's mayoralty, crime was down to such a degree, that the subways began to be full of people at midnight, again[after 15+years]. Rudy's not only a genius, but a genius with integrity and a true sense of heroism. This country needs him desperately[so some of us can stay here].Bill X.
This guy is a friggin' joke. Yippee, I was mayor on 9/11 so I am a hero. I walked around the rubble posing for photo ops, I shook hands with common folks, I work for the devil. Yeah, yeah, we all get it. This guy makes us all sick. As if this country really needs another reminder of 9/11. We will never forget the victims of that horrific day, however the leaders of this country in the wake of 9/11 are despicable human beings who are not much better for this country than Osama Bin Laden himself. Remember, if it wasn't for the stupidity of these right wing idiots we wouldn't be hated by the vast majority of the world. This guy will be President the day that pigs fly. It's the dawn of a new era in American politics and Obama is leading the way. These neo-conservatives just don't seem to get it....move to Russia for Chrissakes!
Those who think that Rudy Guiliani would be a good president are suffering from a drug yet to be documented.
Joe Biden is by far the most experienced candidate of either party.  Second would be Bill Richardson, then Chris Dodd.  

NYC crime did drop when Rudy was mayor, but only because of the Biden/Clinton crime bill that put more cops on the street.  
Dinkins was the worst Mayor NY ever had, take it from a NYer. Rudy came into a city that everyone said was ingovernable and made it work. Crime went down because of him and his Police Commish, Times Square was cleaned up by him, and he has very good managerial skills.
His flaws? He's egomaniacal, tends to be insensitive, and is sometimes too loyal.
Hands down he would make a better President than any of the Dems-Hillary has a boatload of flaws and very few good points.
All those who immediately come on the articles and put him down are paid flaks or partisan Dems spreading lies to discredit him. Hillary flaks are famous for this type of politics.
Dinkins was the worst Mayor NY ever had, take it from a NYer. Rudy came into a city that everyone said was ingovernable and made it work. Crime went down because of him and his Police Commish, Times Square was cleaned up by him, and he has very good managerial skills.
His flaws? He's egomaniacal, tends to be insensitive, and is sometimes too loyal.
Hands down he would make a better President than any of the Dems-Hillary has a boatload of flaws and very few good points.
Democrats flip and flop between being nothing to an Idiot. Their wages should be garnished. They intend not to serve America, but only to serve their self serving agenda. Which amounts to nothing, investigate each other, scandals, oppose anthing which will better the country.

In a Nut shell, DNC Party is a mental circus."""Time to run these clowns out of town, along with those GOP self serving paper hangers.

Is it not time to draft a President, bite the bullet and resolve major issues? What we are being fed for the next President is the same Paper hangers who have done nothing except hang more meaningless paper. The strenght of this nation has been undermined by greed and useless agenda. Every infrastructure area is fractured by these Paper Hangers and they are hell bent not to address any issue. While our country falls deeper into disaray they worry about a stinken election vote! They were sent to Washington to serve the nation ""Not dismantle it as they continue to do!

We must restart America back to being a nation of strenght and leadership, Americans have had it up to their eye balls with these 20 to 30 year homesteaders hanging their worthless paper on the working people of this country! It is time to take the priorty issues and solve them, not to set on their jackasses and point fingers, accuse others, grid lock our government process.

This congress is not deplorable ""It just plain sucks""!!!












To read this advertisement  rally makes me sick.  I was a long time reident of New York City, from 1970-2005.  I was less than six blocks from the WTC when the planes hit. I was fully aware of what kind of mayhor Guliani was.  He was the most represive, disgusting, and humiliating mayor the city has everhad.  The accomplishments that did occur would have probably occureed anyyway.  His keeping a blantantly racist acting  police commissioner for more than 4 years in unconscionable.  Manhy things went backward during his tenure, and some still haven't recovered.  I do love New York City and still follow it closely.  The prsent mahyor isn't perfect, but he is a great improvment over Guliani.  HOw he, knowing full well that there was never any connection between  what happened thean and Iraq in crazy.  The republicans do have no realy good chioces.  I put Guliani a little ahead of Romaney, Aancredo, and Hunter, but behind the others.  He certainly did not save New Yoerk City.  Rather, New York City survived him.
The current state of affairs in our country has advanced from desperate to a most hopeless state.  As our democratic leaders in Congress have failed to end the Iraq Occupation and also have faltered in the face of the Bush/Cheney Crime Family, many Americans have simply tuned out politics.  And for good reason, if the leaders we have chosen in the Congress to fix our broken government continue to fail in their mission, what can an ordinary citizen do?
What we can do is assure that our next President is up to the task of righting a ship that has markedly gone off course.  In the face of this dilemma, we must assure that the next presidential election will confirm what Americans want from their leaders.  We must express without a doubt that Americans will not stand for the mockery of our justice system that the Bush Administration has perpetrated.  What America needs is a new type of statesman.  What America needs is a person of integrity, intelligence, and vision.  This person must stand against corruption, must stand for the liberties ordained by our Constitution, and must stand for progress that will enable Americans to once again feel proud to be an American.  
This is no pipe dream.  There is a person who will stand against the bottom feeding, corrupt, and illegal government that has enabled crooks and liars to steal away our basic principles of equality, liberty, and justice.  There is a person who will seek to make peace not war, will seek to restore our civil liberties, and will seek to end the corruption that has pervaded our government.  There is a person who will promote a New Hope among the hopeless.  This person’s name is Barack Obama, and his presidency will chart a new course in American history
Wow Giuliani, the guy who cleaned up N.Y. city. A kid from the Bronks. Who made Mayor after being a great prosecutor. Well Love by all New Yorker,s. The one man band, that took on the Mob and won all by himself. An American Hero of 911! Well how about his family life? Lets not talk about that, that,s private. But if he,s wearing a Badge,s he doesn,t really care about your family problems, now does he. And if it,s your families life on the line the call gets dropped. Well all,s fair in Love & War in N.Y. To put Guiliani, in perspective, The wealthy needed a COP. who knew N.Y. well enough to clean up N.Y. from all the parties they enjoyed over the years, which they made a lot of Money from Vice etc. ect. and they needed a scrapegoat (Blackpeople) so when they came too and needed to get back to work they wanted someone to clean house. So Rudy got the Money from  the Owners of the House and proceede to do just that. Now if  one wants to assume that,s a resume for the Presidency, Then by all means Vote for the HERO! Now for me I got my Q from the G-man himself after what he said about Kerik- Quote( I should have vetted him a little better then I did) Well G-man, that,s what we should all do with all you candidate,s To me your just like all the other people who use the system to get ahead except in your book those who use the system are all criminal,s But your a HERO and Bernie well, Bernie,s going to Jail, Why? because he hung around you too long. That,s Okay, remember all,s fair with Love and War, in the Big Apple!
For the last six years we have watched an arrogant man run our country, strength is a virtue, arrogance is the product of a small mind. Do we want another small mind running our country? Rudy has shown time and time again that it is all about him, arrogance, He andd the rest of the repubs consider acting 'tuff' no matter what to be the parties shining virtue. Being 'tuff' can work in some areas but is not needed in all our deliberations and the sissyfication of diplomacy by this party has put us all on a muddy slippery slope that we must stop with this next leader that we pick, we must go back to intelligence over emotions.
As a native new yorker, i would like to comment on this idea that Rudy did all this good for New  york city. I remember the good ol' bad days.  Although everyone would like to paint the picture that some how Rudy made all the people  in nyc play nice somehow; the truth is that instead of Helping New yorkers that may have been part of high crime issues that once was a vector of nyc living. He helped wipe them out!  he allowed landlords to raise the cost of living to the point where families that have been here for generations were forced to leave. He did absolutely nothing positive.  In fact i live in one of those neighborhoods that were "Bad".  My rent used to be $250-$300 for a studio is now almost $2000.  Gone are the days of bodega shop owners  practically on every street  corner play music outside in the summer.  gone are the days of the very art that defined this town and made it a sought after place, because the artists cannot afford to live here either.
Scott E. sounds like a typical Republican-- can't argue with facts, go to global condemnation. Please refute any of the charges against Rudy. You guys gave the country Dan Quale, GW and now a little upgrade more deceitful and ruthlessly ambitious Rudy. It won't work get use to it. Among other hypocrisies of your guys, You guys were just talking about a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. Now a man who cheating on his wife was a way of life, now married to a home recker he chosed over his wife and kids, promised to conduct a marriage ceremony for his GAY couple roommates is now your hero and and your best chance.

Rudy did not do anything out of the ordinary on 9/11. Now you guys are allowing him to do something unamerican, using the heroism of first responders as a launch pad for his whitehouse bid.

This is expecially so when his failure to upgrade the firefighters radios apparently led to most of their avoidable deaths. He should be investigated, not paraded in front of us as a hero. What do you mean by family value, where is your character or dignity? Stop this insult on the true heroes of 9/11.
United we stand, divided we fall.  We need politicians that will represent us and not the party's. I will vote for anyone that can work between the party and represent my needs. The more we hate each other the more we lose.  The newsmen like sensationalism and keeping the hatred going that is killing our chances for real help. I will not vote for a party only a person
Rudy was mayor when 9-11 happened.  Fact.  So, what is all this appriase and stuff for when he was just simply the mayor of a bombed town?  I don't get it.  Rudy is supposed to be held high and get credit when NYC got levelled??  Hmm, bunch of bs to me.  He didn't really do anything.  Fame for dead Americans, good trade there I guess Rude-boy.  

"Vote 4-Rudy, he didn't protect you then, he might not later, but he's a good political talker."
"Bong hits 4 Rudy Jesus!"
Hi Repubs, stop the hate mongering, how does Madam president sound?---please don't have a coronary.

GET USE TO IT!!
impeach bush.
I don't live in New York city, but if Rudy did such a grand job (maybe he did, I don't know), why is it that Hillary Clinton beats him in all the New York City polls? Could it be that Joe Biden is correct? That it was the added federal funding given to New York from the Clinton Administration that put more police on the street? Clearly, the fire-fighters in the city don't like or respect him much...
Rudy put the emergency response office in the World Trade Building after he was warned not to do so.  He walked the street after 911 because his emergency response office was destroyed.  Yes, the firemen despise him for taking credit for being the hero of 911 when his administration refused to pay for radios that could communicate between police and fire officials.
Joe Biden will embarass Guiliani in a debate. He should be thanking Joe for the crime bill that gave him the cops. Guiliani was mayor at the right time in history. Kudos to him for following procedure. Any mayor elect would have done that. So tell me...what qualifies him for the white house?


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