http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/03/09/85835.aspx As of now, Hagel is scheduled to appear at a bipartisan "presidential forum" sponsored by the International Association of Fire Fighters next Wednesday.  According to the IAFF, Hagel confirmed his attendance on January 9.  Most of the currenten-USCommunityServer 2.0 (Build: 60608.1)http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/03/09/85835.aspx#85951Fri, 09 Mar 2007 15:10:03 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:85951mikeeg,abdn,waUnions make America stronger by bargaining for a fair share of economic pie. Republicans abuse of American workers does more harm than all terrorist combined. For the anti-unionist out there just try and call a non union fire fighter or police officer and you will find very few if any.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/03/09/85835.aspx#85967Fri, 09 Mar 2007 15:18:11 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:85967Lee Steele, Mountain View, CAWell, that's it for Rudy, isn't it? When the NYFD excoriates him for 9/11 recovery reasons- what's he got left to run on? See? I told you we didn't need his kid's relationship with his step mother to bump him from the race. So long, Rudy, we knew thee all too well.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/03/09/85835.aspx#85997Fri, 09 Mar 2007 15:33:12 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:85997Scott in South TexasDamn liberal, America hating, terrorist coddling firefighters.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/03/09/85835.aspx#86087Fri, 09 Mar 2007 16:12:52 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:86087MMIf we have such a "liberal" media, why is'nt this story being ran once an hour? As for what Scott in South Texas said...you should truly be ashamed. These firefighters put their lives on the line to try to save people in the aftermath of 9/11 and you have the nerve to call them names. They were there, they know the truth of Rudy's behavior. What would be great is if you just could take a step back from the politics and think of all of the people that lost their lives and all of the families that lost someone they love. I am sure that when they were burying an empty casket, they were SO happy that Rudy stopped looking for bodies. I for one am disappointed that they didn't actually send the letter. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/03/09/85835.aspx#86127Fri, 09 Mar 2007 16:36:07 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:86127JIrby, Colorado SpringsGingrich doesn't want to be viewed as a hypocrite? Why the hell not? I thought hypocrites were held in godlike high esteem in the Republican party. Wow, I guess I'll have to start tuning in to Fox news to get myself up to date on the new Rep ethos. Anyway, if it's all the same to everybody, I'm going to keep viewing Gingrich as a hypocrite. By Zeus, call me old fashioned.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/03/09/85835.aspx#86186Fri, 09 Mar 2007 17:13:28 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:86186Sarcastic Scott in South TexasMM, that was SARCASM. I thought about pointing that out, but didn't think anyone who has read any of my previous posts would think otherwise.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/03/09/85835.aspx#86194Fri, 09 Mar 2007 17:18:58 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:86194The Edge, Macon GAIt amazes me how the Repugs can claim to be the 'morals party'. How can their flock rationalize away the exploits of Rudy, Newt, et al and have the garbonzos to continue to claim their 'moral superiority'? Are they so corrupted by loyalty to their party they will overlook just about any indiscretion from their own? Or are they hypocrital because of their pocketbooks?? Or are they just plain dense? Who knows? I guess only the Shadow knows:-) http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/03/09/85835.aspx#86420Fri, 09 Mar 2007 19:28:26 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:86420MMThere are so many people on these posts and I can't remember everyone that is right and left. I apologize for being "up in your grill" as my students would say. What is interesting is that it wouldn't suprise me to read something like that from some of our posters. Once again I am sorry.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/03/09/85835.aspx#86437Fri, 09 Mar 2007 19:44:35 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:86437Sincere Scott in South TexasNo problem, MM, and thanks. Nor would it surpise me, but then again the last time I was surprised was when I found out ice cream cones were hollow. Also, I haven't yet reached all-star status as a regular poster.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/03/09/85835.aspx#86465Fri, 09 Mar 2007 20:03:09 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:86465MMLike I said in another post, I think that some of the GOP's should use "do as I say not as I do" as a campaign slogan. At least they would be being honest!!! (for once)http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/03/09/85835.aspx#86540Fri, 09 Mar 2007 20:48:33 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:86540DesmondThey all better take cover. The D.C. Madam was indicted.Mama Mia!http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/03/09/85835.aspx#86591Fri, 09 Mar 2007 21:28:35 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:86591OliviaDesmond--I hope the DC Madam's "little black book" blows most of those dreadful Repubs out of the water. Especially those repulsive Repub Senators who have been putting a hold on Sen. Mary Landrieu's Homeland Security Bill amendment that's intended to waive the 10% matching funds requirement for Louisiana and the rest of the states of the Gulf Region.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/03/09/85835.aspx#86606Fri, 09 Mar 2007 21:47:32 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:86606DesmondOlivia, bet the D.C. madam makes a ton of money from clients to prevent her from posting those names.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/03/09/85835.aspx#86973Sat, 10 Mar 2007 18:16:08 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:86973Dave Kennebunkport, MENOBODY is backing Cheney in '08. It is too bad because the guy can get things done. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/03/09/85835.aspx#87013Sat, 10 Mar 2007 19:52:51 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:87013OliviaDesmond--Now that you mention it, she probably does--but I'd heard that there was some concern that her files (the metaphorical "little black book") would be among her assets that were going to be sold.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/03/09/85835.aspx#87034Sat, 10 Mar 2007 21:01:47 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:87034Lee Steele Mountain View, CA"NOBODY is backing Cheney in '08. It is too bad because the guy can get things done." So could Hitler. So could Sam Giancana. So could Jack the Ripper. I don't think it's "too bad" at all, except that a Cheney ticket would sink the GOP even with God as running mate. Chicken Dick - Darth Vadar's older, meaner brother. "Days and weeks rather than weeks and months." "Final throes." "Cakewalk." A cakewalk for the cretinous war criminal. He just watches, calls critics "traitor," and counts his money. (He actually has illegal aliens count his money for him.) He WAS very effective at keeping his coward rear out of Viet Nam.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/03/09/85835.aspx#87050Sat, 10 Mar 2007 22:05:03 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:87050Still Crazy After All These Years"Sugar Shack"- the Fireballs (Newt and Rudy's home away from home.http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/03/09/85835.aspx#87301Sun, 11 Mar 2007 18:18:31 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:87301Dorothy"Love shack, baby, love shack...."http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/03/09/85835.aspx#87946Mon, 12 Mar 2007 20:37:47 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:87946J Merle Stanley, Westchester, NYThats NOT all Rudy did to the Firefighters and Cops at the WTC. His administration was told over and over, that the "repeater" radio system The City had purchased for the Fire Department prior to 911 didn't work properly. Nothing was ever done about it, and subsenquently dozens of Firemen and Cops who didn't hear the call to pull out the towers DIED. Then he paraded around the city afterwards with his little "Goo-mardy" at his side, attending the funerals of Firefighters who didn't have to die. Rudy is a real sweat-hog of a candidate. I truly hope he DOES get the GOP nomination. It will INSURE that a Democrat wins in 2008. Kudos to the I.A.F.F. for not letting this maggot speak in their forum AND for condemning the use of video images showing the bodies of dead Firefighters being removed from ground zero on Bush campaign ads in 2004. September 11th means NOTHING to people like Rudy and Bush, other than a few quick buzz words and a convenient (post mortem) photo op. God Bless our "Bravest" and our "Finest," and God Bless The I.A.F.F.!!!!! http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/03/09/85835.aspx#88948Wed, 14 Mar 2007 02:17:29 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:88948M.E., Albany, Ga.J Merle- I'm sure the repeater radio system was set up by whatever company put in the lowest bid for the project. Rudy had probably never used anything more than a two-way walkie-talkie from Wally World at the time he was briefed on what kind of system was being placed. I have several times been on the wrong end of contracts made by people who have no idea what you need in the field in an emergency. At one time, we were issued radios that you had to take the time to encode a number, wait for it to bounce off the nearest tower, and then hope you had a connection good enough to transmit what you had or needed in the field. As far as reception on our end, it was most times nil. When you are treating casualties, you don't have the luxury of wondering if the radios are going to work when you reach your destination. Your two best buds in the field are your radio and your drug kit. When your radio doesn't work, you feel naked. By noon on 9/11, there were already rumblings of how the radios weren't working properly, and I had a sick feeling in my gut for what those guys all went through being "out of touch". I wonder if Rudy has ever humbled himself enough to question where the "communication system" went wrong, and if he should have asked more about it before 9/ll. I could go all day about the injustice this man did to them, but I'll let it be for now. Thanks for bringing this up. Just another reason not to like this man.