And if Giuliani does not have terrorism, no matter how desperately he claims it, what, exactly, does he have? He has claimed to have cleaned up crime in New York City, and for this he deserves some credit, though crime dropped in cities across America during the exact same time period, and one suspects that William Bratton, Giuliani's police commissioner, deserves the lion's share of the credit given that crime rates similarly dropped in Boston (before his tenure in NYC) and Los Angeles (since) after Bratton and his seemingly magic touch swept into those cities. What beyond crime? Race relations arguably took a turn for the worse during the Giuliani years as the direct result of his policies. Many of the rescue workers from 9/11 loathe the man. His highest level of government is Mayor of New York City, a fine achievement, but hardly the sort of platform to give one credentials to lead the United States. So what is it? Could someone please explain the Rudy appeal?
8 comments:
I don't know myself, and frankly he scares me. But some suggestions... particuarly after the disaster that has been Bush's second term, there isn't any Republican figure who has a national profile and an appeal to the base. Giuliani, therefore, is able to trade off his profile because it's higher than anyone other than McCain, who isn't a natural Republican. To those who don't have a wider perspective, his media work with 9/11 has indelibly associated him with those events - and it seems to me that many Republicans view Iraq as linked with Al-Qaeda, and so they all tie together. Just some thoughts, anyway. I hope he doesn't come within a country mile of the Oval Office.
Reported on BBC News website today is that at a campaign function, people were asked to donate $9.11c to Giuliani. This is obviously in recognition of his single-handed efforts in the rescue missions of 9/11. This is not widely known because Guiliani's communications will not work with others' systems. Rudy's diplomacy skills and obviously deep and comprehensive knowledge of world affairs make him at lesst as good a candidate as GWB for President.
Ken --
Your arguments explain why Giuliani might be a hold-your-nose type candidate, but not why he is a frontrunner and why he is venerated. I simply don't buy that McCain is not a "natural republican." "Maverick" image notwithstanding, MacCain is quite conservative and most of his views fit in with most of the party's traditional platform.
Steve --
Even though you were being tongue-in-cheek, I think the GWB analogy is frighteningly accurate in terms of his views of power.
Cheers --
dcat
McCain may be very conservative on a number of issues. But at the same time, he has been willing to discuss matters like immigration reform with Ted Kennedy, which is like waving a red rag at the enraged bull of the conservative movement. As sad as it is, we live in a political climate where impressions are often far more important than policy. And the stock reaction to McCain, from a conservative, is of someone who is willing to challenge conservative orthodoxies. Being so popular in places like the Daily Show can't do much for him, either. Giuliani doesn't have the same problem.
Ken --
To a degree perception may be reality; to a larger degree it can be willful untruth, however. In what serious way is Giuliani more conservative than McCain? It seems to me that he is pulling the wool over everyone's eyes. he is a pro-choice, pro-gun control, multiply divorced philanderer who was mayor of New York City. How is that possibly going to give him credibility among the vase compared to McCain. I'm not saying that it won't, I'm just saying that it is insane to me that a guy can operate by touting a record on terrorism that does not even hold up to the slightest scrutiny. Frankly, I think Giuliani has the political equivalent of a glass jaw.
dcat
. . . his credibility among vases may not be great either, but of course I meant "base" -- then again, since when am I worried about typos in the comments?
dcat
I don't think you needed to account for the "vase" as I thought it was an obscure analogy to the subsequent "glass jaw". On the same subject, I have a vase at home and a turtle in the yard that would each make a better president than Guiliani!
Steve --
Play nice! That turtle would give TERRIBLE State of the Union Addresses . . .
dcat
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