Giuliani's Foreign Policy Defense
Last week, Newsday took a critical look at Rudy's foreign experience, and John McCain, on "This Week" basically said that while Giuliani was an American hero, he was the one with the credentials. Fred Malek, a key fund-raiser for Mr. Mccain made the same argument to me this week when he paid Giuliani the following back-handed compliment: "Rudy Giuliani has been a very successful mayor of our largest city. John McCain has not only served heroically in the military, but he has been a pivotal force of national security for a dozen years."
But Giuliani's supporters pushed back. Not only has Giuliani toured the world as a businessman, brokering international deals, but he has been vocal on his positions regarding Iraq and the Middle East as a whole.
Patrick Oxford, Giuliani's colleague at the Texas-based law firm Bracewell & Giuliani, told me that in the last few weeks alone, Giuliani has, as a representative of the law firm, met with energy leaders in Argentina, British Columbia and India. Barry Wynn, a fervent Giuliani supporter from South Carolina who acted as finance chair for President Bush's re-election campaign, added that Giuliani has repeatedly conducted business in both Eastern and Western Europe over the last year, and has met with business leaders in Asia at least three times. After the big donor meeting on Nov 15th at the "21" Club, Giuliani took off for India.
OK, fine, Giuliani has a gathered his fair share of frequent flier miles to foreign lands. But what about actual foreign policy?
Fred Siegel, author of Prince of the City, dismissed any suggestion that Giuliani was weak on foreign policy. Siegel pointed out that Giuliani had been stronger than most politicians in arguing that the United States needed to be tougher on Saudi Arabia in getting them to combat terrorism.
Giuliani has yet to dispel the doubts among national political players who are less familiar with him, but that might be more a question of timing than anything else. He has only just begun his roll-out, as with his recent announcement of an energy policy (diversification, with a greater dependence on nuclear energy) at a Manhattan Institute event.
So the "worldly, well traveled businessman" defense against foreign policy experience criticism is probably more of a place-holder until we get a more fully articulated vision as Giuliani's march towards official candidacy continues.
Iraq, anyone?
--Jason Horowitz
I understand people like to have these conversations, but Giuliani has about as much chance of surviving the Republican primaries as George Pataki. There are so many skeletons in this man's closet that are just waiting to jump out and ambush him. And that doesn't even include the ones that are out there dancing in the shadows right now.
Kerik, Harding, firefighter's radios on 9/11, WTC 7 emergency command center bunker on 9/11, his criticism of our troops right before the 2004 election, etc., etc.
And that list doesn't even include his adultery with Judi Nathan, stints in drag and his stance on gay rights which Republican primary voters are gonna love.
Rudy thinks he is some kind of ordained king. Boy is he gonna have a rude awakening when he finds out how tough presidential races can be. They are gonna chew him up and spit him out without missing a beat.
And there are plenty of New Yorkers who will be laughing their asses off watching him get steamrolled into the pavement. Bet on it.
Never dismiss Rudy Giuliani. He is far more formidable than Pataki. While I hope that 12:48's comments come to pass, Rudy has the intestinal fortitude and charisma that can withstand the barrage of criticism about all of the above and sway people to his corner. He is a formidable demogogue who needs to be taken seriously, very seriously, before he captures the heart and soul of the electorate.
If Giuliani is elected president, his foreign policy will be to sodomize all of Africa with plungers.
Rudy gets all the Iraq advice needed from Bernie Kerik.
Rudy is formidable, no doubt, but just look how long Kerik lasted in the national spotlight. He was done before people even blinked. Rudy may last a little longer, but not much.
Just wait until some of the 9/11 firefighter families start following him around waving "Talk About The Radios" signs. The newspeople, smelling a story, are going to dig deeper than anyone has and that whole episode is gonna come out one way or another. And I say another because the other candidates aren't gonna play nice with Rudy. They might ram it down his throat, too, if the situation is right.
Rudy thinks he can play with the big boys because his head is still so swelled up from his post-9/11 accolades. He is nothing but the blowhard he's always been and consultants like Rove or whomever are gonna make mincemeat out of him.
Bet on it.
Rudy Giuliani decreased homicides in new york city by 67%. It cracks me up to hear people say he couldn't handle the heat of a presidential campaign. As the saying goes, re: new york city: If You Can Make It There...You Can Make It Anywhere. Iraq will deflate his sail, however. The American people want the troops home. Al Qaeda is flourishing over there, now. Obviously the "9/11 Mayor" should be smart enough to realize our remaining in Iraq plays right into al qaeda's hands. Rudy needs to bring the troops home. Bottom line. Unfortunately no politicians outside of John Murtha seem to have the gonads to say: "f-you" to "stay the course."
Rudy included.