Rudy Guiliani is calling it quits. The former New York City Mayor dropped his bid for the GOP Presidential nomination today after finishing a distant third in the Florida Primary -- the only primary and caucus he actively campaigned in.
The candidate who's made 9/11 a central theme of his presidential campaign may have done business with an al Qaeda associate who helped in the escape of a 9/11 mastermind.Some of those clients have controversial records. Among those he hasn't disclosed is the government of Qatar, a Persian Gulf state to whom the firm provided security advice, according to the former U.S. ambassador there. Qatar is a strategic U.S. military ally and energy supplier, yet also a country that has been criticized for its conduct toward al Qaeda -- a potential political pitfall for a candidate pitching himself as an uncompromising foe of Islamic terrorism.
"Qatar Interior Minister Abdullah bin Khalid Al-Thani has long had ties to top Al Qaeda operatives including Osama Bin Laden, and is believed by many U.S. officials to have personally arranged the narrow escape of Al Qaeda big-wig Khalid Sheikh Mohammed from U.S. agents in 1996, thereby ensuring his freedom to mastermind the 9/11 attacks."
Subscribe to our Podcast On his Web site, Rudy Giuliani claims that he grew New York City's police force by 12,000 officers between his inauguration as mayor in January 1994 and mid-2000. That's just not true. Most of the cops he's counting – 7,100 to be exact – were already housing or transit police who were simply folded into the New York Police Department. The merger of the departments didn't increase the number of police in the city at all.New York's crisis command center for a terrorist attack was based in the World Trade Center and destroyed in the 9/11 attacks. Fact Check also points out that Mr Giuliani arrived at the back up command center around noon on 9/11. That was roughly two-and-a-half hours after the primary center was evacuated.
Christian conservatives -- a key part of the GOP base since 1980 -- threaten to mount a third party challenge for the White House if Rudy Giuliani wins the Republican Presidential nomination. The group qualifies their opposition by saying they would only "consider" the idea. But the New York Times reports it's a clear warning that Christian conservatives will not support a pro-abortion rights candidate at the head of the Republican ticket:The group making the threat, which came together Saturday in Salt Lake City during a break-away gathering during a meeting of the secretive Council for National Policy, includes Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family, who is perhaps the most influential of the group, as well as Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council, the direct mail pioneer Richard Viguerie and dozens of other politically-oriented conservative Christians, participants said.
Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney has lauched an interesting cross-media attack on one of his opponents for the GOP nomination -- Rudy Giuliani.
Republican Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani was more of a Yankee than a 9/11 recover worker in the months after 9/11. Turns out he spent about twice as much time going to Yankees games as he spent at Ground Zero in the three months following the attack."I was at ground zero as often, if not more, than most of the workers. ... I was there working with them. I was exposed to exactly the same things they were exposed to. So in that sense, I'm one of them." -- Rudy Giuliani, 8/9/2007
Mr Giuliani doesn't seem to be suffering from any of the ill health effects posed by toxic air present during the Ground Zero recovery.
Republican Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani has been apologizing for his claim that he was at Ground Zero "as often, if not more than" 9/11 rescue and recovery workers.The 29 hours Mr. Giuliani spent at ground zero involved 41 appearances, mostly to give tours to other officials and foreign dignitaries. Many entries include meetings away from the site before the tour. For instance, the schedule included 30 minutes on Nov. 15, 2001, for President Vladimir Putin of Russia, but Mr. Putin’s tour of ground zero was widely reported to have lasted 13 minutes.
Proving he has a size 9-C mouth, Republican Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani told reporters he was at Ground Zero "as often, if not more" than the rescue and recovery teams there."I was at Ground Zero as often, if not more, than most of the workers. I was there working with them. I was exposed to exactly the same things they were exposed to. So in that sense, I'm one of them." -- Rudy Giuliani, campaigning in Cincinnati, Aug 9, 2007
The International Association of Firefighters has already been circulating a 13-minute DVD critical of Mr Giuliani's actions toward first responders following 9/11. (NYDN)His statement rang false to Queens paramedic Marvin Bethea, who said he suffered a stroke, posttraumatic stress disorder and breathing problems after responding to the attacks.... "Standing there doing a photo-op and telling the men, 'You're doing a good job,' I don't consider that to be working," said Bethea, 47.
Pity poor Rudy. One of his campaign bigwigs got indicted for running cocaine. Another was caught up in the DC hooker scandal. New York firefighters attacked him.
"None of the Above" leads the polls among Republican voters. In a campaign of carry-over apathy from the 2006 Congressional election losses, no Republican Presidential hopeful has excited GOP voters.
Rudy Giuliani saw support drop from his front running 35% in March to 27% in June to just 21% in the latest poll. He's been hit with troubles in his early Iowa campaign and scandals in his national campaign organization: His South Carolina campaign chairman was indicted on cocaine charges and Sen David Vitter (R-LA), who was running his southern campaign, was outed as a client of the DC madam.
More trouble for the former NYC Mayor in the latest Zogby telephone poll. It shows former Sen Fred Thompson (R-TN) overtaking Mr Giuliani by one-point -- 22-21% -- in the GOP White House sweepstakes. It's a statistical tie -- but it's the first time Mr Giuliani's name has not topped the list in any poll. (AP via Yahoo!/Political Wire.com)
Former Sen Fred Thompson (R-TN) is courting an endorsement from New York City firefighters.Along with the kind words, Cassidy offered a firm handshake while Thompson offered an endorsement pitch over breakfast at a chic Manhattan restaurant. In photos exclusively obtained by CBS 2, the former Tennessee senator is seen teaming up with Cassidy, photos likely to give Giuliani a bad case of heartburn.
"It doesn't have anything to do with Rudy. It has to do with my concerns about our country, and New York is at the top of the list with regard to many of our concerns and interests." -Fred Thompson to WCBSBut with Sen Thompson's shadow campaign eating away at support and money for Mr Giuliani's, and Sen Thompson's Hollywood career making him aware of the power of a well positioned release date for a DVD -- you have to wonder if Mr Giuliani just got hosed. (WCBS)
The International Association of Firefighters has released a 13-minute DVD attacking former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. The video features testimonials from firefighters and family members of firefighters lost in the 9/11 attacks.“We have the remains of dead heroes at the garbage dump because of Giuliani and his administration and they’re still there today and they won’t remove them,” claims FDNY Deputy Chief Jim Riches from "Rudy Giuliani: Urban Legend"
A New Orleans madam now claims Sen David Vitter (R-LA) was a regular customer of hers in 2002."As far as the girls coming out after seeing David, all they had was nice things to say. It wasn't all about sex. In fact, he just wanted to have somebody listen to him, you know. And I said his wife must not be listening." Canal Street Brothel Madam Jeanette Maier in an interview with the Associated Press
The hunt for the sex scandal Senator is on! Sen David Vitter (R-LA) has dropped off the radar since word broke about his name on the phone records of an accused DC madam.
Sen David Vitter (R-LA) has apologized for his phone number showing up among those released by the Washington DC Madam."This was a very serious sin in my past for which I am, of course, completely responsible." Sen Vitter (R-LA), in a statementHe's the Southern Regional Manager for the Presidential campaign of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
Republican Presidential Candidate Rudy Giuliani just lost his South Carolina campaign chairman to a cocaine charge."South Carolina Treasurer Thomas Ravenel has been suspended from office, following his indictment by a federal grand jury for distribution of cocaine.... [H]e serves as the state chairman for former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani's presidential campaign. Late Tuesday, Giuliani's campaign announced he stepped down from that role."
Rudy Giuliani may be slipping in Iowa and skipping the country's lead off caucuses."The bigger question is, from a man basing his candidacy on decisiveness and leadership, waffling on the straw poll is a real question." Bob Haus, Republican ConsultantAnd the Giuliani campaign sounds overconfident about Iowa. Staffers brush aside the straw poll saying it's only important to other candidates and are counting on Mr Giuliani's fundraising prowess and name recognition to save the day at the actual caucuses.
GOP Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani is keeping his wife on the payroll. From the New York Daily News:"A day after the former mayor disclosed in federal filings that he considers his third wife, Judith, a salaried employee, sources said he has paid her about $125,000 a year for speechwriting help - since before they were married."
