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I'd like to quote from a December 2001 Manhattan Institute Civic Report written by Senior Fellow, Ed McMahon:

"Why is the city's fiscal condition deteriorating again after 8 years of a mayor who initially embraced a fiscally conservative agenda? After a promising start, where and how did his policies go wrong?"

"The scope of government was not reduced at all. . the full-time headcount rose from 235,069 in June 1996 to 253,000 by November 2000. The total increase in personnel service costs since 1995 has been $4.2 billion."

"Outsourced contracts doubled under Guiliani, contractual expenses also nearly doubled – from $3billion to $5.8 billion."

"It is difficult to justify the addition of 15,000 teachers/aides to the Board of Ed payroll, when enrollment grew by les than 7,000 pupils. As a result of the hiring binge since 1996 – there is no evidence of impact on student achievement."

"There is substantial reason to question the overall productivity/efficiency of the Police Dept. Between June 1996 and February 2001, the department grew by 3,109 uniformed officers (9%), but its operational strength increased by only 1,585 officers. Police officers are pressing for an enormous pay increase. New York police work an average of only 200 days a year vs 261 for other occupations. Police productivity could be greatly enhanced – permitting the city to accomplish more with fewer officers."
Indeed, under Mayor Bloomberg, uniformed police officers were reduced by 10%, while crime rates continued to drop.

"As a result of its current policies, the city's spending on housing is enormous – $2.8 billion."

"If and when budget surpluses do reappear, the next mayor should not hoard them in the form of recurring budget-balancing "rollovers". During the 6 years leading up to 9/11, New York experienced an incredible economic resurgence that touched off a tidal wave of new revenues – but the city still couldn't balance its budget. That ought to tell us something: It's time to set limits and stick to them."

Or, as State Comptroller, Carl McCall, stated in a report on Guiliani's latest financial plan, issued in March, 2001, six months before the fiscal impact of 9/11, along with a laundry list of "Rudy's fiscal follies"; "Record budget surpluses afforded the City a golden opportunity to get on the path toward long-term fiscal stability. The opportunity is being squandered. The most responsible use of the record surpluses of the past few years would have been to reduce the City's mounting debt burden and build a reserve fund."

Guiliani may have decided to rewrite history in order to strengthen his presidential campaign outside of New York, but he cannot burn the records. Guiliani's budgetary record as Mayor, despite the Wall Street boom that hiked the city's bond rating, is well documented. And it is widely recognized that he left Bloomberg with a $4.8 billion deficit, twice the size of that which he inherited from Dinkins. However, given his continuing campaign claim to be a "fiscal conservative" who "turned the $2.3 billion deficit he inherited into a multi-billion dollar surplus", it is no longer Guiliani's fiscal management that is in question – it is his honesty and credibility, not to mention his arrogance and disrespect for the voting public.

Giuliani has three huge problems that most voters don't yet no about, but eventually will :

1. Immigration. Giuliani position on amnesty is very close to McCain's. For starters, Giuliani turned NY into a sanctuary city for illegal immigrants.

2. Abortion and other social issues. He's liberal on these and he would nominate someone socially liberal to the Supreme Court. He wants to protect what he often refers to as a woman's constitutional right to an abortion.

3. Personal creepiness. He married his cousin. (Most Republican voters think that's extremely creepy.) He also lived with two homosexual men while he was getting divorced from his second wife. (Most Republican voters find the idea of living with two homosexual men extremely creepy too). He dressed up in public on at least three occasions as a tranvestite. (In most Republican voter's eyes, it's hard to get much creepier than dressing up as a transvestite.)

I really don't see any realistic way that he gets beyond all of these to win the nomination - not when it all becomes well known.

It always makes me laugh to see someone like Giuliani use the term 'Fiscal Conservative'. His party, which runs on the platform of 'Fiscal Conservatism' launched the most expensive 'war' in our history, achieved the highest deficits ever seen, and has made the US take a back seat to the EU in terms of overall financial stability.

I guess what they mean by 'Fiscal Conservatism' is more money goes to people who already have more than enough money. I guess it wouldn't be 'Conservative' to educate the poor in America so they could get good jobs and compete better with foreign labor. Also not 'Conservative' to fund initialtives into new sciences that would help the environment or medical science...I guess it's somehow 'fiscally conservative' to believe that the Christian Bible takes precedence over modern medicine and the economy when it comes to issues like stem-cell research.

Sigh..... I guess we all have to read between the lines and understand that 'Fiscal Conservative' really means a return to the Fuedal System of wealthy lords and an indentured middle class...

He'll run out of 9/11 fumes and when the mud slinging starts....bye bye Rudy!

Ron Paul is the man for 2008!

Come on, Michael from PA. Do you really think a no-show from Giuliani in the Iraq Study Group is a "convincing role in leadership"? He could have at least had the decency as a "leader" to resign from his post. Instead, Rudy decided not to show up for the meetings, avoiding his responsibilities. What about his statement that Bush made the right decision to commute Libby's sentence: is that good leadership? Please, it is a prelude to more of the same.

“Today’s ads once again make clear Mayor Giuliani is the true fiscal conservative in this race with the track record to back it up, not just empty rhetoric,” Giuliani’s director of strategy Brent Seaborn, said in a statement announcing the ad launch Monday.

Sure, whatever you say.

Though I don't see how Giulani could ever get elected, I would probably react the same way as Bret from Atlanta. Seeing Bush reelected was humiliating enough; I don't think I could stay in this country if Giulani was our President.

Wow – people are SO dumb! I cannot believe that so many people refuse to look into EACH candidates real history rather than listen to what the MSM and paid political ads say about them.

Like so many other candidates, this man (Rudy) is a complete RAT!

Take the time to dig up the trash on the candidates people!

When you have gotten to a candidate that you reasonably agree with and you cannot dig up any trash on him/her, THAT'S WHO YOU SUPPORT!

If you've gone through all of the "top tier" candidates and decide they're ALL RATS (like I have), here's a good guy to look into: Congresman (Dr.) Ron Paul. You'll have a HARD time finding any skeletons in his closet and he's even been a congressman for 10 terms!

Republican light at best.

I wonder, was Michael from Bethlehem, PA living in NYC during Rudy's empirical reign. The country cannot withstand another divisive leader. Innovator is not I'd call him more like immitator. David Dinkins and Police Commissioner William Bratton were the ones who started bringing down crime numbers with there community programs. Rudy hung onto the skirt-tail and fired Mr. Bratton. Had the planes crashed into the buildings on Sept. 12, Rudy would have been embarassingly trounced. This is a man of poor character and similar character judgement i.e. Kerik, Vitters, Judy et al. If nominated, the Republican party will be screwed.

Rudy is the only candidate with a convincing record of leadership. A successful republican mayor of one of the most liberal cities in the country, he will have an admistration focused on results rather than political calculation. Recognized as an innovator during his entire term, he saw the homicide rate drop 73.6% as NYC became revitalized. He is clearly the best choice for the future of our country. The time calls for a leader that is able to work with those across the aisle not just someone that panders to his/her's base.

I can't wait to hear that the public isn't buying what this guy is selling. He is a central planning fascist, through and through. If Giuliani becomes popular (God forbid elected) I am absolutely moving out of country as swiftly as possible, and I urge the rest of you to do the same.