OSU,

"But the guy was elected by New Yorkers, so obviously they liked him."

Try again!

This is the same guy who everybody HATED as of 9/10. And it's funny how New Yorkers who lived through his tenure cant stand the guy eh?

"He did a LOT of great stuff for NYC – cleaned up a lot of its mess. Crime was lower in NYC than Columbus, Ohio a few years ago."

And yet people STILL hated the guy? Hmmm .. and why might that be?

At what cost did he "clean up" crime? By publicly supporting rouge cops with itchy trigger fingers? Like the ones who gunned down an UNARMED Amadou Diallo when they fired at him 41 times? A New York Times poll in April of 2000, in the wake of the police shooting of Patrick Dorismond, found that 50% disapproved of Rudy's handling of crime.

50% is a pretty high number dontchathink?

You might want to check out http:/firedoglake.com/2007/04/19/the-gumbi-politics-of-rudy-giuliani/

Now tell me, is the any other Rudy positive that you have that I cant tear down?

Roger, IL,

"How many admit that they made a mistake? At least he didn't try to cover it up."

The only reason why he didn't try to cover it up was because he couldn't – which is the same reason he's apologizing.

The point is, he shouldn't have made the consciously-planned "mistake" in the first place – especially when he was warned PREVIOUSLY about Kerik's mob ties.

Nice try at dodging the point kid. IT WASN'T A MISTAKE!

Please move from Illinois. You're giving people like ME a bad name – they might think that ALL of us are as mindless as yourself.

Yeah he made a mistake all right, just like the mistake the American people will be making if they put this slimeball fake in the white house!

Yeah, how is it exactly Giuliani is in the national poll lead? What are options? Do you either want Rudy or Giuliani for president? Hmm, two choices of the same person.

Dude, NO ONE is voting for this guy. I'm seriously starting to think that polls are rigged to sway public opinion. Hopefully, people will vote with their hearts and minds and NOT public polls and popularity.

Vote for this man will be NUT Job # 2

All the media seem to have lost sight of the fact that Giuliani not only hired Kerik as Police Commissioner and recommended him as Homeland Security chief. He also made him a Senior Vice President of Giuliani Partners. The connection is much stronger than suggested in Thursday's accounts. Their relationship should be examined further.

Yet another reason we should be for Romney. Mayor RG is one mistake after another. Its time we back someone who can learn from thier errors and make adjustments not just say oops another mistake.

so either he knew about his buds mob ties and kickbacks (which we all know is the reality even though he will claim stupid (not too hard to do), girlianni is probably working hard to squash his own ties)…. or he is a total moron who could not see the obvious, even though he was a federal prosecutor, riiiight. there he is…. your next crossdressing nominee who will claim to not even realize his bud was accepting side money and favors… but somehow has the integrity and/or smarts to run this country. good luck america.

maybe he really is oblivious to it because the mob kept him busy by sending him new fancy dresses to wear on his trips to minnesota bathrooms.

Judgement is The MOST IMPORTANT thing a President should have…….

3 WIFE's…..?
Ex Priest (child molester)married him to 2nd wife,long time friend…still working for Rudy…?
Made NYC a Sanctuary City….?
Recommended Bernie Kerik for Head of Home land Security….?
NOW Kerik is INDICTED…..?
RUDY for President ….??????????????????

Amazed that this is the latest in a series of bad character revelations, and this guy continues to lead the GOP pack. I thought they were the Party of values!!!

I do believe if Keric would tell the truth, that this could have very well been a plan to get some corruption into our homeland security, thank God that didn't work, can you see it now, Homeland security keric supports tax evasion, and Giuliani probably knew it too?
Just like the illegal immigrants and giving them drivers licenses, hmm…how many happy illegals would that make in the U.S.? and if CNN is correct and their drivers licenses aren't going to be monitored at voting time, how many votes would that get Giuliani?
I think there is a name for doing that for votes?

How many mistakes have Clinton, Obama, Edwards, Thompson, Romney, Richardson, Paul, Huckabee have made in their past?
How many admit that they made a mistake? At least he didn't try to cover it up. Posted By Roger – IL

Rudi's mistakes cost at leasr 100 lives. If the others made mistakes, did anyone die.

Mr. Mayor of the Universe,
Understandingly, I forgive you for checking Bernie Kerik background.
Should I forgive you for misleading the President of the United States to choose a Crock for a top Security job in our Nation History?
Should the State of New York forgive you for making 9/11/ impossible, and making possible a better communication between EMS and the Police?
Should the State of New York forgive you for not naming the State precinct after a crock like your former Police Commissioner?
Should the State of New York forgive you for not dividing the people of New York after the Unarmed, Amadu Diallo, was shot (41) by 4 Police Officers?
Should the tax payers of New York City forgive you for not insulting their family values by tossing the first lady and the first kids out the City Mansion, and then bringing in your girlfriend?
Should the State of New York forgive you for carrying the 9/11/ fund with so much transparency?
Understandingly, America, shouldn’t forgive you for establishing a Security Business and staying in that Business with a crock friend Bernie Kerik.
Mr. Mayor of the Universe, you think you’re smart, but sure you’re not smart enough to fool all the people all the time.
I suppose is time to leave the arrogance, and be wise enough to follow the power of the people with humbleness.

at least guiliani admits when he errs. Hillary will never admit to making a mistake now or if she's elected for 4 yrs. YOu have to ask yourself, can you get used to that

Just an example of Giuliani's headstrong ways even when all evidence should lead him to be otherwise. According to the NYT, there were a TON of people who advised him against Kerik. But did Giuliani give a crap? No.

It's just like when he was mayor of NYC and everyone got sick and tired of him towards the end because he was abusing his powers. He knew people were sick of his ways but he didn't tone it down at all. Kind of like the Bush administration.

Giuliani is viable only because the towers fell about two months before he left office. If the towers had fallen in December, he wouldn't even be a blip on the political scene.

Still, better to have him, as nasty as he is, then the more decent Republican candidates. Religion and politics should not mix.

Could someone PLEASE explain why Rudy is considered a hero for 9/11? Name ONE thing he did that was heroic! He was never at risk, but showed off the site for visiting dignitaries and got loads of photo ops from it.

Posted By Don, SI, NY : November 8, 2007 5:02 pm

I've been wondering the same thing for more than six years now. Rudy did NOTHING beyond what any other public oficial in his position would have done. Truth be known, he's directly responsible for many of the 9/11 deaths because he ordered the city's emergency command center to be located at the site of a previous terrosist attack (the WTC), and ordered non-compatible two-way radios for the police and firefighters. Because the responders could not talk to each other, many of them went their deaths that day needlessly.

Rudy has 9/11 blood on his hands.

Take it from someone who was in the North Tower on that fateful day and saw more fellow Americans jumping to their death than anybody should ever have to see: Rudy Giuliani did NOTHING to prepare us for a terrorist attack.

Why did you see him on TV running through the streets covered in dust? Because the fool insisted against expert advice to place the Command Center on the 23rd floor of the 7th Tower knowing full well that the WTC had been already attacked in 1993.

Why is it that despite him being a native New Yorker Hillary would handily carry the state? Please, Giuliani is a legend in his own mind!!!!

Guiliani is in no way, shape, or form fit to be the president of these United States.

"Yep…why are so many New Yorkers against Rudy. Should this mabye send a signal to the rest of us?"

Because New Yorkers are on another level when it comes to blind partisanship as compared to the rest of this nation.

Current Mayor Bloomburg has an over 70% approval rating yet if he runs for president, over 60% of New Yorkers say they will not vote for him. Why? No little d next to his name (he would run as an independant), it is a billion times worse if you have an R next to your name.

The rudest, most partisan, hateful, dishonest people in the world (true democrats) voted for a republican, that shows you how incredible Rudy is. Close to 90% of NYers voted for Kerry, you are going to tell me that Rudy did a bad job to get these people's support for re-election?

Rudy being elected in New York is equal to Joe Lieberman being elected in Iran.

Don you are absolutely right , Guilliani I should have said portrayed an Image of a leader during the events of 911 .

IT was a poor decision very poor , Kerik is and was then in so much trouble ,he should have been AUTOMATICALLY disqualified for that position .

It was a very poor decision for rudy , poor management skill that no doubt romney and the other will use against him .

Did the Clinton Campaign send out a memo to bash Rudy in the comments?
You people are being really silly. If Mrs. Clinton was held to the standard you are talking about she would not be allowed to run. Quit casting stones about someone you obviously already did not like because of your own agenda.

Mike from Panama City, and everyone else –

Could someone PLEASE explain why Rudy is considered a hero for 9/11? Name ONE thing he did that was heroic! He was never at risk, but showed off the site for visiting dignitaries and got loads of photo ops from it.

THEN he has the nerve to respond to first responders' health claims by saying HE was there as much as them! HE didn't inhale a fraction of a percent of what the real heroes had to!

I may not know contaminated air from clean air scientifically, but I know his BS when I hear it!

What I will never clearly understand is how all of us sit here on our little pedestals and point fingers about the mistakes all of the candidates are making/ have made. Are you willing to sacrifice your life and your time to run for office, could you secure the presidential nomination based on your flawless background? I think we should all sit back and reflect a little before we fly off at the mouth about these candidates. I think Rudy has made some mistakes, but as a true Republican — he is the best we have got, now isn't he?

Rudy made a fortune on 9-11. Now he wants the Presidency. Consevatives say Liberals are incapable of acknowledging evil. Why don't Conservatives recognize THAT evil?

It is time for US to stand up for America and say ENOUGH!!!!

Stop the madness ~ tell Rudy to be looking for the next Mrs. the current one can find out during an interview … that's how he does it … right?

I don't buy it , Its to late Rudy .

He knew that erik was invoved in all of this hoopla and still he daired to recommend kerik to bush for the position assistant homeland security .

I mean just because you and him were heroes on 9/11 doesnt mean that you are above the law .

Rudy may be horrendous at preparing for and helping to prevent terrorist attacks, and at choosing people to serve in his administration, and at telling the truth, etc. But he's soooo grrrrreeeeeat at responding to a terrorist attack with a hardhat and a steely look to inspire people! We need him in the White House to ensure that 1) we have LOTS of terrorist attacks on American soil, and 2) we have a president who offers us a phony sense of comfort while we bury the dead.

When he was mayor, he also fired ANYONE who disagreed with him! He went through several School Chancellors who disagreed with Rudy on curriculum and fired Police Chief Bill Bratton who worked his way up the ranks in Boston from patrolman to Chief since Bratton thought for himself.

Meanwhile, who kept their jobs? People like Child Protective Services head Nick Schopetta (sp?), even though several kids supposedly being supervised made headlines for being abused literally to death, and Bernard Kerik, former Corrections Department head-turned-Police Chief who since plead guilty for not withholding Social Security from his kids' nanny's salary, and is now in deeper hot water for alleged tax evasion and fraud!

Disagree with Rudy, and he tossed you out. Keep nodding and saying "Yes" and your job is safe, no matter how bad a job you're doing.

Rudy's only running for President because he can't be elected Dictator.

Yep…why are so many New Yorkers against Rudy. Should this mabye send a signal to the rest of us?

Hey Rudy, instead of mentioning 9/11 and trashing Hillary in every speech, why don't you worry about your own moral terpitude???

You, sir, were a petty mini dictator as a mayor and would be an even worse one as president. Why is it that most of us who live in the NYC area and know how this creep operates have come to detest him? Republicans, think about that before you make him your nominee.

Some of you question Hillary's past, but she's Mother Teresa next to this very nasty man. If you don't believe me go talk to his previous wives, his children or the NYFD and the NYPD.

I agree Giuliani is scum but I have one question worth an answer, Giulani and Kerik started a security business of some kind after he was booted out of NYC, is he still in business with Kerik?

Rudy. Pro abortion but asserts he'll appoint judges who will outlaw abortion. That makes a lot of sense

haha…where shall we start?

he made a "mistake" in not thoroughly vetting former New York City Police Commissioner Bernie Kerik. (wow! Really!???)

voters should instead focus on his entire mayoral record when evaluating his candidacy. (rudy – do you really wanna push that button?)

"I think voters should look at it, and what they should say is in that particular case I made a mistake," Giuliani said . . . "I made a mistake in not clearing him effectively enough . . ."

"But when you balance that mistake against all the successes that we had and the reality that you make some mistakes and you make some correct decisions, I think the overwhelming record is a record of great success."

Giuliani's comments come the same day federal prosecutors are expected to indict Kerik on charges of tax fraud, corruption, and conspiracy counts.

You're right Rudy. If you can pick someone who is a tax fraud, corrupt and a conspirator to be the police chief of America's premier city, then you should have no problem pushing Osama Bin Laden's nomination as Secretary of State through Congress.

I'm joking of course, but what Rudy and the rest of the idiots who like to vote for people like him don't get is that this is a major demonstration of his judgment. Haven't you had enough of Bush's misjudgments (Gonzales, Rumsfeld) and Cheyney's demagogues (Wolfowitz, Libby, etc) for one lifetime? You need not worry about Al Qaeda with this guy in office – he'll push the Doomsday button for them!

BTW, isn't it interesting that the most venomous comments about Rudy come from his former city?

MR. GIULIANI IS THIS ONE OF THOSE DECISIONS AMOUNG THE MANY THAT YOU HAVE MADE, THAT AS YOU CLAIMED WOULD HAVE MADE US SAFER?

The greatest mistake Guilliani is making is wasting our time. He will never win the Republican nomination. Never. He did an okay job w/911 but that was his only hurrah. He's yesterday news. And w/Robertson endorsing him? "birds of a feather….." need I say more?

Okay, now let's see – he didn't investigate him properly when he appointed him New York City Police Commissioner. Then he did a bad job of vetting Kerik prior to pushing him to the Bush Administration for the job of head of security in Iraq. Then he gets another chance to look closer at Kerik and still doesn't do a proper job before pushing him for Secretary of DHS.

And then, the final straw, he goes into a business partnership with Kerik – the ultimate lack of responsible stewardship.

You can't have these kinds of relationships with people without detecting SOMETHING is wrong. Do you think Giuliani knew all the time!!??

No one is perfect. Rudy's record speaks for itself. I think he did the right thing politically by admitting fault. All in all, he is the most qualified candidate.

A very wise person once told me that while it is okay to make mistakes and learn from them, what you really want to do is not make other people's mistakes, either

That's what this country needs – someone who is smart enough not to come into office, only to make a whole different set of mistakes.

Rudy Giuliani is insane and completely creeps me out. And such a phony. Well, considering his strong support for the other insane repubs (Bush & Cheney), I wish him all the worst.

Giuliani don't worry about Kerik – you cut your throat when you crawled in bed with Robertson – you won't get my vote anymore

All I can say Guiliani, it is really a big big mistake. We don't need your mistakes to keep going. We are ready anyway for change. The economy is not doing well.

Correct Adole and Ron! I sincerely hope that the true picture of Guiliani comes into sharp focus as the days go by. He is a very misguided and dangerous man. Also, egomaniacal. If Rudy is elected, I suspect we may wish we had W back in office (as if we could). Now that is scary, indeed.

He wants everyone to focus on the big picture? LOL! Can he contradict himself anymore? All he ever talks about is 9/11 this and 9/11 that. This guy lies more to the American people than he does to his 3 wives and kids!

Mother always said: 'You are known by the company you keep". Let us not replace the Bush crime family with the Giuliani crime family.

"The Obama campaign has not responded to CNN’s request for comment."

Thank you CNN for your tireless efforts to get to the bottom of this urgent matter. The fact that CNN 1. ran this article and 2, followed up on the story, makes me want to cry. They will eat these apocryphal spoon-fed RNC-inspired antics every time. I can think of, oh about 1,000 more important stories to follow up on.

Puhleeeeeeeease grow up!!

Rudy, you're almost as good a judge of character as your hero gshrub. Did you look into his eyes and see his soul? Sorry, if you have judgement issues such as this, is it possible you're not fit to lead this country. I believe you're not the right man. Sorry, you lie down with dogs…you're no different, and playing dumb now just emphasizes it all.

Rudy Giuliani is unfit to led this country. The man has shown a lack of perspective in planning and making rational decisions. He is an arrogant, sordid, immoral individual. His personal life makes Bill Clinton look like a saint. He has built his alter over the dead bodies of those who lost their lives due to the dereliction of duty on his part and of the Bush administration.

Knowing all about Guliani, it is a shame that more than 50% of married republican men are going to support this man if he gets nominated. These people do not have self conscious and act what their party tells them to do. Luckily majority of independents and democtrats are going to support a democrat and will not make that grave mistake electing a republican as in 2004.

Sir,
With all due respects, would you honestly elect someone who is very close associate to the former New York Police commissioner, for the Presidency of United States of America?

no he won't be. hell i almost forgot who he is!!

Let's be fair, people. It's easy to criticize someone who has been in the public eye (not behind their cheatin' husband president)in charge of a huge metropolis like NYC. So you don't like some of the things the guy did while Mayor. But the guy was elected by New Yorkers, so obviously they liked him. He did a LOT of great stuff for NYC – cleaned up a lot of its mess. Crime was lower in NYC than Columbus, Ohio a few years ago. So let's not jump on the Rudy bashing bandwagon.

Please, tell me who is your close friend, and then I will tell you who you really are.

Please, tell who is your close friend, and then I will tell you who are.

What's even worse is that he pushed Kerik as head of DHS nonstop to the Bush Administration.

Now, if he can't even make sound judgments as Mayor, what the hell are we going to have to put up with if this guy gets to be president?

OK, so Rudy made a bad call on someone's character. Does Hillary really want to make this an issue? The same thing about "moral character". It seems that these are areas that both cadidates may want to avoid. Which leaves only the candidates' stand on the issues as something that voters can use to decide an election. Imagine that, voting on issues. What a concept.

Guiliani is a man who admits he made a mistake. Did Bill Clinton? Or did he lie about it and be convicted of perjury? And as far as voters going for Mitt Romney, I'm one of those who was going to vote for Mitt, but it's going to take Rudy to take some democrats, so I'm going with Rudy!

"Does anyone notice a pattern here? Whether it's racist television stars or questionable politicians, this trend of "say or do it, waiting for the backlash, then going on some show or website apologizing for it" is all too familiar. For all politicians (and anyone else on tv), Americans are smarter than you people think, so stop insulting our intelligence with your meager tactics and hypocritical tendencies. Get it together!!

Posted By Stan, Omaha,NE : November 8, 2007 12:47 pm"

Stan, you are giving the American public way too much credit. Most Americans are stupid, that's why most of these political games work!

It's kind of amusing that there are NO comments on the Obama debacle, but plenty on Rudy Giliani's article. If you're voting for Obama, you better make sure the guy at least pretends to act like he's had an American History lesson! Americans takes their national anthem and flag VERY seriously.

I guess this election between Rudy & Hillary is based on who gets caught more in the lies and deceit, the person with the lesser of anything wins!

How many mistakes have Clinton, Obama, Edwards, Thompson, Romney, Richardson, Paul, Huckabee have made in their past?

How many admit that they made a mistake? At least he didn't try to cover it up.

This is why going from the mayor of a city to the most powerful man in the world is a bit too big of a leap.

It's about time Rudy and his *mistakes* just went away.

Rudy the lies and deception come out!

Guilliani should also be asked if he made a mistake when he tossed his wife and two children out of the mayor's mansion and moved his girlfriend in.

Sure Rudy, we understand. Hey, Rudy, how about the lack of communications between EMS and police…should we forgive you for that too. Sure, we can forgive. But when you use your experience..as a reason to become the next President of our nation, well, mabye I oughta think a little longer. Great prosecutor, O.K. mayor, visible after 9-11, but because of his fiscal policies fire/law enforcement really didn't have all the tools they needed, and hey, every political leader in NY had a photo op in front of the trade center. O.K. so we take away all that and just evaluate him on whats left…erhh…erhh…erhh…erhh..well we forgive you Rudy.

Duh…"You think"! Even though I don't agree with you or your record (what a joke) I'll accept that admission, but the US is not NYC, and at this level mistakes like that can cost lives and careers of others.

And Rudy, you also made a bigger mistake hyping Kerik for the job in Homeland Security, where it could have had even larger implications. Don't just chalk this up as misplaced loyalty or an error in judgement. It says a lot about an arrogant bombast who certainly does not have the street cred to be president.

Kerik= 1 mistake
How many more are there?
And he is not showing his smirk this time.

New Republican polls from Iowa and New Hampshire testifies to how difficult it will be for Rudy to get the nomination. He is crushed in both states by Mitt Romney. Link to both polls.

Great, Rudy makes a mistake, and it's OK.

But, let Hillary make one……..?!?!?!

Some politicians hunt, some golf , that seems American.
Rudy and his law firm sells American soil to foreign countries for profit as an UNPATRIOTIC OPPERTUNIST. Just google Rudy Superhighway. I do not think a person running for president should be doing something as un-American as this. The media does not tell you this do they? Rudy has a LONG ugly past. Rudy is supportive of the CFR also, that is not for AMERICA!
Let’s take our country back and send a message to the two party system that threw us taxpayers overboard 16 plus years ago, and has us by our short hairs! Vote for a candidate who will restore government to a workable size and follow the constitution!

Does anyone notice a pattern here? Whether it's racist television stars or questionable politicians, this trend of "say or do it, waiting for the backlash, then going on some show or website apologizing for it" is all too familiar. For all politicians (and anyone else on tv), Americans are smarter than you people think, so stop insulting our intelligence with your meager tactics and hypocritical tendencies. Get it together!!

You mean to tell me that Rudy Giuliani didn't know the COMPLETE background of his POLICE COMMISSIONER!!??

Why would we want this guy to run our country, let alone give him any kudos for after 9/11?

Just one more reason we need more Statesmen and less Politicians.

Cronyism at its worst…….the country cannot afford to have a President who makes "mistakes" like this.

Yes, lets look at his mayoral record which includes putting Wall Street ahead of the lives of rescue workers and residents around ground zero. He held back city tests that showed the air was lethal. He told residents to clean up the 9/11 lethal dust with a mop and broom. He did not enforce the use of safety equipment for the rescue workers. And he also didn't get the firefighters the radios that worked though he had 8 years since the last trade center bombing to fix it. Instead he bought radios from Motorola that didn't work and so they had to use the old ones that didn't work. Yes, his record tells us a lot about him. Combine that with his coverup of his mafia family past (his father broke legs for his uncles loan shark business and was a convicted felon) and his hot-headed temper and we find a man who definitely should not be making complicated decisions on national policy nor have his finger on the button to release nuclear weapons. Electing Giuliani would be a terrible mistake, that is sure.

That is exactly what I want in a President. Someone who will throw his long time friend under a bus in order to further advance his own career.

Rudy Giuliani has been able to court social conservatives on his pledge to appoint strict constructionist judges. He obviously couldn't be trusted to vet whom he recommended for Homeland Security Chief. Why should be trusted to do any better job at vetting the judges he nominates?

Makes you wonder how many more skeletons you have in your closet.
Sorry you lost my vote!

Ya think?What a former prosecutor and mayor.The police commisioner is commiting crimes right under your nose and you don't know a thing about it?That's why on 9/10 you were one of the worst mayor's in history.That's also why om 9/12 the NYPD and the NYFD wanted nothing to do with you.

Rudy fans don't know squat about this phony.He's the least qualified candidate for president since Pat Robertson.No wonder Robertson endorsed him.

There's nothing funny about what will happen to this country if this scum got elected.Anyone that thinks he will end corruption in government is a fool.At least a mugger has the integrity to let you know you're being mugged!

Strong on national security?World War III is almost a sure thing!How secure will you feel then?Your children will never grow up to give you grandchildren.

Was it also 'just' a mistake to put the Emergency Services Office in the World Trade Center against others recommendations? Was it 'just' a mistake to not upgrade communications systems for first responders, so that they could communicate with each other on 9/11, as recommended after the first attacks on the World Trade Center?

And he thinks that he is qualified to be Commander and Chief?

Many would differ!

Man, the Bush administration attracts crooks like sugar attreacts flies! The crooks know if the boss can do it so can we. They all wanted to join his band of merry crooks. Robin Hood stole from the rich to give to the poor – GWB steals from the poor and middle class to give to the rich! IMPEACH BUSH & CHENEY – there is still time.

Of course Rudy. We are expected to just forgive you and look at all the positive that you have done. But then, we would be doing the exact thing we did when we elected Bush. Sorry, but I don't think America is willing to repeat that mistake.

And when you focus on his entire mayoral record – especially everything up to September 10, 2001, when most New Yorkers considered him scum – you'll agree with me that the only way Rudy Giuliani belongs in the White House is as a tourist taking the White House Tour.