CNN

As mayor, Rudy was entitled to police protection – even on his days off. Does it really matter if he was in the Hamptons on his day off? No – he could have been anywhere, and the taxpayers would have had to pay for the protection.

The issue is how that protection was paid for. It is *supposed* to be paid for by the mayor's office. Instead, it was paid for by other offices, like the Office for People with Disabilities.

Several days after the story broke, a former deputy mayor and campaign staff member, said that the money was always repaid by the end of the year.

The questions to be asking are:

1. If Rudy did nothing wrong, then why were the expenses not paid for by his office?

2. If Rudy did nothing wrong, then why did he refuse to answer questions raised by the Comptroller in 2002?

For the record:

1. I am a Democrat

2. I have no problem with Rudy having 24 hour protection paid for by the taxpayers

3. I have a problem with the money coming out of other people's budgets.

4. I think both Rudy and Hillary have shady pasts and we've seen only the tip of the iceberg.

5. Please, please, please, let us have someone other than Hillary win the Democratic nomination.

Between Giuliani and his wife there are at least six marriages.

YAWN...

I just wish Giuliani to be nominated. He is beatable.

rob san diego,,,, as I agree with many of your points,its not that easy. Bush was put into a commandre and chief role by 9-1-1 along with the legacy he was trying to establish for himself, I think he was trying to establish an american stance on terror. based on Russia's total loss in afganistan in the past, I believe bush thought it would be a much easier to win the hearts and minds of the people of Iraq towards terror first then focus back on afganistan with a friend in the region. how horribly wrong it went . he should have listened to his heart when he said he would get Bin laden in the days after 9-1-1 and not rumsfeld. His biggest mistake was not being honest about how hard it would be stop terror as related to the middle east. Shock an AW what a joke, terrorist do not mind dying. My point here is bush would have come and gone as persident if not for the events of 9-1-1, this man never ran or considered him self as a war president. the opportunity presented itself and as self serving as some would believe or not, he took it

The water getting a little rough out there Rudy?
Just answer the questions?
Not to much to ask one running for President.
If you start ducking here and ducking there you will somewhere and some time surface at the wrong time. Or to late.
I think Rudy wants to hide something.

If its true....then lets see all the facts of this – and make up our own minds....yet....there is only rhetoric...please please please do me a favor....can you say "prove it" – before you jump up and down and slam someone?? (doesn't matter if you are Republican or Democrat....) – I see the feeding frenzy start....sad commentary on a numb society that has a percentage of the population actually embracing socialism (yes...Hillary supporters....look up Saul Alinsky....Hillarys teacher...and author of the entitlist movement which she follows to this day...)

Is this how he would respond to tough questions and criticism in office? Run and hide and have your low-level lackies take the heat for you? Oh wait, we already have a president that does that. Seems to be a trend among republicans. Skirting the issues and leaving the American public in the dark. Scandals and corruption. I think the only thing a republican could do to further soil their party's image would be to commit murder.

Folks, from the right or left, we need to focus on a candidate that is totally against this outrageous war in Iraq.
I've always said that no one, other than Paul Wolfowitz and GW Bush, would have taken this country to a Iraq, as a response to 9-11. We needed to go after Al Qeada, not Iraq! Bush thought this would be an quick, easy victory, and that he would be greeted as a liberator. He would then install a quick and easy democratic government, right?!! He thought this would make him a "wartime president" and his legacy would be sealed in history. It was never about oil. It's about his legacy! He never dreamed that it would turn out this way- thus the total lack of preparedness for a post war Iraq. Can he ever say "I was wrong". Hell no. This war has cost us 10s of thousands of lives or limbs (not to mention 20,000+ brains injuries) and the hearts and minds of billions of people around the globe. People all over this world had empathy for America after 9-11. We squandered all of this by attacking Iraq, rather than going after Al Qeada. What a stupid excuse for a president!!!!!!!

Guiliani SUCKS!!!!!

Lets see. rudy spends tax payer money to court his girl friend while his wife sits at home, then denies it. he cross dresses, lives with two gay me, lies about his back ground.states he has done nothing wrong. want's to start w.w.3. this is what the republicans want in a president.he's their kind of guy.

Rudy – a corrupt politician lacking character, integrity, and moral fiber. He is wholly unsuitable and unqualified to be President. He is just like the current occupant except worse.

This guy gets way too much ink!

Anyone can be a fool,,

If elected will Rudy stick us with a Secret Service bill protecting his next mistress?

Toll Road Rudy is toast – no more smoke and mirrors!

Rudy will make Dubyah Bush Junior look like an amateur when it comes to being arrogant. This little incident just provides the public with a little clue as to his attitude.
And in the foreign policy sphere, he listens to the same neo-con crowd that got us into the Iraq mess, people who use America as a tool of the right wing factions in Israel rather than promoting our own rational self interest. (or the interest of the sane people of Israel)

HELLO… RUDY ANSWERED THE QUESTION DURING THE DEBATE. WHICH PART DIDN'T YOU UNDERSTAND? IS THERE AN INVESTIGATION GOING ON??

CNN and the rest of the liberal biased media are nothing but transparent partisans attempting to shape American politics. Get lost dominions.., your shameful misuse of our 1st Constitutional Amendment is disgusting. We will not forget.

Jonathon from Holiday, FL:

Check the records, Judith Giuliani was only protected once he was separated from Hanover. The mayor and his significant other are not just allowed to have police protection, the are required to have it. If you have a problem with his security detail take it up with the administrators who wrote the mayoral security policies, not the mayor.

To the rest of Rudy's detractors who posted: Just admit that you have a political agenda to elect a dem and that you fear Rudy's campaign because he is almost assured election if and when he get the nomination. You all seem so concerned about honesty, perhaps it's time to practice what you preach.

Like his indicted former police commissioner, Giuliani is a crook ranging from using public money for his extra-martitial affairs, to making money from security contracts with govts for his personal secutity firms.

eyckie toronto,,, people from canada squat on our beaches and take up too many rooms at the hotels in disney world. they inject there oppinions in our political processes and other affairs like what they say means more than the citizens who live here. If you really want to help call hillary and beg her not to model her health care plan after your country. then hang up on yourself !!!

jw canadian I dont hate any one,, simply pointing out both candidates have disqualified themselves by there own actions,, better luck next time

Giuliani will run a corrupt government beause he can't separate himself from corruption. He will not answer to the American people because he's too arrogant. To use public officials to transport him to and from his mistresses house because of threats on his life. If there were any threats they probably came from her husbands who wanted to kick his butt.

I was beginning to think I was the only person to remember when Rudy moved his mistress into the Mayor's home occupied by his wife and children. Why do his children refuse to speak to him? It's obvious. This scandal involving a mistress who he now wants to make first lady out-does any political shenannigans I've ever witnessed - and that covers many years and 12 presidential campaigns!

GOOGLE the Security and prosperity partenrship of north america.

SPP.gov
the 'conspiracy theorists' call it the north american union.

The southern corridor of the North American Super highway is being built in Texas now. It is being built using our tax dollars.

When it is built it will be a toll road operated by a foreign (Spanish) company called CINTRA. Cintra will operate it for 50 years, built with your money while they keep the profits and the non toll roads are left in disrepair.

THE LAW FIRM IN AMERICA FOR CINTRA IS GIULIANI"S FIRM.

He is part of those that are selling you out. He is another devil like Hillary.

Pink Floyd said it best "Money its a gas. Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash. New car, caviar, four star daydream, think i'll buy me a football team." Money is a necessary evil, but I still get downtrodden when I see the federal reserve destroying our currency by printing more and more for crazy profits to stay afloat, without the gold and other precious metals to back it up. Three dollar gas is scary, but so is four dollar milk and bread. Wave bye-bye to the middle-class, as for poor plebes like me, deer meat and pork and beans can keep me alive and kicking for a long, long, long time.
RON PAUl 2008!

Republicans are war mongers and child molesters. At least Hilary is a decent human being. They only thing anyone has on the dems is coloured in shades of gray. A candidate whose husband cheated on her is not big news. Look into any business and you will find something a little shady. But... Republicans cheat with members of their own sex or children. They preach Christian principals and have sex in public bathrooms. Puleeze. Compared to Republicans, Democrats are Mary Poppins.

OK Wilkes, we got it, you hate Hillary.

How can anyone tell the media to stick to the issues. It is a huge issue when a presidential candidate has been corrupt in the past, used government funds for his own use and then tried to hide it. Don't you want to know of these criminals are? If people don't know the truth about these white collar criminals then you could very well end up with another Bush. The world doesn't need that!

No questions about it at the conference? ALA HILLARY is RUDY planting softball questions?

ANSWER THE QUESTION we need to know RUDY! Hence, WILL YOU USE MY TAX DOLLAR TO GO BOINK THE INTERN DOWN THE STREET?

SHEESHUS RUDY, Dress in DRAG and make believe your hand is you!

Hey folks! Remember that as long as we are talking about immigration, we are NOT talking about the war in Iraq, gas prices or the housing market. Do you manipulated? I do and I refuse to fall for it.

You can't run from the truth, Giuliani.

For Rudy,
"Turn out the Lights, The Party is Over"

Rudy in true republican fashion is calling for military expansion and spending. Perhaps he needs a secure and secret location for his next concubine until her grand unveiling when he tires of his current spouse.
And to the Hillary haters. I may not support her in the caucuses but your henchmen spent 8 years and 43 million of our tax dollars trying to dig up a skeleton on her and came up with BUTKUS. Nothing, Zilch, natta. Of couse Faux news and the plethera of hate jocks and rightwing talking heads won't admit this but there it is. The jury has returned and the suspect is innocent.

Dave Gaithersburg MD,,,,,, White water ? travel gate ? covering up for her husbands affair with an intern ? using her her powerful hubands political connections to squash rederick againts her, plant members of her campaign at republican debates to ask pointed questions, and her own refusal to answer any hard questions with solid answers ? where have you been my friend ? mars ?

Wrong again TOM,,, Being presidential is rudy's one and only quality that got him this far. As with hillary his lack of experience and laundry list of scandels will catch up to him.As with hillary hanging around qualified people or just happening to be there when important or tragic events take place does not qualify you to lead the country.

"Some random accountant goofed and didn't reimburse. That's all this is. Now can the media please leave the mayor alone and let him conduct his campaign?
Posted By Dan (Baltimore, MD) :"

>>>>>>>>>>>> What a hoot! Dan is willing to overlook fraud, bend the truth and attempts, like Rudy, to ignore the facts. You can't but the character issues aside – morally corrupt, thin-skinned excuse that the facts are a "hit job." Excuses, excuses, excuses... do you want Rudy appointing his friend Bernie to another high office, would you? Or are you so loyal, it doesn't matter ...

"David from Bay area CA ",,,,, I can easly think of one

Anyone who supports this scumbag should have his voting priveleges revoked.

"No members of the audience asked Giuliani about the story during the town hall meeting. Looks to me like the Media is making more out of this than the voters care to…"

Um, the audience was made up of Giuliani supporters. Do you REALLY think this amoral liar and 9-11 exploiter and his followers are representative of ALL of America?

"Let's stick to the ISSUES please, CNN, and not get sucked into the muck."

Corruption of a twice-divorced, thrice-married loser whose children hate him is huge news. I hope it rips out your guts, 'cause guess what?

Giuliani is finished. Good riddance to brainless garbage.

The whole Republican field is a bunch of Bush butt licking, anti-science, ignorant hicks (except for Ron Paul). I've never seen such cowards running for office.

Posted By KEITH JAMES LOUTTIT : November 30, 2007 5:50 pm

Giuliani is going to find that the door WILL hit his butt on the way out...lie, cheat, try to cover-up by flat denial and you WILL be caught sometime down the road...then consequences will have to be paid. Can't wait for this idiot to get his...

What is this guy gonna bring to the White House? His 9-11 experience? Then what? This guy isn't qualified to sell fries on the capital mall. Seems he's plenty dishonest for the job though. Oh that's right. That's what we are trying to get rid of, our dishonest inept politicians.

Giuliani did not "duck" the question, CNN. No more than your pet, Hillary "ducked" the DNC speech. Who's working for you guys CNN? Check their work, they are making stupid mistakes at your expense.

RUDY...Go back with the thugs...You're not presendtial

This is the only candidate that will force me to vote for Hillary. Hillary, in my opinion, would make a horrible President, but I would rather have her as President than Rudy! Come on Republicans, lets nominate someone with true conservative values like Thompson, Romney, or Ron Paul. If its Hillary vs. Rudy, Hillary will have my vote.

Boy when people get their head stuck in the sand, they are willing to overlook anything. Tax fraud speaks volumes to me. We are already overtaxed with no return on investment and an ever increasing war debt as a result of extreme ignorance, or less than appropriate values. To say that it's okay for politicians to launder taxpayer money is truly being ignorant. This guy is so corrupt and if he gets elected we are in for even more difficulties than the present corrupt administration is bestowing upon us. It's time we wake up and really take note of what's going on around us. To vote for a candidate because he just happened to be in NYC during 911 and we know his name, but has no redeeming qualities otherwise, is truly very ignorant.

Many people are still upset at the members of congress who didn't read the paperwork discussing potential war in Iraq before it happened, need to do their own homework when it comes to supporting candidates. Don't just read what other gossiping bloggers are writing and "buy into it". Our country deserves better than that. Take the time to know what the different candidates stand for.

To Dan from Baltimore,

That is not at all what happened. The short story is that he had police protect his wife and his girlfriend. People are crying foul because they believe it was a waste of money.

Yes, he should have paid a private company to provide protection for his lovers. I am a democrat and don't think that this issue really matters. Seriously, how much money was truely "wasted?" However, I would feel differently if I discovered that the police officers did not answer calls while providing protection. Now that would be a crime!

This is not an issue???!!! A candidate for the most powerful position in the free world was using taxpayer monies to finance rendevous' with his mistress, and then attempting to hide that fact, is not an issue? What about Bill Clinton's "issue"? At least he didn't charge the cigars to the American people.
Posted By Bill, Topeka, KS. : November 30, 2007 8:36 pm

HaHaHa! Where do you think those cigars came from? His own plantation? Of course WE paid for them.

AND: Rudy, as Mayor, like any other Mayor, was ENTITLED to full protection. What do they do in Topeka? Let your mayor go unprotected? I don't think so. Maybe you should read what Dan from Baltimore wrote? Or can you read? It looks to me like you only know what you hear on Comedy Central.

I still can't believe that Giuliani had the gumption to think he could survive the primaries, let alone become president with the trail of rotting crap he's left in his wake. RG always bore a physical similarity to Oswald Cobblepot, that other mayor of Gotham City; now it seems the similarities are way more than physical. I really hope he keeps fighting these allegations just so America can see the belly of the beast.

Misuse of public funds? Would that be when he moved his girlfriend into the official mayoral residence at Gracie Mansion – while his wife was still living there, too?

Not sure I want my taxpayer money supporting Rudy's family values.

Don't bother to stick a fork into this turkey – he cooked himself.

I wonder if thinks the action he got out in the Hamptons was worth it now..........

First Bernard Kerik and now this!!! Is it not enough for American people to see through Rudy?

We don't need a corrupt New York City mayor in the White House that's for sure. We are not that desperate.

Rudy, just drop out of the race and you'll be better off – who knows what kind of a monster is waiting in the closet that has yet to come out.

No members of the audience asked Giuliani about the story during the town hall meeting. Most of the questions were about illegal immigration, a flashpoint issue in this booming coastal area near Hilton Head.

Looks to me like the Media is making more out of this than the voters care to…

Let's stick to the ISSUES please, CNN, and not get sucked into the muck.

Posted By KEITH JAMES LOUTTIT : November 30, 2007 5:50 pm

Keith-

This is not an issue???!!! A candidate for the most powerful position in the free world was using taxpayer monies to finance rendevous' with his mistress, and then attempting to hide that fact, is not an issue? What about Bill Clinton's "issue"? At least he didn't charge the cigars to the American people.

Giuliani is corrupt, arrogant and unqualified. I hope this is the beginning of the end of his campaign.

Between the last debate and this latest news, we should stick a fork in "Ghouliani" because he is done.

The media is a disgrace. The funds may have been handled inappropriately, but it's so obvious that the mayor of NYC doesn't have time to be doing the accounting. If they think he ordered it and didn't actually do it, then they have to ask why such an obvious budget strategy would be employed which would only raise red flags.

Rudy Giuliani's former deputy mayor already addressed this. The police officers who are ordered to protect the mayor have to submit their own travel reimbursement. When those funds were reimbursed by the police, it would take months to get back to them. When it was channeled through other programs it would get back to them quicker. Those programs were later reimbursed by the police budget. Some random accountant goofed and didn't reimburse. That's all this is. Now can the media please leave the mayor alone and let him conduct his campaign?

I can't wait for Giuliani to be knocked out of the race. He's no better than Bush (even worse if you read up on everything about him *except* 9/11) and would lead us to angering the entire world.

This guy isn't worthy of such a title as President.

Of course Rudy will duck questions, he has a history of bad decisions. The often quoted great accomplishment of "cleaning up New York" was a clear deception that some reporters should ask about. Taking homeless folks and bums off the streets of NYC and shipping them upstate to cities like Buffalo, Albany, and Troy only shifted the problem and was a underhanded ruse on Rudy's part.

Those people are still homeless and bums – just somebody else's problem, great accomplishment!

Is this the kind of smoke and mirrors Rudy has in mind as President?

Just say no – To Rudy!

No members of the audience asked Giuliani about the story during the town hall meeting. Most of the questions were about illegal immigration, a flashpoint issue in this booming coastal area near Hilton Head.

Looks to me like the Media is making more out of this than the voters care to...

Let's stick to the ISSUES please, CNN, and not get sucked into the muck.

therealist:

Fox covered this scandal. Does CNN control them? Can you not defend Rudy with anything more substantive than an attack on the messenger? Provide factual vindication for your protests of his innocence and maybe CNN will interview you.

The truth is no less true for its brutality. Maybe you will one day reclaim your basic human reason and see all this anti-media hype for what it is, a bright RED herring.

Rudy is a corrupt city-politician who proved to be photogenic on 9/11. Yes he was a great public face on that day but that one moment of brightness does not nearly compensate for the other 9/11 facts which include his not having provided the police and fire fighters the communications equipment that might have saved many lives. He is inadequate at best and this little scandal is but one of many to come. That he is a frontrunner speaks volumes about the dearth of decent Republicans willing to take on what Bush will leave behind. That many fundamentalists are supporting him speaks to the ultimate shallowness of their commitment to "family values" which we all know is simply a rubric underwhich they list their many prejudices against those they do not want living next door. Rudy is a thug.

The implosion of the Rudy Giuliani for President campaign has begun. This scandal and other unsavory events about Rudy will finish him off before New Years. This man is not Presidential.

To therealist:

The study also showed that people feel Faux News is the most politically slanted. If you take their numbers out, the overall averages drop into the low 40's.

I agree with David. Rudy has gotten pretty far for a guy with no credibility.
His law firm's association with foreign usurpers of America's sovereignty leaves me cold too.

Oh.,,btw,, I once supervised a shipping and receiving dept at a small business,,,,Can I tout my trade qualifications??

since he is dodging the question you know this stuff is true. If it was a 'hitjob" as he explained it...then he would have come up with some information, but you can't argue with facts

'I can't think of any candidate from either party with so much baggage and so few qualifications.'

I can. Hillary.

First lady and a shortly lived Senator with a very shady history.

The mayor was well, a mayor and has a very shady history.

When I think about who the 2 leading options (at the moment)are for next a tear comes to my eye.

I think i'll just vote for the old guy that lives near my house. He does some good illogical ranting that sounds better.

"Already explained it"? Denied it, maybe, but NYC city auditors and police say that Rudy stonewalled them & refused to account for the shuffling of expenses into inappropriate accounts OR for the use of police chauffeur service for his girlfriend.
Why do politicians never, never learn that they can't make facts disappear by denying them?

If this is the beginning of the end of the Guiliani presidential bid, then let me just be the first to say, thank God. That he's even gotten this far with so much support is astonishing. I can't think of any candidate from either party with so much baggage and so few qualifications.