Reihan: Priceless Giuliani Moments

There are too many to count in Michael Powell's piece on the Giuliani's radio days, but here's one:

Gravel-voiced Joe from Dutchess County asked in 1999 why the mayor did not attack President Clinton at a fund-raising dinner. When the program returned after a commercial break it sounded as if Joe still was on the line. It was the mayor, imitating Joe’s dese-dem-dere voice.

“This is, uh, Joe from, ahhh, Dutchess County. I unnerstan’ youse went too easy the other night because people applauded or they didn’t applaud for ya or sumthin’—I don’t remember.” Mr. Giuliani giggled. Then he speculated that maybe Joe was a long-term resident of a state prison.

I don't know quite what to think of Giuliani these days, but I do know I admired him back then. So much so that I was at one point pretty enthusiastic about a Giuliani presidential run. This, of course, begs the question: what about Giuliani's alleged racial insensitivity, a subject that comes up in the article? To my mind, Giuliani would have profited from access to a wider circle of advisors and experts. I mean, I think that is generally true about all of us. But I also think it is better to speak frankly to anyone irrespective of their background. Abusive harangues are bad, but it's important to remember that Giuliani was an equal opportunity offender in this regard. He reduced plenty of white men to tears. I'd rather deal with someone profoundly unpleasant than someone who condescends

Comments

Giuliani's notorious mean streak is actually a reason I'm excited about him. I believe you can't be an effective leader without having rough edges. Having worked in politics, and knowing the meanness that goes on backstage while politicians belabor to project an image of well spirited wholesomness, I'd rather have someone who's actually upfront about being a bully. (This is also true about Sarkozy, by the way.)

Posted by PEG | October 5, 2007 6:02 PM

I used to love Giuliani, when he was putting away mafia thugs and at the same time dragging wall street thugs off the floor of the NYSE in cuffs, I could not imagine a better person to run NYC. I hoped then that he would become mayor and was ecstatic when he did. I actually thought the way he dealt with race when running for mayor was necessary because racial politics in NYC had gotten so out of hand.

That said, I can't stand watching Rudy now. I suppose I still prefer him to Romney and Fred, but only because I view them as complete frauds whereas with Rudy, I still have a lingering hope he is what I thought he was and is only pretending to be a fraud.

That said, I've always subscribed to the theory that it makes sense to judge how a candidate will govern by the way he campaigns. Being in office isn't exactly like campaigning for office, but campaigning for President is more like being president than being Mayor is like being pres. Rudy has run an awful campaign and so I hate the thought of voting for him, but I'd be lying if I didn't admit to at least harbouring more hope for him than his campaign seems to deserve.

Of course, as a Brooklynite who grew up in right-before-Rudy NYC in a pretty lousy neighborhood, I probably give him too much credit. I admit that.

Posted by hugo | October 5, 2007 8:16 PM

1.
Rudy was never a bad mayor for his "mean" streak.

The PROBLEM was that, just as people oft confuse brutal honesty with being "mean", MOST people confuse Rudy's being a selfish, thoughtless anus as "honesty". It is NOT.

The man is a TWO-FACE and perhaps the greatest hypocrite this nation has ever seen. That's what makes his anti-christ behaviors so noxious.

(Go ahead and ask him WHAT about himself is "christian"!)

2.
Giuliani was the White David Dinkins: incompetent and asleep.

Rudy never cared about the mob (see the contracts for his Staten & coney island stadiums) nor Wall street crooks (see how Rudy refused to go after a SINGLE corporate criminal once elected, and how he SERVERD many corp crooks at Giuliani partners).

The man is FAKE in every single way, yet many naive people think he lowered crime (totally false) or believe the endless lies by our supercorrupt media.

But, I think America DESERVES President Giuliani. Esp since Rudy promises 8 more years of Bush in EVERY SINGLE WAY.

I think America needs a little more humility and a better wake up call. And just as Bush put the USA into its place, Rudy will finish the USA off.

And then all the dishonest journalists and ignorant voters will learn the hard way.

But they'll learn.

(sort of.)

GiulianiSCANDALS dot blogspot dot com

Posted by cxb | October 7, 2007 11:02 PM