Reuters: New York wonders as Giuliani gains support

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyid=2007-03-09T212450Z_01_N07266848_RTRUKOC_0_US-USA-POLITICS-GIULIANI.xml

New York wonders as Giuliani gains support

Fri Mar 9, 2007 4:24 PM ET

By Ellen Wulfhorst

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Voters are lining up behind Rudolph Giuliani, who became "America's mayor" on Sept 11, 2001. But many New Yorkers remember the mayor before that day with less affection.

...

"He was mean-spirited, he was harsh, but I'm not sure that hurts him on the Republican national stage," said former city councilman Stephen DiBrienza, a Democrat who calls Giuliani the "most divisive elected official in modern history."

"One can only hope that the arrogance of power he displayed and the abuse of process his administration often engaged in will not be mistaken for leadership," said DiBrienza, who now lectures on government at Baruch College in New York.

...

"He could not have been re-elected on 9/10 in New York City," Koch said. "I still believe he couldn't be re-elected in New York City even after 9/11."

...

Political columnist Michael Tomasky suggested Americans may never see Giuliani's "ill temper and his obnoxious side."

"He just has a way of seeming to a national audience the epitome of reason," Tomasky said. "I imagine somebody sitting in Tulsa or Omaha thinking, 'What's the problem with all those crazy liberals in New York that they don't like this reasonable man?'"

[primavera]

1. They're certainly not alone

I'm still trying to figure out what the big deal was about Rudy's performance on 9/11. As far as I can tell, he just stood in front of some cameras and looked solemn. Gee, now there's a sign of a truely unique leader, no doubt anyone else would have burst out laughing or made some other such inappropriate response. C'mon, people from all over the world rushed to New York's aid in response to the tragedy. So Rudy happened to be standing there posturing for the cameras while everyone worked their butts off, and for this he deserves to be worshipped? :shrug:

[Nite Owl]

2. It wasn't so much his performance

as the lack of leadership from DC. * disappeared and Cheney was in some undisclosed locataion. He was there, he filled the void.

[primavera]

3. Nonsense! * displayed the same leadership he showed during Katrina!

Oh. Wait a minute... um, right, I see your point. :-)

[On the Road]

4. I Don't Think it Was the Interviews So Much as

the perception that the city sprang into action and handled the emergency well in the absence of federal leadership. It could have been much, much worse if, for example, the Bush administration had been in charge of emergency services.