Kerik gave us a 'Rudy' awakening

[Robbien]

By MARGARET CARLSON
Monday, December 20, 2004 11:49 AM CST

Bernard Kerik, the erstwhile Homeland Security nominee, may have saved the country from taking the Rudy-in-'08 juggernaut too seriously.

In one swift, fantastic implosion, Kerik reminded us of the pre-9/11 Rudy, who had been lost in the mists of that horrible day three years ago. Remember the old Rudy? The controversial mayor who fired his most effective police chief, William Bratton, forced out his schools chancellor, berated the homeless, who treated police brutality as the cost of a low crime rate?

Like Kerik, he also had a compromised domestic life, keeping company with a woman who was not his wife and announcing his divorce at a news conference before telling his wife or children. Even those who thought he'd saved the city were sick of him. In a preliminary matchup in the 2000 Senate race against the flawed, carpetbagging first lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton, he could muster only 40 percent. He decided not to run.

<snip>

After Kerik withdrew his nomination, Rudy referred to all this sleazy behavior as mistakes that were "human" and "normal, at least by Washington or New York standards." Actually, what they were was normal by Rudy standards. Rudy apparently thinks it's normal to use an apartment near Ground Zero donated for the use of exhausted rescue workers to conduct an affair. Kerik was lucky to have an illegal nanny to blame for dropping out before things got any worse. Whatever, Rudy continues to love the guy, welcoming the philandering, mobbed-up, unethical, deadbeat, immigrant-exploiting cad back to Giuliani Partners with open arms.



We know Rudy overlooked Kerik's behavior. But why did Bush, who had been warned he was no Boy Scout? The White House explains that Bush liked Bernie and Rudy so darn much he got carried away. Come to think of it, what would Bush find not to like about a guy who, behind a swaggering, macho bravado, has busily used his political connections to amass a personal fortune? Is becoming a millionaire on the basis of your government connections really any different, when you get right down to it, from taking the taxpayer gift of a baseball stadium on the basis of your name, as Bush did?

So thanks for the memories, Bernie, and for the inside look at the operations, values and instincts of our president and his would-be successor. You never served, but you did something for your country anyway.

http://www.decaturdailydemocrat.com/articles/2004/12/20/news/opinion/editorial02.txt

[Nothing Without Hope]

1. This is just excellent. Alas for the MSM's short memory span

Rudy has been sanctified and iconified into a gallant hero and a tough guy who can face down the scariest bad guys. It's worse than spin, it's the very opposite of the truth about this nasty excuse for a human being. But somehow even the slightest approach to truth about the people that the ruling cartel finds useful seems to be negotiable.

I hope that if Rudy ever runs for a higher office, his corruption and repugnant character will not be so buried that they don't come out. There are still some Repub voters who would be turned off by what he is and has done. And unlike * (still hoping he won't be inaugurated as **), Rudy can't claim to have had all his wrongdoings and appalling character traits washed magically away by Seeing The Light. Or perhaps that would be his strategy? If so, he needs to get to work on setting up the magical Laying On Of Hands. Maybe Pat Robertson or Jerry Falwell?
O8)

[Skittles]

8. the only reason Rudi shined so brightly on 9/11

is because our so-called "leader" bush was f***ing missing in action. ANYONE would have looked good compared to that cowardly piece of shit GWB.

[Nothing Without Hope]

10. true, plus Rudy knows how to milk a dramatic moment (n/t)

[Yuugal]

2. Kerik was a warning to Rudy and all moderate repubs

Any time the press latches onto a story I get suspicious. This may have been a way for the new conservative media to reinforce the "NY-ers are godless fuckers" mantra while at the same time letting Rudy and anyone like him know that they shouldn't even think of running in the primaries in 2008. Yeah I know, my tinfoil is wrapped to tight.

[Nothing Without Hope]

5. I think the moral outrage in this editorial is genuine

Check out this excerpt:
But why did Bush, who had been warned he was no Boy Scout? The White House explains that Bush liked Bernie and Rudy so darn much he got carried away. Come to think of it, what would Bush find not to like about a guy who, behind a swaggering, macho bravado, has busily used his political connections to amass a personal fortune? Is becoming a millionaire on the basis of your government connections really any different, when you get right down to it, from taking the taxpayer gift of a baseball stadium on the basis of your name, as Bush did?

This editorial is not doing Bush any favors. The outrage reaches out to include him too. I agree that the Bush cartel may wish to disencumber themselves of Rudy and that they will be assisted in doing so by their compliant media pals, but this is not an example of that.

I've written a letter to the editors about this article. I think they will be attacked for it, especially for what they say about Bush. I think we should do what we can to encourage them to continue to be courageous enough to speak the truth.

[Nothing Without Hope]

3. I just sent a letter to the editor where this was published

The email to contact this newspaper is:
[e-mail]

I believe it is important to counterbalance the hate mail the editors of this newspapers will undoubtedly receive about this letter. Here is the letter I sent:

Dear Editors,

I want to thank you for printing what is probably the single best article on the Kerik/Giuliani debacle I have seen, and that is saying a lot. This editorial, "Kerik Gave Us a 'Rudy' Awakening," by Margaret Carlson, (http://www.decaturdailydemocrat.com/articles/2004/12/20/news/opinion/editorial02.txt) finally said what should have been said from the first. The moral outrage evident in the tone of the article is fully justified and very much overdue. It is what the journalists responsible for reporting the truth to the citizens of this country should have been expressing about this sordid spectacle. The level of hypocrisy and distortion in the scenes of Bush -- the "Moral Values" president -- expressing his admiration of Kerik and his patron Giulliani were perhaps not unprecedented in this administration, but it's enough to astound anyone even half-informed about these men. To report the subsequent events as merely an "embarrassment" to Bush and as an unfair attack based on a trivial matter, as was often done, is outrageous.

Given the current climate in this country, it took courage to write and to print this story. It gives me hope that Ms. Carlson and your newspaper have done so despite the partisan attacks it will probably draw. Please keep your eyes open and your honesty and courage ready to tell the truth. It is desperately needed.

Sincerely,
**********


(self-edited to correct the letter text)

[Robbien]

6. Thanks for reminding us to let the media know when they get it right

My email to them wasn't as great as yours is, but it was just a short note to thank them for publishing articles such as this.

I also thanked the reporter Margaret Carlson
http://www.time.com/time/columnist/carlson/email.html

[Nothing Without Hope]

7. Thanks for Margaret Carlson's email!

I didn't know how to reach her to thank her. I'll send her a copy of what I sent the paper. You're right, it's so important to keep encouraging the journalists and editors that try to get it right. They'll be getting plenty of hate mail, and we have to balance the other side.

[Raster]

9. oh, and PS: Please tell Ms. Carlson to stay out of small planes.

[0007]

4. .....all in the same vain junior exonerated Rumsfeld!

Remember these folks are never wrong. Its only us bleeping fucking sheep that can't get it right.