Rudy Giuliani exploits 9/11 to try to help George W. Bush

[Eric J in MN]

In a speech broadcast from NH on C-Span tonight, Rudy Giuliani said that 9/11 taught him "the importance of elections" because "with different leadership (Al Gore) we would have been hobbled after 9/11." But with George W. Bush we're "stronger than ever."

"All the Democratic candidates want to fundamentally change the war on terror, which would be a mistake."

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I don't belive that Guiliani believes his own words that the nation couldn't have gone on if Al Gore had been President. This is exploitation of a tragedy which took 3,000 lives. This is shameful.

[Frances]

1. If Gore had been president 9/11 would have been just another

day. Gore would have followed through on Clinton's plans to monitor terrorist activity.

Even if the towers had been attacked, Gore would not have spent the day flying all over the country trying to keep himself safe.

[Ivote]

2. If Gore

was President I dont think 911 would have ever happened. I still beleive it has a lot to do with what our companies are doing to other countries overseas. Look at what they are doing over here to us. They move their companies over seas to make bigger profits. They move accounts off shore so they dont have to pay taxes. Yet when they go bankrupt they want to be bailed out by the government and then start up another company funded by us. We bring them to court to settle things and the terrorists use bombs. We need to crack down on these corporations and then maybe the bombing will stop. We have to start somewhere or it will never be resolved.

[krkaufman]

10. We've got it good

Please, what the corporations and right-wing are doing to us is nothing compared to what the corporations and our government have done (and are doing) to other, weaker nations. (e.g. approximately 10,000+ Iraqi civilians killed, to date, in Bush's war for oil.)

[krkaufman]

9. "Roll back" plan

Actually, had Gore been elected, the Clinton administration likely would have immediately implemented their Al Qaeda "Roll back" plan (link), developed by Richard Clarke, completed and delivered to Clinton security advisors on Dec. 20, 2000.

Berger and the principals decided to shelve the plan and let the next Administration take it up. With less than a month left in office, they did not think it appropriate to launch a major initiative against Osama bin Laden.

Clinton delayed implementation of the Al Qaeda "roll back" plan, expecting the next administration to heed their warnings on Al Qaeda -- and they couldn't have been more wrong. We all now know where the incoming Bush administration placed its focus: tax cuts for the rich, corporate subsidies ala missile defense, and extending an oil-centric economy through colonization; and the tragic end-results, to date.

... on Jan 20 (2001) ... Clarke, using a Powerpoint presentation, outlined his thinking to Rice. ... Clarke had a set of proposals to "roll back" al-Qaeda. ... The proposals Clarke developed in the winter of 2000-01 were not given another hearing by top decision makers until late April, and then spent another four months making their laborious way through the bureaucracy before they were readied for approval by President Bush. ... The winter proposals became a victim of the transition process, turf wars and time spent on the pet policies of new top officials. ...

The Bush Administration chose to institute its own "policy review process" on the terrorist threat. ... the review was endorsed by the Bush principals on Sept. 4 (2001).

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In the words of a senior Bush Administration official, the proposals amounted to "everything we've done since 9/11."

So, could 9/11 have been prevented? Yes, it's *VERY* possible. Did the Bush Administration do "everything it could" to have prevented 9/11? Hardly a thing; Iraq, missile defense & tax cuts were their priority. (And I support General Wesley Clark for President because he is the candidate that has most vigorously detailed these administration failings and the specific case for why Iraq was a war of choice.)

Would things have been different if Gore had not been denied office by a few highly-partisan members of the Supreme Court? In the wise words of the Magic 8-Ball, "As I see it, yes." So, why all the uproar and hubbub regarding Chimpy McSmirk? The root cause of this mess is elsewhere; and his name rhymes with Blantonine Schplamia.

[nostamj]

14. at the very very least...

the South Tower would have been evacuated.

President Gore would NOT have listened to a goat story while thousands died.

(and I do agree, it would NEVER have happened under his leadership.)

[dmr]

18. Also, Standard Operating Procedures would have taken place

those planes would have been scrambled.

Rudy is an opportunistic ass.

[Old and In the Way]

3. Making a deposit on the 2008 election Rudy?

I'll bet you were impressed with Dimson's performance on 9/11 too.

How many days before the unelected fraud dared show his face in NYC, Rudy?

[Devlzown]

4. I still think they're gonna dump Cheney

and slide Giuliani in there to run with the shrub this year. The convention will be in New York, it'll be around 9/11, and drafting Rudy to run with the shrub would give them a boost.

[Eric J in MN]

7. Bush takes Cheney's advice. Cheney isn't going to advise that

Bush takes Cheney's advice. Cheney isn't going to advise that he be replaced.

[Devlzown]

12. Cheney would just be out of the limelight.

He could still call the shots without a title. So many problems would be solved for them if Cheney resigned. No one would be asking questions about where he is, there wouldn't be all these accusations about shadiness and Halliburton, and people would quit saying that Cheney is the real brains behind the shrub. Meanwhile, Cheney could still have a great deal of influence and no one would be the wiser. Giuliani would be an assest to the ticket because he could make the election close enough in New York to steal.

[dmr]

19. I agree, Bush* would ride on Rudy's coat tails

so long as they play up 911 tragedy. Cheney's 'brillant' leadership will be in his undisclosed loacation, as it is now.

What a slap in the face to those who died and their survivors, as well as the rest of us.

[krkaufman]

11. Giuliani -- yikes, could be...

The Giuliani thing is very possible. Scary.

[AliceWonderland]

5. My contempt

for Guiliani knows no bounds. I was repulsed by the media lionizing of that that police state thug after 9-11; he sure as hell didn't do anything but enrage me, let alone inspire me as someone living in NYC. I've long dreaded the notion that he'll replace Cheney on a 2004 ticket. Which is saying a hell of a lot, ain't it?

But he'll run. Maybe not in 2004, but it's coming.

[jonoboy]

6. Guliani no damned hero..NY firemen..yes!!!

[fujiyama]

8. Didn't some firefighters...

and cops get annoyed with Guiliani's media whoring and blitz after 9/11? I remember hearing how they were sick of seeing him speak everywhere, while their own benefits were lost -- and how widows of firefighters were getting screwed with regards to payments compared to stockbrokers, etc.

I'll give Guiliani some credit for walking through the city that day. He did have some guts (unlike the idiot in chief).

But, I must say he's back to his old self ever since. I remembver how he also attacked those for criticzing the administration's shameful and disgusting coverup over the air quality in Manhattan.

[gulliver]

13. Has he cheated on his new wife yet?

Before 9/11 he was a laughingstock. He still is with me.

[CastorTroy]

20. Those GOP family values in action!

I wonder how the RNC and their media lackeys would spin this one away?

I would imagine that any questions about Giuliani's well-documented lack of "family values' would meet with a blizzard of "playing politics" accusations.

Regarding his performance during 9/11: What the hell was the mayor of a major metropolitan area supposed to do? He got major fellation from the media for doing his job.

[RBHam]

15. Rudy G has a lot to hide, he's one of the "fixers"

There's a reason he sold off the WTC rubble to the Chinese before any forensic testing could be done...

If the people knew the truth, "America's Mayor" would be hung from the WTC memorial.

[no_hypocrisy]

16. 9-11 is the only song that Guiliani can perform. Can't sell * on

his assistance to NYC, especially renegging on the promise of funds to rebuild after 9-11.

[justsam]

17. Giuliani really

can't believe all the manure that he is saying about GW and wait until his record come out, he broke NY city

[snippy]

21. By annointing themselves with the blood of the victims of 9/11

republicans disguise the blood on their hands. And they know this perfectly well.