Giuliani Hurt By Kerik Nomination Scandal

[Placebo]

Illicit affairs, mob ties, a secret love nest. The hijinks of Bernard Kerik, disgraced just as he aspired to join President Bush's Cabinet, have also bruised the reputation of former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani, seen by many as a White House contender in 2008.

The abrupt withdrawal of Kerik, New York's former police commissioner, from consideration as the next U.S. Homeland Security chief has opened a floodgate of revelations and titillating headlines this week about Kerik's life.

One newspaper dug up two affairs that the bald, stout Kerik carried on at the same time while married -- one with a city jail officer, which sparked lawsuits. The other affair with top publisher Judith Regan included trysts in an apartment first used by exhausted rescuers after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

Local papers also say Kerik failed to disclose expensive gifts and had ties to companies suspected of organized crime connections.

Comedians are having fun. Listing the "Top Ten" ways Saddam Hussein celebrated the anniversary of his capture, television host David Letterman said Hussein "counted his blessings that he ain't Bernard Kerik."

Officially, Kerik said he pulled his name from consideration over failure to pay taxes for a family nanny.

Observers say the fallout lands squarely on Giuliani, who has a successful consulting business with Kerik and vouched for his credentials as homeland security czar.

Many think Giuliani is weighing a White House run. That, say political analysts, will require winning over Republicans who dislike his more liberal positions on social issues.

full article may be found here: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20041216/pl_nm/politics_giuliani_dc

[momzno1]

1. Didn't Guiliani say something embarassing

about the chimp just prior to the election? Maybe this Kerik thing is a Rovian payback to Giuliani, and nothing more?
Can anyone remember what Guiliani did during the campaign to embarass Chimpster?

[Radio-Active]

17. blaming the troops

for the missing explosives, maybe?

[momzno1]

20. that sounds right.

couldn't this be a punishment and a certain way to ruin his reputation so he dare not try for presidency in 2008?

[autorank]

2. Here's what hurts -- the charge by Regan that Kerik stalked her/kids

If you believe the Daily News story, that means that we almost had a psycho as head of Homelann Security. This guy did the impossible, he made Tom Ridge look extremely appealing.

[rodeodance]

3. can't believe women would even look at that pair!!

[Cha]

4. We have a psycho in the white house...

he just hasn't been outed like kerik.

How fortuitious that ghoulianni nominated him :)

[autorank]

13. I know. Figured two is two too many. Unfortunately, it's going to take

behavior like Kerik's to get rid of the psycho in chief. Stealing elections, wiping out countries, ruining health care and science, bankrupting the country...what are all these compared to a tawdry affair and some run of the mill corruption. Just goes to show you, the more outrageous the behavior, the easier it is to cover it up. Sick stuff.

[Cha]

16. Good points!

Especially "easier to cover up" when you have the msm blowing smoke for ya!

[autorank]

18. Amen!!! MSM=CM (corporate media)

[w4rma]

5. Former Clinton advisor Dick Morris, who left his White House job over an

Former Clinton advisor Dick Morris, who left his White House job over an affair with a prostitute, said the questions around Kerik could hurt Giuliani, who built a reputation as a squeaky clean prosecutor and later politician.

But he said the story "doesn't have legs."

AMAZING! This is Reuter's quote from a "Democrat". A right-wing Bush supporter who big media uses his former job to appear like he is a left-winger.

[Cha]

15. It's all about

the Orwellian!

[kaitykaity]

6. Where was this shit before the election?

When Rudy was wowing 'em at the Pug Hate Fest Convention?

God I hate these people -- the media, the Thugs, all of them.
Hate them, hate them, hate them.

:grr:

[Placebo]

7. Exactly.

It's not like all of this stuff went down between the convention and today. It's been known for some time, but the MSM only shows you what Karl Rove wants you to see. :grr:

[Disturbed]

9. Chances of Rethug nomination...

None!

[eleny]

8. I just don't see why RG could have had genuine sights on the WH

He's had public humiliations because of his own marital indiscretions. One story that came out was about his carrying on with his girlfriend when his wife was out but his young son was at home. This would have to make him unelectable. Surely the fundies won't accept someone like this. And since he's Catholic, doesn't that also give him a black eye? I thought Catholicism is a religion that fundamentalists think is a cult.

Seems to me that Rudy never had any chance of winning a Republican primary. And for what it's worth, my Italian/German hubby is certain that the country would never elect a president with an ethnic Italian surname. Sadly, I think he's right. I would like Mario Cuomo to run.

[charlie]

11. Conventional wisdom is out the window

Since Republicans are the Keepers of Decency, they can install anyone they want into office. Personal history is no longer an insurmountable barrier.

Ronnie broke the divorce taboo. And the Evil Hollywood barrier.

Bush was a drunken wastrel who refused to categorically deny coke binging. Both he and Cheney have DUI arrest records, a first for both offices.

Arnie is a Hollywood lunk with no political experience. Anyone with a net connection can download videos of him tooting a spliff and pictures with his weiner hanging out.

Sonny Bono "courted" an underage Cher. He was a hippie rock and roller (an ersatz one, but a reviled 60s love generation child nonetheless).

Republicans are trying to get Dennis Miller to run for a senate seat.

[eleny]

14. Certainly can't argue with your list

It's unbelievable that they want Dennis Miller to run anywhere except "away".

[SharonAnn]

10. Good, I'm glad. Giuliani is a crook and a hypocrite. What a

disgusting human being.

Did he do a good job of eladership on 9-11? Yes, he did. But he's still scum.

[njdemocrat106]

21. I compare Giuliani to Prince Charles

Both were married to an attractive lady, yet they both divorced and started dating some real dogs (no offense to dogs).

[Kber]

12. Poor baby.

I understand that Kerik's nany as resigned. She wanted to spend less time with his family.

[ShaneGR]

19. Paving the way for Jeb Bush 2008.....

Nothing like nominating the chosen guy of your brother's main rival and in the process destroying that rival.

[SemperEadem]

22. Hmmm.. wonder what else Guiliani was winking at while mayor of NY?

His prideful arrogance has bitten him in the ass--finally. But they're cut from the same cloth--didn't Guiliani screw around on his wife, too, while in office?

I mean, my gawd! Could he have advanced anyone more corrupt and disgusting as Kerik? I hope that this is just the first wave of a crushing deluge to knock Guiliani out of any contention for any national position...

[pbartch]

23. Repiglicans are IMMORAL!!!!!!