Giuliani was too busy raking in dough to gain foreign policy experience with the Iraq Study Group

[BurtWorm]

From Kevin Drum of Political Animal:

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2007_06/011520.php

THE VERY SERIOUS RUDY GIULIANI....Via Steve Benen, Craig Gordon of Newsweek explains a mystery: How did Edwin Meese of all people end up as one of the Republican representatives on the Iraq Study Group? Answer: He was a last minute replacement for Rudy Giuliani, who was originally appointed to the group but couldn't be bothered to show up to meetings:

Giuliani left the Iraq Study Group last May after just two months, walking away from a chance to make up for his lack of foreign policy credentials on the top issue in the 2008 race, the Iraq war.

He cited "previous time commitments" in a letter explaining his decision to quit, and a look at his schedule suggests why — the sessions at times conflicted with Giuliani's lucrative speaking tour that garnered him $11.4 million in 14 months.

....By giving up his seat on the panel, Giuliani has opened himself up to charges that he chose private-sector paydays and politics over unpaid service on a critical issue facing the nation.

Amazing. This has been common knowledge for months, but this is the first time I've heard about it. For some reason, the mainstream press apparently thinks this decision from America's Mayor is hardly even worth a yawn. Too substantive, I guess. Back to the haircuts and blind trusts, boys and girls.

[TwilightGardener]

1. Tells you where his priorities will be as President.

And Dame Rudy probably has the most need to brush up on Iraq and foreign policy, too--they gave him a great opening, and he fucking blew it.