Giuliani seeks privacy on family issues

[wicket]

Well isn't that special? :eyes: :nopity:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070305/ap_on_el_pr/giuliani_family;_ylt=ArHh92G99aDaCAa6hcflMEeyFz4D">LINK

Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani asked for privacy on Monday to deal with strained relationships within his family, including his son's complaints about his third wife.

Campaigning in Southern California, Giuliani faced questions about his family after his son, Andrew, publicly said their relationship had become distant after Giuliani's messy divorce from Andrew's mother, Donna Hanover, and his later marriage to Judith Nathan.

"My wife Judith is a very loving and caring ... mother and stepmother. She has done everything she can. The responsibility is mine," the former New York mayor told reporters gathered outside the Los Angeles County Sheriff's headquarters. "I believe that these problems with blended families, you know, are challenges — sometimes they are," he said. "The more privacy I can have for my family, the better we are going to be able to deal with all these difficulties."

The New York Times reported last weekend that Andrew Giuliani and his father have recently tried to reconcile after not speaking "for a decent amount of time." In the Times article, Andrew attributed the strained relationship to Mrs. Giuliani, saying, "There's obviously a little problem that exists between me and his wife."

In a statement to ABC News' "Good Morning America," Andrew Giuliani said: "I got my values from my mother. She's a strong influence in my life. She's a strong woman. I have problems with my father, but that doesn't mean he won't make a good president."

[babylonsister]

1. Good luck with that, Rudy. You're running for prez, you're fair game. If

you win, then 'maybe' you get to set the rules.

[Sydnie]

7. And so are your "once removed" relations too Rudy

All your ex-wives can come out to play now. :evilgrin:

[babylonsister]

13. Popcorn?!

:popcorn: :D

[Sydnie]

29. Yes please

When does the show begin? :evilgrin:

[TheCowsCameHome]

35. Hold the butter.

[Botany]

2. Fine .... give me back all that "Ken Starr Time"

If your own son will not speak to you you might be an asshole.

[Bluebear]

6. Ouch!

Burn! :hi:

[bunny planet]

28. I endured Rudy as mayor.

There's no 'might' about it. He's a world class asshole.

[Mr. Ected]

69. If You Run For President as A Republican

Your personal life MUST be scrutinized.

After all, you are to be the torchbearer for the Party of Family Values.

We owe it to the nation to skewer you if your morals are less than pristine.

[Beaverhausen]

3. Rudy, Rudy, Rudy

:rofl:

[porphyrian]

4. He better not run for public office then. Otherwise, tough shit. - n/t

[Horse with no Name]

5. Bullshit

Like they have given Democratic candidates?
Sorry you ignorant fucks...what goes round comes round and usually hits you twice as hard.
They go for the lowest common denominator every single time but then ask for us to take the high road.
I say FUCK that. Exploit it because if they shoe was on the other foot...
Besides...it seems awfully funny that they tout Rudy's "diplomacy" skills and he can't even keep peace in his own family.
I'll be damned if I would trust him to keep peace in the country.

[DainBramaged]

8. HAHAHAHAHAHA FAT FUCKING CHANCE

WE remember what you fuckers did to President Clinton, the last President (before Al Gore).

Fuck you Rudiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

(<---- Elected President)

[dkofos]

9. you should have stayed in hiding

[helderheid]

10. what makes him so special?

[yy4me]

11. By announcing you will run, you have given the country

access to everything that is known about you, true or otherwise. We, unfortunately, will be subject to more blather about you than we would like to hear in a lifetime. You threw your hat in, you should be ready for the press to stomp on it.

[truebrit71]

12. Too late pal...you jumped into the spotlight...no-one pushed you...

...

[no_hypocrisy]

14. He wants privacy, eh? Like the privacy he flagrantly denied

Patrick Dourisman when Giuliani ILLEGALLY leaked this man's SEALED juvenile record to the press to try to justify Giuliani's cops for shooting an unarmed, law-abiding citizen who refused to be entrapped by those same cops? THAT kind of privacy?

Can't have it both ways, babe! Let the games begin.

[aquart]

15. He's kidding, right?

[Bucky]

16. I think Andy Giuliani's thinking that a dad for president means great job offers

He's right. Well, hell, I'll be nice to a 20 year old kid. Maybe he really wants his dad to be president. But Democratic candidates' families have never been off limits. The bastards went after Hillary & Chelsea Clinton, Kitty Dukakis, Kerry's daughters, and even Amy Carter in the ugliest terms possible. Going after the wife and kids is beneath us, but how a candidate obliterates his own family life tells us a world about his personal character, or lack thereof.

No truce, no special favors. Giulie doesn't get a walk on family values just because he doesn't have any.

[WorldResident]

26. For that matter, the Bush twins have been "fair game" as well

I agree with the sentiments of Giuliani on principle, being that your personal life has no bearing on your ability to be President.

[wicket]

30. No where near what Chelsea Clinton went through

For that matter, they are adults, and have been since the beginning of their father's presidency. Chelsea Clinton was 13 years old when Rush Limbaugh called her a dog on the air.

[Horse with no Name]

32. Umm yeah

Fortunately the silver spoons up their noses have protected him from all of their escapes and incidents.
Like at the Austin nightclub when they were caught illegally drinking under age.
The legislation that DUBYA signed himself should have sent them to jail--and many Texans kids went to jail under the same law--but they were protected and nothing happened to them.
Now that we have spoken about something that PUT THEM IN THE SPOTLIGHT...can you cite where ANY Democratic President's child was caught doing anything illegal while their Dad sat in the Oval office thus making them newsworthy?
I'm going to pop some popcorn while I await your answer....:popcorn:

[WorldResident]

41. You've never drank underage?

Even if you give me a goody-two shoes answer, most teenagers have drank underage. I've drank underage.

As to your question on Texas law, an MIP becomes a Class B misdemeanor on the third offense.

Jenna Bush did indeed have three offenses for an MIP violation.

However, her first offense was as a child when she was 16 and thus her conviction/deferral agreement was ineligible to be used for enhancement.

Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code - § 106.071. PUNISHMENT FOR ALCOHOL-RELATED OFFENSE BY
MINOR

http://tlo2.tlc.state.tx.us/statutes/docs/AL/content/htm/al.004.00.000106.00.htm#106.071.00

Texas Family Code - § 51.02. DEFINITIONS

http://tlo2.tlc.state.tx.us/statutes/docs/FA/content/htm/fa.003.00.000051.00.htm#51.02.00

Jenna Bush and Barabara Bush cited for MIP in Austin

http://www.thefirsttwins.com/refs/chron20010601.html

George W. Bush ran for and became President, not the Bush twins. Furthermore, I find it laughable that the same people who get on the Bush twins over their MIPs never get on Al Gore's son for being arrested for marijuana, Howard Dean's son for stealing alcohol underage, or Barack Obama for admitting to do cocaine. I wouldn't be surprised either if these people who attack the Bush twins also would support the legalization of marijuana in a different discussion.

The issues about indiscretions of family members of a politician should be off-limits. They've not decided to go into political life, and thus their lives are none of our business. Even for Barack Obama, his drug use was many years ago and holds no bearing on what job he would do today.

[Horse with no Name]

46. There is a difference

My dad didn't make the laws that sent other kids to jail.

[WorldResident]

61. IMHO, the MIP law in Texas (and in other states) are bad laws

However, Jenna Bush did not receive any special treatment per Texas law as I've shown in my previous post.

This 21 year old drinking age nonsense started with MADD in 1984. There was a bipartisan effort to raise the drinking age at the federal level by withholding funds from the noncompliant states.

Legislative Analysis for the National Minimum Drinking Age Act

http://www.yria.alcade.net/essays/leg-an.htm

In the end, Frank Lautenburg proposed to raise the drinking age, most Democrats and Republicans supported his measure, and President Reagan, despite some supposed hesitations, signed the bill.

From there, several states decided essentially to punish minor drinking offenses as "adult crimes" essentially with consequences such as a permanent record and in some cases, arrest and jail time.

State Profiles of Underage Drinking Laws

http://www.alcoholpolicy.niaaa.nih.gov/stateprofiles/

MADD Alcohol-Related Laws

http://www.madd.org/laws/

[Horse with no Name]

48. My my you are well-versed in covering up Republican dirty laundry

and at the same time able to pull out a passel of lies...
What talent you have.
Is that you Ann?
Anyway...enjoy your stay.:hi:

[WorldResident]

50. I guess the truth is now "Republican dirty laundry" to you

Or is that just the card you pull out when you know you've been proven wrong?

:eyes: :sarcasm:

[Horse with no Name]

55. Show links to back up what you said then

You had no problem pulling up links to defend the Bush twins.

[WorldResident]

62. Fine

Al Gore's son charged with pot possession

http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/South/12/20/gore.son/

Al Gore's son sentenced to substance abuse program

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/02/02/gore.son.ap/index.html

New England: Vermont: Program For Dean's Son After Theft

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A05E3DF1631F935A3575BC0A9659C8B63

Effect of Obama's Candor Remains to Be Seen
Senator Admitted Trying Cocaine in a Memoir Written 11 Years Ago

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/02/AR2007010201359.html

[Bluebear]

84. My, my, these links are right at your little fingertips. nt

[WorldResident]

88. He asked for it, I gave it to him

n/t

[Bluebear]

85. He's just full of links!

[rasputin1952]

58. However...bush ran on "Family Values" as a constant theme...

there are few things more loathsome than a hypocrite.

bush called his little dalliances, "indiscretions" while ensuring that all opposition were painted as junkies, alcoholics, cowards or any other negative connotation the GOP smear-masters could come up with.

I see no "value" in what bush calls his "family"; all I see is a remarkably inept father, husband and president who has failed at everything he has ever attempted...I think I'll take a pass when thinking his family has any values.

[WorldResident]

63. But we're talking about Jenna and Barbara Bush here, not George W. Bush

n/t

[rasputin1952]

71. Precisely...They are showing the exact same behavioral problems

their father went through. They are spoiled beyond the scope of anything any normal parent comes close to.

No matter how you want to look at this, one must admit that they reflect their father's "values", they have no intention of slowing down and showing any discretion. Look at other presidential children, I'm sure they had some indiscretions as well, I'm not saying a kid shouldn't be a kid, but I am saying that discretion is a necessary point of action. They have shown none; it is established that the public looks at them as, "the president's kids, and well protected", the instance where the SS could not step in and keep them from breaking the law by underage drinking shines out as a beacon...They just don't care. They are remarkably irresponsible...the acorn does not fall far from the tree.

Barbara and Jenna Bush have been open targets since Chelsea Clinton was called the "Whitehouse Dog". looks to me like Chelsea has done quite a bit better than Barbara or Jenna could ever hope for...they're just along for the ride.

[WorldResident]

87. So every teenager who drinks underage has a behavioral problem?

That's a fair view and it's the one held by law enforcement and many psychologists, but it's one I fundamentally disagree with because it tends to brand 80% of teenagers as antisocial.

The reason Barbara and Jenna Bush were cited for the attempt to purchase was because a bartender called 911. This was a legal action, no question, but suffice it to say most bartenders will not call emergency to report a typical underage kid buying a margarita.

As to the point whether Chelsea Clinton is more or less behaved than the Bush twins, it's irrelevant. The reason that most voters today depise George W. Bush has nothing to do with his daughters' behaviors. It has everything to do with his performance as President of the United States. Namely, his failure in Iraq, his failure on Katrina, his failure on health care, his failure on education, have nothing to do with his daughters' lifestyles. Similarly, Bill Clinton's success on global peace, his success on the economy, his success on protecting workers, his success on balancing the budget, have nothing to do with Chelsea Clinton.

[rasputin1952]

98. We don't know precisely why the barkeep called 911...

I think it a bit extreme myself for the mere attempt to buy a drink, so there might be more to this than we know. False ID, perhaps she was was creating a scene, maybe it was "my dad's the president, so screw you and pony up", there are endless reasons why he would do that.

As for the 80%(?) being anti-social, I don't agree w/that either, kids are going to emulate what they see from peers and elders around them. I don't drink anymore, but I have no problem w/"responsible" use of alcohol.

This appears to be a continuing problem w/them though, and that is the crux of the situation. Most people, after being frowned upon by society will curb, or at least hide the behavior in question, they seem to have missed that point somewhere along the line.

Personally, I could not care less about them, what they do is their own business; my point is that they have apparently received a very short course, if any, on what responsibility is. They are just spoiled little rich kids who haven't a clue about how to act in society, especially when under the microscope that their father's position puts them in. Simply put, they appear to be brats, not unlike their father who is another spoiled rich kid that got all the breaks and never had to take responsibility for actions taken.

[Nite Owl]

59. Sorry, these are the people

who ran on 'family values'. Sure Rudy is more liberal than the rest of the party but he supported them, he supports what they do and say freely. He should have left the party and switched to I if he was offended by the politics of personal destruction. They made it fair game and the dems playing nice won't for a second stop the hypocrit party from lying about and smearing a dem. He deserves what he gets and more.

[WorldResident]

64. Fair point

Let's say Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani are running and Republicans make a deal about Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton's marriage, then it's fair game to bring up Rudy Giuliani's marriages. I will agree with that.

If he actively condemns Republicans for doing this, then I wouldn't condemn Giuliani for his personal life, and instead I will condemn him for his proposed policies instead. (I'm not talking about Bush's condemning of all 527s here in reference to the Swift Boat. The condemnation has to be severe).

[WinkyDink]

97. Drunk. Have DRUNK.

[Bucky]

40. Here's the difference between the Bush twins and the families of Democrats

Coverage of the Bush twins has been comparable to that of, say, Chelsea Clinton or Reagan's brood. They only get mentioned if they do something stupid (like underage drinking) or society page fluffery. I don't have a problem with any of that. It's when high profile Republicans and conservatives specifically target members of our candidates' families--the all out war on Hillary Clinton is the worst example, but they got a dress hearsal for that with Lee Hart--as part of a smear campaign against the Democrats that we have the real abuse. There's no Democratic example to counter Republicans joking that Chelsea's real father was Janet Reno or implying that Mrs Clinton had her friend Vince Foster murdered. We just don't go there and they always do.

[WorldResident]

42. Coverage of both Chelsea Clinton and the Bush Twins is NOT OK.

IMHO

[Missy M]

60. Guiliani's son is the one who brought the subject up...

so if he spoke the words why isn't it fair game now. It seems logical that this would be pursued by the news people.

[WorldResident]

67. I've always liked Andrew Giuliani

This was 1994 during Rudy Giuliani's inaugural address, and Andrew Giuliani was I believe mimicking his dad's speech through its entirety. I was 10 at the time, so I think Andrew was a bit younger than me (I just checked it out he was 2 years younger than me).

I think I identified with him as a kid because that's something I would want to do if my dad were a big politician.

[Gabi Hayes]

76. Dear Child of 1984. Let us know when you learn to get past the superficial

imagery created by an adoring, corporate media, and can understand what's really going on in the world

you sound just like Chris Matthews or Lou Dobbs

you can start here if you like.

http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:XukF6QSiMG0J:prorev.com/rudy.htm+giuliani+kerik+grand+jury&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=7&gl=us

[WorldResident]

83. You're off on your year - it's 1983

:)

[wicket]

105. Chris Farley did a HILARIOUS impersonation of this on SNL

"My dad's mayor! OH YEAH!!!!"

:D

[devilgrrl]

107. Since you're contemporaries, why don't you and Andrew sign up for duty!!!

:shrug:

You can shit-faced with the Bush twins too boot!

[WorldResident]

112. Since you ask, why don't you enlist?

Since I oppose the war and you're asking me to enlist, maybe you should consider it since that's what's on your mind.

:eyes: :sarcasm:

[WinkyDink]

96. The Bush twins have been unseen and unheard of for YEARS. And you can point

ONLY to a couple tabloid stories, as opposed to legitimate Democratic voices mocking them as Republicans mocked Chelsea Clinton (Rush, McCain, e.g.).

Where ARE Jenna and Barb, Jr., anyway?

[Canuckistanian]

82. Yup, it's a requirement now

"Stable" family life, no skeletons in the closet, etc.

Has been since the press started going through Gary Hart's garbage.

[malaise]

17. Fugg him

After the way they dealt with Clinton, time for some payback.

[in_cog_ni_to]

18. Oh ya? Tell Bill Clinton your little sob story.

Let's see how much sympathy you get.

[BlooInBloo]

93. Giuliani opposed Clinton's impeachment.

[in_cog_ni_to]

111. So. He's still a repuke. The repuke party spent MILLIONS and wasted YEARS investigating every nook

and cranny of Clinton's PRIVATE LIFE. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. Guiliani's private life should be investigated and exposed. His party is the one that foams at the mouth over MORAL VALUES. Well, it's time to look at HIS Moral Values. If the Clinton's are to live by THEIR Moral Values so is Guiliani and ALL the repuke candidates. It's a shame they set the bar so high. Now THEY have to live up to it. That's gonna be difficult for them all. Too bad. Such is life in politics these days.

[sarcasmo]

19. Has there ever been a President with a current wife and two ex wives?

[Bucky]

43. Henry Tudor.

Warren Harding had lots of wives. But only one of them was his.

[rug]

75. Henry had only one surviving ex-wife at a time.

[DemBones DemBones]

109. And rarely even one, since he only divorced two of them. nt

[DemBones DemBones]

108. Well, Henry VIII wasn't president but he also

never had two living ex-wives at the same time, IIRC. Catherine of Aragon had died before he divorced Anne of Cleves, as had Jane Seymour, while he'd had Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard beheaded. So when he married for the last time, to Catherine Parr, he had one ex-wife, Anne of Cleves.

[Edith Ann]

20. Families

Republicans want their families of limits. Too Bad so Sad. They didn't feel the democrats families should be of limits. Some Conservative pervert put Obama's kids on his website and then declared that he(?) was a pedophile. He called this his sexual orientation. Other Democratic candidates also have young children who are risk. Every gay democrat is at risk but Dick's daughter deserves her privacy. I don't know what world they live in but they sure expect to be treated with kid gloves while they give others the boot.

[AndyA]

21. Hey Rudy: whatever happened to one man one woman?

I don't think "at a time" was the message.

Your life is fair game, buddy. You are a Republican, and have been divorced twice. That does not go hand in hand with their message. You have some splainin' to do.

[joeunderdog]

80. Why would his son have any issue with him bangin his non-wife?

What the fuck kinda son is he? Doesn't he "get" family values as they relate to running for the Republican nod in the White House? At least Rudy was dating a white woman--and not, say, a man--while he was married, keeping it proper, you know.

Hypocrite. You reap what you sow Rudy.

[Zenlitened]

22. When the republican party begins respecting families' privacy...

... republican candidates can start demanding privacy for their own families.

Face it, Rudy. You have hitched your wagon to the No. 1 enemy of families in America today, the GOP.

[Poiuyt]

23. Well, of course he seeks privacy about his family

If my family life was like his, I wouldn't want it out in the public either.

[Mandate My Ass]

24. The guy who kept his mistress and wife under one roof?

Announced his intention to divorce the mother of his kids on TV?

That guy? :rofl:

[SemperEadem]

25. Um... NO. You can't have privacy

if you want privacy, then get out of the race.

They didn't give privacy to Clinton, so why should you get it? You're a public figure asking the American public to put trust in you to lead them and you can't even be trusted to stay faithful to your 1st wife.

Let's ask the Catholic church what they think about Guiliani's many marriages.

[rodeodance]

27. I bet the MSN will honor his request

[Gabi Hayes]

52. a frickin men! I can't believe it took

this long for somebody to say that

remember all the stories about dumbo's drug use in 1999/2000, after he asked the M$M to lay off?

remember all the stories about his forcing a woman to have an abortion?

remember all the stories about his being AWOL?

what's that, you say?

there WEREN'T any?

why does anyone think it'll be different with Rudy?

the only chance that any of the myriad rotten things about Rudy that will come out is if Romney or McCain can stay in the race long enough to use some of the stuff, CHIEF of which should be his mendacity and BAD JUDGMENT, of which his record is relete with examples.

start here:

Is this the voice (or the action) of a leader?

"What should I tell people? What should I say?" Giuliani asked.

http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0635,barrett,74322,6.html/full


............................

he was a lousy ''leader,'' lied about what he did, then made up NEW stories to burnish his own tarnished image.

and don't forget he LIED about conditions surrounding ground zero, too.

...................







http://ww4report.com/node/2450

It is a truly appalling spectacle to watch former EPA administrator Christine Todd Whitman and New York City officials pass the buck for the deadly 9-11 health fallout back and forth like a shuttlecock. Whitman said in a "60 Minutes" interview to be aired this weekend that the EPA did not have authority over the Ground Zero site, and claimed she provided an accurate assessment of the air quality following the attacks. She distinguished between the air in lower Manhattan, which was considered safe, and the air at Ground Zero, which was not. "The readings were showing us that there was nothing that gave us any concern about long-term health implications," she said. "That was different from on the pile itself, at ground zero. There, we always said consistently, 'You've got to wear protective gear.'" (AP, Sept. 8)

But this a bogus defense, given that she failed to make this rather critical distinction at the time. New York Newsday saves this Sept. 18, 2001 Whitman quote from the Memory Hole:

"We are very encouraged that the results frpm our monitoring of air quality and drinking water conditions in both New York and near the Pentagon show that the public in these areas is not being exposed to excessive levels of asbestos or other harmful substances. I am glad to reassure the people of New York and Washington DC that their air is safe to breathe and their water is safe to drink."

Yet she has the chutzpah to tell "60 Minutes": "We never lied." Ommission is a form of lying, Christine. Ask any lawyer.

Meanwhile, New York City legal counsel Michael Cardozo responded that "the City of New York did everything within its power to protect those who participated in the recovery effort." Fortunately, Newsday also saves this Sept. 28, 2001 gem from the much-lionized Rudolph Giuliani, mayor at the time of the attacks, revealing him as perfectly complicit in the EPA's cover-up:

"Although they occasionally will have an isolated reading with an unacceptable level of asbestos...it's very occassional and very irsolated. The air quality is safe and acceptable."

[kestrel91316]

31. You deserve as much personal privacy as you guys gave

President Clinton. No more, no less.

Can't take the heat? Stay the hell out of the kitchen.

People in glass houses don't make good presidential candidates for the party that advocates stoning and thinks Leviticus should be the law of the land.

[SoCalDem]

33. Isn't that special

I recall him gleefully "discussing" Clinton's personal life.

Sorry Rudy, it's ALL coming out.. especially the part where you brought your mistress into the governor's mansion and put her up ..while your family was still living there..

[AX10]

36. I recall that too.

[TheCowsCameHome]

34. Um, Rudi, here's a suggestion -

FORGET ABOUT IT. It's part of the game. And if you don't like it, GET OUT.

[Glimmer of Hope]

37. Yeah but I think I want him to stay in because he would be a weak candidate against

any Dem front runner. And from what I understand, his peronal issues are only part of his "problems."

[partylessinOhio]

38. Did you have sex with "that woman" in Gracie Mansion while YOU were married to

Donna Hanover?

Now that was very public of you! You didn't care then how you were hurting your wife and your children.

[librechik]

39. I sincerely hope he gets as much privacy as the Clintons got.

[VOX]

65. NOW you're talking!!!! n/t

[AlCzervik]

44. Sorry Rudy no privacy for you but i'm really sorry for his children because

it must suck for them big time.

[Paula Sims]

45. Sure, if the kid's under 18, I say "hands off"

(right, like they did with Chelsea).

But. . .the kid is an adult, I say 'fair game'. They started it but they don't like it when we play by their rules.

Besides, I think this'll be the LEAST of Giuliani's problems.

[cgrindley]

47. I think that's a fair request

God knows our side has made it often enough. Perhaps it's time to leave families out of it. I fail to see how honoring his request and getting a promise from his people to do the same would make the race for the White House any worse than it's going to be...

[Horse with no Name]

49. Yeah and they always play nicely

Don't they?
What will happen is that our side will promise to play nicely...their side will smear our candidates...then our side will retort...and then they will say our side breaks promises.
Sorry...this group of nasty vermin should be dealt with in the same manner they deal with us.

[cgrindley]

54. Yeah, it's not going to happen, is it?

I still don't give a shit who Guiliani slept with any more than I give a shit who Gary Hart slept with. I give the tiniest of shits about Clinton's infidelity only because it was creepy, lame and pervy as all get out. And really, he was an idiot to lie about it. In the long run, history will see that it didn't hurt him too much and will only be a minor embarrassing footnote to his otherwise excellent presidency.

[Horse with no Name]

56. I don't care either

except it has been used as political ammunition against our candidates for years.

They smeared a decorated war veteran with lies and elected an AWOL sociopath.

I'm tired of playing nicely.

[Gabi Hayes]

72. are you out of your MIND?

the REASON we have Bush now is because of the creepy, pervy, keyhole peeping tactics employed by the republicans against clinton, or weren't you paying attention back then?

apparently not

for all the information you need on that totally unnecessary, media-abetted witch hunt, you can start with Fools For Scandal, and The Hunting of the President, whose premises are that the MEDIA helped keep the bogus Whitewater (and other) "scandals" brewing long enough so that the insane fascists could get Ken Starrr into the Special Prosecutor slot and start looking under every bed in Arkansas until he was able to dig up Paula Jones.

Then, you can ponder how the fascists who ran the campaign against Gore used "bring honor and integrity back to the White House" (read, 'replace that whoremongering Clinton/Gore WH'). The underlying message, against which Gore was forced to run, was BASED upon Clinton's creepy, pervy extramarital sex life, which was, of course, nobody's business.

Jesus, what an idiotic post

[cgrindley]

73. Nope

the reason we have Bush/Cheney is because Gore/Lieberman ran a relatively inept campaign that failed to secure a clear victory over the repukes. Gore was NOT the Gore of today. He was robotic. Lieberman, was just as much of an asshat then as he is now. No one gave a shit about Clinton's infidelity, and no one would have found Paula Jones if she hadn't been there to find. Ditto the dumb intern.

Don't go blaming the repukes for winning. Our side lost by not securing a commanding win. We abandoned many of our beliefs to Nader (who didn't steal votes... we GAVE them to him).

Kerry/Edwards was even less inspiring. A bunch of dumb hicks took Kerry out on his war record. That was the lamest moment in democratic party electioneering since the idiot decision to run well... um Mondale.... or um Dukakis.

Next time, we play to win. Hilary/Obama.

That's victory.

[Gabi Hayes]

74. Like I said, you don't know what you're talking about , and have no clue

as to the power of the combination of the Right Wing Republican Party and the Corporate Media who walk hand in hand with them.

the REASON Gore and Kerry were PERCEIVED, and that's the key word, my friend, is that the MEDIA was only too happy to play the RW game, while ignoring EVERY SINGLE negative story about Bush. Do you remember what the media did when he said he didn't want to talk about the days when he was "young and irresponsible?" They COMPLETELY DROPPED all mention of his past drug experiences. Do you remember that?

and that's just one of MYRIAD instances where the media refused to run with ANY stories that reflected negatively on him. If it was bad for Bush, the story had NO legs. Sure, it may have gotten one of two mentions in the Post, the Times, or the Boston Globe (see AWOL, which went nowhere).

I don't know what election campaigns you were watching, or from what planet you were watching from, but call us when you get back to earth.

Then you can read up on the Swiftboat campaign and tell us what happened during that. And don't give me the BS about Kerry not responding quickly enough. He DID, and the media refused to do its job and research the LIES being told BEFORE they ran that story into the ground for THREE WEEKS, before they finally got around to telling us that, oh...by the way, it's not true. By then, it was all over, and with it, Kerry's chances to get far enough ahead to make it impossible to steal the election as he did in 2000.

amazing ignorance.....

[cgrindley]

77. Go ahead bury your head in the sand

It won't change the past. Kerry blew it with the idiot hicks and should have smacked them down pronto. Instead, he tried to play the center and it cost him.

GW had the right strategy. Remember how stupid we looked over the antique DWI? Kerry should have played the same hand or he should have boldly stated: The Vietnam War was an embarrassing piece of shit. It was terrible for our country and there was no honor in it. End of story.

That should have been his line. Playing the center was a huge error.

[Gabi Hayes]

81. you're burying your head in your own sand dune of willful ignorance.

while it's true that neither Gore nor Kerry ran "perfect" campaigns, the MEDIA never allowed them to get their message out, instead burying them in mountains of contumely and mendacity.

if you can't see that, well, what's the point of discussing it?

have you ever read ANYthing about the role of media in the decline of democracy?

my guess is you haven't

try looking up these two books:

One, where it may have all started....

On Bended Knee, by Mark Hertzgaard
It's about how Reagan used the socalled liberal media, who GLADLY played into his hands, setting the stage for the rise of his feckless-yet-dangerous Veep, the savaging of the Clinton admin, which led to the media-abetted destruction of the Gore campaign, which inevitably led to....you get the picture...or do you? I doubt it. But then, you seem to know everything, and are oblivious to obvious, incontrovertable, verifiable reality.



Two

Rich Media, Poor Democracy, by Robert McChesney

let us know when you've learned something. then, get back to us.

[salin]

53. On things that involve the kids, perhaps... on things that involve his

actions - such as his serial infidelities, his extended estrangement from his son, his announcing his divorce on tv before telling his wife in person - all of that is absolutely fair game - speaks to character. That is - the only part mentioned above about the son - is actually about Rudy and his actions.

[City Lights]

51. Tough shit, Rude-E!

What goes around, comes around. You spout off about everyone, everywhere, and you are about to get yours. Bend over, pal!

[jannyk]

57. Is that his 'blood' family or his 'crime' family? eom

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

66. Hmm I wonder what are the odds dude will soldier on through the primary race, or flame out early, as

attention on this magnifies...

[VOX]

68. Let's see...Clinton's escapades, Gore's utility bills, Edwards' house, Obama's "Muslim" schooling...

You're absolutely right, Rudy, as a candidate for president of the United Sates, you and only you deserve an invisible shield to conceal your entire personal life from public consumption, forever and for all time. Amen. :sarcasm:

After all, backers of your right-wing party would *never, NEVER* stoop to such a tactic, would they? :puke: :nuke: And they don't even **have** any dirt on Democratic candidates -- they just make up shit!!!! :grr:

[KurtNYC]

70. He wants privacy from his son? It was his son that made the comments.

If he takes the White House, he will no doubt deny his son permits to speak. That seems to be his general answer for critics.

Hopefully Rudy won't implode too early in this race. The damage to the GOP will be greater if he implodes late -- like he did in the Senate race against Hillary Clinton.

[spanone]

78. Of Course He Does... Bwhahahahahaaa of course bwahahahaha

[Canuckistanian]

79. Isn't that special

Ever since Gary Hart, presidential candidates have been subject to personal rectal probes about their family lives, courtesy of the insane religious right.

And now Julie wants to change the rules??

Nuh-uh-uhhh....

[RB TexLa]

86. I searched real hard, I couldn't find it in me to give a shit about his family

[walldude]

89. Gonna be tough while he's in the Family Values Party

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Starbucks Anarchist]

90. One man, one woman at a time, eh, Rudy?

:eyes:

[Kurovski]

91. No way. Sink the BFEE enabler.

Sink him to the bottom of the piranha tank with the weights he created all on his own.

Sink the creepy bastard deep.

[samplegirl]

92. Maybe he should ask John Kerry how that works

stay outta my wife's business.

[Swamp Rat]

94. But Rudy, Carol Dinkins and the NSA say they have the right to look inside your large intestine.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x347699

[Tom Joad]

95. I wish the republicans said we all deserved privacy.

[Skidmore]

99. The horse was out of the barn long ago, Rudy.

[cap]

100. absolutely NO WAY!

So you want "privacy" so that you can suck up to the anti-abortionists and the folks right behind them that want to ban contraception?

Awww Come On! The BAD OLD DAYS are BACK. Backdoor Hypocrisy reigns! If you got the bucks and the power to do it, you can get away with immoral behavior. All the good hypocrites on the right will look the other way to get their boy elected.

[The Backlash Cometh]

101. Not a chance. If Theresa Kerry had to open up a sealed lawsuit,

then Giuliani's dirty laundry must fly. If he can't talk about family matters now, he might have some dirty dish that he can be blackmailed for later.

[Pacifist Patriot]

102. I think every politician ought to be entitled to personal privacy...

to the exact same level accorded the democratic candidates.

[Virginia Dare]

103. Sure, Rudes as soon as the Repuklican Party gets their...

mits off my private life...:eyes:

[npincus]

104. that depends... did Ms. Nathan give then-married Guiliani a bl*wjob?

I hear that's taboo in Republican circles.

[devilgrrl]

106. Sorry honey, that went out the window when you decided to become an Art Critic...

keep dreaming Rudy.

[DemBones DemBones]

110. You reap what you sow, Rudy.

Your actions have shown what you are and it ain't pretty.

[Cha]

113. So get the fuck outta the gucky,

oily, prick race. Get yourself in the private sector so we don't have hear about your fascistass again.