Rudy will govern with the mindset of a federal prosecutor, which is what he was before becoming mayor of NY.
The only good thing Rudy did as mayor of NY was appoint Bratton as police chief. Community policing reduced crime dramatically. He made a huge difference. Anyone who lived or worked in the city during the disastrous David Dinkins administration knows this.
My praise for Giuliani ends there. Once crime went down, Rudy’s tyrannical tendencies were on display for all to see. Bratton was popular, and reportedly did some preliminary political work to see if HE should run for mayor. When Rudy found out, Bratton was ousted, pronto.
Replaced by Kerik, despite a shady past (and who Rudy NOW admits he made a mistake in appointing. Yeah, sure, Rudy...).
After violent crime went down, Rudy targeted J-walkers, people who spit gum on the sidewalks, etc. His popularity was low, because of his dictatorial tendencies.
Then, 9/11 happened and these traits became strengths in that context (particularly since George Pataki, the ex-governor, stood mute, consistent with his behaviour during his entire term). 9/11 put Rudy on the map, and his popularity soared proving again, to me at least, that a man’s greatest strengths are also his greatest weaknesses.
Rudy used this new-found political clout to launch a campaign to become US Senator. His oppenent was The Beast (Hillary Rodham). Unfortunately, late into the campaign, and about 2 months before the election, Rudy had a public mid-life meltdown. He had prostate cancer and his second marriage was unraveling. This all played out very publicly, until Rudy decided to drop out of the race, leaving a very unprepared and underfunded candidate (Rick Lazio) to pick up the pieces. Hillary won in a landslide.
Now, if he happens to win the nomination, I will obviously vote for the man. Mostly because I think he’d be stronger on the most overriding issue, the WOT, than any of the Dims. But on every other issue, I think Rudy is nearly indistinguishable from the Dems.
Just my opinion, having lived and worked in NYC for the better part of 40 years.
So what you are saying, Rudy ran for the 2000 senate election after 9/11 2001.
I knew he was tricky but not that tricky. If you are going to make up history as you go along at least get the time line right. Sheesh. Doofus. You bet.