Giuliani Calls Ron Paul 'Absurd' on 9/11

NewsMax, AP ^ | May 15, 2007

[West Coast Conservative]

On defense for much of the evening, Giuliani switched to the attack nearly an hour into the debate, challenging Rep. Ron Paul's suggestion that the U.S. bombing of Iraq had contributed to the terrorist attacks of 2001.

As someone who lived through 9/11, the man who was New York mayor at the time, Giuliani said sternly, "I don't think I've ever heard that before, and I have heard some pretty absurd explanations."

His rebuke to Paul drew some of the loudest applause of the night from the partisan audience at the University of South Carolina campus.

[The_Eaglet]

Paul, in contrast, sees violence as a justified response to American imperialism.

Paul never said that was justified. As cva66snipe pointed out, "Understanding why a Bully punches you in the face does not mean you are friends or support the bully. It means you are able to avoid or be ready for his next punch."

Paul does not embrace the Marxist theory of imperialism. He rejects it.

[dervish]

What you are missing is the concept of Islamic expansionism - like the fools who thought Communism would just leave the West alone if we left them alone ie: leave Vietnam, SA, etc.

Sure we can stay out of the Arabian peninsula but where would you draw the line - would it be okay if Bin Laden took back Andalusia (Spain) too? Was Afghanistan in the Middle East? Chechnya? Thailand? India?

Take a look at the Map of the Caliphate and let me know how much you think Bin Laden and his ilk should be permitted to control. Also keep in mind that by now Bin Laden and co believe they are entitled to France, UK, Belgium, Denmark, and other choice dar el Islam locales.

http://www.bartleby.com/67/umayy02.html

[JHBowden]

In this case, the bullies in Iran want to detonate nuclear bombs in Los Angeles, London, and Tel Aviv.

What do libertarians propose to do? Turn the other cheek? How does mutually assured destruction work when you’re dealing with fundamentalists who think it is their duty from God to bring about the Apocalypse at the end of times?

[dervish]

“it is easily verifiable that Guliani HAS stated in the past his belief that the attacsk were a result of US foreign policy in the region, ...BUT he did acknowledge that the US must reconsider it’s policies vis a vis the Palestinian situation.”

Wrong.

But don’t let your hatred of Giuliani get in the way of facts.

[Pencil]

Ron Paul is a Representative, not a Senator.

I respect Ron Paul, and I respect his right to oppose the war, but he is wrong on the issue of foreign policy.

[Maeve]

Paul’s “points” can be summarized as nothing more than the infantile rants of Noam Chomsky.

Your statement is as far from true as the east is from the west.

[dervish]

Our tax dollars pay for Europe’s defense many times over the amount we give Israel. Are you complaining about that?

[JerseyHighlander]

What I stated is easily and readily verifiable direct quotes from Guiliani.

I do not hate Guiliani, I very much admire the man, I just know him better than most, and don’t want him to be CiC.

[texastoo]

Maybe you can find a good congressman like Ortiz or Hinijosa. Never again will you have a man with brains. Sorry but your loss.

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

Then there are conservatives who would have voted for Paul but don't because they don't have phone text messaging, like me.

Fox News is attempting to avoid the problem of Online Voters allegedly crushing the Poll via "multiple votes" (or whatever) by restricting it to a broad-based "Call In" vote (where each Cell Phone can be restricted to One Vote by eliminating duplicate Call In numbers).

It's a shame that you guys without Cell-Phone Text Messaging were unable to Vote, but you can take heart in the fact that it scarcely matters -- Ron Paul supporters are STILL crushing the Poll.

Giuliani's one good moment came when he blamed Ron Paul for what the Fox News Moderator said -- Ron Paul NEVER "blamed the US for 9/11", those were the Fox Moderator's words, which Giuliani siezed upon.

As a Debater, I don't think that Paul's response was his best moment (he should have better pointed out Giuliani's duplicity in putting Fox News' words in his mouth, JMHO); but, he stuck by his guns, "No Wars without a Constitutional DECLARATION OF WAR", and his principled stance is winning Votes even despite his somewhat-ineffective delivery.

[cva66snipe]

Giuliani's one good moment came when he blamed Ron Paul for what the Fox News Moderator said -- Ron Paul NEVER "blamed the US for 9/11", those were the Fox Moderator's words, which Giuliani siezed upon.

I want to look up the text on that question tomorrow. That's a good point. Thanks.

[vicosal]

u a sick boy-funny but sick

[DreamsofPolycarp]

After reading the hateful spew launched by the anti-Ron Paul crowd, it is no wonder to me that the Republicans got their heads handed to them last election.

I don't know if the conservative movement has become brittle, hate filled and bitter, or if the internet just attracts the wankers in any movement.

[don-o]

Any of the other 8 could and would have knocked that softball out of the park.

[mastershake266]

Ron Paul is a Utopian isolationist fool. He lives in peace to spout his nonsense because better men have laid down their lives to deter a very real evil that Ron Paul refuses to confront.

He lives in peace to spout off his beliefs because proud patriots like the other men on stage realize that any talk about withdrawal is treason. The utopians are those who believe that we're going to be drawing down troops from Iraq any time within the next 50 years. Even after we smash the Islamo-fascists, which isn't going to take much longer, there are going to be a few crazies over there who will wait for the day when we start to draw down troops so they can say that they won. We can't give them that opportunity, so the best solution is to let them know that we will be there forever, whether they like it or not.

[mastershake266]

It’s patently absurd to suggest that simply leaving them alone would appease them (and appeasement is precisely what Paul hopes for).

So how many countries do we need to invade before they are finished? Do we need to kill every bad person to make the world safe? That's not conservatism; that's a pogram. That's the type of crazy thinking that leftists have used to call for purges for hundreds of years.

The world is a dangerous place and there are lots of dangers out there. Libertarians recognize that people need to take personal responsibility for their actions and quit demanding that government act as the end all, be all. Whether that means restricting "nanny state" liberalism like welfare or "daddy state" conservatism like limitless surveillance or getting groped at the airport, sometimes there is a price you have to pay for freedom. I mean, the latest "terrorist attack" involved a bunch of guys trying to take some guns into Fort Dix. Does that mean that you're willing to give up your right to bear arms?

[mastershake266]

Just slither away heads down, saying sorry, we will leave you alone now.

Who cares about whether they'll leave us alone or not, what kind of coward gives up? We have to win this war because America doesn't give up.

[mastershake266]

Paul has the most influential local conservative media gunning for him now due to this gaffe and he repeated it on national television tonight. He has messed with the wrong guys in Texas.

Why stop there? Sure, maybe he's never ever voted for a tax increase, is pro-life, has supported every tax cut he can, and has across the board high ratings with the conservative groups. He went against the establishment, so now we need to destroy him.

[Flora McDonald]

I made a short snarky comment on his resemblance to Ross Perot. What is your problem? Where did I call your nutjob a traitor?

And I feel I can comfortably call him a nutjob and anything else I care too since he seems to be doing his damndest to undermine the war in Iraq thereby endangering my son and the rest of our fighting men and women.

[CharacterCounts]

By your logic, Japan had every right to attack Pearl Harbor in 1941.