And since you are one of the only people I've seen on all these many threads who wasn't acting like an ignorant name-caller, I'll be more than happy to respond. Commissioner Kerik is by no means a "perfect" man... show me someone who is. People have been all to quick to jump on the liberal-fueled Kerik bashing bandwagon without knowing any facts. For starters, yes, the man had an illegal alien in his employ while he was overseas. The often repeated charge that Commissioner Kerik didn't pay taxes on her is only half true... all her NJ taxes were paid. Taxes for the state of NY for some work she did in his home there were overlooked; however, were since paid in full, including the penalties according to at least one news report. I've done contract work in a neighboring state and forgotten to claim the income in that state ... our tax code sucks and that sort of oversight is very easy to make. My guess is that the commissioner's wife or staff hired the nanny and that rather than trying to pass the buck, he's accepted blame for something that was ultimately his responsibility.
As for the other allegations in the press, none of them seem to be very well substantiated, and (unlike many arrogant freepers I've seen here) I won't pretend to have enough facts to make a determination as to Commissioner Kerik's guilt, innocence, or wrongdoing in those matters. I will make a few observations, though:
Regarding alleged "mob-ties"... no one has substantiated any of this other than to say that, in effect, Commissioner Kerik did business with someone who did business with a mob-affiliated business. It's hard to throw out your trash or get your car repaired in NY without "doing business with a mob affiliated business." This sounds like total bunk to me.
As for the "apartment overlooking ground zero" ... whoop-de-do. I used to have sex in a building that was previously an orphanage for kids who's parents had died or were dying in the TB Asylum across the street. It was my apartment ... there are no claims that Commissioner Kerik had his trysts there during the 9-11 cleanup, but all the headlines want you to believe that he threw tired rescue-workers off a cot so he could bang away at his girlfriend. The affairs themselves (if indeed they happened at all) would be personally indefensible, but have no affect on his ability to do his job.
Was there an inside story to why he left Iraq early? I don't know, and neither do any of the blabbermouth freepers I've seen posting here this week. One thing we do know about his time in Iraq: his boss was happy with him and happy with his performance.
No doubt Commissioner Kerik is a "colorful" figure as I've heard it put, but he would have gotten the job done. In my opinion no police officer will ever be elevated to a high political office ... too many enemies are made over the years; people who are willing to say and do anything to make the officer look bad.
I don't know him well but I know him enough to know that he is a kind man who cares about the people on his staff. He's intelligent beyond what he projects on TV or in interviews, he loves his country, and he has a reputation as a workaholic.
I'm supremely disappointed that the freepers I have previously enjoyed the company of so much have been so eagerly led down the path of character assassination by the liberal media driven onslaught against a good man.
It should be over now, he had his name withdrawn and has been embarrassed. Can we move on yet? Or do the freepers need more blood?
My interest in this withdrawn nomination was triggered by the cavalier response of many to his "indiscretions",i.e.;that they don't matter. I only want folks to be aware that if it doesn't matter for geese,it doesn't matter for ganders either.
Since,I intend to protest loud and clearly when the other party appears to be "using" other people or their property I think it never hurts to remind others that "Ceasar's wife must be above reproach". Rather than continue to sound like a walking,talking animated cliche,I'll sign off. Thanks again.