Reminds me why I canceled my subscription

YOUR EDITORIAL IS FULL OF LOOPHOLES. YOU JUST WANT TO TEAR RUDI APART. START WITH HILLARY, THE B….. HAS PLENTY IN HER BACKYARD!

YOUR EDITORIAL IS FULL OF LOOPHOLES. YOU JUST WANT TO TEAR RUDI APART. START WITH HILLARY, THE B….. HAS PLENTY IN HER BACKYARD!

Wow! The abundance of continual sophomoric rhetoric from both sides of the political spectrum. The neo-conservatives this, the liberals that, and so on and so forth. People, this nation is in bad shape! The very fabric that once made this nation great, is unraveling. Yet no one is taking the time to address and identify the real issues, associate any real lasting solutions nor propose any relevant implementation stategies. 2008 is presenting us with the very worst that the Repugnant Party and the Demolition Party can offer. And both are offering it in abundance. If we don’t fundamentally change the internal machinery, any choice made in 2008 will be the wrong one.
Yes, that includes Rudy, among the others. Partisan paradigms coupled with so much misinformation are only going to aide in our final collapse. Celebrating the end of the Dubya era will be grand, but looking at what is likely to come in 2009 is truely terrifying.

this amateur attempt at an article is full of hypocritical garbage. he’s slamming giuliani for making money and making fun of his looks? why don’t you try writing something worth reading eh taibbi???

TREASON AGAINST GOD AND COUNTRY

When did Giuliani’s Christian God give him the right to support Human sacrifice, women killing their own children?

When did his American Constitution give him the right to sacrifice the wealth and blood of the American People, on behalf of domestic and foreign lobbies?

If neither his Christian God, nor his American Constitution, are sacred to him; why would his promises to the American People be sacred to him?

re: the author’s absurd characterization of Ron Paul’s debate statement as “a simple isolationist argument”. Since when is refraining from attacking neutral nations and bombing innocent people defined as “isolationist?”

I couldn’t disagree with the tone or content of your “article” more, and am saddened that Rollingstone has some liberally-biased person like you on its staff spewing BS that you deem to be good writing.

Rudy might not always know what to say to kids, or respond perfectly the way you’d like him to, or even make all the right decisions. But he’s head and shoulders above slick Hiliary, and her indirect, fully rehearsed “answers” to planted questions.

She has no more ability than she did under slick Willie trotting out that socialized heathcare plan, cum recipe for disaster.

Believe me, a few short months (or weeks) into her administration, and you’re going to be damned sorry, and WISH you had someone of Rudy’s experience overseeing our country!!!

Thanks for the article. It’s refreshing to see someone just tell it like it is.

Michael

Giuliani will destroy this country! Bush already started!

Giuliani will destroy our country! Bush has already started!

I am a republican and I could never vote for this man. He is one of the most disgusting scumbags to make the headlines in the last century. I hope you write more fairly about Ron Paul next time. His foreign policy is not isolationist - it is non-interventionist. If people don’t wake up and vote for Ron Paul I fear this country will never recover.

I can only say…WOW. Thank you, Mike Taibbi(THIS is bravery, folks). Mr. Giuliani joins a long line of little men looking for a balcony. He is a slime-ball bully (and we won’t even go into Miss JUDITH…what… Judy Giuliani sounds funny to you?) Ah, I can just see them both. Judy in her big fur coat standing next to Rudy up against a nice brick wall.

PS dditaranto you are right on. i am disgusted to live in this country. the corruption of our leaders and ignorance of the masses is sickening.

rudy is worse than bush. but cheney is worse than them all.

He destroyed the Mafia in a sweeping round of convictions that landed all the bosses of the 5 families in prison forever. It was considered the largest crackdown on organized crime since the Al Capone convictions in the 1930s.

He changed New York from one of the most dangerous places on earth to the “Safest large city in the U.S.”

He was the only Republican mayor in NY ever endorsed by every major Newspaper - most of them left-leaning.

He is one of the toughest, most intelligent, wisest leaders of the past 50 years.

I’m sorry, but the 6th grade style bully attack from this wanna-be writer doesn’t even begin to match the dust under the feet of the man who probably saved tens of thousands of New Yorkers’ lives from the hands of violent criminals.

It’s beyond shameful. It’s just plain stupid.

First, I’d like to applaud the writer on a eye opening article. If it opens the eyes of one Rudy supporter, then it’s working. I am completely disgusted with our choices for president…..except for one man who stands above the rest, and that man is Ron Paul. I have never before contributed to any kind of campaign, not even bought a bumper sticker, until now. I pray that Ron Paul gets the nomination, so there will be some hope for our country and my children. If any one of the Democrates or Republicans gets elected, then it’s the same old corruption, and who knows where they will lead us?, maybe to or ultimate doom?….most likely, I’m afraid. This current administration needs to pay for the crimes it has committed against it’s own people, and the world, and electing any of these other boffunes will just be a sequel to this nightmare. My friend had a great idea….On the presidential election there should be a ” None Of The Above” column, and if that was the majority vote, then the election process would have to start all over again….with different candidates. As far as Rudy is concerned, I wrote what I felt about him below on “therealrudy.org” and it pretty much sums up how I feel. God Bless us all….stay safe.

Unbelievable.
That’s the only word that comes to my mind when I hear that this under qualified, immoral, dishonest, idiot can be considered seriously for the office of the Presidency. I am completely disgusted, and ashamed with the way this country is headed, especially since the bush administration has hijacked our government, and made us enemies around the world. The media is very much to blame. As I watched the Fox Republican Debate last night, my stomach turned as I heard the commentator ask question after question to Rudy. And then to have to listen to his sly answers, as if he was some kind of celebrity. This guy needs to be exposed to the masses soon, and stopped in his dirty tracks. There has to be some way to do this! If not, I’m afraid he may become the winning candidate going against that crazy hillary person. Don’t be a sheep!!!!! Wake Up!!!!

I LOVE HIM! HES AWSOME AND SO WHAT HE IS A NICE GUY AND HE WILL DO GREAT THINGS YOU GO RUDAY SHOW ME WHAT U GOT

GIULIANI is a loose canon. Saddam attempted to Kill GBush sr. Jr. got elected and destroyed Iraq looking for Saddam. Jr’s plan from day one! 911 was just an excuse. Don’t believe it? Why have we not got B.Laden? We’ve got every other top terrorist in the “911 card deck.” GIULIANI as mayor of NY city, has been personally attacked! Don’t you think he also has an axe to grind? Don’t you think it’s in the back of his mind every day? Don’t you think he wants payback, like jr? Can we afford more war? Do we want vengeance? Do we want more killing?

This guy has to be stopped! Don’t vote for him!! Tell everyone why!!

Ok, I’m not a an expert in the political field, but I’m well on my way to becoming so. I agree that Giuliani is not perfect by any means, but this blatant bashing of him only shoves this article into the the pile of countless others that is only catering to the already anti Giuliani crowd. You say there’s more to know about him, but if you look into any of the other candidates, especially Rudy’s main opponent Hillary Clinton, you see as much if not more self interest. Give me a reason not portray her a vengeful, power hungry wife of an ex-prez, whose using him and her position as a woman to push her radical ideals into policy. Same sliming, different side. Self interest is inherent in the society we grow up in, its going to be part of any candidate. The only reason that I defend and somewhat support Rudy more than any other is that I honestly don’t believe any other republican has a chance in hell and that, at least for one more term, we need someone who wont experiment with radical idealism, that wont ruin any of the few achievement we’ve made in Iraq AND has the capacity to look both ways on the political spectrum. My opinion, yes, but at least mine doesn’t sound utterly slanted and petty.

Rudy is clearly the current administration’s hope for successor to Bush. He spearheaded the coverup… er, cleanup of the 9/11 wreckage. Sure, nobody’s perfect, but anyone so clearly politically tied to the debacle of criminal negligence that was 9/11 has no business coming within 1000 miles of the Presidency.
If the Republican voters want someone to protect their wealth, they can certainly do better than this man. Otherwise, they’ll be trading in what’s left of their civil liberties for a couple extra bucks.
And given his penchant for excessive fearmongering a la Bush/Cheney, I can’t even imagine what Giuliani’s version of the Patriot Act would be…
Cheers

It’s amazing to me that anyone reading this article can defend Rudy Giuliani. Perhaps a reading comprehension course? Those of you defending this Bushie really ought to READ the article. Take a look at realrudy.org while you’re at it. My god, people.

Okay –weren’t the Republicans out raged with Clinton’s adulterous act…I guess integrity, honor and respect is only demanded from Democrats. Republicans contol the the media so when they commit immoral acts the story will be silenced. So the cheats, adulterers and pedophiles will be protected. So many hushed stories disgusting isn’t it.
We listen to the news commentators or candidates divert truth by playing word games..reminding me of the American Tail movie..Who are YOU going to believe ME or your own eyes? Sadly their image by so called marketing brain stormeres train liars to be outspoken forceful speakers.a lie repeated enough outlandishly becomes true. Corruption has been justified at the expense of our national and international honor. We need help.

If we could have a Presidential Leader with a standard of conduct that would lead us with integrity, honoring Americans and regain our respect worlwide. We and our planet have lost so much for so long we need a healer that excludes those who shamelessly own corrupt baggage, absence of integrity, drunks, adulterous conduct, selfish power hungry agendas and extremely stupid embarrasing ineptness. We need TRUTH no more image manipulation..truth. Don’t we have an American we can admire who truly loves this country enough to heal the mess and fall of grace we are in. Yes we are all human but our presidential leader who will that have the power to blow us out of existence should be above reproach. Someone that truthfully speaks of honor because he has never lost it.

Funny comments here. According to Johnsona: Rudy - the mafia giant killer - somehow is tied to the mob. I guess by vowel. That’s so early 20th century. “Don’t vote for LaGuardia. He’s one of them.” Sure and Bill Clinton has relatives in the klan. Rudy’s a fascist too? Oh the irony. In the four years prior to Giuliani’s mayoral term, Americans killed on the streets of New York match the level of Americans killed to date in the entire Iraq war. That means the average Democratic voter from Manhattan to Harlem had a much better survival rate with Giuliani in office than with Dinkins or previously with Koch. As with Philadelphia today, democratic control of American cities is murder.

Someone once said that if not for 9/11, Giuliani would just be a small man with a lisp.
This man is dangerous for America. You better get informed quickly about this man before it is too late.
I suggest you also get informed about Dr. Ron Paul as he is the only candidate, Rep or Dem, who can save us from our own self destruction. You’ve been warned.

Rudy is an idiot. He can’t even talk straight. Anyone supporting him is just as stupid as he is. Do you really want a studdering president? How about the mormon? yeah, you guys have obvious taste in candidates. Your opinions are worth so much. Please continue enlightening us with your brilliant inspirational knowledge and vast experience. [/sarcasm][/disgust]

While I agree with Taibbi’s stance on Rudy G’s handling of 9/11…his ignorance of actual fact in favor of political appearance…I do feel that his almost junior-high style of name calling and over simplification of the man creates an opening for partisianship rather than ability to create a dialog over a politician’s responsibility to represent the people.
Political editorials are vastly important, not just to inform and educate, but can change the tide so to speak. For Taibbi to sink into a sophmoric diatribe instead of laying out facts he has, unfortunately, pigeon-holed himself into a mere “liberal slacker” stereotype. It is my hope that in the future Rolling Stone sinks their teeth further into the political machine and takes the proverbial chunk out of its ass. But more importantly does so in a way that makes it very clear that the authors of such pieces are viable ediorialists.

I’m not a New Yorker but when I heard that Giuliani brought his girlfriend/mistress/present wife into Gracie Mansion where his former wife, but at the time present wife, was still living, I thought that this fact alone was enough to gauge the man’s character. No one is perfect but someone as vicious and immature as Rudy should not be in charge of Bingo Night, let alone of the U.S. of A. When one’s children are openly hostile toward one, that is a sign that he’s the head of a dysfunctional family. Not good.

Anyone who knows New Yorkers knows they think Guiliani is pretty much worthless. However, the writer should have checked into the history and character of Hugo Chavez before he trashed him. Hugo Chavez is, oh my God, redistributing money from the rich to the poor. He should be admired rather than trashed by folks who don’t bother to find out what’s going on in Venezuela.

Giuliani is a phoney. Remember the NYPD as they beat, shot, and killed people: “It’s Giuliani time!”
The “hero of the WTC” spent more than 3 times as many hours attending NY Yankees ballgames than he spent at ground zero! That’s on the record.

Rudy Giuliani is a womanizing Right winger who belongs no where near the White House. Rudy is using his supposed good handling of the terror attacks for propaganda and political gain. The only thing he has right is his pro-choice stance. A woman and her doctor should decide things not the government.

Being a retired fire officer from NYC, as much as I can’t stand Guiliani NO ONE could ever be worse the the MORON bush. NO ONE.

I think Rudy handled 9/11 exceedingly well. He did an amazing job of bringing together not just the city, but the entire nation, in the face of tragedy. He proved to the terrorists that America is a strong and resiliant nation that does not collapse under any circumstance.

The accusation that Rudy is worse than Bush is unfounded and absurd! Unlike Bush, Rudy actually went to the scene of the 9/11 attacks IMMEDIATELY after hearing word of them. Bush, upon hearing of the 9/11 attacks, sat in a classroom and continued reading a children’s book.

Keep in mind (as others have mentioned) that Rudy is a POLITICIAN, and the actions he takes are not necessarily in the people’s best interest 100% of the time– but there’s the world of politics for ya.

Guiliani is a fascist. He is not even remotely qualified to be President of the United States. His integrity and opinion are for sale to the highest bidder. Ron Paul all the way!

If Rudy gets elected, he won’t whore around in the white house, cause he’s bringing his whore with him.

Typical Liberal B.S. And that’s coming from a “former” liberal. After the way the dems and libs have behaved over the last few years, I left the party. What a load of crap!

GO RUDY!

Typical, adolescent slander from RS and Taibbi: Rudy works with Karl Rove’s “henchmen”. Rudy “grew up hiding tittie magazines from nuns”. Rudy is “virtually neckless, all shoulders and forehead and overbite, with a hunched-over, Draculoid posture”. Well-reasoned, intellectual stuff there, Matt- very convincing. Rudy is just so evil!

If this boils down to simple judgments about the man, consider this question: Was NYC, a virtual country in and of itself, a considerably better place to work, live and visit because Giuliani was its mayor? Any reasonable NYC resident, regardless of party affiliation, would be hard-pressed to say no. The guy produced tangible, real RESULTS. Forget 9/11; his legacy as a force for change was cemented long before that. The man is a tireless doer, and improves the quality of life of those he serves by sheer force of will.

When you homeless, poor, granola liberals can put up a better candidate than Kerry or Hillary Clinton, maybe you can win an election. My vote is going to Rudy, and, face it, he is going to win despite all of your moronic efforts to the contrary. I am rich, and I want to stay that way. God bless the Republicans.

Giuliani is the loser! He calls Dems losers, who’s the one who has been married three times? Oh and his second wife was his second cousin!!!!! What a loser!

Giuliani is the loser! He calls Dems losers, who’s the one who has been married three times? Oh and his second wife was his second cousin!!!!! What a loser!

I live in NYC and lived under the reign of Giuliani. What a mean, nasty, ego-maniac - all the traits you want in a president! I can’t wait until more people blow the lid off this disgusting phony.

“Who could ever bash Giuliani after what he has done to New York”

i would think that should be… what he has done FOR new york.

the majority of people who live in the us are to dumb to look past the pr and vote for someone who is good for our country.

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best article of the year!

Excellent, Matt Taibbi. Giuliani is the typical opportunist - and it says a lot about the US that men like him and Bush can reach the top. What’s wrong with American voters, don’t they want good men in office?

I agree that this article did not back up its’ assursions with much fact.
And honestly, how could he possibly be as bad as Bush. He would have to be Dick Cheney.
But as a NYC resident…do not vote for Guliani!
If he lies and cheats on his own wife, how honest will he be with the American people?

Wow This article was the biggest piece of garbage i have ever read. Who could ever bash Giuliani after what he has done to New York. I myself am a independant and i love Rollingstone for their music articles, however i just started reading their politics and they are one sided liberal opinion articles, i mean come on there are flaws on both sides.

I love those who rush to criticize Giuliani without any evidence of substance to back up their knee jerk bashing of anyone not a progressive true believer.

He’s worse than Bush? How? Has he increased the deficit?

What specifically, other than Giuliani is not Obama, Edwards or Gore makes him “dangerous”, “evil” whatever?

If Ron Paul were to somehow pull ahead in polls for the Republican nomination, I’d wager almost all of you would bleat approvingly a RS smear job on him. Shallow and transparent as hell.

Politicians, of all stripes, run for office because they’re convinced they can run your life for you better than whatever you decide. Apparently, having your life micromanaged by your guy is okay, just not anyone else’s.

I love those who rush to defend this freak without any evidence of substance to back up their ass kissing. Truth be told, Rudy is worse than Bush, and that’s saying a hell of a lot…he is a whack job, incapable of taking criticism. Maybe the Pope is right when he wants him excommunicated…the best moment at the debates so far, better than his idiotic response to Ron Paul, was when the electrical system at the debate let out a “zzzzzzzittt” when he talked about his support for abortion rights…not even the man upstairs is buying his BS…

The Guiliani article was very enlightening. Based on its content, I have coined a phrase with collegues (I am a high school teacher)about how Guiliani is “pimping off 9/11″. How’s that for a title?

The Guiliani article was very enlightening. Based on its content, I have coined a phrase with collegues (I am a high school teacher)about how Guiliani is “pimping off 9/11″. How’s that for a title?

“At least someone as the balls enough to say something against these right-winged conservatives who are just money hungry and greedy!”

Yes, no one has ever said these things three million times before, for the last six years, to the exact same audience. Sorry about your coma.

I thought the article was a wonderful read, and very relevant to politics in the U.S.; CRAZY AS HELL!

Love, love, love Matt Taibbi. His articles are the highlights of RS for me. However, I was shocked when Matt said this, “…at a nationally televised debate with a righteous ass-kicking of the party’s latest Hanoi Jane, terrorist sympathizer Ron Paul.”

Are you kidding? The was a Rudy ass-kicking. It clearly showed what a dumbass he is, not having even read the 911 report. Ron Paul is no Hanoi Jane nor is he a terrorist sympathizer. Hearing Matt say that makes me question the truth of his statements about Rudy. Ron Paul simply wants us out of Iraq. Does that make him a terrorist sympathizer?

I’m a little taken aback by this attack on Ron Paul, clearly the young people’s choice for the next Prez of the U.S.

I commend the article. At least someone as the balls enough to say something against these right-winged conservatives who are just money hungry and greedy!

Hilary losing to ALL THREE of the leading Republican contenders in most recent polls.

Try harder, Taibbi. There must be more half-truths, innuendo and insinuations about Giuliani, Thompson and McCain somewhere.

America gave the Dems a chance with Congress and are now remembering why they voted them out in the first place.

Pasty Stir Mendes, at least that gets the forum and goes forward with blood money in sycophantic cahoots. Flub this one and the whole demographic starts the Texas two-stepping sprockets down their ordained quagmire… makes you wonder at least a little.

Hatchet Job. There is not a candidate running who does not deserve a hatchet job and those who keep the hatchets sharpened should be congratulated, not demeaned.
A term that came into vogue after Eisenhower years of, Choosing the Lesser of Two Evils, now means no choice at all, as there is no real difference in policy by any of serious candidates, Kusinich and Ron Paul are out of it,and instead each one of their goals is to become another George Bush, an Imperial President.
The increase of power by the executive Branch and the corresponding loss of power by the other branches, makes the choice of President way to important to place in the hands of any person that has now declared themselves as candidate for that office.
It is the weakness of every candidate that they do not ever mention the new powers of that office they seek and instead place issues of welfare, health care, Pill Bills,child education, and scare tacitcs against immigrants, terrorism, and what will happen to our soldiers for not suporting more money to the military.
We will vote for an Emporer not a president, because we have no choice of evil just the name you call it by.

Kudos for the column. It rocked. Why not come over here to Australia and critique John Howard, snivelling, little lap-dog that he is. Keep up the great work, dude. Always good to read an article that tell the truth without being scared of anything. Cheers!

for chux: no one is protecting hilary, just mentioning a planned smear campaign (which probably will backfire anyway)

i always thought rudy wasnt the straight arrow he played himself to be. the country is goin to hell in a handbasket if he gets elected

‘dpr’

Maybe you should check out the Republican comments on Hillary,
Edwards-You want class, then make sure your people start exhibiting it…

They are the “Kings” of personal attacks…Your Political Party is Known for it - The Fear and Smear Mobile…Please.

Nice hatchet job RS… let’s see you’ve done Giuliani and Thompson and Tancredo and still a year and a half out to the election! Tote that party line comrade.

demonize Giuliani protect precious Hillary = good strategy.
Rolling Stone: self-centered, Booomer, irrelevent.

And btw there is nothing wrong with makin’ fun of his appearance either - his teeth look like Friends’ Ross Geller’s with the fluorescent whitening - all he needs now is John Kerry’s orange skin for that really ’see-me-in- the-dark-look’.

Keep up the great work at RS !

We’re wondering whether the lightning will strike him the next time the ex-Democrat, ex-Independent, ex-mayor puts his finger up to the air during a lightning storm.

Up In Rudy’s Cornshoot: A Neo-neocon Perspective.

If you agree with the writer’s position and happen to be one of those few individuals who have figured out that, “America has an unrelenting passion for never bothering to take that extra step to figure shit out,” then you already know that Guliani is merely the latest sycophantic tip of the spear for a class of elites who despise ordinary people like you and me. If our rulers were not convinced of the average american’s stupidity and passivity, why would someone like Guliani be promoted as a presidential contender? Under their eternal belief that you can fool all of the people all of the time, and that form will always supersede substance, Guliani reflects the mentality of those who are really in charge. Hey, it worked with Bush! One only has to talk to his children…they know this guy is a narcissitic sociopath. Thanks for the shoutout Matt.

Matt Taibbi’s pathetic hit piece on Giuliani is an exercise in hilarious audacity and vapidity — it is all over the place and completely off mark at the same time. An analysis so unsophisticated that it actually attempts to hit Giuliani with both the ‘guilt-by-similarity with Bush’ as well as a sneerlingly homophobic slur, some inane hissing on how Rudy “flashes a queer smile” at his audiences. To be sure, Rolling Stone would do well to distance itself from such moronic musings.

But Taibbi really never recovers from here, mindlessly repeating the latest wacko Hard Left talking points:

‘Like Bush’s, Rudy’s career before the bombing was in the toilet; New Yorkers had come to think of him as an ambition-sick meanie whose personal scandals were truly wearying to think about. But on the day of the attack, it must be admitted, Rudy hit the perfect note; he displayed all the strength and reassuring calm that Bush did not, and for one day at least, he was everything you’d want in a leader. ‘

Right, we’ve heard alot about this recently. Giuliani apparently never did anything to impress his consituent New York City residents. Really? But this mindless leftist nonsense has forgotten that they will have to account for why they REELECTed RUDY to the MAYOR’s OFFICE AGAIN after his first term. After all, even people in the Flyover States know that it’s unusual for a Republican to win anything in NYC, but a Republican winning the mayor’s office TWICE in NYC was little more than an absurd proposition before Giuliani. Contrary to Taibbi’s revisionism, the reasons behind Giuliani’s success in New York are fortunately well-documented and well be put to good use later in his campaign.

Maybe Taibbi was in High School when 9/11 occurred, how else to explain the fact that he apparently doesn’t remember that George Bush’s approval was extremely high in the immediate period following 9/11, with approval rates hovering near 90%?

Finally, Taibbi’s suggestion that Giuliani intentionally encouraged cleanup workers not to wear masks when he knew they were inhaling poisonous materials (’Did Giuliani know the air at the World Trade Center was poison?’) is absurd and smacks of Loose Change-style lunacy.

If the Far Left is really this desperate to win the election, they would be far better served avoiding mouthpieces like Matt Taibbi whose strident boorishness immediately begs this question: Can we really expect any more common sense from the Far Left than we’ve seen from the Far Right? While the answer to that question is undoubtedly ‘yes’, this conclusion may be lost on America if people like Matt Taibbi and entities like The Daily Kos continue to be marketed as true representatives of the Democratic Party.

I agree that in order to stay “professional” the author should have abstained from criticizing Rudy’s looks. But on the other hand, his body posture, gestures and manerisms are rather stiff and forced - I personally wouldn’t trust that person. Now that I have successfully put my foot in my mouth, I dare say that Ron Paul was the only guy who stood out from the crowd and kicked ass that evening. I suprised myself but I think I have become a libertarian. I like the philosophy of non-interventionism (not isolationism) and personal responsibility (end the silly war on drugs). Rudy strikes me just as an opportunist just waiting ’til the other pig leaves the sty.

DH I love you. I agree with everything you said.

Typical left wing hatchet job of a good man who tries his best to do the right thing. Although the war in Iraq has been severely mishandled, it was the right thing to do. Saddam was one of if not the worst dictator since Hitler. Anyone that relies on Rolling Stone for their political information needs to reevaluate their life anyway.

Let me preface this by saying that I am a Democrat and I am aware of how lame it is to write long messages in internet arguments, so don’t bother pointing it out. Anyway…
Attacking Giuliani for being ambitious? For having a “hard-on for the presidency?” Everyone who runs for the presidency is ambitious. Both Clintons, John Kerry, Al Gore, John McCain, Mike Huckabee, all of them were/are every bit as ambitious as Giuliani or anyone who has run or is running.
Also, going after Giuliani for making money from lectures, the private sector, and books? Every politician does this sort of thing when they enter private life.
President Clinton charges similar fees to give speeches; Al Gore and John Edwards have made millions working in the private sector. Additionally, Giuliani taking a lot of money to write about leadership is not nearly as ironic as some of John Edwards’s five-figure fees to give speeces on poverty. Seriously, for someone to attack a guy for taking a huge book advance is ridiculous, especially given that this avenue of attack could be used against so many people, Hillary, Barack Obama, McCain, whoever. Giuliani made a lot of money after leaving the mayor’s office, big deal.
I find the section about the toxic air interesting, but Taibbi’s information on this seems to be, largely, from the attorney filing the class action against the city. This leads me to conclude that there is almost certainly a very strong argument praising Giuliani’s efforts which Taibbi willfully ignored.
This article also takes pot shots at the American people. People who Taibbi says, “don’t figure stuff out.” Being patriotic does not make someone stupid. Neither does voting for a Republican candidate. Us Democrats need to get over the idea of our intelectual superiority. We have just as many dumb voters as they do. If all the Republicans are stupid then why have they beaten us in the last two elections, and with George Bush as their nominee?
This type of thing, seen all over the internet and liberal blogs, worries me for our party, this kind of reckless attack politics is what I have come to expect from Republican partisans. We have to focus on issues and making people’s live’s better. We are not going to win by making frivolous attacks on a man who most Americans, I believe rightly, respect. My differences with Giuliani are on issues, but I still respect him as a man and leader; his record in New York City has certainly earned him that.

I wasn’t completely sold until the last line. Giuliani has his issues, and his connection to the Rove cronies only makes his intentions more questionable. What a shock that he bullied his way into the clean up process. He had his business interest to consider, it’s not cheap buying the presidnency.

A couple of the posts below were provided by someone calling themselves G.M. but I’m pretty sure they came from a new conservo-blog called Up In Rudy’s Cornshoot: A Neo-neocon Perspective.

dpr…ditto that the the Nth degree. Kind of sad reading, wasn’t it? I am no supporter of Rudy. Someone emailed me this article and said I should read it.

I did. No I have to go drop off a rolling stone and clean of my muslim with a jihadi.

All true. And I’m still enraged that he sold WNYC, which has been going downhill ever since. A minor offense compared to all the others, but still…

Physically, he reminds me of Lon Chaney in “Phantom of the Opera.”

John Hall: No duh. You are promoted to Fourth Grade.

To the(SELF PROCLAIMED) GOP Moderate: Since you’re so easily convinced (by a music magazine, no less), I fear you shouldn’t be allowed near a VOTING BOOTH IN 2008. Have you been contacted by Lyndo LaRouche’s people yet?

As a life long moderate republican,I can no longer support the GOP for a number of reasons to long to list here,thank you Rolling Stone magazine for opening my eyes and thrusting reality in front of me.Now if we can only open the eyes of the rest of the 28% of Bush supporters, we’ll be on our way to righting the wrongs the Bush administration have committed in our name these last few years…Jan. of 09 can’t get here fast enough.

For the person known as “What I Actually Meant”: If the Democrats are unqualified to be President because they are exploiting the war for political and financial gain, then can you also say Republicans are unqualified because they used and are still using 9/11 for the same thing?

Thank God someone finally wrote an article about the “real” Rudy! I have been telling anyone who will listen (since the 2004 Presidential Election) that the only reason Rudy was backing Bush so vehemently during the run up to the election was because Rudy was a “War Monger” of the highest order! This guy wanted us to stay in Iraq because that meant more money for his bogus security company. Thanks for nothing Rudy and Long Live Rolling Stone and columnist Matt Taibbi.

Members of Democratic Party controlled Firefighter Union don’t like Republican Giuliani and are now speaking out to defeat his run for the nomination. If this is news to you, you’re even more uninformed.

If you’re only hearing this stuff about Rudy thru this article then you’re uninformed. The people who actually risked life and limb that day–the firemen–can’t stand Rudy. Rudy was the one who turned it into a scoop and dump from a recovery operation. Rudy’s the one who had the cops guarding the firemen as they got close to the bottom which lead to unneccesary tension between the two… Rudy’s the one who echoed the government’s position that the air was safe to breathe, when, as pointed out, it was some of the most toxic air imaginable. Rudy’s the one who went against his advisor’s recommendation that he NOT put the Emergency Command and Control Center ACTUALLY IN the WTC since it had already been targeted in 1993. Rudy went against that advice and put it on floors 22-23 of WTC building 7 which totally collapsed at 5:20pm that day. He was walking the streets that day because his emergency center was attacked because of where he chose to put it. And now he’s an anti-terrorism expert? No thanks. Give me Ron Paul any day. Hell, give me anyone other then Rudy. Also, who cares if you don’t like this author’s STYLE. If what he’s written about this Rudy is true then you should be outraged.

This is solid journalism

Pure distilled political wisdom sold here:

“In the media age, we can’t have a hero humble enough to actually be one; what is needed is a tireless scoundrel, a cad willing to pose all day long for photos, who’ll accept $100,000 to talk about heroism for an hour, who has the balls to take a $2.7 million advance to write a book about himself called Leadership. That’s Rudy Giuliani. Our hero. And a perfect choice to uphold the legacy of George W. Bush …. Rudy appeals to the couch-bound bully in all of us, and part of the allure of his campaign is the promise to put the Pentagon and the power of the White House at that bully’s disposal.”

It’s government of the Archie Bunkers, by the Archie Bunkers, and for the Archie Bunkers.

Giuliani’s ridiculous claim, “The war in Iraq is preventing terrorism”, is the looniest statement yet.

Bush, Giuliani, McCain and, all the other Republican Candidates must be inhaling the same bad fumes…

The only honest Republican Candidate that has a corner on reality is Ron Paul…

Had got the only big hand from the Republican audience, watching the “debates” Tuesday.

Wha Happened?

Sounds like it was written by some hippie who is mad that he can no longer smoke pot in Tompkins square park. He thinks republicans are dumb but it is unclear if he has actually knows any personally.
The NYC group think is amazing. The truth is NYC was a hole before he was mayor and he cleaned it up. Despite their faults they aren’t bitter hippies smoking crack like this author. Go have another die-in and vote for Hillary.

What a piece of miserable, loathsome propaganda. Nothing more.

But yet, so typical of Rolling Stone.

I have grown disillussioned with this magazine. What a hate-filled magazine it has become.

This article is a prime example…..boiling over in hate. From his look, to his lack of humor (in the author’s very critical eyes) the author went in filled with the idea that Rudy is despicable - and thirsty to prove his point again and again.

But this is being passed as journalism, and not editorial contact. Trying to influence the young minds, like myself, that read this magazine.

Am I a Rudy supporter. No, not sure. But after this embarrising article, I am certainly not a Rolling Stone fan either.

Ridiculous.

Hey ralph… once again caught Ron Paul on the daily show.
Much better than Newt or some of the others I’ve seen on there. he actually speaks like a sensible person, would have to research him more… but he could be a republican I could actually vote for. I particularly liked how he explained how the republican party and politics in general have changed.
Also notable was his explanation of how democracy SHOULD be spread as opposed to the way it’s being shoved down peoples throat, much like organized religion does.

If the infrastructure of NYC had been as devastated as NOLA, then Rudy would be just another putz like Ray Nagin. It’s damned easy strutting around and sounding tough when the streets are intact.

This magazine has become one huge joke. Honestly, what the hell? It seems to honor a bunch of overexagerrated, extreme propoganda over decent, honest reporting. This exactly the kind of crap we dont need in this world. Honestly, if you disagree with Rudy Giuliani on the issues, thats fine. But to resort to personal attacks again and again. As you do with George W Bush and anyone associated with the Republican part is just extremely ignorant and childish. It’s bad enough that you promote horrible, trendy no talent music like Fall Out Boy and Panic at the Disco. At least has some decency. Your magazine and this article in particular is g-a-r-b-a-g-e.

I forget whether I read this here or somewhere else but after watching the Republican debate tonight I completely agree: Rudy Guiliani’s body posture makes me think of a vampire.

He just hunches over, no neck, and repeats scorched earth policies that will no doubt allow him to drain millions.

It’s actually really freaky. Although I guess Fred Thompson does resemble a frog…without the fairytale implications???

The author’s reference to “Hanoi Jane” seems clear as a slam on the tactic used by the right to marginalize dissenters from their party’s official talking points.

Giuliani, like Bush, is a walking cluster fu@&. He’s the MIC’s dream candidate. When he selects Dick Cheney to seek out his running mate you’ll know we’ll be in a real mess.

Democrats are never qualified to be President of the United States. They are using the terrible tragedy of the Iraq War for their political and financial gain. This article is about a man qualified to be President. Please America for the rest of the world and yourselves, don’t elect Dems!!! Although, come to think of it, we’re voting a President for ourselves, NOT the rest of the world. Sorry, that was dumb.

Rob Goblin, you’ve got to be kidding. Every other article Taibbi writes tears into some establishment Democrat, either for their corporate welfare pimping, or for being too chickenshit to stand up to Bush on Iraq, or for regurgitating lame slogans disquised as profundity (”audacity of hope,” anyone?). He has been absolutely merciless with Hillary, Biden, and Obama.

One thing I think he neglected here is Giuliani’s absolutely psychotic levels of authoritarianism when it comes to police state policies. On this, he is indeed far worse than Bush. He’s got a typical prosecutor’s mentality.

Guiliani was never qualified to be mayor of NYC. He is using a terrible tragedy to his political and financial gain. This article states a small portion of why he would be a failure as a president. Please American for the rest of the world and yourselves, don’t elect him!!!

All of this is irrelevant, Guiliani won’t get the nomination. As much as we would all like to hope otherwise, the religious right still runs the show. They will not let this man get on the ticket. No matter how often he invokes 9/11.

JT… thanks for the link to the story on American Lawyer. Amazing to see how these guys play the game and the system for all it’s worth. How much is it worth, anyways? Why does a guy who can command a base salary of a million a year for doing 15 or so hours worth of work a month, partnership in a major law firm worth several thousand, if not several million, a year want a job where he actually has to work and only makes $400,000 a year? prestige? not likely. I think it puts him in a position to keep doing what he’s always done… sell influence. Help those that help him… wink, wink.

President Guiliani?? forgeddaboutit!!

I’m a lifetime New Yorker. Rudy was a snake when he was mayor and he’s a snake now.

I hear right-wingers on TV lambasting John Edwards for making $55,000 in speaking fees last near. They never brought up, nor would they find any problem with, Guiliani making 200 times as much.

Hey, Rudy! Give some of those millions to the policemen and firefighters who are dying now!

Great article. It makes me sick to think he has made so much F@#king money off 9/11. Bush exploited 9/11 again to be re-elected. I hope to god that can’t happen again.

Judy Rulianni- This man is no man.
Vote not for her.

Extremely well written, witty piece. I can think of no better candidate for the neocons…an adulterous, grandstanding hypocrite with an appetite for exploiting national tragedy for gain? This boy-in-mens-clothing truly outshines in that hunch bunch fighting to win the republican star-spangled pissing contest.

the only reason that people do not like rudy jewliani is cause he is an italian

Giuliani and Bush should be ashamed of themselves. Instead they are proud and boastfull, I guess they are made of same stuff.
I am ashamed I was ever a Republican and a conservative, no more.

It’s about time someone challenged the “Rudy is a hero” narrative Fox has been pushing for the past six years with some cold, hard facts.

Rudy is a shameless opportunist. If that’s heroic in 2007, then I guess Rudy IS a hero.

I guess all that would make him the perfect representative of the republican party.

His motto could be the 80’s movie tag line… “Greed is Good!!”

I’m sure the Soprano’s and their kind would love to have an inside guy in the White House… oh yea, they already do.

great article. is it true that rudy also very quickly sold the evidence, such as the metal from the WTC. why wasn’t there a professional investigation of the crime scene?

It doesn’t matter how this walking sack of ruthless-ambition-in-a-human-s uit packages himself, or how dutifully the MSM fawns over him with their GOPer-sin-covering-eye. THe GOP is going to lose this next election by a mighty measure, assuming that they don’t rig yet another eletion

Andrea, you forgot to mention Ron Paul’s long-standing ties with ultra right-wing “patriot” groups. I’m sure you see that as a plus as well.

Is Rudy destined to be Bush III?

Christ, I hope not.

Oh, and ‘dpr’ - “You lost me when you started making fun of his appearance.” It’s not slanderous to point out the obvious.

If Giuliani is the best candidate the GOP can produce, the country deserves Hillary.

Giuliani is nothing more than a nauseating twerp.

This article is barely the tip of the iceberg.

What about the fact that Ghouliani sold all the steel from Ground Zero before feds could investigate the largest murder scene in American history?

Wat about when he arrested the firefighters?

What about when he escorted Mussulinni’s grandaughter aroud NYC?

Seizing private property & handing it over to the highest bidders?

How about the 4000 gallons of diesel fuel he kept in WTC 7, the real reason that building fell on 9/11?

The list is immense,… a little swiftboating is the least of this man’s crimes,…

Thank the Lord for Matt Taibbi.
Every column he rights is right on the money.

Just because America is one of the greatest countries with the greatest oppurtunities is not reason enough to shut it. Crime is going unreported everyday. Congrats to you RS please continue

polemics at its best. there’s really nothing i can do but agree wholeheartedly. rudy is an incredibly bad choice for any leadership position, but especially so for the job of president. yet the myth that surrounds him seems to grant him a real shot at the nomination. that needs to stop and i’m glad to see someone has the balls to call things like they are.

like i said in the beginning, it’s still polemic, but if that’s what it takes to wake people up, so be it.

It’s a sad commentary on the USA if Rudy is the BEST we can do for a Presidential candidate.

RollingStone: This article, coupled with its reader-responses, should downright embarass you. This is like Ann Coulter crap for left-wingers. How about articles tempered with just a bit of objectivity? What a concept!

Thank God you whackos are full of hot air and do not show up to vote. What ever happened to personal responsibility? The purpose of government is to take care of the downtroden and provide for the common defense, period. Most of you need history lessons. Castro, Che, Chavez, Hussein, Gadhaffi, Mao, Stalin, Hitler, Kim these are all “evil” dictators. America is still the greatest country with the greatest opportunities on this planet. Stop with the radical conspriacy theories and character assainations as they serve no purpose but to make us weak to our enemies. Yes, we do have many enemies who truly want all of us dead.
AMERICA - LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT! - GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Thank you. As hard as I try not to be, I am so angry.

I truly appreciate your writing. Righteous, as they used to say…

Thank you.

The base doesn’t care about any of this but Rudy being caught in flagrente, bent over a chair is the favored report, sticking it to his girlfriend, by his wife, on fathers day (or was that mothers day) in the mansion……well, it’s all a bit too much.

Rolling Stone censors 9/11 Truth.

I would just like to add that if you god-damned readers can’t pick up on the bloody OBVIOUS SARCASTIC REMARK BY MATT (Author) ABOUT RON PAUL BEING HANOI JANE then those of us who oppose this administration are even more F*&cked than I had even imagined.
Taiibi was alluding to the fact that so many in the Mainstream Media blasted Paul for simply stating the truth.
How the hell did you all miss this? Wake
Up
Please

Please!

John Tully

The crime of 9/11 was perpetrated by Giuliani, and several others, or how did he know the towers were coming down? Because the people who turned the keys were standing next to him on the 23rd floor of WTC 7 and said “on my mark, ten, nine, eight…” (2x) and then bingo, each tower came down. Then, to destroy the evidence, at 5:23 PM (or earlier, according to the BBC & CNN), WTC 7 was “pulled” to destroy the evidence. Rudy was there- that’s how he knew the towers would come down. His criminal acts are the same as Bush’s, not necessarily worse. Wake up, America- it may already be too late (based on some of the idiotic comments posted). Do you really think those “terrorists” were so incredibly successful, all in one day (and now the one’s we bust don’t have planes, or even access to explosives, just an anger for this country). It didn’t happen the way they said- look into it- do some research- the answers are obvious, if you take the time. We will all reap what we have sown.

Excellent article on Rudeboy. Most of the bases covered except fer the obvious miss, already pointed out, that Ghoul-iani failed to move his command center out of WT7 after the first hit in the WTC. RG is the worst from of opportunistic pol there is. Classic fear-mongering and war-mongering combined with a deep love for corporate monies and sound byte campaigning. Even with putting his Caligula-esque personal life aside, he is unfit for command because he such a corporate whore and torture monkey. Rudy’s glee in answering Brit “the hit-man” Humes “24″ scenario question showed that all too clearly. On the right any vote for Mittens, Walnuts McCain or Rudeboy Ghoul-iani is a vote for Bush III and war eternal. Only Ron Paul shows promise of the right and the disconect between the MSM portrayal of RP and the talk on the ‘net shows just how unreal the MSM have become. On the left you only got Kucinich and Obama making any sense. Electing another Rethuglican in ‘08 will just ensure that the crimes of BushCo go not only unpunished but ignored or pardoned. Jon Stewarts been making some fine hay out of RG’s candidacy and he shows no signs of stopping. The fact that Rudy’s own kids can’t even stand him, should be pointed out as well, from time to time.

Be Well.

Rudy took on mobsters and cleaned up activities notorious for corruption for many decades like the feast of San Gennaro and the Fulton Fish Market. Also, Giuliani’s appointee, Kerik, did improve the safety and the management of NYC Prisons.

How is it Giuliani’s major accomplishments are dealing with mobsters and prisoners?

He understands how they think and behave. He has the same strengths (and faults) of character that they have.

Great piece, but you forgot to mention Rudy’s real accomplishment on 9/11 — the fact that he ignored the advise of professionals and put his counterterrorism HQ inside the one place that terrorists had already attacked: the World Trade Center.

The reason we have all those nice images of Rudy out on the streets is that the idiot let his HQ get destroyed. And somehow Rudy spins that as a good thing?

“So, all you white bread right-wing libertarian rock and rollers should go sulk some place that cares about your petty irrelevant insights.”

Please don’t give the slime who support tyrants like Bush and Giuliani the title “libertarian”. Unlike “liberal” and “conservative”, libertarianism is a principled and consistent ideology with no room for such contradictions. It is a shame that warmongering neo-cons have claimed to be libertarian, as they are simply dead wrong.

Perhaps this will clarify a bit: Reagan was NOT libertarian.

“So, all you white bread right-wing libertarian rock and rollers should go sulk some place that cares about your petty irrelevant insights.”

Please don’t give the slime who support tyrants like Bush and Giuliani the title “libertarian”. Unlike “liberal” and “conservative”, libertarianism is a principled and consistent ideology with no room for such contradictions. It is a shame that warmongering neo-cons have claimed to be libertarian, as they are simply dead wrong.

Perhaps this will clarify a bit: Reagan was NOT libertarian.

Some Bozo Wrote:

“…and a bunch of half-truths such as ‘he tried to delay the inauguration of his successor so he could hog the limelight for a couple more months’ when in reality he wanted a little more time to follow through with plans that were in motion.”

Gee, so its NOT true that he tried to postpone his successor’s innauguration because he wanted to hog the limelite, it was because he wanted more time as mayor so he could “…follow through with plans that were in motion…” - wow, BIG difference.

Now I understand.

He’s not a limelite hugging fascist who wants to circumvent the rule of law to remain in power longer, he simply wants to FINISH WHAT HE STARTED.

Ok. I’ll vote for that.

More, and more the Republican ideology crumbles. This ideology wishes not to deal with facts, but it’s own twisted self righteous arrogance. People don’t matter, only the belief they are the ‘great hope’ when history and reality is they are a ‘lost hope’.

Rudy was one of the obvious criminals of 9/11. He has made over $100 million dollars chasing the myth of terrorism for his client’s since, was more concerned about the gold below ground zero than the remains of the firefighters, carted off the WTC steel without an criminal and structural investigation which is a federal crime, and went along with White House in endorsing the air above ground zero was safe to breath. I am glad these truths are coming out. It is a disgrace that this man is running for president. He should be locked up.

It is just amazing how many people read this story and did not pickup on the author’s sarcasm when writing about Paul and “Hanoi Jane”. What else did they misconstrue or errantly read into it? What kind of tunnel-vision do they walk around with on a day to day basis?

no matter it’s “partisan” edge some complain of here, this piece articulates and shines a light on the quirky unbalanced psyche of this man, and there should be no dispute on that note. When Taibbi states: “Not even Nixon was wound this tight” he hit the nail on the head.

This country can not take another self serving, damaged authoritarian driven ego, not again…no way no how. This has noting to do with partisanship, but address’s state of mind and belief. So, all you white bread right-wing libertarian rock and rollers should go sulk some place that cares about your petty irrelevant insights.

Vote for GHOUL-iani, or the terrorists will bomb your home town…this is Rudy’s biggest campaign promise (threat). Americans love him like they love a scary movie or roller coaster ride. Bring on the fear!

The biggest threat to this country right now is the slothful ignorance of the American People that would even entertain the idea that Rudy G. would make a good president.

If the audience at the debate in which R.G. attacked Ron Paul (the only candidate that’s truly worthy to guard our Constitution) concerning the reason terrorists attacked us, is indicative of the average American then we are all doomed… Soon to be happily marching into a police state chanting “Death to all Muslims!” and “Hate the Terrorists!” Because while the feverish, hateful, warmongering propaganda tactics of our controlled mainstream media pump out this fear based brainwashing, the real terrorists are in D.C. legislating our liberties away with things like the Patriot Act. Installing huge bureaucracies such as Homeland Security to manage and control the population. And lest we forget, the Executive Orders which will virtually ensure a dictatorship for the President when the next, much bigger, ‘911′ event happens.

Wide and easy is the road to destruction and most of us are on it big time. Perhaps we’ll all wake up in time, before the constitution becomes a myth our state raised children will hear about. One can only hope so.

Rude Rudy is such a flawed “hero,” he’s just ripe for a 527 Swift Boating himself, if only Dems could grow a pair and go for it. Of course Corporate owned MSM is never going to allow that to happen. Here’s where the blogosphere comes in. Say it loud, say it long! The MSM is gagged, but the internet is not.

BTW, my Dream Team is Al Gore and Russ Feingold running as INDEPENDENTS. The Dems disgraced themselves so thoroughly by rubber-stamping Bush’s war financing, they may never recover any esteem. If there was ever a time, it is now for a new party to emerge. Ron Paul would not be a bad choice for the second slot on that Dream Team if Russ won’t cut the ties that bind him to the Dems. It’s obvious the Repugnicans don’t want Paul.

Hats off to Matt for exposing what a a-hole Gulliani is. In his debate with Ron Paul Gulliani got a round of applause for shamelessly ignoring the truth, he lucked out with a real ignorant audience who didn’t let facts get in the way of their enthusiasm. An informed group would run Rudy out of town on a rail. Watch the debates this Tuesday night at 7. Ron Paul will win again as he did the past two.

Watch Jon Stewart Monday. The Daily Show on Comedy Central 10pm Hanoi Jane errr…Ron Paul is the guest. Bend over Rudy and Matt.

When is RS gonna point out that Ron Paul is the only candidate in EITHER party calling for an immediate end to the War on Drugs?

This “my way or the highway” character is not ready for prime time. Nor will he ever be….

rudy’s past behavior fits the psychological profile of a disturbed, small-minded dictator filled with delusions of grandeur. What’s even more disturbing is that some folks actually identify that profile with “leadership”.

How can you even criticize Ron Paul the GOP’s most ignored candidate? His platform is less government, restoration of our liberties, and the elimination of the IRS. He’s got my vote!

How can you even criticize Ron Paul the GOP’s most ignored candidate? His platform is less government, restoration of our liberties, and the elimination of the IRS. He’s got my vote!

It’s clear to me that Taibbi was being tongue-in-cheek when he called Paul “Hanoi Jane.” It asks the question “Why does pointing out one of the obvious reasons for anti-American sentiment overseas constitute, well, anti-American sentiment?” Maybe Anonymous would like to answer that.

By the way, what exactly does Taibbi have to write in order to convince some of these readers (e.g. Anonymous, Regal) that his information’s factual? Spell out his sources, which are cited throughout the article, in GIANT, BOLD HEADINGS?

How in the world can you call Ron Paul a “Hanoi Jane” or “terrorist sympathizer?” He’s merely pointed out that given what the US has done in the Middle East since the 1920’s, one can understand why the terrorists acted as they did. On the other hand, the WTC and Pentagon attacks are not a rationale for levelling a country that had no demonstrable links to them.

On the other hand, I will say that Taibbi is completely right about Giuliani. If 9/11 had been just another day, Rudy would today be a kept man of the very people he made such a spectacle of arresting in their offices.

I say we should all get used to saying President Giuliani. Why? He is a 9/11 insider. The real powers that be will not allow the election of someone who has nothing to hide from that terrible day.

Call Ron Paul whatever you so desire. The republican election coming 2008 will be a circus but the GOP sleaze machine is greasing the wheels for another catastrophic fix with one exception the DEmocrats are ready for the assault on our republic..
I will continue to try to make sense of it ………..

You called Ron Paul a Hanoi Jane?
You as a writer are a far more biased bafoon than the subject of this article.
You know nothing about the ideology of Paul.

Its amazing how many of you Ron Paul supports want everyone to marginalize you. Matt’s comments are sarcastic obviously, and you have to cry wolf that he is part of the establishment. This shit is all over the Internet, everytime Ron Paul’s name comes up he’s being repressed by the media establishment. I worry that his supports are the kind of people who judge an article by reading a paragraph out of context, of even itself. It makes me worry about what lies beneath Ron Paul’s foreign policy rhetoric.

Sad that what could have been a better article was tainted in the first paragraph. You demonstrate abject ignorance of history and politics by trying to slight Ron Paul. Or does the mainstream media own your soul? Your credibility is highly suspect.

An excellent article, considering it was written by such a profane person.

“Ass-kicking?” “Terrorist sympathizer?” What are you talking about? Giuliani made a naive and ignorant response and Paul responded with documented FACTS. Do the research, it’s there. You all have access to Google, use it.

Thank God someone has the nerve to take on Giuliani. Giuliani`s incompetence killed 300 firefighters who were given faulty radios and Giuliani`s poor judgement put the emergency command center at the site of the 1993 Al Qaeda attack. Giuliani is the bungler of 09/11 and the amoung that Giuliani knows about fighting terror can be placed on the head of a in and still have room for his heart.

As a lifelong conservative, I am compelled to agree with those who see neo-fascism in Giuliani. And there are a good number of the more enlightened conservatives who are beginning to feel the same way. Get ready for the American Police State. It’s breathing down our necks even as we speak.

The comment “The wizened Paul, …was making a simple isolationist argument, suggesting that our lengthy involvement in Middle Eastern affairs”

Here Taibbi plays along in Rudy’s playbook calling Paul “isolationist”

Paul is advocating and “Non-interventionist” policy. This is significantly different from isloationism. In reality it is the belligerant policy of DC that is isolationist. America is now the most hated country on the world. We are now isolated have have no real allies.

Plus Rudy did NOT “kick [Paul’s] ass. Rudy made an incredinly stupid an ignorant comment showing off his being uninformed [or being a liar} to the entire world.

Only the morons at FOX think Giuliani won that one. Paul kicked all their asses.

I’m amazed at how the media twists Paul’s words. Not too long before 9/11, I remember watching a documentary about the effects of the US govt’s sanctions against (and bombing of) Iraq and the devastating effects it had on its people. Their water was tainted. Their sewer systems were destroyed. They couldn’t get the medicines they needed. Homes and businesses - heck entire towns — were bombed out wrecks. Thousands of people in that country died because of those sanctions. We demonized Saddam for his behavior and for being a madman, conveniently forgetting that in previous years we supported him and gave him the very weapons he used to terrorize the region.

And now Ron Paul reminds us of what we already knew before we allowed ourselves to become brainwashed by Bushian/Cheneyan/Rovian bullshit and amazingly illogical and (sorry, but) emotionally retarded comments flood the television and print landscape.

Christ. Are we all that dumb?

The article was funny and well-written. Really. But I wish you hadn’t executed another knee-jerk media attack of Paul. He deserves a closer look.

I took a closer look, and I changed my voter registration to republican so I can vote for him in the primary. Yuck. That hurt. I figure I can change it back after the election.

Nicely done, Matt. B+

Saint Rudy of Guiliani is a bought-and-paid-for, warmongering, draft-avoiding, neofascist scumbag. He’s accessible to everyone–who has his checkbook open.

I just want to say one thing: I ENJOYED THE HELL out of the writing. I’m still grinning about “aneurism-in-waiting..lol
..a nd that paragraph about the couch-bullies is an absolute gem.. I’m a Dem–so Rudy never had my vote to begin with–but I take my hat off to the writer: Thanks! You made me laugh out loud!

I WANT the Republicans to nominate Giuliani. Obama will kick his ass–after he gets done putting Shrillary to bed. There’s no Republican or Democratic candidate who so ably represents the change that most moderate and sensible Americans want to see in government.

If America votes a fascist like Giuliani in, we deserve exactly what we get.

“Ass whipping to terrorist sympathizer Ron Paul”?!?! You must have been watching that debate with your jingo blinders on, fool. If you think 9/11 had nothing to do with our atrocities in foreign policy, then you’re like Giuli- an idiot or a tool with an agenda, maybe both.

Giuliani’s ability to foretell future events makes him the clear choice in 2008. Video footage taken on the morning of 9/11 is proof of the candidate’s amazing gift. Giuliani is seen at street level miinutes after the second tower has been hit. He is in a hurry but in answeer to a reporter’s question we hear him say, “Those buildings might come down, you know?”

How could he have known this when no steel-framed building has ever collapsed and even architects and structural engineers can’t explain why it happened? ESP, that’s how.

Also his decision to get the cleanup started right away and skip the usual forensic investigation of the steel was a good one.

More attention needs to be paid to St. Rudy’s handling of the WTC cleanup, and his role in pitting the NYPD and NYFD against each other. Check out chapter 6 of Webster Tarpley’s book “9-11 Synthetic Terror” to lean how shabbily this guy dealt with the real heroes of 9-11.

I equivocate determining cause and effect with justification! wheee!

Sorry, I really shouldn’t masquerade as someone else but this guys argument is just nuts. Besides the non sequitur I mention above, he’s begging the question with his repeated attacks on anyone who thinks america has done wrong.

Loved the article! Layed all the facts about Giuliani on the table. He’s nothing but a limelight opportunist who, like the rest of our government, is going to do whatever it takes to MAKE MORE MONEY! Oh, and all these sh*t comments you mental-midgets post about how “the constitution is what makes this country great, not the politicians”, well it’s not. It’s the constitution that gives imbiciles like some of you the power to vote for other imbiciles based on prinicples you hear on FOX News, whilst sitting your fat asses on the couch. By the way, we are not part of a Democracy. Our government is a Capitalistic Republic disguised as a Constitutional Republic. Look it up…

Although I would love to see Giuliani and Bush sent off to the iraqi dessert alone, Im not here to defend some one else’s constitution.

P.S., im not anti-american

What is up with all the dumbass “America-hating” speech?

To say the American government makes mistakes and enrages other countries is only pointing out the obvious. And it is not justifying their antipathy toward our country.

I feel sad when I see this kind of discourse. Putting everything in a black/white, hurray for my team mentality is just dumb. That’s it - dumb.

I think Americans need to realize that America is only great because of our Constitution - not because of our President, not because of our government, not because of our people, not because we have bigger guns, not because some of us are Christians.

And the Constitution is at stake here in this heavy-handed cowardly approach our government (manipulated by people like Bush and Guiliani) is using to “fight” terror.

So why don’t you show you have some balls and defend that?

I know the answer. Do you?

“Not only are you anti-American for siding with our enemy, but you are also anti-American for justifying the deaths of almost 3000 innocent American citizens because we came to the aid of our ally who was being invaded and violated by another group of mentally unstable Arabs.”

Uhmm, excuse me? are you serious?
Ron Paul never took any side with his statement, because it was a fact.
Do you know Americans caused way, waay more then 3000 innocent citizen deaths by invading and violating a group of innocent, mentally stable Arabs?

Ron Paul is the GRRRReatest.
Guiliani isn’t very smart. Another Bush.

The potential for smear against Giuliani, especially on his treatment of his second wife and his kids, is glorious.

A lovely revenge for the Swift Boat Vets.

Mwahahahahaha.

@Anonymous 4:48 EST

Ron Paul never sided with the enemy, or said anything about us deserving the attack. He simply stated why they attacked us. Understanding your enemy and their motives is important, it doesn’t mean you’re on their side. Huge difference.

I’ve been following Matt’s writing going back a few years now. I love the style and brashness he brings to the subject….and of course, it’s spot on!

100 Years too late is far better than never stepping up at all! Save us all, vote Ron Paul.

@Dexter

Try to use what little brain cells you brought with you from the 60s to try to understand this. When Ron Paul, yourself and other leftist appeasists, and al Qaeda all say the same thing about why we deserved 911 you are agreeing with each other and you are all on the same side. It doesn’t get more simple than that. Not only are you anti-American for siding with our enemy, but you are also anti-American for justifying the deaths of almost 3000 innocent American citizens because we came to the aid of our ally who was being invaded and violated by another group of mentally unstable Arabs. The lengths some people will go to to justify their hate is simply amazing. This is directed at both the mentally unstable Arabs and the delusional left who incredibly find even more common ground.

The South has been the nation’s punching bag for a long time. You can thank us later because if it wasnt for all of us dumb rednecks the 2nd amendment would have been repealed a long time ago. This is the only thing standing between liberty and true tyranny. Anytime someone suggests repealing this amendment shoot them immediately. And just for the record Guilliani, Obama, Clinton, Romney….they are all the same. These are the true terrorists.