Rudy Hits the Trifecta

Weekly Standard: An Attack On MoveOn, Hillary, And The New York Times Puts Giuliani Back In The Limelight

(Weekly Standard)  This column was written by Matthew Continetti.

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THE WEEK DID NOT start well for former New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani, the frontrunner for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination. Media attention focused heavily on former Tennessee senator Fred Thompson's official entry into the nomination fight and Arizona senator John McCain's resurgent campaign. Meanwhile, as Thompson and McCain dominated headlines, new polls showed both candidates gaining ground. Hizzoner was missing from the news. Conventional wisdom--that Giuliani has absolutely no chance of winning the GOP nod--once again reared its ugly head, this time in an opinion piece written by Democratic pollster Douglas Schoen in Thursday's New York Daily News. "Mark my words," Schoen wrote. "Giuliani will not be the GOP's nominee."

Schoen may want to wait before placing any bets on that assumption. On the same day that Schoen's article was published, Giuliani thrust himself back into the spotlight. At a press availability in Atlanta, the former mayor lambasted critics of Gen. David Petraeus and President Bush's counterinsurgency strategy in Iraq. He attacked the antiwar MoveOn.org for an advertisement in Monday's New York Times that asked, "General Petraeus or General Betray Us?" He noted that the Times had sold the ad space to MoveOn at a discount rate. And he included Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton among those who question Petraeus's credibility.

More, Giuliani upped the ante. He called upon the Times to sell him ad space at MoveOn's discount rate, which would allow him to run an ad of similar size praising Petraeus's efforts in Iraq. "We are going to ask the New York Times to allow us tomorrow to print an ad that will obviously take the opposite view," Giuliani said. "We believe, unlike Hillary Clinton, that General Petraeus is telling the truth."

This bold move is classic Giuliani. Hizzoner practices the politics of confrontation, in which he chooses a position and relentlessly pursues those who hold the opposite view. In this case, Giuliani's position is support for the war in Iraq and General Petraeus's counterinsurgency strategy. And his opponents make up a trifecta of liberal bogeymen: MoveOn, the Times, and Clinton. By raising the stakes, Giuliani emphasizes to conservatives that he is on their side--something many are not quite ready to believe.

It's unclear whether the New York Times will sell the space to Giuliani as requested. But one thing is clear. Giuliani has reminded his opponents, Democratic and Republican alike, that he remains a wily and combative contender for president.

[terrapin78]

Was Guilanini in DRAG?

He has been numerous times and I don''t see how he is going to dodge those photos during the General Election if he is the Repug nominee.

I will be LMFAO!!!!

[katg21]

It''s time that the democrats realize that they are really voting for moveon.org not Hillary, Obama or Edwards. They are mouthpieces, nothing more.

[katg21]

Was Guilanini in DRAG?

He has been numerous times and I don''''t see how he is going to dodge those photos during the General Election if he is the Repug nominee.Posted by Terrapin78

That''s all you got on him? Wasn''t it a halloween costume? Who really cares. BUMP.

[gkc99]

"It''''s time that the democrats realize that they are really voting for moveon.org not Hillary, Obama or Edwards. They are mouthpieces, nothing more."--Posted by katg21


It''s time the Repugniscums realize they are voting for a shadowy group of billionaires, fascists, and traitors, not George Bushit. George Bushit is too stupid and too spoiled to think anything up for himself. The man is a walking embarrassment to the USA, propped up by by a network of Tight Whitey Righties who spit on the Constitution and think the USA is for them to own, operate, and profit from. They care nothing for American families, civil liberties, or freedom.

That''s your boys (and girls) katg!

[perception5]

Rasmussen poll:

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Forty-three percent (43%) of Americans favor the recommendation made by General David Petraeus to withdraw 30,000 soldiers from Iraq but leave 130,000 troops in place at least through the summer. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 38% are opposed and 19% are not sure.

And so the American people have spoken as to the surge. Now our President will make it so ...........despite some of the most corrupt left-wing attempts by America%u2019s news media this week to push their lies and propaganda in support of their fellow liberal pals, the Democrats.

The stunt pulled by the far left-wing hate group MoveOn.org and the ultra liberal corrupt NYTimes to smear the US General on the ground this past Monday was a total disgrace to all Americans.

Today our liberal political/news organizations represent poison in the blood stream of this great nation..................and that%u2019s a FACT

[gkc99]

"and that%u2019s a FACT"--Posted by perception5



Anything reported as a "fact" by this RNC neoconscum troll is definitely worth triple-checking!

The neoconscum wouldn''t know the truth if it were shoved up their respective a$$es. Their Decider is a congenital liar, not to mention a coward.

Their media mouthpieces like *** News and the slimemold found under that stone are pretty much a propaganda machine, the most tightly controlled since Pravda.

[katg21]

That''''s your boys (and girls) katg!
Posted by gkc99 at 11:47 AM : Sep 14, 2007

Touche''

[perception5]

The neoconscum wouldn''''t know the truth if it were shoved up their respective a$$es. Their Decider is a congenital liar, not to mention a coward.

Their media mouthpieces like *** News and the slimemold found under that stone are pretty much a propaganda machine, the most tightly controlled since Pravda. -------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by gkc99

...........If all Americans want to see the face of the Democrat Pary check out the tolerant comments by gkc99.

The face is looking pretty ugly.........

So many contaminated Americans thanks to decades of corrupt liberal propaganda from our "free left-wing press"

True and really sad.

[lawyertom1]

Rudy has a couple of problems. (1) After the initial attack on the WTC he failed to cause the emergency services to be linked electronically, which resulted in major communications issues during the 911 attack. Probably cost lives. (2) He has exaggerated massively his on-site activities post 911. We have emergency workers and volunteers dying from exposure to what EPA said was relatively benign dust and debris, and he pretends to have shared their risk. Balderdash. (3) The more one learns about his failings pre-911 vis-a-vis WTC, the less competent he looks. Rudy is great on posturing and preening, but little else.

[one_american]

When Directly Asked, Sen. Clinton (D-NY) Failed To Condemn The MoveOn.org/NY Times Attack Ad On General Petreus:

SLATE: "Did you think the Moveon.org advertisement about Gen. Petraeus was either appropriate or necessary?"

CLINTON: "You know, I think that we should focus on what the problem is here. The problem is a president who has a policy that flies in the face of reality." ("Clinton: Health-Care Plan Will Cover Everyone," Slate, 9/12/07)

Dispicable, and dodging the question.

She gets that trait from Bill Clinton, no doubt.

[katg21]

Their media mouthpieces like *** News and the slimemold found under that stone are pretty much a propaganda machine, the most tightly controlled since Pravda.
Posted by gkc99 at 12:20 PM : Sep 14, 2007

Moveon.org FREAK! You''re really delusional.

[samthetvcat]

LawyerTom1

Hadn''t heard much about that - interesting. There were also some NYC fire-fighters on the site a while ago saying how he wouldn''t listen to them when he called off the search of Ground Zero. That was when they found the remains last year.

And my brother was living in NYC during much of his tenure and said many of the tactics he employed to clean up Time Square were really inhumane - can''t remember why. I think it was because he was ticketing homeless for essentially being homeless which gave them nowhere to go.

Anyway, an ad that requires an explanation is never a good concept . . . people are tired of Republicans with questionable morality in their own right calling Democrats unpatriotic and immoral when the reality is that because Petraeus'' testimony went through the Bush spin cycle he was linking events which had not cause/effect (saying that because the surge was a success then there''d be a troop reduction).

If Petraeus were 100% committed to truth and not having to show loyalty to the Chimp, he wouldn''t mixed up causation. I don''t think it makes Giuliani look good to belabor this point at all . . .

[mbcsmith]

The LIBS just don''t get it. It is very sad that the party of FDR has become America haters.

[samthetvcat]

The LIBS just don''''t get it. It is very sad that the party of FDR has become America haters.
Posted by mbcsmith

Oh please do elaborate on what it is we "just don''t get" . . . this ought to be fun :

[fairandbal]

No surprise here. It''s been clear for at least a decade that the American Press (Print or televised media) are subsidizing GOP/conservative politics. It''s pretty clear that we don''t have a ''free and impartial press'' anymore. And that it''s doing everything it can to keep GOP in power.

[perception5]

Rasmussen poll: Thursday, September 13, 2007

" Forty-three percent (43%) of Americans favor the recommendation made by General David Petraeus to withdraw 30,000 soldiers from Iraq but leave 130,000 troops in place at least through the summer. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 38% are opposed and 19% are not sure. "

And so the American people have spoken as to the surge. Now our President will make it so ...........despite some of the most corrupt left-wing attempts by America''s news media this week to push their lies and propaganda in support of their fellow liberal pals, the Democrats.

The stunt pulled by the far left-wing hate group MoveOn.org and the ultra liberal corrupt NYTimes to smear the US General on the ground this past Monday was a total disgrace to all Americans. Today our liberal political/news organizations represent poison in the blood stream of this great nation..................and that''s a FACT

[nyckate]

If you want someone to face down the bullies at Dairy Queen or White Castles cause they disrespected you when you ordered your burgers then Rudy is your guy - he can bully with the best of them - he can be the thug you need to beat up those nasty fellas that keep picking on ya''ll.


But if you want a mature intelligent, reasoned, rational leader with integrity, values and morals - well -- come on - let''s admit - Rudy ain''t that guy.

[samthetvcat]

I checked out that site perception5, and it lists Bush''s approval ratings at 39% compared with the 33% listed at CBS a couple of days ago. With both surveys having a +/-3% margin of error, it''s possible this site isn''t entirely off the mark (actual figure somewhere around 36%. Another poll from Rasmussen found that the number of people who favored complete withdrawal of troops by early next year was 52% with 35% wanting some troops to remain, indicating that the unsure/undecided contingent in the poll you cited below are actually leaning more towards withdrawal.

As well, Rasmussen also found that just 39% of people actually think Petraeus'' report was honest and 35% do not. Over a third of Republicans did not think Petraeus was fully honest. And this is coming from a polling company whose numbers tend to run on the high side in favor of Republicans.

I think the person who''s going to benefit the most from Rudy''s ad is probably Thompson . . .





I think if anything this shows that Rudy shouldn''t hitching his campaign to the truthfulness of Petraeus -

[samthetvcat]

Oh, that last line was just babbling from my brain I didn''t end up including - lol . . .

[citizenusa-2009]

Rudy is just embarrassing...

[brianbwb-2009]

Your children are dying because of lies.

At this point it doesn''t matter if the liar was a Republican or a democrat.

So many bleeding ''rhoids from the fake neocons over a perfectly legal MoveOn anti war ad, while the children are dying.

So many Bush is an ****** comments from the fake left over a fake progress report by a paid stooge, while the children are dying.

None of you see the core point, your children are dying from corruption, and the best you do is flame and troll.

Pathetic, almost all of you...

[citizenusa-2009]

If Baby Bush, Cheney, Rudy and the rest of those who "claim" to be promoting Democracy in Iraq are REALLY sincere in their "humanitarian" efforts, why not send them over and let THEM be Iraq''s government! We can rid ourselves of the slimy trash, and they can run their own little kingdom. BUSH FOR PRESIDENT...OF IRAQ! Whooo Hooo!

[citizenusa-2009]

..Also, "Betrayus" can command the Iraq army and won''t have to "placate" anyone by withdrawing a tiny amount of troops, BECAUSE THEY WILL ALREADY BE THERE! BEYTRAYUS FOR GRAND POOBA OF THE ARMY....THE IRAQ ARMY! Whooo Hoooo!

[madmimig]

The only thing the Democrats have done wrong is not impeach this moron. What a disgrace. And What a liar!

[ramos937]

As President, Rudy would be embarrassing to the USA. You would never know when he would attend a public function dressed as a woman.
Can you imagine us capturing OBL and then bringing him in front of Rudy on a day when Rudy is wearing a dress? The resulting world wide photos would cause such a sensation we could never live down. The rest of the world would wonder, "what were they thinking of".

[bluestardad]

RUDY IS A AIPAC MEMBER...DO SOME RESEARCH...HE IS IN THE POCKET OF THE ISRAELI LOBBY!

[ioweign]

Aug. 6, 2007 CBS News

The phrase "missing weapons" was so 2003.

Until now.

According to a new report from the Government Accountability Office, the Pentagon has "lost track" of nearly 200,000 AK-47%u2019s it had given to Iraqi security forces in 2004 and 2005, the Washington Post reports. The inconvenience of this truth (pardon the Al Gore allusion there) is two-pronged. One, the Pentagon agrees that, indeed, these weapons are missing. Two, they also think that the erstwhile weapon contributions are also "probably are being used against U.S. forces." Hello gift horse, let me see your mouth.

Hmmm.... What was General Petraeus assigned to back then Rudy?

Or were you still "too busy" on the lecture circuit raking in the dough !!