Rudy Giuliani----My Take

If there is only one person America should be fearful of having as its next President, it's Republican Rudy Giuliani. The term "Bush-Cheney lite" has been used often in this campaign, but let me assure you that Rudy is certainly not "Bush-Cheney lite". He is Bush-Cheney on steroids.

Rudy Giuliani is the most unqualified candidate to be President from either side of the isle. What exactly did this man do anyway? All he is known for is 9/11, but even that record is not as great as Rudy wants people to believe. Rudy wants to be seen as the hero of America; as "America's Mayor", but the fact is that Rudy is truly neither. If anything, Rudy can be blamed for some of the casualties on 9/11 for his failure to properly prepare for what many knew was an almost certain future attack. In 1994, it was determined that the FDNY's radios were faulty and failed to work properly under rough conditions. Knowing this problem and receiving many complaints from firefighters prior to 9/11, Rudy failed to equip the FDNY with working radios. Those brave first-responders were consequently unable to hear the call to evacuate the WTC and were buried under the rubble when the buildings collapsed. Rudy is also to blame for the illnesses of hundreds of 9/11 clean up workers who were not provided with the proper protective gear while working at Ground Zero. America's Mayor? The hero of 9/11? I think not.

And now that Rudy is running for President, he is looking to even further exploit his supposed heroism on 9/11 for political gain. If you ask me, it is absolutely sickening for Rudy to try to and succeed in making political gain off of the tragedy that was 9/11. Rudy Giuliani wasn't the hero. The first responders who went selflessly into harm's way to save lives are the heroes, as are those who stayed at Ground Zero searching for survivors. I even challenge the claim that Rudy is responsible for "uniting the city and the country on 9/11". Al Sharpton was absolutely correct when he said, "You didn't bring us together, our pain brought us together and our decency brought us together. We would have come together if Bozo was the mayor." The disgust for Rudy is even more evident when you go where people know him best-----New York City itself. Rudy can say what he wants, but the citizens of NYC, who were there pre-9/11, there on 9/11, and there today, want the country to know something---Rudy is a fraud: "Giuliani has exaggerated the role he played after the terrorist attacks, casting himself as a hero for political gain." Perhaps still what is the most disturbing fact is the personal gain that Rudy has earned from "cashing in" on his fame gained on 9/11. On 9/11, Rudy was worth about $2 million. But since that tragedy, Rudy is worth more than 30 times that amount with most of that money being made from speaking appearances concerning 9/11 as well as other 9/11 related events. Now maybe its just me, but if Rudy really cared about those affected by 9/11, wouldn't he have donated most of that money to the 9/11 relief fund or to the families who lost loved ones? But no, Rudy used and continues to use the tragedy of 9/11 for his own gain, thinking nothing of the people who were actually affected.

When you look at his foreign policy, Rudy is even more of a neoconservative warmonger than Bush and Cheney. Giuliani practically lights up whenever he is asked about Iran and gets to respond that he is ready to attack if necessary and that he would not talk to Irani leaders. The fact is though, that if you refuse to negotiate and talk with Iran, then you leave yourself no option but war. And to make Rudy's policy towards Iran even more radical, he has said that he is not sure if conventional weapons would be enough. I can understand saying that nothing should be taken off the table, but Rudy makes it sound as if he looks forward to getting his hands on the U.S.'s nukes and blowing Iran apart.

Giuliani has also been Bush's biggest supporter concerning the Iraq War. Just a few days ago, Rudy said that he thinks President Bush handled the war perfectly and that he would have acted the same way. To say that it was handled without a single flaw is ridiculous and outrageous. Even avid war supporters like John McCain have criticized Bush's handling of the war.

The final thing that irks me about Rudy is his sudden change of position on key issues. As Mayor, Rudy was an unequivocal pro-choice politician, but now that he is running for President, Giuliani says that he would appoint pro-life judges to the Supreme Court who would ultimately like to overturn Roe v. Wade. Giuliani can't have it both ways---he either supports a women's right to privacy or he doesn't. It's the same case with Rudy's immigration policy. While Mayor, he was a strong advocate for sanctuary cities, but now he says that he wants an immediate end to illegal immigration and wants harsh punishments for undocumented workers. Another perfect example of Rudy straddling the line is his stance on gun control. While Mayor he was strongly pro-gun control, but now he says that he fully supports every individual's right to own a weapon. As far as I'm concerned, this "wishy-washy" stance on issues is even worse and more annoying than Romney's flip-flopping. At least when you flip-flop you end up with just a single position, but Rudy is trying to have his cake and eat it too.

So if there ever was a candidate that Democrats, and for that matter sane Republicans, need to stand up to, its Rudy Giuliani. America doesn't need a President who uses tragic events for personal and political gain. America doesn't need a President who would rather nuke a country than negotiate for peace. America doesn't need a President who can't admit when he was wrong. America doesn't need Rudy Giuliani.

Photo credit: Phelan M Ebenhack/AP

Why I Support Hillary Clinton For President

I had planned to write a long post on why exactly I believe Sen. Hillary Clinton is the best choice for President, but then I came across this video and it says everything I wanted to say and says it way more articulately than I ever could.

The Burden of the 44th President (a special editorial by John Lucia)

The next President will face major tasks and the voting public will have to ask themselves who is the person that is best qualified to be the next President. Following is a list of issues that will have to be faced and acted upon, although the list is not in any order nor is it a complete list. The next President will have to:

1) Keep the U.S. safe from terrorist attacks by recognizing the true threat and having a plan that deals realistically with the cause and the threat. Remember the worst foreign terror attack on U.S. soil happened on Mr. Bush's watch while he was trying to talk tough. "Tough talk" has no effect on terrorists who are willing to die in their attacks on America. The tragic events of 9/11 proved that.

2) Rebuild our armed forces and reserves which have been depleted under the current President's failed policy in Iraq. We are losing recruits and our people on active duty because of an unnecessary war which has discouraged new recruits to join the active and reserves in numbers necessary for our National Security.

3) Balance the Federal Budget once again, so trillions of dollars in interest being paid on the national debt can be used for needy purposes. The last 3 Republican Presidents failed to balance one budget in the 20 years they served in office. Instead they presided over 20 years of record deficits. The present term of George W. Bush is included in those 20 years as he has already stated he will not balance and federal budget before he leaves office in 18 months.

4) Act tough when and where it counts instead of trying to talk tough. Can any one really remember when any of our enemies paid any attention to so called tough talk?

5) Once again reclaim and carry the moral mantle of world leadership and work with our friends to accomplish those things that will make the world a better place for our children.

6) Be willing to take on the challenge of solving those problems that have been around for so long and never acted upon. President Kennedy once said our problems are man made, therefore they can be solved by man.

7) Realize that every country has the right to self government and that the U.S. will not interfere if our security and national interest is not at risk.

8) Defend our country and national interest when need be but at the same time have the wisdom, a policy and a working plan, to know when a threat is real or suspect.

9) Lead by deed and action and restore civility in our debates and working relationships. One who can once again promote the arts and science that will encourage society to embrace the highest standard of humankind.

10) A President who will stand up to the leaders of Israel and the PLO and say to both enough is enough. Both sides kill innocent men, women and children in the name of retaliation and then shrug and say those things just happen in war.

11) A President who will stand up and say abortion is legal in the U.S. and elected officials should not engage in the politics of division in order to secure votes.

12) A President who will bring the war and occupation in Iraq to an end. Do what is necessary to have the U.N. and nations of the middle east work with Iraq to have a stable government and withdraw our troops. No one should accept the hype that a U.S. withdrawal would cause a calamity. If that is the only answer the most powerful military and economic country in the world has to offer, God help us all. If the U.S. can not withdraw from Iraq in a responsible way that will protect our troops and the Iraqi people then we don't belong there in the first place. The only answer the people have who want to keep this war going is for the U.S. to stay in Iraq for ever. That would be tragic.