by Taylor Marsh
This ad is rich coming from "Mr. 9/11", especially considering that it was Rudy blaming the troops while covering for Bush at the beginning of the war. Camp Clinton wasn't shocked:
"It's hardly surprising that Mayor Giuliani is running the first negative ad of the 08 campaign given his inability to justify his unqualified support for President Bush's failed Iraq strategy. Senator Clinton respects Gen Petraeus' service to our country. She knows the best way to honor our soldiers is to end the war in Iraq and bring them home."
But oh the hypocrisy of it. If only Republicans would have been so sanctimonious about soldiers when they were swiftboating Max Cleland or John Kerry, even John McCain. Rudy only squeals when he's got something to gain. Like when he blamed the troops to suck up to the boss.
"No matter how you try to blame it on the president, the actual responsibility for it really would be for the troops that were there," Giuliani said on NBC's "Today" show. "Did they search carefully enough? Didn't they search carefully enough?"Democrats, especially vice presidential nominee John Edwards, seized on Giuliani's comments to claim that the Republicans were trying to shift blame away from President Bush. ... ..
Democrats try to turn Giuliani's weapons remark against Bush (2004)
He just wants to use them to prop up his image, which has been taking hit after hit recently, starting when it was learned he'd rather raise money than find a solution for Iraq.
"Rudolph Giuliani's membership on an elite Iraq study panel came to an abrupt end last spring after he failed to show up for a single official meeting of the group, causing the panel's top Republican to give him a stark choice: either attend the meetings or quit, several sources said."
Then there is the prerequisite for Republicans who blame the troops one minute, then embrace them another. These opportunistic inspired inconsistencies always lead one place. People like Rudy didn't have the spine to serve themselves.
"During his years as an undergraduate at Manhattan College and then at New York University Law School, Giuliani qualified for a student deferment. Upon graduation from law school in 1968, he lost that temporary deferment and his draft status reverted to 1-A, the designation awarded to those most qualified for induction into the Army. At the same time, Giuliani won a clerkship with federal Judge Lloyd McMahon in the fabled Southern District of New York, where he would become the United States attorney. He naturally had no desire to trade his ticket on the legal profession's fast track for latrine duty in the jungle. So he quickly applied for another deferment based on his judicial clerkship. This time the Selective Service System denied his claim. That was when the desperate Giuliani prevailed upon his boss to write to the draft board, asking them to grant him a fresh deferment and reclassification as an "essential" civilian employee. As the great tabloid columnist Jimmy Breslin noted 20 years later, during the former prosecutor's first campaign for mayor: 'Giuliani did not attend the war in Vietnam because federal Judge Lloyd MacMahon [sic] wrote a letter to the draft board in 1969 and got him out. Giuliani was a law clerk for MacMahon, who at the time was hearing Selective Service cases. MacMahon's letter to Giuliani's draft board stated that Giuliani was so necessary as a law clerk that he could not be allowed to get shot at in Vietnam.'"
So let's be honest, shall we? The ad campaign by "Mr. 9/11" is just another attack on Hillary by just another Republican using a soldier to get the job done (something Republicans have turned into an art form). As for Rudy's negative tactics this early, long before he even gets the nomination, well, his venom is legendary. So is his craven ambition, which like Bush, includes soldiers as stepping stones. Considering Sean Hannity's Rudy crush, it seems entirely fitting that Fox "News" is now joining in.
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Looks to be a cheap slur to me.
Rudy (like Bill Clinton et al) is a draft dodger.
Rudy is a chickenhawk.
etc. etc.
Arn't those tags enough?
Where were all these chicken hawks during the Vietnam War? It shows just how narcissistic most politicians are. Rudy and Mitt and Sam and Mike and Boehner are incapble of seeing their hypocrisy.
That icon of the Republican party, not Reagan, but John Wayne, avoided service during World War 2. He never explained why, but he at least regretted it.
Giuliani lacks even that shred of decency.
I can picture him as president when Iraq truly goes to hell. He'll blame the troops for failure, not the failed strategy his predecessor crafted.
F--- him!
Republicans are in heaven right about now, since they are on the verge of getting the one candidate they have been planning for, for years.
I'm sick of this coronation, crap.
You must think thoes Troops who died without body armour or armour vechiles were not lloking hard enough?
Myabe THE HALIBOUTON COOKS WHO ARE PAID 4 TIMES WHAT THE SOLDIERS ARE should have been looking for WMD'S!
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-8/1210139/dragBetter.jpg
I for one, cannot WAIT for Admiral Fallon's Iraq report. Let's see the chicken hawks try to defame him!
If a general is a mouthpiece for an incomptent..then yes..he has betrayed those who serve and die under his "command" (sic)..
Sen.Dodd, who, yes avoided the draft..but opted for the PEACE corps instead of a cushy job,..should point out, big time,..this insane hypocracy..I mean.why is it not FRONT and Center..well..because Obama too young to have served.. Hilary a "girl" wasn't eligible..and her husband didn't join up.. Gore and Kerry were the only two candidates who really knew war (and even Gore..from a plane)..
But once again..the republicans have given democratics candidates manna from heaven..so much material..and what do they do with it..
nothing!...I swear..it's like they want to lose. Calling Dr. Phil..someone psychoanalyze these people...
Both traits should have been corrected in their toddler years, with a NAUGHTY CHAIR, and a take no-sh*t nanny.
May I introduce to America, their next president?
And how is he going to handle NONE of his children
coming to WH Thanksgiving dinners?
And what about his clothing selections? Two closests?
And his military record is BLANK. Mine, isn't.
And I have enough "common sense" to not have put the major communications center back into the World Trade Center after the first attack. Rudi didn't.
And I would have refused any personal monetary benefits offered to keep the center in the World Trade Center. Rudi didn't.
Firefighters hate the Rude One. Ouch!
First Responders hate the Rude One. Ouch!
Police hate the Rude One. Ouch!
Rudi has made hundreds of thousands of dollars talking about 9/11 and he has kept the money for himself. TRIPLE OUCH!!!
I agree with you his is a top choice for the GOP.
After all, Rudi is a Bush Loyalist.
Yes, you made a very important comment.
The Rude One could indeed be our next President.
After Bush, he qualifies. And, don't ALL mayors
of American cities assume that they too will one
day become President of the USA.
MR. 9/11 MONEY PANTS PRESIDENT
Il Duce Giuliani. They're both chickenshit chickenhawks who'll fight to the last drop of YOUR blood.
I wonder how the Repubs who comment on this site will respond to this. Or, if.
Rudy's, Mitt's, and the other Chickenhawks' campaigns would be over in a second if a Democrat would stand up and scream what these chickenshits are. The days of winning by gaining debating points are over.
Ask Al and John.
It's true, isn't it?
It's unfortunate that a desire to avoid service in Vietnam through any means is today used as political fodder without bothering to understanding the motivations of the avoider. Regardless, what's more unfortunate is that some of those who chose not to serve now parade around as hawks, thump their chests like brave men, and expect others to do what they couldn't or wouldn't. While there were many honorable reasons one sought to avoid military service during Vietnam, there can be no justification for the blatant hypocrisy of Cheney, Bush, Giuliani, and any other chicken hawks beyond personal ambition and the need to win at any cost. Such men should be exposed and ridiculed.
The New Hampshire Gazette (http://www.nhgazette.com) created the original chicken hawk database but they no longer have it on line. They have promised to re-post it so check back with the Gazette as they provide a full list of brave war promoters complete with their deferments and reasons. I found it the list sadly hilarious.