The Heroic Image of Giuliani is Not Giuliani

You can read the original post here at NewsAndPolicy.com.

The story of New York's city, of the falling crime rates and the rapid recovery from 9-11 has become Rudi Giuliani's story.

But it's a tale that New Yorkers argue simply isn't true.

Not for 100 years has a city mayor been elected president. Giuliani says his record in New York qualifies him to run the country but may become more of an embarrassment than a selling point.

He calls himself America's mayor and voters everywhere feel a personal connection to the man they think stood up for them and for the whole country on 9-11.

But he wants be a tough guy too. The one whose tough polices and zero tolerance policing slashed crime rates in New York.

Giuliani's campaign revolves around 9-11. He claims that other candidates underestimate the terror threat, that only he will keep America safe.

But, despite many warnings, he did almost nothing to prepare New York for an attack. He admits that on September 11 he didn't know who Al Qaeda was.

At Ground Zero today they are still digging the foundations for the new freedom tower. Before 9-11 the one thing Giuliani had done was to build himself, right next to this site, an emergency command centre

Giuliani spent $60m on the command centre in the World Trade Centre. He installed a humidor for his cigars, monogrammed towels in bathroom, even had private elevator which was handy when he brought his mistress here at the weekends. But he also installed a 600 gallon fuel tank which meant that when burning debris hit the building it went up like a blowtorch.

So Giuliani found himself wandering the streets because he had ignored advice to put his command centre safely underground in Brooklyn. Insisting instead it had to be near City hall.

The World Trade Centre was an obvious terror target. It was also bombed in 1993. Then fire-fighters found their radios didn't work inside the towers.

By 2001 Giuliani had not fixed the problem. So as the towers were collapsing, 121 firemen inside never heard the order to evacuate.

Fire-fighters promise that if Giuliani wins the Republican nomination they will follow his campaign around the country telling their side of the story. [you should really see the firefighter's video]

With his presidential bid so focussed on 9-11 they could do him serious damage.
New York is centre stage in this presidential election. The frontrunners in both parties are based here. So it is New Yorkers that know them best. That may not be to Giuliani's advantage.

Bush Dissolves The U.S. Constitution - Habeus Corpus

This is old, Oct. 2006 but just as relevant as ever

HABEUS CORPUS – or “[We command] that you have the body” in Latin. It is the name of a legal action through which a person can seek relief from unlawful detention of themselves or another person. The writ of habeas corpus has historically been an important instrument for the safeguarding of individual freedom against arbitrary state action.

What this means is that, if you’re targeted by the authorities for "whateverthehell" you have the misfortune of being busted for, the Habeus Corpus card comes into play by saying, “oh yeah?... prove it! Shoe me the body if you say I killed someone!” No body… no crime.

Or, in other words “demanding that a prisoner be brought before the court, together with proof of authority, so that the court can determine whether that custodian has lawful authority to hold that person, or, if not, the person should be released from custody”

So what?? Well, Bush just got rid of it last year. Most likely you and 95% of the country didn’t know about it, since it happened during the premiere of Lost and American Idol Countdown.



Olbermann goes off against what Bush has done. I love this man!!

A BURIED 60 Minutes INTERVIEW / INDICTMENT

Paul O'neil, Bush's Treasury Secretary was fired by Bush for disagreeing with tax programs. O'neil is in the book "price of loyalty" goes public about what goes on in the White House and how the Bush administration is secretive.

With an interview of hundreds of people as well as several cabinet members was conducted in order to write this book. Going after Saddam was #1 on the plan, 10 days after the inauguration, 8 months before September 11.

Republicans bear false witness. Business as usual, “I got mine, Sucks to be you.”

Republican S.C. Treasurer Thoms Ravenel Blows Cocaine.. gets BUSTED!

Oh God, how did I let this one slip by me?

Republican Cocaine User also known as the South Carolina Treasurer Thomas Ravenel is a former real estate developer who became a rising political star after his election in 2006. He was indicted June 19, 2007, on federal cocaine charges.

Good god, no sooner than I can finish writing about one republican liar/bribe/corrupt case another one creeps out about cocaine use.
Will it ever stop?

Here, you can read about Thomas Ravenel the Republican, Family Values, South Carolina Treasurer’s use of cocaine here and here.

What an embarrassment to republicans. To think, gasp, that one of their own was… gasp… doing drugs! OMG!

Such is the life of a republican, millionaire, liar and drug user.

"The millionaire is accused of buying less than 500 grams of the drug to share with other people in late 2005, U.S. Attorney Reggie Lloyd said. Ravenel, 44, is charged with distribution of cocaine, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The investigation into Ravenel arose from a drug case last year in Charleston, Lloyd said. State Law Enforcement Division Chief Robert Stewart said his agents were aware of the allegations before Ravenel was elected in November, but they didn't have enough information to pursue criminal charges.

The case was turned over to the FBI in April. "The investigation is just beginning," the federal prosecutor said. The man accused of selling Ravenel the drug, Michael L. Miller, is in custody on the same charge. Ravenel will be allowed to turn himself in, authorities said. The treasurer's office referred all questions to Ravenel's lawyer Joel Collins, who did not return a message left at his office. "

You can read this here

Given the Republican corruption scandals of the last couple of years...

It's just one republican scandal after another. Is it something genetic? Are the right wing nuts just predestined to continuously lie every step of the way merely for their own personal gain at the expense of the American people? ... duhhhh!!! Sure does look like they're doing everything they can to prove it.. and cover it up.

Here is one more corrupt republican scandalous story to add to our collection.

Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK), caught on tape
Posted September 21st, 2007 at 12:43 pm Read Article Here...

"Given the Republican corruption scandals of the last couple of years it’s easy to get inured to the seriousness of the controversies. After a while, names like DeLay, Cunningham, Ney, Foley, Lewis, and Burns start to blur together. Which one was Abramoff’s buddy? Which one took bribes from defense contractors?...."

Basically the article goes on to say, "where's the outrage?" Of course this is in reference to REPUBLICAN Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska getting caught in some big money back scratching.... but shhhhhh.... the "liberal media" doesn't seem to care. No wait... maybe the liberal media isn't so liberal. ... You think?

Here's a little more of the story...

"But as ongoing corruption scandals go, let’s not lose sight of the world of trouble Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) is in. An executive from oil company has already admitted to offering Stevens bribes, and today we learn that the senator’s calls were being secretly taped by FBI investigators.

An Alaska oil contractor cooperated with the FBI by tape-recording phone calls with Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) as part of a public corruption investigation, a source familiar with the probe said last night.

The recordings done by former Veco Corp. chief executive Bill Allen mean that Stevens, who is the longest serving Republican in the Senate, was under scrutiny by the FBI much earlier than June, when the senator first acknowledged publicly that he was a subject of FBI inquiries.

The central focus of all of this stems from Veco Corp., an oil-services company, remodeling Ted Stevens’ house in an exclusive ski resort area. After the lavish renovation was complete, Stevens steered $170 million in contracts to Veco, which, wouldn’t you know it, looked suspicious to the FBI.

So, Stevens appears to be in fairly big trouble. The next question, of course, is why reporters don’t seem to care...."

Republican Corruption Continues, Unabated...

And yet the scandalous republican corruption continues marches on. I just found this little bit on some more republicans who are more crooked than a kyphotic 90 year old hunch back.

by Professor Emeritus Peter Bagnolo
"Republican Corruption Continues, Unabated...The corruption charges leveled by Democrats at Republicans throughout the period leading to the 2006 Congressional election, continue and here is an analysis of events, which led to indictments and more investigations the last few months.More Charges Coming?Last year about this time the Democrats were looking forward to sweeping changes in the make-up of the congress following their campaign alleging the corruption of the Republican elected officials. Now, with a new election only about 13 months away the uncovering of corruption continues unabated.

The recent arrest of Republican Senator Larry Craig, Idaho, who though vacillating, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor after an undercover sting in an airport men's room, added to, Senator David Vitter, R-La., (not up for reelection, however) who confirmed that a Washington company, which was a beard for prostitution, had his phone number appearing in their records, and also the Senate Ethics Committee is investigating accusations that Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., attempted to influence a federal prosecutor in the election probe of some Democrats, continues to lend credence that Republican congressmen along with the President, feel that they are above the law.

It may be old news, but for Democrats it will be good news. It isn't just that Senator (Alaska) Ted Stevens and Former House Speaker of Alaska, Pete Kott, were alleged to have taken huge bribes from at least one oil services company, it also appears that Senator Ted Stevens's son has also been accused of sharing in the Goodies Gathering.Through the apparent benevolence of William "Bill" Allen, former CEO of the oil services company VECO, Senator Stevens the most Senior Republican Senator, (since 1968) was among those who enriched by more than $400,000 in gratuities from VECO. How generous of VECO to be looking after the welfare of wealthy politicians. (Gee, I wonder why they never bribe the Homeless, Busboys, waitresses or parking lot attendants.).... " Read the full article here.

Let’s bullet point these scandals, shall we?

• Republican Senator Larry Craig, Idaho, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor to a men's room blow job incident where he was prospecting for sexual favors from another man in a stall. …. Grosss!
• Republican Senator David Vitter, Louisiana, confirmed that a Washington hoar house had his phone number in their records. …. Ooops!
• Republican Senator, Pete Domenici, New Mexico, attempted to influence a federal prosecutor in the election probe of some Democrats. …. Imagine that!
• Republican Senator Ted Stevens (Alaska) and Former House Speaker of Alaska, Pete Kott, took huge bribes from at least one oil services company. ...Daaaaammn!
• Senator Ted Stevens's son was also on the “bribe sheet” where former VECO Corp. CEO Bill Allen testified in the federal trial that Ol Ted Steven’s (remember the Alaskan Republican Senator? See above.) son was also on the take. … Jeepers!
• Republican Congressman John T. Doolittle, California, is currently the subject of a Department of Justice investigation and was included in CREW’s 2006 report on congressional corruption. ... Gosh, not corruption!
• 
  Republican Congressman Jerry Lewis, California, "his ethics issues stem primarily from the misuse of his position as chairman of the committee to steer hundreds of millions of dollars in earmarks to family and friends in direct exchange for contributions to his campaign committee and political action committee. Rep. Lewis was included in CREW’s 2006 report on congressional corruption." .. when will it stop?!


• Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty to fraud, public corruption and tax evasion on Jan. 3, 2006 for his role in the purchaseof a fleet of Florida gambling boats from a businessman who was later killed in a gangland-style hit. He leveraged his close ties to Republican and conservative leaders, including then-House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas), to collect tens of millions of dollars from clients such as casino-rich Indian tribes. He treated lawmakers and their aides to lavish trips, meals and tickets to sporting events, and directed the tribes to donate millions of dollars to political candidates and parties. Now he is at the center of one of the widest-ranging federal corruption investigations in decades. ...please, it's killing me, make it stop!



• Republican, Congressman, Thomas DeLay TEXAS, DeLay was one of the most powerful leaders on Capitol Hill before he was indicted on campaign finance charges in September 2005 and temporarily resigned as House majority leader. Abramoff, whom DeLay once called "one of my closest and dearest friends," held fundraisers for the congressman and arranged for DeLay to accompany him on a luxury golf trip to Scotland and a trip to the Northern Mariana Islands. Abramoff also maintained close ties with DeLay aides

Just remember folks. A vote for a republican is a vote for corruption. More of the same...

"I got mine, Sucks to be you!"