Giuliani Prioritizes Fundraising Over Iraq Strategy
Giuliani Prioritizes Fundraising Over Iraq Strategy
Newsday reports new details behind Rudy Giuliani’s departure from the Iraq Study Group last May, after serving just two months on the panel. Giuliani failed to show up for a single official meeting of the group, prompting the chairman of the panel — James Baker — to “give him a stark choice: either attend the meetings or quit.”
Giuliani resigned in a May 24 letter to Baker, explaining that “my previous time commitments do not permit me the full and active participation that the Iraq Study Group deserves.”
Newsday reports that Giuliani’s alleged “previous time commitments” were simply fundraisers that conflicted with the Iraq Study Group’s meetings. The ISG held three sessions during Giuliani’s tenure in 2006 but that he did not show up for: working sessions on April 11 and 12, and May 18 and 19. “The sessions at times conflicted with Giuliani’s lucrative speaking tour that garnered him $11.4 million in 14 months.”
Giuliani failed to show up for a pair of two-day sessions that occurred during his tenure, the sources said — and both times, they conflicted with paid public appearances shown on his recent financial disclosure. Giuliani quit the group during his busiest stretch in 2006, when he gave 20 speeches in a single month that brought in $1.7 million.
On one day the [Iraq Study Group] gathered in Washington — May 18, 2006 — Giuliani delivered a $100,000 speech on leadership at an Atlanta business awards breakfast. Later that day, he attended a $100-a-ticket Atlanta political fundraiser for conservative ally Ralph Reed, whom Giuliani hoped would provide a major boost to his presidential campaign.
The month before, Giuliani skipped the [Iraq Study Group's] session to give the April 12 keynote speech at an economic conference in South Korea for $200,000, his financial disclosure shows.
Giuliani’s campaign said that the former New York mayor did participate in Iraq Study Group activities but refused Newsday’s repeated requests to explain how.
Stephen Hess, a scholar at Brookings, said quitting the group is a reflection of Giuliani’s poor leadership and decision-making. “Leaving that study group was not exactly an act of courage.”
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guiliani is a Sadistic pig who loves power.
Remember how much hell Hoover got over wearing womens clothes? and he was a crime fighting genius. Our Sherlock. This guys nothing but an oppurtunist.
BURN THE WITCH!
June 19th, 2007 at 11:27 amWhen someone tells us who they are, we should believe them.
Rudy’s priorities are in his wallet.
June 19th, 2007 at 11:34 amBut, but, but the study group was interfering with Rudy’s drag-time and looking for wife #4.
June 19th, 2007 at 11:35 amIf the Iraq Study Group had any photos taken of themselves, you can bet he participated in those activities.
More good material for debates: “Hey, Rudy! How much time did you spend working with the ISG?”
June 19th, 2007 at 11:40 amGiuliani is Chimpy Redux. God help us.
June 19th, 2007 at 11:40 amRudy’s priorities are in his wallet.
Comment by Zooey
Got that right, see:
Couple: We weren’t rich enough for Giuliani
June 19th, 2007 at 11:40 amIf I never see this clown again, or hear is name, it’ll be too soon.
Please, somebody put this old mare out to pasture.
June 19th, 2007 at 11:40 amGood for Rudy. Surrender does not make a good President.
June 19th, 2007 at 11:43 amHe’s toast. Burnt and stale. No amount of butter or jam can make this can’tidate (no misspelling there) viable.
June 19th, 2007 at 11:44 amShocking! You mean, he put his Political Ambition ahead of the War On Terror?
I’m Shocked, Shocked I say. Really.
Me, I would have thought the 9/11 Whore would at least have tried to leverage it to his political advantage.
9/11 Whore: “See I was on the ISG!! I KNOW about terror!”
9/11 Whore: “Did I mention I was the mayor of NYC on 9/11???”
June 19th, 2007 at 11:44 amGot that right, see:
Couple: We weren’t rich enough for Giuliani
Comment by Wayne
That’s the way Rudy will dig his on political grave. :)
June 19th, 2007 at 11:45 amMore verification that this guy is nothing more than a self-aggrandizing, grandstanding politician.
He’s no hero – although he likes to tell us he is!
Even the real heroes of 9-11 have been speaking out against him…..some interesting reading on this:
June 19th, 2007 at 11:47 am“Giuliani vs. the Firefighters”
http://www.populistamerica.com/giuliani_vs_the_firefighters
Between this, the NY Firemen and Rudy’s subpar record as mayor he’ll self destruct his run for the White House.
June 19th, 2007 at 11:47 amExploiting the 9/11 tragedy to become a millionaire is disgusting…
June 19th, 2007 at 11:51 ami think that picture should be used all over the place as a
reminder of what a psycho-demigod-wannabe looks like…
oooh! those tight little balled up fists!
June 19th, 2007 at 11:51 amwhaaaaaaaaah!
Y’know, it seems impossible that someone like Rudy Giuliani could be elected president, but I said that about W. too. Of course W. wasn’t exactly elected, but you know what I mean.
June 19th, 2007 at 11:56 amMussolini on the Hudson.
-GSD
June 19th, 2007 at 11:56 amRudy’s involvement with the Study group was extensive. He was in charge of the refreshments and you know how important tasty snacks are when discussing the biggest military blunder of the last 30 years is.
June 19th, 2007 at 11:58 amY’know, it seems impossible that someone like Rudy Giuliani could be elected president, but I said that about W. too. Of course W. wasn’t exactly elected, but you know what I mean.
Comment by NoOneYouKnow
I’ve made the same point several times. I’m repeatedly astonished at the utter stupidity of the American voter. Reagan twice? GWB twice? (acknowledging, of course, that he didn’t really “win” in the traditional sense, he was damn close).
June 19th, 2007 at 11:58 amYou Libruls have your priorities out of whack.
June 19th, 2007 at 12:01 pmGiuliani did the right ting by raking in millions of dollars off of the 9-11 tragedy, instead of trying to solve the Iraqi Invasion debacle.
Wait, this isn’t fund-raising, it’s personal income, right?
June 19th, 2007 at 12:03 pmShould I make the jump that Guiliani didn’t have any decent ideas on Iraq ?
June 19th, 2007 at 12:03 pmRudy is running hard and he knows that the person with the most money to spend telling lies improves the chances of being elected. Besides not receiving any money for his “work” on the Iraq Study Group, it offered no political payoff, so cutting and running was an easy choice. Rudy’s going to keep it simple, which will work for most Americans. . . “I was there to hold NYC together during 9-11 which means I’m the only candidate who is able to keep you safe from terrorists. Elect me!”
June 19th, 2007 at 12:05 pmThis is exactly why I hope Giuliani gets the nomination.
He is a house of cards. The more people learn about him, the more they’ll be repulsed by him. He was despised as mayor of New York. He cavorts with organized crime figures. He betrayed rescue workers at WTC. He endangered all citizens of the city by approving air quality while it was still toxic. He failed to set up reliable crisis management systems.
Mr. 9/11 is a fraud and it will all come out in the heat of a campaign. ~News Corpse
June 19th, 2007 at 12:06 pmRudy’s involvement with the Study group was extensive. He was in charge of the refreshments and you know how important tasty snacks are when discussing the biggest military blunder of the last 30 years is.
Comment by hellinabucket
I thought he was in charge of the entertainment. You know, his act as “Goody Fooliani”.
June 19th, 2007 at 12:08 pmI’ve made the same point several times. I’m repeatedly astonished at the utter stupidity of the American voter. Reagan twice? GWB twice?
Comment by gummitch
yeah, me too.
June 19th, 2007 at 12:15 pm50% of the American voters are total idiots.
Part of the problem also is that too many do not vote.
Even 2004, only 60 percent of eligible voters actually voted.
So bush was re-elected by about 31% of eligible voters, because too many could not get away from the TV long enough to cast their vote.
No wonder we keep electing such stupid a$$hats into office.
Shane, Rudy was initially going to head up the security duties for the ISG but had to relinquish that as well after the ISG found out that he hired Kerik and his contractors.
June 19th, 2007 at 12:18 pm“Goody Fooliani� Is this is drag queen personna? LOL
June 19th, 2007 at 12:21 pmThe population of the US is nearly 300 million, including many of the best educated, most talented, most resourceful, humane people on earth. By almost any measure of civilized attainment, from Nobel prize-counts on down, the US leads the world by miles. You would think that a country with such resources, and such a field of talent, would be able to elect a leader of the highest quality. Yet, what happened? At the end of all the primaries and party caucuses, the speeches and the televised debates, after a year or more of non-stop electioneering bustle, who, out of that entire population of 300 million, emerges at the top of the heap? George Bush.
Wayne you are correct, herdes of sheeple out there but the Christian Taliban will cricify Rudy’s election and instead prop up a B actor who are delusional to pretend he is Reagan. Rudy like the other GOP are sideshow candidates.
June 19th, 2007 at 12:22 pmHe doesn’t look very ‘fatherly’ or ‘authoritatian’ with his little fists all balled up like that.
Looks like the the ‘Brain” grabbing the bars of his cage “Were going to take over the world Pinky”
June 19th, 2007 at 12:25 pmGood for Rudy. Surrender does not make a good President.
Comment by Frank J — June 19, 2007 @ 11:43 am
Ummm… this is incoherent even by troll standards.
Did you read the post? Rudy QUIT the ISG. “Quit” and “surrender” are pretty close synonyms.
If you’re clumsily implying that the ISG advocated “surrender” and that Rudy was courageous to take no part in it — well, how would he even know what policies they were discussing if he didn’t attend a single working meeting? And how could he advocate for “non-surrender” if he’s not on the panel?
He decided his lucrative speaking tour was more important than having a voice in Iraq policy.
June 19th, 2007 at 12:26 pmCaption: “Dammit, Judith, I told you not to wear my favorite dress. I wanted to change after my speech!!”
June 19th, 2007 at 12:31 pmComment by spit take — June 19, 2007 @ 12:26 pm
Frank J can’t function unless he’s cutting and pasting drivel — and even then not so much.
June 19th, 2007 at 12:32 pmHe’s beginning to morph into Donald Rumsfeld…
June 19th, 2007 at 12:35 pmCaption: ” I want to be President!!!!!! I want, I want, I want, I WANT IT NOWWWWWWW!!!!!!! you meanies, 9/11″
June 19th, 2007 at 12:35 pmGhouliani, that is…
June 19th, 2007 at 12:35 pmAny Republican going to comment on Rudy’s version of the “Howard Dean scream”?
June 19th, 2007 at 12:35 pmHmmm…
Guliani’s involvement with the Iraq Study Group, as well as his spin related to that group and Iraq in general, would seem (note the semantic device by which the Rethugs and I avoid culpability for my statements)demonstrate that Guliani is:
1. Unable to commit (as demonstrated by his private life).
2. Incompetent.
3. Self-serving.
4. Involved with politically corrupt person(s) (Reed). (Not to mention his very tight ties to Kerick – and this from a former US Attorney).
5. Not concerned with Iraq or the Iraq war, beyond it’s usefulness in promoting his brand
6. Rich, due to his “Life of Public Service” (see: Dick Cheney)
And, he’s the Republic Party frontrunner for Pesnit.
June 19th, 2007 at 12:37 pmNo big deal. If you’re a Republican, you don’t need to participate in study groups. All you need to do is be able to shop around until you find one person in the country who agrees with you, then cite that one person as the reason you’re going to bomb the hell out of another country.
June 19th, 2007 at 12:44 pmRudy Guiliani is just another “garden variety thug”. Nothing special here so no expecations of greatness at all. Of course, to the Rethugs who have absolutely NO ONE credible to run as a viable candidate, they’re willing to overlook his obvious character deficiencies; after all, this 28% Rethug support translates into “major character flaws” for those still hanging onto this rapidly-descending and sinking ship called the GOP.
June 19th, 2007 at 12:46 pm“Goody Fooliani� Is this is drag queen personna? LOL
Comment by PatrioticLiberalChristian(PLC)
Yeah, he opens his act with “Let Me Entertain You”.
June 19th, 2007 at 12:47 pmCouple: We weren’t rich enough for Giuliani
Comment by Wayne — June 19, 2007 @ 11:40 am
Thanks for the link. Notice high on Guiliani’s priorities is making the repeal of the Estate Tax permanent. This will only benefit the ruling class, granting them permanent dynasty status.
June 19th, 2007 at 12:48 pmNot to worry folk’s, rudy is not going to get the nod….To much baggage and not enough money….My guess today is mitt will…He has more money than all the present administration can account for and pretty….My guess all these guy’s are just raising money for their famalies pocket’s, since many have paid family member’s working for their campaign’s…..It’s a no brainer as I see it and mitt wont get the rep. vote even when nominated cause the reich winged base is against mormon’s for the most part, they think they are a cult….
To nice a day to spend here.You all have a nice day….Blessings
June 19th, 2007 at 12:58 pmComment by Sharon — June 19, 2007 @ 12:58 pm
Mitt Romney —
A dreamy President? Or, the dreamiest President?
Heh. :P
June 19th, 2007 at 1:01 pmWASHINGTON – The Pentagon is sending another deck of playing cards to troops in Iraq – this time showing some of the country’s most precious archaeological sites instead of the most-wanted former regime officials.
June 19th, 2007 at 1:13 pmSome 40,000 new decks of playing cards will be sent to troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan – as part of an awareness program so troops can help preserve the heritage of those countries, said Laurie Rush, archaeologist at Fort Drum in New York.
The cards have a blurb which reads something to the effect of:
June 19th, 2007 at 1:19 pm“These ruins survived 7,000 years, will they survive you?”
So sad.
US troops have been using millenia old archeology for bunker material.
Good Morning Lady Z,…Well he is easy to look at, but then he open’s his mouth and ruen’s it…Just another reich winged nut job, no matter his relegion…..
Edward’s is a good looking fellow to and much less junk following him around. My vote would be for Kuchenich (sp), never get that one right, but don’t think he can pull off the nod….Like his back ground, voting record and total insight….Then there’s the fellow from N.M. who would make a great diplomat….To soon for the final vote, need to check out the other third party candidate’s as well…Right now I would not vote for Hillery or Obama both for the same reason’s, they were for the war before they were for leaving troop’s in forever….Just my musing’s on a beautiful Tuesday…Have a wonderful Day….Blessings
June 19th, 2007 at 1:21 pmMitt Romney —
A dreamy President? Or, the dreamiest President?
Heh. :P
Comment by Zooey
??????
excuse me while I….
/Blech!!!!
=P
June 19th, 2007 at 1:27 pmJune 19th, 2007 at 1:27 pm
And this just proves that the Republicans value money over American lives.
June 19th, 2007 at 2:11 pmJonathan Martin’s column today:
Said a Giuliani campaign official:
“Once again, the paper wrote a story with little regard to the facts. The facts are these – as someone considered a potential presidential candidate, the Mayor didn’t want the group’s work to become a political football. That, coupled with time constraints, led to his decision.”
In fairness to Rudy, many of us in the press probably would have been squawking about conflict-of-interest matters had he stayed on the panel through December, by which point his presidential ambitions had become obvious.
June 19th, 2007 at 5:12 pmHasn’t anyone asked Rudy what HE did to prevent the terrorist strikes on 9/11 considering two of them happened in HIS city on HIS watch?
June 19th, 2007 at 5:58 pmIf Rudy’s going to run on HIS counter-terrorism “record” (or bash his opponents on their counter-terror positions), then someone with some serious cojones needs to take him to task on just how he kept NYC safe from terrorists when he obviously didn’t.
Rudy the bitch boy has earned the name of rotten rudy, screwed his cousin for 13 years.
June 19th, 2007 at 7:03 pmRudy Giuliani has made over ELEVEN MILLION dollars off 9/11. Why should he stop now? As President, he could make even more!!!!
June 20th, 2007 at 3:53 pm