Giuliani Skipped ISG Meetings For Motivational Events Featuring ‘Christianity’ And ‘Pumping Music’
Giuliani Skipped ISG Meetings For Motivational Events Featuring ‘Christianity’ And ‘Pumping Music’
Newsday reported this week that former mayor Rudy Giuliani stepped down from the Iraq Study Group after chairman James Baker gave “him a stark choice: either attend the meetings or quit.” Baker was upset that despite serving on the panel for two months, Giuliani had failed to attend a single official meeting of the group.
According to his recently released financial disclosure forms, Giuliani made eight paid speeches, each on a different day, during the 23 days the Iraq Study Group met. What hasn’t been noted is that two of the eight speeches were for an organization called Life Win, Inc. (Get Motivated Seminars).
What is a “Get Motivated” seminar? According to a 2003 report in the St. Petersburg Times, a Get Motivated seminar is:
A daylong program infused with Christianity, patriotism and pumping music suitable for aerobics. Many among the roster of speakers urged the audience of about 25,000 to find their inner power — and to sign up for more seminars and books.
At the seminars, Rudy would take the stage to Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” with red, white and blue confetti swirling around his head. He would then launch into a speech using the attack and the aftermath of 9/11 to illustrate his “six principles of leadership.” For his two appearances during the Iraq Study Group meetings alone, Giuliani pulled in a combined gross fee of $200,000.
Giuliani’s camp has falsely claimed that he left the ISG because he “didn’t want the group’s work to become a political football” for his nascent presidential campaign. In reality it appears he just didn’t want to turn down more opportunities for profit.
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57 Responses to “Giuliani Skipped ISG Meetings For Motivational Events Featuring ‘Christianity’ And ‘Pumping Music’”
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I’m no fan of the ISG, but geez, this guy is a clown. He has no interest in what’s going on in Iraq - as long as the war perptuates itself.
June 21st, 2007 at 10:41 amPumping Music?
Pump pump pump, all day long
June 21st, 2007 at 10:43 ampump pump pump while I sing this song?
At least someone got something out of the ISG. Good for Rudy.
June 21st, 2007 at 10:44 amGiuliani needs to go be a drag queen in Key West, Florida, and good riddence to that cross-dresser weirdo.
June 21st, 2007 at 10:44 amRudy’s greed knows no bounds.
June 21st, 2007 at 10:44 amA daylong program infused with Christianity, patriotism and pumping music suitable for aerobics. - -
June 21st, 2007 at 10:45 am“let’s get comical…comical…let’s get comical…comical….lemme hear your belly roar….”
Political Whores, using America’s worst day in history, cashing in on other’s fear and false patriotism.
I’m surprised he didn’t come out in a red, white & blue strapless gown.
Rudy’s a false prophet who takes credit for others hard work & misery.
June 21st, 2007 at 10:46 amJULIEani is JUNK!
June 21st, 2007 at 10:46 amkind of early where you are, isn’t it Zooey?
June 21st, 2007 at 10:47 am]0
but Bill Clinton gave a speech on 9/11/06!!!
June 21st, 2007 at 10:47 amI wonder if the Power Team was there blowing up hot water balloons “with the pure strength of God”…geez those guys were HUGE. I didn’t know there was a God endorsed steroid….
June 21st, 2007 at 10:48 amGhouliani’s “Six Principles of Leadership”:
June 21st, 2007 at 10:50 amThis is really the part that drives the moonbats nuts: A daylong program infused with Christianity, patriotism
June 21st, 2007 at 10:50 amIf TP wants to do a hit job on Giuliani, they should just periodically post pictures of him in drag.
June 21st, 2007 at 10:50 amCaption:
I see you out there Jeff; ‘Get Motivated’ for me after this event!
June 21st, 2007 at 10:51 amThose six principles of leadership are the only thing keeping me from living in a VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER!
June 21st, 2007 at 10:52 ambut Bill Clinton gave a speech on 9/11/06!!!
Comment by Marge N. Overa — June 21, 2007 @ 10:47 am
But was Bill Clinton supposed to be at a ISG meeting?
June 21st, 2007 at 10:52 amThis guy is done!
June 21st, 2007 at 10:53 amLook for the news media to ignore this, much as they have ignored his South Carolina campaign chair being busted for crack charges. How that doesn’t merit a story is a big mystery, if not for a pro-Republican bias in the news media.
“If a Dem was busted for drug charges…..”
June 21st, 2007 at 10:53 amRamboTroll reports:
“Christianity.” Yes, “Christianity.”
So comical.
June 21st, 2007 at 10:55 amkind of early where you are, isn’t it Zooey?
Comment by whiteyfresh
Yep, almost 8 a.m., but I’m always up early. :)
I’m home now. Portland was great!
June 21st, 2007 at 10:56 am“…the only thing keeping me from living in a VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER!”
Comment by PeterW
Sooo, like, what’s wrong with THAT?
;)
June 21st, 2007 at 10:58 amThe rat wang was never going to go with this guy anyway, not even as a veep.
June 21st, 2007 at 10:58 am.
mmmmmmmmmmmm…
Pooooooooooooortlaaaaaaaandd………..
June 21st, 2007 at 10:59 amRamboTroll reiterates:
1. Liberalism means never having to say you’re sorry.
2. Academic Freedom means never having to admit you’re wrong.
June 21st, 2007 at 10:59 amHey, when you’re a celebrity, glamour beats out substance any day. Just ask Paris Hilton. Of course, Paris isn’t running for President, so HER shallow priorities aren’t as much of a concern.
June 21st, 2007 at 11:01 amAlphaLiberal
How that doesn’t merit a story is a big mystery
Dude, come on:
FoxNews, Time, The International Herald Tribune, Wall Street Journal, Forbes
I think you just failed at the internet.
June 21st, 2007 at 11:02 amHe was/is too busy using 9/11 as a political football.
June 21st, 2007 at 11:08 amLook for the news media to ignore this, much as they have ignored his South Carolina campaign chair being busted for crack charges. How that doesn’t merit a story is a big mystery, if not for a pro-Republican bias in the news media.
“If a Dem was busted for drug charges…..â€
Comment by AlphaLiberal
I reported that myself right here on TP, and I’ve seen it a couple times on CNN — not as much as I would have thought I might, but it was there.
I see Squeegy has links in #27. Enjoy!
June 21st, 2007 at 11:08 amThe only thing missing in the photo is a ‘T’ before ‘HIEVE’.
The real question is; did Rudy get his crack from the S.C. guy or Snow?
June 21st, 2007 at 11:08 amSpeaking of Rudy’s crack, where’s Daryll?
June 21st, 2007 at 11:09 amOne of Rudy’s “6 Principles of Leadership”: skip out on important meetings and otherwise shirk your primary duties, like a good Republican.
June 21st, 2007 at 11:10 amYep, almost 8 a.m., but I’m always up early. :)
I’m home now. Portland was great!
Comment by Zooey
She has to start out early. She’s back on dial-up!
June 21st, 2007 at 11:11 amAlphaLiberal
if not for a pro-Republican bias in the news media.
Additionally, if it really wasn’t getting covered anywhere you could use it to argue for a pro-liberal bias in the media because Giuliani is potentially the most liberal of the R candidates, so the media would do anything it could to down play any of his scandals as compared to the scandals of other R candidates so in case the R’s do win in 2008 it is at least the most liberal choice.
June 21st, 2007 at 11:14 ambut Bill Clinton gave a speech on 9/11/06!!!
…Korea time… (it’s 11:14 AM on Thursday in Washington DC now - 8:14 AM Pacific - but it’s 12:14 AM on Friday on Seoul).
June 21st, 2007 at 11:16 amShe has to start out early. She’s back on dial-up!
Comment by gummitch
Rub it in, why don’t ya!? Waaaah!
June 21st, 2007 at 11:16 amAhem. Couldn’t resist…
1. Skip ISG meetings
June 21st, 2007 at 11:25 am2. ???? ? No, we know this step. Attend Religious Fundamentalist nutcase fundraiser meeting.
3. Profit!
I’m home now. Portland was great!
Comment by Zooey
She has to start out early. She’s back on dial-up!
Comment by gummitch
dialup?
Oh I remember. The way I have to connect when on trips, and there are no wi-fi hot spots. =)
Really, I feel for ya Zooey. After being on broadband dialup is painfully slow.
June 21st, 2007 at 11:33 amReally, I feel for ya Zooey. After being on broadband dialup is painfully slow.
Comment by Wayne
My son’s highspeed really spoiled me quickly. :)
June 21st, 2007 at 11:39 amhis is really the part that drives the moonbats nuts: A daylong program infused with Christianity, patriotism
Comment by Frank J
But did Truly wear a dress to the event, Frank? I’m thinking a simple blue wool number, w/ some pearls? You can get some fashion tips from this guy. S/he’s one hell of a sharp dresser.
June 21st, 2007 at 11:39 amHere are links to a blog post and a Sept. 2006 _Atlantic Monthly_ article that provide detail and context on how Giuliani used his grueling “Get Motivated!” seminar schedule to hone the art of learning to speak “evangelese”:
http://giulianiblog.blogspot.com/ 2006/ 08/ giuliani-gets-religion.html
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200609/giuliani
June 21st, 2007 at 11:40 amGuliani’s ‘motivational’ speeches. Does he think he’s some sort of Ricky Gervais on the UK version of ‘The Office’ or something?
June 21st, 2007 at 11:42 amAt least we know where his priorities are.
June 21st, 2007 at 11:44 amGiuliani is potentially the most liberal of the R candidates
Comment by squegeebooo
Only because most of the rest of the Rep candidates are to the right of Pat Buchanan =P
June 21st, 2007 at 11:45 amDoing a few lines and listening to “pumping music” can be highly motivating!
(Or so I’ve heard.)
June 21st, 2007 at 12:06 pm(Or so I’ve heard.)
Comment by War4Sale
Yeah, and I never inhaled…. /snark
=D
June 21st, 2007 at 12:10 pmso, he’d rather make money on the speech circuit than end the Iraq war? hmm… I hope this really bites him on the arse come election time…
June 21st, 2007 at 1:02 pmWayne
Only because most of the rest of the Rep candidates are to the right of Pat Buchanan =P
True, except for Ron Paul.
But it reminds me of the media back in 2000, they were solidly in McCain’s camp against Bush for the primaries.
June 21st, 2007 at 1:37 pmEach day untold millions of U.S. Americans unwittingly immerse themselves in an intellectual, social, cultural, economic, political and spiritual cesspool so rancid and toxic that even microbes with the most voracious appetites for human waste, vomit, and inanimate flesh would shun this infinitely repulsive sewer.
Many highly qualified and intelligent researchers, analysts, and authors have written books, essays, and reports documenting the astounding multitude and variety of crimes committed by the United States throughout its history. Since a nation is an entity comprised of numerous elements and dynamics, we can’t simply blame the government, the Republicans, the Religious Right, the Democrats, George Bush, Bill Clinton, or any one particular component. Therefore, nearly all U.S. Americans bear a degree of responsibility. Obviously, some (i.e. Bush and Cheney) are far more culpable than others because they wield such tremendous power and act with a conscienceless, cynical awareness of the suffering they are inflicting on the Earth and its sentient inhabitants. Since only about 4% of the population shares Bush’s sociopathic inability to experience empathy or guilt, what is this powerful siren call that motivates so many inherently decent human beings to repeatedly lacerate their souls upon the jagged rocks of complicity in acts that inflict unnecessary suffering upon billions of humans and animals? How did we become a statistical aberration to the extent that we are a nation of resource-rich, technologically-advanced, mean-spirited, intellectually-stunted moral barbarians where a significant percentage of the population behaves as sociopaths by directly supporting or apathetically ignoring the evils in which they are complicit? Is it something in our water? Are we genetic misfits? Does our population represent the vanguard of the next step in humanity’s moral “evolution�
Sarcasm aside, the underlying cause of our depravity is our false, skewed and fractured consciousness which our malignant system begins hammering into our minds as we draw our first breath. This relentless psychological assault persists until we take our final gasp of air.
Nearly unshakeable illusions and delusions enable a relative handful of ruthless corporations and plutocrats to manipulate nearly 300 million people into helping them pursue their objective of world domination and exploitation, as outlined in the Project for the New American Century. Let’s deconstruct but a few examples of the nearly innumerable strands in the tangled web of pernicious lies comprising our false consciousness:
The Founding Fathers were noble, saint-like champions of the “common†people who forged a nation affording freedom and equality for all.
Our founders were mostly aristocrats who formed a constitutional republic of, by and for land-owning white males. Native Americans, the poor, and women were excluded. Chattel slavery was recognized as a legal enterprise. Many of our revered founders advocated and facilitated the Native American Genocide in the interest of expanding our borders.
June 21st, 2007 at 2:31 pmRudy is a scum sucking, hypocritical, worthless, selfish piece of wet excrement.
June 21st, 2007 at 8:47 pmThese training camps are seriously messed up places, bordering on cults. See the movie Jesus Camp to get an idea of it.
June 22nd, 2007 at 11:02 amCorrect me if I’m wrong, but isn’t it illegal for currently serving elected officials to make paid appearances at events under the auspices of their title? I seem to remember a big hoopla when Jesse Ventura appeared at a WWF event while he still held office. Also, on last season’s Celebrity Jeopardy, the Secretary of Education appeared as a contestant. Whereas all of the other contestants chose what charity to donate their respective winnings to, it was noted that the Secretary’s charity was chosen by the producers of the show, citing “ethics rules.”
June 22nd, 2007 at 11:38 amWhy is this even a news story? This should be ignored and has been by most media outlets (rightly so). I’m seriously reconsidering being a liberal…the animosity and pettiness consistently displayed has shown me how out of touch some liberals in the US have become. Being a liberal these days means hating Republicans and our president by any means… not looking for way to best improve our country. The liberal ideology now is “let us look for ways to slander the right-wing” but there is nothing constructive about this…in fact we lose an election in 2004 because we no longer stand for anything except slandering/sliming the other side or their candidates.
And I think this is why Sarkozy won in France. The French finally figured it out…we want a guy who will get stuff done.
June 22nd, 2007 at 11:40 amFrank j,
Perhaps you could explain what’s Patriotic or Christian about giving speeches at $100,000 on average?? I think you may be confusing opportunism with Christianity.
I get the impression that as long as something is stamped with the word God or the U.S. flag you’ll blindy jump on board.
June 22nd, 2007 at 11:51 amAmericans are so stupid they will fall over themselves and each other racing to vote in the biggest idiot possible to the office of president. Thats just the way it is, and the world needs to just shut up and accept it. Americans plundered the richest continent in the world, raped the indigineous people in a timely manner, enslaved millions, and built their riches that carries them forward on top even to this day. Americans are in charge through evil deeds just like 1940’s Germany, and thats just the way it is. Its the nature of humanity so shut up and deal.
June 22nd, 2007 at 12:35 pmI was standing 10 feet from Rudy here in NYC when the first tower collapsed. While he was quite calm, telling people to “step back” hardly consitutes amazing leadership.
June 22nd, 2007 at 12:42 pmRudy’s lack of attendance at the Iraq Study Group’s meetings showed itself in the demagogic and comically wrong attack he made on Ron Paul after Paul suggested that US foreign policy had something to do with the 9/11 attacks. He doesn’t know a goddamn thing about Iraq, the Middle East, or our foreign policy. He needs to go to summer school!
June 23rd, 2007 at 12:04 am