Fred to Rudy: “New York City is not emblematic of the rest of the country”
posted at 5:48 pm on November 23, 2007 by Allahpundit
Brilliant, as a quick scroll through the comments to the Rudy/NYC post from a few days ago will attest. This crack was ostensibly aimed at Giuliani’s gun control policies but Fred’s tapping into something much bigger here and he knows it — namely, the mixture of disgust, resentment, and envy with which the rest of the country regards New York and its cultural influence. Smart regional politics, especially in the context of his new offensive against “phony conservatives.” Who could be phonier to the GOP’s southern base than a city boy from Manhattan calling himself a Republican?
Thompson, campaigning at a New Hampshire gun store with stuffed moose and deer overhead, told reporters that Giuliani too often turns to his time as New York mayor to explain his support for stronger gun restrictions.
“He relates everything to New York City. Well, New York City is not emblematic of the rest of the country, I don’t think. I think the sentiments of those people in the rest of the country are in support of the Second Amendment — which is where I’ve always been and I don’t think he’s ever been,” Thompson said…
“(Giuliani) simply supported just about every gun control legislation that came down the pike. I just disagree with him on that,” Thompson said. “I saw he was at bill signing ceremonies with (New York Sen.) Chuck Schumer and President Clinton and others for gun control legislation over the years. Of course, he’s not as outspoken about it any more.”
He also copped to having had his own skeet shoot, bought his infant son a camo t-shirt, and paused for a few bites of moose chili. Authentic.
Blowback
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Yes and? I do not think this fellow is part of the GOP leadership myself. I was agreeing with his points, not about Fred, but about the pro-Rudy crowd.
Gatordoug on November 23, 2007 at 9:20 PM
He is dead wrong about Fred IMO. I truly think Fred will be OK. And no, I do not consider him part of the pro-Rudy GOP leadership. Sorry if I was not clear.
There is no doubt in my mind the media has done their best to erase Fred Thompson. I feel the same about those Republicans who are spewing the “only Rudy” line.
Gatordoug on November 23, 2007 at 9:24 PM
This all goes back to my saying that if Fred actually started campaigning, his statement would mean more. You told me he is campaigning. I said I didn’t mean it literally, only that he wasn’t campaigning hard, and that he was wasting an opportunity. I quote Keene. You respond:
I said:
You responded:
My point was that the Chairman of the American Conservative Union was also saying Fred is wasting an opportunity. He’s not selling out for Rudy, but he is agreeing that Fred’s wasting an opportunity.
amerpundit on November 23, 2007 at 9:26 PM
Truth be told, Rudy does 99% of it. I just add the 1%.
MB4 on November 23, 2007 at 9:26 PM
Oh, ok.
amerpundit on November 23, 2007 at 9:27 PM
Bumper sticker as designed for Rudy by Hilts Graphics Ltd™,:
Vote for Rudy or Hillary, the anti_Christ, will get elected and kill you and all your children!!!
If that is not a good enough reason, then f##k you!
Rudy’s election is in the
tankbag!MB4 on November 23, 2007 at 9:29 PM
I understand, I disagree with him, that is all. Those criticizing Thompson I think are over thinking and over analyzing the campaign a wee bit. They have been trying to rush the election for months now.
Gatordoug on November 23, 2007 at 9:32 PM
Well, it’s a lot more “emblematic” than TN
jeanie on November 23, 2007 at 9:35 PM
No, it isn’t. It is as emblematic as Tenn, not more or less.
Gatordoug on November 23, 2007 at 9:37 PM
You know what? You do not know squat about Rudy. You never lived in NYC during the Dinkins, Koch, Beame and Lindsay years. You never saw the graffiti on the subways, the ‘wildings’ in Central Park, the “no go” areas of town, the bums soliciting on every street corner, the homeless sleeping on church steps on 5th Avenue, tourists going to the New York Open being mugged and killed, the squeegee men intimidating motorists, the liberal activist social worker judges, the racial hucksters lie Sharpton (my former classmate) calling the shots along with the New York Times editorial board, the viciousness of the Village Voice, businesses fleeing, the middle class leaving – and Rudy changed the whole thing. Rudy was a great mayor and your constant sniping at him is ridiculous to the eyes of someone who actually lived through his government and his predecessors mayoralty’s. The crowning event of Rudy’s mayoralty was his telling the Saudi prince to shove $10 million up his ass. If you think that Rudy and Hillary are separated at birth then there is nothing to say but go vote for Hillary then or Ron Paul.
P.S. – had Rudy been mayor in December 2005 instead of Mayor Poppins Bloomberg – he would have fired the striking transit workers.
Hilts on November 23, 2007 at 9:38 PM
If one defines an emblem as a symbol, most of the world and the USA would be apt to name NY long before they’d name TN.
jeanie on November 23, 2007 at 9:45 PM
This is silly. I’ve lived in the south almost all my life and have never heard of anything like this. Sure, we have some rednecks down here. I’ve met many of them – some good, some not so good. Some are in my own family.
They don’t tend to register at IT conferences and bring up Civil War grievances. Give me a break.
erik on November 23, 2007 at 9:47 PM
No. Fred came in riding off star power alone, and then petered out because he’s no longer the “none of the above” candidate.
He doesn’t know how to run a campaign and his wife is the only reason he’s still in the race.
Fred has consistently failed to produce any “wow” factor and has squandered every single opportunity to do so.
The fact is the first primaries are now less than two months away. Nobody is “rushing” the election, Fred is just a lazy, corrupt, disingenuous joke candidate who would have been better off if he just stayed home instead of “testing the waters.”
Fact is, Fred is a non-factor. He has added nothing but a bunch of sanctimonious pomp, his recent comments being just another example of him being all fluff and no stuff. He has absolutely no qualifications for President, onjectively and especially relatively speaking, and he’s done zero for the conservative movement over the course of his life.
Only the Fraud! faithful even give Fraud! a passing glance now. He has proven himself to be a poor campaigner, a lip-service conservative, and a generally uninspiring, lazy old fool. Fraud! Should stick to what he’s good at: pretending to be someone important, relevant, and useful in a fictional universe in exchange for cash, aka acting.
BKennedy on November 23, 2007 at 9:48 PM
Now, now, let’s not get all New Yawk City angry. I will have you know that I know squat about all sorts of things, including your beloved Rudolfo and his New Yawk City.
How much credit does Rudy deserve for New Yawk City’s crime rate going down, as if most of us care all that much about Rudy’s favorite sanctuary city, New Yawk City?
http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/nycrime.htm
Note that crime rates were dropping for the three years before Giuliani took office. And they continued to drop after he left.
Crime in New York peaked in 1990. Giuliani did not take office until 1994.
MB4 on November 23, 2007 at 9:50 PM
It happened.
It was back around 1976.
MB4 on November 23, 2007 at 9:52 PM
You have les credibility on this than Ted Kennedy has on sobriety!
Gatordoug on November 23, 2007 at 9:53 PM
One more thing to ad to my pro Rudy rant – Rudy helped destroy the mafia in NYC (the mob even almost put a contract out on him when he was Southern District D.A.) the vote was 3-2 against whacking him. If I’m a terrorist sitting in a cave in Waziristan which guy of all the candidates do I not want to see President? The answer is Giuliani. Of all the candidates I think he is the only one who takes seriously Iran’s nuclear/genocide ambitions and would do something about it besides invite Ahmadinejad to the White House. IF Rudy was President we would not be seeing this farce of a
MunichAnnapolis “peace conference.”Of all the GOP candidates which one is the special vitriolic target of Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews? A President Giuliani would not be one of the “turn the other cheek” wimps like G.W. Bush is. He would fight back, you never saw him at a press conference did you?
Hilts on November 23, 2007 at 9:56 PM
Would you care to point out why, or are you just being contrarian, a quality found, not unsurprisingly, in Fraud! himself.
BKennedy on November 23, 2007 at 9:58 PM
Yeah go rewrite history Soviet style, yeah that David Dinkins was a great mayor, and since crime was declining why in a city that was/is overwhelmingly Democratic and liberal, was Dinkins defeated in 1993 and the very left wing Ruth Messinger defeated in 1997?. Also referring to New Yawk City is not exactly mature.
Hilts on November 23, 2007 at 10:00 PM
Rudy the draft dodger?
You must be kidding.
No wait, there is a certain logic there.
MB4 on November 23, 2007 at 10:06 PM
Now you are being ridiculous. How is Rudy a draft dodger? Did he go to Canada?
Five people in the blogosphere/entertainment world who are Rudy supporters whom I greatly respect – Tammy Bruce, Ron Silver, Dennis Miller, Charles Johnson of LGF, and Roger L. Simon.
Hilts on November 23, 2007 at 10:10 PM
http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/nycrime.htm
That’s not my statistics!
Those are New York Law Enforcement Agency Uniform Crime Reports statistics!
Do you think that I hacked into their web site?
You are going to make me laugh pretty soon.
MB4 on November 23, 2007 at 10:10 PM
More mature than being blind to Rudy. Much more.
Is that the best you can do?
MB4 on November 23, 2007 at 10:12 PM
You mistake envy and annoyance, Allah.
Bad Candy on November 23, 2007 at 10:20 PM
New York is very influential in Presidential politics.
In fact, most US presidents come from there.
Can you name any of them?
AZCON on November 23, 2007 at 10:20 PM
No, he did not go to Canada. That would have made him a draft evader.
“He (Rudy) applied for a deferment but was rejected (first attempt to dodge the draft). In 1969, MacMahon (low friends in high places) wrote a letter to Giuliani’s draft board, asking (using and abusing his influence) that he (Rudy) be reclassified
as 2-A, civilian occupation deferment, because Giuliani, who was a law clerk for MacMahon, was an essential employee (It would be hard to think of anything LESS essential. Even DOD employees seldom got 2-A’s.). The deferment was granted.(second attempt to dodge the draft successful)”
*
Doesn’t sound like you even know what a draft dodger is, as he was very clearly a draft dodger. Very arguably times two. Text book case in plain fact.
For him to not be a draft dodger there would have to be no such thing as a draft dodger.
If Rudy is paying you to campaign for him, you should give him his money back, all of it, maybe more.
MB4 on November 23, 2007 at 10:21 PM
ENVY? Shirly you jest.
We envy New York about as much as we envy hillary’s married life.
What pray tell, is there to envy?
I used to envy the Broadway shows, but no more. No need…we have great theater.
shooter on November 23, 2007 at 10:22 PM
I envy the fact that New York is so conceited that it accuses others of envy :-D
BKennedy on November 23, 2007 at 10:30 PM
We pity NY, AP, rather than envy.
AZCON on November 23, 2007 at 10:37 PM
I should say I pity.
AZCON on November 23, 2007 at 10:39 PM
Well, I can say as a Texan I’ve always wanted to live NYC and I plan to move there some time in the near future. Although, it has more to do that I have degree in journalism and wish to go into broadcasting more than it has to do that I think NYC is so much better than Texas.
terryannonline on November 23, 2007 at 11:17 PM
Sorry I shouldn’t have said planned because I have no formal plans but I hope to move there.
terryannonline on November 23, 2007 at 11:19 PM
Fred seems to be the only candidate that is clear about his positions. That’s obviously the real threat to those that are looking under rocks to find negatives.
Dr Bob on November 23, 2007 at 11:19 PM
neither is tennessee, thank god.
its vintage duh on November 23, 2007 at 11:19 PM
Sorry, I got on topic.
Dr Bob on November 23, 2007 at 11:20 PM
I heart New York:)
terryannonline on November 23, 2007 at 11:21 PM
if new york wasnt so far north (i hate snow), so expensive to live in, and so hard (im assuming) to find a good job in, id be living there in a heartbeat.
its vintage duh on November 23, 2007 at 11:31 PM
I live in South Texas so I think snow would be a happy change for me; where I would actually get to see it every once in a while!!!
terryannonline on November 23, 2007 at 11:34 PM
He’s clearly pro-life. Which is why when he talks about abortion he brings up red-herring rhetoric from Planned Parenthood.
He’s clearly free speech. Which is why he practically authored McCain-Feingold.
He’s clearly against terrorism. Which is why is his previous job as slimeball lobbyist he shilled for terrorists.
He’s clearly against corruption. Which is why he funnelled money to his sons for services never rendered, then said it was a common practice in Washington.
Every candidate is clear about their positions. Only Fred talks the talk but walks the opposite way when talking about his past history, I mean, uh, “personal life” as he prefers to call it.
BKennedy on November 23, 2007 at 11:41 PM
It’s not denial. There is no chip. The only chip that is there is one placed there by arrogant NYC people who THINK there should be a chip.
Generally we are disgusted by the mischaracterizations from the elite in NYC about the rest of the country. See Rudy thinks that Florida is part of the South. Geographically, yes. . . and I’d rather them than others. . . but a lot of Florida is Yankees transplanted now anyway.
If Rudy thinks he can win the POTUS without the South as an R, he’s only fooling himself. Actually your ‘influential town of NYC’ is fooling itself because it does not understand the country. Only people in NYC think Rudy can win as the R nomination. If NY gets Rudy the R nom, my money is on whoever the Democrat is.
We do have a little place down here called Atlanta – you know, CNN, Turner, all that jazz. I know I know NYC is the shizzle ma nizzle – because New Yawkers say so.
And about that financial institution that is there. . . they are getting killed by Asian markets like Singapore, Japan, even China. NYC is not even where the money is going anymore. So yeah, great leadership in the city that WAS the financial capital of the world. . . Oh yeah, wait for it. . . isn’t Charlotte, NC the banking capital of the world?
Shouldn’t we be jealous of NYC? After all, they have all that Yankee attitude to be so proud of.
There is no chip on the shoulder. NYC is just the loudest, most annoying, and most arrogant of any of the other cities. The fact that NYC believes everyone wants to ‘be them’ is evidence of that fact.
ThackerAgency on November 23, 2007 at 11:42 PM
Hmmm… does NYC have national influence?… Yes…
Does Hollywood and Southern California have National influence???…. yes….
Is that a good thing? NO!
If you watch the crap in the movies, and TV, which is a hugely influential thing… most Americans don’t seem to like it…
Economy? Hmmm… not that great out here in the heartland… are we not in the middle of a huge amount of foreclosures? Stock markets dumped about 8% in the last monty? Oil prices are almost $100 a barrel??
Now lets looks at the politicians… YOU ELECTED HILLARY FOR GOD”S SAKE! Someone who didn’t even LIVE THERE! Had to move to run!!!
And if Rudi did such a good job… then we’ll have the cleanest Country inhabited Non Gun Owning Illegal Aliens in the WORLD!
AND he can continue to piss off Allies we have as they try to save face from what some Asshats from their country did!!! WOO HOO!!! Yep… that’ll sure show em!!
And we can replace the Mafia with our own guys!!! Yea! Bernie for Sec Def!!
Romeo13 on November 24, 2007 at 12:29 AM
New York pffft. You may be a Mets fan, but you still have the Yankees. :P
- The Cat
MirCat on November 24, 2007 at 12:45 AM
New York was important in the ’40′s wasn’t it??
AZCON on November 24, 2007 at 12:49 AM
Do you and the rest of the Mormon mafia ever get tired of lying about Fred’s record?
Bill C on November 24, 2007 at 1:02 AM
Certainly not a television actor who’s most comfortable gladhanding bigwigs in Hollywood than caucus voters in Iowa.
calbear on November 24, 2007 at 1:32 AM
8 out of 20 is still not bad; not a divorce by far, and definitely not boring.
Entelechy on November 24, 2007 at 1:33 AM
Cleetus? Is that you? We traded punch cards down thar and, well, shit, they named me shermanski. Then they gave me a pentium somthin r nuther.
I smoked it in ma bowl.
Was that raht?
erik on November 24, 2007 at 1:38 AM
Not sure that this is going to vault him from third to first in Iowa, Sixth to first in NH or third to first in SC.
Sounds more like a hail mary pass with a tinge of desperation. His poll numbers are sinking like a stone.
Bradky on November 24, 2007 at 1:49 AM
Allah, I think you’ve been watching too many Sex and the City reruns.
Zach on November 24, 2007 at 1:52 AM
You might want to ask for your money back. I think you got taken.
MB4 on November 24, 2007 at 1:59 AM
Why don’t you simply say “scumbag lobbyist” and admit whose rhetoric you’re preaching?
MadisonConservative on November 24, 2007 at 2:00 AM
I will translate that gibberish for you New Yawkers free of charge, you can thank me later.
Cleetus? Is dat ya’? We traded punch cards waaay down dar and, sheeit, dey dojiggerd me shermanski. Ya’ know? Den dey gave me some pentium somdin r nuder. Ah be baaad…
I smoked it in ma bowl.
Was dat raht?
Funny, it didn’t come out much different.
MB4 on November 24, 2007 at 2:11 AM
As long as he can take RINO Rudolfo down some, he’s got me in his corner.
We must save
the cheerleaderAmerica!MB4 on November 24, 2007 at 2:15 AM
I will translate that gibberish for you New Yawkers free of charge, you can thank me later.
Cleetus? Is dat ya’? We traded punch cards waaay down dar and, sheeit, dey dojiggerd me shermanski. Ya’ know? Den dey gave me some pentium somdin r nuder. Ah be baaad…
I smoked it in ma bowl.
Was dat raht?
Funny, it didn’t come out much different.
MB4 on November 24, 2007 at 2:17 AM
He don’t have a snowball’s chance. Or maybe he has some brilliant strategy to lose every primary and the delegates in a fit of remorse will change votes to fred at the convention?
Bradky on November 24, 2007 at 2:19 AM
I would not write Fred off completely yet.
RCP, poll averages, has him second behind Rudolfo.
MB4 on November 24, 2007 at 2:28 AM
Those are the averages I look at and while he IS second, you didn’t point out that his numbers are half those of Rudy. There is a good roundtable discussion transcript on the RCP page under Brit Hume.
Bradky on November 24, 2007 at 2:34 AM
You forgot to mention that NYC is also the home of the world’s most corrupt organisation: The United Nations.
Texas Nick 77 on November 24, 2007 at 3:58 AM
Bradkey
70% of Rudy supporters say they may change their mind
15% of Freds supporters say that
Like Huckabee, Rudy is now coming under scrutiny and attack on his considerable liberal record includng Giuliani’s apparently changing parties to get appointed by a Republican administration
Support like that has a tendancy to evaporate when in the voting booth
Ask Dukakis, Carter, Ford, Dean, Gephardt, Tsongas, Kennedy, Bradley, all had commanding national poll leads,
then the national or primary state election came opps…..
Whoops!
Fred just started campaigning and so is McCain just turning it on……
Its call where the rubber hits the road.
the Grownups have arrived in Iowa, watch Hunter and Tancredo one or the other will drop out supporting the other – this will be another serious contender.
EricPWJohnson on November 24, 2007 at 4:00 AM
They are easy to tell apart: Hillary wears pantsuits, Rudy wears dresses.
Texas Nick 77 on November 24, 2007 at 4:03 AM
If we nominate someone who cannot beat Hillary, none of this will matter diddlysquat.
Halley on November 24, 2007 at 4:30 AM
“In New York City,” he said, “we recognize this reality. New York City’s policy toward undocumented immigrants is called ‘Executive Order 124.’ ” This order protected undocumented immigrants from being reported when they used city services. Giuliani was then fighting the federal government, which wanted to reverse it.
“There are times,” he declared, “when undocumented aliens must have a substantial degree of protection.” They must feel safe sending their children to school. They should feel safe reporting crime to the police. “Similarly, illegal and undocumented immigrants should be able to seek medical help without the threat of being reported. When these people are sick, they are just as sick and just as contagious as citizens.”
- Rudy Guiliani
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/23/opinion/23brooks.html?_r=4&ref=opinion&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
Texas Nick 77 on November 24, 2007 at 4:32 AM
Fred – Border Security and Immigration Reform Plan
MB4 on November 24, 2007 at 4:53 AM
Some of the Fredheads are acting like compulsive gamblers. Every little meaningless signal is a sign that the big jackpot is coming and they keep chasing their lost money.
Fred is dropping badly – this is not a clever strategy he thought up.
Bradky on November 24, 2007 at 8:11 AM
Were you saying something?
Funny, because I believe a while a go I said “snark isn’t a counterargument.”
See, you Fraud!heads are pathetic. You answer allegations with snarky one-liners as if it has any relevance whatsoever to anything.
Perhaps you can join Gatordoug is his apparent vow of silence.
I do feel sorry for you though. It must suck to defend the indefensible record of a candidate who has no interest in telling the truth about it.
BKennedy on November 24, 2007 at 8:14 AM
Bradky
Who isn’t dropping? Rudy was at 40% now as low as 24 to 29% in the last week (the 33% poll included Democrats)
Fred’s realistic high after he announced was 22% he’s polling between 14 and 19% (the 12% was with Democrats)
I’m not seeing a huge drop McCain, Tancredo, Hunter, Fred and Huckabee share most of the core of the Republican Party
the Moderates and East Cost Republican Wierdos Share Rudy and Mitt
Its the Classic Rockefeller (Rudy and Mitt) vs the good guys in the Republican Party.
Just waiting for the consolidation there will be a split among Mitts Supports and Pauls supporters but the rest will gravitate towards Fred or McCain, probably Fred.
That will easily put him over 50
Look Its like Bart Starr, Johnny Unitas, Terry Bradshaw, Dan Fouts, and Brent Favre competing for one nomination against a front runner of Dan Marino
Dans not the best everyone knows that and some of the other 5 will drop out
Leaving one or two against Marino
The best will win
EricPWJohnson on November 24, 2007 at 8:29 AM
This strategy may ignite the fire underneath Thompson supporters, but it doesn’t seem particularly effective in this particular primary. Thompson’s greatest threat right now isn’t Giuliani – it’s Huckabee.
If Thompson highlighted Huckabee’s record on taxes and immigration and contrasted it with his own, he’d have a chance in Iowa. That he’s not doing so is odd.
Slublog on November 24, 2007 at 8:30 AM
Slublog: Agree. Wonder why he is not doing this. Fiscal conservatism trumps all the other “kinds” of conservatism almost every time.(this time round immigration is probably an exception) Huck is a good speaker though and that’s got a lot of people temporarily blinded. And, it’s not Thompson’s supporters who need a fire lit, it’s Thompson himself in my opinion. Perhaps he’s counting on the “low key” approach?
jeanie on November 24, 2007 at 8:55 AM
You might ought to ask Bloomberg how that influence thing is working out. Maybe he could squeeze you in between depositions…
elgeneralisimo on November 24, 2007 at 8:55 AM
They should feel safe reporting crime to the police.
… to report their own illegal entry and abuse of our government …
Determining the GOP platform requires players’ participation so that which ever candidate that ultimately gets the ticket does not simply project more of NYC on the rest of us mere American citizens than we will tolerate.
As per NYC, the rest of us outsiders do not welcome their assuming our obligatory worship toward that powerful entity so many left behind as undesirable over the years. NYC needs to exude mutual respect for the rest of America rather than pompous elitism if they want to curry citizen allies rather than the favor of illegal aliens who drain our subsidy tax coffers, social security and welfare, educational system and livelihoods.
AT LEAST Fred talks the talk.
As per Rudy, he took on the mafia and cleaned up a lot of organized crime in his town. He did his bit, and having done so, is he used up or will he continue that fight, because national politics make NY politics as miniscule in comparison as NYC makes most of our home towns.
As per the ticket, what of Fred/Newt? Once elected, we might be better off with Newt/Fred.
maverick muse on November 24, 2007 at 9:04 AM
Yeah, perish the thought. Noooo envy at all of New York’s influence out there. Those chips on people’s shoulders are purely my imagination.
Sorry, but most of us don’t think of NY with disgust, resentment or envy; we don’t think of NY at all most of the time. 9/11 was different, but it would have been that way if it was LA (or Houston or Chicago, etc) too. Like any city, it’s a big deal if you live near or in it, otherwise, go somewhere else to gauge its influence on the lives of average Americans. Which is little to none.
Shay on November 24, 2007 at 9:10 AM
Not sure where you’ve lived but I’ve moved 28 times, lived in 10 very differerent states such NM, AK, PA, ME, WV, and 3 major cities – Chic, Philly, and yes NEW YORK for a year and a half.
And I can tell you that in most of the country people would much rather be called a “country boy” than an “New Yorker”. In fact the only place I’ve lived that folks would be proud of that name (outside of Manhattan) is Staten Island.
amend2 on November 24, 2007 at 9:39 AM
Yes, he cleaned up organized crime so well… and had help from his buddy Bernie… oh… wait… he’s under indictment…
He took one set of Cappos out of power… and put in others… tell me… hows the gang problem in New York?
Romeo13 on November 24, 2007 at 10:02 AM
Well- I’m tryin’ to serve out my sentence with as much dignity as I kin muster. Maybe they’ll let me back when I’m paroled.
Ex-tex on November 24, 2007 at 10:04 AM
Having been born and raised in upstate NY, yes, I am resentful of the snotty treatment people down state have of upstaters. Hillary does NOT get that AT all, which is why she does not represent the Empire State effectively or competently. I recall Ed Koch, when running for governor, sneered that there wasn’t one good restaurant in Albany.
He lost.
If you want to sit in the mansion in the second oldest city in the country, do not insult the citizenry.
People in NYC forget that it is the rest of the country who feeds them.
It is not that there is envy, it is that the people of NYC are so ungrateful to others. Perhaps that is why it is a bastion of liberalism. Perfect fit for the Clintons I suppose.
CrimsonFisted on November 24, 2007 at 10:10 AM
Hmmm…. just looked…
You do all realize that Rudi will not carry New York?
If he did such a bang up job… and with Hill being a Carpet bagger… you think he could at least carry the state that knows him the best if he’s a good candidate…
Romeo13 on November 24, 2007 at 10:35 AM
Likely true, but…
-he could take NJ,PA,Fl and/or other places that would otherwise be in play.
-he could argue that NY is too liberal to ever support the “conservative” candidate.
JiangxiDad on November 24, 2007 at 10:50 AM
Why waste Newt as a V.P.? I could see Newt as the White House Chief of staff and Rudy as A.G.
…with Fred in charge of course. Go Fred!
Mojave Mark on November 24, 2007 at 11:09 AM
Except that in the General… Hillary will run to the RIGHT of Rudi.
Arguement won’t hold water.
Romeo13 on November 24, 2007 at 11:24 AM
You mean it was worse?
I had to go to New York City for the first time this September.
The first thing I noticed was the smell and the trash everywhere in the street. When I asked my local colleagues’ about it, one an NYC native, didn’t know what I was taking about (denial). The other two that recently moved there told me you “get used to it”, or “you can’t smell it inside”.
The subway … I thought I was standing smack dab in the middle of a urinal …
I do the “eat to live”, not the “live to eat” thing. So I really can’t say too much about the food other than it was fine, but ridiculously expensive. Ask for “black coffee” and it seems no one knows what you are talking about. Everyone kept wanting to put some cream or syrup in my drink. Oh, “Budlight” is not a Yankee drink either.
The most interesting thing to me was the people.
Arizona ain’t perfect, but in a general broad brush stroke, hands down, the most unfriendly folks I ever met have been in NYC. Say “good morning” to some one on the street and some look at you with outright fear, others downright snooty when a ” y’all ” rolls out.
The couple of folks I did get to chat with during my week burned an impression. I can’t quote’em, but here is the gist (from cab drivers to some execs) …
“You westerners think you are so smart. You are too independent. You need to let the government solve these problems.” (from an exec I had to meet with)
“The problem is we aren’t taxed enough.” (this from a guy I am sure was barely living paycheck to paycheck)
“Guns are scary. Only the government should have them.” (there was a local event on the news)
“The police and firemen will protect us.” (I heard this everywhere)
It wasn’t any “scientific” study, but I never met so many “glass-half-full” folks in all my life.
I arrived on a Sunday evening with an expected stay of a week. By Tuesday night, I was read to leave.
AZ_Redneck on November 24, 2007 at 11:55 AM
Platitude coming: New York is a nice place to visit but I wouldn’t want to live there. It IS a fun place to visit and I love going to both the City and up-state. The Hudson has got to rank as one of the prettiest rivers in the country and the City lit up at night is like a painting. And, whether one likes it or not,the City is a powerful world wide symbol and USA voting presence. As an emblem we could do worse. Rudy is correct when he likens it to running a country.( and…I do NOT live there, so my coming to NY’s defense is not insular)
jeanie on November 24, 2007 at 12:13 PM
This article- which Allah references in headlines today- seems very apropos to the current conversation:
Hurry though- it’s about to drop off the page.
Ex-tex on November 24, 2007 at 12:13 PM
Gimme a break. How the hell can you say good morning to strangers on the street when you’re passing a thousand at a time? But if you fall in the street, you will be helped.
Who says y’all in Arizona?
JiangxiDad on November 24, 2007 at 12:33 PM
No exaggeration here…as Fred gains strength…so does the extreme rhetoric…when he wins his first primary, you’ll call him a baby killer, rapist, and incest with his kids, that’s all you’ll have left in your quiver.
right2bright on November 24, 2007 at 12:35 PM
The point Fred is making, isn’t how nice New York is, it is the only thing Rudy is stating in his ads. I saved NY, is his theme, ok, we get it, now what are you going to do nationally? How, Rudy, are you going to handle immigration…like NY as a sanctuary city? How about gun-control, like NY? Abortion, like NY?
right2bright on November 24, 2007 at 12:37 PM
EricPW, My vote would go to Brett Favre.
Rose on November 24, 2007 at 12:45 PM
Fred is criticizing Rudy for saving New York City and making the real day-to-day lives of 8 million souls markedly better. Gee, that makes a lot of sense.
Oh, he is not criticizing Rudy for saving NYC, but for listing it as an accomplishment on his resume. Sounds like the criticisms of a man with a thin resume.
Fred’s lists of achievements are very, very, very very small. As a US Attorney for three years he choose to used the resources of the US government that were put at his disposal to chase toothless banjo playing moonshiners. Then he was a mole for Nixon (who thought Fred was stupid). Then he posed for a photo with Reagan, acted in Hollywood, lobbied for a dictator, an abortion group and against asbestos victims. He gave legal advice to the legal team defending the Libyan terrorist that killed 270 people in Lockerbie enabling them to avoid justice for 11 years. He was a Senator for 8 years (about the same level of experience as Hillary) during which time his notable accomplishments were botching the campaign finance investigation of Clinton, helping draft CFR, voting to keep a perjurer and an obstructor of justice in the oval office, and voting time and again to support his buddy Spencer Abraham’s open borders agenda. Then he decided he was too lazy to continue to serve his country as a Senator and decided to take the money he raised for he reelection campaign and funnel it to his son for “consulting” that never took place.
What city did Fred save? Is a Cracker Barrel off of the I-40 in Tennessee more “emblematic” of this nation?
It seems from the comments on this thread that Fred is trying to re-incite the civil war. Didn’t the Yankees kick the South’s butt last time. What makes them think the outcome would be any different this time?
tommylotto on November 24, 2007 at 1:39 PM
Civil War, a little dramatic, don’t you think?
Rose on November 24, 2007 at 1:46 PM
tommylotto=ZERO credibility!
Gatordoug on November 24, 2007 at 1:59 PM
Sherman, like Grant, retired to New York City. A square on the Upper West Side, near his residence, is named for him. Of course he famously refused to pursue the Republican nomination that Rudy now seeks. Not sure Rudy is much more popular than Sherman in Southern states.
dedalus on November 24, 2007 at 1:59 PM
Touché
tommylotto on November 24, 2007 at 2:04 PM
It seems everyone says y’all now.
EnochCain on November 24, 2007 at 2:09 PM
Actually we grew up saying “you guys” even when talking to a group of girls. I don’t know why, everyone said it.
Rose on November 24, 2007 at 2:14 PM
I suspect that AP’s assertion about alleged envy, etc. felt for New Yorkers and tommylotto’s above very-out-of-date bluster are manifestations of some east-of-the-Mississippi neuroses that we westerners wouldn’t understand. Undoubtedly, we have our own varieties.
baldilocks on November 24, 2007 at 2:16 PM
True. It is a good GOP primary strategy. I’m surprised that a former mayor of NYC has lasted as long as he has atop the GOP field.
Rudy’s still the money favorite to win the nomination. If he does, it is plausible that Hillary and Rudy would be joined in the race by Bloomberg, who has been studying foreign policy with his Condi. With 2 or 3 liberal New Yorkers to choose from, the political marketplace would almost demand another candidate.
dedalus on November 24, 2007 at 2:21 PM
Personally I think it will be Rudy vs Mitt once the initial primaries are done. But the numbers just don’t support Fred no matter how people examine them. He has dropped by as much as 30% (24% – 16%). Rudy has dropped some (40% – 32%)and held steady. Fred peaked and is not maintaining momentum.
I have conned people with my Miss Cleo gig is a few years and won’t try here but if Fred is the nominee I have no problem with saying “I was wrong”. But I don’t think I will be.
Bradky on November 24, 2007 at 2:28 PM
should have read “have not conned people with my Miss Cleo gig in a few years”
Bradky on November 24, 2007 at 2:29 PM
I agree. I also think that Huck’s rise in Iowa helps Rudy out a lot. It probably comes down to Mitt v Rudy with Rudy winning, but like Miss Cleo, I could be wrong.
dedalus on November 24, 2007 at 2:36 PM
Guys, guys, guys… NY has tremendous influence. I think that influence is fading, but the fact is that NY is the financial capitol of the US and in many ways is also the (i) legal capitol, (ii) the media capitol, (iii) the advertising capitol, and (iv) the fine arts/cultural capitol. I’m willing to give NY credit where credit is due.
But what I resent is the snobbiness of many NY’ers. I’m a lawyer who works for an AMLAW200-ranked firm in a mid-size (2.5mm population) city. Occasionally we serve in a co-counsel/local counsel role with firms from the main legal markets (NY, DC, Chicago, LA, Houston). Hands down, we get treated worse by NY lawyers than by lawyers in any other market. The assumption is that because we’re not in NY, we’re incompetent and lazy boobs. (And the work product we see from them is really nothing special!)
Outlander on November 24, 2007 at 2:36 PM
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