Rudy: “Governor Romney had a very poor record in dealing with murder”
posted at 9:14 pm on November 25, 2007 by Allahpundit
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Good lord. With Iraq, immigration, health care and social security to contend with, is crime really the issue on which the GOP nomination momentarily turns? The peg here, of course, is Mitt’s appointment of a judge who very foolishly paroled a guy who shouldn’t have been paroled, with the predictable results. Captain Ed explains why it’s a silly scandal but it’s easy pickings for the guy who made New York safe again, so a-pickin’ it he shall be. Philip Klein at AmSpec posted about the article in the Boston media to which Rudy refers here back in September; follow the link for a fair treatment of the merits of the argument. As for Mitt, it’s pathetic that he’d be so easily cowed into rolling over on the judge for one admittedly bad decision but he did sort of redeem himself with a solid shot landed to Rudy’s jaw. Exit quotation: “I must admit that of all the people who might attack someone on the basis of an appointment, I thought he would be the last to do so.” Click the image to watch.
Update: “This is now a huge issue for me in the presidential election.”
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I disagree some places the Crime rate is going up. This is an issue that cuts for the republicans. With the exception of Romney I think most of the Candidates do well on a “Law and Order” push
Pun intended
William Amos on November 25, 2007 at 9:19 PM
Realpolitik update #1:
This is just Rudy’s way of defusing the Bernie Kerik vulnerability he will have from Mitt; he can say Bernie may be in hot water now, but when he was Commish, WHEN IT COUNTED, we reduced crime. What did Mittster do?
Crimefighter update #1:
Maybe Rudy is just as appalled by the twin murders of these young people as the rest of us. He was a former prosecutor after all.
He-Man Update #1:
If Mitt does win the nomination, this is EXACTLY the kind of stuff the Clintonista hit-squads will throw back at him, so he’d better get used to it.
Always Right on November 25, 2007 at 9:22 PM
How many people did Kerik kill?
tommylotto on November 25, 2007 at 9:23 PM
Shotguns, not politicians, will solve this problem.
Unless the politicians take away yer shotgun. Then you’re hosed. How you going to vote now?
TexasDan on November 25, 2007 at 9:24 PM
TexasDan on November 25, 2007 at 9:24 PM
Very good answer. I myself sleep with the Beretta Ruger sisters.
cjs1943 on November 25, 2007 at 9:29 PM
How is Giuliani even a choice for republicans? I mean who would vote for him? He is more liberal than Hillary.
muyoso on November 25, 2007 at 9:31 PM
Its a good thing that being an illegal alien isnt really a crime, isnt it Rudy? Or else your record as a ‘crime fighter’ might not be so impeccable.
amish on November 25, 2007 at 9:39 PM
I’m personally most concerned with the War on Christmas.
e-pirate on November 25, 2007 at 9:39 PM
Please the courts rule that the job of the police is not to protect, but to respond to crimes, I have to wonder about Rudy/Romney.
Both say we should trust the police to protect us, however the courts say it is not a police job to protect us, and they have no problem with that position.
I am locked and loaded in “The Old Dominion” because they understand the possible limitations a police force can have, and allow me to open carry. (Unlike NY or MA).
F15Mech on November 25, 2007 at 9:45 PM
So great. With the GOP ‘front runners’, now even conservatives in Washington State are thinking seriously about voting for Hillary or Obama. Good luck Guilianiites – he’ll never win.
I BLAME RUDY!
ThackerAgency on November 25, 2007 at 9:50 PM
I like Rudy, but Mitt’s right. If Rudy wants to play Top Ten Appointments, I’m sure Mitt will be all ears.
Jaibones on November 25, 2007 at 9:50 PM
Does Rudy count the 3,000 people murdered in 9/11 in his statistics? I would think that act alone would make NY the highest murder city in the country for his final year in office. You can massage statistics any way you want. And I’m sure as Don Guiliani – he has.
ThackerAgency on November 25, 2007 at 9:57 PM
Doing the math, 3,000 murders comes to around 8 murders every day for a year. I would think that would be pretty high for any city. Especially with a city that was ‘good’ on reducing murder.
ThackerAgency on November 25, 2007 at 10:03 PM
I’m not a Rudi guy by any means, but I think it’s a little unfair to lay “failure to stop 9/11″ on the NYPD.
e-pirate on November 25, 2007 at 10:07 PM
I think it’s as fair as Guiliani blaming the death of this couple on Romney because of a poor decision from a judge he appointed. It’s Kerik cover.
AND Rudy was trying to point out STATISTICS concerning crime. I wasn’t blaming the NYPD for anything. I was pointing out that STATISTICALLY Rudy’s NYC has to be LAST in the murder department during his final year in office EVEN WITH THE GUN BAN IN PLACE.
ThackerAgency on November 25, 2007 at 10:09 PM
Excellent point.
Do Mormons have Christmas?
or conversely,
Do they even celebrate the baby Jesus in Godless NYC anymore?
Seems like Huck comes out the winner on this one.
billy on November 25, 2007 at 10:13 PM
I wonder how many people were murdered as a result of Rudolfo’s sanctuary city policies?
MB4 on November 25, 2007 at 10:26 PM
He looks better in a dress than she does.
That’s about it.
MB4 on November 25, 2007 at 10:28 PM
Rudy’s accusation is so out in left field, he must be desperate. You think R. Reagan was happy and or responsible for his Supreme Court appointee that turned tail and went liberal on us? Talk about damaging, all the rulings that went against conservatives because of A. Kennedy.
Looks to me like Rudy is nervous. Now back to legitimate politicking, oh yeah, I forgot nothing legitimate about it.
oldernslower on November 25, 2007 at 10:36 PM
BKennedy: “Mayor Guiliani has written checks to a propaganda outlet that murders hundreds of thousands of babies per year.”
BKennedy on November 25, 2007 at 11:05 PM
BKennedy, is your argument that Guiliani killed 6x more than Romney, and that makes this a viable argument?
Spirit of 1776 on November 25, 2007 at 11:10 PM
You took the words right out of my mouth.
He also lends weight to Fred criticism that the Presidency is bigger than New York.
Lets hope illegal immigration never becomes a crime. Rudy may be compelled to enforce the law. That would be horrible.
Theworldisnotenough on November 25, 2007 at 11:33 PM
Rudy’s best is poll rating is 3rd in the first 3 states. Will 3 straight losses effect his lead in Florida? Count on it. His team knows what the MSM is not willing to say. Romney is ahead in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. Expect more hita on Romney that have nothing to do with policy differences.
Theworldisnotenough on November 25, 2007 at 11:40 PM
*Rudy’s best poll rating
*Expect more hits
Theworldisnotenough on November 25, 2007 at 11:41 PM
And I think part of Rudy’s strategy will be to try to get other candidates to upend Romney in those three states. If Huck wins Iowa, Romney NH, and Fred SC (just for ex), then Rudy will be sitting fine still. If Romney runs the table, which is possible, then FL is going to be irrelevant I agree.
Spirit of 1776 on November 25, 2007 at 11:42 PM
I’m comfortable with all the Republicans on crime issues. (If any of you were wondering.)
Mojave Mark on November 25, 2007 at 11:50 PM
‘END OF AMERICA’
MB4 on November 26, 2007 at 12:57 AM
Mitt is correct on this one. Kerik is a sleazebag, and Rudy conveniently looked the other way more than once. I still haven’t decided for whom I will vote in the primary, but I know it won’t be Rudy.
D2Boston on November 26, 2007 at 1:03 AM
Romney has at least repented and made good by blocking embryonic stel cell research in Massachusetts during his term as governor as well as a freeze on abortion laws (about as good as anyone could ask for). Guiliani still thinks it isn’t a big deal.
BKennedy on November 26, 2007 at 1:23 AM
Romney will not win two of the first three primaries
EricPWJohnson on November 26, 2007 at 3:43 AM
Saw Mitt last night at one of his NH appearances and the room was pretty full. He just exuded sincerity—he can’t be faulted on that front. I liked a lot of what he had to say but did not get a chance to ask my question. The guy with the mike(not Mitt)seemed to turn his back on my side of the room. I must admit I wondered about that. The mike guy(NOT Mitt)seemed to hover around “certain” people who were noticed. Perhaps my imagination though? I wanted to ask about the sub-prime debacle but didn’t get the chance. As for MA and letting people out who shouldn’t be—they do do that but they also keep people in who shouldn’t be. That’s what they did with a long ago case dubbed the Fell’s Acre Day Care Case. The State kept the people accused of it behind bars long after the State knew full well that the crimes never happened. Politically, to have let them out, would have been a major snag for the guy who put them there as he was running for office. No one ever seems to bring this awful thing up. Am I the only person who remembers? The people it happened to are not allowed to talk about it. I’ve often wondered if they were bought off.
jeanie on November 26, 2007 at 8:51 AM
Who would vote for him are people who want even a small chance to win; Romney has no chance. As to more liberal than Hillary, I think you need to slow down on the hard liquor; it’s barely 8 am here in Texas. Hillary will be our first Stalinist president. She may not have his body count, but I’m sure she’ll be more creative in marketing his peculiar reforms. The MSM is going to have to break out a thesaurus to make her policies sound vaguely appealing.
austinnelly on November 26, 2007 at 8:52 AM
A lot of hay has been thrown around critical of all the Democrats that Rudy appointed to municipal judgeships in NYC. It was unfair criticism because the choices were narrowed down by a panel, the city is predominately Dem, and Rudy actually did a good job of not appointing judges with connections to the Dem party. Finally, the judges appointed by the mayor were minor inconsequential paper pushers.
On the other hand, Mitt was a governor. He had real judgeship appointment responsibilities. He appointed judges that would make life and death decisions. As we all agree the appointment of judges is very important role for POTUS. As governor Mitt made an important judicial appointment to someone who was clearly incompetent and not worthy of her robe. Does that reflect on Mitt’s judgment in selecting judges? — You betcha. Should we be concerned? — you betcha.
tommylotto on November 26, 2007 at 8:53 AM
Instead of attacking each other, I really wish that Mitt and Rudy would focus their campaigns on what they plan to do if elected, and on attacking the liberal Dems for their pitifully weak support of the War on Terror; their dreams of taxing us all to death; establishing Socialized medicine, counterproductive Energy policies, and so forth. I’d also like to see them attack the preachy nanny-stater and sucker for Global Warming hysteria, Huckabee.
Apparently it has not occurred to either of them that their are some of us who like both candidates, and I personally find their attacks on each other to be silly and largely without merit.
Buy Danish on November 26, 2007 at 8:54 AM
Mitt was provided 3 judges to choose from, in a blind process where he did not even know their names. See here:
The other points made by Ed Morrissey are also valid, such as their being no comparison to Dukakis’ outright support of furlough programs for convicts – even for convicted murderers with no possibility of parole.
Buy Danish on November 26, 2007 at 9:17 AM
Mitt would be wonderful, if anyone really knew where he stands (in relation to where he stood last year). On all the major issues Mitt has become a “born again” conservative. Rudy is Rudy. For me, I like someone who I know what they believe in, even if it is some degrees from what I want. Better to support someone you can depend on, then a candidate you have no real understanding of what he believes. Mitt needs action, not words, and he has run out of time. He should take his $1 million per week, and dump into getting a Republican elected that can beat Hillary…and he ain’t it. Rudy or Fred for Pres., Mitt for Veep or a cabinet post, then we can see in a few years who Mitt is under that campaign facade.
right2bright on November 26, 2007 at 9:18 AM
There was already a panel to appoint judges. Rudy couldn’t do anything about it.
NYC was already a sanctuary city. Rudy couldn’t do anything about it.
ICE wouldn’t cooperate. Rudy couldn’t do anything about it.
The excuse is wearing thin Tommy L.
JiangxiDad on November 26, 2007 at 9:22 AM
Romney has been attacking Rudy for months, Rudy decided to fire back and Romney (true to form) is whining.
Romney raised taxes, Rudy lowered them.
Romney instituted a ridiculous health care program, even fining those who did not do the “right” thing. Now he has backed off, and adopted Rudy’s program.
Romney’s campaign depends upon people with a short memory, and chooses words over action.
Rudy is imperfect, in an imperfect world, with imperfect choices, the difference is he knows it…and Mitt thinks Mitt is perfect, well take a look at yourself Mitt, high crime, terrible health care, tax hiker, and you will be held accountable.
right2bright on November 26, 2007 at 9:36 AM
Because of the system in place that determined the selection process for both how the Mayor of New York and Governor of Massachusetts chose candidates, this issue should be a stalemate for both of them.
I am as irritated by Rudy for going after Mitt on this as I am by Mitt when he portrays Rudy as fiscally irresponsible.
Both charges are false, and both candidates excelled at repairing the budgets they inherited.
Apparently you think you can peddle outright falsehoods as facts and no one will be the wiser. Like here, for instance:
The first sentence is a matter of opinion, the second sentence is blatantly FALSE.
He has not “adopted Rudy’s program” (indeed, can you even tell us in your own words what Rudy’s program is?) and he has not backed off on his insistence that we need to insure our citizens with private insurance, on a state by state basis, or we will end up with government run and funded HillaryCare or ObamaCare or EdwardsCare.
Buy Danish on November 26, 2007 at 10:15 AM
I think everyone will agree that Rudy Guiliani is not a nice man. His predecessors as mayors, Ed Koch and David Dinkins, did not agree on anything else but they both found Rudy’s personality to be intolerable. That explains why Rudy could appoint a hack like Bernie Kerik and stay loyal to him. But when it comes to dealing with Osama Ben Laden and Mahmoud Ahmedinejad I don’t want a nice guy “can’t we all get along” type like Barack Obama. I can imagine President Hillary Clinton sitting down with Ahmedinejad and giving him a copy of “It Takes a Village”. It’s not far fetched. She did just that with Suha Arafat.
Larraby on November 26, 2007 at 10:32 AM
Fortunately, Mitt has backed away for punishing (by taxing, oops I mean “added fees”) people for not taking his plan. That is what is so good about a flip flopper, at least for a moment they can see the truth. The bad news, is some people follow a flip flopper no matter what he says…I believe they are called “lemmings”.
Mitt governor health plan stinks, now that it is out in the open, he adopts a plan similar to NY, the plan the Rudy put in action. Mitt is constantly backing away from what he did. Mitt makes a good follower, you can’t be even a good leader by using other peoples ideas and adoption them as your own.
(some posters should learn their manners, both statements are Rudy’s opinion, backed with fact)
right2bright on November 26, 2007 at 10:34 AM
I must admit, I am somewhat stunned. Right2bright hasn’t accused the LDS church of anything yet in this topic. Good show!
And yeah, Rudy’s the last person to complain about bad appointments. Kerik stinks to high heaven.
How one earth can Rudy not see that wouldn’t rebound? Sure, if Fred or Huckabee took this shot, it would probably be fair game, but for Rudy–as Mitt says, Rudy should be the last to complain about anyone’s nominations.
Vanceone on November 26, 2007 at 11:29 AM
This is how Right2bright plays his obfuscation game-
First statement, whose veracity I challenged:
When challenged he provides this quote from Rudy, which asks us to rely on Mitt’s opponent to describe Mitt’s policies:
Next r2b makes this statement:
Which is it r2b? Did he adopt Rudy’s plan or not?
Buy Danish on November 26, 2007 at 12:34 PM
this is almost fun.
Read it again, it says Mitt governor, you know the health plan he put together as a governor stinks. His new plan is adopted from Rudy’s, it is better.
Get a life.
right2bright on November 26, 2007 at 5:21 PM
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