Is it a deal breaker for Giuliani? or is it just politics as usual in the USA?

Seems that the Firefighters union are blaming Rudy Giuliani for the high cost of lives in the turmoil of 9/11 as well as claiming he didn’t allow for enough time to search for bodies of fallen firefighters. They even have a video out, calling into question his image of being a hero during 9/11.

The parents and siblings of some of the 343 firefighters killed in the terrorist attacks released the video with the International Association of Fire Fighters, which opposes Giuliani’s candidacy. (source)

The thrust of what is being said, is that he was unprepared for the attack. Like, was anyone prepared for it? I mean seriously, was Bush prepared? How about the US Military? Were they ready, or the FBI, CIA, and other agencies actually charged with protecting the United States? This appears, in my limited view & knowledge to be simply a case of politics, where a side is using its own grief, its own national prominence in a attempt to discredit another candidate.

Were mistakes made? Gee, do you think?

Naturally there were mistakes. How many leaders had any experience with dealing with such a castrophe? No one is totally prepared for it, least of all a Mayor, even if his city is New York. Once again, people are pointing fingers, and why? Did he make mistakes, yeah I am sure he did, but it is what he did that counts. He became a symbol, right or wrong, that helped ease the terror,the fear that was gripping North America. He was there, and like another leader called to action, Winston Churchill, he made mistakes. None as bad as many that Churchill made, but it was what he did right that he should be remembered for.

He gave hope, and more than that, he provided leadership. Bush was off in Air Force One, or hiding in some bunker, where was Senator Clinton? Took her a few weeks to get to New York, and her husband? So before casting stones, let’s remember, that 9/11 was a world changing event. No Mayor, no matter how could, would have been prepared, would have made no errors.

Churchill made some huge blunders in WWII, but he also inspired a nation, to hold on when no one thought they could. He galvanized a nation, and a world, to fight on, to defat Hitler, so should his mistakes be what is remembered, or his heroics?

Fact is, there were lots of mistakes, including many made by the Firefighters themselves, but it was in a time of crisis. To say the radios were sub standard, and to blame Giuliani just seems spiteful. I mean it is one thing to oppose him, because you don’t like his policies on abortion, gay rights, crime, energy, but to oppose him and try to tarnish what he did right, is just, well petty.

Should this video impact his campaign? I rather hope not, because if he is to be defeated, it should because his policies aren’t in line with what people want. It shouldn’t be about his image, about that day. There were many who died a hero’s death, just as many who didn’t. Mistakes were made, but it is the simple fact, that the image of him on that day, and subsequent days, did encourage a nation rocked by the vicious attack. It is no different than the image of Churchill walking around the bombed out buildings in London during the Blitz. It inspired, and it is that which Churchill will be remembered for, not for Crete and other costly errors.

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Rudy Giuliani Campaign Site