Rudolph Giuliani is not going to run for Governor or for the U.S. Senate in 2010, dropping a bombshell on New York’s GOP. Giuliani, who will endorse Rick Lazio’s bid for governor, said that he wants to focus on his lucrative private enterprises. “I love public service,” the former New York City mayor told WABC-TV. “It just happens to be that right now both of these enterprises that I’m in, Bracewell & Giuliani and Giuliani Partners, are at a critical point. And I really want to devote myself to it.”
With the exception of Lazio, much of New York’s Republican Party was holding its breath to see just what Giuliani was planning to do in 2010. Initially, he was considered an easy win over Democratic incumbent David Paterson in the gubernatorial contest. Then, there was speculation that Giuliani would take on Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who will be defending the seat for the first time after a less than stellar appointed term. It was widely considered that Giuliani would have won that race as well.
Why pass up two chances that seem to be in the bag? Well, for starters, the gubernatorial race may not have been the easy stride that many anticipated. Paterson is so politically weak he may not even survive a primary, leaving it to State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to defend the Democrats’ hold on the governorship. A Cuomo-Giuliani match-up would, by all accounts, have been a hard-fought race whose outcome in a solidly democratic state does not necessarily favor “America’s Mayor.”
As far as the Senate race is concerned, does someone of Rudy Giuliani’s stature want to be a junior senator at age 65? Let’s face it, the U.S. Senate was once considered the pinnacle of civil politics and an august body, but lately it has little more class and decorum than a rugby scrum. It’s not hard to imagine Giuliani not wanting to be a part of it.
Then there’s Rudy himself. He exhibited great leadership after the 9/11 attacks, but there are other points against him that opponents in any future campaigns would exploit—his combative governing style, his personal relations, Bernard Kerik. Giuliani supporters dismiss these items as baseless or just old news, but they would have to be dealt with regardless.
Rudy Giuliani leaves a lot of New York Republicans broken-hearted, but he’s not walking away from politics or from the GOP. He believes that he will be more effective to the broader Republican cause by helping out various races around the country through his campaigning and fundraising efforts, and he may be right. He was a public servant for much of his life. Maybe it is as simple as the fact that he just wants to enjoy life now.
12 responses so far
1 tdawg11870 // Dec 22, 2009 at 5:18 pm
And to think that this was the guy Frum endorsed back at his old NR blog in ‘08, partly because he “annoyed the liberals.”
Unbelievably, truly mind-bogglingly, I think that Joe Biden killed Giuliani’s political career with that “a noun, a verb and 9/11 line.” Just one sentence and a lot of people haven’t looked at him the same way since. It springs to mind any time Rudy speaks. Say what you will about Biden’s (or Rudy’s) politics, it’s a testament to the power of words.
2 tdawg11870 // Dec 22, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Yes, I know a quotation mark is one word off.
3 franco 2 // Dec 22, 2009 at 6:09 pm
tdawg11870,
Good points. And it was why I was against his nomination I knew he would get creamed in the general election.
What happened to Rudy? Rudy believed his own press. After 9/11 the media needed a hero and it wasn’t going to be Bush. Rudy did a good job . ( I believe it is quite easy for someone who is basically competent to handle a crisis well because everyone is pulling in the same direction)
Then Rudy got awards and became an international management consultant and, of course constantly in his capacity selling and consulting, referred to 9/11. It was just a habit, OK with different audiences around the world, but tiresome here in the USA.
Rudy became another tone deaf Republican.
4 teabag // Dec 22, 2009 at 6:12 pm
Rudi is a dinosaur on well done toast.
His biggest mistake was not uttering 9/11 a million times. It was siting the NYC disaster response unit in the WTC. What a stupid move that was.
5 Cforchange // Dec 22, 2009 at 6:50 pm
Rudy is a total class act public servant – he does not fit the party any more. Besides the sect, who generally does?
Dinosaur’s and burnt toast – that would be the ever narrowing GOP.
6 tdawg11870 // Dec 22, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Quite right franco.
He believed his own press just the same way Palin believes her cloying victim narrative. That’s what happens when you surround yourself with yes-men. A bipartisan disease, made worse in the era of RINO hunters.
7 CentristNYer // Dec 23, 2009 at 6:53 am
tdawg11870 // Dec 22, 2009 at 7:24 pm
“He believed his own press just the same way Palin believes her cloying victim narrative. That’s what happens when you surround yourself with yes-men.”
I agree, but that’s only half the story. His 2008 ambitions also led him to become a much more conventional, fire breathing conservative rather than the mavericky northeastern moderate that helped him win twice in liberal New York City. Romney suffered the same rebranding issues. It’s hard to stand out when you’re repeating the same nonsensical talking points as the evolution deniers and the immigrant haters.
8 franco 2 // Dec 23, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Oh I see what you hate about him, he is somewhat of a patriot. That’s his real problem. You guys can’t hide your leftism. What a bunch of poseurs and y’all are quite poor at it.
9 CentristNYer // Dec 23, 2009 at 12:29 pm
franco 2 // Dec 23, 2009 at 12:17 pm
“Oh I see what you hate about him, he is somewhat of a patriot.”
Situating the NYC disaster response unit in the WTC — after it had already been designated a high value terror target — was not an act of patriotism. It was an act of foolishness.
10 franco 2 // Dec 23, 2009 at 5:37 pm
I’m perfectly willing to criticize Giuliani but seriously, this is not a valid issue. In other words you wanted Rudy to act like the same kind of pussy you must be? Oooh were too scared the WTC will be attacked again…can’t put our disaster response unit there.. And as Mayor of NYC that must really inspire confidence in the other tenants.
“…fire breathing conservative” spouting ” nonsensical talking points as the evolution deniers and the immigrant haters.”
More bad posing.
11 tdawg11870 // Dec 24, 2009 at 12:07 pm
Franco: now that’s just crazy. It’s not brave or even not “pussy” to put an emergency response center in harm’s way. Equating bravery with ignoring obvious risks is just idiocy.
12 CentristNYer // Dec 24, 2009 at 2:11 pm
tdawg11870 // Dec 24, 2009 at 12:07 pm
“Equating bravery with ignoring obvious risks is just idiocy.”
Couldn’t have said it better.
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