The mayor-to-White House path is a real long-shot path for Rudy.

[saltpoint]

For any mayor, actually, in U.S. history. A real steep climb.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/16/us/politics/16mayors.html?n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/People/R/Roberts,%20Sam


Especially when the successor mayor of one's own city is more popular, a lot smarter, and better funded.

Not to mention the public dole girlfriend taxi services and criminal business partners.

And we haven't even gotten to the fundies v. pro-choice debate yet.

[kurth]

1. Face it, not many people outside NY like NYC or NYC politicians

[saltpoint]

2. Hi, kurth. Yes. There's still a bias against NYC and the New England -

mid-Atlantic area generally.

The town I was raised in considered it an alien locus, possibly on another planet.

One of my uncles warned me to NEVER go to New York. Of course I accelerated my plans to go there and moved there not long afterward. He didn't intend that outcome, but it served as a great motivator!

[rurallib]

3. Rudy did well with that mayor to pussy in the Hamptons path, however.

He may want to try that one again.

[saltpoint]

4. And he'll have ample time on his schedule real soon, I predict.

He loses in Iowa, then in New Hampshire, then in South Carolina.

There won't be much left of the man going into February for "America's mayor."

[Rosemary2205]

5. FDNY will rip Rudy to shreds.

Not a chance in hell he'll win the general and the RW elite know it. They'll submarine Rudy once and for all before it gets that far.

[saltpoint]

6. And people on both sides of the Hudson will listen to the FDNY. Good point.

That gives me some hope, too, since I am definitely NOT hogwild about a Giuliani White House.

[OHdem10]

7. Keep in mind rank and file Dems and Republcans--ordinary

citizens do not think like Activists.

They are much more willing to cut Candidates some slack.

Activists in both parties are much more informed and therefore
look at each minute detail and conclude--Oh this will sink
him or her.

Now do not throw things at me but rank and file Republicans
are more committed to the Party. Therefore, they are much
more forgiving of their candidates. Likewise, because they
believe in their party they are more apt to attack and destroy
anyone who gets in the way of their party.

Therefore, Gjuilliani or Rommney are the ones to beat.
Exception: If Romney and Guilliani desttoy each other
then MCCain moves ahead and is the candidate. There
is still a chance that MCCain will be the GOP Candidate.

[saltpoint]

8. The Puke base does seem more fiercely attached to their candidates, even as

their candidates are such pathetic cretins.

I can't help but notice that Fred Thompson's name is not exactly on everyone's lips these days.

Huckabee is enjoying a boost in his polling but I think that will plateau real soon.

McCain? Well, maybe. I guess in such a weak field he can't be entirely left for dead, but on the other hand, were I a betting man, I think I'd go easy on his chances.

The Republicans have a real big problem for the presidential race in that they don't have a presidential candidate to run in it.

[MADem]

9. McCain may end up as the last old bastard left standing.

All his scandals are well known...they're not shocking, they're almost like old 'asked and answered' friends. The rest of the field looks like a pile of nitwits.

[saltpoint]

10. They DO look like a pile of nitwits. At BEST!

If McCain somehow emerges as their nominee, he'd do well to adapt your slogan as his presidential campaign theme:

" John McCain -- the last old bastard left standing "

[MADem]

12. Heh, heh....it's actually not a bad slogan, is it? Beats that Straight Talk Express lie!

He's running a rather dignified ad in moderate rotation in the NH market. It does make him sound sane, though his pronounciation of 'Washington' (WOR-shing-tun) grates my nerves.

[saltpoint]

14. I think his mouth muscle form that "..WORshington" sound from all the

smooching of Bush's hindquarters.

[MADem]

13. Heh, heh....it's actually not a bad slogan, is it? Beats that Straight Talk Express lie!

He's running a rather dignified ad in moderate rotation in the NH market. It does make him sound sane, though his pronounciation of 'Washington' (WOR-shing-tun) grates my nerves.

[undeterred]

11. I'm trying to imagine Richie Daley or his father trying it.

Nah. People would be unimpressed.

[saltpoint]

15. Hi, undeterred. A question about the Daley grip on city hall in Chicago --

Does the current Daley have kids about to enter the Next Daley for Mayor zone?

With a few years' interruption, it seems as if there's been a Daley in that job for decades. I'm wondering if maybe it's time to give somebody else a crack at it.

[undeterred]

16. Not that I've heard of

And there was a break of about 10 years between Old Daley and Young Daley - Jane Byrne, Michael Bilandic, Harold Washington presided. So Chicago had its first woman mayor and first black mayor in those years before the son was elected. And the son is a better mayor than the father. But I think the dynasty will end with him.

[saltpoint]

19. Thank you for that info. Harold Washington's name is familiar but Bilandic

was one I'd not registered at all.

[undeterred]

22. Short termer

I think he might have gotten in right after the first Mayor Daley died and he made some big blooper like failing to clear the snow right away - he let the masses stand for hours waiting for public transportation during bad weather - and he was out of there next election.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Anthony_Bilandic

Edit: I don't live in Chicago any more but I lived there for a long time. When 911 happened I remember thinking how scary it would have been to live in a city like Chicago- I've worked as a temp in all the skyscrapers. But I couldn't imagine Richie Daley soaking up the attention for himself the way Giuliani did. He'd be genuinely concerned about people's safety, but I just can't imagine him deliberately putting himself in the spotlight for political gain.

[saltpoint]

23. Sounds about right. If the Mayor somehow doesn't get the snow or the

garbage off the public streets, the public gets pissed.

[KharmaTrain]

17. He Won't Carry His Own State

The last "mayor" to make it to the Presidency was Teddy Roosevelt (NYC btw)...the last to run was Hubert Humphrey...and both had a lot of other experience in addition to working City Hall. People can tell the difference of running a city, even one as large as NYC, and a Federal government. Most cities are one-party or "non-partisan" assemblies, while governors have to work with bicameral systems...thus why they succede as Presidents.

Rudy's gamble are people are stupid and scared. He's the "Great White Hope" in this race...right now against that guy with the magic underware, the Hollywood dude, the preacher and that Paul dude. Later, they hope he'll be the "Hillary slayer"...this long-awaited match that was put off by Rudy's messes in 2000 and now they're ready to rumble.

Personally, I'd love to see Rudy as the candidate due to his many flaws and his polarizing personality. He's energize Democrats as much, if not more, than the Hillary haters will mobilize his horde...and at the same time divide his own corrupt party as the religious right won't support him (and could go third party), Ron Paul and his horde will also go in that direction and the bad blood with his battles with others will keep many others at home as well.

[saltpoint]

20. I agree -- I think the Empire State stays blue -- real blue -- in 2008 and

well beyond.

Giuliani had to switch parties just to compete in the mayoral race, as did Bloomberg.

The Democrats just keep on comin' in New York.

[rAVES]

18. Looks like , acts like and is...a Criminal, Riding on a quicky dying wave of other peoples misery.

[saltpoint]

21. rAVES, that boils things down to the essence of Rudy's campaign. It scythes

through the grey matter and fat down to the lizard brain of Giuliani's appeal.

Agree with you that he's pimped those nearly 3000 deaths to his own political advantage, having nothing else to offer voters.