Thursday, November 29, 2007

Rudy Rebuts Charges Of Hiding "Booty Call" Expenses

Rudy Giuliani spent much of today dismissing claims that he hid the cost of police protection related to trips he took to visit with Judith Nathan while he was still married to Donna Hanover.

Giuliani called the story a "debate day dirty trick" in this interview with Katie Couric of CBS. He stated that all of the expenses were proper and the effort to bring them up five years after the fact amounted to a "political hit job".

The accounting for the expenses may well have been totally legitimate, but unfortunately for Rudy, it isn't how the money was paid, it was the circumstances under which the expenses were incurred that is most objectionable. If it becomes clear that the money for police protection was spent for trips with no purpose other than to pursue an affair with Nathan, Rudy will have a problem.

And, if so, he will deserve his fate.

6 comments:

A Secular Franciscan said...

It's the fate I've been warning about for some time.

So, how do you feel about Huckabee?

repoman said...

Lee:

Its a little too early to tell whether or not this is just a new twist on an old story about Rudy or the straw that breaks the camel's back.

Meanwhile, Huckabee is clearly surging, particularly in Iowa. If he beats Romney there, he may well emerge as the champion of the conservative side of the GOP. That would set him up in a battle against Rudy or John McCain representing the so-called moderate side of the party.

Gov. Huckabee clearly appeals to the hearts of GOP voters, but he has done so due to a kind of populism that (in my view) leads to his taking some positions that I find little reason to support.

He would be a "protectionist" regarding trade. If his policies were in effect now, the dollar would never recover. I also understand that he indicated that he does not believe in evolution. That one really bothers me.

Still, if he became the GOP nominee and he faced Hillary Clinton, most conservative Republicans (including me) would have a hard time not voting for him.

A Secular Franciscan said...

Hey - Huckabee and Rudy are now tied at the top in the latest Rasmussen national poll!

repoman said...

Lee:

Do you ever visit the Real Clear politics site? They run a moving average of all of the polls.

In the average, Giuliani still leads but he's dropping while Huckabee is surging. It seems clear that the conservative Republicans are coalescing around him. If so, it could be curtains for Mitt and Fred.

Then there will be a race between the factions in the GOP. "Moderate" Republicans appear to favor Rudy or John McCain. Conservative Republicans may well be choosing Mike Huckabee.

My cup of coffee may be in jeopardy!

Still, what do the polls say about a Hillary vs. Huckabee race? Does he have what it takes to beat her?

A Secular Franciscan said...

Huck vs. Hillary - I've seen two recent polls. In one, he beats her by several points (but by more than any of the other GOP candidates), in the other she beats him by one point. So that situation is still fluid. But with him rising, and her slipping ever so slightly, who knows what the next poll will show.

I smell that coffee. MMMMM.

repoman said...

Lee:

You can tell that Huckabee is really starting to do well. The attacks on his views have started.

They only attack the guys they are afraid of.