General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHas there ever been a bigger squandering of a reputation than that by Rudy Giuliani?
As I recall, he was a good, well respected prosecutor. He may have been a good mayor, without having to exploit the September 11 tragedy (just my opinion). But now????????? Damn, he has morphed into just the sort of miscreant he once prosecuted. Seriously, what was his turning point? Is it all down to his association with trump*, or is he just, at the core of it, a 'at any cost' fame whore?
Coventina
(27,120 posts)but less than zero: a bumbling, scorned, thug with criminal connections, if not actually a criminal himself.
RKP5637
(67,108 posts)wacky, intent on ruining his reputation. tRump destroys everything.
brush
(53,778 posts)and yelling "It's Giuliani time." I know, I was there. As far as 9/11, He did what any mayor would've done in a time of crisis.
RKP5637
(67,108 posts)likely more were killed with a broom stick up their ass. Some cops are horrible creatures!!!
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)He only fooled some people. People of color and others on the receiving end of his tactics knew for decades he was a soulless opportunistic jerk.
kskiska
(27,045 posts)Midnight Writer
(21,765 posts)Siwsan
(26,262 posts)However, I think massive, out of control ego is an element for both.
SWBTATTReg
(22,124 posts)I wonder if he was in cahoots w/ these mob guys from the very beginning, and got his so called 'enhanced' reputation as a prosecutor because his prior prosecutions were staged? Makes one wonder about the total turn around of his reputation and who he deals w/.
CottonBear
(21,596 posts)Paul Manafort is a mobster.
Kellyanne Conway was born into a mob family.
The only real way to understand this misadministration, is to see it as an organized crime syndicate.
unblock
(52,227 posts)Siwsan
(26,262 posts)Amazing how long he got away with that.
underpants
(182,803 posts)was John Edwards. He, though, just disappeared while Rudy stays around making it worse.
Strangely the beginning of the end for Rudy was the incredible flameout of his sideman Bernie Kerik.
Siwsan
(26,262 posts)I think he's still practicing law. I think his decision to live a life out of the spotlight was the right choice.
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)lunatica
(53,410 posts)It brings down a lot of leaders. The love of money is really just the love of the power it brings. The adage applies.
tblue37
(65,357 posts)thug with a penchant for the spotlight.
Not to mention his disgusting treatment of his wives.
tblue37
(65,357 posts)Siwsan
(26,262 posts)I see him show up on documentaries about the mob trials. I thought he had some good victories. I remember reading that the mob made an effort at 'removing' him.
And, yea, his treatment of his wives has been beyond deplorable.
tblue37
(65,357 posts)that's true, then his anti-mob crusade could be interpreted as just clearing away the competition.
Siwsan
(26,262 posts)I don't think there is any way out of this mess, for Rudy.
braddy
(3,585 posts)Siwsan
(26,262 posts)I wonder if it's panic and desperation, or encroaching dementia.
TlalocW
(15,382 posts)Nunes has cemented his legacy as the guy who is suing a fake cow because his feewings got hurt. Fifty years from now when he passes, and the media give him a few seconds at the end of their broadcast, after explaining was Twitter was, that's what will be told about him. That's his eventual obituary, his legacy.
TlalocW
Siwsan
(26,262 posts)He's one I hope to see removed, next November.
LakeArenal
(28,817 posts)Lindsey Graham. John McCains best friend
Ted Cruz insulted openly. Grovels now
Rubio. Groveler
Kelly Conway. Ugh
Sarah Sanders. Liar to hell
They all have licked the boot of a traitor.
Mulvaney, Barr,
Steven Miller born evil.
Siwsan
(26,262 posts)He's kind of like the anti-King Midas.
LakeArenal
(28,817 posts)Yavin4
(35,438 posts)Even Subway took a hit by tying their brand identity to that guy. Ugh.
Jim__
(14,076 posts)From wikipedia:
In 1981, Giuliani was named Associate Attorney General in the Reagan administration,[45] the third-highest position in the Department of Justice. As Associate Attorney General, Giuliani supervised the U.S. Attorney Offices' federal law enforcement agencies, the Department of Corrections, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the United States Marshals Service. In a well-publicized 1982 case, Giuliani testified in defense of the federal government's "detention posture" regarding the internment of over 2,000 Haitian asylum seekers who had entered the country illegally. The U.S. government disputed the assertion that most of the detainees had fled their country due to political persecution, alleging instead that they were "economic migrants". In defense of the government's position, Giuliani testified that "political repression, at least in general, does not exist" under President of Haiti Jean-Claude Duvalier's regime.[36][46]
In 1983, Giuliani was appointed U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, which was technically a demotion but was sought by Giuliani because of his desire to personally litigate cases. It was in this position that he first gained national prominence by prosecuting numerous high-profile cases, resulting in the convictions of Wall Street figures Ivan Boesky and Michael Milken. He also focused on prosecuting drug dealers, organized crime, and corruption in government.[37] He amassed a record of 4,152 convictions and 25 reversals. As a federal prosecutor, Giuliani was credited with bringing the "perp walk", parading of suspects in front of the previously alerted media, into common use as a prosecutorial tool.[47] After Giuliani "patented the perp walk", the tool was used by increasing numbers of prosecutors nationwide.[48]
Giuliani's critics claimed that he arranged for people to be arrested, then dropped charges for lack of evidence on high-profile cases rather than going to trial. In a few cases, his arrests of alleged white-collar criminals at their workplaces with charges later dropped or lessened, sparked controversy, and damaged the reputations of the alleged "perps".[49] He claimed veteran stock trader Richard Wigton, of Kidder, Peabody & Co., was guilty of insider trading; in February 1987 he had officers handcuff Wigton and march him through the company's trading floor, with Wigton in tears.[50] Giuliani had his agents arrest Tim Tabor, a young arbitrageur and former colleague of Wigton, so late that he had to stay overnight in jail before posting bond.[50][51]
Within three months, charges were dropped against both Wigton and Tabor; Giuliani said, "We're not going to go to trial. We're just the tip of the iceberg", but no further charges were forthcoming and the investigation did not end until Giuliani's successor was in place.[51] Giuliani's high-profile raid of the Princeton/Newport firm ended with the defendants having their cases overturned on appeal on the grounds that what they had been convicted of were not crimes.[52]
more ...
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)Was his dogged pursuit of the Italian mafia merely clearing out the stage for the Russian mafia?
Siwsan
(26,262 posts)It's just hard to comprehend how he could make such a drastic turn about. It does put so much into question, now.
rurallib
(62,415 posts)before and during at least part of WWII had that effect.
Don't know a lot about the story. I just think of him as someone who had a massive positive reputation who then chose what came to be a very unpopular path.
Siwsan
(26,262 posts)And he was a racist, which goes along with the Nazi connection. I don't remember how much of this was common knowledge, before he died.
I hate to think this, but given the lack of importance given to teaching history, I doubt that his name has much significance for a vast portion of the population.
Dem4Life1102
(3,974 posts)Lindbergh worked as a consultant to the Navy to improve US military planes.
rurallib
(62,415 posts)other than the flight and the somewhat controversial stand prior to WWII
MiniMe
(21,716 posts)Barr had a decent reputation at one time. Not any more
karynnj
(59,503 posts)In fact, he was pretty much on track to losing big to HRC for Senate before he dropped out because he "was diagnosed with prostate cancer". In reality, he dropped out because after telling the media that he was divorcing his wife before telling her - leading to daily very bad tabloid headlines for months, he likely could not have been elected dog catcher!
Even after 911, when he wanted to delay the mayoral elections - to stay in power, NYC told him no. He was a calm voice on 911, but he was also criticized because of decisions made (probably for political reasons) to give out contracts for the police and the fire department communication systems to two companies -- leading to two systems incapable of speaking to each other. (This was critical as firemen were still moving up the tower after the police called for everyone to get out.)
He did have an excellent reputation as a prosecutor. He has been a disaster for years on many levels since his mayoral days. It is stunning how involved this former crime fighter prosecutor is with Russian mob figures, such as the two recently arrested.
Goodheart
(5,324 posts)But never did anybody take him for a goddamned clown. LOL
Voltaire2
(13,033 posts)his entire adult life.
Skittles
(153,160 posts)......nope