NYC Firefighters Slam Giuliani

[Hissyspit]

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/06/17/nyc-firefighters-slam-giuliani

NYC firefighters slam Giuliani.

The New York Times has published a review of interviews with more than 50 NYC firefighters and department officers who server under former mayor Rudy Giuliani. “Many firefighters praise his years in office, citing his success in reducing crime and his leadership after the terrorist attacks. Others harbor a resentment for what they describe as his poor treatment of the department before and after Sept. 11.”

Some still speak bitterly about a contract that left firefighters without a raise for two years. Some also say Mr. Giuliani has exaggerated the role he played after the terrorist attacks, casting himself as a hero for political gain. The harshest sentiments stem from Mr. Giuliani’s decision nearly two months after 9/11 to reduce the number of firefighters who were allowed to search for colleagues in the rubble — a move that he partially reversed but that still infuriates many firefighters. <…>

The International Association of Fire Fighters, an umbrella union based in Washington, spoke out against Mr. Giuliani in March. The group is also preparing a short DVD outlining its grievances that it plans to send to fire departments across the country. <…>

Officials with another union, the Uniformed Fire Officers Association, said they planned to work against Mr. Giuliani’s campaign. “I don’t think the person in Nebraska has any idea yet how we feel,” said John J. McDonnell, a battalion chief and president of the association. “He probably assumes that we think he’s great.”

[BattyDem]

1. He's running on his 9/11 image ...

but the true heroes of 9/11 can't stand him. That can't be good for his campaign.

[Cabcere]

4. Actually, I'm sure people who support him will find a way to rationalize that.

I've actually seen it happen - one of my Republican friends was talking about how he liked Giuliani for the presidency, and I mentioned that the 9/11 firefighters hated his guts for screwing them over. My friend just said something to the effect of, "well, it must be hard being mayor, you can't do everything right," etc. Which is true to some extent, but then he started implying that maybe the firefighters were just trying to smear Giuliani for some free publicity or something like that...sigh. So yeah, the fact that the true heroes despise him isn't going to change some people's minds. (You know what is, though? Abortion. Once I mentioned to my friend that Rudy was pro-choice, all bets were off.) ;)

[BattyDem]

9. Unbelieveable!

Republicans will ignore anyone, no matter how much integrity or credibility they have, in order to blindly support a candidate. :eyes:

[Cabcere]

13. I know!

And the thing is, my friend's a pretty good guy - donated bone marrow to a woman with leukemia, wants to join the Peace Corps after graduation, etc. He's not exactly stupid, either - we both go to a pretty respected school and his GPA is higher than mine (I have a 3.1). I think his family is just hard-core Republican - his brother drove in Bush's 2nd inaugural parade, stuff like that, so I guess it's just the way it is for him. :shrug:

[liberaldemocrat7]

20. If the firefighters ever realized that Bush provoked the 9-11 attacks

they wouldn't vote Republican in droves for a generation.

Bush and Giuliani remind me of the heavies in a Bowery boys movie who talk a good game until the gang shows the heavies for their behind the scenes manipulation and causing deaths.

Well the firefighters will get roaring mad when they realize that 400 of their brethren died because Bush wanted oil for our country from former Russian republics transferred through Afghanistan down to the middle east.

[Cha]

2. Can't wait for the DVD..

The ghoul will rue the days he tried to short sheet the NYC Fire Department..FascistAsshole.

RECOMMENDED!

[opihimoimoi]

3. I'm w Zidzi....Recommended. As a retired Fire Capt....I cannot stand the sight of that Rudy CREEP

Worse...He is a CROSS DRESSER hiding in the closet...only thing missing is the Pink tutu

[Hissyspit]

5. Nothing wrong with being a cross-dresser, but something wrong with being a closeted Republican

cross-dresser. It's called hypocrisy.

I didn't know you were a firefighter, opihimoimoi! You learn something everyday... :thumbsup:

[Maven]

7. And I can't stand bigotry.

"Peace." :eyes:

[JackBeck]

8. You do realize that most cross dressers are heterosexual.

Just sayin'.

Less bigotry at DU would be a welcome change.

[badgerpup]

17. "Cross-dressing" is NOT a synonym for "Evil and must be destroyed".

Sure, it's not everyone's cup of tea, but there is NOTHING wrong with it...I lived with a guy who liked to cross-dress for two years. His orientation was straight; he just enjoyed getting into drag. Decent guy, too.

Only problem I have with cross-dressers are the ones who look better as females than I could ever dream of looking...and that's just sheer jealousy. :P

[JackBeck]

18. I agree. Never said it was synonymous with evil. Maybe you meant to respond to #3.

But I enjoyed your post, nonetheless.

Glad to hear you have an open mind.

[badgerpup]

19. What bugs me...

...is that RUDY CROSS-DRESSES! is a major issue for so many people.
There's REAL stuff to be addressed...and his fashion sense (or lack thereof) is the only thing I'd be willing to bet the rent that a great many people take into account.

NO, I'm not pro-Giuliani. I'm anti-Giuliani because with his record on so many things he will most likely NOT make a good president.

We can't afford another warmonger...either as a country itself, or as one particular nation living on this planet.

[Cha]

10. Oh man, opihimoimoi...that's so

brilliant that you were a Fire Capt! It must REALLY chap your backside to have ghouliani running around pretending he's done such a fantastic job for the Firefighters of NYC!!

[opihimoimoi]

15. Yup, he is lower than Whale Shit...

[MADem]

6. Those manly men are his Achille's Heel, make no mistake about it.

If his Law and Order excesses don't give pause, the way he lied to, and treated, those guys is the icing on the cake.

[brettdale]

11. Kick and send to all MSM

But so they will open the story, lie and say its about Paris and Britney.

[pacalo]

12. Getting rich on blood money. And I still can't get it out of my head that

his girlfriend was living at the governor's mansion while the then-current Mrs. G was living there for the sake of the children.

[kenny blankenship]

14. Will the media give them the attention they lavished on the Swiftboat Vets for Bush??

I wonder.

[femmocrat]

16. K & R

Rudy probably "misunderestimated" that there are people who actually remember what happened in the days after 9/11. As I recall, there were also problems with the inadequate communications equipment they had, and some of the blame can be put on Rudy's administration.

This "hero of 9/11" myth just isn't going to fly.