I shall miss your postings! We have thought so much alike on so many things.

I thought you would be interested to see (below) my own “first take” on Rudy’s departure from the race.

Cheers, Luther
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Mes Confrères:

When asked about the relative difficulty in writing “fiction” as opposed to “non fiction”, Mark Twain is reputed to have said (I paraphrase): “Writing fiction is much harder because an author is expected to stay within the bounds of believability.” Indeed, I have never before understood the wisdom in Mr. Clemens’s comment quite as well as I do this morning!

It is quite simply not within the “bounds of believability”, that on the morning after the Florida Primary, I should open my missive to you all by quoting a Maureen Dowd comment on Rudy, to say nothing of actually agreeing with her! In last Sunday’s paper, Madame Snark opened her column by saying: “I expected more of Rudy.” Well, so did I!

I simply will not sadden further this sad morning by launching into a long diatribe of all the things I expected from Rudy, except to say this: Virtually all of what I did expect from Rudy I GOT IN SPADES, from the first moment I started touting his campaign, in April 2006, through last Thanksgiving, and well into December 2007. What I got was a reasonably modulated facsimile of “Hizzoner da Mayor of Noo Yawk”, from 1994-2002, and particularly in the wake of 9-11 — the fearless battler, the Happy Warrior, who would slay a giant enemy in the daytime, and then go out in the evening and look for two more to take on, the man who gave ABSOLUTELY NO QUARTER to the Liberal Media, and expected none in return, the barely-in-control 24-hour control-freak who broke the “Ungovernable City” to his will!

That was the Rudy who began his campaign for the GOP nomination to the veritable hoots and jeers of the Liberal Media, and in less than a year’s time, had established such a commanding lead in virtually all national polls, that that same Liberal Media was virtually forced to concede grudgingly that he was the frontrunner!

That’s the Rudy I wanted because that’s what I thought, and still think, is desperately needed in Sodom on the Potomac, and on the national stage! Beginning sometime in mid-to-late December, however, what I got was a curiously subdued candidate. As the the NYT puts it this morning: “And, curiously, this man with the pugnacious past declined to toss more than light punches at his Republican opponents.”

What happened? On the level of the “horse race”, I could rant on about the “windshear” effect, as Time Magazine puts it, about various events from the success of “the surge” that caused “national security” to fade as the most important issue in the race, to the Liberal Media relentlessly beating Rudy over the head in early December with a “news story” that turned out, not to be merely inaccurate and ill reported, but absolutely untrue! I won’t, however, because to do so would quickly begin to sound like sour grapes. Suffice it to say that what did happen is on its face virtually inexplicable. As the NYT puts it:

“Voters seemed to embrace a man so comfortable wielding power, and his poll numbers edged higher to where he held a broad lead over his opponents last summer. Just three months ago, Anthony V. Carbonetti, Mr. Giuliani’s affable senior policy adviser, surveyed that field and told The New York Observer: “I don’t believe this can be taken from us. Now that I have that locked up, I can go do battle elsewhere.” In fact, Mr. Giuliani’s campaign was about to begin a free fall so precipitous as to be breathtaking.”

What happened? On a personal level, I could say, as I do believe, that since those halcyon days of 1997, Rudy has undergone something of an epiphany, if not exactly “religious” then at least the next thing to it. After the twin “shocks to the system” of his prostate cancer in 2000 and the trauma of 9-11, through finding a wife he is so obviously comfortable with, through being knighted by the Queen and being named Time’s “Man of the Year”, to seeing his business interests flourish to an extent he could scarcely have imagined, Rudy has become the proverbial “changed man”. On the surface, that seems to explain things, but not quite: That “explains” neither the Rudy we saw in the first 10 months or so of the campaign, nor his dizzying metamorphosis in the past month to six weeks.

To be sure, I actually LIKE the Rudy we see now! I am very much in ideological “sync” with his “twelve point plan”, and particularly with his political/legal philosophy! Alas, however, the genial campaigner of 2008 is not what this divided country needs. What this country needs, desperately, is the dauntless control-freak of 1997.

What happened? I won’t sort any more through all the detritus of just exactly what did happen. I will, however, say this, as something of a “parting shot”: There is something we don’t know! Let me say that again, louder: THERE IS SOMETHING WE DON’T KNOW! I believe that as firmly as I have ever believed in anything, seen or unseen! There is something “behind the scenes”, something sub rosa! This “something” may come out during the balance of the campaign, or indeed it may not be known until the historians take on the campaign of 2008, perhaps years from now.

Some weeks ago, the blogosphere was a-buzz with the “conspiracy theory” that somehow Rudy and McCain were “coordinating” their campaigns so as to knock out Romney — the tacit implication being that Rudy would take the V.P. slot on a McCain ticket. Well, I didn’t believe it then, and I don’t believe it now, but at least that’s the sort of “something” to which I refer. Perhaps, I just didn’t want to believe it. Even now, I wretch as I contemplate even the apparently forthcoming endorsement by the Media Slayer of 1997 of the Media Darling of 2008! I don’t think Rudy will actually join the ticket, but the thought even of his campaigning for the Media Darling is almost more than I can bear.

So, as Rudy — at least hopefully — rides off into the sunset, I shall cease my RudyGrams, though I may pass on the odd article from time to time. I have thoroughly enjoyed reporting to you all, even as I had to endure the Chinese water torture of the past month, but there is no point any longer. I sincerely wish Rudy all the personal contentment and continued business success in the world. With the absolutely extraordinary life of public service and leadership he has led, he certainly deserves them both! Moreover, Rudy will always have as his legacy the shining monument of New York City, the Imperial Capital of the World, that will always bear his stamp just as surely as London still bears the stamp of Winston Churchill!

Not quite so fast! You’re not quite rid of me just yet! Shortly, when I feel up to it, I shall deliver one last RudyGram, on the “state of the race”, as Rudy departs, stage right! You can all probably guess at least part of where I shall “come down”, but for now, I’ll tease you with two words: Michael Bloomberg!

I am with you. The GOP has become hostage to the likes of Dobson. The GOP has given them veto power over our candidates. I am hoping for a viable third party option. A party the believed in limited government, strong defence and individual freedom. And that individual freedom include the freedom to make choices about one’s personal life.

If you approve the rebate proposal, especially for people that don’t pay taxes, which I shall assume includes ILLEGALS I will become an Independent. I will voluntarily return the rebate, which will not be an easy thing to do since I worry every day about losing my home due to my disabilities and fighting for my life in a worker’s compensation court, and my disability insurance, but I will return the rebate to the President and suggest it be used to pay our country’s debts or to help the war effort. Yes, its just a drop in the bucket but its something. Maybe I’ll try to start a campaign to Americans to return the rebates if passed.

Disgusted in California

Thank you

Thank you

Romney just sickens me. He is the most insincere candidate to grace the stage. He smiles and lies like a derranged Eddie Haskel from those old Leave It To Beaver shows. While I try to never be a bigot or let sterotypes affect me, I will honestly say that the Mormon thing bothers me. I have known quite a few. There is too much secrecy there. Plus, they seem to have such a money focus (while their kids always seem to be running around in potato sacks). I have multiple experiences to say that it creates a set of “red flags” for me.

John McCain is a true hero and a national treasure. That being said, how many times has he come in a dollar short and a day late? We are looking at a candidate who is simply tooo old and who doesn’t really get the entire spectrum of life and leadership in 2000 and beyond. This is not a snub - I think he is a true patriot, but he is past his time.

Huckabee just scares the living hell out of me. The evangelicals don’t control the party, but we give them enough lip service to look like their bitch. He would be a terror socially and economically.

I just can’t beleive our party is so messed up. Rudy is, IMHO, a true standout. A true leader for change in Washington AND the party.

I guess I am prepping to be sad this evening. I have to say, I think I might have to vote for Clinton. She’s not a screaming liberal - any normal person knows that. She’s not super likable. I do beleive she would be a reasonable leader and, if provoked, would bomb and fight with the best of them. Her social issues tend to align more - atleast the basic preise (not her total financial support - but the respect of others). She will be a taxer - but let’s be honest - none of these people can really screw us up beyond repair in 8 years. We all know that.

I completely agree with you. I am very disappointed in the GOP primary voters. I think Rudy’s fate was sealed with Dobson and his ilk started threatening that they would form a third party if Giuliani. Let’s face, there is no room for pro-choice individuals like me and Rudy in this party. If Rudy loses tonight, it will be the last straw for me.

Romney is Massachusett’s republican version of John Kerry. He is a poll watcher for sure. MCCain is not fit for the job, he wasn’t 8 years ago and he sure hasn’t improved since.

What I do not get simply is that comparing records and facts Rudy trumps all. I am tired of the far right pundants building up Romney and the far left McCain. I am tired of being force fed. I am tired on changing the channel and hearing the exact same transcript spoken by another pretty face. You have no idea how disappointed I am in Fox, the rapidly becoming CNN network.

I emplore any voter with a brain cell and can balance a check book, look at the facts, look at the track record, then vote for the only candidate that will fight for you, Rudy.