Former Mayor of New York City Rudolph Giuliani and his former police commissioner Bernard Kerik talk to the media at a news conference in Port Of Spain, Trinidad, Nov. (AP Photo/Shirley Bahadur)
by Mark Silva
Sen. John McCain of Arizona wasted no time today with his own campaign-bus analysis of the arrest of Bernard Kerik, the former New York City police commissioner whom former Mayor Rudy Giuliani recommended to the Bush administration for secretary of Homeland Security, and what the saga says about Giuliani’s fitness for the presidency.
McCain had a former Homeland Security secretary with him, former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, to bolster his criticism for Giuliani’s judgment. Homeland Security is not like "some urban city patronage job,’’ Ridge said, echoing McCain’s campaign line today.
Kerik surrendered today to face federal corruption charges. The police commissioner under then-Mayor Giuliani was indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday on 16 counts including conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud and lying to the IRS. Authorities say that over a six-year period, from 1999 through 2004, Kerik failed to report more than $500,000 in income.
Giuliani – who has stood by the job that Kerik performed as police commissioner -- this week admitted that he erred in not vetting Kerik more carefully in recommending him to President Bush.
Yet McCain, challenging Giuliani for the Republican Party’s 2008 presidential nomination, said there were other reasons to reject Kerik – and other reasons to question Giuliani’s judgment.
The ex-police commissioner did a poor job of training police in Iraq after the U.S.-led invasion, McCain said today.
“I don't know Mr. Kerik,’’ McCain told reporters on his campaign bus today. “I do know that I went to Baghdad shortly after the initial victory and met in Baghdad with (Ambassador Paul) Bremer and (Lt. Gen. Ricardo) Sanchez. And Kerik was there. Kerik was supposed to be there to help train the police force. He stayed two months and one day left, just up and left.’’
“That’s why I never would've supported him to be the head of Homeland Security because of his irresponsible act when he was over in Baghdad to try and help train the police,’’ McCain said.. “One of the reasons why we had so much trouble with the initial training of the police was because he came, didn't do anything and then went out to the airport and left."
Ridge, the first secretary of the Homeland Security agency created after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, echoed the candidate’s complaint about Giuliani.
“It was clear the mayor and I had a different view what the department does and the kind of leadership it needed," Ridge told reporters. "His judgment would've been different than mine.’’ He said the situation represents a fundamental misunderstanding by Giuliani of how the U.S. government works.
“We're not talking about some urban city patronage job," Ridge told The Associated Press. "That's not what a Cabinet secretary's about."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Comments
Hey, back off McCain! If anyone's going to be talking about 'judgement' it's me!
Posted by: Barak Obama | November 9, 2007 1:40 PM
Rudy and the modern GOP: made for each other.
Posted by: Joe | November 9, 2007 2:00 PM
John D, care to comment on McCain on Rudy and friend? Not on the looney left, but on the conservative in one corner and the conservative in the other corner. For one, I find it nice to see two guys pretending to be on a separate team but advised by the same bunch of neo-con ideas square off fighting for the throne. But that just me. How do feel about this event?
Posted by: Old McDonald | November 9, 2007 2:12 PM
Giuliani has learned from the Bush/Cheney regime, you lie, you surround yourself with loyal cronies of the worst sort, and you continue to try and terrorize the nation with constant reminders of 9/11.
Bush has left a roadmap for Guiliani to follow and now that the "Unitary Executive" and the gutting of the constitution has happened, look for Rudy to run with that ball into the elections.
Just like the Republicans knew Bush's record in Texas, they want the best facist they can find to replace him and Rudy is their flavor of the month now that he's hired an all-star team of Neocons to work for him.
"When facism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross."
-Sinclair Lewis.
Posted by: John E | November 9, 2007 2:28 PM
Well "Old McDonald," I am so touched that you care to know what I think, especially since I don't ever recall other posts from an "Old McDonald."
Anyway, my thoughts are that Kerik is in some hot water, and if he is guilty then he deserves whatever happens. As far as Rudy is concerned, well this isn't good that his police chief and friend is in some hot water. But I doubt it'll hurt him much. It's Kerik's problems, not Rudy's.
Now, Old McDonald, what are your thoughts on all the corruption involving the city of Chicago, Crooked County and ILL-inois? What about the governor's wife's real estate dealings in which the ILL-inois First Couple made hundreds of thousands of dollars selling and buying property for folks who are making millions of dollars off you and me? Or who the city of Chicago shaking down the folks of Bridgeport? Daley overlooking true torture in the Chicago Police Department? Or too many cops in the Chicago Police Department beating up people? How does all of this relate to Obama, especially connections with indicted Obama friend and fellow real-estate partner Tony Rezko?
Posted by: John D | November 9, 2007 2:35 PM
Or too many cops in the Chicago Police Department beating up people? How does all of this relate to Obama, especially connections with indicted Obama friend and fellow real-estate partner Tony Rezko?
Posted by: John D | November 9, 2007 2:35 PM
Lil Johnny CementHead,
What does any of your rant have to do with Rudy Giuliani and Bernard Kerik?
With Kerik looking at significant jail time he's going to sing like a bird about what Rudy knew and when he knew about his actions, maybe if we're lucky Kerik and Rudy will get to share a cell in the Federal lockup with the rest of the Neocon crooks who have torn up our Constitution for their own personal gain.
http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/images/blpic-gopcellblock.htm
Posted by: John E | November 9, 2007 2:50 PM
Mr Gulianis's behavior is not just a case of bad policy analysis but a character issue.
Mr. Guliani has a habit of saying things, on issues that range from heallth care to national security, that are demonstrably untrue.
And I think the American people have a right to know more about his character.
Posted by: Action Jackson | November 9, 2007 2:55 PM
As far as Rudy is concerned, well this isn't good that his police chief and friend is in some hot water. But I doubt it'll hurt him much.
Posted by: John D | November 9, 2007 2:35 PM
Oh I think if Rudy is the nominee people won't be able to forget that Rudy's most trusted and best friend used an apartment to have an extramarital affair. An apartment overlooking the graves of of 3000 Americans which was donated to help rescue workers sleep
Posted by: jethro | November 9, 2007 2:57 PM
“We're not talking about some urban city patronage job," Ridge told The Associated Press. "That's not what a Cabinet secretary's about.
Point taken but the BS-meter is going off a bit. Didn't Ridge's time as head of Homeland Security coincide with a certain horse lawyer and Bush administration crony pretending to have a resume worthy of being the head of FEMA?
Posted by: kb | November 9, 2007 3:08 PM
You are a riot! I'm glad you are touched. Anything to brighten up your day. I'd love to have some thoughts on Chicago and Illinois but since I'm from across the pond from the Big Apple in the largest city in NJ I can not offer much insight on what I'm not familiar with. Sorry. You know the liberal media--they're every where. HaHa
Posted by: Old McDonald | | November 9, 2007 3:09 PM
Yo Oldie, in case you didn't know, me being "touched" was dripping with sarcasm!!
Anyway, New Jersey, huh? Seems to me the Democrats in that state are just as corrupt as those here in ILL-inois. What do you have to say about that?
Posted by: John D | November 9, 2007 4:28 PM
Rudy's a loser. He'll get along great with the other corrupt members of that tired old party, the GOP.
http://www.rudy-urbanlegend.com/
Posted by: Silent Dark & Obscure | November 9, 2007 5:01 PM
Rudy Rudy Rudy,you must be joking Hillary beat you in NYC and NY state why do you think anyone else outside of New York really Likes you? Go back and become the shill for corporate America and stop wasting everyone's time. OK
Posted by: John C | November 9, 2007 6:35 PM
Anyway, New Jersey, huh? Seems to me the Democrats in that state are just as corrupt as those here in ILL-inois. What do you have to say about that?
Posted by: John D | November 9, 2007 4:28 PM
John D, you whacky guy. Thanks for all the amusing remarks. Look I'm sure you, being a republican who has been totally let down by his own elected leaders would know plenty about corruption. After all you defend the corrupt Bush/Cheney swindle that is Iraq. You defend their lame policies on a daily basis. Rudy is a crooked New York crony hiring quasi liberal. But he looks good in a dress!
Posted by: Beavis | November 9, 2007 6:40 PM
"Or too many cops in the Chicago Police Department beating up people?"
You are freakin' hilarious Dyslin. How exactly do you think (since you credit Rudy as superman singlehandedly turning New York City from Gotham to Disneyland) Rudy was able reduce the crime in NY if it had nothing to do with the socioeconomic factors that reduced crime all across the country.
Isn't Rudy's reputation that he takes no prisoners and isn't afraid to bash a few heads? Isn't that WHY he is, in a scene taken out of Bizarro World, the leading Republican candidate for President?
Posted by: DaVe | November 10, 2007 3:10 PM
P.S. To take a page out of your own playbook, if you hate "Ill-inois" so much why don't you move to Pakistan where the military regime of Pervez Musharaf seems to be more in keeping with your world view?
Posted by: DaVe | November 10, 2007 3:11 PM