What They Are Saying … About Mayor Giuliani – Part One
Strategist David Gergen Compared Mayor Giuliani’s Performance To Reagan’s. “I think Rudy Giuliani won the night … [Giuliani] seized a moment when Ron Paul sort of opened up this argument that maybe we had it coming, with 9/11 and Giuliani just jumped into the debate, he disrupted the debate. To just say no, no, that’s not right and I just don’t agree with that. … [I]t was like a minor Nashua moment when Ronald Reagan, you know, seized the microphone, there was a quality here about showing his sort of, not only his anger but strength that I think served him well tonight.” (CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360,” 5/15/07)
Strategist Ed Rollins, Responding To Gergen: “He looked very presidential … He had a Ronald Reagan moment, I think he had a Rudy Giuliani moment.” (CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360,” 5/15/07)
National Review’s Katherine Jean Lopez: “Unless something dramatic and not-characteristic-of tonight happens, Rudy won.” (Katherine Jean Lopez, “I Don’t Think You Have To Come Back After The Commercial,” http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ZTJjY2JiM2YxYjJjNjQ5NjRkYWRjZWYwZDBkNWI2NTM, 5/15/07)
National Review’s Katherine Jean Lopez: “Rudy references Fort Dix before 9/11. Dealing with today, and the war that remains as real as it was five years ago. And shows he knows/doesn’t have an interest in resting on his ‘America’s mayor’ laurels.” (Katherine Jean Lopez, “Classy, Right,” http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=YzkxZjM2Zjc5Y2FjZjNhNzZiYjE2MWJlODhmMmUxMmE, 5/15/07)
National Review’s Ramesh Ponnuru: “[Rudy also wins] the coveted most-improved-performance medal.” (Ramesh Ponnuru, “ Rudy Also Wins,” http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ZWI3ZGJhMTY3NDIyM2I0YTU0MzcyOTllMDlkZTA5ZWY, 5/15/07)
National Review’s John Podhoretz: “I have to say I think [Giuliani] not only took this debate, he won it by 31 lengths, like Secretariat in the Belmont.” (John Podhoretz, “Rudy Tonight,” http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MTczZGM5YWQyNDJjNGJkMGI2ZWYyYTg0MTNlZWRjYjI=, 5/15/07)
National Review’s Jonah Goldberg: “From a reader: Tonight was the first time I could imagine any of these guys being president. Giuliani had that moment when you can say to yourself, ‘That’s what a president should say.’” (Jonah Goldberg, “The Race To Seem Presidential,” http://corner.nationalreview.com, 5/15/07
National Review’s Rich Lowry: “Strong answer … from Rudy — he always sounds authoritative when talking about domestic terrorism.” (Rich Lowry, “Strong Answer,” http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ZGE0N2UxZWQ5ZmNhMGVkOTkyZjFjYTM1ZGI1NDYyOTI, 5/15/07)
CBN’s David Brody: “That is the Rudy Giuliani that America fell in love with on 9/11 and it was on clear display tonight. … He hit one out of the park.” (David Brody, “South Carolina Debate: The Brody File Reaction,” http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/158584.aspx, 5/15/07)
Brody: “He was serious, determined and meant business.” (David Brody, “South Carolina Debate: The Brody File Reaction,” http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/158584.aspx, 5/15/07)
The Hotline’s Marc Ambinder: “Rudy Giuliani did very well. … His outrage when Ron Paul said something loopy about 9/11 was genuine, and his emotions overflowed into the audience; he bonded with them. A powerful moment that evoked Giuliani’s best moment and his best qualities.” (Marc Ambinder, “Pre-Spin Room Thoughts: McCain, Rudy, Romney,” http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2007/05/prespin_room_th.html, 5/15/07)
The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza: “It was a rare moment of raw emotion for Giuliani, and a good one.” (Chris Cillizza, “A High Note For Rudy Giuliani,” http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/05/a_high_note_for_giuliani.html, 5/15/07)
Townhall’s Matt Lewis: “Dang, Rudy’s strong on the Iraq/terror issue.” (Matt Lewis, “Game On!” http://www.townhall.com/blog/g/0aa24077-f77e-438c-a008-121f40642c43, 5/15/07)
The New York Sun’s Ryan Sager: “Rudy’s response on Iraq … touches at some length on the planned terrorist attack on Fort Dix. Good way to reach back to his prosecutor background.” (Ryan Sager, “The South Carolina Debate,” http://www.latestpolitics.com/blog/2007/05/the-south-carolina-debate.html, 5/15/07)
