RUDY GIULIASININE

I can't believe what Rudy Giuliani said this week. Simply can't believe it. Here's a guy I thought had some pretty good qualities - and who might actually make a decent Commander in Chief. And then he makes one of the most utterly asinine declarations I've ever heard and completely removes himself from my very short list of "people I would be okay with in the Oval Office."

Rudy Giuliani actually announced this week that if a Democrat is elected president in 2008, America will be at risk for another terrorist attack on the scale of 9/11 - but that if a Republican is elected, preferably him, terrorist attacks can be anticipated and stopped.

Holy fucking shit. He can't possibly believe that, can he? To call him a fucking moron would be an insult to morons (and fuckers, for that matter) worldwide.

This is the kind of fear politics Americans have (slowly) learned to reject. We can't be intimidated and bullied into voting a certain way like we were in 2004, can we? He might recall there was a Republican in the White House when the terrorists took down the WTC. We weren't safe then just as we aren't safe now. Are we really supposed to believe Democrats actually care less about the future of our country? That they are less capable of providing an adequate defense? That they are less committed to the safety and protection of our people? It's an insane proposition. Beyond ludicrous. Political hyperbole at its worst.

Barack Obama responded today and called it what it is. Good for him:

“Rudy Giuliani today has taken the politics of fear to a new low and I believe Americans are ready to reject those kind of politics. America’s mayor should know that when it comes to 9/11 and fighting terrorists, America is united. We know we can win this war based on shared purpose, not the same divisive politics that question your patriotism if you dare to question failed policies that have made us less secure. I think we should focus on strengthening our intelligence, working with local authorities and doing all the things we haven't yet done to keep Americans safe. The threat we face is real, and deserves better than to be the punchline of another political attack.”

But this rant by MSNBC anchor Keith Olbermann is the best. Great stuff, my friends.