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I suspect Giuliani understands he's not a serious candidate for the GOP nomination in 2008 but the speculation and publicity is certainly gratifying for his ego and career pursuits. Much of the 9/11 mythology surrounding Giuliani is the result of the contrast between he and Bush immediately following 9/11; Giuliani's mere competence was inflated to mythic proportions because Bush appeared so lost.
In the end, there are too many skeletons in Giuliani's closet and too many views unpalatable to the GOP infrastructure to make a Giuliani candidacy anything more than a pipe dream.
MCain is attempting to mend his fences with the evangelicals. The question is what they'll demand in return for supporting McCain. A much more interesting dynamic to be seen is if McCain can pacify his critics in the GOP leadership who regard McCain as truly unhinged.
Posted at November 27, 2005 7:33 AM in response to McCain In Context
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I was struck by this shot at Wilson in the WaPo editorial:
The public record offers no indication that Mr. Libby or any other official deliberately exposed Ms. Plame to punish her husband, former ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV. Rather, Mr. Libby and other officials, including Karl Rove, the White House deputy chief of staff, apparently were seeking to combat the sensational allegations of a critic. They may have believed that Ms. Plame's involvement was an important part of their story of why Mr. Wilson was sent to investigate claims that Iraq sought uranium ore from Niger, and why his subsequent -- and mostly erroneous -- allegations that the administration twisted that small part of the case against Saddam Hussein should not be credited. To criminalize such discussions between officials and reporters would run counter to the public interest. (Emphasis mine)
The questions I would have for the WaPo editors is why they believe leaking Valerie Plame's name to the press served any interest but to punish Wilson. Secondly, given the fact the NSC's second-in-command has admitted the inclusion of the '16 words' in the SoTU was a mistake--how were Wilson's subsequent allegations largely erroneous?
Posted at October 29, 2005 1:04 PM in response to What Number?
