The idea offered by Rudy Giuliani last night that "Obama has never led anything in his life"overlooks one major fact: Obama has led an organization that has displayed more discipline, organization, creativity and competence than any organization led by the former NYC mayor.  The Obama campaign has overcome enormous obstacles to get where it is today.  It has increased voter registration by the millions, it has gracefully and tactfully fended off negative (and often racially tinged) attacks, and it has defeated what was once considered the most powerful force in American politics today (the Clinton political apparatus).  He led his organization in a fight against both Clintons - arguably the two most popular Democrats in America at the time - and won.  

Compare this with Giuliani.  Aside from shamelessly taking credit for the side effects of the massive economic expansion created under the Clinton Administration (lower crime, high-end commercial development, etc.), Giuliani's only flirtation with true leadership while Mayor was walking around downtown while surrounded by tv cameras after the attacks on 9/11, having a few good press conferences, and attending a lot of funerals (again, while surrounded by tv cameras).  It was his failure at leadership that allowed NYC's emergency headquarters to be located right next to what was already proven to be the City's most likely terrorist target, in the face of repeated warnings from his advisors.  It was his failure at leadership that left NYC's first responders with faulty two-way radios, after his administration was repeatedly warned of this problem.  And it was his failure at leadership that permitted NYC workers to continue to dig at Ground Zero for weeks after being warned of the severe health risks posed by the area.  Make no mistake: these leadership failures cost lives. 

And lest we forget his abysmal inability to lead a political campaign: he ran scared of Hillary from the 2000 Senate race, and took a thumping in the 2008 Republican primary after having focused all his resources solely on Florida and then losing there handily.

Against this backdrop, Giuliani simply has no credibility when it comes to assessing leadership qualities.  There's a yiddish word New Yorkers use to describe Rudy's speech last night: chutzpah.