Over the last two decades, Rudy Giuliani has gone from “America’s Mayor” to the guy who was assaulted by a Shop Rite employee while campaigning for his son, Andrew. He has been mentioned by Liz Cheney as a planner of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and has been suspended by the New York bar from practicing law in the state. Straight Arrow News contributor Jordan Reid has followed Rudy’s antics since the beginning and actually has some hope for his legacy:
Let me preface this by saying that I am not a Rudy Giuliani fan. I grew up in New York City, so I absolutely remember the post-9/11 Rudy love–well-deserved, in my opinion–but in more recent years he seems to have developed the moral compass of a garden slug.
Should Rudy Giuliani be indicted for his many, many crimes–including lobbying a foreign government for support, perjury, and conspiracy to subvert the United States government? Yes. He should. The man should be in jail.
What he shouldn’t be–and here is where my opinions differs from many liberals, including a number of prominent late-night hosts–is a laughing stock.
Early on in this clown show, sure, Rudy’s antics were moments of high hilarity. There’s the sweaty hair dye moment, the unfortunate in-court flatulence, the press conference at–definitely not–the Four Seasons he intended…it’s all ridiculous, the stuff I’m sure Stephen Colbert’s writers dream about at night.
It’s silly but as time goes on, it becomes increasingly not really funny. During the January 6 hearings, one tidbit that came out that was much harped-upon by the press on both sides was Giuliani’s supposed drunkenness on election night, a state that allegedly inspired him to push Trump to declare that he had won the election thereby setting the foundation for the later insurrection.
Based on a virtual mountain of circumstantial evidence, and with the caveat that I am in no way, shape or form a lawyer, I am still inclined to believe these statements. I am inclined to believe that Giuliani has committed many illegal acts. I’m also inclined to believe that he was drunk during many of these events.
Let me preface this by saying that I am not a Rudy Giuliani fan. I grew up in New York City, so I absolutely remember the post-9/11 Rudy love – well-deserved, in my opinion – but in more recent years he seems to have developed the moral compass of a garden slug.
Should Rudy Giuliani be indicted for his many, many crimes – including lobbying a foreign government for support perjury and conspiracy to subvert the united states government? Yes. He should. The man should be in jail.
What he shouldn’t be – and here is where my opinions differs from many liberals, including a number of prominent late-night hosts – is a laughing stock.
Early on in this clown show, sure, Rudy’s antics were moments of high hilarity. There’s the sweaty hair dye moment, the unfortunate in-court flatulence, the press conference at definitely not the Four Seasons he intended…it’s all ridiculous, the stuff I’m sure Stephen Colbert’s writers dream about at night.
It’s silly but as time goes on, it becomes increasingly not really funny. During the January 6 hearings, one tidbit that came out that was much harped-upon by the press was press on both sides was Giuliani’s supposed drunkenness on Election Night, a state that allegedly inspired him to push Trump to declare that he had won the election thereby setting the foundation for the later insurrection.
Based on a virtual mountain of circumstantial evidence, and with the caveat that I am in no way, shape or form a lawyer I am still inclined to believe these statements. I am inclined to believe that Giuliani has committed many illegal acts. I’m also inclined to believe that he was drunk during many of these events.
I’m inclined to believe this because Rudy Giuliani is visibly struggling with substance abuse, based both on anecdotal evidence and what we see before our own eyes.
Rudy himself has denied claims of alcohol abuse, repeatedly saying that he does not have an problem, but where there’s fire, there’s fire. Isn’t that the expression?
So rather than looking at Rudy as a walking, talking punchline, I think we should view him – both now and in future recollections – as a man suffering from a deadly and progressive disease one that damages the brain and interferes with its communication pathways. As with any alcoholic, Rudy Giuliani deserves empathy and his deserves treatment – and said treatment, incidentally, doesn’t usually include access to high level governmental officials and information. It also doesn’t preclude culpability – and in this case, there’s a great deal of that.
The story of Rudy Giuliani is still on-going but I have a feeling that when the history books are written, his tale will not be a comedy of butt-dials and newsroom rantings, but rather a tragedy – one that we all watched play out with our own two eyes.
Jordan Reid
Author; Founding Editor, Ramshackle Glam
View Video LibraryShare
. . .
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Commentary
Our commentary partners will help you reach your own conclusions on complex topics.
Can thorium solve the nuclear problem?
21 hrs ago
Peter Zeihan
Why can’t we explore the Arctic?
Wednesday
Peter Zeihan
America’s Gen Z on democracy, politics and the future
Wednesday
Dr. Frank Luntz
Why going all in on lithium batteries is not a winning EV strategy
Tuesday
Peter Zeihan
History will view Rudy Giuliani as a tragedy, not a clown
Jul 19, 2022
Share
. . .
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
By Straight Arrow News
Over the last two decades, Rudy Giuliani has gone from “America’s Mayor” to the guy who was assaulted by a Shop Rite employee while campaigning for his son, Andrew. He has been mentioned by Liz Cheney as a planner of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and has been suspended by the New York bar from practicing law in the state. Straight Arrow News contributor Jordan Reid has followed Rudy’s antics since the beginning and actually has some hope for his legacy:
Let me preface this by saying that I am not a Rudy Giuliani fan. I grew up in New York City, so I absolutely remember the post-9/11 Rudy love – well-deserved, in my opinion – but in more recent years he seems to have developed the moral compass of a garden slug.
Should Rudy Giuliani be indicted for his many, many crimes – including lobbying a foreign government for support perjury and conspiracy to subvert the united states government? Yes. He should. The man should be in jail.
What he shouldn’t be – and here is where my opinions differs from many liberals, including a number of prominent late-night hosts – is a laughing stock.
Early on in this clown show, sure, Rudy’s antics were moments of high hilarity. There’s the sweaty hair dye moment, the unfortunate in-court flatulence, the press conference at definitely not the Four Seasons he intended…it’s all ridiculous, the stuff I’m sure Stephen Colbert’s writers dream about at night.
It’s silly but as time goes on, it becomes increasingly not really funny. During the January 6 hearings, one tidbit that came out that was much harped-upon by the press was press on both sides was Giuliani’s supposed drunkenness on Election Night, a state that allegedly inspired him to push Trump to declare that he had won the election thereby setting the foundation for the later insurrection.
Based on a virtual mountain of circumstantial evidence, and with the caveat that I am in no way, shape or form a lawyer I am still inclined to believe these statements. I am inclined to believe that Giuliani has committed many illegal acts. I’m also inclined to believe that he was drunk during many of these events.
I’m inclined to believe this because Rudy Giuliani is visibly struggling with substance abuse, based both on anecdotal evidence and what we see before our own eyes.
Rudy himself has denied claims of alcohol abuse, repeatedly saying that he does not have an problem, but where there’s fire, there’s fire. Isn’t that the expression?
So rather than looking at Rudy as a walking, talking punchline, I think we should view him – both now and in future recollections – as a man suffering from a deadly and progressive disease one that damages the brain and interferes with its communication pathways. As with any alcoholic, Rudy Giuliani deserves empathy and his deserves treatment – and said treatment, incidentally, doesn’t usually include access to high level governmental officials and information. It also doesn’t preclude culpability – and in this case, there’s a great deal of that.
The story of Rudy Giuliani is still on-going but I have a feeling that when the history books are written, his tale will not be a comedy of butt-dials and newsroom rantings, but rather a tragedy – one that we all watched play out with our own two eyes.
Trump’s ‘vermin’ rhetoric is straight from Hitler playbook
On Nov. 11, Donald Trump referred to liberals as “vermin.” The United Nations widely recognizes this rhetorical dehumanization as a crucial prerequisite for organized violence, terrorism and genocide. Adolf Hitler’s Nazi party, for instance, repeatedly used the German word for “vermin” to describe Jewish populations before, during and after the Holocaust. Straight Arrow News contributor
Friday
Israel-Hamas war should not punish innocent civilians in Gaza
The mortality and human suffering in Gaza is horrific, with 0.5% of Gaza’s total population killed and 60%-70% of all Gazans displaced from their homes in the past five weeks since Oct. 7. In the U.S., controversy over supporting Palestine or Israel is on the rise, leading to heated protests and — in some cases
Nov 16
Scottish baby box highlights the failings of US childcare
On TikTok, a woman in Scotland showed the contents of a “baby box” care package that expecting mothers receive from their government, which even included a tiny mattress for the baby. The video has sparked a debate on the other side of the Atlantic, where U.S. state and federal governments restrict access to maternal healthcare
Nov 9
Speaker Mike Johnson is an extremist and insurrectionist
The new speaker of the House, Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., was the fourth nominee for the job after the ousting of Kevin McCarthy. A staunch conservative and Trump ally, Johnson authored numerous bills restricting abortion access, and has defended Louisiana’s same-sex marriage ban before the Supreme Court. He was also a key figure in the
Nov 2
Americans will need help caring for aging baby boomers
As baby boomers begin to consider senior living options, the burdens of senior healthcare will fall upon working millennials and Gen X, who will be raising their children and working one or two jobs while also caring for their aging parents. It’s a burden that will present unique challenges to Americans today and in the
Oct 26
Media Miss
Stories each side is underreporting
Secretive surveillance program has been tracking Americans’ phone records for over a decade: Report
26 sources | 20% from the left
Trump’s Kids Took Out $22M in Home Loans Over the Past Few Years
6 sources | 0% from the right
Getty Images
Latest Opinions
Getty Images
Google to delete inactive accounts starting Dec. 1; what you can do
Watch :55
1 hr ago
Reuters
Judge rejects Trump’s bid to subpoena Jan. 6 committee records
Watch 1:26
2 hrs ago
Reuters
More hostages set to be released as Israel-Hamas cease-fire is extended: The Morning Rundown, Nov. 28, 2023
Watch 7:42
2 hrs ago
Getty Images
Israel-Hamas extend cease-fire by 2 days to release more hostages
Watch 2:02
17 hrs ago
Israel Defense Forces
Hundreds of humanitarian aid trucks head to Gaza
Watch :52
17 hrs ago
Popular Opinions
In addition to the facts, we believe it’s vital to hear perspectives from all sides of the political spectrum.
Republicans cannot prove Biden’s economy is a disaster
22 hrs ago
David Pakman
Why Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy is such a remarkable leader
22 hrs ago
Larry Lindsey
Trump’s ‘vermin’ rhetoric is straight from Hitler playbook
Friday
Jordan Reid
Rosalynn Carter’s humanitarian legacy transcends her first lady role
Friday
Dr. Rashad Richey
Politics
Schumer to bring Israel, Ukraine aid package to Senate floor
Yesterday
Biden to skip UN climate summit in Dubai
Israel-Hamas cease-fire nears end as dozens of hostages released: The Morning Rundown, Nov. 27, 2023
Getty Images
U.S.
Suspect arrested in shooting of 3 U.S. college students of Palestinian descent
Yesterday
US Army’s new Precision Strike Missile almost ready to deploy
Scientists rescue coral as rising ocean temperatures break records
Reuters
International
More hostages set to be released as Israel-Hamas cease-fire is extended: The Morning Rundown, Nov. 28, 2023
2 hrs ago
Israel-Hamas extend cease-fire by 2 days to release more hostages
Hundreds of humanitarian aid trucks head to Gaza
Reuters
Tech
Google to delete inactive accounts starting Dec. 1; what you can do
1 hr ago
Elon Musk visits Israel, meets with PM Netanyahu amid antisemitism accusations
Altman back as OpenAI CEO: Here’s the rollercoaster of events since Friday
Getty Images