Rudy Giuliani — the man who would carry the presidential election in Florida if it were held today, according to the latest Quinnipiac University poll — sounded an awful lot like Jack Bauer in his biggest Tampa Bay appearance to date today: It's all about fighting the terrorists.
"Before September 11th, we were playing defense," Giuliani told the crowd of about 500 at St. Petersburg High School this afternoon. "We put ourselves in jeopardy when we play defense." America's mayor explained that he doesn't blame any president in the past for not responding to terror stronger and earlier, saying "I don't blame people for that. Government is real complicated. They didn't perceive the danger. I don't blame them."
But now that the threat is real and demonstrated, Giuliani said, not keeping America on the offense, by using the military the way we have in Afghanistan and Iraq, is irresponsible. In a post-9/11 world, "there is no excuse," Giuliani said. (The juxtaposition of Giuliani's positions with the Democratic Congressional effort to set a withdrawal date for Iraq and Speaker Nancy Pelosi's presence in Syria was not lost on the partisan crowd, which cheered his oblique attack against their rival party.)
The Republican frontrunner condoned the use of the military, surveillance, the Patriot Act and tough and forceful ("but legal") interrogations as important components of staying on the offensive against terrorists.
Guiliani also advocated a "free market" solution to the nation's health care crisis, including health care savings accounts. He was introduced and flanked by two dozen prominent supporters, including state Attorney General Bill McCollum (named earlier in the day as Giuliani's Florida chairman), GOP icon Congressman C.W. Bill Young and Congresswoman Ginnie Browne-Waite.
Giuliani got a strong welcome from the Pinellas Republican Party, whose leaders have certainly chosen sides in the crowded primary contest. Not surprising given the fact that Chairman Tony DiMatteo is a native New Yorker and proud graduate of Brooklyn Tech. He stood at the door to St. Pete High this afternoon and greeted VIPs with a hearty, "You here to meet the next president of the United States?"
Finally, Giuliani was presented with a Green Devils warm-up jacket by members of the student body, emblazoned with "Rudy 44" on the back. Giuliani laughed and held it up, saying the number had great significance for him. "You think you know why," he said, alluding to the fact that he would be president No. 44 if elected. "But this is why: This was Reggie Jackson's number."
This article appears in Apr 4-10, 2007.