Too Many (Unqualified) Cooks in the Giuliani Kitchen?

On Friday evening Judy Guiliani will have her political coming out party on ABC’s "20/20" during a taped interview with correspondent Barbara Walters where she and hubby Rudy said that she could very well attend cabinet meetings and advise on policy in a Giuliani administration. Rudy currently leads the pack of 2008 GOP presidential hopefuls. Judy is a registered nurse. She is not qualified to attend such important senior-level gatherings, and certainly not equipped to deal with the serious subject matter that’s discussed in them. One unqualified Giuliani in the White House would be enough. Excuse me for being blunt here, but I don’t want Judy sitting in on cabinet meetings anymore than I want Rudy sitting in on my next rectal exam.

To be sure, most everyone consults their spouse at some point on sensitive work-related matters. But there’s a difference between a private, personal conversation between a husband and wife, and a "two-for-one" proclamation to the American public that the spouse could be injecting her opinions into the mix along with members of the president’s cabinet. Those of us with business partners can appreciate that the partner’s spouse is a likely confidant and advisor to him or her. But I don’t think that anyone would want that spouse attending our board meetings and shaping policy. That’s taking the spousal consultative role a bit too far. And there’s no place for it in Washington either.

Elected officials are just that: elected. Americans don’t vote for the spouses. They vote for who they believe to be the most experienced, capable candidates, and that’s who they expect to make policy. Not only is involving one’s spouse in presidential politics setting a dangerous precedent, such souped up involvement, as we saw with Hillary Clinton back in 1992 and ’93, can serve to undermine the president and the party’s overall agenda, weakening its position against the opposition. It can be a major distraction, and provide much needed fodder for the other party to go on the offensive.

We need to get back to the good old days in Washington where the president is the one who wears the pants in the White House. George Bush gave unprecedented power to VP Dick Cheney and the result was an unjust war and a raping of the Constitution. Bill Clinton gave unprecedented power to Hillary and it turned what should’ve been his presidential honeymoon into an embarrassing and exhausting battlefield with Republicans. There's so many reasons why we don't want Rudy Giuliani in the White House. Telling us now that his wife would be "his best advisor" is just the icing on the cake.

The Rudy & Judy Marital Mess

"Judy, Judy, Judy..." So you’ve been married three times, not two as you’ve previously reported. Judy Giuliani’s new revelation puts her in fine company: an astounding nine marriages between her, hubby Rudy and his 2008 presidential challenger Newt Gingrich. Maybe I’m missing something here, but this is the sacred institution that their party is trying to keep homosexuals from destroying? It’s this embarrassing hypocrisy that could have a very interesting impact on the next election.

Rudy Giuliani wants to be president. He wants it so bad he practically drools like a Pavlovian pup every time he talks about it. But is the country ready for him? More important, are conservatives ready for a thrice married, cross-dressing, pro-abortion candidate who shacked up with his gay pal after he cheated on his wife and left her for Judy, Judy, Judy? And the fact that his kids won’t talk with him because of it doesn’t help his image any.

While Rudy continues to maintain his front-runner status among Republicans, there is growing concern in GOP circles that his personal life is going to impede his political aspirations; that his campaign could implode as more juicy tidbits surface about his dysfunctional past (and present, if you count his penchant for Bob Mackey-type gowns and poorly applied make-up). His marital track record, his philandering, his estrangement from his kids and his strange dressing habits do not jive with the base and what it stands for. And his positions on the war don’t jive with the rest of the country. The only card he plays well, unjustifiably, is the terror card.

Let’s go back in time a bit. On September 10, 2001 Rudy Giuliani was a highly unpopular mayor of New York City with an abysmal 40% approval rating. He was viewed as an arrogant, stubborn bully insensitive to the plight of minorities and the poor, and with a weak record on everything except fighting crime. And somehow, by the sheer virtue that he was in office the following day, he has infuriatingly claimed the mantle of hero; the tough guy who can kick terror’s ass. And what did he actually do that day to merit such reverential status? He simply had the misfortune, like thousands of others, to be at the World Trade site that morning, only unlike thousands, he was lucky to run from the carnage and spare his own life...for all to see on the 6 o’clock news. It made for great political theatre, and it allowed a pretty crappy mayor to instantly gain the national currency necessary to further his dream of one day becoming a pretty crappy U.S. president.

Since September 11, 2001 The Honorable Drag Queen has exploited the worst tragedy in U.S. history at every turn, criss-crossing the country giving speech after self-aggrandizing speech about his larger-than-life status as a 911 hero. But as he seeks the most important job in the world, and as we approach the 2008 presidential election, no one should ever forget Randy Rudy’s attempt to circumvent America’s democratic principles for his own political gain. Let’s all remember how this narcissistic, shameless opportunist attempted to have New York’s November ‘01 mayoral election postponed so that the self-anointed great one could indefinitely stay in office and save the city as it dug itself out from its ghastly horror. This blatant disregard for our Democratic process, not the Rudy & Judy marital mess, is just one of the many reasons for keeping him out of the White House.


On another subject......we could use your help at The Adrienne Shelly Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated in my wife's honor to help carry out her spirit and passion, with the goal of assisting women filmmakers. As you may know, Adrienne was brutally killed in NYC on November 1, 2006. Through the Foundation, her commitment to filmmkaing lives on. We've finalized a scholarship with NYU's Tisch School of the Arts/Kanbar Institute of Film; and grants with Columbia University, American Film Institute, NY Women in Film and Television, and the Independent Feature Project. Other initiatives will follow. Please visit our website to learn more about our mission and to make a donation. Every little contribution helps preserve Adrienne's legacy, and to help create something positive out of this horrible tragedy. Thank you.

Adrienne's film "Waitress" will hit theatres May 2nd. Early reviews have been terrific. A link to the trailer is below. Enjoy.

http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox_searchlight/waitress/trailer/

The Media's Castration During the Bush Presidency

The obligation of the media is to represent the people by serving as its watchdog over government. The bedrock of democracy is an educated, knowledgeable populace. As such, free press informs the public, holds leaders accountable, and provides a forum for debate of local and national issues. Freedom of the press is therefore a non-negotiable, fundamental prerequisite for a functional democracy. But since 2000, in the most secretive, media-hostile administration in our nation's history, the mainstream media has been neutered like a six-month old Labrador. It's allowed the Busheviks to rape the constitution with impunity, making a mockery of our sacred rule of law and turning the United States into a near Monarchy. As anyone who watches a White House press conference can attest to, the press fears speaking out against Bush, who has gotten a free pass for six years now despite having a presidency wrought with lies, corruption and miserable failure. And it's Americans who suffer as a result. If not for the advent of blogging and the power of 'netroots reporting, Bush would truly be king, and our citizenry would be completely ignorant of the truth.

If the press wanted to do its job it has plenty to work with, chiefly: (1) the failure of the Iraq war and the deception it was built on; (2) the colossal distraction of Iraq on the war against Al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden and terrorism worldwide; (3) unprecedented criminal behavior by the president, his cabinet and several GOP leaders (CIA leak, illegal wiretappings, US attorney firings, etc). Why on Earth then is Bush continually allowed to duck the hotseat, like he was at a recent press conference when he blew off repeated questions about the Valerie Plame scandal with four "Pete, ain't gonna discuss that" deflections? Whatever happened to the media grabbing its nuts and demanding, "No, Mr. President, that is unacceptable from the President of the United States in times of crisis. The American people demand to know what your personal involvement was in this scandal." What the hell's going on in that White House Press Room these days? Bush says "I ain't gonna talk" and the media shoves its collective tail between its legs? How about embarrassing him to the point of capitulation. Or at least to the point of causing severe political damage to him and his party. Just what is the press so afraid of? Perhaps, as Dan Rather suggested last week on HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher, they're just too darned cushy with the Bushies and don't want to lose their coveted access and dinner invites.

Back in the 90's, the Repugs crucified Bill Clinton for lying under oath. To this day, they still refer to this "lying under oath" as the foundation of their legal and moral justification for Bubba's impeachment. Yet these hypocrites all refuse to testify to anything under oath--be it to the 911 Commission or to the Judiciary Committee regarding the current attorney firings scandal--because they know damn well just how much they're guilty of lies, deception and treason.

To the U.S. mainstream free press, wake up and do your job already and stop letting this president and his crooked cohorts walk all over you.


On another subject......we could use your help at The Adrienne Shelly Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated in my wife's honor to help carry out her spirit and passion, with the goal of assisting women filmmakers. As you may know, Adrienne was brutally killed in NYC on November 1, 2006. Through the Foundation, her commitment to filmmkaing lives on. We've finalized a scholarship with NYU's Tisch School of the Arts/Kanbar Institute of Film; and grants with Columbia University, American Film Institute, NY Women in Film and Television, and the Independent Feature Project. Other initiatives will follow. Please visit our website to learn more about our mission and to make a donation. Every little contribution helps preserve Adrienne's legacy, and to help create something positive out of this horrible tragedy. Thank you.

Adrienne's film "Waitress" will hit theatres May 2nd. Early reviews have been terrific. A link to the trailer is below. Enjoy.

http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox_searchlight/waitress/trailer/

Newt and Rudy’s Skeletons Could Fill Ten Closets (and BTW...Hannity Still Running Scared From Ostroy)

While Newt Gingrich was rabidly leading the 1998 crucifixion of Bill Clinton over his affair with Monica Lewinsky, the former House Speaker himself was dipping his libidinous joystick into the cookie jar of a young congressional aide behind wife #2's back. His mistress later became wife #3. The real question, as Bill Maher asked incredulously, is that "someone fucked Newt Gingrich?!" All kidding aside, the hypocrisy is mind-numbing. While he was gallivanting around DC ruining his wife's life, he was arrogantly justifying his own shameless indiscretions while holding the former president to a much higher standard. The old Republican do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do philosophy.

"The president of the United States got in trouble for committing a felony in front of a sitting federal judge," the Georgia Republican told Focus on the Family founder James Dobson in an interview last week.

Gingrich drew a line back then between his own philandering and that of Clinton by taking the moral high ground in defending America's rule of law: "I have no choice except to move forward and say that you cannot accept ... perjury in your highest officials." Poppycock. He was an out-of-control, power-drunk Republican who ruthlessly and mercilessly castrated, and publicly chastised, his Democratic rival in an effort to shift the political landscape. And he succeeded. Clinton was impeached by the House that year, although he was acquitted by the Senate in '99.

So now Newt Gingrich, the same guy who broke the news to wife #1 that he was leaving her as she was recovering from cancer surgery, wants to be our next president, and he's trying to come clean in an effort to win the conservative vote. His strategy is to get the skeletons out, and out early. Between the affair, his multiple marriages and his embarrassing, scandalous fall from power, it's going to be an uphill climb. But at least we know that if Newt did become president, while he might very well continue his cheating ways, he swears he'd never lie about it under oath. Now that's integrity.

And then there's that other 2008 GOP hopeful, former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Like Gingrich, Rudy's also got three marriages under his belt, but unlike Newt, he's been photographed in drag almost as much as Ru Paul. Is this Rudy's idea of showing America that he can be as good a woman president as Hillary? He also must deal with the question of his relationship with his two kids, with whom he's estranged. Seems they don't like the way Pa treated Ma (wife #2 Donna Hanover) as he was dumping her for wife #3, Judy Nathan (man, you need a scorecard to keep track of these guys!). Again as Maher joked, 'the only Republican in this race who respects marriage is the Mormon,' Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

Wow, I'm dizzy. Newt and Rudy. Six marriages. Infidelity. Dressing in drag. Estrangement from the kids. And these are the "family values" folks?? Al Gore, are you listening???

So what will the Democrats do with all this dirt? Can you imagine what the Rovians would do if they had drag photos of Barack Obama? Jeez, just look what they did to John Kerry when he was caught windsurfing. You'd think the man had been caught writhing on a stripper's pole. Could you imagine how filthy dirty they'd play if they had a picture of John Edwards, the man they disrespectfully and childishly refer to as the "Breck Girl," wearing a dress? Or a shot of Hillary in a suit and tie? There'd be no stopping them. And ya know what? We need to fight fire with fire. The Democrats need to roll out these drag photos of Rudy everywhere. At every turn. And ask America if this is the sort of man they want protecting them in times of war and terror. Lord knows that's exactly what the Repugs would do to our candidate if they had the chance, just as they've done so often in the past. And while we're at it, let's keep reminding voters that between them, Newt and Rudy haven more marriages than the Gabor sisters. Not something to be proud of. And let's demand an answer from Rudy as to why his kids won't talk with him. Hell, in '04 they trashed our guy for windsurfing and being a war hero. We certainly can beat that.


Update on Sean Hannity's Courage: He has none. Still waiting for the brash blowhard to choose live debate vs the safety of hiding behind his microphone to bash me in absentia. C'mon Sean, grow some nuts, will ya? This liberal's challenging you to a verbal duel, and you're shakin' in your boots. Hannity and his producers refuse to respond to repeated calls and emails after my initial call....when producer Jennie Lubart (212) 301-5715, Jennie.Lubart@FOXNEWS.COM) said..."Hmmm, interesting idea, let me discuss with my senior producer." I guess they discussed it and decided it was best to stick to the strategy of having Sean bash people when they're not around to defend themselves. Put me on the air, Sean, and I'll destroy you with facts and truth.


On another subject......we could use your help at The Adrienne Shelly Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated in my wife's honor to help carry out her spirit and passion, with the goal of providing scholarships and grants to women filmmakers. And we're already underway: We've just made plans with NYU's Tisch School of the Arts to provide an annual Adrienne Shelly Foundation Scholarship; and at Columbia University's graduate school an Adrienne Shelly Foundation Grant to an end-of-year student film competition finalist. Other initiatives will soon be finalized as well. As many of you know, Adrienne was brutally killed here in NYC on November 1st. Please visit our website to learn more about our mission and to make a donation. Every little contribution helps preserve Adrienne's legacy, and to help create something positive out of this horrible tragedy. Thank you.

Hannity Still Hiding From Ostroy. Why is He So Afraid of an On-Air Debate?

It's Day Three of "Sean Hannity Shows Just What a Coward He Really Is." Earlier in the week I was told that on his radio program Tuesday "The Hannitizer" berated me and ripped apart an ABCNEWS.com piece I wrote about Al Gore's likely 2008 presidential candidacy. All without me being there to confront him. The man who derives great pleasure from calling liberals "weak" and "cowards" is himself the biggest wuss of all. He'd rather bash someone on the air unchallenged than go head-to-head in debate and be outed in front of his audience as a fraud. He knows exactly how much he lies to them, and he refuses to have anyone on who'll use facts and the truth to skillfully and aggressively refute his GOP nonsense. Why else would he pair himself on television with Alan Colmes? Colmes couldn't win a fight against a bunch of Girl Scouts, for Pete's sake.

As I wrote Thursday, I called Hannity's producer, Jennie Lubart, and offered to go live with Sean. Haven't heard a peep. And I suspect I won't. Here's her contact info if you'd like to give her a shout and tell you'd like to see me get on the air her weak-kneed boss: (212) 301-5715, Jennie.Lubart@FOXNEWS.COM.

Stay tuned.

"And Now, Heeeeerrrrre's Johnny!" How TV Talk Shows Today Can Swing An Election

It’s a phenomenon that Bill Clinton perfected with his 1992 saxaphone-playin’ performance on Arsenio Hall: presidential-candidate-as-cool-TV-talk-show-guest. The goal? All you need is a musical instrument or some witty repartee and your likeability quotient will propel you into the White House. It worked for Bubba. Trailing in the polls, many believe his rendition of “Heartbreak Hotel” was the turning point in his campaign. Since then, every major candidate has bantered with the likes of Jay Leno, David Letterman, Oprah and has “chilled” with the MTV crowd. Some more successfully than others.

Ever since the infamous 1960 presidential debates between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon we’ve learned that a candidate’s telegenic appeal can mean the difference between winning and losing. Those seeking the nation’s top job are now regularly paraded before the cameras like the Flying Wallendas on a political tightrope. The pressure to be funny and appealing is immense. As Sen. John Kerry deftly demonstrated in 2004, not everyone is up for the task.

With the 2008 race heating up, let’s look at some of the top candidates on both sides of the aisle. Take Sen. John McCain, for example, who’ll be appearing on Thursday’s Letterman show. Here’s a guy whose presidential aspirations are larger than life, yet he’s as stiff as a board. So stiff in fact that his upper lip refuses to move, making him appear like his own ventriloquist dummy. When he speaks, all that’s missing is the string in the back of his head and someone pulling it. So does appearing with Dave make McCain any more appealing? To me, he could dance with Shakira and it wouldn’t change a thing.

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is another story. An engaging chap, he’s usually full of humorous anecdotes and a big toothy grin. He’s charming and witty, and, both his lips move, which is a real asset when up against McCain. The camera loves him.

On the left, Sen. Barack Omaba is a bonafide rock star. In some circles, put him on a talk show and he can make you forget Shakira. Now that’s star power. He will only benefit tremendously by appearing on these shows. And I predict he will do as many of them as he can, possibly ruling out only Jerry Springer and Talk Sex with Sue Johanson.

Former Sen. John Edwards is generally a very entertaining, likeable guest, but so is Ashton Kutcher…and neither of them in my opinion is going to become president.

The oh-so-coy, I’m- not-running Al Gore stands to gain tremendously by his continued appearances all over the tube. Long lambasted as a wonkish bore, Gore’s shown an incredible sense of humor and a general ease before the camera. When (not if) he announces he’s running (likely in September), look for him to be everywhere…even on Springer and Sue Johanson. That’s right…Talk Sex with Al Gore. Now what would be cooler than that?

That brings us to the Big Kahuna, Sen. Hillary Clinton. With her hard-as-stone, polarizing reputation, she could score home run after home run on the talk show circuit, as she often comes off girly and giggly at the same time she’s brilliant and presidential.

Lastly, what about our current president, George W. Bush? Well, by law he can’t run again, so we won’t be seeing him on any talk shows in the near future. But if he could run again, Letterman’s “Stupid Human Tricks” would be the perfect segment.