Rudy's First Priority

Another thing to consider for those who think Rudy Giuliani is just the ticket to keep you "safe" from the terrorist menace:

WASHINGTON - Rudolph Giuliani's membership on an elite Iraq study panel came to an abrupt end last spring after he failed to show up for a single official meeting of the group, causing the panel's top Republican to give him a stark choice: either attend the meetings or quit, several sources said.

Giuliani left the Iraq Study Group last May after just two months, walking away from a chance to make up for his lack of foreign policy credentials on the top issue in the 2008 race, the Iraq war.

He cited "previous time commitments" in a letter explaining his decision to quit, and a look at his schedule suggests why - the sessions at times conflicted with Giuliani's lucrative speaking tour that garnered him $11.4 million in 14 months. MORE

Okay, let's get this straight. Rudy's selling point is that he knows more about protecting America from terrorism than anyone else. He wants to be president so he can do this more effectively.

Given the chance to provide the nation the benefit of his uniquely valuable knowledge, however, Rudy thought it more important that he jet around the country delivering speeches at $100,000+ per day. That is certainly his right, but it also tells us something about his priorities.

The other members of the Iraq Study Group were not exactly sitting around bored, looking for something to do. All were busy in their own lives and careers, but they somehow managed to attend the meetings. Rudy did not. We are left with two possibilities.

1. Rudy knew that he really had nothing to contribute to the Iraq Study Group because he has no experience in foreign policy, intelligence or military affairs. He therefore opted out of the meetings, and is lying when he says his experience qualifies him to be president; or

2. Rudy really is what he claims to be, but will share his expertise with the nation only if we make him president first, or at least pay him $100,000 for each hour of his time. He also demands other benefits.

Neither possibility suggests that this is the person who should be living in the White House. For me, there are plenty of other reasons not to support Giuliani. Plenty of people seem to like him despite his other weaknesses simply because they think he is tough on terrorism. It sounds like this is correct, as long as it doesn't cut into his income.