Did Giuliani Profit From 9/11?

[dgridley]

(CBS) NEW YORK When Rudy Giuliani left office in 2001, he was worth a little less than $2 million. But official filings show he now could be worth 30 times that amount. And that has critics charging he's exploited a tragedy.

Giuliani's become a multi-millionaire since Sept. 11. And that's not sitting well with FDNY Deputy Fire Chief Jim Riches.

"He's making all this money on the backs of my dead son and all the other dead victims that day," Riches said.

That's a serious charge, but it's echoing among Giuliani's critics in wake of his financial disclosures this week. It turns out the former mayor could be worth up to $66 million.

Last year he collected speaking fees of $11.4 million, consulting fees of $4.1 million and fees from his Texas law firm of $1.2 million.

more: http://cbs4.com/national/topstories_story_138032337.html

:notme:

 

[viciouscircle]

Of course he did...

Guiliani went from a regional name at best to a national name in a matter of hours. Though I wouldn't call it intentional, one of the major side effects of 9/11 was that it gave Guiliani a lot of name power. If it weren't for 9/11, Guiliani probably wouldn't even be mentioned outside of the NY metro area, much less be a presidential candidate.

As far as how to interpret what has happened, Rudy DID have a rather unique experience even compared to the rest of New Yorkers. This coupled with his general popularity and recognizability makes him a great candidate on the speaking circuit and in the publishing world, similar to ex-presidents and the like. This is in no way an even remotely new thing. People are interested in what he has to say, making him rather valuable in our commerical society.

The really sad thing is that people seem to be slightly blinded by patriotism when dealing with him. Yes, he was the mayor of NY on 9/11. Yes, he displayed himself as a good leader during and following the tragedy. Does he have any real expertise on 9/11 or even terrorism in general, as he would like people to believe? From all the evidence available at this point... I would seriously doubt it. Sadly, he seems to be stuck on reminding people that he was the mayor of NY on 9/11, and disinterested in attempting to stand on his own as a public figure.

 

[dgridley]

one reason I wrote Giuliani off from the start, viciouscircle.. one disaster does not a president make.

 

[mis_chiff]

I think I'd be ashamed if I was mayor when that happened!
I would be so disappointed that it happened on my watch
I wouldn't be able to live with myself, and I certainly wouldn't
be tooting my own horn .....

 

[whitebark]

it's not his fault it happened, but sure, if you watched the last debate he is running as a "9/11 candidate". He should run on his credentials other than what happened that day to be a real candidate.

Go Ron Paul!

 

[dgridley]

That's my contention also..

it's not his fault it happened, but sure, if you watched the last debate he is running as a "9/11 candidate". He should run on his credentials other than what happened that day to be a real candidate.

 

[MrKrabs]

Do any of you know how much he gave to charity?

 

[CrazyTech]

one reason I wrote Giuliani off from the start, viciouscircle.. one disaster does not a president make.

At the same time, there are candidates...one in particular...that are running on virtually no experience. I'm no big Rudy fan, but he has had some experience that not a lot of others can boast about. That's something to consider in itself.

 

[MCDomains]

I'm not a Rudy for Prez fan, but he gives so much to charity. It's not his fault people want to hire him to speak after the excellent way he handled the city following 9/11.