• Giuliani Notes,  President 2008,  Rudy Giuliani

    Giuliani Notes: Rudy in Iowa – Evaluate My Whole Record

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    Republican Presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani laughs with Deana Bradley after Giuliani spotted her New York jacket during his first campaign stop in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Tuesday, April 3, 2007.

    Des Moines Register: Giuliani to Iowa GOP: Evaluate my whole record

    Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani said during his Iowa debut today that he would compete hard for the state’s leadoff caucuses, despite positions on social issues that conflict with a segment of Hawkeye State Republicans.

    “I am who I am and people have to evaluate the whole, the whole record,” Giuliani said during a press conference outside a renovated house in Cedar Rapids’ Wellington Heights neighborhood.

    Giuliani’s maiden trip to Iowa began as a mob scene at a Hy-Vee grocery store in a once-blighted neighborhood on the city’s southeast side. Dozens of national, New York and Iowa media flocked around him as the former mayor labored to shake hands with the two dozen or so supporters, curious Republicans and celebrity watchers who met him at the store.

    “I thought Britney Spears was here,” one disgruntled shopper said, fighting through the scrum.

    Giuliani walked the neighborhood with a handful of city leaders, including councilman Brian Fagan, who explained how Cedar Rapids had emulated a New York City program started under Giuliani aimed at revitalizing problem areas.

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    Republican Presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani, right, walks an inner city neighborhood with local officials during his first campaign stop in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

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    Republican Presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani , left, talks with Harold Walton about the transformation of Walton’s neighborhood.

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    Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani answers questions from the media during a walking tour of the Wellington Heights neighborhood in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

    Giuliani said he planned to compete in Iowa, but stopped short of saying he planned to win. Several populous states are talking about moving their primaries to Feb. 5, just weeks after Iowa.

    “We’ll do as much campaigning as we can do, here, in New Hampshire, other places and I hope it’s enough,” he said. “We’ll contest in Iowa. We’re going to participate.”

    Cedar Rapids Republican Ann Burigo met Giuliani at the grocery store and approached his staff about volunteering for his campaign.

    The 81-year-old transplanted New Yorker, who was living in New York when the city was attacked by terrorists in 2001, described Giuliani as strong and compassionate.

    “I like his leadership on September 11th,” she said, explaining that she felt like Giuliani helped New York through its most difficult crisis. “He stands by his decisions and he’s a bulldog.”
    Hopefully, Flap will be able to post some video from the Iowa events later this evening or tomorrow morning.

    Update:  Video footage shot by Kavon at race42008 will be delayed until Friday.

    Tomorrow, Rudy is on to Florida with a meeting with Florida Governor Crist first thing in the morning.

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    Republican Presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani kisses 13-month-old Anna Isabelle Burten as Burten tries to get out of his hold during his first campaign stop in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

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  • Ali Larijani,  Iran,  Iraq,  Iraq War,  Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,  United Kingdom

    Iran Watch: Iran-UK Hostage Crisis Day 12

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    AP: Britain calls for direct talks with Iran

    Britain called for direct talks with Iran over 15 captive Britons Tuesday after speaking for the first time with the chief Iranian negotiator. The announcement followed the sudden release of an Iranian diplomat in Iraq that raised new hope in resolving the standoff.

    In a statement late Tuesday, Prime Minister Blair’s Downing Street office said “both sides share a desire for an early resolution to this issue through direct talks.”

    Hours after Foreign Secretary Margaret cautioned against expecting a swift resolution to the crisis, Downing Street struck an upbeat note, announcing there had been “further contacts” between the two countries, including with chief negotiator Ali Larijani.

    “The prime minister remains committed to resolving this by diplomatic means. The UK has proposed direct bilateral discussions and awaits an Iranian response on when these can begin,” Blair’s office said.

    Earlier, Iranian diplomat Jalal Sharafi arrived in Tehran, hours after he was freed by his captors in Iraq, officials said. He was seized Feb. 4 by uniformed gunmen in Karradah, a Shiite-controlled district of Baghdad.

    His release also suggests the standoff over the captive Britons may end with a de facto prisoner swap — something both Tehran and London have publicly discounted.

    Iran alleged the diplomat had been abducted by an Iraqi military unit commanded by U.S. forces — a charge repeated by several Iraqi Shiite lawmakers. U.S. authorities denied any role in his disappearance.

    Has the sun finally set on the British Empire with a feckless Tony Blair? Flap cannot imagine a “COLD WAR” prisoner abduction/trade ever being so mishandled by Maggie Thatcher. And the Brits then were dealing with the Soviets!

    If Britain is going to negotiate with these terrorists then at least do it quickly and out of sight so your own people can’t see how WEAK you really are.

    Shameful…….

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    This picture, apparently a still taken from a video, showed six sailors sitting in blue and red tracksuits on a carpet in a room with what appears to be a little bowl of nuts standing in the middle of the group.

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    Iran Watch: Iranian TV Shows New Video of Captured British Sailors

    Iran Watch: Iran Protesters Target British Embassy

    Iran Watch: Feckless Brits Seek Deal With Iran

    Iran Watch: British Sailors May Be Tried By Iran

    Iran Watch: Iran Releases Video and Letter of Captured British Hostages

    Iran Watch: Britain Seeks Iran Condemnation from the United Nations

    Iran Watch: Britain Must FIRST Admit “MISTAKE”

    Iran Watch: Iran Parades Brit Hostages on TV

    Iran Watch: Tony Blair Warns Iran

    Iran Watch: Captured Brits – Show Trial or Bluff?

    Iran Watch: Iran May Charge British Sailors

    Iran Watch: Iran to Try Brits for Spying?

    Iran Watch: British Troops Transported To Tehran

    Iran Watch: Are Seized British Troops Hostages?

    Iran Nuclear Watch: Ahmadinejad Cancels United Nations Appearance

    Iran Watch: Iran Seizes British Sailors in Iraq Waters

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  • Giuliani Notes,  President 2008,  Rudy Giuliani

    Giuliani Notes: Rudy 26% McCain 16% Thompson 14% Gingrich 11% Romney 8%

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    Rasmussen: 2008 Republican Presidential Primary

    The addition of former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson (R) to the list of candidates shakes up the race for the GOP Presidential nomination.

    Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) remains on top, but his support dips below the 30% mark for the first time in seven weeks. With Thompson in the mix, Giuliani’s support tumbles to 26%, down nine points from a week ago. That’s the lowest level of support measured for Giuliani in any Rasmussen Reports poll this year.

    Support for Arizona Senator John McCain remains steady at 16%, but McCain’s hold on second place is threatened by Thompson. The movie star turned Senator turned TV star weighs in with 14% support among those likely to vote in a GOP primary. Among Very Conservative voters, Giuliani attracts 20% support followed closely by Thompson at 19%, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich at 18% and McCain at 14%.

    The GOP race is tightening, particularly with Fred Thompson in the mix. Rudy takes a hit for sure but continues to lead by double digitis.

    The big question is: Has Rudy PEAKED and started to fade like the pundits said?

    Yet, McCain continues to fail to inspire and Romney lingers below 10 per cent – despite having raised $20 million last quarter.

    Are McCain and Romney holding others like Fred Thompson and Newt Gingrich back?

    Overall Gingrich is preferred by 11% while 8% would rather see former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney as the GOP nominee. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee reaches 3% and no other candidate attracts support from more than 1% of likely voters.

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    Flap thinks it is now clear that Fred Thompson will run for the presidency. But, will Thompson be able to beat Hillary Clinton?

    In general election match-ups Thompson is tied with New York Senator Hillary Clinton (D) but trailing Illinois Senator Barack Obama (D).

    Giuliani leads all Democrats but polling released on Monday showed that Obama has pulled to within a single point of “America’s Mayor.” Giuliani holds larger leads over Clinton, former North Carolina Senator John Edwards, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, and Senators Chris Dodd and Joe Biden.

    Here is the new summary and polling averages from Real Clear Politics:

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