My latest article on Rudy Giuliani and Hurricane Katrina is up on Tech Central Station and can be read here.
My conclusion:
Given the events of the early part of this decade, there is a strong likelihood that whoever succeeds President Bush will face at least one national crisis. Handicappers of the 2008 election have been debating whether conservatives would ever allow the Republican Party to nominate Giuliani as their presidential candidate, because he holds liberal views on abortion and gay rights.
But in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, even the most ardent social conservatives should examine whether in the hierarchy of issues it is more important to choose a leader who would best be able to respond to an event such as a biological attack, which would require split-second decision making to save lives. There is simply no politician in the nation who has proven to be a better leader in times of crisis than Giuliani. That’s why America needs him.
I saw the mayor of New Orleans on one of those Sunday morning talk shows and knew after about a minute why Nola was in the tragic state that it was. (As if it wasn’t obvious from the fact that he was on a talk show at all, while simultaneous live reports showed parts of his city bursting into flames.) I was immediately reminded of Rudy’s leadership after 9/11–tirelessly working day and night, putting his own life on the line, to rescue NYC. It was clear that Rudy was in charge, and it was clear that he knew what to do. Rudy was a source of comfort to us all. I have often wondered over the last few weeks what would be different if Rudy were the mayor of Nola. Let’s just hope he is president during our next crisis….