Rudy on Rose

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani appeared on the Charlie Rose Show last night.

The video can be viewed HERE

Among other subjects, Hizzoner discussed Islamic terrorism, his health care plan, his views on social issues, supporting the surge strategy in Iraq, why French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been called the French Giuliani — "maybe because he directly challenges political correctness," how President Bill Clinton failed to adequately address terrorism during his administration, how prostate cancer gave him perspective and sensitivity and prepared him for 9/11, and how he won’t make a decision about closing Guantanamo until he visits the prison himself.

Responding to the part of Sen. Barack Obama’s speech yesterday in which Obama proposed attacking al Qaeda in Pakistan even without the consent of President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, Giuliani said, "would that be an option that’s on the table?…Yeah, I think I would take that option."

One of the more surprising moments came at the end of the 54-minute interview when Giuliani said media coverage of his private life enabled him to be a better leader on and after 9/11.

Media scrutiny is "the biggest price" of a life in politics, he said. "People you love, people you care about get picked on, they get attacked. You would prefer it if they attacked you…"

"People of this country have a right to find out 1000% who the heck I am. One of the great strengths that I had on September 11 and in the days after that is that people in New York City knew everything about me. They knew the good things and the bad things, they knew the successes, the failures, they knew some of the mistakes I’d made in my private life, it was all out there, they knew it all, I didn’t have to be anybody different than who I was…and I could lead I think effectively as a result of that. Not perfectly, but effectively…

"If they elect me President of the United States they’re not going to get a perfect man. They’re going to get a man who’s been through a lot. I think as a result of that I can lead more effectively."

Asked to list his weaknesses and failures, Giuliani alluded to meeting his third wife in less than ideal circumstances and how he handled his showdown with the leader of the New York City Public Schools system.

– jt