Norm endorses Rudy Giuliani

Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) in a move that is quite puzzling endorsed Rudy Giuliani for Mayor President of the United States. I don't believe that he was being leaned on by anyone to decide. However, his endorsement says much about his decision-making process.

The Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee announced today that Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN) has formally endorsed Rudy Giuliani and will serve as the campaign’s Minnesota State Chairman and Midwest Regional Chairman.

“I have long respected and admired Rudy Giuliani,” said Senator Coleman. "Rudy Giuliani and I share a strong bond as former Mayors. We focused on bringing people together to get things done, and to ensure that our focus was on solutions, not problems. I am confident that his vision and his strength as a candidate will give Republicans a strong voice in the November 2008 elections."

“I am honored to have the backing of Norm Coleman,” said Rudy Giuliani. “Norm was an effective Mayor and serves the people of Minnesota well in the United States Senate. I truly appreciate his continued friendship and support.”
(joinrudy2008.com

Respect and admiration. Respect for a mayor that was running around NYC in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 because (despite significant opposition because they'd been attacked by terrorists before), he demanded that the emergency response centers were in the World Trade Center towers. Admiration because everything the man says is "noun + verb + 9/11" in the words of Joe Biden:

Admiration and respect because as Joe Biden says "he's the most unqualified man to run for President since George W. Bush."

This says a lot about Norm's judgment and decision-making. First, Norm is always looking for the bandwagon that is most likely to win. He became a Republican in 1996 after he saw the 1994 Republican electoral landslide. He jumped onboard the 'invade Iraq' bandwagon as the Bush Administration lied and manipulated our way into invading Iraq. Now he thinks its time to jump on the bandwagon of the Republican frontrunner.

Maybe its because like George W. Bush, Rudy has a history of mistakes that would make him an absolutely horrific president:

Watch Glenn Greenwald's video expose of Rudy's 9/11 mistakes:

Norm does get one thing right. Of all the Republican nominees, Rudy may be be the most electable. While both Rudy and Mitt Romney have flip-flopped on important right wing issues, Romney is a Mormon which won't go over well with most Americans. John McCain is hopeless. The rest are frighteningly conservative which may play well with the base would be hopeless in a general election.

Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman said he's backing Rudy Giuliani for president, throwing his support behind a fellow "pragmatic" Republican and former mayor.
"The shared vision as mayor of getting things done, tied in with his strong stance on security, Rudy gets that," Coleman told the Associated Press in a telephone interview Thursday. "So you tie those two together and it's a pretty powerful combination."

Coleman also called Giuliani "ultimately electable," a pitch that Giuliani has made throughout the campaign.
(USA Today)

Brian Melendez, Chair of the Minnesota DFL, had this to say:

The Minnesota DFL called Coleman and Giuliani "two peas in a pod on Iraq."

"It's really not that surprising that Norm Coleman would endorse Rudy Giuliani for president, given that they both support President Bush and his failed war in Iraq," said Minnesota DFL Chairman Brian Melendez. "Minnesotans want real change in the White House and the Senate, but given their support for status quo in Iraq, all we can expect from Coleman and Giuliani is more of the same."
(WCCO)

NYC Councilmember Eric Gioia has called for investigation of the Rudy's handling of the radios used by firefighters on 9/11: