This is effective as an initial statistic ("Giuliani spent more hours at Yankees games than at Ground Zero"). But I think its length and the detailed tabulations make the point seem petty. If the Yankees are this guy's principal hobby, who cares? You want these people not to be human?

In any event, while I'm sure he's both a longstanding Yankees fan AND a huge blowhard regarding his 9/11 heroics, there are plenty of great moments in sports where games take on added significance because of the historical context around them -- the first one that comes to mind is the New Orleans Saints' home opener in the Superdome on Monday Night Football last year. That kind of moment can be a real morale boost for a city that has undergone some trauma. Was the Yankees' 2001 playoff run an example of that? I couldn't tell you -- I'm not a New Yorker. But I wouldn't blame a mayor for wanting to be there for that -- both for his own reasons and as the primary cheerleader for the city.

I'd rather see a more substantive review of his post-9/11 performance (e.g. "Giuliani spent more time talking about his time at Ground Zero than actually formulating or implementing anti-terrorism strategies"). I'm sure there's plenty of fodder there. I don't care what a public official does in his leisure time as long as he works long hours fixing the problems of the community he governs. This article doesn't tell us much about Rudy's work ethic or leadership.

But when the city was literally falling down around our heads and Dave Dinkins didn't seem to care or have any solutions at all that's when the people of NYC elected Rudy. We needed a fascist and problem is that's what we got. So before you get in your pile remember, if you can what a decrepit joke the city had become. 10's of thousands of jobs had left, the bridges were condemned, the subways didn't work, crime was up. What what you prefer? Detroit? With its nonending flight of people until the only people left are crackheads? Would that have made the MoMA crowd happy? I understand that Salon is SF based and probably doesn't imagine anything east of the Rockies of being worth their time, but that's their bigotry.

And of course, he was a fool for saying he spent so much time at GZ that he felt like one of the recovery and cleanup workers (The rescue itself being over long before).

But I'm wondering: What would you expect an out-of-shape, totally unqualified older man to do down there in the hole? Become a casualty maybe. But what useful work could he have done to make a difference.

I know Giuliani deserves every kick he's going to get for his stupid remark, but consider this question:

How much time did N.Y. state senator Hillary Clinton spend at GZ during that same time period?

What would you expect her to do there, wield a cutting torch, run a front loader?

Aside from Il Duce trying to make some cheap political point with his lie, politicians in the hole only slow things down and get in the way.

Pardon me (we Midwesterners are nothing, if not polite) Timbuktom, but I do believe that the people of New York were the ones to elect Mr. Giuliani mayor. So, before you go bashing Midwesterners anymore ... let's return to the subject at hand.

But somehow he connects with Midwesterners. God save us! He is the (how shall I say?) "hip" choice among middle-American ding-dongs.

They believe they are cool to choose Giuliani versus Romney or McCain, even though they themselves never actually have been cool in any way, ever, with their mullets and printed T-shirts and wrinkled pants and giant shoes.

I believe they think it's cool that they have mastered the pronunciation of his name, "Jool-lee-AH-nee." That is a big deal. That is as sophisticated as they can imagine they ever might be.

And they damn well hate Hilary. For no particular reason.

Benito Giulian possesses everything a Republican candidate must have in order to run for the presidency:a serial liar, a consummate hypocrite and a raving lunatic.

Because his lips are moving.