A review of my favorite book for 2022, after-the-jump ….
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While my book-reading output cannot compare to my T/C compatriot Tara …. I did get in about 5-6 works this year. One (uncommon) fictional read for me was Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi — an essayist whom I’ve read over the years — about the rivalry between two Korean-American sisters that was enlightening. A more typical read for me is We Don’t Know Ourselves— also by an essayist I enjoy, Fintan O’Toole— on the rapid political/economic transformation of Ireland from 1958 to today.
Yet my most enjoyable read is one I got from the library … and is a political book (which I tend to avoid, as they often leave me depressed). And the book’s title Rudy: The Rise and Tragic Fall of America’s Mayor— initially made it seem like a comprehensive biography. Yet the author Andrew Kirtzman (a host for a local NYC cable news channel) had already wrote a biography in the year 2000 (sub-titled Emperor of the City) … so this is definitely more “The Fall of”. The Lincoln Project’s Rick Wilson believes no one knows Giuliani better than Kirtzman, who accompanied Giuliani on 9/11.
Best of all: the book’s 390 pages are an easy read, with numerous quotes and interviews that make it readable. As someone who grew-up in the NYC suburbs (and went to college in Manhattan) the places cited may make it a bit easier for me to understand … yet Kirtzman always captures a concise description of places that keep it from becoming a purely insider account.
The book does have some autobiographical items: that Rudy’s father worked for a loan-shark operation before working in a skilled trade and a demanding mother who — when her son was elected mayor in 1997 — wondered why he hadn’t been elected president already? Rudy was thus always seeking approval and respect.
To the question “What happened to Rudy?” — Kirtzman offers several clues, yet offered no summary. I had a flashback to reading the 2000 book The Rascal King— about the life and times of mayor James Curley of Boston. It laid out his good and bad traits … yet I was disappointed there was not any sort of summary. Eventually I wrote to the author (Jack Beatty) thanking him for an enjoyable read … yet I wondered if Curley had been (on balance) more a force for good than evil? I got a courteous reply: telling me that he did think the negatives outweighed the positives — yet felt an author’s job is to lay out the evidence, to let readers decide.
That may well be Kirtzman’s idea, although he does strongly hint that the truth is somewhere in-between “Something went haywire” (for his devoted fans) and “He’s always been that way” to his critics.
On his plus side: Kirtzman did think that Rudy’s use of statistics did help quell a rising crime rate (although did acknowledge a New York magazine essay noting other cities also benefited from demographic changes) and also his time as a prosecutor where he built RICO cases against organized crime figures. He noted that he could be generous, and not only to friends. When former mayor John Lindsay (who had become a Democrat) was suffering from Parkinson’s, yet didn’t have enough public service time to qualify for health benefits: Rudy helped him gain two relatively little-work municipal posts that enabled him to obtain treatment until his death. And lastly, Kirtzman marvels at his ability to remain calm in a genuine emergency (not of his own making), most obviously 9-11.
While Kirtzman cautions against carrying the Rudy-Donald comparison too far — writing that Rudy is far more complex than Donald, and Rudy craves drinking Scotch compared to the teetotaler Trump — they do share certain traits. Men from residential NYC neighborhoods wanting to become Manhattan elites, burning through wives (cheating on them all), friendly with dictators, valuing loyalty more than competence in their aides, lacking a “fear” gene and vain about their appearances for starters. Rudy was one of the few who unreservedly stuck by Trump after the Access Hollywood tape (which Donald never forgot).
After 9-11 (and leaving office), Rudy was ready to cash-in on his fame … founding Giuiliani Partners. And this was a money-making operation for awhile (enabling him to accumulate six homes at one point) until the ship ran dry later.
(But) it wasn’t clear what Giuliani Partners actually was… it was billed as management consulting, but none had management consulting experience (the top brass were cops, fire fighters, lawyers and politicos).
Joe Lhota was in Giuliani’s inner circle at City Hall — with extensive business and financial expertise — but he declined to join the firm:
“I didn’t understand what they were going to do”, he recalled years later. “I still don’t understand what they were going to do”.
When the money pit ran dry, with expensive divorce settlements … and a humiliating 2008 presidential campaign (netting only one delegate) Rudy was in a funk … and was reduced to making LifeLock commercials. Hence, the offer to join the Trump team was a lifeline to him … yet now is better known for the Four Seasons Landscaping farce, the farting on TV, the Borat exposé… and also this:
The book has extensive dialogue about Rudy’s trips to Ukraine, his dealings with Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman .. and his third wife (Judy Nathan) gave the author an extensive set of interviews, detailing his private life. In a terrific book, perhaps the best summary came from her: after their life together (with enmity between her and his staff, and he cheating on her) ended in divorce:
“I don’t hate Rudy … I pity him at this point”.
Let’s close with this 2003 song by British singer Craig David — in a collaboration with Sting — that utilizes this famous theme that the book’s title contains.
Now, on to Top Comments:
Highlighted by Ronin83:
In the diary by about OK Dodo— on the Florida jailhouse deputy who accidentally shot his daughter when cleaning an AR-15 while inebriated — this comment made by RO37on global population growth.
And from Ed Tracey, your faithful correspondent this evening ........
In the diary by annieli about — in the midst of some (sad) firings at CNN, one positive move, the sacking of Chris Cillizza— ridemybike is certain that the provider of a popular podcast will comment (at some point) on this.
Next - enjoy jotter's wonderful (and now eternal) *PictureQuilt™* below. Just click on the picture and it will magically take you to the comment featuring that photo.
TOP PHOTOSNovember 30th, 2022
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And lastly: yesterday's Top Mojo - mega-mojo to the intrepid mik ...... who rescued this feature from oblivion:
10) It’s a tell. Accusations against liberals/p … by Tamar +10213) “Only the best people.” … by ShamballaJones +9220) Meaty— I like it! … by caragraph +7920) [image] by LamontCranston +7923) MAGAS … by Denise Oliver Velez +7730) [broken] by Treehuggeralways +71