Reason.com - Free Minds and Free Markets
Reason logo Reason logo
  • Latest
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Subscribe
    • Crossword
  • Video
    • Reason TV
    • The Reason Roundtable
    • Free Media
    • The Reason Interview
  • Podcasts
    • All Shows
    • The Reason Roundtable
    • The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie
    • Freed Up
    • The Soho Forum Debates
  • Volokh
  • Newsletters
  • Donate
    • Donate Online
    • Ways To Give To Reason Foundation
    • Torchbearer Society
    • Planned Giving
  • Subscribe
    • Reason Plus Subscription
    • Gift Subscriptions
    • Print Subscription
    • Subscriber Support

Login Form

Create new account
Forgot password

Politics

Q: Boxers or Briefs?
A: September 11th!

Radley Balko | 7.24.2007 11:35 AM

Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL Add Reason to Google
Media Contact & Reprint Requests

Rudy Giuliani is asked a question about funding for HIV treatment and, robbing parodists of great material, manages to work September 11 into his answer.

Start your day with Reason. Get a daily brief of the most important stories and trends every weekday morning when you subscribe to Reason Roundup.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

NEXT: Victory Strikes Again

Radley Balko is a journalist at The Washington Post.

PoliticsCampaigns/Elections
Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL Add Reason to Google
Media Contact & Reprint Requests

Hide Comments (30)

Editor's Note: As of February 29, 2024, commenting privileges on reason.com posts are limited to Reason Plus subscribers. Past commenters are grandfathered in for a temporary period. Subscribe here to preserve your ability to comment. Your Reason Plus subscription also gives you an ad-free version of reason.com, along with full access to the digital edition and archives of Reason magazine. We request that comments be civil and on-topic. We do not moderate or assume any responsibility for comments, which are owned by the readers who post them. Comments do not represent the views of reason.com or Reason Foundation. We reserve the right to delete any comment and ban commenters for any reason at any time. Comments may only be edited within 5 minutes of posting. Report abuses.

  1. Warren   19 years ago

    the federal government works best ... on a state-by-state, locality-by-locality basis.

    What the hell could possibly be hidden in the ellipsis that could make sense out of that statement?

  2. Pro Libertate   19 years ago

    . . .that does absolutely nothing. . . .

  3. thoreau   19 years ago

    This was foretold in the Onion:

    http://www.theonion.com/content/news/giuliani_to_run_for_president_of_9

  4. lunchstealer   19 years ago

    ... for feeding my ego, whose ravenous hunger for attention, power, and fealty cannot be satisfied...

  5. Pro Libertate   19 years ago

    Tell you what, Rudy. You bring me the head of bin Laden, and I'll vote for you. Merely being mayor of a city attacked by terrorists gives you nothing at all in the way of national security chops. Kickin' ass and taking names is another story altogether.

    I hear that Afghanistan is nice in the summer--ta, ta!

  6. de stijl   19 years ago

    I heard he named his cat "Never Forget."

  7. joe   19 years ago

    Ted Kennedy's brother was murdered by an anti-Israel Arab.

    By the logic of Guiliani-supporters, this makes him an expert on international affairs and counter-terrorism.

  8. P Brooks   19 years ago

    If Bin Laden had released a video saying he really really wanted to attack the Trade Center, but the wily know-it-all bastard Giuliani had outfoxed him at every turn, and thwarted each and every variant of the diabolical plan, until they had been forced to settle for leaving a lousy tip at a Mister Softee stand on the boardwalk in Atlantic City, I still wouldn't vote for Giuliani.

  9. Pro Libertate   19 years ago

    P Brooks,

    I wouldn't either--I lied. I just wanted to convince Rudy to go to Afghanistan to look for bin Laden.

  10. More on Rudy   19 years ago

    Roooody has the #1 most watched video this week on YT, with 350,000 views. It also only has 51 comments, including such gems as:

    Yes!, Applaud our next president!
    Thank you Rudy , your ideas will help stregthen America, and will continue? been the best country. God Bless you
    I LOVE? RUDY!!!!
    Go Go Go Rudy We Love You 🙂
    Rudy is bt far and away the best candidate for President.

    Everything's just all sun shiny in his world, isn't it?

  11. WalterBoswell   19 years ago

    Yes!, ...
    ... you Rudy , ... help ... America, and ...
    Go Go Go ...
    ... far and away ...

  12. Anonymous   19 years ago

    It also only has 51 comments, including such gems as:....

    And they were all left by Eric Dondero. right?

  13. tarran   19 years ago

    And they were all left by Eric Dondero. right?

    I don't think Eric can do more than 4 posts on a thread without accusing someone of being a "girlie man". So no.

  14. mk   19 years ago

    #1 most watched video this week on YT

    I've noticed that the comments on YT are epically, amazingly dumb most of the time.

    I know I can't be the only one who has noticed.

  15. dhex   19 years ago

    I always thought RudyGiuliani looked a bit TooSwarthy for an ItalianAmerican.

  16. brian   19 years ago

    "...your first defense against terrorist attack is that local police station, or that local firehouse." -Rudy

    NYC Firefighters hate Giuliani, so I'm sure they're stomping on their hats now that he's using them as a political campaign tool.

    Linky: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaCYEEO-58I

  17. bigbigslacker   19 years ago

    Rudy is the Republican John Kerry.

    "What do I think about strawberry exports? I'm glad you asked. If there's one thing I learned from Vietna911, its..."

  18. Rick H.   19 years ago

    I've noticed that the comments on YT are epically, amazingly dumb most of the time.

    I know I can't be the only one who has noticed.

    You're not. YouTube is a special place, where "LOL" is considered a deeply insightful observation.

  19. Happy Jack   19 years ago

    Mayor? 9/11?

    And all this time I thought he was a manager at 7/11.

  20. andronoid   19 years ago

    Citizen Kane on YouTube.

  21. TrickyVic   19 years ago

    """NYC Firefighters hate Giuliani, so I'm sure they're stomping on their hats now that he's using them as a political campaign tool."""

    If I remember correctly he screwed the NYPD. He made a bunch of promises and didn't deliver. The cops I've talked to hate him too.

  22. Lincoln   19 years ago

    You're not. YouTube is a special place, where "LOL" is considered a deeply insightful observation.

    lol

  23. ChrisO   19 years ago

    And all this time I thought he was a manager at 7/11.

    No, he was only suitable for government work.

  24. ERIC DON-FUCKING-DERO!!!   19 years ago

    If I remember correctly he screwed the NYPD. He made a bunch of promises and didn't deliver. The cops I've talked to hate him too.

    That's because cops and firefighters are Islamofascist pussies!

  25. crimethink   19 years ago

    Contrary to the implication of the headline, his answer did not include the words "September 11th". There's plenty of stuff to beat on Rudy with, no need to make stuff up.

  26. de stijl   19 years ago

    You're absolutly correct, crimethink.

    "Maybe having been mayor of the city, I know that your first defense against terrorist attack is that local police station, or that local firehouse."

    This sentence doesn't refer to 9/11 at all. And it's totally applicable to someone's query about funding HIV treatments.

  27. ChicagoTom   19 years ago

    This video is an oldie but a goodie.

    http://youtube.com/watch?v=oavMsgOuptU

  28. Chavez is a thug   19 years ago

    The September 11 answer is the Republican version of the Democrat's "for the kid's" rationale. No matter the topic, it always pops up as a justifcation for anything and everything.

  29. TrickyVic   19 years ago

    Rudy said

    ""My general experience has been that the federal government works best when it helps and assists and encourages and sets guidelines? on a state-by-state, locality-by-locality basis. It's no different from the way I look at homeland security. Maybe having been mayor of the city, I know that your first defense against terrorist attack is that local police station, or that local firehouse."

    No, he did not say "9/11" but he did reference what he "know"s about "defense against terrorist attack" Where did he get that knowledge? Even if you take 9/11 specifically off the table, he still referenced a terrorist attack.

    He was asked about HIV, he gave an answer that included comments about terrorism. Isn't that the issue Radley's pointing out?

  30. Anonymo the Anonymous   19 years ago

    Contrary to the implication of the headline, his answer did not include the words "September 11th". There's plenty of stuff to beat on Rudy with, no need to make stuff up.

    In the same sense that "Silent Night" is really a song about any kid born of a virgin who "sleeps in heavenly peace".

Please log in to post comments

Mute this user?

  • Mute User
  • Cancel

Ban this user?

  • Ban User
  • Cancel

Un-ban this user?

  • Un-ban User
  • Cancel

Nuke this user?

  • Nuke User
  • Cancel

Un-nuke this user?

  • Un-nuke User
  • Cancel

Flag this comment?

  • Flag Comment
  • Cancel

Un-flag this comment?

  • Un-flag Comment
  • Cancel

Latest

The Insurrection Act, Which Trump Keeps Threatening To Invoke, Is Alarmingly Vague and Broad

Jacob Sullum | 1.21.2026 12:01 AM

SCOTUS Seems Inclined To Reject Hawaii's Default Rule Against Guns on Private Property Open to the Public

Jacob Sullum | 1.20.2026 6:00 PM

Syria's Kurdish Revolution Has Been Crushed

Matthew Petti | 1.20.2026 5:32 PM

Europe's Biggest Advantage in the Showdown Over Greenland? America's Huge Pile of Debt.

Eric Boehm | 1.20.2026 4:30 PM

Video Shows Miami Beach Detectives Questioning Woman Over Facebook Post Criticizing Mayor

C.J. Ciaramella | 1.20.2026 4:03 PM

Recommended

  • About
  • Browse Topics
  • Events
  • Staff
  • Jobs
  • Donate
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Media
  • Shop
  • Amazon
Reason Facebook@reason on XReason InstagramReason TikTokReason YoutubeApple PodcastsReason on FlipboardReason RSS Add Reason to Google

© 2026 Reason Foundation | Accessibility | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

r

I WANT FREE MINDS AND FREE MARKETS!

Help Reason push back with more of the fact-based reporting we do best. Your support means more reporters, more investigations, and more coverage.

Make a donation today! No thanks
r

I WANT TO FUND FREE MINDS AND FREE MARKETS

Every dollar I give helps to fund more journalists, more videos, and more amazing stories that celebrate liberty.

Yes! I want to put my money where your mouth is! Not interested
r

SUPPORT HONEST JOURNALISM

So much of the media tries telling you what to think. Support journalism that helps you to think for yourself.

I’ll donate to Reason right now! No thanks
r

PUSH BACK

Push back against misleading media lies and bad ideas. Support Reason’s journalism today.

My donation today will help Reason push back! Not today
r

HELP KEEP MEDIA FREE & FEARLESS

Back journalism committed to transparency, independence, and intellectual honesty.

Yes, I’ll donate to Reason today! No thanks
r

STAND FOR FREE MINDS

Support journalism that challenges central planning, big government overreach, and creeping socialism.

Yes, I’ll support Reason today! No thanks
r

PUSH BACK AGAINST SOCIALIST IDEAS

Support journalism that exposes bad economics, failed policies, and threats to open markets.

Yes, I’ll donate to Reason today! No thanks
r

FIGHT BAD IDEAS WITH FACTS

Back independent media that examines the real-world consequences of socialist policies.

Yes, I’ll donate to Reason today! No thanks
r

BAD ECONOMIC IDEAS ARE EVERYWHERE. LET’S FIGHT BACK.

Support journalism that challenges government overreach with rational analysis and clear reasoning.

Yes, I’ll donate to Reason today! No thanks
r

JOIN THE FIGHT FOR FREEDOM

Support journalism that challenges centralized power and defends individual liberty.

Yes, I’ll donate to Reason today! No thanks
r

BACK JOURNALISM THAT PUSHES BACK AGAINST SOCIALISM

Your support helps expose the real-world costs of socialist policy proposals—and highlight better alternatives.

Yes, I’ll donate to Reason today! No thanks
r

FIGHT BACK AGAINST BAD ECONOMICS.

Donate today to fuel reporting that exposes the real costs of heavy-handed government.

Yes, I’ll donate to Reason today! No thanks