Giuliani buddy Bernie Kerik to have charges filed

UPDATE: Kerik pleads not guilty to charges filed against him.

It's about to become Giuliani's nightmare: His former best bud, Bernard Kerik, is about to be indicted on bribery, tax fraud, and obstruction of justice charges. As Rudy knows, it's not what you know, it's who you know.

And that principle works on the way down more effectively than on the way up. So, here's to Rudy dropping in the polls, if not out of the race.

Which leaves Lurch, um, Fred Thompson, and Mitt Romney as the front-runners. Oh, the Repugnicans have nothing left.

Oh, except that the Dems aren't offering much better (i.e., Hillary). Still can't understand why Obama, Edwards, and Richardson aren't doing better...

Prosecutors expected to file charges against Bernard Kerik

The indictment, expected next month, could prove to be an embarrassing obstacle for Kerik's former mentor Rudy Giuliani, who is cruising at the top of the polls heading into the presidential primary gauntlet.

Rudy Giuliani should get same treatment for his Catholicism as John Kerry did

Giuliani selective on questions of religion - CNN.com

John Kerry's Catholic Problem:

Can Kerry be a good Catholic and yet take positions as a lawmaker that contradict the teachings of the church on "life issues," especially abortion and stem-cell research?

I betcha he didn't even see that one coming.

• Like 9/11 and putting the emergency headquarters in the heart of the target.
  
• Or suggesting to President Bush that Bernie Kerik should be head of DHS.
  
• Or appointing cronies to key posts

Read more about Rudy "Disaster" Giuliani here.

Kerik vetting by White House "rushed"

More news today about once-nominated Bernie Kerik as Homeland Security chief -- the Bush administration should have seen all the issues surrounding Kerik at the time of his nomination. Fortunately, Kerik withdrew his nomination.

Here are some red flags Bush and his bafoons should have seen and acted on (admittedly they saw them, but they disregarded them):

• Kerik was fined $2,500 by New York City for using police detectives to help him with his autobiography.
• He was also a defendant in a civil lawsuit accusing him of retaliation against a corrections official who had disciplined a female prison guard with whom Kerik was having a relationship.
  
• One of Kerik's former top deputies was convicted of stealing money from a foundation that Kerik ran while serving as Giuliani's corrections chief. The foundation was funded by rebates from tobacco companies selling cigarettes to prison inmates.
• Kerik, who filed for bankruptcy as a police officer, became rich almost overnight after leaving office. Just before his nomination, he made a quick $6.2 million without investing a dime by exercising stock options from his service on the board of Taser International, a stun-gun firm seeking business with homeland security agencies.
• Kerik's tenure in Iraq generated strong criticism of his management. Iraqi officials complained to U.S. authorities about $1.2 billion Kerik spent to train Iraqi police officers in Jordan, spending they called wasteful. Iraqis also questioned why Kerik spent tens of millions of dollars to buy weapons for Iraqi trainees when the U.S. military had confiscated plenty of such weapons after the invasion.

Bottom line: President Bush wanted a 9/11 hero to head the new Department of Homeland Security and Kerik, with former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani's sterling recommendation, was his man.

And guess who was in charge of vetting Kerik? Alberto Gonzales. Is "Alberto" the most incompetent lawyer ever? Thank goodness that Bush has finally fired him! (Oh, wait, he hasn't and probably won't.)
WP: White House looked past Kerik alarms - washingtonpost.com Highlights - MSNBC.com

Rudy Giuliani and Bernie Kerik

If your friends are corrupt, is it a good indicator that you are too? We shall soon see how this all plays out, as Giuliani's top cop, friend, and business associate gets thrown under the spotlight of federal prosecutors for tax evasion, wire tapping, and other misdeeds.

WP: Kerik may face felony charges - washingtonpost.com Highlights - MSNBC.com

Rudy Giuliani and Bernie Kerik

Rudy Giuliani will be facing some harsh criticism of his support of Bernie Kerik and his failure to remember being briefed about Kerik's ties to organized crime. It goes something like this:

1. Giuliani hires Kerik as NYC police chief
2. Giuliani recommends Kerik for Department of Homeland Security chief
3. Kerik withdraws his name from consideration due to an unseemly extra-marital affair he was having
4. Kerik pleads guilty to crime involving him and the aforementioned company with ties to the mob
   

Somewhere before #1, Giuliani was briefed about Kerik's ties to organized crime, but he "forgot." Then he hired Kerik to be New York City's top cop. These guys never learn. It all eventually catches up to them -- this filth, the lies, the deception, the "forgetfulness."

Despicable. I hope these stories come out about these louses. They do not deserve consideration for high public office.

Edwards / Obama ticket?

This is the Democrat dream ticket for President 2008. You've got two guys who are relatively inexperienced with government, at least at the national level, so the presumption is they're not jaded or corrupt. They both speak very well and are "every men" looking out for the "commoner." Finally, they are extremely smart gentlemen.

But more importantly, they span a lot of demographic area. Where one doesn't appeal, the other, almost by default, does appeal. This is the ultimate, hedge-your-bet strategy for winning in '08. The Repugnicans have nothing to offer but John "My own party beat me down last time" McCain and Rudy "Bernie Kerik is my kind of guy" Giuliani.

They have no chance of winning, unless Hillary Clinton wins the Democratic nomination. While I believe she has the ability to do a fine job as president, I believe she won't be allowed to. But more importantly, not too many people are keen on seeing Hillary in the White House again, this time as official boss. So, she may win the nomination, but she most certainly will not win the race.

Give these two men a chance. I think this thing might shake out well for the both of them. The one thing both have going against them is they're senators. Senators don't become President of the United States.

Rangel supports Giuliani / Kerik ticket

See, our politicians can be purposely funny. For example, Charles Rangel, D-NY, says he supports Rudy Giuliani, but only if he names his running mate Bernie Kerik.