NYC-WTC_000230564

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

THE NEW York TIMES, THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 20. 2001 In America BOB HERBERT

The Ri^ t Answer He moves about the stricken city would stand in for Michael andf^ve like a god. People want to be in his her away at her wedding. On Stingy presence. They want to touch him. he kept that promise. With a broad They want to praise him. grin that telegraphed to the city that The governor defers to him. The life would, indeed, go on, he walked president seems somehow inade­ Ms. Gorumba down the aisle. quate beside him. There is no doubt that a large On Central Park West, a woman majority of New Yorkers would like searching for just the right superla­ to hang onto this mayor, at least (or a tive for the man who is guiding New while. But despite calls for an exten- York through the greatest disaster Sion of his term beyond Dec. 31 or the ever to hit an American city finally lifting of term limits so he can run said he’s not litee a god. "He is God." again, a mayoral primary election is And while that may be over the scheduled for Tuesday. top, it is difficult for anyone to find a With the city still traumatized and word or a phrase that comes close to Rudy-mania climbing to ever-highei describing the phenomenon that Ru­ dolph Giuliani has become. levels. New Yorkers are, at best, am­ He has achieved what political ob­ bivalent about this election. One wom­ servers would have told you two weeks ago is impossible. He is not _ .

3 S GiuUani hyperbole. If he were running for re- ’s triumph «/J l-iM /I election today, there would be no need cLIiQ DCyOllQ. . for an actual vote. Yon could hand ,, .53; him his next term by acclamation. Traumatized by the trade center attack. New Yorkers are grateful to an, waxing poetic about Mr. Giulia^ Mr. Giuliani for leadership that has handling of the crisis, said of we been not only steadfast but inspira- mayoral candidates. “They loqk^Sd tional. trivial, compared to our king.”' ’ >.100 When David Letterman went bach But a mayoral election is ndt-'^ en the air Monday night, he told his trivial matter. And as terrific as MR audience, in a quivering voice: Giuliani has been throughout:Mills “If you’re like me and you're painful period, the city would noltie watching and you're confused and. welt served by mischief-makers in«r depressed and irritated and angry neuvering behind the scenes to dis­ and full of grief and you don’t know nipt the democratic process, . how to behave and you’re not sure When asked on Monday about .the what to do, because we’ve never been idea oS extending his term in offidd! he through this before, all you had to do said. “The law is the law. That’s’ m| at any moment was watch the may- way it is and I think we should assume or. Watch how this guy behaved, that’s the way it’s going to remain?" Watch how this guy conducted him- But a day later, his view seemedte self. ... Rudolph Giuliani is the per- shift, at least somewhat, “If thC^ sonification of courage,’’ could change the law," asked CNM^ That sentiment is widespread. A Larry King, "would you stay?’’ Giuliani the city had never seen be- Mr. Giuliani said he didn’t knowj-g fore surfaced at just the right time. When Mr. King pressed the qu^ He had the requisite air of command, tion, Mr. Giuliani replied, ‘T dpiii’f but also the sensitivity and even gen- know the right answer to that at,thh tieness that was'so necessary for point.” „ „ such a tragic and frightening se- The right answer is that even ijt^ quence of events. There was, if such grave crisis, this is a nation thaf wtfi a thing Is possible, a kind of awkward do all it can to preserve — and'fiot grace that he exhibited that was per- disrupt — the democratic process. feet for the moment. When Franklin Roosevelt -died Could a wide grin ever be appro- with the world still at war, milllonsof prlate In the midst of such horror? Americans viewed the future wilhia Mr. Giuliani found a way. Last month sense of dread. But Harry Trurpaa a firefighter named Michael Gor- wasn’t half bad, after all. : umba was killed fighting a blaze on Mr. Giuliani has been magnificat Staten Island. The mayor promised in the city's darkest hour. It wqpld^ the firefighter's sister, Diane — who a shame It he followed that up.'ljy had also lost a grandfather and her attempting to dim the light ^. 'ilie father in the past year — that be city’s democratic process. ;; 5fa

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NYC-WTC_000230564