Milk and Bread Prices and Giuliani in the Legislature:

Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani met with the media following his appearance in the Alabama Legislature.  I will have all of his comments later. 

All politicians say they are in touch with the common man, so I thought a good question for a presidential candidate would be,"What's the cost of a gallon of milk and a loaf of bread?"  To his credit Mr. Giuliani did not do what most politicians do, look for someone else to answer the question or duck it entirely.  He first asked, "Where, right here?" to which I replied clearly, "Anywhere."  The former mayor says, "A gallon of milk is probably about $1.50 and a loaf of bread about $1.25, $1.30, the last time I bought one..."

Just thought that was interesting. And in his defense, the former mayor did know the price of gas for the automobile.  Here are Giuliani's introductory remarks to reporters and the answer to the first question, which was about the recent statements of Don Imus.

Mr. Giuliani: "It's very, very nice to be in Alabama.  It's a beautiful state.  I was in Mobile earlier and now we're here.  I very much appreciate the Legislature giving me the courtesy of addressing them and having the opportunity to talk with them....I'm very impressed by the record they have here in Alabama of success bringing in businesses, growing jobs, getting unemployment down to probably one of the lowest levels in a very,very long time.  So, it also shows good cooperation between Republicans and Democrats, a Republican governor and a majority Democratic legislature, they've figured out how to work together to grow Alabama which sets a great example.

I didn't work with them all of the time but enough of the time to be able to bring up employment and create a much better atmosphere..."

Reporter Eileen Jones:  Let me ask you a question that has nothing to do with politics. What is your reaction to what Don Imus said and well go ahead, tell me your reaction?

Mr. Giuliani: "My reaction is it was wrong, it was very wrong.  He's acknowledged that and I have to say that I generally feel that in a thing like that when people make a mistake like that that I look at do they acknowledge it, do they seem to be really sorry for it and are they going to make a pledge not to do it again and he's done those things...Rutgers is a team that I like very much, my son plays football in New Jersey so I came to know the Rutgers football team a lot.  Kids that play on the Rutgers football team play football with my son, so I have kind of a rooting interest in Rutgers." 

Would you appear on his program again?

"I would appear on his program again.  I think, I take Don at his word that he understands the gravity of what he did.   I listened to him very, very carefully..I called him a little while ago to talk to him about it personally and I believe that he understands that he made a very, very big mistake that that wasn't his intention but it was very, very damaging what he said.  He understands the damage that he did to the people on the team and how much that will affect the university.  He seems sincerely sorry about it and he seems like someone who will endeavor not to do that again and I'll take him at his word.  And therefore, assume that he sticks to that which  I have no reason he wouldn't. I would go on his show."

Below are what happened and some of his remarks made to the Alabama Legislature.  We asked for a statement of prepared remarks, but at the time I asked shortly before the speech the remarks were not available.

The former mayor of New York is scheduled to talk at around 1 p.m.  The joint session has been gaveled into session.  Giuliani entering the chamber.

Speaker Hammett asked "Is there a Senate filibuster going on outside the House chamber?" when Giuliani doesn't come in on the first summons.  They are reading a resolution in honor of the former mayor.

The governor will now introduce Giuliani.  "It is indeed an honor to introduce America's mayor...there are defining times in a person's life...there are defining times in a country's life...that happened on 9/11....if you look back on what all he accomplished in New York city...one of these days you have to tell me how you cleaned up New York...you saw the true essence of leadership after 0/11...he was firm...he was determined...and he was unwavering...when you're in command take charge...as we go through this campaign season...we're going to look at a lot of attributes...a person to lead this country...for a person we know...whether we agree or disagree we know he believes it...you do us honor by visiting...."

Giuliani speaks and starts with standard thanks and then begins his remarks..  "I want to tell you I'm comfortable being in a legislative body that has more Democrats than Republicans...I gave 8 state of the city speeches the best I did was 8 Republicans 45 Democrats...my best friend was the Democratic speaker Peter Vallone...I would have achieved very little...if I wasn't able to get that kind of cooperation....it's great to be in Alabama...a state that has given us great Americans from Helen Keller to Henry Aaron...now your great governor...what I'd like to talk about is the considerable common ground we share - Alabama and New York City....the governor was asking me if anybody in Manhattan has a back yard...you look at it very broadly and you think there isn't very much in common...there's a great deal of wisdom looking at cities and states...our founding fathers looked at our cities and states as a laboratory...closest to the people and when best practices emerge...they can be shared across state lines...it seems many of the policies you're putting into play today are similar to what we put in place in New York...when I first came into office New York faced a $2.3 billion deficit..by exercising fiscal discipline we both were able to turn our deficits into profits...you're headed to being our second biggest auto manufacturer who know you may be our biggest one day...you're ...the steel industry...they're looking at you because of the fiscal discipline...they're not looking at a government running out of control....like it or not that's the way a capitalist system works...we changed the term of the debate...New York realized as Alabama knows you can't be pro-worker and anti-business, you have to understand the need of businesses...one of the ways you do that is reduce taxes...one of the first I cut was the hotel occupancy tax...we were loosing a tremendous amount of business...I finally convinced the city council....and state legislature to cut the tax...a loss of 32-35 million dollars...my deputy mayor ....said you just set a record for tax cuts...because I don't think any other mayor has done a tax cut he hasn't had to do...we were collecting more money...in a very short while...23 tax eliminations or reductions...that's the reason's businesses wanted to invest in New York...that's the reason Disney wanted to build in Times Square...that's the reason the automotive industry wants to invest in Alabama...Gov. Riley...think of it as a jobs production program..tax cuts spur economic growth ...and a surplus...you give people the ability to decide how to spend it themselves..fiscal conservative principles lead to government reform and Washington needs a serious dose of fiscal discipline...fiscal conservatives believe...we can solve problems better that way...I didn't cut the cops because my main goal was to make the city safe...the only way was to have enough police officers...we've got to cut the size of government but we also have to win the war against the terrorist...there is no choice..we need to build a stronger and more flexible military...the Congressional resolution is very disappointing to me...I belief I understand the nature of the terrorist...threat...because I've been dealing with it...we're treading dangerously close to going back on defense...never before in history...has anyone decided to hand out the schedule of retreat to the enemy..."

"This is broader than Iraq..we need to find and bring to justice Bin Laden...America is not a warlike country...it was hard for us to get involved in the 2nd World War...there's something good about that too...the essential nature of the American people is they want to sell you something...we want to do business with you...if you want to invest in us God Bless you...we want to have peace we want to have commerce...what country in history has ever embraced the enemy so quickly after war..Germany is our friend, Japan is our friend..in Vietnam just a generation ago people were dying now we're doing business...Never, ever again is America going to be on defense against terrorist that are planning to come here and kill us...We need to improve our Homeland Security...the one that I think about a lot...is the plane that fell down from the sky...Shanksville, Pa....their high school class was 39 graduates...and when I drove into town I saw one little fire house...with one fire truck...on the same day they attacked America's largest city, America's capitol, and one of the smallest towns in America...and one tiny fire department had to respond...so I understand our first line of defense....they are on line of first defense...Homeland Security needs to support them...every place in America needs to have training...I commend your state on the way you dealt with Katrina.

If we're going to deal with these things we need to make government smaller...you've taken aim at pork barrel spending...maybe you can go to Washington..(we need to) figure out what our big problems are...reduce our excess spending...our government is badly in need of that...during the next two presidential terms 42% of our federal workforce is going to retire...if we only hire back half...we'll save the government $21 billion....if we turn them back to the private sector...we have to cut taxes....the death tax..you get taxed all your life....then when you die it's 55%...but there's going to be a little break here...the death tax will go down...they've figured out a tax incentive to die in 2010 do not be on a respirator in 2010...I'm running for president...there are a lot of great candidates...there are going to be areas you agree and areas you disagree..what's the most important ...heck I don't agree with myself most of the time...like Ronald Reagan and President Bush...That's what I liked about Ronald Reagan, he just wasn't going to change his beliefs to be popular...if you don't set a destination you just end up going where the winds take you...Ronald Reagan got us there ...a much better economy, the Soviet Union down,, because he kept his eye on the ball....I will tell you what I believe...you have a right to find out what I really am, not a make believe me...I'll set a course and stick with it...I'll set private market solutions on most problems...because they...lower costs, increase productivity...if you don't agree with that I'm not your candidate....I won't pretend it if I don't believe it...on fiscal matters you're not going to find anyone more conservative....my 80% friend is not my 20% enemy...I have a simple rule about leadership...a leader must share his beliefs honestly with people...to hand off your city, state, country better than you found it....more people moved out of poverty, better educated young people for all our kids, more businesses...a booming economy, our objective is to make our city our state our country better...if we stick to it we're going to have a state in Alabama that leads the country....if I become president I'm going to copy what you're doing in Alabama....this is not a country that has its head down..there's only one path...success and victory."