Sebelius for VP, not Hillary

I recently saw a video put out by the International Association of Firefighters in which they talk about how Giuliani's failure to get them working radios caused the deaths of more than 300 firefighters and that Giuliani later lied about the incident before Congress. What are your conclusions?

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superdude17*

Complete bull shit.

Its funny how there is only firefighters complaining, yet no police officers. Pure politics. As we have seen, the whole country was unprepared on 9/11, so to blame 9/11 on Rudy Giuliani is quite immature if you ask me and a shame to the prestigiou NYFD. Like Pearl Harbor before it, we had never expected a disaster that catastrophic.

Its also funny how Rudy still leads with a large gap despite all the baggage that everyone gives him. Run him down all you want, his policies are what stick out.

Sebelius for VP, not Hillary

So, how much of the video did you watch? 1 minute? 30 seconds? You replied 4 minutes after I posted it up, your post must have taken a minute or two to write and the video itself is more than 12 minutes long.


WEB

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superdude17*

I am quite aware of the stance by this Association. Living in New York during the event, I also knew a few firefighters. They do not represent the larger part of New York's firefighters. The chief firefighter of New York City has called it a hoax, they continuously have supported Democrat candidates the last 3 elections. Pure politics. Don't believe a word they say. Infomercial.

The fact is: any city without warning would be understaffed and not have enough materials in that situation. For them to blame Rudy Giuliani solely is quite immature. When they blame him and not the state government as well, you know it is a hoax.

Sebelius for VP, not Hillary

So does that mean that Giuliani can take credit for any success in responding to 9/11 but not any responsibility for the needless loss of life during 9/11?

If you could show some sort of proof that the IAF is disowned by larger NYC firefighters associations, then that might help out your claim a little.


WEB

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superdude17*

Why not blame Hillary as well?

Sebelius for VP, not Hillary

You evaded my question and did not provide any proof to back up your claim that this firefighters group is on the margins.

Here's one quote for you:



"He's not the hero of 9/11."
Deputy Chief Jim Riches, FDNY

This Deputy Chief is among the IAF group alleging Giuliani's failure and lie during 9/11.

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superdude17*

GIULIANI IMPROVED FIREFIGHTERS’ HEALTH & SAFETY

Giuliani Secured $10 Million Of Bunker Gear For All Firefighters At Same Time Mayor Was Cutting The City’s Budget. After a terrible fire killed two firefighters shortly after he took office, Mayor Giuliani directed the FDNY to purchase and outfit every firefighter with new, state-of the-art protective bunker gear. By the end of his first year in office, the City had distributed 11,300 sets of bunker gear at a cost of approximately $10 million. The new bunker gear resulted in a decrease of burn injuries by nearly 60% between 1994 and 1996. (Norimitsu Onishi, “A Bittersweet Graduation As Fallen Firefighters Are Mourned,” The New York Times, 4/1/94; FDNY, “With New York Firefighters,” 4th Issue, 2001, p. 16; Alison Mitchell, “Mayor's Bet: Safety Carries More Weight With Public,” The New York Times, 5/11/94)

The New Bunker Gear Helped Reduce Medical Leave Time From 9.7% In The Last Six Months Of 1993 To 7.6% In The Last Six Months Of 1994. (Julio Laboy, “Sharp Drop In Overtime At Fire Dept.,” Newsday, 1/8/95)

Giuliani’s FDNY Provided Faster Relief And Health Support For Units Fire Scenes. To reduce heat stress at the fire scene, FDNY provided relief units faster than had previously been done. Recuperation and Care units, equipped with ice, water, fruit drinks, cold towels and misting fans to provide relief and hydration at the fire scene, responded to numerous fires. (FDNY, “With New York Firefighters,” 4th Issue, 2001, p. 17)

Giuliani Secured Purchase Of Thermal-Imaging Cameras For FDNY, Giving Firefighters Additional Abilities To “See” Fires Behind Walls And Locate Victims. Giuliani Administration purchased thermal-imaging cameras for all FDNY Ladder Companies, allowing firefighters to see into smoke-filled spaces, locate victims more quickly, and detect hidden pockets of fires in walls and ceilings. (Mayor’s State of the City Address, Jan 13, 2000; FDNY, “With New York Firefighters,” 4th Issue, 2001, p. 9)

Giuliani’s FDNY Purchased Personal Alarms For All Firefighters, Aiding In Search And Rescue Of Downed Firefighters. In 1998, FDNY purchased Personal Alert Safety System (PASS) alarms for all firefighters to assist in the search and rescue of immobile/unconscious firefighters. The PASS alarms are integrated with the self-contained breathing apparatus, activating the alarm any time the air pack was in use so that firefighters no longer had to worry about activating their PASS in the middle of a fire response. (FDNY, “With New York Firefighters,” 4th Issue, 2001, p. 17)

Giuliani And FDNY Increased The Frequency Of Medical Exams For Firefighters From Once Every Three Years To Once Every 15 Months. The new exams, tailored to the unique risk factors that firefighters face, are much more comprehensive and thorough. (FDNY, “With New York Firefighters,” 4th Issue, 2001, p. 18)

GIULIANI PROVIDED MILLIONS TO IMPROVE FDNY’S INFRASTRUCTURE

Mayor Giuliani Significantly Increased Funding For FDNY Over His Eight Years In Office. Capital spending for the Fire Department under the Giuliani administration rose to an average of $120 million a year for eight years. This was a substantial increase over the $21 million a year for four years spent by the previous administration. (FDNY, “With New York Firefighters,” 4th Issue, 2001, Pg 25)

FDNY Updated The Aging EMS Ambulance Fleet By Contracting For 400 New Ambulances Over A Five-Year Period. (FDNY, “With New York Firefighters,” 4th Issue, 2001, p. 29 )

Mayor Giuliani Funded A $44 Million Renovation Of The Fire Academy On Randall’s Island, Including A Car Simulator And Burn Building, Turning The Academy Into The Premier Fire Training Facility In The Country. (FDNY, “With New York Firefighters,” 4th Issue, 2001, pp. 14-15)

GIULIANI INCREASED FDNY’S OPERATIONAL CAPACITY

Giuliani’s FDNY Established Special Operations Command Battalion To Oversee Role Of Specialized Units At Emergency Scenes. FDNY established the Special Operations Command Battalion in 1998 to oversee the role of specialized units at incidents concerning hazardous materials, chemical/biological threats, confined space operations and high-angle rope rescue. The Special Operations Command Battalion is responsible for five Rescue Companies, seven Squad Companies, three Marine Units, and one Haz-Mat unit, as well as the Tactical Support, De-Watering, De-Con, and Recuperation and Care (RAC) units. (FDNY, “With New York Firefighters,” 4th Issue, 2001, p. 9)

FDNY Increased Number Of Specially-Trained “Squad Companies” From Two To Seven During Giuliani’s Term As Mayor. In 1998, FDNY designated five Engine Companies as Squad Companies, bringing the total number of squads under the Special Operations Command to seven. The Squad Companies, which had to undergo special training, can go into action as either an Engine or Ladder Company, and received intensive training in Ladder Company operations, Haz-Mat mitigation and decontamination procedures, as well as a variety of rescue skills. (FDNY, “With New York Firefighters,” 4th Issue, 2001, p. 9)

Giuliani’s FDNY Created Auxiliary Rescue Craft Which Aided In Numerous Water Rescues. Mayor Giuliani and the FDNY created and placed Auxiliary Rescue Craft in service within the Marine Division in 1996. These two firefighting/rescue boats patrol the waterways between May and October, and immediately accounted for many water rescues, which resulted in more craft being ordered by the FDNY. (FDNY, “With New York Firefighters,” 4th Issue, 2001, p. 9)

Under Mayor Giuliani, The FDNY Increased Staffing From Four To Five Firefighters In 60 Engine Companies. (FDNY, “With New York Firefighters,” 4th Issue, 2001, p. 10)

During Mayor Giuliani’s Tenure, One New Division And Two New Companies Were Added. Engine Company 294 in Richmond Hill/Woodhaven, Queens was reopened; Ladder Company 133 in South Jamaica/St. Albans, Queens was established; and Division 13 in southeast Queens was established. (FDNY, “With New York Firefighters,” 4th Issue, 2001, p. 9; Office Of Mayor Giuliani, Press Release, 1/31/97)

superdude17*

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PARTISAN POLITICS
It’s unfortunate but not surprising that the IAFF union bosses have once again taken the low road in a move clearly out of step with their membership. In 2008, I expect these same union bosses to endorse Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama or John Edwards, so today’s comments are just a first step in that process. Fortunately, rank and file firefighters know the difference between politics and leadership.”

– Lee Ielpi, Ladder 2, Retired FDNY

IAFF HAS HISTORY OF SUPPORTING DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

IAFF Endorsed Dukakis In 1988. (“Firefighters’ Union Endorses Dukakis,” The Associated Press, 8/2/88)

IAFF Endorsed Clinton-Gore In 1992 And 1996. (IAFF, “America’s Fire Fighters Endorse Clinton-Gore,” Press Release, 8/7/92; IAFF, “Fire Fighters Endorse Clinton-Gore,” Press Release, 8/23/96)

IAFF Endorsed Gore In 2000. (IAFF, “Fire Fighters Endorse Gore For President,” Press Release, 1/21/99)

In 2004, “IAFF Was The First Labor Union To Endorse Democrat John Kerry's Race For The President, And Its President Was At Kerry's Side Through Much Of The Campaign.” (Fox News’ “Special Report,” 3/8/07)

IAFF Did Not Poll Its Members Before Making Kerry Endorsement. “‘I think the thing that really teed off a lot of firefighters was that nobody was polled about that,’ said David Powell, a nonunion member who serves as chief of the all-volunteer Reedley Fire Department. ‘The members were not asked about it.’” (Michael Doyle, “Union's Support Ignites Firefight,” Fresno Bee, 8/8/04)

IAFF PRESIDENT HAROLD SCHAITBERGER IS PARTISAN DEMOCRAT

Schaitberger Was “One Of Eight National Cochairs Of John Kerry's Campaign.” (Matthew Continetti, “How To Stage A Controversy,” The Weekly Standard, 3/22/04)

“Schaitberger … Appeared On Stage With Kerry When He Claimed His Iowa Prize [In 2004]…” (James O'Toole and Bill Toland, “Fight For Firefighters' Favor,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 4/25/04)

Schaitberger At Kerry Endorsement Press Conference: “[T]he Bush Administration Has Thrust Our Nation Into The Worst Economic Crisis Since The Great Depression” (IAFF, “Fire Fighters Endorse Kerry for President,” Press Release, 9/24/03)

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE PRESS CONFERENCE

“Endorsing Candidates Early Is Part Of Schaitberger's Recipe For Success; He Was An Early Gore Supporter In 2000.” (Thomas Lang, “Kerry's Red Engine,” Columbia Journalism Review Website, CJR: Kerry's Red Engine, 3/15/04, Accessed 7/10/07)

Schaitberger: “Credit Must Go To Speaker Pelosi And The Rest Of The Leadership In The House Of Representatives For Getting Done What The Current Administration In The White House Has Failed To Do.” (IAFF, “Fire Fighters Applaud Democrats For Protecting America,” Press Release, 1/9/07)

Schaitberger: “While The Administration Tirelessly Portrays Democrats As Weak On National Security, The Truth Is That The New Party In Power Has Clearly Demonstrated Through Its Action That It Knows How To Bolster Our Nation's Homeland Security.” (IAFF, “Fire Fighters Applaud Democrats For Protecting America,” Press Release, 1/9/07)

MSNBC’s Chris Matthews: “International Firefighter Union President Harold Schaitberger Is Going To Be Here. He’s A Big Democrat.” (MSNBC’s “Hardball,” 10/25/06)

Schaitberger Appeared At 2006 Democratic Press Conference. “The General President of the International Association of Fire Fighters, AFL-CIO/CLC, Harold Schaitberger, issued this statement today after speaking at a press conference called by House and Senate Democrats pushing for a stronger homeland security program …” (IAFF, “Fire Fighters President Joins Democrats To Push For Comprehensive Security Priorities To Protect Our Homeland,” Press Release, 3/29/06)

Schaitberger Served As Chairman Of DLC’s “2002 National Conversation.” “The Democratic Leadership Council announced that its ‘2002 National Conversation’ will be held at the end of July in New York City. According to the DLC, ‘hundreds of well-known and up-and-coming leaders from around the country will attend this premier gathering of New Democrat elected officials.’ Harold Schaitberger, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, will serve as the event chairman.” (“Capital Comment,” United Press International, 5/23/02)

Schaitberger Has Given Only To Democrats, Including Barbara Boxer (D-CA) And John Kerry (D-MA). (The Center For Responsive Politics Website, Opensecrets.org--Money in politics data, Accessed 7/10/07)

Sebelius for VP, not Hillary

OK, how about this? We can say that the IAF is any sort of rotten group you want to say. So let's return to what they say. They say that Giuliani REPEATEDLY failed to provide them with working radios. True or false?


WEB

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