An important discussion, but having lived through it all and having been in the frozen zone almost every day for 6 months after 9/11, the firefighters are on balance correct. Rudy ignored the likelihood of another attack on the towers, insanely placed his command center and zillions of gallons of fuel in the Towers complex, played fast and loose with the health and communication of the firefighters, installed cat's paws as commissioners, insisted on carting away debris, with human remains, much too early to Fresh Kills in SI and sold the metal for scrap, minimized the subsequent health risks, and other unlovely acts while acting like Mr Nice Guy on the media. New Yorkers endured 2 terms of this authoritarian scold who was low indeed in the eyes not only of the firemen but the police, formerly his biggest supporters (every precinct had anti Rudy posters). Tom Keane (R) admitted that the 9-11 hearings went much too easy on Rudy, presumably for partisan reasons, or fear that attacking this shiny tinpot dictator would not go over well with a grieving nation. The question is not where was Rudy on 9/12 but where was he on 9/11 and before? His boy Bernie Kerik admits his main job was to protect Rudy on the day, like a bodyguard, and let others do the commanding. So if the firefighters cut a few corners (hate to say this) or shaded the argument a bit, they are correct on substance. This is nothing like the Swift Boat video, which was, a fabrication in toto (that is, a lie). Can you tell I am a New Yorker?