Mayor Giuliani recently described a planned AIDS-awareness Christmas tree that was to be decorated with condoms as “one of the most idiotic ideas I’ve ever heard.” His judgment may be harsh, but his expertise is unassailable. Just consider his reaction to some of the many people and ideas that have offended him over the past few years:
“Like the stupidest thinking you can possibly imagine.” – about resistance to funding a new stadium with taxes, September 28, 1998.
“Idiotic and absurd.” – about a two-hour furlough for convicts, November 8, 1997.
“Stupid and outrageous.” – about the city’s deal with the Arthur Ashe Stadium (more profitable than the city’s deal with Yankee Stadium), August 25, 1997.
“Funny numbers, phony numbers, jerky numbers, idiot numbers.” – about a Board of Education report, July 10, 1996.
“Idiotic.” – about a judge’s decision to grant bail to an accused felon, July 8, 1996.
“Academic idiots who … don’t know what they are talking about.” – about critics of the mayor’s legal knowledge, May 27, 1996.
“Idiotic.” – about letting an illegal immigrant drive a taxi, December 1, 1995.
“Idiotic.” – about outsourcing the Police Department’s auto repair, March 24, 1994.
“Idiot.” – about cosmetics heir Ronald Lauder, September 11, 1989.
“If there are firefighters that act improperly – act stupidly, criminally and in a crazy way – suggests the following about firefighters: They are human beings.” – about a fireman mêlée in Bryant Park, June 5, 1998.