Atrios, man, you're great, but -- do you really think Giuliani's political career is going to be hurt by the fact that he violated people's civil liberties and cost NYC a lot of money in lawsuits? Hell, that stuff didn't even hurt him in New York, even before 9/11, even in the ugliest depths of the Louima/Diallo/divorce period of his administration -- it was always just seen as part and parcel of what a Real Tough Guy had to do to keep liberals and troublemakers in their place and, of course, reduce crime (and Giuliani invented crime reduction -- didn't you know that?). Gun control and gay rights might sink Rudy, but this absolutely won't.