The story Russ Buettner of the New York Times has filed this morning can best be described as good old fashioned, get down into the weeds, read public records journalism. Buettner has determined that between September 17, and December 16, 2001 Rudy Giuliani spent a total of 29 hours at Ground Zero. His time at Ground Zero
involved 41 appearances, mostly to give tours to other officials and foreign dignitaries. Many entries include meetings away from the site before the tour. For instance, the schedule included 30 minutes on Nov. 15, 2001, for President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, but Mr. Putin’s tour of ground zero was widely reported to have lasted 13 minutes.The Times story is in stark contrast with Giuliani's public pronouncements patting himself on the back for all the time he spent at Ground Zero. You think I am kidding when I say Rudy is in danger of breaking his arm patting himself on the back for his efforts after 9/11 take a look at this TPM video.
By the old standards of journalism the Times story is real news. As TPM points out, pundits have been running away from this story. I wonder why? I wonder which one of them is going to say Rudy is being swift boated? Newsweek? The Hill?
Oh, notice that the Times decided to run this article on a Friday, and not on a Sunday. Hummmmm.
If I could I would nominate Russ Buettner for a Pulitzer. Way to go.
