Former Mayor Giuliani has taken the plunge...or at least is "testing the waters" for a 2008 Presidential bid.

From Salon.com:

Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, a moderate Republican best known for his stewardship of the city after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, has taken the first step in a 2008 presidential bid, GOP officials said Monday.

The former mayor filed papers to create the Rudy Giuliani Presidential Exploratory Committee, Inc., establishing a panel that would allow him to raise money for a White House run and travel the country.

The four-page filing, obtained by The Associated Press, lists the purpose of the non-profit corporation "to conduct federal 'testing the waters' activity under the Federal Election Campaign Act for Rudy Giuliani."

The paperwork is signed by Bobby Burchfield, a partner at the DC-based law firm of McDermott Will & Emery, a firm that handles political work.

I am of mixed feelings here. First off, Giuliani was not a great mayor. He raised racial tensions, suppressed civil rights and generally ruled like a dictator. We don't need more of THAT!

On the other hand, while Bush and Cheney cowered on 9/11, Giuliani led the nation. He is pro-choice, meaning the Republican Party would have to become pro-choice to nominate him. He also broke the mafia hold on NYC garbage collection, though he turned a blind eye to Kerik's mafia connections. Finally, I have to say that when I moved to NYC and had any complaint about the city, EVERYONE, including people who detested Giuliani, would tell me "oh, it was WORSE before Giuliani." So I have to give him some credit for leadership.

Nominating Giuliani would ba a major shift both to the left AND towards intelligence for the Republican Party. He would be far, far better than what we currently have. But I still wouldn't vote for the anti-civil rights, dictatorial bastard.