FRIENDS OF RUDY

[We have posted a page devoted to Friends of Hillary. As part of our coverage of what looks increasingly like the Rotten Apple Campaign, we will be adding a page for Friends of Rudy]

MICHAEL RUBIN

BODY POLITIK - Josh Marshall notes that Rudy Giuliani has hired "Michael Rubin as Senior Iran and Turkey Advisor and Middle East Advisory Board Member." Rubin worked at "Doug Feith's Office of Special Plans" and "like the most interesting and frightening neos, Michael is that perfect mix of extreme factual knowledge and extreme lack of judgment, prone to wild-eyed theories and fantasies of various sorts but all in the end leading inexorably toward catastrophic policy moves for the United States." Below is a sampling of Rubin's greatest hits:

- IRAQ: "The question with Iraq is not whether they were involved on Sept. 11. The question with Iraq is, do we think they have the capacity, the will and the means to create mass casualties in the United States. I think they do. . .

- The New York Times reports that Rubin advised The Lincoln Group, a Pentagon contractor that paid Iraqi newspapers to print American propaganda, on the content of the propaganda campaign in Iraq.

- IRAN: "U.S. and Iranian interests in Iraq are diametrically opposed, and will continue to be until one side wins and the other loses." . . .

- "In the wake of Sadr's uprising, Washington is faced with the same choice: End Iran's infiltration through forceful action, or wish it away. How long can we afford to keep choosing the latter?" . . .

- ISLAMIC WORLD: "In the Islamic world, confrontation may work better than dialogue. . .

- REGIME CHANGE IN SYRIA: The Asia Times reported that Michael Rubin and the usual neo-con suspects "signed a report released three years ago that called for using military force to disarm Syria of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and to end its military presence in Lebanon." . . . ]

BERNIE KERIK

NY DAILY NEWS - Bernard Kerik's legal nightmare is about to get worse, with federal prosecutors expected to file charges against the former police commissioner that will likely include allegations of bribery, tax fraud and obstruction of justice, the Daily News has learned. The indictment, expected next month, could prove to be an embarrassing obstacle for Kerik's former mentor Rudy Giuliani, who is cruising at the top of the polls heading into the presidential primary gauntlet.

DAVID VITTER

TOM BRUNE, NEWSDAY - Another key supporter of Republican presidential contender Rudy Giuliani suffered an embarrassment when he admitted last night the "serious sin" of at one time calling an escort service accused of being a prostitute ring. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), who is Giuliani's most prominent Southern conservative supporter, was implicated when the so-called "D.C. Madam" disclosed that his telephone number was found among the telephone records of the escort service, Pamela Martin and Associates, in a period before he was elected to Senate in 2004. . . A staunch conservative, Vitter gave Giuliani's campaign an early boost when he endorsed the former New York City mayor in March.

MONSIGNOR ALAN J. PLACA

SHAUN SUTNER, WORCESTER TELEGRAM & GAZETTE - Republican presidential candidate Rudolph W. Giuliani has close ties to a Catholic priest accused of sexually molesting boys and who also was the lawyer for a now-closed Whitinsville counseling house for troubled priests that has been described as the center of a pedophile sex ring. Monsignor Alan J. Placa, who works for Mr. Giuliani's consulting firm, Giuliani Partners, was legal adviser in the 1980s to the House of Affirmation, where priests accused of sexual abuse were sent for psychotherapy and other counseling services. The center closed in 1987 amid a financial scandal. Monsignor Placa, who while an active priest arranged the annulment of Mr. Giuliani's first marriage, baptized his two children and officiated at the funeral of his mother, is a childhood friend of Mr. Giuliani and they both attended Manhattanville College.

He was stripped of his duties as a priest, but not defrocked, after Newsday, a Long Island newspaper, published a story in 2002 about young men who alleged that Monsignor Placa abused them in the 1970s. He has been on administrative leave since and has worked for Mr. Giuliani for the past five years. Catholic activists who are fighting the church over the clergy sex abuse issue say Mr. Giuliani's association with the monsignor raises serious questions about the former New York mayor's candidacy.

THOMAS RAVENEL

WLTX - South Carolina Treasurer Thomas Ravenel has been suspended from office, following his indictment by a federal grand jury for distribution of cocaine. . . The indictments accuse Ravenel, 44, and Michael Miller, 25, of distributing less than 500 grams of cocaine starting in late 2005. They're officially indicted on charges of conspiracy to possess and intent to distribute. Officials say Ravenel bought the drugs from Miller to share with other people. U.S. Attorney Reggie Lloyd says Ravenel didn't sell any of the drugs. Lloyd says the investigation is just beginning. . . [Ravenel] serves as the state chairman for former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani's presidential campaign. Late Tuesday, Giuliani's campaign announced he stepped down from that role. Both men face a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.