Ray, is it really your position that someone can only mention something they accomplished in response to criticism from others?

By that argument, no politician (hell, no job candidate whatsoever) can tell people why they want the job. No politician can run a positive campaign about their own accomplishments. They can only run negative attacks (or, perhaps, a campaign of vague homilies about "hope and change").

While I realize that Rudy's longtime political foes in the fireman's union tried to use 9/11 to continue their attacks on him, others believed that he did an excellent job restoring services to the city quickly after the terrorist strike. That showed leadership and executive competence. Of course, Rudy is going to say that his successful performance in a major crisis is a qualification when seeking higher office. Anyone would.

It is, of course, your right to disagree about the quality of his performance in regards to 9/11. However, the idea that Rudy should be silent unless and until his enemies deign to attack him is both absurd and chilling.