nathanrudy at DailyKos reminds us of our "pre-9/11 thinking".

But the horrors struck our nation in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington DC and things changed. Obviously, one of the major changes was that the primary for New York City Mayor was scuttled and had to be postponed.[..]

But in the following days we got to see the real Giuliani. It's easier to be heroic in front of cameras while people are afraid. Strongmen for all time have been able to do that, gathering the fears of the people together into a small place and whipping them up into a frenzy of passion that lifts the strongman to greater power.

Giuliani knew that, and tried to benefit. On September 26, 2001 - two weeks after the worst attack on our mainland since the Civil War - Giuliani proposed that he be able to hold on to his office for three more months. [..]

There was no law that supported such an extension, no tradition that offered it, no constitutional power that allowed it. Giuliani simply thought that the law of his city, state and nation should be aborted for his own personal glory.

Let me say that again: Rudy Giuliani used the most horrific moment of the last fifty years to try to maintain power for himself..

Sam Sloan reminds us of how NYers viewed Rudy in the days prior to 9/11 here.