Regarding Anthony Sarrin's review of "The Rosetta Stone and th Rebirth of Ancient Egypt" he refers to the stone being made of granite. Anthony I don't know if you're quoting John Ray or not but that's geologically wrong. It's granodoriote - you refer to black granite. There's no such thing.

David Morris, Godalming, UK

Giuliani polls well for several reasons: (1) there are few Republicans or Democrats who actually state a position and stick to it; (2) he wrapped himself in the flag after 9/11 and was therefore untouchable; no one expects a mayor to stop terrorists; and (3) he simply said no whenever possible; no to unions, no to hysterical local leaders, and no to business as usual in New York City.

The question becomes, I think, what will the glare of a national campaign expose Giuliani to be? A legitimate national contender, or a retired mayor.

Bill, Ossining, New York

That’s because no one knows Mr. Giuliani like New Yorkers know Mr. Giuliani and everything will eventually come out during a long national campaign. Until the morning of 9/11 Mr. Giuliani was the failed mayor of New York that was being relegated to the back burner of the Republican Party politics. He was well know in New York City for his divisive policies, the taking credit of others accomplishments (just ask ex-Police Commissioner Bratton) and for micro-managing City Hall. Besides his politics (pro-choice, anti-guns, pro-gay rights, pro-stem-cell research, etc.) are everything the Republican Party is against. Mr. Giuliani is right for thinking long and hard and just like his abortive run for the US Senate, after his extended 15 minutes in the sun, he will find a way to gracefully stand down.

Michael, London, England

I happen to support Rudy's views on abortion, gay rights (although I'm in favor of gay marriage, not just civil unions) and gun control. However, I would vote for him just because of the way he spit in the face of the loathsome Yasser Arafat and told Saudi Prince Alaweed where he could shove his $10 million check following the attacks on 9/11.

Tessa, Huntington, NY,

"Giuliani is for low taxes, law and order (often at the expense of civil liberties)"

What a joke and baseless accusation. Please name the "civil liberties" you refer to.

darwin, Norfolk , VA

Barack Obama is well to the right of Cameron.

Russell, London,

Because they don't know what New Yorkers do about his treatment of his ex wife, involvement with questionable characters (Bernie Kerik, etc) and many bad decesions that made 9/11 worse, like putting the Emergency Cammand Center in the World Trade Center in a building that stored diesel fuel. See what his numbers are for the city and compare them with those from outsider NY.

Rick Christel, New York, New York

Giuliani is polling so well despte his awfulness because this is the same country that elected the even more horrible George W. Bush to office.
Understand now?

Frederick, New York City, USA

So, Rudy Giuliani is to the right of David Cameron? Surely that can't be very difficult?

Herbert Thornton, Victoria, Canada

Guiliani would be a disaster as president. Three marriages? Pro-choice? Pro gay marriage? If he gets the GOP nomination in 08 it would signal a complete refuation of the core principles of the Republican party. A Guiliani candidacy would lead the rank and file, i.e., evangelical Christians, to stay home as they did in 2006. The result? Madame President Hillary Clinton. For the sake of our country, we can only hope.

freedomfighter, pittsburgh, PA

Well Eric, you are no George Orwell and most of us in the rest of the World do think that the New Yorkers are bright, sophisticated and intellectual in a way that the rest of you are not. In fact many of you on the religious right look and sound quite as scary as the fundamental Islamists you have provoked and stirred up by your ridiculous antics over the past many years. If the Republicans miss out on Guiliani and let in the awful lesser Clinton, then they deserve to stay in the wilderness for ever.

Frankland Macdonald Wood, Sansepolcro 52037, Italy

9/11. that's leadership.

jeff, chicago, usa

Basically I am an Independent and a political junkie. Now that Rudy has declared his candidacy, I've gotta say that I hope he will be our next President given the field of hopefuls in both parties at this point in time. Hillary? PU. Obama? Not a chance. It's too early in the game to be picking winners, but if I was voting today (or tomorrow or next week.) Unless it would be Rudy Guiliani without breaking a sweat.

Edie Goldman, Carmel, CA

The social conservatives dislike Giuliani for another reason: He is lukewarm (at best) on gun rights. As mayor of New York City, Giuliani actually sued many gun manufacturers, and his police commissioner was strongly in favor of strong gun control regulations. Even more than abortion, gun control is a non-starter in heartland America, even in the rural areas of otherwise liberal states like Vermont.

What social conservatives are looking for is a pledge by Giuliani that he will appoint only judges to the courts who will fully support gun rights (as well as the other things like banning abortion).

rightside, lowell, MA

When you say no other Replucian has his star power you mean no other potential Republican 08 candidate. Schwarzenegger certainly has more star power.

Oz, Queensland, Australia

As a life long westerner (living on the Idaho/Washington State line) I'd agree that many here detest the arrogance of the NE and their infamous political machines. This is reason one why Clinton has big problems west of Buffalo. We also resent the front loaded eest of the Mississippi primary process. But even more we detest the undue influence of southern evangelicals and their 1 out of 5 voter minority rule. We are proudly unchurched, like to do our own thinking, and are fed up with Dobson and his gang of merry riders. If Rudy enters, at least in the intermountain west he'd have only Edwards to contend with. I doubt it would be much of a match...

timbo, Newport, Washington

It's name recongnition and that's why he's polling so well! When Republicans are confronted with his pro-choice( to kill) position and his radical pro-gay views he will never win the nomination...

Veronica Sheehan, Brooklyn, NY

Andrew ... you're a pretty internet savvy guy. Please let me have your thoughts on why Rudy's appearance on The Today Show in October, 2004 when asked for his opinion just after one of the other "non" stories on the handling of the Iraq War .... this one on all the missing stock piles of weapons and this is the response:

Giuliani: "The president was cautious the president was prudent the president did what a commander in chief should do. No matter how you try to blame it on the president the actual responsibility for it really would be for the troops that were there. Did they search carefully enough? Didn't they search carefully enough?"

Why is it that it is so unpatriotic when a whiff of even suspected less than fervent support of those in uniform hanging in the air near a member of the democratic party sends the spin cycle at full bore and the sort of clear, concise, non-equivacal statement above gets no play at all?

May I have some thoughts from you?

Patty, Akron, Ohio

At this point he has little or no real competent opposition in the Republican Party. As soon as that competition announces, Rudy will disappear.

E.V. Blissard, Huntsville, Walker, Texas

Perception is relaity.
New Yorkers were sick of Guiliani - his brashness, his arrogance, and his hubris.a Then 9/11 occured and he was perceived to have a heroic posture.
When America scratches beneath the heroic veneer, they too will discover a thin skinned, arrogant, power hungry, little man.

Gary Engler, Lebanon, NY

Who owns the polling company and what are their political goals? One cannot trust polls unless one can trust the pollers. The Gallup polling company was compromised during WWII when the British Government bought it sureptuously and started issuing fake poll results showing increased US public support for war against Germany.

Doug@usa.com, Anytown, USA

When all is said and done, 2008 can hardly be a Republican year. The worm has turned and there is a feeling of the need for change on a whole front of issues. In any case, Mc Cain is still outgunning Guilani 37 to 23 on www.intrade.com a political betting site. My guess is that Americans may be more ready for a female President than a New York Italian American. Prejudice against NYers still runs deep outside the East Coast.

oldasiahand, Guildford, Surrey

One thing separates Rudy from all other politicians. When you
ask him a question he gives you a direct answer. And the answer
is clear and usually persuasive. One thing is sure, debates
are going to be worth watching this time around......and that goes for both parties.

sal asselta, san diego,

Rudy Giuliani did an incredible job cleaning up N.Y.C. If he could do even half as well cleaning up the current mess in the rest of the country, the U.S. would be in pretty good shape. I'd vote for him in a minute to give him the opportunity to try. And Erick, you must not have ever lived in N.Y.C., otherwise you would know that although it may be unpopular in much of America, that's because it IS the center of the world, and everyone else IS stupid!

Ellen Sarbone, San Francisco, CA/USA

Previously, you could read the Times via "newspaper edition" which was easy to read.

Can you do this with the new version?

Joy, glasgow,

Rudd will become good president.But conservative dominated republicans will they allow him to run for the presidency is big question.
Rudd has an easy opponent in John McCain as John seems to be too old for Presidency.Amercians have to elect responsible President .Rudd fits well above all other candidates.Rudd if he has to win American election, he should not have the endorsement of the present President, but to win approval from Republican party he needs the support of America's most unpopular President.
I pity any contestant for republican nominations as they are considered an associate of this unworthy present regime.

viswanath, HERTS,

He seemed very popular when we were in NY recently - go for it G

IAN PAYNE, Lichfield - STAFFORDSHIRE,

Poor Andy really needs to go see the Doc and adjust his medication. If Rudy Giuliani is a conserative then Britain's George Galloway is a Right wing nut. I mean come on! Andy's been deeply confused for some years now. Rudy has less chance of being elected President than Ronald McDonald. I'd bet a very large sum of cash on that. Want to match me Andrew? I thought not. Folks in New York hate to hear this but NYC is not the center of the world and is deeply unpopular in much of America. New Yorkers know this is true but irrationally take this as evidence that everyone else is stupid..

Erick Blair, LA, California

Plus despite his record as a true hero, there may be some thinking that John McCain's age is disqualifying. As a fiscal conservative, Rudy's fine by me. I think he can beat Hillary and put some states in play for the Republicans that they've essentially given up on for the last several cycles. At the end of the day, that may decide it for him, because nothing will unite the Republican "base" like the thought of another "President Clinton."

Jerry Hudson, Bradenton, Florida