That she is ambitious, meanwhile, is no secret to anyone who has met the woman. With one very firm handshake, Mrs. Giuliani conveys three things: Labrador devotion to her husband, caffeinated intelligence and nail-bed ambition. That is, she would sleep on a bed of nails to get "there" -- whatever and wherever "there" is.
For some, "there" is a well-written book or a Babette's feast. L'art pour l'art.For others, nothing less than the White House will do. Put Mrs. Giuliani in the latter category, but then ask: Is she more ambitious than other aspiring first ladies?
Does Elizabeth Edwards want the office less? Or are her reasons more palatable by virtue of her style? Is Michelle Obama similarly inoculated?
Not so fortunate is the "trophy wife," as Fred Thompson's younger, blond wife has been dubbed. Can a good-looking blonde ever get a fair shake? Is she too shapely for an oval office? Passionate and intelligent is how she's been described by a mutual friend. But she's got cleavage! How much is too much? Hillary Clinton's office wants to know. Or was that Nancy Pelosi's?
The hits just keep a-comin'. One thing we know: Women are scrutinized in ways men never are -- and usually by other women. As the fabled scorpion said to the frog that was ferrying it across a stream -- right after inserting its stinger and dooming them both to death -- It's our nature.
Americans are suspended, meanwhile, in a time warp of traditional expectation and contemporary reality. Women are liberated as never before. They enjoy sex without marriage, get divorced, raise kids by themselves, and speak up when they've got something to say.
Judith Giuliani, in other words, is a mirror on our times. It would seem we don't much like our reflection.