A story from the Washington Post and seen when visiting the site:

The campaign took the site down over the week, said spokeswoman Maria Comella. The new site will launch Tuesday morning with some new features, campaign officials said.

It is not at all unusual for popular Web sites to go dark for a few hours for maintenance. But in a primary race that is being fought as much online as offline — where voters and potential donors are surfing the net 24/7 — it’s rather curious to shut down a site for more than a day.

Not to be a jerk about it but one could make the argument that there wasn’t much to take down in the first place. They could have easily just put up an index.html file that says “Rudy Giuliani, Please Give Money” and it would have amounted to Giuliani’s Web presence thus far.

I’ve had a hard time figuring out just what the people at JoinRudy08.com do all day long anyway. I run ElectionGeek on what amounts to $20 a year and I have more information about Rudy Giuliani stored up in this place then was ever gathered at JoinRudy08.com. Including a rather glib assessment of his handshaking. Beat that!

Giuliani has basically spent a ton of money thus far, if I am reading the expenditures right it was over a half million dollars in “Web SVC” this quarter for what amounted to a template with a couple pictures and paragraphs thrown in with an online money transaction system.

I could not even begin to tell you the kind of Web site I could bring you for half a million dollars a quarter. Certainly I could do better than loading up a pre-built CMS onto a server, opening a merchant account and taking labor day off.

The full statement after the jump:

“For most of my adult life, I’ve had the privilege of serving the people of Idaho. I am grateful for the opportunity they have given me. It has been a blessing.

I am proud of my record and accomplishments and equally proud of the wonderful and talented people with whom I have had the honor and privilege to work and serve.

I chose to serve because I truly love Idaho. What is best for Idaho has always been the focus of my efforts, and it is no different today.

To the Idahoans I represent, to my staff, my Senate colleagues and, most importantly, my wife and our family, I apologize for what I have caused.

I am deeply sorry.

I have little control over what people choose to believe, but clearing my name is important to me and my family.

Having said that, to pursue my legal options as I continue to serve Idaho would be an unwanted and unfair distraction from my job and for my Senate colleagues.

These are serious times of war and conflict - times that deserve the Senate and our full nation’s attention. There are many challenges facing Idaho that I’m currently engaged in, and the people of Idaho deserve a Senator who can devote 100 percent of his time and effort to critical state and national issues.

Therefore, it is with sadness and deep regret that I announce that it is my intent to resign from the Senate, effective September 30. In doing so, I hope to allow for a smooth and orderly transition for my loyal staff, and for the person appointed to take my place at William Borah’s desk. I have full confidence that Governor Otter will appoint a successor who will serve Idaho with distinction.

I apologize to the people of our great state for being unable to serve out the term to which you have elected me. I hope you understand my decision to step aside.

Few people have had the pleasure and privilege to represent Idaho for as many years as I have. Each day, each week, each year brought new challenges and opportunities to create a better life for Idahoans. I have enjoyed every moment and cannot adequately put into words how much I appreciate you giving me this chance. I hope you do not regret the confidence you have placed in me for all these years. I hope I have served you and our state to the best of my abilities.

Lastly, Suzanne and I have been humbled by the outpouring of support we have received from our friends, our family, staff and fellow Idahoans - we are profoundly and forever grateful.

Thank you.

Earlier in the summer Tancredo remarked that the United States should bomb holy cities as a way of sending a message to terrorists and undoubtedly all religious people everywhere. Yesterday according to The Hill he remarked that it was “time the taxpayer gravy train left the New Orleans station” in regards to Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts.

“At some point, state and local officials and individuals have got to step up to the plate and take some initiative,” said Tancredo. “The mentality that people can wait around indefinitely for the federal taxpayer to solve all their worldly problems has got to come to an end.”

Though there are undoubtedly other fiscal conservatives and independents who would like greater accountability of money spent and who could argue the issue of states responsibilities vs. federal responsibilities, I doubt any of the other candidates will be jumping about this line of thought. It isn’t the kind of thing you say when you want to get elected president.