Frankly, I may not like Rudy's politics very much, but he is so much better than Hilary that it's ridiculous.
If I may go back a little bit, I'll vote for Rudy over McCain any day of the week. McCain is a freaking crook who helped four Democrats (John Glenn, Alan Cranston, Dennis DeConcini and Don Riegle) give tons of money to that crook Charles Keating to Destroy Lincoln Savings & Loan, and further, the Savings and Loan Industry in America.
You wonder why saving rates are a pile of crap? Thank Charles Keating, John McCain, John Glenn, Alan Cranston, Dennis DeConcini and Don Riegle for destroying the Savings and Loan Industry in America.
Lopez: Rudy? Does it have to be Rudy?
Podhoretz: It doesn't have to be Rudy, but in my view he is the best candidate for the GOP. He remains wildly popular despite having made almost no public appearances in the past two years. His record as mayor of New York City—which one can plausibly argue is a job equal to being the governor of most states—remains the most extraordinary example of active conservative governance at the local level in the past 75 years. He is not a Washington candidate, which means he can separate himself from the congressional party's excesses and hijinks. Most important, he spent eight years as a liberal-slayer in New York, taking on every major institution, refusing to kowtow to the New York Times and the liberal media, and getting so much done that the city is still reveling in the revival for which he was almost solely responsible.
Lopez: Why not John McCain? Why not an Allen or Romney?
Podhoretz: John McCain has too complicated a history with the social conservatives and activist groups, and is such a gadfly that it seems inevitable he will act in ways to divide the GOP coalition. Unlike Rudy, he seems to prefer making friends with liberals and attacking conservatives, and that's not a good stance for a party leader. I guess George Allen is a plausible candidate, but why is he at three percent in polls of likely primary voters while McCain and Giuliani are nearly 30 points higher? As for Mitt Romney, I just don't think the nation is ready for a Mormon president (and by the way, I say that as an observant Jew who doesn't think the nation is ready for a Jewish president either).
Lopez: You’ve previously talked up Jeb Bush. But not in the book. Why no dynasty vs. dynasty fight?
Podhoretz: I take Jeb at his word. He's not running.
Lopez: Why not woman vs. woman? Why wouldn’t Condi pull it off? Just more of your sexism?
Podhoretz: The presidency is not an entry-level electoral job. Condi Rice hasn't ever been elected for anything. She should run for senator or governor of California and take it from there. I would be thrilled to vote for her in 2016.
Lopez: If you had to bet money today…do Republicans stop her?
Podhoretz: Yes—with this caveat. If the party fails to focus on the threat from Hillary and tears itself apart from within in pursuit of doctrinal purity, then those in pursuit of purity over practical politics will hand the country to Hillary in 2008.
READ MORE
STOPPING HILLARY
[JOHN PODHORETZ'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT MESSAGE (and it's not his 'HILLARY IS A BITCH' THEORY OF ELECTABILITY)]
Kathryn Jean Lopez interviews John Podhoretz
National Review Online
May 09, 2006, 6:13 a.m.