Posted on 06/26/2006 10:40:25 PM PDT by nickcarraway
With Rudy Giuliani crisscrossing the country in support of Republican candidates and raising money for his new political action committee, it is beginning to look inevitable that he will seek the presidency in 2008. Despite his lead in many early polls, skeptics still dismiss his chances of winning the Republican nomination given his personal background and liberal views on social issues. There is no doubt that these will be obstacles for Giuliani, but compared to the forces that will propel him into the White House, they are small potatoes.
"History is in motion, and those moving with it are so caught up that they cannot always see its broad outlines," Mark Helprin once wrote. Those who count out Giuliani because of the politics of abortion and gay rights have lost sight of the broad outlines of our age. The fight against terrorism is not only the defining issue of our time, but it represents an epic event in the history of Western civilization. Giuliani is the best leader available to confront the terrorist threat, which is why the course of history points to his becoming president.
Epic periods in history have a tendency to produce leaders who may have once seemed improbable. Winston Churchill was considered washed-up in the 1930s when he spoke of the rising Nazi menace. But history took its inevitable course, and by 1940 Churchill had ascended to the role of Prime Minister, because he was the ideal leader to fight Germany.
LIKE CHURCHILL, Giuliani is a survivor, a fighter, and a man of tremendous will. And just as Churchill's words guided the British public through solemn hours of German air bombardment, Giuliani became the spokesman for American resolve on the darkest day of the nation's history.
The mere fact that there is a serious debate over whether or not Giuliani could be elected is a remarkable testament to how inspired Americans were by his leadership on that day. Normally we discuss vice presidents, governors, senators or military leaders as possible presidential candidates. It is rare, if not unprecedented, for a former mayor to be considered as a presidential candidate so earnestly by so many people.
Though it has been nearly five years since Giuliani's leadership on Sept. 11, a March Quinnipiac University poll found that Giuliani was America's most popular politician. Despite his stances on social issues, a Gallup Poll earlier this month found him leading all potential Republican primary opponents. On June 13 in Manhattan, Giuliani demonstrated his fundraising potential by raking in $2 million for his new political action committee, Solutions America, in a single evening. That was twice the amount that his chief rival for the Republican nomination, John McCain, raised in New York City the day before.
Sept. 11 was not Giuliani's first brush with Islamic extremism, and in a sense, his whole career has been building toward a confrontation with terrorism. As a U.S. Attorney, Giuliani investigated the 1985 murder of Leon Klinghoffer, the Jewish New Yorker who was sitting in his wheelchair when he was thrown overboard from the Achille Lauro cruise ship by Palestinian terrorists. Giuliani dedicated a good portion of his 1994 mayoral inauguration speech to the first attack on the World Trade Center. Despite being ridiculed as paranoid, Giuliani built an emergency command center in New York City to prepare for an attack. (The center was poorly located in 7 World Trade Center, which was destroyed with the Twin Towers, but the fact that he was preparing for such threats before Sept. 11 demonstrates that Giuliani was ahead of his time.)
AS HE FOUGHT TO TRANSFORM New York City, the New York Times editorial board and liberal interest groups denounced him every step of the way. Giuliani's style of forcefully stating his position and going on the offensive during press conferences will win him the respect of conservative primary voters who are fed up with pandering Republican politicians. In fact, this may be the main factor that ends up separating him from McCain, whose reputation as a maverick has been built on taking positions that made him into a liberal media darling.
Giuliani is more than just a tough talker. Throughout his career, whether it was as a mob prosecutor, a crime fighting mayor or an entrepreneur, Giuliani has shown an ability to think creatively about solving problems. And since Sept. 11, no politician has spoken with more depth or intelligence about the nature of the terrorist threat. This will become apparent during any televised debate with Republican opponents.
Two years is an eternity in politics, no doubt. But no matter what happens between now and then, the threat of terrorism, unfortunately, will still be with us and remain the defining issue of the campaign. Given Giuliani's record of overcoming long odds, of achieving things that many people once viewed as impossible, it is startling that anybody would dismiss his chances of becoming president. Those who do so are not only severely underestimating the man, but they are misjudging the trajectory of history.
Philip Klein writes from New York. You can contact him through his website: www.philipklein.com.
Where's the barf alert?
BARF
rudy and mccain will split the rino vote in the primary and both are far too egotistical to drop out. This will allow a conservative to actually win the primary, that is assuming conservatives dont split the vote either ;).
NYC became a grand city again under Giuliani's mayorship. I saw it with my own eyes over years of visits. It always befuddled me when relatives living in Manhattan would kind of look at me oddly when I credited him with the improvements. After 9/11 they got over their NYT-ingrained mindset and at least understood where I was coming from.
That's enough praise for the man. I want George Allen as my next President.
Now yer talkin'.
I believe very strongly that if the demonrats put shrillary up, we can beat her with George Allen. Just need to get people familiar with the man at this point, as relatively few, including self-described republicans, recognize his name or know much else about him.
McCain is going nowhere. He's toast.
Did you vote for Hillary too on the sidebar poll?
McPain conjures hatred among conservatives. You're right, he's toast. I see him causing potential catastrophe as a third-party candidate. He's just the type of worm to go that route.
Elections today are based upon turnout. If Rove wasn't so brilliant as to have created an unprecedented massive get out the vote effort, we would be talking about President Kerry today. And you can bet the libs will be out in force to vote for anybody but the Republican next time.
Given that, what idiot would advocate a turnout killing pro-abortion anti-gun candidate from one of the most liberal cities be the Republican Candidate?
Hell, if the next candidate doesn't have an A+ from the NRA alone, I'm going to be sweating bullets.
McCain will not have the money to run any kind of serious campaign. When he loses in the first 3 primaries he is toast unless he spends his own money.
How about instead of Republicans getting hung up on which candidate denounces abortion the most (not that he would have the power to outlaw it even if he won), we realize we are at war with an enemy few people want to say out loud.
Abortion is not an election issue with me. Illegal immigration, border security, spending cuts, tax cuts, and supporting our military are my priorities. The rest are not on my interest list. All the social programs, agencies, and departments should be eliminated.
I"m with you there on george allen, i think he'll make a fantastic candidate and far too many people underestimate him.
Its about the judges and other policies the executive has control over (FDA,HHS etc.). I want a pro-life president but Rudy can change his mind. Bush 41 said the right things after being "pro-choice". He acknowledged he was pro-choice again after he left the White House but then shut up when his son got into politics.
Rudy can make pro-life noise just like Bush 41 even though he may not believe it in his heart.
I think the presidency is about leadership. I certainly don't agree with everything that Bush does, but I respect his leadership.
Giuliani is a great leader. He took apart the Mob so completely that it has never recovered. He governed "the city that can't be governed." He did so much good in such a systematic way that Noo Yawk is still in pretty good shape under Bloomnerd. Rudy showed tremendous leadership in NYC on and after 9/11. I think he'd be a good candidate - much better than McCain. Allen I don't know much about.
If Rudy's soft on certain conservative issues, it's up to "da base" to roar on those issues to keep him in line. Our voices can make a difference - the conservative outcry prevented Miers, and produced Alito.
I read Rudy's book, "On Leadership." We could do a lot worse.
I'd say, "That's my two cents" - but a much better man has already patented that phrase on FR!
I agree; Giuliani is a born leader. I'll say again, as I've said before, that I think he would be a terrific VICE-presidential candidate, coupled with some more conservative candidate for president. Giuliani is a bulldog on terrorism, and the new prez could safely put G. in charge of the anti-terrorism efforts. Also, if the worst happened and something happened to the president, Giuliani has already demonstrated that he knows how to deal with an emergency. I hope he continues to run for president, just to keep his name in the ring so that someone with a better chance at the presidency will draft him for Vice.
* investigated the 1985 murder of Leon Klinghoffer
* fought to transform New York City
* as a mob prosecutor, a crime fighting mayor or an entrepreneur, shown an ability to think creatively about solving problems.
Only thing missing is where the entrepreneur/erstwhile mayor actually foiled any terrorist plots, infiltrated any terrorist organizations, captured a terrorist, or killed a terrorist.
Note that the pattern is exactly the same among the Rudyophiles: exalt their guy to crusader-like status (sans bona fides) in order to appeal to our fears and disregard our morals.
I was at the local republican headquarters a couple of days ago when the county chair stated how happy she was to help set up a new chapter devoted to supporting Rudy for pres.
I asked her why, since he is not a republican, she insisted emphatically that he is, I responded that if he becomes the candidate I will leave the party, as I could never lift a finger to support such a RINO P.O.S.!
Same for McPain.
I am sick of "our party" taking us for granted, demanding we support whoever they anoint, and always threatening us with the liberal specter.
I remember that the republican party seemed to be more active and effective as the Minority than they are being now, when they are allegedly the Majority!
Where do I sign up to join the Paleo-Republican party, I have had about all the Neo-Con crapola I can take.
I agree that Allen would be a much better choice. Giuliani has done some good things, but he is pro choice and he seems to lack some moral character. I figure a guy that will cheat on his wife, won't have much trouble cheating in other areas too.
Don't worry, Giuliani will be sent packing once the primaries are held in the South and non-coastal western states.
Thankfully, I suspect that the Republicans who won't vote for Giuliani are in the minority. They just make a lot of noise here on this site.
Abortion isn't a Conservative issue though. Almost everyone who opposes Giuliani opposes him on moral grounds.
Alright. I just don't see how Giuliani could be any more "liberal" on stuff like illegal immigration and spending cuts than President Bush has been. I also don't want to see the Republican Party become only a party of the South and Rocky Mountains.
Finally, wouldn't it be hilarious for New York to be a red state in 08?
Nice, very nice, take. Just what you'd expect from the Everything-For-Us-Nothing-For-You CINO types.
Rudolfo failed on terror. Terror is not the number one issue for Americans. Immigration is, and Rudy failed that test, as well.
Rudy would be loathe to defend his immigration politics as Mayor. Giuliani sued all the way to the USSC to defend the city’s pre-911 sanctuary policy to thwart a 1996 federal law decreeing that cities could not prohibit their employees from cooperating with the then-INS.
Though he lost in court, Rudy remained defiant to the end. On September 5, 2001, Rudy'a own boys---his handpicked charter-revision committee---ruled that NYC could still require that its employees keep immigration information confidential "to preserve trust between immigrants and government." Six days later, on Sept 11, 2001, several foreigners who had overstayed their visas participated in the most devastating attack on New York City that our country had ever seen.
Rudy does only what is politically expedient for Rudy---like endorsing a Democrat---Mario Cuomo----for governor so Rudy would have a better path the the office.
Rudy has nada in common with the principles of the Republican Party, and he clearly despises conservatives. He is and always was a visceral liberal Democrat. Now with his ego eyeing the WH, he's trying to get a spine transplant to become a "moderate" Republican (gag).
"Thankfully, I suspect that the Republicans who won't vote for Giuliani are in the minority. They just make a lot of noise here on this site".
"...This will allow a conservative to actually win the primary, that is assuming conservatives dont split the vote either..."
That is assuming one runs.
I'm don't believe anyone who wants to take my guns away is interested in domestic security.
The equation is simple for many of us out here in flyover country, but the point has been apparently lost on all the speculators in the far eastern states and on the left side of my map of the CONUS as well. so permit me to reiterate:
THERE IS NO WAY I AM VOTING FOR ANY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WHO IS ANTI-GUN, PERIOD
Add in anti-life (pro-choice, whatever), pro gay, and you have a five star loser in this neck of the woods.
As for making progress in Noo Yawk, good. There was a lot of room for progress, imo, let him go back and make more.
One thing that is certain beyond controversy, George W. Bush will NOT be a candidate for re-election in 2008.
We want, we yearn for, a clone of Ronaldus Magnus to rise to the forefront, and redirect this country back to the glory days of the assertion of US superiority, and an Administration unafraid of carrying out that mandate.
That clone is not on the horizon. So we look around for the next best. Unh-unh, not over in the Dem'crat party for sure. The only ground for our search is among Republicans. There may be any number of Libertarians, or America-Firsters, or Conservative Union candidates, but face it, without the umbrella provided by one or the other of the two major parties, there is not a hope or prayer of ANYBODY managing to achieve the highest elective office in the land.
But they can play the ropes, and by selective choice among the minority parties, it is possible for a candidate with less than popular appeal, when faced with two stronger and more representative rivals, to play them off against each other, and manage a plurality with as little as 40% of the total vote. We had that situation in 1992, and paid for it then as we are STILL paying for it today.
So what we need is SUPPRESSION of ambitions by ego-driven men, a somewhat different proposition than urging a champion to get out there and make the bid of a lifetime. There are some who may call this "negative campaigning", but it is still a necessary winnowing of the wheat from the chaff.
And so far, we have had a lot of chaff thrown up into the wind.
Well, he sure had to do something to counteract the Dem's "Dig Up The Vote" effort.
Just remember such vice presidents as T.R., Andrew Johnson, Harry S. Truman etc. And you can't make the assumption that a Veep, whether for good or ill will remain Veep. Not an Option. Rudy can be senator from NY or go back to Mayor...(great job as mayor), but never the executive possition, he is far to liberal in the areas of gun control and the 'life' issue to be either Governor of NY or POTUS.
Just my $0.02
Wrong bunny! and this is why...this is what the RINO's do to repubs...and to America..and we know it here. You must have made a wrong term looking for the RINO website
Abortion is THE social conservative litmus test.
Almost everyone who opposes Giuliani opposes him on moral grounds.
Gun control, immigration, gay rights, and abortion. Guiliani is on the wrong side of 4 of the top issues that GOP voters vote on. The war on terror was the top issue, but unfortunately the issue is fading in the minds of voters.
I know this is a hot-buttom issue to all on this site. I commented on this once before that, while W & I don't agree on everything, I voted for him twice because he told me what he believed in and it was far closer to my values than the opponent. We can spew all the rhetoric we want at this point but the fact is, no one will be perfect for everyone. I live in the NY Metro area and know Rudy well. But I'll also do my research on Allen because he's a virtual unknown up here. I just hope everyone is willing to do the same.
Leadership indicates a direction.
I'll not "follow" a "leader" who is goes in a direction I consider wrong.
Rudy didn't even do well here on our FR poll. Only McNuts did worse, (so far.)
"who is going" sheesh need that first cup of coffee.
Nobody in this potential field of candidates can engender the strong coalitions to beat the Hildabeast, and lets face it the squishy center doesn't give a rats ass about most things and the die-hards will bend a bit in the end when they see the writing on the wall.. Giuliani is the only chance to garner wide support and avoid a congressional ass whippin, and another, much more diabolical Clinton for 8 more years..
Interesting points. IIRC, Rudy actually was opposed to abortion early in his career, and it was supposedly his now ex-wife, Donna Hanover, who was responsible for his change on that and in fact his more liberal drift in general.
I suppose he could always change back again, or at least enough to adopt the GOP platform. And his having to court conservatives might be good for him and for us.
Thanks for your Hillary endorsement, Perrot would be a good VP as well.. :)
I am surprised by the poll at the right, George Allen v. Hillary. Almost 10% say they'd vote for a third party. How is it that George Allen can't even get pretty much unanimous support from Freepers in that fight?
A better indicator is to only look at FR members rather than the composite vote.
In the current Allen v Hillery poll, (members only,) 3rd party is at 7.7%
(Rudy was 20.8% (members only) in pushing folks to 3rd party.)
I also expected a higher vote total for Allen.
Personally I'm all for Rudy in '08, but he's not such a popular candidate here.
I can accept some more liberal views on social issues. For me, the WOT is job #1. Job #2 is keeping the liberal Dumocrats out of any meaningful power. Anything past that is fairly meaningless to me.
I'd even support a McCain/Lieberman ticket. I think they are both decent enough men, and maybe the country could benefit with a bipartisan ticket.
I'm a former Reform Party guy though, so to me a RINO is just another candidate to consider.
Outside of Republican forums, you really don't hear that much about George Allen. I'm not so sure he is the best guy to lead a Republican ticket because he seems fairly low profile. In other words, he doesn't seem to have 'stepped up' to take the lead on many issues at all.
Rudy would be awesome fighting the WOT, the only issue that matters. A democrat would be a disaster for the country.
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