Posted on 01/16/2007 8:21:49 AM PST by Reagan Man
Today's deepest division is between those political observers who believe that Rudy Giuliani is a credible contender for the Republican presidential nomination and those who think that his chances are no better than those of California Rep. Duncan Hunter.
~snip~
Giuliani's strong showing in GOP polling reflects his celebrity status and the reputation he earned after the terrorist attacks. But if and when he becomes a candidate, that will change. He will be evaluated on the basis of different things, including his past and current positions and behavior, and he'll be attacked by critics and opponents. A Giuliani nomination would also generate a conservative third-party candidate in the general election and tear the GOP apart, thereby undercutting Giuliani's electability argument.
So, the former mayor might make a terrific general election candidate, but I don't see how he can get there as a Republican.
(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...
One thing about Newt and healthcare that may have been overlooked by some folks. Newt supported Bush`s Medicare prescription drug program, as part of the comprehensive Medicare Modernization Act of 2003. The health savings account provision was a good move, but the rest is mostly social engineering, Republican style. Surprised Newt would support such drivel. But he did.
You might be right about Rudy, but I have a hard time using the word "patriotic" to describe anyone with such a long-standing animus towards the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Truth be told.
Gee, I guess I'll be swimming up-stream on this thread...
Someone had a recent survey that asked something like this: what qualities and abilities are Americans looking for in terms of a president. And the reaction was: a leader... someone like Reagan or FDR. A visionary. Someone who could stand up to criticism and do the right thing. And a good communicator.
As I look at the current crop of potential nominees from either party, the only one who measures up to that benchmark is Rudy. He was a visionary and a true leader in bringing NYC out of the depths it was in during the early 1990s. He did the things a leader aspires to do: lays out a plan and focuses resources to making it happen. In NYC, it was reducing crime, lowering taxes, improving the living conditions in the city's various neighborhoods, reducing the welfare rolls, improving the school system, and boosting the overall economy to the extent possible. After 9/11 he was America's Mayor -- the most visible leader and most eloquent spokesman [besides W] in the country.
On Rudy's social issues, yes, I know that will be tough for conservatives to stomach (and to accept during the primaries). But he can claim that this is what a guy who grew up in NY believes. He can also defer to: most of these social issues should be left to the States and localities -- as envisioned by the Framers. I know he embraces conservative, originalist jurists... personally, I don't expect to see abortions made illegal but I would hope to see the matter pushed back to the states where it should have been decided prior to Roe v. Wade. That's what conservative jurists should press for. Same thing for same sex marriage. Let the States decide. We are a Republic -- a Free Republic.
On the leadership side: Rudy is articulate, focused, has always surrounded himself with good people (even despite the Bernie Kerrik problem). He's a great communicator -- probably has the potential to stand right up there with the Gipper. Unlike W who made us anxious at every press conference and speech he even held in the first 4 years of his presidency, Rudy could give a press conference a day and I would never expect him to flub it (he probably gave 100 press conferences in the 2 months following 9/11 alone and he always did them brilliantly). The Chattering Class will be on the defensive during a Rudy presidency.
OK... I'll end here and expect a malestrom of barbs from fellow FReepers. But show me a better leader... Some me a better spokesperson... Show me a better "fiscal conservative"... Show me a better visionary... Show me a better propsective leader for prosecuting the War on Terror. I don't think you can. JMHO.
FLOP - I still blame him for giving us Hillary.
No, that just makes him a highly qualified Democrat candidate. He would definitaly make a formidable dem candidate.
Great graphics! Thanks for the ping.
If the polls are right, Rudy's in great shape. Very little about him is not known. That works in his favor, as opposed to others.
The rabid anti-Rudy attack dogs here are a small but loud and obnoxious crew. They aren't representative of the GOP in any way, shape, or form.
:)
{The end result was barely 2% of the vote went to Buchanan.}
1-2 percent of the vote is enough to swing a down ballot elections. Having Perot on the ballot in 1996, did minimumize GOP Congressional House losses as Clinton was re-elected easily. Having Nader on the ballot in 2000, inspired moonbat leftists to come out for Maria Cantwell and Debbie Stabenow. We might need a conservatvie 3rd party candidate to inspire disgruntled conservatives to come out for Republican Congressional candidates.
Totally disagree with you. Most people know Rudy for one thing and one thing ONLY. He was the Mayor of NYCity on 9-11 and was seen on TV news accounts holding down the fort, so to speak.
Most Americans don't know Rudy supports gun control, an assault weapons ban, abortion on demand, opposes a ban on partial birth abortion, promotes special rights for homos, amnesty for illegals and is another in a long line of politicos who believe government knows whats best for Americans. Rudy is a big government Republican. A liberal to his core values and beliefs. I don't believe Rudy has a chance of securing the GOP nomination. Most conservatives won't vote for a liberal, Republican or Democrat, primary or general election.
Many social conservatives pose a problem for the GOP. They bail out or don't vote at all if faced with a choice of candidates who have an imperfect past.
I remember well the threads here in 2000 castigating George W Bush for meeting with leaders of the Log Cabin Republicans during the campaign. The disclosure of his arrest for drunk driving nearly, and was intended to, cost him the election.
Yet, the darlings of the social conservatives never do well. See the campaigns of Pat Robertson and Alan Keyes, for example. George Bush is a social conservative, but he barely hangs onto the support of the social conservatives because he doesn't wear it prominently on his sleeve.
I'm not sure where this group gravitates in 2008. Ron Paul, Tom Tancredo, and Duncan Hunter all have their followings, but it tends to be derived from an issue like immigration, not something more broad as I would define social conservatism.
If history is any guide, the social conservatives will rant and rave against the major candidates and then not vote at all.
Actually, they do represent us. As caricatures. As Norman Lear presented Archie Bunker. Their purpose is to divide the base and subtract from our credibility, not multiple our base and add to our credibility.
For liberals and Democrats, FDR was/is the model POTUS. For conservatives and Republicans, Reagan was/is the model POTUS. One big problem. Rudy maybe a Republican, but more importantly he's a liberal and that will exclude him from getting the GOP nomination.
The distant darkhorses, Duncan, Tancredo, and Paul, are also in Washington, so Senators should have no inherent advantage over them because of a lazy press.
And why would Romney the one glaring exception when Giuliani is also out of politics and better known nationally?
I've been trying to figure that out too. Why in the world should a conservative vote for a 'liberal lawyer from New York' to save us from another 'liberal lawyer from New York'? No thanks!!!
That's because politics is compromise, and "true believers" don;t compromise.
To their folly, it seems.
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