So you are wrong.
Posted on 01/25/2007 8:32:31 PM PST by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - Rudy Giuliani's star has hardly dimmed in the five years since terrorists attacked his city on Sept. 11, 2001, and he became a national hero _ the face of U.S. resolve at a time of tragedy.
The Republican dubbed "America's Mayor" hopes to ride that celebrity and his record at City Hall to the White House by emphasizing his leadership skills and embracing the strong-on-security, limited-government tenets of the GOP.
"If he can handle the scrutiny, and if events break his way, sure, he can win," said Fred Siegel, who wrote a Giuliani biography, "The Prince of the City."
Giuliani's quest to capture his party's presidential nomination won't be easy.
He's a moderate Republican from New York City, on the wrong side of social issues in the eyes of hard-core conservatives who are a crucial voting bloc in the primaries. His mayoral tenure was marked by criticism of an overzealous police force. He's linked to the city's scandal-plagued ex-police chief Bernard Kerik. His thicket of business interests could pose conflicts. He's been divorced twice.
"I sure have strengths and weaknesses," Giuliani said recently. "I think that sort of puts me in the same category as just about everybody else that's running. Are my strengths greater or my weaknesses worse? I don't know. You have to sort of examine that. That won't be the issue."
His challenge will be to remind voters of his take-charge attitude on Sept. 11 and his two-term mayoral reign, at the same time his main rivals _ Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record) of Arizona and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney _ no doubt will try to exploit his background and record. For now, both are trying to gauge how much of a threat he may be.
Giuliani, who formed a presidential exploratory committee last year, is betting that the Republican rank-and-file will look past his liabilities. His aides dismiss skeptics who say he has too many flaws to win over primary voters a year from now.
"I believe they'll look at the picture as a whole," said Tony Carbonetti, Giuliani's longtime political adviser. "This (New York) was an unmanageable city, and I think what people want today is a manager, someone to lead in difficult times and to lead in not-difficult times.
"We're going to continue to tell that story," he said.
Before Sept. 11, Giuliani was known as the hard-charging prosecutor-turned-politician who cleaned up Times Square, led the city out of fiscal despair and brought Republican rule back to the liberal mecca.
Giuliani, of course, made enemies in the process, but on Sept. 11 even his chronic critics were muted when he took charge amid the rubble of the World Trade Center's twin towers. To many, he became a picture of strength, a reminder of the resilience of the American spirit.
"He has a connection to that. He is unique. On the other hand you look at the politics and you say this is a problem," said Alex Vogel, a Republican strategist in Washington who is not affiliated with any presidential candidate.
"The question is: Can you win a Republican primary a different way? History keeps saying no. But history has never presented us with someone whose favorability numbers are as high as Rudy's."
Indeed, national polls have consistently shown him leading for the GOP nomination, and early surveys in key states show him ahead or competitive. He travels to one important state, New Hampshire, this weekend where he will give the keynote address at the state GOP's annual meeting.
For all the hype since 2001, Giuliani didn't start preparing for a presidential run in earnest until after November's elections. Thus, he has lagged behind McCain and Romney in courting fundraisers, setting up a national organization and hiring ground operatives in key states, although he has made progress on all fronts recently.
Giuliani's aides insist they're making strides toward filling out his campaign. They say he can raise the $80 million to $100 million necessary this year for a serious run. Name recognition, obviously, isn't an issue.
Neither, his supporters argue, is likability. They say he appeals to people across the political spectrum and in every region of the country, meaning he could expand the general election playing field. That, his backers say, makes him the Republican most likely to beat the presumptive Democratic front-runner, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York.
Perhaps.
But first he has to capture the GOP nomination _ and the big question is whether he can win over enough Republicans in states like Iowa and South Carolina, among the first nominating contests where voters are solid conservatives and could be turned off by his stance on social issues.
"Giuliani is going to have to convince people that he's more conservative than his record otherwise would suggest," said Peverill Squire, who teaches politics at the University of Iowa.
The former mayor's support for abortion rights, gay rights and gun control conflict with the hard-line positions of the GOP's right. His supporters say he's not as liberal on those issues as he's made out to be. Still, he's from New York _ and that alone rankles the party's conservative wing.
Despite that, Giuliani's backers contend _ and some Republican strategists agree _ that he could get support from fiscal conservatives because of his record of cutting taxes, curbing spending and promoting small government, particularly now when the base is smarting over the soaring federal deficit under Republicans.
And, with the country still at war, his link to Sept. 11 _ the brand of a strong leader _ could trump the base's concerns about his background and stand on social issues.
"Giuliani's national security credentials will allow him to span ideological divides in the Republican Party and win conservative votes," said Greg Strimple, a GOP strategist in New York who is neutral in the race.
Unknown is whether Giuliani can woo enough of those base Republican voters to win the nomination and, if not, whether he can make up the difference by attracting independents and Democrats.
"His opening could come if people really think that somebody like Hillary is running away with it, and if there's a perception that only Giuliani can beat her," said John Truscott, an unaffiliated Republican strategist in Michigan.
Another factor that could help Giuliani is how the primary calendar shakes out.
New Hampshire and Michigan hold early contests, and New Jersey, California, Illinois, Florida and other states viewed as more hospitable to a moderate may schedule their votes earlier in the year, perhaps lessening the importance of a strong showing for Giuliani in Iowa and South Carolina.
For all the obstacles, even folks with ties to Giuliani's opponents can't deny that the New Yorker has a shot.
Said Ken Khachigian of California, who served as a strategist for President Reagan and was with McCain in 2000: "I would never sell Giuliani short."
So you are wrong.
I'm not wrong. The selection of a non-conservative will elect Hillary and destroy the Reagan coalition. Period.
The GOP can survive losing an election. But it cannot survive the abandonment of its principles and platform.
What is "traditional" about favoring abortion and gun control?
First you are going to have to point me to a dictionary that decodes your messages. You use so much jargon half the time I have to guess what you mean.
I did get a whole pile of mails about the deep history. Funny stuff on the whole...Tales of buses, shacks, and fences and other oddities. Gotta say EV you are an industrious and dedicated fellow. Tip o'the hat to you.
Ah, I see you've been communicating with the antifreepers and their folks who remain here. Interesting.
JMC....you miss the point. The is a difference between favoring something and not giving a damn about it. Many traditionalists don't give a damn about abortion or want to end late term abortions only. Many traditionalists dont care about handgun control and definititely think automatic weapons are a bad idea except for the military.
What Traditionalists care about is low taxes, small government, a strong defense, deregulation and keeping government out of our lives as much as possible. The Bible, ID, Prayer in schools, Abortion et al are private manners and none of our damn business. Believe what you want. Just don't compell me to believe what you do. It's that Liberty thing you see. The Traditionalist hated it when liberal culture vultures try to define the culture with their odious stamp and now hate it when conservative culture warriors try to brand the nation with their notions " moral correctness". Bloviating sanctimony, liberal or conservative is annoying as hell.
How is Rudy better than Hunter in ANY of these fields?
Thank goodness for that. As much as some of these left-leaning freepers annoy me, it wouldn't be nearly as interesting around here without them.
My point is that, correct me if I'm wrong, using the term "Keyester" is akin to calling a supporter of Alan an ass. At least that's how I interpret it.
You're noot even attempting to hide your retread status.
Well, THAT is something I didn't know ... but I think the idea that it does has some merit. I may just have to stop using it as that is not what I meant to convey.
Keyes Supporters does just fine!
Like I said...I got some mail. They were advocates for their flavor. One was Romneyite and another was Giulianist. One was an Ancient Freeper Sage and another was a newbie. So you wanna expand on the story and set me straight or not? Here's your chance...Send it in mail if you like. I did find it fascinating.
Who do you think you're fooling? The first time you came to my attention, I went back and looked at the day you so seamlessly appeared under this screenname and started attacking good conservative people. You're as obvious a retread as I've ever seen here.
The 2nd Amendment is the cornerstone of traditionalism and conservatism. People who believe in restricting ANY part of the Bill of Rights are NOT conservative. If you are indeed new here, which I'm increasingly doubting, please take some time to read the FR home page and check out the mission statement. You'll see that the mission of Free Republic is to defend Constitutionalist conservatism. If you come on here and advocate RKBA restriction, your stay here will be very short. Believe me, I've seen it before. On a side note, does it disturb you that I can name at least 50 posters on Democratic Underground who are better than you on the 2nd Amendment?
What Traditionalists care about is low taxes, small government, a strong defense, deregulation and keeping government out of our lives as much as possible.
Then why in the world would you support someone who says...
Freedom is about authority. Freedom is about the willingness of every single human being to cede to lawful authority a great deal of discretion about what you do.
Abortion et al are private manners and none of our damn business.
Is murder of adults a private matter that is none of our business?
Bump for later reading
Rudy lisps and is liberal. How in the world would he be better in a Republican primary debate?
Don't worry....Word play with Candidate names has an FR tradition. Eg. McInsane, Rudy McRomney, Hitlery, Clintoon, Duncan Hines, Keyester, Dukookoo, Scary Kerry, Obamanation. The sudden outrage at name bending is hilarious...
Use whatever you like best...
Are they talking about you, honey?
You certainly know a lot about "FR traditions" for somebody who's been here all of a month.
I guess I could take the time to respond to your post but that would you to post the same quotes that you have posted countless times before. I've heard your arguments many times before. They do not impress me. We will just have to disagree. I didn't accept the liberals brand of coercion and I won't be compelled accept yours either.
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