Colourful past threatens Giuliani's lead (dodged draft, marital weirdness)

The Daily Telegraph ^ | 16 February 2007 | Toby Harnden

[Spiff]

Colourful past threatens Giuliani's lead

The Daily Telegraph
By Toby Harnden in Washington
Last Updated: 2:04am GMT 16/02/2007

Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor, has become the clear frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination despite a personal life that his own staff once conceded opened him up to accusations of "weirdness".

A USA Today/Gallup poll gave Mr Giuliani a 16-point lead over his rival Senator John McCain and showed him trailing Hillary Clinton, the leading Democrat, by just a single percentage point.

But the extent of his task to persuade Americans he can lead them was underlined this week when a remarkable 450-page "vulnerability study", compiled by aides in 1993, emerged. His current advisers fear that his colourful past and his liberal social positions could scupper his candidacy.

The study listed all the former prosecutor's perceived weaknesses as part of a "tough and hard-hitting" assessment.

Mr Giuliani, who subsequently became a national hero as mayor of New York after the September 11 attacks, ordered all copies of the document to be destroyed. But it was obtained by a reporter working on a book about him and posted on the Smoking Gun website.

According to the document, chief among his problems as he sought re-election as mayor was that his "personal life raises questions about a "weirdness factor". This stemmed from a 14-year first marriage to his second cousin that was annulled by the Roman Catholic Church.

"When asked about his personal life, Giuliani gives a wide array of conflicting answers. All of this brings the soundness of his judgement into question - and the veracity of his answers."

Mr Giuliani, who has twice married subsequently, was also vulnerable to claims he avoided service in Vietnam by receiving "special treatment from a friendly federal judge" and later "hypocritically prosecuted draft dodgers".

In an interview with CNN's Larry King Live on Wednesday, Mr Giuliani conceded that there was lots of material with which the press and opponents could attack him. "The way I deal with that is, hey, I'm a human being," he said.

"You know, I made mistakes. I'm not perfect. I keep trying to learn from them. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. I keep working on that. I keep trying to learn from them. I'm a human being, much like, I think, everybody else."

Mr Giuliani confirmed that he was in favour of abortion rights and against gun control - litmus-test issues for many conservatives - but emphasised that he personally hated abortion.

He would also "select judges who try to interpret the Constitution rather than invent it" - a notable reassurance to conservatives who fear presidents who use judicial appointments to engage in what many see as liberal social engineering via the courts.

Whereas Democrats often reject a front runner during the party primaries, Republicans tend to coalesce around a leading candidate who they feel is electable by the broader populace. Mr Giuliani, 62, is vying to be that candidate in place of Mr McCain, 70, the early choice of the Republican establishment.

The document was the second to hand Mr Giuliani's White House rivals an arsenal of ammunition against him. Last month, a 140-page campaign battle plan setting out budgets, fundraising plans and details of possibly "insurmountable" problems with his candidacy was leaked to a New York tabloid.

[xzins]

I think Rudy's supporters think he can win. Perhaps he can. However, he has an enormous amount of baggage.

I don't think he's electable.

If he gets through the primaries as the nominee, I will support him in the general. (I'll not support McCain in either.)

However, I'll support a true conservative in the primaries.

[Jim Robinson]

Damn right they're gonna care. As a famous president, er failed politician once said, study hard and get good grades in school or you end up in Vietnam, er Iraq!

Wonder if Giuliani will push for gays in the military? Gotta have equal rights in the military you know.

And veterans sure aren't going to appreciate a draft deferment hero trying to take their guns either.

Liable to hear folks saying stuff like you'll have to take mine business end first.

[trumandogz]

I wonder if Dressing in Drag helped Rudy Dodge the Draft?

[Ben Ficklin]

"if nominated Guliani will have my vote"

I'm supporting Tommy Thompson and if he doesn't get the nomination, I'm moving to Canada.

HAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAH

[brazzaville]

Good afternoon.
"I care about today and the future."

Today Rudi is trying to persuade you that he's more conservative than his past would indicate and that he won't abuse power like liberals do if he gets it.

Michael Frazier

[jwalsh07]

This is a big weakness in states with large veteran populations.

I think you're right. I'm trying to be asnalytical here though I'm not reticent in opposing Rudy. The left has been unrelenting in it's chickenhawk attacks and this is high soft one right down the middle. I don't really care about Giuliani and Cheney getting deferments, it was a tough time back then. I had a student deferment, a hight lottery number and then I enlisted. I'm not qualified for POTUS though. :-}

The question is how many cheeks will conservative republican primary voters turn? I don't know the answer to that, I just know that I'm voting for Hunter who is immune to all such attacks.

[Jim Robinson]

And what do we win if he wins? More to the point, what do we lose? You cannot win over evil by becoming evil.

[colorado tanker]

You're parsing a bit too much

No, the difference is between people who broke the law and those who took lawful deferments. That's not "parsing." That's why the attacks on Cheney were b.s.

BTW, I got a low number and I served.

[Artemis Webb]

Jim what are you going to do? I'm very aware that you support Hunter and I agree he is the real deal from a conservative perspective. But lets say for a moment that Giuliani gets the nomination (as I believe he will): How are you going vote boss?

[jwalsh07]

I served.

Uh yeah, I can tell by your handle.

You want to argue legalities, I'm arguing hypocrisy.

It's a free counrty, vote for whomever you like. I'll be opposing Rudy's nomination actively because he is a hypocrite and a politician who should have been excommunicated a long time ago, not because he didn't wear a unifrom. But that doesn't blind me to the politcal realities of the situation and that reality is that conservative republican voters only have so many cheeks to turn.

[panthermom]

DUNCAN HUNTER 2008!!!!

Reasons to Vote for Duncan Hunter

1. Duncan Hunter is the “National Security” candidate. He served with the 173rd Airborne and the Army Rangers in Vietnam, and was, most recently, the Chairman of the Armed Services Committee in the House of Representatives. Duncan Hunter knows defense.

2. Duncan Hunter originated the fence along the Mexico-U.S. border decades ago in order to cut down crime against illegal immigrants. Today, that fence (a double fence) is 14 miles long. It has cut smuggling (people and drugs) over 90% and has drastically reduced the 10/year murder rate of illegal immigrants by removing the mobility of the cross border criminal gangs. It has eliminated the major cross border drug automobile chases. The crime rate in San Diego as a whole is 44% as compared to the pre-fence crime rate. A large scale extension of the fence (700 miles long) was authorized in the 2006 bill “Secure Fence Act of 2006”. His efforts over some 20 plus years have brought the fence to be considered as a major instrument of immigration policy and border control.

3. Duncan Hunter is Pro-Life.

4. He is a strong proponent of fair trade. He notes that recently the head of the Federal Reserve Board declared China’s 40% devaluation against the dollar by the government illegal. Today, China has a 17% subsidy for its manufacturers, a 17% tax on U.S. imports, and this 40% artificial currency control to put U.S. manufacturers at a 74% disadvantage. Many nations have enacted less dramatic, but very significant, unfair taxes and practices that give them a large advantage. In the case of China, its surpluses so generated are being used to buy and develop weaponry targeted against the U.S. He wants fair trade so the U.S. may be on a level playing field, and does not want the fruits of unfair trade practices to be used against the U.S. economically and militarily.


http://www.gohunter08.com/inner.asp?z=1

[jwalsh07]

Damn right they're gonna care.

One would think but I see a lot of people here I have a lot of respect for poohpoohing any glaring vulnerabilities that Rudy has. Maybe I'm too set in my ways. LOL

[brazzaville]

Good afternoon.
"The "draft dodger" issue didn't exactly hurt Bill Clinton at the polls."

bill clinton was elected at a time when the nation was enjoying the quasi mythical peace dividend and victory in Iraq.

W was elected because he wasn't AlGore the first time and because the nation was at war the second time.

We're still at war and what happened 30 years ago will matter more than you think with the people Rudi will need to win.

Michael Frazier

[jwalsh07]

I can't vote for Rudy for personal reasosn but if he wins the primary I'll just retire from FR and go about my business. I could vote for McCain and Romney if I had to. McCain would pain me something awful but I think I could do it. OTOH my brother absolutely won't vote for McCain or Rudy, his number one issue besides islamonuts is illegal immigration.

[Artemis Webb]

and Good Afternoon to you to sir. Your approach to civil discourse is admired.

Sincerely,
A. Webb

[KellyAdmirer]

Today Rudi is trying to persuade you that he's more conservative than his past would indicate and that he won't abuse power like liberals do if he gets it.

Well, that's fine with me. I'm willing to listen, just as I was willing to listen to Ronald Reagan. The problem is, a lot of people on here don't sound as if they want to listen to anything except what they already think they know.

[jwalsh07]

I'd like your opinion of this Greg.

[abishai]

"electability is a critical issue"

Then why do the Republicans settle for Rudy? Why not nominate Oprah? She could beat Hillary!!

[gobus1]

There is a real crisis of leadership in our country all along the political spectrum. There are very few men or women out there with the intelligence, vision, good judgement,and diplomatic skills to be a great, or even a good, leader. Most candidates end up being political hacks. The true candidates for president have too much of all of the above to want the danmned job.

[jwalsh07]

You could be right. And judging by todays vote in the House I know you are right about a majority of them.