Posted on 02/16/2007 4:34:15 PM PST by Jet Jaguar
Long dismissed by Washington insiders as incapable of receiving the Republican Party's presidential nomination because of his pro-abortion rights, pro-gay rights and pro-gun control views, former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani was lavished with praise Friday by an icon of American conservatism.
"He is much stronger than anyone could have predicted six months ago," said former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich from Georgia. "New York is four times safer than it used to be. It's one of the greatest achievements of government capability in the 20th century. And Rudy just has to go out and say, 'This is who I am. If you think the world's dangerous, and you need a tough guy … that's me.' "
Gingrich, who co-wrote a Wall Street Journal op-ed with Giuliani last month, said he is not endorsing the man who led New York City through the terrorist attacks of 9/11, and he noted that he may still jump into the presidential race against him.
But the words of praise from the architect of the GOP's 1994 takeover of Congress capped a big week for Giuliani, which included more encouraging poll numbers, a raucous reception from California Republicans, and the latest round of softball interviews in which he has been able to downplay his liberal social views by espousing his commitment to appointing "strict constructionist" judges.
Nearly a year before the first presidential primaries are held, a Gallup Poll released Wednesday found that Giuliani has a 16-point lead among Republicans over Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
In general election matchups, Gallup found that Giuliani leads Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., by nine points and Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., by two points, within the survey's three-point margin of error. McCain, by contrast, ties Obama and trails Clinton by three percentage points.
Saying that former Gov. Mitt Romney, R-Mass., is going through a "little bit of a rough patch," Gingrich was noticeably cooler toward Romney today than he has been in the past.
Back in November, while appearing on "Fox News Sunday," Gingrich singled out Romney as someone who is working "very hard" to fill a vacuum in the GOP for a "clearer voice of conservatism," adding that Romney "may well succeed."
Gingrich adopted a different tone toward Romney today after cost estimates for his health care plan, which have soared above the former governor's expectations, which revealed.
"I think that he's very smart, he's very articulate, and he's had a little bit of a rough patch with the cost of the health plan is Massachusetts," said Gingrich, "But he's a very smart guy, and I think he'll be a very significant candidate."
In assessing Giuliani's potential appeal to conservatives, Gingrich pointed to Giuliani saying in recent interviews that he would appoint "strict constructionist" judges.
Gingrich predicted that one of Giuliani's GOP rivals would air television ads attacking him for having made positive statements in the past about Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Supreme Court justice appointed by former President Clinton, who has upheld abortion rights.
Gingrich, however, seemed unconvinced that the line of attack would work
"And as he said the other day," said Gingrich, "he would have appointed the same two Supreme Court justices as Bush did. So conservatives have got to decide, you know, is that acceptable or not acceptable?"
Will their campaign slogan be Rudy, Newt, Newt?
I'm not impressed.
Check this out.
Oh man, now Newt is going to hear it from the anti-Rudy crowd. Stay low and keep your pack dry, Newt.
Could it be that Rudy is just a pretty darn likable candidate?
You wouldn't be impressed if Reagan himself endorsed Giuliani.
No worries. Romney takes the nomination going away.
Newt likes your candidate! Stopped short of endorsing him.
And that is exactly correct.
Most politicians talk.
Rudy said what he would do (the impossible), and then he did it.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg got 96 senate vote. 96. on that basis, we'd have to disqualify almost the entire sitting republican senate. here is the roll call on the vote:
http://www.loc.gov/rr/law/nominations/ginsburg/vote.pdf
there are legitimate issues to go after Rudy on. He should certainly be asked how he squares his support for Roe, with his assertion that he would appoint constitutionalist judges. What would he think if one of his SCOTUS picks became the 5th vote to return abortion to the States? this is what the primaries are for.
Newt running to be Rudy's VP? Hmmmm....
Well, his likability is the huge worrry, doncha know?
I'm not much of a fan of Rudy for Pres.
He did great things for NYC and was a decisive leader on 9-11.
But, he is no conservative. (no matter how much some would wish it so)
It wouldn't surprise me if this is Newt's strategy. Use a populist liberal to knock out all of the other contenders and then Newt can jump in and destroy Rudy in the primaries.
That's a real possibility.
Newt may be playing a little game here. He may want to see Rudy peak early, get the conservatives and evangelicals so riled up, that they mobilize to take him down.
remember what Newt's plan is - he wants the "base" to take down the 3 republican front runners - and if he sees that part of the party demolish them, he'll step in and say "hey, there is nobody left, if you are going to go with a no name, maybe you'd consider me instead".
Newt didn't endorse Rudy. But Ronald Reagan is dead. And I'm not about to roll over and support a liberal to be the party standard bearer. I think all this talk about Rudy being the savior of the GOP is pathetic nonsense.
I like Romney/Newt better. But will support Rudy/Newt too. Or Rudy/Romney or Romney/Rudy or..... LOL
Ready to throw Newt under the bus too?
"He is much stronger than anyone could have predicted six months ago," said former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich from Georgia. "New York is four times safer than it used to be. It's one of the greatest achievements of government capability in the 20th century. And Rudy just has to go out and say, 'This is who I am. If you think the world's dangerous, and you need a tough guy … that's me.' "
In assessing Giuliani's potential appeal to conservatives, Gingrich pointed to Giuliani saying in recent interviews that he would appoint "strict constructionist" judges.
Gingrich predicted that one of Giuliani's GOP rivals would air television ads attacking him for having made positive statements in the past about Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Supreme Court justice appointed by former President Clinton, who has upheld abortion rights.
Gingrich, however, seemed unconvinced that the line of attack would work
"And as he said the other day," said Gingrich, "he would have appointed the same two Supreme Court justices as Bush did. So conservatives have got to decide, you know, is that acceptable or not acceptable?"
Reagan appointed two pro-Roe SCOTUS members.
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