Posted on 03/29/2007 11:33:30 AM PDT by M. Thatcher
WHY FORBES ENDORSED GIULIANI
.... [my] readers...likely know that I served as a senior advisor to Steve Forbes from '96 through 2000 through both of his presidential bids....so let's cut to the chase:
Steve is going to take flack from social conservatives, given Rudy's record on life and marriage....still, it's curious to me to see Rudy's enormous post-9/11 appeal among Republican voters -- including staunch conservatives -- despite social positions that would normally send us fleeing....I wrote about this on September 29, 2005, after attending a dinner with Giuliani and meeting him for the first time:
"I'm not endorsing him, mind you. I have serious problems with his pro-abortion and pro-gay rights positions, to say nothing of his messy divorce in office after having an affair with a staffer. But I can't tell you how many conservatives I talked to last night that said, 'Yeah, sure, except for those things he'd be a fantastic president!'
It's hard not to like him. It's hard not to want him to succeed President Bush even if you disagree strongly with him on core issues. Why? Because he's funny. He's smart. He's tough. He's experienced. With the whole country and the whole world watching, he handled every aspect of 9/11 with such courage and compassion, from managing the immediate crisis response to attending funerals for month after month after month. What's more, you get the sense that this guy could really beat Hillary Clinton. And isn't that what the GOP is really looking for?
Accepting a pro-Israel award (and discussing his recent trip to Israel) in front of 500 rank-and-file Republican evangelicals was a shrewd move for Giuliani in light of his presidential aspirations. It gave him a way to identify with conservatives on an issue of great concern -- Israel -- without raising any highly-controversial social issues.
At least for now. Giuliani is also shrewdly trying to strengthen his appeal to free-market reform-minded conservatives and libertarians. He has, for example, recently spoken at several business and economic events with Steve Forbes, including a Forbes magazine CEO conference in Sydney, Australia.
Conservatives are casting around right now for a serious presidential candidate, and having a hard time picturing even people they like being able to break out of the pack."....Giuliani doesn't have the GOP nomination locked up....not by any means....but he is attracting support from people who like him in spite of some of his views....
is that right?....I'm not sure, yet....but it's happening, and it's intriguing....the big question right now is: who else do conservatives have to lead us through the threats of the next four years?
....Newt Gingrich has real strengths but also serious weaknesses, and I don't think he's electable
....Gov. Mitt Romney has not convinced me yet he's a real conservative
....Gov. Mike Huckabee is a wonderful evangelical Christian and effective governor....but he's also a tax-raiser and is he really ready to be Commander-in-Chief at a moment of global peril?....I'm open to the possibility, but I'm not yet convinced
....Sen. Sam Brownback?....great believer and fabulous Senator....I agree with him on 98% of the issues, but that last 2% is big for me -- he totally opposes President Bush on the Iraq War and doesn't seem to understand the seriousness of the Iran threat in a way that has given me assurance
....Sen. John McCain?....forget about it....
so where does that leave us?....Forbes has made his choice....I'm not ready to make mine....but I'm praying for wisdom and watching closely....the stakes could not be higher.
Because he's not a CONSERVATIVE either?
Would you want Forbes endorsement or the NRAs?
BTTT
The same day it's reported that Guiliana pans the "flat tax".
((((RUDY PING)))))
I talked to two people like that today. Both are men in their mid 50's and they were absolutely sold on Rudy before I said a word.
Forbes said he's been particularly impressed with Giuliani's free market economic policies and record, noting: “He understood that if you exercise fiscal discipline, reduce the tax burden, New York, and eventually the nation, will prosper. So, he didn't just talk the talk of fiscal conservatism, economic opportunity, he created it under the most difficult circumstances possible"....Giuliani returned the compliment, saying: "Steve and I share an economic vision that embraces supply-side economics, tax relief, and spending restraint"....Rudy also backed the idea of a flat tax, Forbes' signature issue....Forbes will serve as national co-chairman of the Giuliani campaign, and as a senior policy advisor to the candidate
I'm looking for a fiscal conservative who truly supports the idea of limited government.
The only person Steve Forbes cares about is Steve Forbes.
NRA, thank you.
Fred is more conservative and has less baggage and therefore is more electable.
It's so nice you do volunteer work like that for the mentally challenged.
NRA
Rudy is our best weapon to defeat a dem going into the oval office.
DISCERNMENT people....play our strongest card--this is no time for purist idealism that will only put us deeper into a hole.
He's a good man, no pushover, even though he does not track 100% with all my philossophies either..but naive perfectionism, rigidity and stubborness will get us a far worse outcome (Hillary).
Must be savvy and strategic this time around as never before.
Come on, we are smarter than this.
And Daddy's money.
Good post. Fiscal conservatism is needed right now. The federal government is just too big and incompetent.
It is just so refreshing to see some intelligent commentary finally on these threads.
Do I really need a sarcasam off tag at this point??
NRA would definitely have more weight.
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