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Rudy Giuliani Has His “Dukakis Moment”
intellectualconservative.com ^ | May 18, 2007 | By Christopher Adamo

Posted on 05/19/2007 1:04:07 PM PDT by Jim Robinson

By his transparent effort to find "middle ground" on the fundamental issue of human life, where clearly none exists, Giuliani's proved that his recent pronouncement of a decidedly pro-abortion stance resulted neither from any heartfelt belief nor from any desire to promote a certain agenda. Rather, it represents a desperate calculation, designed to hastily settle a brewing firestorm that otherwise leaves him exposed to further controversy.

~~snip~~

During the May 4 Republican debate, liberal "mediator" Chris Matthews hammered him relentlessly on the abortion issue. As a result, the Giuliani camp seems to have concluded that an unambiguous statement on the issue, no matter how adverse to the conservative base, would settle matters more quickly and equitably than a continuation of his former course. Unfortunately for Giuliani however, this latest announcement, when weighed against his previous postures on the abortion issue, is anything but "unambiguous."

Giuliani has since reasserted his belief in a woman's inherent "right to choose." Yet in past months, he has claimed to support the confirmation of Supreme Court Justices who may well eradicate that "right." So now he will be forced to "clarify" his statement on the sort of Justices he would appoint to the high court. This can of worms has only begun to open.

Furthermore, by now taking such a strident stance on an issue about which he diligently sought, until this past weekend to find "common ground" with the base, he shows once again that all of his stances on this issue are merely postures. Thus his political gymnastics beg the question of which other foundational issues are similarly up for debate and reconsideration in the aftershocks of tough questioning from reporters.

Among Giuliani's other "Achilles Heel" issues are his support for same-sex "marriage," amnesty for illegals, and gun control. He can certainly expect no less of a media attack over these clearly non-conservative philosophies in the upcoming months. Yet even the heat he now faces will be minor in comparison to the potentially fatal blow the media will be able to deliver to his camaign if he wins the Republican nomination next year.

In the process, conservatism in the GOP will unquestionably suffer a setback from which it may never recover.


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: abortion; asininecomparison; elections; giuliani; prolife
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To: Jim Robinson
Giuliani has got the Rockefeller Republican, John Lindsay Mayor vote all sewed up. Thats 35% of the Party, apparently, all the others, McCain, Mitt and the Crowd, represent 65% of the party. They are dividing the spoilers among each other. I think Fred or Mitt has the charisma to break out of the box, and tell the others to hang it up.
61 posted on 05/19/2007 6:59:54 PM PDT by mission9 (Be a citizen worth living for, in a Nation worth dying for...)
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To: Congressman Billybob
You're not convincing anyone, especially me.
62 posted on 05/19/2007 7:55:55 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist
I’m not trying to “convince” anyone. I’m just stating the truth as I know it from reading Rehnquist’s final opinion on the subject of abortion. Anyone who cares to check my facts is welcome to read Rehnquist’s opinion for themselves.

When the subject is constitutional law, I always encourage people to read the documents for themselves.

John / Billybob

63 posted on 05/19/2007 8:11:58 PM PDT by Congressman Billybob (Please visit www.ArmorforCongress.com)
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To: burzum

That’s interesting. Rudy owns Texas, Florida, California, Carolina, New York, Ohio and Penn, while Romney has NH and Iowa.

What this really tells me is that McCain is in huge trouble. And Rudy can take Romney out within a week of the early primaries.


64 posted on 05/19/2007 8:16:17 PM PDT by Senator Goldwater
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To: Congressman Billybob
You are, as usual John, absolutely correct. Rhenquist did support the stare decicis of abortion except he was obviously seeking a case with which to set Roe aside but which case could not be ruled properly until the activist judges (G, S, B) could be cancelled. The court is still not in a posture to over turn Roe, needing one more strict constructionist judge.

I always enjoy your posts on the SCOTUS since you have direct experience before the court.

65 posted on 05/19/2007 8:18:07 PM PDT by MHGinTN (You've had life support. Promote life support for others.)
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To: Senator Goldwater
What this really tells me is that McCain is in huge trouble. And Rudy can take Romney out within a week of the early primaries.

Yeah, it isn't exactly pretty. In the more recent polls McCain is pulling closer to Rudy (see the link that I also listed). For example, in California and Texas, Rudy leads only by 3% and 5% and those leads are shrinking. But in other States Rudy still has 10 point or larger leads. Mitt Romney, on the other hand, doesn't appear to be making very large gains.

66 posted on 05/19/2007 8:49:24 PM PDT by burzum (None shall see me, though my battlecry may give me away -Minsc)
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To: Congressman Billybob

But putting Stare Decicis ahead of a literal reading of the Constitution is not a strict constructionist/originalist position (contrary to Giuliani’s claims).

My real problem with Giuliani is that he has absolutely no concept or respect for what the Constitution and our founding documents mean and how work. He doesn’t even understand Constitution 101. That makes any Giuliani statement related to the Constitution unreliable.


67 posted on 05/19/2007 10:57:21 PM PDT by ellery (I don't remember a constitutional amendment that gives you the right not to be identified-R.Giuliani)
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To: burzum

Even if your map were correct, Rudy can’t win without social conservatives and constitutionalists. He needs to be nudged, or swift-boated away, for the good of the party.


68 posted on 05/19/2007 11:12:18 PM PDT by farmer18th
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To: Congressman Billybob

That’s assuming that the Roe v. Wade had a constititutional basis - which I don’t believe it does. Bad law is bad law.


69 posted on 05/20/2007 4:46:56 AM PDT by DB
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To: be4everfree
The ad of Dukakis in a tank pretty much did in his candidacy. The fact is, if Guiliani gets the GOP nomination, Rudy is going to be the victim of such an ad himself. All the Dems have to do is run ads of Rudy in drag kicking up his heels with the Rockettes and that's all she wrote.
70 posted on 05/20/2007 4:56:28 AM PDT by SamAdams76 (I am 74 days away from outliving Curt Hennig (whoever he is))
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To: burzum

I’d expect Rudy to poll well in California, or most traditional blue/purple states. Ohio and Penn are not surprising.

But for him to hold down Texas, Florida and the Carolina’s, especially at the expense of McCain, suggests the latter really has nowhere to go. He’s had eight years to mend fences in South Carolina, for instance.

Its still early, but its later than it used to be.


71 posted on 05/20/2007 5:15:57 AM PDT by Senator Goldwater
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To: Jim Robinson

Rudy’s toast, along with McCain and the rest of the declared field. Fred Thompson’s extremely effective use of the internet the day of the last debate sealed the deal.


72 posted on 05/20/2007 7:17:26 AM PDT by hershey
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To: DB
Neither I nor Chief Justice Rehnquist assume that there is a constitutional basis for Roe v. Wade. Let me offer a, believe it or not, non-controversial example to prove the point.

The Electoral College was created for the sole purpose of having the Electors exercise their discretion in voting for President (and Vice President). The language of the Constitution about the College has not changed from then to now, except for the differentiation between President and Vice President.

In the meantime, most states have made it a felony, and an automatic resignation, for any Elector to attempt to vote differently than he was pledged, when elected. The whole concept of the Electoral College has been turned on its head. Still, I guarantee that any constitutional challenge to this change will fail -- because it has been too long, more than two centuries, since the plain language of the constitution was first violated (in the election of John Adams, as the second President).

Does that example make sense?

Congressman Billybob

Latest article: "I'm Sorry for the Impotence Ads"

73 posted on 05/20/2007 7:18:06 AM PDT by Congressman Billybob (Please visit www.ArmorforCongress.com)
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To: Liz
Liz:

1. Who are “you people”?
2. Is “intellectually facile rational” a compliment or a criticism?
3. I am not a Guiliani supporter.
4. I am a lawyer interested in Constitutional law.
5. Your main point is you don’t like the fact Rudy is for legal abortion. I conceded that many wouldn't’t like that position in my comment.
6. So other than being angry, what’s your point?

74 posted on 05/20/2007 8:29:08 AM PDT by don'tbedenied
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To: Pinkbell

Buy Benito was mayor during 9/11. Doesn’t that make him infallible?


75 posted on 05/26/2007 1:37:45 AM PDT by Remember_Salamis (A nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master, and deserves one!)
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To: Cyclops08
"The only positive Rudy has is his willingness to fight the islamic threat...otherwise there is no difference between him and the Rats."

How do you even know that? He has absolutely ZERO foreign policy experience and is on the payroll of the Saudi Government.

Rudy is an all-around sh*tbag -- he total package.

76 posted on 05/26/2007 1:40:13 AM PDT by Remember_Salamis (A nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master, and deserves one!)
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To: burzum
I would honestly rather have a Democrat in office over Giuliani. At least if there's a Democrat in there the GOP will knee-jerk oppose their actions.

With a liberal republican in there, like WE DO NOW, the GOP will just roll over for the president.

77 posted on 05/26/2007 1:58:54 AM PDT by Remember_Salamis (A nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master, and deserves one!)
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