Posted on 10/28/2007 8:37:21 AM PDT by Sadecki
Jerry Ford wasn't sure Hillary Clinton could be elected President, but he was absolutely certain which Republican had the strongest shot at stopping her: Rudy Giuliani.
"That would be a great contest between Hillary and Rudy," the 92-year-old former President told a reporter in May 2006.
"I think Giuliani is an electrifying guy," he added. "He's a great speaker. He's had a good record of winning in New York City, and he can be tough."
Ford had gotten to know the former mayor at various political and corporate events over the years - both were members of the World Trade Center Memorial Foundation, for example - and often spoke admiringly of Giuliani's performance in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.
He thought so highly of Giuliani, in fact, that when speculating in 2004 about potential replacements for Vice President Cheney in the unlikely event President Bush decided to make a change, Ford put Giuliani at the top of his list.
Officially, he remained scrupulously neutral in the 2008 GOP primary contest. A few months before his death in December 2006, however, Ford was asked by an old friend to predict who the Republican nominee would be.
He smiled and replied: "Well, if they want to win, Giuliani. He's really good, he's articulate - he's just a leader."
First of all. You are in no position to call anyone a RINO since by your own admission are not even a Republican. What did you say the other day — you have “disdain” for republicans.
So why should us real republicans listen to anything you have to say?
That said, the reason that conservatives are being “punished” is because they are not trusted anymore. So much pork, so much hypocrisy has taught us republicans that the Conservatives have dropped the ball.
I trust a moderate Republican with a strong track record of lowering taxes, and success fighting for his constituents tooth and nail to live up to his promises about appointing Roberts-like supreme court, lowering taxes, keeping america safe, and fighting the war on terror a lot more then I do someone who calls themselves a traditional conservative at this point.
In fact, I can’t even listen to people like Pat Buchanan anymore without gagging.
you guys are nothing else if not zealous.
Wrong. Rudy never had chemo therapy.
Giuliani had radioactive seed implantation on September 15, 2000 and was up on his feet in a day. There was no chemo. He missed a day or two of work and within a week he had marched in a parade, presided over a town hall-style meeting, gone on the stump for Lazio, and conducted daily press conferences, including one pushing a $1 Billion taxpayer subsidized stadium in Manhattan's West Side after holding meetings with both the Yankees and Jets owners that week.
Back in May, 2000, when he dropped out a mere 11 days before the State Convention where he was to be nominated, leaving the GOP high and dry (with no other choice but to recruit Lazio), the doctors said they thought campaigning was perfectly within his physical capabilities and, if he started treatment right way, he would have recovered and been "full speed" by the time the campaign normally kicked in. He delayed that procedure until September and went about his mayoral duties as usual.
Ford talks about it like it was a football game or an episode of American Idol. About as intellectually deep as he ever was. Unfortunately much of America elects its representatives on such shallow bases.
well, I agree with that.
I wouldn’t be surprised if rudy doesn’t get the nomination, it will be because he rooted for the red sox in the World series.
Rudy has all along left the impression of being scared of facing Hillary. And he is weak on WOT - he does not get it.
1. He was never elected to the White House; and
2. He lost to Jimmy Carter . . .
I'd say this is just about the worst endorsement any candidate could possibly get.
Unfortunately, it will go right over the heads of most if not all of the Ruby bashers.
Even with your totally accurate conciseness, there are none so blind as those that refuse to see.
I hope he doesn’t.
Great post and I agree 100%
John
Ford was about the best human being to ever sit in the white house. He knew that by pardoning Nixon he would never be president. He did it anyway because true leaders look at the common good and not what is in their own best interests.
Maybe you can stay home and go fishing or hunting on election day and get ready to enjoy 8 years of Hillary.
John
I support conservatives and libertarians; I don't march in lockstep to the national party. The RNC does not represent me. I support individual candidates only.
So why should us real republicans listen to anything you have to say?
Because we're your BASE, ya doorknob. Start running candidates who are conservatives and we'll support you. If you don't, we're going to vote 3rd party or stay home. Simple ain't it?
That said, the reason that conservatives are being “punished” is because they are not trusted anymore. So much pork, so much hypocrisy has taught us republicans that the Conservatives have dropped the ball.
Only RINOs have been "punished" because they completely abandoned conservative principles. The remaining conservative Republicans are being marginalized by the elites who want the GOP to be big-tent moderates and follow the same losing strategy that's failed to doom since Wendell Wilkie.
I trust a moderate Republican with a strong track record of lowering taxes, and success fighting for his constituents tooth and nail to live up to his promises about appointing Roberts-like supreme court, lowering taxes, keeping america safe, and fighting the war on terror a lot more then I do someone who calls themselves a traditional conservative at this point.
Rudy's tax cuts in NYC were marginal, I trust Bill Clinton before I trust Rudy's promise on nominating conservative justices to SCOTUS. All those points don't describe Rudy, and he's been compromised by his social liberalism and flawed personal life anyway. You can't be a fiscal conservative and a social liberal, & vice-versa.
In fact, I can’t even listen to people like Pat Buchanan anymore without gagging.
Yeah but it was Buchanan who put the fear into Bush Sr. and Bob Dole, and even gave Bush II a scare in FL. Stop trying to be Dem-lites and just be conservatives, and you won't have to deal with this dilemma every election season, sheesh.
Why do you want to promote a fascist pro-abortionist liberal Republican and believe that he can only beat Hillary? Rudy himself has stated that his positions are similar to Clinton's. No conservative in their right state of mind is going to support him. That's just a simple, undeniable fact.
Sounds like a plan. Deer hunting season kicks in around that time anyway.
Which part did you like the best? The race baiting?
If this is true, then he was also the most grossly irresponsible person ever to sit in the White House. If he really believed this, then he had no business running for re-election in 1976 at all.
So either you're full of crap, or you've offered some additional evidence to support the point I made.
I ain't sitting home or going fishing on Election Day next year. But I ain't voting for a totalitarian leftist (from either political party) under any circumstances, either.
Exactly. This is "news"????? Ford was the last pro-baby death GOP POTUS. I needed a news article to tell me that he would support Giuliani?
Yep. Turns out you're right. Brachytherapy did the trick for him. Sorry to take so long to reply back, but it took me this long to confirm that, yep, you're right.
Thanks for the corrective surgery (instruction). :-)
. . . the doctors said they thought campaigning was perfectly within his physical capabilities and, if he started treatment right way, he would have recovered and been "full speed" by the time the campaign normally kicked in. He delayed that procedure until September and went about his mayoral duties as usual.
So, why do you attribute his withdrawal to spinelessness? I just don't see it.
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