Posted on 11/15/2007 11:40:48 PM PST by Aristotelian
Give Rudy Giuliani this: He's living his campaign slogans. The flinty ex-mayor keeps telling America he's fearless, a risk-taker, the guy who can accomplish the impossible (say, cleaning up Sin City). As if to prove it, he's betting the shop on a high-stakes path to the Republican nomination.
Ever since a relatively unknown Georgia peanut farmer used the early primary states to garner the national spotlight, the track to the presidential nomination has run square through Iowa, New Hampshire and (more recently) South Carolina. . . .
It's been clear for some time that Mr. Giuliani was putting his chips on bigger, if later, primary states such as Florida, California and New York--where a less ideological Republican electorate might prove more open to his social record. Still, there was something about Mr. DuHaime confirming this approach--and by extension dissing the usual three-state slingshot--that had a national press corps blinking. It also earned the Giuliani camp a scoffing dismissal from rival Mitt Romney. . . .
Let's be clear, some of this is simple necessity. You might even say Mr. Giuliani didn't have a choice. Iowa's caucus system, dominated by social conservatives, was never going to blow kisses at the pro-choice, antigun New Yorker--Pat Robertson notwithstanding. . . .
At the same time, this year's primary fight, and in particular the Republican race, are unique. The Giuliani wisdom, if that's what it proves to be, has been in recognizing those differences early on and toiling ever since to ply them to the mayor's advantage.
Changed circumstance No. 1 is this year's hypercompressed primary season. . . .
Changed circumstance No. 2 is the unusual nature of the Republican field itself, in which there is no clear front-runner and voter confusion. . . .
Finally, there's Mr. Giuliani, superstar.
(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...
That caveat is told to every investor when considering a mutual fund or some other investment strategy. It is, in a way, self-evident. But is also implies this -- there are other ways to skin a cat.
That's what Rudy's doing. He exploring a new way. In that regard, he's trail-blazing. And I say, Good for him.
As long as that trail goes to Mars...I like it.
Why would any conservative be rooting for a “pro-choice, antigun New Yorker (ie, liberal)?”
A variation on the simplest of strategies, used even by simple beasts: Lick the hand that feeds you and avoid the one that beats you.
His stance on economic policy, notably taxation. Rudy is closer to Reagan on economic-tax policy than any other GOP candidate. He knows how an economy works. And he knows government’s place in the economy, as shown by his tax-cutting record as NYC mayor.
Campaigning for the presidency as an open, flaming liberal scarcely qualifies as "a new way," really.
Hillary made an unqualified bar bouncer, security head
in the WH.
Rudy made his unqualified driver, police chief and
pimped him as homeland security chief.
Not much difference between the two!
Of course, Rudy has also worked to change the rules in his favor.
1) Changing the allocation of electors, distributing them equally to congressional districts making Democrat districts with few Republicans equal to major Republican strongholds.
and 2) Moving the election up from June to February.
In effect, he is letting the liberal districts gain power and minimizing Republicans. Nothing like stabbing the electorate in the back. He’s following in Arnold’s footsteps in his “trailblazing,” hardly something to celebrate.
Whatever I think of Giuliani and his attempt to “empower” liberal and moderate Republicans, it’s about time we spread the power to nominate beyond two or three little states which, if the polls are to be believed, certainly aren’t doing the conservatives any favors this time around.
He also knows how to grab guns (lawsuits agains gun manufacturers), promote the gay agenda, support abortion, and support illegal immigration. Rudy supported last summer's shamesty, hardly a stance for someone who is genuinely concerned about reducing taxes and spending given the enormous costs that bill would have inflicted on us.
Whatever pluses Rudy may have, his minuses far outweigh them......he is a disaster waiting to happen.
Hillary is a disaster that will happen if we do not rally around whoever is nominated.
I will never forget the frustration I suffered watching the idiot Ross Perot put us in a situation where we are today with Hillary.
They are both disasters. I took some consolation that Rudy would not bring in Soros and gang but that consolation was tossed out the window on another thread. So all that is left is Rudy isn't Hillary....yah that is something to really rally around.....
gee it seem his strategy was just get money to huckabee as vote splitter.
Giuliani’s strategy is not to get the most votes, Giuliani’s strategy is to split the non-giuliani votes as much as possible.
Rudy can manipulate all he likes to get the nomination.
Only problem he has is that he cannot force voters to the polls to vote for him on election day....well, at least not yet. But I am sure he is the type that might look to finding a way to do that.
Here's my take. Rudy would not do anything to set back the strides made against abortion; if a Dem is elected the set back will take years from which to recover. Maybe the conservatives' motto on this one should be 'live to fight another day'.
No, conservatives should fight today.
Why would any conservative be rooting for a “pro-choice, antigun New Yorker (ie, liberal)?”
I agree, conservatives should fight today for the right candidate. My comment was directed more to if Rudy gets the nomination. It is my opinion that a President Rudy will not damage the abortion "status quo" while a Dem certainly will do so.
I see no evidence from Rudy’s life to suggest I should trust him on anything.
More pro-Rudi propaganda from the Murdoch-owned WSJ/FNC mediaplex.
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