Posted on 12/22/2010 7:09:21 AM PST by StatenIsland
As a 2008 primary front-runner, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani tanked. But as a 2012 dark horse, he could do surprisingly well.
It’s not because Giuliani has shifted; it’s because the Republican Party has. The 2010 election was less about social conservatism than it was fiscal conservatism, and that aligns with Giuliani’s socially moderate and fiscally conservative ideology.
There is another promising wind of change blowing Giuliani’s way, one that’s less ideological. This isn’t the era of kinder, gentler politicians. This is the age of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie — three politicians whose appeal lives, partly, in their aggressive rhetoric.
But, according to Giuliani, he started the political fad. When explaining Christie’s appeal to the New York Post, Giuliani said: “What’s making him popular is that he’s not afraid to be called a bully. I used to be proud to be called a bully, and Christie would call me and tell me, ‘I’m going to do it just the way you did.' "
Thus, both the national ideology and aesthetics of these political times are more favorable to Giuliani than, perhaps, at any time in his political career.
So what’s he been up to?
Leg work:
While Giuliani maintained his visibility at a national level this year through frequent appearances on cable political shows, he also showed the GOP that he was willing to do the less glamorous work of crossing the country on behalf of Republican candidates.
In the run-up to the midterm elections, Giuliani made high-profile visits on behalf of Pennsylvania Republican Senate candidate Pat Toomey, Illinois gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady, Illinois senatorial candidate Mark Kirk, West Virginia senatorial candidate John Raese and many more, garnering significant media attention along the way.
Skeptics often claim that Giuliani’s political activity is simply good business, since it keeps him relevant. For example, Auburn University shelled out $85,000 earlier this year for a Giuliani speech on leadership — an amount that might be less if he weren’t flirting with a bid. But that obscures the fact that his success, financially, is a good sign of his continuing appeal, politically.
Rhetoric:
The question for any presidential aspirant is whether he or she is building a broad case for the presidency. At the very least, Giuliani has built a broad one against the current president, slamming Barack Obama on everything from foreign policy to being, well, too New York.
Earlier this year, he questioned the president’s philosophical approach to foreign policy, not to mention his actual record, which he’s frequently criticized on missile defense, terrorism and Middle East relationships.
“President Obama thinks we can all hold hands, sing songs and have peace symbols. North Korea and Iran are not singing along with the president.”
And while Gingrich literally wrote a book, christening the Obama administration a “secular-socialist machine,” Giuliani has been similarly critical of the president’s economic policy, telling conservative bloggers that Obama is trying to turn the United States into a “European social democracy.”
Then there’s the ironic and primary-friendly charge that Obama has too much of the mayor’s hometown blood in him.
“The president may be suffering … from the inability to see the rest of America from having a warped view in New York,” Giuliani told ABC’s “The View” last month.
Fire in the belly:
Giuliani has refused several times this year to close the door on a bid. Most recently, he told The Wall Street Journal that it’s been difficult to give up the dream.
“It’s always in your mind when you’ve done something like this,” he said.
And it’s possible that his poor showing in 2008 hasn’t done much to diminish his confidence in another bid. Earlier this year, Giuliani told The Washington Post that his failure could have been as simple as bad timing.
“You know, I was conflicted about running when I did ... I don’t think any Republican could have won in 2008,” he said.
That being said, if he did do it again, it’s not likely he’d take any chances and stake the race on Florida, as he did in 2008.
“If you’re going to run for president and get nominated, you better win Iowa [or] New Hampshire. By then, it’s probably over. If it isn’t over by then, it’s over by South Carolina,” he told the Post.
What lies ahead:
In the end, it’s perhaps smartest to appeal to a former New York state representative, Guy Molinari, who once told reporters of Giuliani: “Rudy is Rudy. Rudy is either going to run or not based on how he feels. He’s not a guy who looks at statistics and worries about the fact that ... maybe he could win, maybe he can’t win.”
And that makes him a wildcard, a dark horse — and a worthy figure to watch in 2012.
Giuliani would be a great wartime president or vice president and this world is headed for war.
Giuliani and Palin would be a great ticket.
I could easily support a Palin-Giuliani ticket.....
No RINOs.
If Rudy’s in I’m out.
Not this POS again.
No way, Jose (or Guido.)
Giuliani has enough baggage to bring down the Concorde.
Fuggedaboudit!
that’s because Sean is a moderate RINO, bootlicker.
He did a good job during 9/11 but he is still a RINO.
So, who has enough muscle, charisma, record that is acceptable to you?
Do any of these reporters actually try to keep track of who recruits delegates? When I voted in the TN primary, Giuliani didn’t have anywhere near a full slate. That told me he hadn’t been serious about running, despite the news.
I realize that the filing deadlines can be 4 months or so before the primary. But you would think a good reporter would have figured it out in the first month.
I’d be down with Rudy. I think he is a great leader and would use the pulpit well. I also think he may be more conservative on a national scale than he was in NYC. If he is the nominee, conservatives will vote for him instead of 4 more years of Obama.
Rudy should stick to NY politics.
Anybody got a giant fly swatter?
Rudy Guiliani has backbone. He calls evil evil and does not pussy foot around in a dangerous muddle of political correctness. He was the only New York leader to refuse to meet with terrorist master mind Yasser Arafat when the U.S. let Arafat into the U.S. Rudy said, “I will not meet with him; he’s a terrorist responsible for the mass murder of thousands.” Rudy stands heads taller than any other politician in patriotism and leadership ability. He’s make a great president, just the kind the U.S. needs now.
Beware the Zot! JimRob is not a big fan of Rudy G.:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1821435/posts
He has got to be the most self-absorbed individual on the political landscape....ever. Must sleep with that Time cover pic of himself under his pillow.
He represents everything you don't want in a nation.
Self-absorption at its apex: Rudy Giuliani was NYC mayor with two children with his second wife. He actually held a news conference to announce he was divorcing her BEFORE he even told her about it. If that wasn't enough---he later announced his mistress would be moving into the Mayoral home (while he was married).
Giuliani's wife had to go to court to get the Mayor's residence declared the marital home in order to keep a roof over her children's head.
Later it became public that Giuliani used public resources to keep his mistress.
Someone should also ask Rudy what happened to the $4 million from the "911 Foundation" he set-up and put his mistress (his present wife) in charge of.
Sure, and maybe you'll be "down" with Obama next.
If he is the nominee, conservatives will vote for him instead of 4 more years of Obama.
Only stupid conservatives rally to vote for liberal statists.
He has a shot. If all moderates coalesce and support Rudy.
That means zero votes for Romney and other RINOs. Barbour will also be hurt by Rudy’s move.
But he has a shot.
Me? I heart Sarah Palin, Sen. DeMint and Jindal.
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