Is Giuliani a Conservative? [Mona Charen]

Creator's Syndicate via Yahoo ^ | 02/09/07 | Mona Charen

[tcostell]

I know Rudy's supporters mostly like the fact that he can win, but I don't think he can without more of the conservative base than he's drawing now.

Contrary to what the New York Times editorial page would have you believe, conservatives are not lemmings ready to line up for anyone with an R on their chest.

Either Rudy starts paying attention to us, or he really might NOT be able to win.

[jwalsh07]

But he can beat Hillary and that is the most important issue.

In New York State, the polls show Hillary crushing Rudy in a matchup.

[jonathanmo]

2000? You might want to work on updating your criticism to something a little more current...a lot has happened in the interim...

[Fierce Allegiance]

he has proven himself many times over.....BEFORE 9/11 AND AFTER 9/11.

Can you share some of that proof with me? I don't recall seeing any.

[tiger-one]

Your guess work "But he can beat Hillary and that is the most important issue" Guess number 1. Hillary is opponent. Guess number 2. Rudy can beat Hillary.

More of your guess work, "The Duncan Hunters out there are all losers and spell disaster for the Republican Party." Based on what? You have goon to the wishing well to many times.

[bilhosty]

"His stances on abortion, gun owner rights, and gay rights disqualify him from legitimately being called a conservative."

Methinks he cannot be called a smalltown-Southern Conservative. But, I think he can be fairly called an urban Conservative. For those of us who do not relate to Evangelical Church's or who live in cities with no real connection to small town mores we have our own Conservative culture. I think he is simply a strong Urban conservative. He will give form to the rest of us and those of us with the urban-suburban orientation will unite with the smalltown-Southern wing and together we will inherit the Earth.

[Antoninus]

There is no question that Giuliani's position on abortion and gun control will offend many Republicans. But let's be clear, he is no liberal. His conservatism has been tempered in New York City — so it is steely indeed.

I think a lot of the big-time "conservative" pundits are going to find themselves speaking to empty rooms by the time all is said and done.

Mona, you're too smart by half. Rudy Giuliani is only conservative compared to Medea Benjamin and Ed Asner.

[DocH]

Is Giuliani A Conservative?

Not NO, but...

HELL NO!

[dirtboy]

OK, then...I guess I'll have to move you to my list of "undecided" ...

I think you need to add "When Pigs Fly" as a column as well.

[Courdeleon02]

For all you ultra conservatives lets clarify Rudy's position.

1) He is personally opposed to abortion and would not advocate that any one have an abortion but ultimately can we force women to have kids they don't want.He favors a plan of adoption for unwanted children.
2) He has stated clearly that he would not impose NYC gun laws on this nation. As a mayor he had to act on guns in his city because there was clearly a problem with gun associated crime in NYC.Witness the huge drops in the murder rate for that town.
3)He is a solid fiscal conservative.
4) He favors a conservative pro defense foreign policy.
5)He is a great communicator is experienced with the Press and far more articulate than Bush. I would love to see his press conferences. It would be very entertaining.
6) He can beat Hillary
7) He has promised to appoint Supreme Court Judges like Scalia, Thomas, Alito and Roberts. This makes the abortion issue irrelevant.

[ken5050]

Here's why he can, and will win. If Rudy is the GOP nominee, regardless of whom the Dems put up, he will put about a half-dozen BLUE states (NY, CT, NJ, PA, Ohio, heck, even California) in play. And there is NO way a Dem can win the WH without carrying all of those states. Best case for Hillary, as an example, is that she has to spend big $$$ and lots of time, to hold NY.

I refuse to believe that in a Rudy/Hillary race, social conservatives will sit it out and once again allow a Clinton to stain the Oval office.

[william clark]

Well, you can qualify a term right out of any meaningful usefulness if you like, but as I said, he is what he is; and what he is won't get him elected President. He's not liberal enough for the left, not conservative enough for the right, and the middle will probably just think it's cool to make history by electing the first woman (or minority; I think Richardson is a likely prospect) President.

[Melas]

I've always like Mona Charen. She and Peggy Noonan are two of my favorites. Give me reasonable people over bombastic types any day.

[Antoninus]

In New York State, the polls show Hillary crushing Rudy in a matchup.

And they know him best. Imagine what will happen after the media gets through with him in the rest of the country...

As I said before, Rudy is a 38% candidate nationwide--at best.

[dirtboy]

2000? You might want to work on updating your criticism to something a little more current...a lot has happened in the interim...

Nothing that I have seen that makes Rudy a stronger candidate against Hillary than he was in 2000. Any advantage Rudy has because of 9/11 is diminished because of widespread opposition to the Iraq War among swing voters and Dems.

There is no way a pro-war pubbie can make much headway into that sector. The ONLY way for the GOP to win is to hold the base and offer Reagan Dems an alternative to the Dems with pro-life and pro-gun positions. Rudy can't do any of those.

[DocH]

So, if the final choice is Guiliani or Hillary?

and we conservatives sit home, guess who wins?

HOPEFULLY, the Republican powers-that-be won't be so STUPID as to run this, or ANY other RINO, but if it IS RINO-rudy vs hillary, then you may be right - hillary wins.

OH WELL...

Maybe THEN the RNC/GOP will get the message LOUD & CLEAR.

4-8 years in the wilderness, versus a virtual LIFETIME.

[panthermom]

Giuliani a Conservative?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Duncan Hunter is a Conservative. Check out this website, you can compare all of the candidates and their stances.

http://www.ontheissues.org/Duncan_Hunter_VoteMatch.htm

[Jim Noble]

Out of sixty judicial appointments while mayor, two were pubbies

Two out of how many qualified and politically acceptable Republican NYC lawyers?

[don-o]

I think he is simply a strong Urban conservative.

Well, that's a new one - Urban Conservative. Abortion on demand, obliterate the 2nd Amendment and wide open borders. Hmmmm.

Is that about right? I can maybe understand the urban, but how does one squeeze conservative in there?

[icwhatudo]

For all you ultra conservatives

ROTFLMAO

I swear, sometimes I think I accidentally logged onto DU.