Giuliani, the 9/11 hero, could prove the Republicans’ saviour

The Business ^ | April 4, 2007 | James Forsyth

[FairOpinion]

The tripod on which Giuliani is basing his campaign is his reputation as “America’s Mayor” from 9/11, his record as Gotham’s most successful chief executive and – most promisingly from a free market perspective – as an advocate of supply-side economics, which endorses tax cuts to boost economic growth.

In this campaign, however, Giuliani is more committed to supply-side economics than ever. He never misses an opportunity to tout his belief in it or make clear his disgust with high taxes. In a recent interview he repeatedly declared, “I don’t like taxes.”

He has also committed himself to a “massive simplification” of the tax code and expressed a belief that if America could start all over again with the tax code it should go with a flat tax.

Giuliani’s kind words about the flat tax – under which everybody pays the same low rate of income tax, above a generous personal allowance – has helped earn him the endorsement of America’s most prominent advocate of it, Steve Forbes, chief executive of Forbes and editor-in-chief of Forbes magazine.

As the Republicans look to see what is salvageable from the Bush presidency, one of the few things that appear worth keeping is its tax cuts. These cuts have helped the US economy create 7.4m jobs: more than the European Union and Japan combined. Revenue growth has been so strong that even with the rapid pace of spending, which Bush disgracefully has done virtually nothing to slow, the budget deficit has shrunk dramatically.

[FairOpinion]

Giuliani: leader, strong on national defense and war on terror, economically a supply sider, anti-tax, will appoint constructionist judges -- the complete opposite of what Hillary would do.

(Looks like page 2 is only available to suscribers)

[Rick_Michael]

The word ‘saviour’ is an excessive emphasis.

[rightwingextremist1776]

For all the other RINOs maybe......I won’t be voting for him.

[FairOpinion]

Looks like you can get page 2 afterall:

"If Giuliani wins the presidency, we'll see an administration more committed to fiscal conservatism than social conservatism and a re-balancing of the Republican coalition away from its recent reliance on Christian conservatives. We can expect a major pruning of the Federal Tax Code and an overall reduction in the tax rate. This would be good news for everyone, not just Americans. It will spur further US economic growth while demonstrating to the world that tax cuts can boost government revenues. And Giuliani is the kind of American - socially liberal, fairly secular - whose achievements the rest of the Western world won't be able to instantly dismiss. "

[rabscuttle385]

He can also be the downfall of the Republicans if he’s not careful.

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

“Giuliani, the 9/11 hero....”

In truth, everything that Guiliani did and didn’t do that matters about 9-11 was prior to Sept 11, 2001.

Call it heroic, if you like. I don’t.

[EternalVigilance]

the Republicans’ saviour

Gosh. And on Easter weekend, even.

You'd think his disciples could at least get the punctuation right...

[FairOpinion]

((((((( RUDY PING ))))))

[narses]

During his 1993 campaign, Giuliani suggested cutting 35,000 positions from the city payroll. This was not a radical idea; for example, an advisory panel appointed by then-Mayor David Dinkins suggested that 25,000 positions could be eliminated.

Once in office, however, Giuliani changed the composition rather than the size of the workforce. He added about 4,000 cops and more than 14,000 “pedagogical” employees, subtracting a like amount from other categories.

He also found ways to shift a net 9,000 additional city employees into programs funded entirely by state or federal grants – which can always be withdrawn, leaving the city to pick up the tab.

The bottom line: As of November 2000, the city’s total full-time headcount stood at 253,348 – 1,012 more employees than were on the payroll when Dinkins left office. Indeed, the city’s workforce is as large as it’s ever been.

E.J. McMahon, Manhattan Institute
New York Post, April 13, 2001

* * *

It’s official: According to Mayor Giuliani’s latest fiscal plan, the next mayor will face a budget gap of $2.7 billion – which, if it actually materializes, will be $400 million more than the one Giuliani inherited from David Dinkins.

So much for the long term. Unfortunately, the short term doesn’t look so hot, either.

New York’s budget is still balanced, technically. But subtract last year’s leftover surplus, and the city would be running an operating deficit of $400 million, growing to $2.4 billion in the fiscal year that begins July 1. By the time Giuliani’s successor puts together his first fiscal plan, there won’t be much surplus left to work with.

The main culprit: city operations spending, which is up roughly 25 percent over the last four years and would grow another 4 percent next year under Giuliani’s plan….

At an absolute minimum, New York will still be locked into a trend of spending a half-billion or so more dollars than it collects in revenue every year – despite imposing the heaviest tax burden of any major city in the country.

E.J. McMahon, Manhattan Institute
New York Post, May 1, 2001

[100-Fold_Return]

With the approaching invasions of Iran, North Korea, and Venezuela, our fighting men and women need someone other than Mrs. Clinton as their [our] C-I-C!

[cripplecreek]

Saint Rudy?

[Rodney King]

We can expect a major pruning of the Federal Tax Code and an overall reduction in the tax rate.

I can ignore the other things if I can come to believe in this. The problem is, I just don't believe him. From his comments on the flat tax in 96, his endorsement of Cuomo, etc. I just don't believe him.

[narses]

I’m pro-choice. I’m pro-gay rights, Giuliani said. He was then asked whether he supports a ban on what critics call partial-birth abortions. “No, I have not supported that, and I don’t see my position on that changing,” he responded. Source: CNN.com, “Inside Politics” Dec 2, 1999 http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Rudy_Giuliani_Abortion.htm

ANDERSON COOPER 360 DEGREES (November 14, 2006)

RUDY GIULIANI (R), FORMER MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY: I'm pro- choice. I'm pro-gay rights.

KING: Giuliani supports a woman's right to an abortion, and back in 1999, he opposed a federal ban on late-term abortions.

GIULIANI: No, I have not supported that, and I don't see my position on that changing.

KING: Immigration could be another presidential landmine. Back in 1996, Mayor Giuliani went to federal court to challenge new federal laws requiring the city to inform the federal government about illegal immigrants.

JEFFREY: He took the side of illegal immigrants in New York City against the Republican Congress.

KING: Giuliani opposes same-sex marriage but as mayor, he supported civil unions and extending health and other benefits to gay couples. He also supported the assault weapons ban and other gun control measures opposed by the National Rifle Association.

GIULIANI: I'm in favor of gun control. I'm pro-choice.

Republican Big-Wigs Support Pro-Abortion Event in NY

Pro-abortion Governor George Pataki and New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who also supports unrestricted abortion, are co-chairs of the 2000 Choice Award Presentation to be held on May 30 at the St. Regis Hotel in New York City. The event is sponsored by the Republican Pro-Choice Coalition, a group that is campaigning for the removal of the pro-life plank from the Republican National Platform.


http://www.nationalreview.com/murdock/murdock200503010743.asp

[Politicalmom]

I can’t BELIEVE that the word “hero” is so meaningless these days.

[madprof98]

Well, the Rudybots have certainly rejected the Saviour the rest of us worship this Easter holiday, so I guess we need to show tolerance for the deity they venerate instead. I mean, that’s what it’s all about in today’s GOP—inclusiveness and all that.

[narses]

What did Rudy do that makes him a HERO?

[FairOpinion]

saviour with a SMALL “s”.

There is something strange about the html. a simple apostrophy shows up as that long string of characters.

[wouldntbprudent]

Do you mean in the primaries or in the general, should he get the nomination?

[narses]

See mine at 16.

[Arizona Carolyn]

Sounds good to me and I’ve been listening to his interviews, this is his thinking... he “gets” it about the constitution and States Rights, too.