Free Republic

The religious right, which vehemently opposed Rudy Giuliani’s 2008 bid for the Republican presidential nomination, is rallying to the former New York mayor’s defense against attacks from gay rights groups. The skirmish began when Giuliani in an interview with the New York Post opposed New York Gov. David Paterson's proposed gay marriage bill and asserted it would spark a backlash against Democrats. ....[S]ocial conservatives are applauding him for his stance on an issue over which they have often been at odds with him. SNIP Even Tony Perkins, president of the influential Family Research Council and an outspoken critic of Giuliani’s...

Rudy Giuliani discusses attacks on Christianity by both Newsweek and President Obama. Could anyone imagine if Newsweek had condemned Islam? Oh, right... that would never happen.

Bollywood actor Imraan Khan poses at the premiere of "The President is Coming" in Mumbai November 26, 2008. The film is directed by Kunaal Roy Kapur and stars Konkona Sen Sharma. Picture taken November 26, 2008. REUTERS/Manav Manglani (INDIA)

One-time GOP rivals John McCain and Rudy Giuliani bonded over hot dogs and twizzlers in front row seats by the New York Yankees dugout Sunday, providing a snapshot of a possible Republican ticket. A reporter disguised as a fan shouted to McCain, "How about Rudy for vice president?" The presumptive Republican nominee, casually dressed in sunglasses, a collared shirt with rolled sleeves and his Navy baseball cap, just smiled and waved.

MANCHESTER, N.H. - - Rudy Giuliani said if a Democrat is elected president in 2008, America will be at risk for another terrorist attack on the scale of Sept. 11, 2001. But if a Republican is elected, he said, especially if it is him, terrorist attacks can be anticipated and stopped. “If any Republican is elected president - - and I think obviously I would be the best at this - - we will remain on offense and will anticipate what (the terrorists) will do and try to stop them before they do it,” Giuliani said. The former New York...

Of course, Giuliani's had a rough week or two; even if he's still the front-runner, he's hardly a sure thing for the nomination. He raised an impressive $10 million in March alone, but keep in mind that his high standing in the polls has a lot to do with the relative weakness of the current field, which could change. That said, I suspect the "Rudy can't win" mantra is being driven as much by Democratic fear and loathing - of both conservatives and Giuliani himself - as by Republican politics and performance. As Deborah Hart Stroberand Gerald Strober's "Flawed or...

Police in Charleston say a naked man exposed himself to his neighbor, then later attacked officers with nunchucks. Police say 49-year-old Rudolph Claude Smith went next door to his neighbor's house to borrow some oil for a workout. While he was in the neighbor's home, police say Smith took off his clothes and asked the neighbor to "oil him up." According to a police report, Smith attacked officers with nunchucks when they came to his home to make an arrest. They also say the oil made it hard for them to get a good grip on him. He's now in...

Mike Piazza, who is qualified to play for either Italy or the United States in the World Baseball Classic, has decided he can best serve international baseball by suiting up for the Italians. Piazza talked it over with Gene Orza, the chief operating officer of the Major League Baseball Players Association. Italy or the U.S.? According to Orza, Piazza asked: "What do you think is better for international baseball? If I play for the U.S. or Italy?" Orza suggested it would be best for Piazza to play for Italy. "He just thought what was good for international baseball was something...

Lots of people look upon baseball's last several seasons and are not amused. Not everyone enjoys a ball game turned into a batting practise scrimmage. It's not that baseball doesn't have other problems to fix - like salary inflation, revenue sharing, and a division alignment that's all but cut the legs out from under the pennant races. But you could solve all those problems this minute and still have a game distorted by the idea that no one cares about anything but relentless offence. Real baseball fans - those who savour the noble game, not those who can't stand the...