Posted on 09/27/2005 6:37:12 AM PDT by areafiftyone
This is the story of how Hurricane Katrina made this conservative Republican fall in love with Rudy Giuliani all over again. I first developed a fond affection for the mayor when he did what many believed could not be done and cleaned up New York City. In 1999, I cheered him when he stood up for common decency and the taxpayers of New York by rejecting city funding for elephant dung art. My admiration turned to love when Mayor Giuliani reassured the nation, and the world, with his incredible response to the attacks of September 11.
An admirer of Giuliani and a believer that he had a good shot at the presidency long before Hurricane Katrina, I now find myself becoming a full-fledged fan of the prospect. I will likely get some grief from some of my fellow pro-life, social conservatives, but I hope they will consider not only what an attractive candidate Rudy would be in the post-Katrina political climate, but also to consider the attributes Giuliani would bring to the presidency.
On September 11, we saw what a leader looks like during a crisis and it looked like Rudolph Giuliani. In contrast, the recent example of New Orleans’ Mayor Nagin taking to the airwaves cursing the federal government and calling for the cavalry, not only did not look like leadership, but made Giuliani's performance on 9/11 look positively, well, presidential by comparison.
Many of the lessons learned from Katrina highlight Giuliani’s strengths. Considering that he received some of his harshest criticism as mayor for his tough law and order positions, it is impossible to imagine Giuliani giving looters a pass (and, I would argue, encouragement) as Mayor Nagin did in the early days of flooding in New Orleans.
Thanks to the blame-Bush media, it seems the public now believes that the first and ultimate responder to any kind of disaster, whether natural or man-made, should be the federal government, or more specifically, the President. Giuliani is the only potential 2008 candidate that has shown himself capable of handling a challenge of such historic proportions. Because issues of national security and war and peace in the Middle East will outlive the Bush presidency, the nation will be looking for a leader able to perform in a crisis.
Even more than his proven ability to perform under pressure, however, one thing that Giuliani may be able to do, that some other Republicans might not, is unite the country. If Bush, as amiable as he is, and with a reputation as a uniter as governor of Texas, could be painted as an extremist divider, it is reasonable to believe the same will be attempted with the next Republican candidate. Giuliani achieved giant stature in my eyes, and those of most other Americans, with his actions following 9/11. Because he is already known as a uniter and a strong leader, he will be resistant to attempts to portray him otherwise. He can also claim to have received a large number of votes from Democrats in past elections. Not many, if any, of the other potential Republican presidential candidates can say that.
Ironically, Giuliani's positions on abortion and gay rights, while making it more difficult for him to win the Republican primary, make it almost impossible for opponents to paint him as an extremist. Abortion will always be an important issue to Republican primary voters, but with Bush appointments of two (or possibly three) conservative Supreme Court justices, the issue is not as likely to be the deal breaker that it has been in some past elections. Choosing a pro-life running mate might be enough to win over enough pro-life Republican primary voters to capture the nomination. He would definitely have to answer some tough questions about social policy (and he better not have any Bernie Kerik problems), but if he plays things smart, he can win the Republican nomination.
Electability though, while obviously necessary, does not a good president make. Giuliani's effectiveness as mayor of New York and his excellent communication skills convince me that he could be a very successful president. From his words and actions following 9/11, and more recently from his speech at the 2004 Republican National Convention, I know he can inspire. Because of Giuliani's staunch, and often eloquent, defense of President Bush’s policy in Iraq, and because of his personal experience on 9/11, I have no doubt that he would continue to vigorously prosecute the War on Terror and would be a strong defender of Israel and a promoter of democracy in the Middle East.
It is still early. I’m not saying Rudy Giuliani will be my choice in the spring of 2008. I’m just saying that in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and with the mission in Iraq and the Middle East still far from over, “the world’s mayor” is looking pretty good right now.
Lorie Byrd lives in North Carolina where she worked as a litigation paralegal before becoming a stay-at-home to her two daughters six years ago. She has written on political matters at the group blog, Polipundit, since April 2004. She also writes at her own weblog, Byrd Droppings, and is currently a contributor at ConfirmThem.com and MediaSlander.com
I am seeing the same cult of personality developing around Guliani as there is around Bush. Guliani is anti-gun, pro-homo, and pro-abortion.
Anyone who supports Rudy G. is NOT pro-life. Pro-life is not something you can discard for the sake of political expediency. Anyone who supports the murder of the unborn and gay marriage is obviously a few bricks short of a full load in the character department - and character is EVERYTHING. I could not care less what other meaningless "attributes" he would bring to the presidency.
Personally I am not a one issue person and abortion has been around since the 70's and it has not changed and I don't think any president right now or in the future will be able to change it so I'm not voting on just that issue alone for president. As much as I hate abortion that will not be the reason I vote for president alone. If that's the case I should have stayed home since I was 18. If that was the case than we would not have had Reagan or Bush, Sr. or George Bush for president (each one I voted for).
Good points - supporting infanticide and gun control are not going to cut it. Also - the guy clearly cheated on his wife - think the liberals will bring that up?
He was a great mayor, but no way can he ever be President.
And neither one of those presidents were able to stop abortion.
I'm in full agreement with all that you've said. It should also be pointed out that "Saint Rudy" would disarm all but the elites in this country. I'm glad he was a capable and effective mayor for NYC, but mayors don't appoint Supreme Court Justices. If Republicans put him up for the presidency, they will have lost their base entirely. And those who don't go Libertarian will just stay home.
Ummm I hate to say this but Ronald Reagan dumpDumped Jane Wyman by cheating on her with several Hollywood starlets. But I voted for him.
If that means Rudy is a two-term Prez, very cool!
Rudy would be good for America, good for the world, and good for the Jews. :)
I'm not voting for him.
Don't think they won't try.
Given a choice between Rudy and Hillary there is no doubt who I would vote for. Rudy would garner a lot of support from the "mushy middle" who remember what a leader he is. He would beat Hillary by a substantial margin.
Rudy is competent. Competence is going to be THE issue in the next election, much more than ideology.
A candidate's views on abortion is the biggest indicator of his character. Anyone who supports murder (and that is precisely what abortion is) has flawed character. That's like saying, "I know Clinton is a moral reprobate, but he has charisma." Or, "I know Hitler is a racist bigot who is bent on killing Jews, but the economy is humming."
Furthermore, anyone who supports gay marriage (which before our day has NEVER been sanctioned by governnment in world history!) has no clue as to who the real Sovereign of the Universe is.
You simply cannot overlook glaring flaws like this. Anyone who believes as Rudy G. believes does not have the Truth, and rebels against the true Sovereign as well as Natural Law, and therefore cannot possibly govern righteously according to the Truth. It is a betrayal of pro-life principles to vote for such a man, and anyone who does so cannot credibly maintain he/she is pro-life. Pro-life is not a belief of convenience - it is a bedrock conviction that abortion is the murder of a human being - and you can't bargain that!
Ahh, the very epitomy of "voting the lesser of two evils." If given the choice between Hitler and Stalin, who would you choose?
Hitler was competent too. So was Mao and Stalin and so is Castro. Competence becomes a means for perpetuating evil when divorced from character and truth.
Try to keep the straw man argument out of this discussion. The choice is between Rudy and Hillary.
For the record..I am pro-life..
That said, I also understand how reasonable people may not accept the pro-life stance as life beginning at conception. I do have issues with those find it harder to make the distinction past the first tri-mester.
Is Rudy "pro-homo"? Well being a straight male from NY/NJ I can also attest to meeting some great gay men and women. Should they be afforded the same rights under the constitution? Hell yes. Does that make me "pro-homo"? Doubt it. I don't believe in gay marriage for one.
Now on to Rudy. I disagree wholeheartedly with his views on partial birth abortion. Even under George Bush, abortion is still legal in this country. I do not think Rudy would impose a litmus test on any Supreme Court judge he may or may not have to nominate to the bench.
Rudy Giuliani is the best leader in this country bar none. I am not a single issue Conservative as are most Democrats and some here. Rudy would simply be the best for the country. The positive changes he brought to NYC seemed almost impossible to imagine. He did it with enthusiasm and grace. He has my vote.
You think Giuliani's government in NYC was Evil, on a par with Hitler Mao and Stalin? Very subtle, I like it.
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