Simply Grand (Rudy G)

National Review Online ^ | 9/12/06 | Deroy Murdock

[Blackirish]

September 12, 2006, 6:30 a.m.

Grand Illusion, by Wayne Barrett and Dan Collins

Simply Grand Will America’s Mayor be America’s next president?

A review by Deroy Murdock

America’s still-vivid memories of that miserable morning five Septembers ago may be brightened by recollections of former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani’s focused, confident performance. The ongoing goodwill his leadership generated may explain why he outpaces his potential rivals for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination.

Recent polls show Giuliani waxing on the right, regardless of any misgivings conservative GOP voters may have with him on abortion, gay rights, or gun control.

Among 432 registered Republicans and pro-GOP independents who CNN and Opinion Research Corp. surveyed from August 30 to September 2, 31 percent favored Giuliani for the nomination, while 20 percent backed Sen. John McCain. (Error margin: +/- 5 percent.)

Of the 6,926 participants thus far in an ongoing Internet survey for the very conservative FreeRepublic.com, 45.1 percent endorsed Giuliani, 28.3 percent backed Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, and only 5.3 percent picked McCain.

[Blackirish]

Delroy brings up the Free Republic poll. He also thinks it's Rudy's to lose.

[Spiff]

The Real Rudy Giuliani:

• Pro-abortion - He even opposes banning partial birth murder.
• Anti-2nd Amendment - supports gun grabbing legislation including the Brady Bill and the Assault Weapon Ban
• Pro-big government - amassed unprecedented debt as Mayor of NYC
• Pro-radical gay agenda
  

  - Supports gay marriage
  - Attended every gay pride parade in NYC while mayor (even one in 1992 that included a NAMBLA contingent of pedophile activists)
  - Has received many awards from radical gay groups
  - Attends and supports many functions and fund-raisers held by radical gay organizations (even did a cross dressing act at Pride Agenda fund-raiser)

• Pro-illegal immigration - said no one in New York City is going to assist the federal government with the enforcement of immigration law, sued Feds in 1997 to be able to ignore immigration law, lost in court, vowed to ignore law anyway
• Endorses liberal Democrat candidates over Republicans - endorsed liberal Dem Mario Cuomo over Republican George Pataki in NY Governor's race
• Ran for NYC Mayor in 1994 on Liberal Party ticket. Appointed Liberal Party State Chair to a Deputy Mayor position. Endorsed 3 times by the Liberal Party for his liberal views.
• Holds many other liberal views
• Republican In Name Only - opposes many major planks of the GOP Platform

Read more about Giuliani's liberal positions here and here.

[toddlintown]

It's amazing that so many FReepers embrace this baby-killer and gun-grabber.

[Rummyfan]

I could vote for Rudy. There is no way in hell I will ever vote for McCain!

[Alex1977]

I agree.

[what's up]

I like Giuliani way more than McCain. I trust Giuliani on defense.

However, I don't like his social positions.

Giuliani did infuse NYC with economic life in the years prior to 9/11, though I don't specifically know what his national fiscal policy positions are.

[JLS]

I could vote for Rudy. There is no way in hell I will ever vote for McCain!

That is sort of how I feel. It would depend on what Rudy says as a GOP candidate NOT running in NYC. My biggest reservation would be what his judicial appointments would look like. That would be a no go signal to me.

[mak5]

I wouldn't use the term embrace. His main attraction is that he isn't McCain.

[LN2Campy]

His former sponsorship and association with a no-good thug like Kerik is enough to give ANYONE pause.

[poobear]

I must ask you this. What choice do we have if Guiliani on the GOP ticket and Hillary, Gore, Edwards or the like is on the DEM ticket? We got screwed when Perot divided the conservative vote and look what happened for the next 8 years. God forbid. At least we could keep this RINO in some kind of check with the Senate and Congress, another God forbid if we loose that.

Politics are ugly. The alternative is worse.

[toddlintown]

Stay home.

[Blackirish]

I think Delroy sums it up..

"As Barrett and Collins aim their lances at Giuliani’s post-9/11 armor, they largely miss what GOP primary voters clearly see: a dedicated and relentless patriot who has been fighting terrorists for 30 years. Facing an unprecedented crisis, Giuliani stayed remarkably cool, maintained order, and helped evacuate the financial district’s dangerous streets. “Just keep going north,” he told those still in Lower Manhattan"

[Spiff]

His former sponsorship and association with a no-good thug like Kerik is enough to give ANYONE pause.

Please post more info about the Kerik stuff including links. I may add that to Rudy's List of Shame.

[Ramius]

Like it or not, 2008 is Rudy's if he wants it.

It might not be so bad. I'm concerned about some of his positions, but they also just might not matter by then. One or two more supreme court appointments by Bush and it won't matter what the next President thinks about abortion. It's close to already not mattering.

I don't see Rudy making gun control a national issue like he did in NYC. Different times, different issues at stake.

I do see Rudy being a strong and decisive commander in chief, and one unafraid of dropping bombs and sending troops where they need to go.

We'll see.

[toddlintown]

Until 9-11, he was nothing more than philandering, tits on a bull, big-city mayor. His biggest accomplishment was cheating on his wives.

It's amazing that more people than Rudy read and actually believe his press releases.

Baby-killer advocate. Gun-grabber. Friend of butt-bangers. Since when did this become part of the Republican Party's platform?

[Spiff]

I do see Rudy being a strong and decisive commander in chief, and one unafraid of dropping bombs and sending troops where they need to go.

There is no evidence to support this widely held assumption.

[liberallarry]

I can't understand why no one has mentioned his successful fight against crime. I was in Manhattan at the time. Everyone from cab drivers up recognized and appreciated his achievement.

[Vision]

[Rummyfan]

Baby-killer advocate. Gun-grabber. Friend of butt-bangers. Since when did this become part of the Republican Party's platform?

These issues aren't. But if Rudy runs, I predict he'll change on them. No Republican is going to win the nomination with any of those three positions.

[evets]

Rudy is HAWT!