Posted on 02/06/2007 2:00:28 PM PST by EternalVigilance
Orwellian euphemism is nothing new in the realm of contemporary American political discourse. Choice, translated by the left, refers to the chopping up of unborn children. Peaceful patriotism permits the trashing of our troops. Just now in a shocking scandal for adjectives everywhere, verbal authorities have booked articulate for bearing concealed racial overtones. We shouldn't, but we do get acclimated to this kind of rank pseudo-intellectualism after a while. What is jarring is to hear linguistic engineering of mind-bending magnitude coming not from the left, but from conservative commentators themselves.
Monday night on Hannity and Colmes, RINO Rudi announced his intention of announcing his candidacy for the office of President of the United States, which is as close to making sense as the entire interview ever got. What we heard from the presumptive Republican front runner was the whole set of self-contradictions one would expect from a liberal hijacking a conservative ticket: that he is "personally opposed" to abortion while upholding a "woman's right to choose;" that he defines marriage as between a man and a woman but simultaneously supports "domestic partnerships;" that he is not for "amnesty" for undocumented workers but does believe in their "regularization," meaning that those who break immigration law should become the ones who make it. When John Kerry reverses himself over the course of several months on the subject of the war in Iraq, the right-wing talking heads never tire of highlighting it. But let the former mayor of New York thrash like a trout on a line in the course of a single interview, and everyone on our side of the aisle is supposed to nod in solemn wonder, if Hannity's handling of the whole farcical situation is any indication.
Giuliani's gymnastics would be unremarkable — they are certainly unoriginal — if not for the fact that this same man demonstrates lucidity and singularity of purpose when the terrorist threat to our nation is invoked. This, of course, is the pillar on which his "conservative" credentials are precariously teetering, the one issue alleged as trumping all the others. Pardon me. The word isn't trumping any more — a position which common sense and a moment's uninterrupted reflection will reveal as positively spurious. How can the right to liberty outrank the right to life? According to Sean Hannity's post-interview reflections, however, what Rudi has actually done isn't really waffling after all. For RINOs only, it is hereafter to be known as transcending the issues. That's what Sean said. Giuliani is succeeding, he believes, not in betraying conservative principles but in transcending them.
Judging by its context, his neologism must mean something like: "getting people to cave in about things it is positively disastrous for them to cave in about." Hannity seems to connect his inventive term with Dick Morris' revelation that three-quarters of the conservatives he talked to were ready to overlook Rudi's handicaps in the interest of defeating Hillary. (Wouldn't this be an insult to Obama, by the way, that it isn't in the interest of defeating him?) So, let's see how Hannityspeak would work out in other situations.
Bill Clinton in the waning days of his administration evidently did a bang-up job of transcending perjury (to pick a problem of his more or less at random). Who knew? I see now with the clarity of vision Sean has imparted that the trend in the European nations is towards transcending Islamofascism, not catering to it. It must also be the case that Terri Schindler Schiavo's right to life — sadly, according to just about the only high profile American journalist who truly extended himself in an effort to defend it — wasn't really violated in the end, but only transcended. And so forth.
If Rudi Giuliani or anybody like him manages to gain the support of a majority of conservatives, it will deal our cause a more serious blow than anything that Hillary or Barack or anybody else could do, from inside the White House or outside. Liberals can only set the conservative agenda back. RINOs are attempting to define it out of existence. If the handful of conservative commentators in the mainstream media decide to grease the linguistic wheels of this insidious effort, who is going to be able to stop it? Is it really a good thing, for the distinction between those who stand for what is right and just in this country, and those who do not, to be transcended at last?
ping...
Hannity Speak... Is that a bit like "border fence" = "fleece the gullible?"
Another DarwinAwardCentral member speaks...
Nice attempt at a thread hijack. Folks, don't rise to his bait.
Very nice catch (and release) on your part, as Hannity did not deal too well with the (whistling) trout, he had on the line. Hannity can come across as conservative (perhaps Neo-) occasionally, but he can get frightfully far away from conservatism at other times.
The conservative talking heads better be asking the hard questions of the GOP candidates, because, certainly, the MSM talking heads will.
And if the conservatives don't weed out their own, they can bet that Hillary and the Clinton Machine will drag out any skeletons.
If the conservative talking heads to soft pedal the GOP candidates, they can't complain about the MSM leftist talking heads soft pedalling to Edwards or Obama or Hillary Clinton.
Hannity can't even bring himself to record his own "get off the phone, ya big dope!" vocal. He has to borrow one from another radio talk host.
Sure, lets leave this alone exclusively as a rendering of republicans with the alienating of some of the few in the media who are with us. Fifth columnists can't get enough hate and dissent within the republican party.
Good article...but not to worry. Rudi isn't anywhere near strong enough to carry the baggage following him around...all the gushing and pandering to the contrary notwithstanding.
Sean Hannity always rubbed me as the least informed conservative radio talking head.
So is he supporting leftist Giuliani in the republican primary or what?
Hey troll. How are ya?
I'm fine, how are you, fifth columnist disruptor?
I hope we have set the bar higher than "It depends on the meaning of 'is.'"
Got a comment on this very accurate article that rises above the level of a schoolyard taunt? Or is Carville not letting you do more than grunt today?
Wonder why ole Helen here keeps referring to Giuliani as "Rudi," when he himself has always spelled it "Rudy."
Is she trying to be cute, or make a point, or what?
He tried, but Alan kept hanging up his cell phone.
What are you talking about? That comment makes no sense.
It would appear that the bar is pretty much laying flat on the ground for many around here now.
Rudy has a strong 84% conservative approval rating. (Battle ground poll as of Jan.11, '07)
The rebirth of New York City, the most visible urban achievement in the 20th century is the work of the person now dubbed America’s mayor. For the millions of Americans who live in New York and the millions more who work or whose livelihood has been affected by its revival the contrast between the pre and post Giuliani years could not be more striking.
His defense of Israel and intolerance for Arab and U.N. sponsored anti-Semitism is legendary.
He figuratively walked into the lion's den of a crime ridden, high tax, and decaying city and carried out a conservative agenda of tax cuts, crime reduction and, in the case of the Brooklyn Museum, defense of religion in the public square. On this count Giuliani seems to be the winner in the public character category for his extraordinary vision and leadership.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1780064/posts
Fact of the matter is its choice for you fifth columnists because it allows you to tear apart good men, the candidates, and Hannity. You fifth columnists would like for him to ridicule the opinions found on FR, too, wouldn't you?
Indeed, in one recent poll, majorities of Republicans who were informed of Giuliani’s views on social issues said that they were either minor issues or no issues at all; only 16% said that they wouldn't vote for him after being informed of these views.
In the online GOP Bloggers poll, Giuliani is consistently one of the few candidates to end up with a net positive acceptability rating. These internet denizens are well-informed, and overwhelmingly self-describe as conservative (78% self-describe as 7 or higher on a 10-scale of conservatism). If these people can support Rudy, anyone can.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/
Forget doing the RINO limbo. Now we'd have to jettison our limbs and slither under it like a reptile.
Ultra social conservative Pat Robertson thinks Rudy would make a good president.
Asked if Giuliani would be an acceptable 2008 presidential candidate to Christian conservatives, Pat Robertson told ABC's "This Week:" "He did a super job running the city of New York and I think he'd make a good president."
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2005/5/1/102522.shtml
The Hoover Institute, at which Reagan is an Honorary Fellow, thinks Rudy has been good for the GOP.
Working on a book about the Republican Party, last year Hoover fellow Peter Robinson spent some time with Rudolph Giuliani. Although Giuliani is no longer running for the Senate, Robinson argues that Giuliani’s accomplishments as mayor of New York City set an example for Republican candidates just the same. A portrait of a brilliant politician—and a great public servant.
http://www.hoover.org/publications/digest/3491481.html
As George Will said on “This Week,” “His eight years as mayor of New York were the most successful episode of conservative governance in this country in the last 50 years, on welfare and crime particularly." Giuliani, more than any other candidate (Romney comes the closest) has the record of taking on major institutions and reforming them. Think about tourist magnet that is New York now. When Rudy Giuliani took office, 59% of New Yorkers said they would leave the city the next day if they could. Under Rudy Giuliani’s leadership as Mayor of the nation’s largest city, murders were cut from 1,946 in 1993 to 649 in 2001, while overall crime – including rapes, assaults, burglary and auto-thefts – fell by an average of 57%. Not only did he fight crime in Gotham like Batman, despite being constantly vilified by the New York Times, he took head on the multiculturalism and victimization perpetuated by Al Sharpton and his cohort of race baiters. He ended New York’s set-aside program for minority contractors and rejected the idea of lowering standards for minorities. As far as the economy goes, Rudy reduced or eliminated 23 city taxes. He faced a $2.3 billion budget deficit but cut spending instead hiking taxes.
http://www.redstate.com/blogs/dmeaton/2007/feb/04/achieving_socially_conservative_ideals_through_liberal_means_making_the_case_for_rudy
He's trying to drag an old dispute into this thread in gross violation of forum rules.
I don't know. Bad editing perhaps. ;-)
But she sure nails the substance.
Right on.
He's trying to remind people that they're dealing with a suspected scan artist con-man.
'Rudi' is the German spelling, so the inference is that he's a nazi.
Rules don't apply to them anymore, it would seem. I've had at least a hundred comments by them on various threads attacking me personally pointed out by fellow conservatives just in the last few days.
Let the debunking of Rudy proceed apace!
Evidence of how divisive you are.
The extent of the ignorance is shocking, isn't it.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1779383/posts
Those who make a point of trashing these threads in order to get them backroomed — and you know who you are — may reap unexpected consequences.
Gosh. The Rudyphiles are really scraping the bottom of a very stinky barrel when they have to urge you out to troll for them.
Those who make a point of trashing republicans are gonna be stuck with demonratz. I accuse the fifth columnists of desiring this.
Empty, meaningless spin.
I'm supporting Hunter at this point. The fifth columnists are not helping him. On purpose, I might add.
But I do suggest that everyone take the time to read all of the articles posted to it, so that they can see what else is posted there; it will prove to be quite enlightening!
I believe that life is sacred and should not be treated as a commodity. I believe that the institution of marriage needs to be preserved. For now at least, good judges are best way to protect the institution of marriage and move America closer to the day when a debate on the local level can begin again about the value of human life. In order for us to have this debate in state legislatures we must win the next fight over the next Supreme Court vacancy, and if we lose the next presidential election than we will have taken a major step backwards in our quest to replace the current liberal ideology on the highest bench. More than any potential Republican president, Rudy Giuliani will have the easiest time getting strict constructionists confirmed to the Supreme Court and the lower courts.
Think of four scenarios: 1) A Hillary appointment 2) A court battle in which a thinly elected Republican administration that is led by someone who is avidly pro-life faces down a probably Democratic controlled Senate 3) A court battle in which the overwhelmingly elected Republican administration is led by the Bull Moose lover himself, Mr. McCain 4) A court battle in which pro-choice Giuliani, elected and respected by a huge majority of Americans, makes the argument that strict constructionist jurisprudence is needed in the 21st century. He did after all strongly support Justice Roberts, Justice Alito, and he said that he would have made Justice Scalia Chief Justice. As important, Giuliani can actually make a personal case for a specific legal doctrine. The mayor is a former high ranking Justice department attorney who has argued before the Supreme Court.
To reclaim the Senate and Congress, to hold onto the White House, to build a sustainable Republican majority, and to advance conservative principles, we Republicans must unite together and support a candidate who can win the hearts of the vast majority of Americans.
Only when we win hearts can we then win minds.
http://www.redstate.com/blogs/dmeaton/2007/feb/04/achieving_socially_conservative_ideals_through_liberal_means_making_the_case_for_rudy
Everything is meaningless if you're a disruptor.
Of course, I could be wrong, but why would you do their work for them?
Gosh, you could have a point if these liberals like Giuliani actually were actually Republicans.
Are you aware that of 60 appointments to the courts that Rudy had available to him during his term as Mayor, NOT ONE was a Republican, much less a conservative?
I keep hearing all the wailing and gnashing of teeth from you, but the answer to a Rudy candidacy is for conservatives to put up a stronger Republican candidate, and Duncan Hunter ain't it.
Oh, and anyone YOU support won't win anyway. That's not hyperbole, it's based on your lousy track record.
When is Keyes announcing or is he still banging on fence posts?
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