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'America's Mayor' in Strong Position for '08
The Heights (Mass) ^ | 2/12/07 | Andrew Buttaro

Posted on 02/13/2007 9:04:27 AM PST by meg88

'America's mayor' in strong position for '08

With the 2008 race off to a fast start, there have already been some big surprises (Obama, anyone?). But the biggest shocker so far has to be how strong "America's mayor" is running in the polls.

The most recent poll has Giuliani leading the Republican field by five points (with 31 percent to John McCain's 26 percent, according to Real Clear Politics). True, it's early. But the numbers do reflect a deep reservoir of support among some GOP primary voters.

Giuliani has a few things going in his favor. For starters, he has incredible name recognition. In what's shaping up to be a field of outsized personalities for both parties, Giuliani may well loom largest. He formed a bond with Americans in the wake of Sept 11., and his handling of that event is still strongly appreciated.

Largely because of this, the National Journal noted that Giuliani enters the race more admired and more-liked than "any presidential candidate since Eisenhower."

As is probably apparent, this columnist is elated at the prospect of a Giuliani candidacy. I've long admired him not only for his leadership after Sept. 11, but for his take-no-prisoners style when governing New York.

Here's one example: For decades, education in New York City followed a strict routine. The mayor went to Albany to request more funds, and the sate legislators grudgingly granted it. That changed with Giuliani.

When legislators asked him the almost scripted question of whether additional money was needed for city schools, Giuliani stunned the assembly by saying that the system was so broken, more money was useless. Instead, he promised a "relentless campaign" to "literally crush the cost of bureaucracy in the school system."

The best Giuliani moment, however, had to be his showdown with the late Palestinian leader (and terrorist enabler) Yasser Arafat. When Giuliani was a U.S. attorney, he investigated some of Arafat's activities - and learned that he was hardly the man of peace commonly supposed.

So when Arafat was in town for a U.N. conference and showed up uninvited to a concert at the Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall, the mayor knew exactly what to do. He kicked him out.

The incident caused an uproar. Former mayor Ed Koch declared that "Giuliani has behavioral problems," and the Clinton administration was angered at Giuliani's boldness. Giuliani, however, was not swayed. "My only regret," he told an aide, "was that I didn't throw him out myself." Actions like this earned Giuliani the ire of Democrats everywhere in the '90s.

If he goes deep into the primaries, liberals will undoubtedly dredge this and other incidents up in an attempt to portray him as racially insensitive. But nothing will reassure Republicans that Giuliani can be trusted more than the sight of Al Sharpton denouncing him.

So what does this all mean? There's no denying that Giuliani will have a tough time getting the nomination, but it's hardly impossible. As Sam Brownback, George Pataki, or any other Republican no-names could tell you, there are worse places to be than at 31 percent.

Andrew Buttaro is a Heights staff columist. He welcomes comments at buttaroa@bcheights.com.


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Massachusetts
KEYWORDS: 2008; allrudyallthetime; beatit; california; collegelibs4rudy; edrenellclone; electionpresident; enoughalready; gaygop; gop; hillarysticket; homosexualslovehim; juliejulielulie; lavendergop; leftyacademics4rudy; nothanks; republicans; rinoalert; rudyspam; sureloser
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1 posted on 02/13/2007 9:04:28 AM PST by meg88
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To: meg88
The most recent poll has Giuliani leading the Republican field by five points

If that is true we need to throw in the towel...
2 posted on 02/13/2007 9:05:56 AM PST by P-40 (Al Qaeda was working in Iraq. They were just undocumented.)
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To: All

Go Rudy! He is looking better day by day. Who would have thought that in 2008 we may have a decent shot of taking California and New York?

Last time we took California was with Ronald Reagan.


3 posted on 02/13/2007 9:07:23 AM PST by ClarenceThomasfan (In 2008 Republicans will unite around Guiliani, McCain or Romney and whoop Hillary in a Landslide!!)
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To: meg88

Okay, I have openly DESPISED his candidacy, and would sooner vote for Hillary in the 2008 election to save the issues I care about in the GOP. But I love this quote:

---"Giuliani, however, was not swayed. "My only regret," he told an aide, "was that I didn't throw him out myself."---


4 posted on 02/13/2007 9:08:56 AM PST by TitansAFC (Pacifism is not peace; pacifists are not peacemakers.)
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To: ClarenceThomasfan
Last time we took California was with Ronald Reagan.

Actually it was in 1988, with Bush Senior.

Regards, Ivan

5 posted on 02/13/2007 9:11:24 AM PST by MadIvan (I aim to misbehave.)
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To: ClarenceThomasfan

He is certainly liberal enough to win any blue state.


6 posted on 02/13/2007 9:11:48 AM PST by Hydroshock (Duncan Hunter For President, checkout gohunter08.com.)
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To: ClarenceThomasfan
Go Rudy! He is looking better day by day. Who would have thought that in 2008 we may have a decent shot of taking California and New York?

Bttt!

7 posted on 02/13/2007 9:13:34 AM PST by proud American in Canada ("We can, and we will prevail.")
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To: MadIvan

Thanks for the correction. I didn't know that. That is stunning that Senior President Bush was able to take California. It seems almost impossible now.


8 posted on 02/13/2007 9:17:39 AM PST by ClarenceThomasfan (In 2008 Republicans will unite around Guiliani, McCain or Romney and whoop Hillary in a Landslide!!)
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To: proud American in Canada; ClarenceThomasfan; All

I don't think so:

Hillary leads Dems, Republicans in poll: NY voters would choose senator over Obama, Giuliani 2/4/07

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1783559/posts

Hillary 53%
Rudy 32%

A 21-point deficit in New York State.


9 posted on 02/13/2007 9:22:40 AM PST by TitansAFC (Pacifism is not peace; pacifists are not peacemakers.)
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To: ClarenceThomasfan

of course Bush '88 was pretty much a third election win for the Gipper. On his own in '92, he didn't fare so well.


10 posted on 02/13/2007 9:25:37 AM PST by ilgipper
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To: ClarenceThomasfan

Giuliani is NO Ronald Reagan.


11 posted on 02/13/2007 9:26:15 AM PST by RockinRight (When Chuck Norris goes to bed at night, he checks under the bed for Jack Bauer.)
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To: TitansAFC
Never for hillery.

I could vote for Guiling in that case. I will vote for anybody to keep that crowd out. Heck, I voted for Dole and GHW Bush. GW Bush is not a conservative, but I voted for him because I knew the others were worse.


The President MUST be a leader. A proved leader.

The key thing is to remember that in 2008 we are not just voting for President, we are also voting for U.S. Representatives and Senators. Giuliani with a Republican controlled House and Senate is not a threat, otherwise his positions are troubling.


Right now only Giuliani and Romney have declared they are running. These are the only two candidates we have until the others declare. Given the choice I would rather have the one who is at least consistent in his opinions and does not flip flop or obfuscate.
12 posted on 02/13/2007 9:30:12 AM PST by fireforeffect (A kind word and a 2x4, gets you more than just a kind word.)
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To: ClarenceThomasfan

We carried California with Bush #41. I would hope that
Gov. Arnold would actively support and push for Guilani
and then it would become very intresing....If we in
California push for this..it would mean a big boost for
all - Congress and Senate..makin '08....the big one
for our guys... JK


13 posted on 02/13/2007 9:30:53 AM PST by sanjacjake
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To: ClarenceThomasfan

I vote on the issues of individual liberty and freedom. Rudy looks like a collectivist true believer to me. Is he really different than any of the leftist candidates the Dems are fielding?


14 posted on 02/13/2007 9:30:56 AM PST by MtnClimber
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To: ilgipper
of course Bush '88 was pretty much a third election win for the Gipper. On his own in '92, he didn't fare so well.

That's true.

15 posted on 02/13/2007 9:31:22 AM PST by Huck (Soylent Green is People.)
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To: meg88
He is not my mayor.

My mayor is pro second amendment, pro-life, pro-traditional-marriage and doesn't dress in drag.

16 posted on 02/13/2007 9:32:58 AM PST by lormand (Michael Wiener - the tough talking populist moron, who thinks he is a Conservative)
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To: meg88
This is getting ridiculous, bordering on the insane.

Now op-eds from COLLEGE NEWSPAPERS are news?? This "The Heights" is the paper of Boston College for Pete's sake. What's next, articles from High School newspapers????

This cr@p is nothing but...

So golly gee whiz, I'm sure glad that this COLLEGE STUDENT Andrew Buttaro piped in with Rudy endorsement. I can't wait to hear from his little sister whose in 7th grade.

17 posted on 02/13/2007 9:33:24 AM PST by Condor51 (Where's Attila The Hun when you need him? [Go sit down Rudy])
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To: P-40

He will be the next President IMHO.


18 posted on 02/13/2007 9:34:15 AM PST by FightThePower! (Fight the powers that be!)
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To: P-40

He will be the next President IMHO.


19 posted on 02/13/2007 9:34:20 AM PST by FightThePower! (Fight the powers that be!)
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To: ClarenceThomasfan
"It seems almost impossible now."

Impossible?

No!

Just be a liberal, and you can win both states. What is impossible about that?

20 posted on 02/13/2007 9:34:39 AM PST by lormand (Michael Wiener - the tough talking populist moron, who thinks he is a Conservative)
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