Posted on 02/28/2007 9:56:17 AM PST by Peach
Not since Teddy Roosevelt took on Tammany Hall a century ago has a New York politician closely linked to urban reform looked like presidential timber. But today ex–New York mayor Rudy Giuliani sits at or near the top of virtually every poll of potential 2008 presidential candidates. Already, Giuliani’s popularity has set off a “stop Rudy” movement among cultural conservatives, who object to his three marriages and his support for abortion rights, gay unions, and curbs on gun ownership. Some social conservatives even dismiss his achievement in reviving New York before 9/11.
An August story on the website Right Wing News, for instance, claims that Giuliani governed Gotham from “left of center.” Similarly, conservatives have been feeding the press a misleading collection of quotations by and about Giuliani, on tax policy and school choice issues, assembled to make him look like a liberal.
But in a GOP presidential field in which cultural and religious conservatives may find something to object to in every candidate who could really get nominated (and, more important, elected), Giuliani may be the most conservative candidate on a wide range of issues. Far from being a liberal, he ran New York with a conservative’s priorities: government exists above all to keep people safe in their homes and in the streets, he said, not to redistribute income, run a welfare state, or perform social engineering.
The private economy, not government, creates opportunity, he argued; government should just deliver basic services well and then get out of the private sector’s way. He denied that cities and their citizens were victims of vast forces outside their control, and he urged New Yorkers to take personal responsibility for their lives.
http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=26604
Like Lipstick on a pig...
Gosh, the main-stream-media loves Rudy so much... we should be glad they want us to have him as our candidate.
Recommending a "Rudy" forum. This is getting out of hand.
Yes, Giuliani is a "conservative" that supports abortion on demand, the homosexual agenda, the idea of man-made global warming and gun control. Fiscally, he dramatcially increased spending in his last term in office in New York City.
Conservatives can't possible make any progress in this nation when too many alleged conservatives are STUPID enough to believe RINOs that are liberal on issue after issue are conservative.
That makes the thread title a glaring lie.
>>>Recommending a "Rudy" forum. This is getting out of hand.
I find the hate-Rudy vitriol to be equally distasteful. Mind you, I don't agree with his every position, but he's being needlessly excoriated around here.
Well, DUH! Add his new adoption of Global Warming, amnesty for illegals, acceptance of horrific partial birth abortion and embryonic stem cell research. Those tend to push social conservatives' hot buttons.
Far from being a liberal, he ran New York with a conservative’s priorities: government exists above all to keep people safe in their homes and in the streets, he said, not to redistribute income, run a welfare state, or perform social engineering.
------
I wonder how Rudy's blatantly pro-illegal immigrant support and welfare benefits posture fits into this description ?? If it isn't welfare and redistribution of wealth, what is it ?? Rudy is NOT a social conservative, by any stretch of the imagination, by his own admission and statements.
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.
Human Events, Is Giuliani the Republican Peyton Manning,
2/6/07
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1780060/posts
He denied that cities and their citizens were victims of vast forces outside their control, and he urged New Yorkers to take personal responsibility for their lives.
Yes, he insisted that citizens be responsible for their self defense by turning in their guns.
White evangelical Protestants now clearly favor Rudy Giuliani over Sen. John McCain, "despite his support of abortion rights and gay rights, two issues of great importance to religious conservatives."
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1792708/posts
These are impressive conservative credentials. And if social and religious conservatives fret about Giuliani’s more liberal social views, nevertheless, in the general election such views might make this experience-tested conservative even more electable.
Essentially, "&#^% off, religious conservatives, we don't need you." Okie then.
How many times do alleged "conservatives" have to help elect a RINO to office before realizing the strategy is stupid?
Note that there is no in-fighting on the topic of 'fiscal conservatives' but rather the 'social conservatives.'
Yeah, we will make progress when we get frindge one issue losers like you out of our party and grow it.
Just damn, Peach. With you chumming the water, you're attracking the sharks. I didn't know that being a verbal masochist was part of your FR profile.
On the issue of race, Giuliani is actually to the right of the other Republican candidates since he isn't afraid to antagonize Al Sharpton and other black leaders.
Posted here earlier this month with 750 replies:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1778852/posts
Perhaps the polling public only knows the "hero of 9/11" and not his positions. You can bet the media and the Democrats (one and the same) will let them know if Mayor Giuliani wins the Republican nomination.
Mind you, he IS a New Yorker...
I am not supporting Rudy in any way shape or form for POTUS. I don't hate the guy but would rather he serve at CIA or Defense than have anyting to do with domestic law enforcement.
It seems like we are willing to compromise anything just to get someone in there with an R by their name these days.
I posted my comment because of the sheer volume of Rudy postings. Perhaps an offshoot FreeRudy.com site ought to pop up?
Thank you for posting this article. I personally like Rudy. Better than me liking him, I am also noticing that young people like him. A lot of young people can be a mix of social liberal and fiscal and defense conservative. I know I will be flamed for this but a lot of young people are very compassionate and not yet very opinionated probably because of the influences of college campuses and liberal teachers. Rudy appeals to the young people that don't like Hillary and think Obama doesn't say anything in his speeches. We are not voting for Pope and outside of judges, a President has little impact on social values. Even having a conservative President does not guarantee conservative judges. If a Supreme Court judge retires now, what are the chances of a conservative judge getting approved? I could never vote for McCain, too old and acts nutty, I never had heard of Duncan Hunter and I am well read, I don't see the difference between Mitt and Rudy except Rudy has broader appeal. Flame away!
I don't hate Rudy at all........ I just reject any assertion that he is a conservative. You can't say you are "conservative", and support abortion and gay marriage. Impossible. Those are 2 issues that people who believe in God, and have morals feel very strongly about, and should never give in to.
Yes, it's too bad Rudy's a little too liberal on some social issues, but we got to be realistic here. The Democrats have a really good shot at getting the White House back in 08. I really believe Rudy is the only one on the Republican side that has a realistic shot at winning. McCain is too old, and there are too many people out there that take issue with the fact that Romney is Mormon. And forget about Duncan Hunter or Tom Tancredo and people like that because no body knows who they are.
You got to look at it this way: who would you rather have Hillary or Rudy. With Rudy at least he will push generally conservative issues in regards to economics or you can have Hillary who will push liberal issues on everything. Plus whoever is president next will most likely to get to appoint more supreme court justices so it's important to maintain control of the WH. Also, if Hillary gets in with a Democratic Congress, you're going to see a big push for more government involvement in healthcare. Seriously, we're going to have to go with the best we can get. Rudy is it, and I really believe will be the next President.
If the Rudy Roto Rooters want to bandy his wonderful qualities propaganda, I would apprecite it if they filed their propaganda in their own forum.
I think we all have seen enough of the debate to know what Rudy Tootles record is, and we know something about how he is very Clintonesque in playing the political game.
So I also vote that the Rudy Rotorooters have their own forum. That way they can play out of the traffic without getting run over.
Those are some great points. I can see from the polls that Rudy is popular with a wide range of people, and that's a good thing.
How is "progress" achieved by conservatives through a Republcian President promoting gun control, man-made global warming, hate crime legislation, abortion on demand and the homosexual agenda?
It's no wonder liberalism keeps advancing when "conservatives" are stupid enough to support politicians like Giuliani for office.
Then, if he gets in and starts behaving like a RINO, you and those that voted for him will acts as if you're shocked even though you were warned about what was going to happen.
I pretty much stopped reading there.
I don't know how many times I have been dissed because I am a RINO, I am almost 50 and never pulled a (D) lever in my lifetime. This site is for conservatives now, not Republicans.
"Rudy's a little too liberal on some social issues"?
A LITTLE TOO LIBERAL?
*Pro Roe V Wade, including government funding of abortions.
*Anti 2nd amendment (Called for a federal "assault weapons" ban stronger than the one passed by a democrat congress and signed by clinton). Called for national handgun licensing.
*Pro campaign finance reform
*Pro illegal immigration (supports mccain / kennedy amensty bill, ran NY city as a 'sanctuary city' for illegal aliens - fought feds to maintain that program
*Pro "hate crimes" laws
Good luck with that.
is not
IS TOO
is not
IS TOO:
Oh, they know his positions, and they don't care.
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.
Human Events, Is Giuliani the Republican Peyton Manning,
2/6/07
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1780060/posts
White evangelical Protestants now clearly favor Rudy Giuliani over Sen. John McCain, "despite his support of abortion rights and gay rights, two issues of great importance to religious conservatives."
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1792708/posts
Yeah, but I keep gittin' told that he's a conservative and that's sort of like peeing on my boot and telling me it's raining.
When I get treated that I'm so stupid I don't know when somebody is peeing on my boot it gets my dander up. Why not present him for what he is, a member of the Rockefeller country club republican cadre and stop trying to cast him as some sort of conservative which he isn't by any standard; either fiscally, constitutionally or by size of goobermint?
I might even consider voting for him in the general election but he's spinning (or is it triangulating?) about "what he is" so much it's raising serious questions in my mind about his character.
It has always been a site for conservatives.
The dirt has been pulled out on Rudy for nearly 15 years and it hasn't stopped his widespread appeal.
:-)
This is true. Which is why I think he'll be an easy winner in '08. But to call him a "conservative" is academically stupid.
. . . So are the Days of Our Lives . . .
I don't care what other people think. He is not a conservative. And I ESPECIALLY don't care what a slanted Washington Post-ABC News poll says. If the press loves him, we have a HUGE problem since most of them are libs.
I don't hate Rudy, but I'll never vote for him. He's no more a Conservative than Hillary is.
Thank you Peach! Since they want to post articles from 1999, 1993, 1994 about Rudy just to flamebait at least you post ones that are new.
"Government exists above all to keep people safe in their homes and in the streets".
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