Novak: Giuliani Definitely Running in 2008

NewsMax.com ^ | July 9, 2006 | NewsMax.com

[kddid]

There's no doubt about it, writes columnist Robert Novak: Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is running for the GOP presidential nomination in 2008.

Novak made this declaration in his July 8 nationally syndicated column, reporting that friends of Giuliani confided he has told them of his intention to run for the White House.

Giuliani - dubbed "America's Mayor" for his cool courage and spectacular leadership during his city's 9/11 emergency - leads at least one national poll, beating runner-up Senator John McCain, R-Ariz., by a healthy five points, Novak reports, citing last month's national Gallup poll that measured presidential preferences by registered Republicans.

In the poll Giuliani had 29 percent, McCain 24 percent, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich a mere 8 percent. Novak added that all year Giuliani has run either first or second to McCain, with the rest of the presidential possibilities far behind in national polls.

Giuliani brought the delegates to their feet at the 2004 Republican National Convention with his stem-winding speech attacking the Democrat party, John Kerry and John Edwards while heaping praise on President Bush. He has wide popular appeal nationally.

But all is not moonlight and rose for the moderate New York Republican. The path to the Republican nomination could prove hard to travel for Giuliani due to his present liberal stands on such hot button issues as abortion, gay rights and gun control. Novak writes that GOP strategists warn he must change his position on at least one of these issues if he hopes to win the nomination.

[Scarchin]

I'm glad. It will intensify the debates and help force candidates to take clear positions.

[EQAndyBuzz]

Ahh.. Ok. I honestly don't know how Rudy is on that issue so I can not comment on it.

I hardly think he is pro-ACLU since as a prosecutor he took a pounding from them on crime.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

Rudy had cancer and couldn't run against Hillary in 2002.

This is 2006...

[TommyDale]

I can assure you that Rudy will not side with the religious folks...

[JCEccles]

You didn't answer. You tap danced over to a box, pulled the Shrillery doll out of it, screwed up your face in a grimace of horror and shook the doll at us. I'm unimpressed.

Apart from the War on Terror, Giuliani isn't conservative at all. Not fiscally, certainly not socially. You might claim he's anti-crime, but in a federal setting what that really means he'll prosecute tax, gun, and environmental cases with a special zeal.

How about federal crimes that really matter? How about prosecuting the flood of illegal immigrants? Giuliani made NYC a sanctuary for illegal aliens, for heaven's sakes.

As president, Giuliani would be completely interchangable with Joseph Lieberman. While I'm grateful for Lieberman's support for the War on Terror, I sure wouldn't want him as president.

[no dems]

Hey Rudy; You can run but you can't hide.

[Al Simmons]

Except that, unlike 1976, there ain't no RWR running...I'm for George Allen as my #1 pick; failing that, I'll back Rudy over McCainiac any day of the week...at least with Rudy we'd be sure to continue the War of Terror in earnest..remember, he's the guy who asked President Bush to let him 'flip the switch' if bin Laden was ever caught;

Fellow Freepers, do not forget that the WOT is the biggest issue of this generation - and I daresay that I'd trust Rudy more on that issue than ANYONE out there....

[bilhosty]

My feeling is that with Giuliani running in New York City he had to take some liberal positions. If he takes liberal positions to achieve conservative results (as he did in NYC more power to him. Rudy is a winner he is a winner because of his appeal to moderates. It is the conservatives that he has to worry about. I have seen many conservative Presidents (Nixon, Ford, Bush 41) have to give too much to the moderates and the liberals and have to take his conservative base for granted (which he could). With Rudy it would be the reverse. He would have to take his moderates for granted and appease the conservative base. We would probably accomplish more for us than the other Presidents mentioned.

That stated he will still have to modify some of those positions (especially immigration) and really pledge to fill the court with "strict constructionists."

[SHOOT THE MOON bat]

Oh, you are definitely right. My hope is that when the liberal Republicans split the northern vote it will give a conservative candidate the opportunity to take the nomination.

[Rome2000]

There has to be a better choice out there.

I'd bet my house that you are wrong.

Never appreciated his grandstanding as the DA who would frog march investement bankers while leaving the mob alone but you can't argue with his police state mentality in subduing the NYC criminal element when he was Mayor.

He will make mincemeat out of the leftist enemy within in DC and this BS about him being a liberal is the ravings of lunatics.

Algore used to be pro-life.

Giuliani will say the right things, his position on abortion will be identical to GHWB and he never supported sex perverts corrupting the institution of marriage.

HE WAS ON THE BUS IN FLORIDA WITH W the Sunday before the POTUS election in 2000.

He is a good soldier.

[Rome2000]

it will give a conservative candidate the opportunity to take the nomination.

And just who would that be that could actually win???

I won't be holding my breath waiting for an answer.

[Rome2000]

new york police state!
New york police state!
New york police state!
New york police state!

New york we hate you!
New york we hate you!
New york we hate you!

Guliani guliani guliani f**k you!
Guliani guliani guliani f**k you!

New york police state!
New york police state!
New york police state!
New york police state!

New york we hate you!
New york we hate you!
New york we hate you!

Guliani guliani guliani f**k you!
Guliani guliani guliani f**k you!

New york we hate you!
New york we hate you!
New york we hate you!

Guliani guliani guliani f**k you die!

[therut]

He will have to change all three positions and promise to not pass any gun laws and no Judges who support any of these positions.

[Iscool]

Rudy would not be my first choice but I would vote for him. My big concern is that some on the right would try to get a third party candidate to run which would insure a Hillary type person as the next president

I'd say that your idea is pretty well guaranteed...I, for one, will be voting 3rd party if Rudy wins the primary...

So the question is, will you still vote for Rudy knowing he has no chance to win???

[therut]

Second Amendment rights should not be a State issue. It is a constitutional right like all the others. It must be Incorporated under the 14th amendment and pronto.

[pollyannaish]

Rule number one: Don't trust Novak.

Rule number two: Cross the 2008 Presidential bridge when we come to the primaries.

Rule number three: Wander off to find a different thread.

[JOE43270]

If you want to trust him go ahead though I don't.

[don-o]

What Ever - already been discussed to death. All this does is get a third party run up and ready to go. I'll go.

[JOE43270]

I hope it is though I'm not going to sit back and relax.

[JOE43270]

You won't get an arguement out of that from me. Hitlery is not be considered by me.