The Candidate (Rudy Giuliani in NH)

The American Spectator ^ | 1/29/2007 | Philip Klein

[Dark Skies]

Many skeptics continue to question whether Rudy Giuliani is serious about making a run for the White House, but it was abundantly clear on Saturday that he had come to Manchester for more than the sub-freezing temperatures.

Addressing over 500 activists at the New Hampshire Republican Party's annual meeting as part of a two-day swing through the state, Giuliani sketched the broad outlines of what looks like a presidential run. Sounding at times like a motivational speaker, Giuliani cautioned against cynicism and pessimism in the wake of November's election results and challenges in the ongoing War on Terror. The message especially resonated with the audience in this critical primary state, where the Republican Party just lost control of both chambers of the legislature for the first time since the 1870s.

"The best way we remain safe and we retain our freedom...is remaining on offense, remaining strong and not becoming weak in a time of pressure," Giuliani said in a line that drew the biggest applause from the crowd at the Palace Theater.

[My2Cents]

Chambers was a friend of Buckley's, so maybe Buckley got it from him.

[AmeriBrit]

Thankyou for the ping areafiftyone.

I guess we're being told to use the duct tape everyone was told to go out and purchase and not to support the only one who can win this war for us other than President Bush.

IMO, winning the war is the most important thing because if we lose it, WE LOSE EVERYTHING! Of all the candidates running, Rudy IMO is the only one who will lead us to victory.

The Hunter promoters are pushing a candidate who has coasted for 25-26 years in the shadows. When voters in his own state don't even know who he is doesn't give him credibility as a leader in my book.

[PhiKapMom]

We are finding that out daily on here! Kind of brings to mind the word hypocricy doesn't it?

Have to leave this fine discussion until later tonight. I am chairing a meeting of our County GOP Executive Committee Meeting tonight to plan the County Convention and haven't done one thing to ready for it -- been too involved on here.

[My2Cents]

THAT, in my view, is the "Big Picture." Many on FR don't see it.

[areafiftyone]

You are quite welcome.

[dirtboy]

the Independents and Moderates left the Republican Party and voted Democrat this time around.

Yep, the Reagan Democrats left the GOP because the GOP left behind Reagan's legacy.

[Fierce Allegiance]

I have no problem with him getting the award, and at the time, it sure seemed approprriate, didn't it? It does nothing to support his run for President, which is the only reason I can think of you posting it here, and not mentioning how King hussein I of Jordan also got the same award.

[Mo1]

I realize that .. but there is also a message being sent

[My2Cents]

I've seen this pattern....If enough people raise a juvenile stink, the Overloads on FR will decide either to kick people out or ban certain threads. It's too bad, and at this point, I don't know which way FR will go.

[dirtboy]

The Hunter promoters are pushing a candidate who has coasted for 25-26 years in the shadows.

He was head of the Armed Services Committee, but coasted in the shadows?

Any more complete nonsense you wish to add to this discussion?

At least the Rudy boosters are consistent. Consistently two-faced.

[dirtboy]

I won't waste my time trying to refute every little petulent comment made by people who are hopelessly unable to see the big picture.

Nothing like the arrogance of know it alls who learned the exact wrong lesson from the last election and are hell-bent on compounding it.

[My2Cents]

PKMom, your pragmatic, practical activities will have more impact on the eventual outcome of the 2008 election than all the ranting and raving on FreeRepublic.

[JimFreedom]

On the intensity in which some issues are fought i.e. there ranking in importance to the Republican Party I would say you likely have a valid point, but I don't think going 3rd party or staying home has ever accomplished anything except give us democrats so I will stay and fight within the two party system, and support the most conservative candidates that can get the most done and be electable, does that make me such an ogre.

[JimFreedom]

ADVIL is your friend!

[Tarheel]

Social issues are not going to take center stage in this election -- the hand was overplayed and will not be the big issue....

You are so correct in this assessment. For those who have forgotten the simplest of things--when 9-11 happened our world changed, forever. Thousands died and our weak underbelly was exposed.

We can spend years agonizing over Roe v. Wade, but all that agonizing will be for naught if the country is not secure. As a country we no longer have the luxury of spending months debating topics that are not in the common interst of safety. We can and must live our personal values in our everyday lives but as a country our concerns must be more pragmatic and for the common good of all--the protection of our borders, the Constitution and the safety of OUR CITIZENS.

Our memories are short, many of us (inside and outside of Washington) have forgotten 9-11, the pain, the misery, the death. We have forgotten that innocent people, just doing their jobs, met with a horrific fate on that sunny September morning. If nothing else, in their memories, we should be working doubly hard that such an event never happens again. Alas, I am fearful that this will not occur because there are mostly special interests and 'one trick' ponies running the show.

[dirtboy]

PKMom, your pragmatic, practical activities will have more impact on the eventual outcome of the 2008 election

And that is exactly what is scaring the crap out of conservatives. That Guiliani will win the nomination and split the party in the process. You don't run from the far left of the right-wing party and expect it to hold for a national election - especially when supporters are dissing bread-and-butter issues as irrelevant this time around.

[dirtboy]

For those who have forgotten the simplest of things--when 9-11 happened our world changed, forever. Thousands died and our weak underbelly was exposed.

And how many MILLIONS have been aborted since then?

[carton253]

For the past few weeks, I have been watching freepers tear each other apart over a nomination still 18 months away. When a thread is posted for a particular candidate, it is only a matter of time until it swamped by factionalism and personal insult. We are turning on each other with a viciousness that has permeated the forum since the elections.

I have thought about what seems to be the change in Free Republic from the nice but, at times, very passionate place to discuss politics, to the hostile place it seems to be today.

There are many answers, but I think it comes down to how each freeper sees the future of the country. We are in agreement that the country is in a crisis and I think most of us agree that things have got to change or the country may be lost.

Where we differ is on how to fix it.

In one corner, we have the people who will vote Republican even in the nominee is Rudy - a liberal Republican at best. Why? Because we fear Hilliary in the White House or Obama or the Breck Girl...

In the other corner we have people who will not vote for the liberal RINO no matter what because a RINO is not the solution but a perpetuation of the problem.

For those in the corner who will vote for the RINO it is the fear that we do not have 8 years to wait and would rather have the "devil we know than the devil we don't."

For those in the corner who will stay home or vote third party, it is the fear that the conservatism is the answer and it should not be compromised for political expediency.

I think the rather heated debate underscores the importance of the election.

It seems that no politician running for president has managed to rally both sides. The front-runners are disparaged because they are RINOS, and the conservatives (who are lagging in the polls) are disparaged for low poll numbers.

For those in the corner who will vote for Rudy, I respect your opinion and your principles.

For those in the corner who will not vote for anyone but the conservative, I respect your opinion and your principles.

But we should be able to espouse our ideals and thoughts without it getting personal. We should be able to debate the differences with out it getting ugly. We are all conservatives and all want what is best. Why can't that conversation go on in a spirit of respectable debate?

Maybe it can't. Maybe what is at stake has sucked the civility from us.

Here is where I stand. I am going to vote for Duncan Hunter. I have been told over and over again that he cannot win for so many countless reasons. I hope he can overcome that. If he cannot not and Rudy wins the nomination, I will vote for him. I do not think we have 8 years to waste or to wait. I think the war on terror is too important to allow Hilliary or Obama or one the other Dems from occupying the White House.

I am not asking to agree with me, but you should at least respect that I have thought long and hard about it and care for the future of the country as much as you do. We just see it differently.

[JimFreedom]

This has slowly sunk into my thick skull over the last five days of combat. The threads about RUDY aren't really about Rudy anymore there about ideological purity. I am done arguing as well. It is going to sort it self out sooner rather then later, then you can call this place either FREE REPUBLIC or CONSERVATIVE UNDERGROUND!

[Peach]

I can only think you're still questioning why I posted this because:

a) it really bugs you that the people who knew Reagan best and are in charge of his legacy determined that Reagan liked Rudy Giuliani and respected him enough to give him the Ronald Reagan Freedom Award; or

b) you just like to talk and can't stand it if you don't have the last word.