Top Republicans Want Rudy Convention Keynote (RUDY RUDY RUDY!!!)

WINS NEWS ^ | 2/3/04

[areafiftyone]

Former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani as the keynote speaker for the Republican National Convention?

Organizers of the event that begins Aug. 30 in Manhattan say they haven't nailed down those details, but Giuliani's successor, Michael Bloomberg, caused a stir when he suggested the idea on Monday.

In a speech to tourism and convention officials, Bloomberg, who was a Democrat before he ran for mayor as a Republican in 2001, joked that he was not a likely choice to headline the GOP gathering. He slyly suggested that he'd "probably lose that battle" to another New York City mayor.

Giuliani, whose spokeswoman had no immediate comment, is an obvious pick for the main speaking slot. He was credited with guiding the city through its grief after the 2001 terror attacks, leadership that also won him nationwide political praise. He was later named Time magazine's Person of the Year.

After he left City Hall, he formed a consulting group, and has said he would probably seek political office again.

Traditionally, keynote addresses are the most important speeches at a convention except for those of the presidential and vice presidential nominees.

The Republicans had no official keynote speaker at their 2000 convention in Philadelphia, opting instead to give prominent speaking roles to Colin Powell, Arizona Sen. John McCain and Laura Bush. In 1996, New York Rep. Susan Molinari was the keynote speaker at the San Diego convention.

Convention staffers say Giuliani could be a contender this year. He will clearly have a significant role in the convention, as chairman of the New York City Host Committee, which raises money for the event.

Gov. George Pataki, also a Republican, said Monday that Giuliani would make a "terrific" keynote speaker.

Convention CEO Bill Harris said the committee planning the event's program has not been formed yet, nor have organizers decided when in the four-day event the keynote speech would take place.

"Nobody's even considered who the keynote speaker's going to be yet," Harris told reporters after Monday's meeting, where he also spoke. "All those questions are by far premature."

[ZULU]

"Why is it that the base is always a certain select group or few.... The Republican Party is made up of many different factions representing groups from the far right side of the spectrum to the far left side I'd guess."

Look, the Liberals HAVE a party - its called the Democratic Party and they control utterly. The conservatives DESERVE a PArty of their own and that party has been and remains the Republican Party. We have all seen the damage that leftist Republicans like McCain and Jeffords and Olympia Snow and Lincoln Chafee and Chrissie Whitman and Tom Kean and Nelson Rockefeller and Jacob Javits, etc, etc, can do.

Big tent = a crock of bull.

[EternalVigilance]

Thankfully, the rest of the Republicans in the Country still have a political compass.

Yeah, and it doesn't point NE, it points South...

[ZULU]

"Rudy would make a great president."

Yes, compared with Joseph Stalin or Bill Clinton. Fortunately we have OTHER options.

[Paradox]

This is a GREAT idea. At the moment, Rudy might be one of the more credible (to the general public) Republicans. He's got alot of pull I think with the American public.

[Condor51]

With all due respect - WRONG! But since you're from NY I understand your thinking.

However Rudy ain't goin' nowhere on a national ticket. The guy would be poison in 'fly over country', just for the following; shacking up while married, messy - very MESSY divorce and his gun-grabbing stance.

[ZULU]

"I suspect most hard-nosed conservatives would welcome Rudy speaking in his home town."

Not in MY town. I hope I NEVER have to hear his voice.

[areafiftyone]

OOPS UH OH - expect to be blasted soon by that comment. ;-)

[G L Tirebiter]

It's worth noting that if it were not for 9/11, Rudy Giuliani would have been remembered (incorrectly, in my mind) as a mediocre mayor.

He certainly wouldn't have been classed as "mediocre" in my book. As a frequent visitor to NYC over the last 35+ years I view his tenure as one that reversed the awful trends overseen by Lindsey, Beame, Koch,& Dinkins.

Now they have that idiot (my apologies to idiots who feel insulted)Bloomberg.

[Paradox]

To paraphrase another freeper..

"In the future, everyone will be a fascist for 15 minutes."

[areafiftyone]

Well like I said in my post to Alberta. I don't think Rudy will run for president - I think he will stick with either Governor or Senator.

[ZULU]

"He's a tough guy when it comes to people he's not afraid to tell them where to go."

Yeah. That includes people who believe in the Constitution, are opposed to the homosexual agenda, don't think illegal invaders deserve social services, and support REAL Republican candidates.

"The Clinton administration was appalled and let Rudy know it."

Clinton wasn't "appalled" when the New York Mouth accompanied him on his sideshow tour of the U.S. promoting his "crime control" bill.

[bigeasy_70118]

My dream of having Alan Keyes step to the podium to give the RNC keynote address has about as much chance of happening as the Saints winning the Super Bowl in my lifetime.

[EternalVigilance]

This is a GREAT idea. At the moment, Rudy might be one of the more credible (to the general public) Republicans. He's got alot of pull I think with the American public.

Sure, let's put on display for the nation that we don't have the courage of our convictions.

There's real leadership, you bet!

/sarcasm

[areafiftyone]

Oh okay - I guess I get my 15 minutes of fame then for liking Rudy. ;-)

[EternalVigilance]

My dream of having Alan Keyes step to the podium to give the RNC keynote address has about as much chance of happening as the Saints winning the Super Bowl in my lifetime.

Which, of course, is why things will muddle along the way they have.

[Paradox]

Sure, let's put on display for the nation that we don't have the courage of our convictions.

This is silly. People LIKE Rudy. The voters who will decide this election (the middle 20-30%) wont see this as running away from convictions. They like Rudy. I'm sure he'd do fine. The only people who would hate it aren't going to NOT vote for Bush because Rudy spoke, thats ludicrous..

[areafiftyone]

Any suggestions for the keynote speaker?

[1Old Pro]

WAS THERE EVER A DOUBT? Oh, and keep pataki off the stge, he's an awful speaker, awful.

[areafiftyone]

I don't particularly care for Pataki as a speaker either. He annoys me when he talks.

[EternalVigilance]

"Even if things without life, whether flute, or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played?

For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?"

- I Corinthians 13:7-8