Posted on 07/30/2005 5:55:36 AM PDT by Uncledave
With Gipper's game plan, Rudy can win it all
July 30, 2005
BY THOMAS ROESER Advertisement
As I write this I know my fellow social conservatives will get mad: There is no one in either political party who would be a more exciting candidate for president than Rudy Giuliani, former mayor of New York City. I'll tell you his story -- the good and the bad -- and I'll tell you how he can solve his problems with you. And me. Incidentally, as you read, keep in mind the contrast with Mayor Daley.
The good and bad about Rudy is contained in a book, The Prince of the City [Encounter: 2005] by Fred Siegel, a hard-bitten teacher at Cooper Union University. The good: Rudy came into office in 1994 a Republican in a Big Apple that was rotten to the core, steeped with bosses, bagmen and racial arsonists, a hostile "combination of liberal consensus and helplessness [that] made serious policy debate seem irrelevant," and quickly brought in a band of brother prosecutors from the U.S. attorney's office. They gave up millions in private law firm salaries for the fun of working and drinking (after hours) with Rudy. Most never left his side until his two terms ran out in 2001.
Giuliani was an eerily compulsive hands-on manager. If you want to understand him, said an associate, remember that as a Yankee fan he's the guy who keeps score and writes down how each out and each run took place. Just as when he read The Godfather he diagrammed how the mob worked, for relaxation he would sketch on a pad how every department worked. He would explain to the public clearly what he wanted to do: cut the size of government, cut taxes to attract jobs "so people can work," consolidate or cut out city departments, introduce competition to delivery of services and work with the governor [Democrat Mario Cuomo] "to get our fair share of revenue."
He insisted on tough police standards, once jumping out of his limo in Times Square to chase a guy he saw grab a woman's purse. He was heedless of civil libertarians. It seemed like he wanted to offend all interest groups and took the heat, forgetting the polls. Crime in 1995 saw 163,428 fewer felonies, with murder dropping 16 percent in 1996. He trumpeted that work is the best social welfare policy, pushing welfare reform, announcing that 23 percent of the welfare recipients in Jersey City were also receiving New York City benefits. He balanced his budget, fought with Al Sharpton against what he called "racial racketeering," and grinned as he took heat from minority communities.
The bad? Giuliani was ego-driven. He got jealous of his police commissioner, who was getting more favorable press than he, fired him and hired another (who was just as tough). Giuliani's personal life fell into tatters: his first marriage annulled, his second wife was a TV anchor who drove him nuts. He spatted with her, kept public company with a divorcee, came down with prostate cancer, married again. His political career was pronounced over. Then came 9/11.
That tragedy redeemed him. When the first plane hit the north tower, Guiliani ran from the Pinnacle Hotel where he was at a breakfast, shouting over his cell phone that command headquarters should move from 7 World Trade Center to Barclay Street a block away. Good thinking: Just as they evacuated, the plane hit the south tower. The debris was so heavy his command center was inundated. With his cell phone deadened, Giuliani's staff thought he was dead as well, but a janitor found him dazed and led him out through a little-known passage in the basement.
Television captured the man at that moment, stumbling down the street in the smoke, his handkerchief to his mouth, directing his city through uncharted territory, ordering all bridges and tunnels shut down. Courage is the most important virtue, said Churchill: It guarantees all others. As Bush retires, he should be supplanted by a man of this valor.
Social conservatives will oppose Giuliani for his pro-abortion views. It's up to Giuliani to help himself with them, and here's how. As governor of California, Ronald Reagan signed the most permissive abortion law in the country. Rudy, can you hear me? If you want this thing -- this presidency -- you gotta change and mean it. Your marriages we can do nothing about. But your social views have to change. They'll say you're an opportunist, but you have heard that before. You can change. And mean it. We're waiting.
Objectivism is a good start. While I am not an Objectivist there are alot of good starting points for a rational moral philosophy that mirrors the Weastern Christian moral standards in modern philosophy. Conservative have to reframe this debate or lose it.
I was asked how the two are the same and I gave an answer which combines fact and historic legal perception. I think maybe you need to lay off the personal insults.
"What victim card? I said you need to act like a grown man, if you are a man, and rewrite your post without personal insult. Otherwise I am not going to respond to what looks like a tantrum."
Youre a DUmmie troll, no doubt about it. No surprise since you're intellectually inferior and cannot refute the points.
You can dole out insults but cant take them, you insulted people here by saying they were the Taliban...when someone takes you to task you cry uncle.
Man up and look beyond the few insults:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1453719/posts?page=143#143
If advice like yours is good, then we are COMPLETELY screwed.
"I was asked how the two are the same and I gave an answer which combines fact and historic legal perception. "
You have done nothing of the sort, DUmmie. Only a DUmmie would try and equate christians with the taliban......
I'm actually glad you made the statement, I hope the Admin will ban you. Trolls don't belong on FR, and you have just exposed yourself.
What personal insult did I fire at you before you began your anti-sentis campaign? Of course you can't be enough of a gentleman to reword your offensive post which is much more a sign of intellectual inferiority than my refusal to answer a post with a litany of personal insults.
Since the Evolution folks are allowed to stay on free republic I doubt I am going to be banned for saying that religious litmus tests are akin to an American Taliban. But wish all you like because if wishes were horses....
"What personal insult did I fire at you before you began your anti-sentis campaign? Of course you can't be enough of a gentleman to reword your offensive post which is much more a sign of intellectual inferiority than my refusal to answer a post with a litany of personal insults."'
LOL anti-sentis campaign!!! Can't take the flames can you? Just wait.....you'll recieve many more not only from me.
I'm already wasting enough time responding to your trollish posts, I dont need to re word anything.
Like I said, if you're man enough to dole out insults at the religious by equating them with the taliban and other moronic comments.....you're man enough to take the ones in the post below.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1453719/posts?page=143#143
Wow you keep posting the link to that post you do realize that that post makes you look bad don't you?
Please everyone that would like to see the level of this debate go to that post that is linked so you can see why i refuse to answer a post that calls me an ape, a bigot, and several other names.
"Since the Evolution folks are allowed to stay on free republic I doubt I am going to be banned for saying that religious litmus tests are akin to an American Taliban. But wish all you like because if wishes were horses...."
You're lying. You equated the christians with the taliban:
"Republicans are on the verge of absolute control of this country but the Religious right could ruin it all by acting like the American Taliban at this juncture."
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1453719/posts?page=122#122
Just to solidify the point, here you actually admit what you think the "American Taliban" as you call them would do:
"Oh there wont be burkas but there will be Blue Laws, forced religious instruction, a limitation of the first amendment, Religion as state law. Those all happened here in the past and those are the things we are fighting against in the Islamic nations."
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1453719/posts?page=122#122
"Wow you keep posting the link to that post you do realize that that post makes you look bad don't you?"
No, it makes you look stupid because you can't respond to it...you're whining a few insults, all the while saying christians are the taliban.
I'll keep posting it:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1453719/posts?page=143#143
BTW, if it were that bad then why did this individual post:
To: Stellar Dendrite
Excellent post! If they don't get that then they are lost.
148 posted on 07/30/2005 12:10:17 PM CDT by Dscott_FR
Of course I said all that how am I lying? I am not sure you understand the definition of a lie. As you can see I said that if the religious right acts in such and such a manner they will be acting like an American Taliban. That is a simple statement. If Republicans must pass a religious litmus test then we are no different than the Muslims we are fighting. Now calling me a liar for standing up for what i said is sort of silly.
What about Mitt Romney?
Well, I never underestimate the fact people like to see insulting attacks sort of like watching a car wreck. Of course you have little to add to the debate beyond the ability to insult especially at the point you refuse to clarify your point without the insults.
"Of course I said all that how am I lying? I am not sure you understand the definition of a lie. As you can see I said that if the religious right acts in such and such a manner they will be acting like an American Taliban. That is a simple statement. If Republicans must pass a religious litmus test then we are no different than the Muslims we are fighting."
Let me post it again. Your trolling ways are so evident now, Im happy that I and a few others here have exposed you. ZOT sentis!!!
Please read your words below again, unless of course that is too difficult for you? Since I know it is so difficult, please pay special attention to the part where you suggest "Oh there wont be burkas but there will be Blue Laws, forced religious instruction, a limitation of the first amendment,"
You're lying. You equated the christians with the taliban:
"Republicans are on the verge of absolute control of this country but the Religious right could ruin it all by acting like the American Taliban at this juncture."
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1453719/posts?page=122#122
Just to solidify the point, here you actually admit what you think the "American Taliban" as you call them would do:
"Oh there wont be burkas but there will be Blue Laws, forced religious instruction, a limitation of the first amendment, Religion as state law. Those all happened here in the past and those are the things we are fighting against in the Islamic nations."
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1453719/posts?page=122#122
Only where you live. And you surrendered to the opposition a long time ago. You're not even a factor on the conservative side anymore. All you can do is tacitly support the toxic liberal side of moral relativism.
At one time the debate was framed in terms of natural law. It fit the conservative American psyche quite well. But it has been stifled by left wing political correctness and libertarian self-obsession.
"Of course you have little to add to the debate beyond the ability to insult especially at the point you refuse to clarify your point without the insults."
Your reading comprehension must be that of a six year old. I just explained why I wont rewrite my post. Please, stop making yourself look foolish and refute the facts in my post:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1453719/posts?page=143#143
Quite the opposite of forced religious instruction. We believe in separation of school and state. With all schools private--imagine!: no more debates about prayer in school, creation/evolution, sex ed, phonics/look-see, etc. etc. Parents, students, teachers and administrators will work things out on a local level, school by school, class by class. And what is best will win the competition in the end. That's as far from forced religion as you can get.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.