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.
Yeah? Show me your credentials, and I'll show you mine.
You would drop a coalition in a heart beat if it wasn't lilly white and full of Christians who tow your pro-life, anti-gay, political agenda.
Where to start? How about with your unveiled charge of racism....
I'm one of the original drafters and signers of the Twenty-First Century Mayflower Compact...an effort of top black conservatives in America to lay out an agenda designed to make deep and permanent and meaningful inroads into the Dem deathgrip on the votes and allegiance of that community.
One and two issue voters sicken me.
Purveyors of the lie that Christian conservatives are 'one-issue voters' sicken me. No one has a more comprehensive agenda than Christian conservatives, in fact.
I hate we have to even try to explain politics to people like this.
Your arrogance is only exceeded by your ignorance.
You're not my brother.
All this hate gets you no where.
How Carvillian of you.
Aren't you the unemployed guy from the earlier posts? Yeah that is some credential.
How many times have you and your side called me a racist or bigot on this forum before I even said a thing to you? Would you like me to count it up?
As to Christian voters being one and two issue voters. That an easy charge to prove why not count how many people on this thread alone said they will not vote for Guliani even if it means letting Hillary get elected. That pretty much sums up what kind of voter I am railing against.
Well better ignorant than a fool.
Dear Betty...and everyone, really.
There are a few questions that need to be asked and discussed, not only in this thread, but in many posted on FR.
First, what is meant by "Christian" and "Christian Conservative?" Does it apply to one who belongs to a Protestant Christian denomination? Or to a Roman Catholic or a Fundamentalist, or to some combination of these? Is it necessary to be a Christian to be a "True Conservative?"
Second, why do the Red States so fear the Blue States? Are they afraid that they will take away our religion and our guns? Will they turn our kids into homos? Force our daughters to have abortions?
Third, what is a RINO? Are they socialists? Anti-American? Are they really hell bent on forcing a godless ideology on the Red States? Could I ever vote for anyone from the *ick* Northeast?
This country's history has been laced with regional differences and misunderstandings (to put it mildly). A thread titled "With Gipper's game plan, Rudy can win it all" has certainly shown that that is still true. If this kind of animosity continues to fester, it will divide conservatism and the Republican party. This, my friends, is most unfortunate, because the most important election in our history is only three years away, and the Hillary express is rolling.
Typical of you. Repeat a lie of a clown as fact.
I really would suspect you were Carville, except he's smarter than you.
Unfortunatly there are those here that have said quite forcefully they would rather Hillary win than Rudy. That pretty much sums up the loyalty of some to party cohesiveness.
I personally am willing to vote for a conservative Christian, a liberal Republican, or even a frog that says its Republican over that witch Hitlery.
You never said you weren't unemployed or defended yourself on that count in anyway and as forcefully as you attacked everything else that poster said that point must be true.
B.S.
Since you're not intelligent enough to be Carville, perhaps you're Howard Dean.
The 'lilly-white' comment you made smells vaguely familiar...
It looks like I finally cut to the bone I thought you were going to have to die the death of a thousand cuts.
In any case
Let me ask you a question Will you withold your vote if Guliani is nominated by the Republican party?
It is better to be ignorant than a fool.
But the worst thing is to be an ignorant fool.
Your comments on this thread help no one except liberals in both parties.
Readers can draw their own conclusions about your motives.
You've done nothing but kindle my usual distaste for bigots.
If it is him or McCain I vote Rudy. McLame has a losers mentality when it comes to war and will embarass the US somehow in the terror war.
No. I'll give it to a candidate who deserves it. So will millions of others that formerly were reliable GOP voters.
But it won't happen.
Guilliani will never survive the Republican nominating electorate.
If he has aspirations for high office, he would be well-advised to fire up his Senate race against Hillary. He will never sit in the Oval Office.
Ahh you insulted me over and over, can't you take just a little ribbing I havent even directly insulted you yet and it hurts you this badly. You need to learn to lighten up.
You also need to answer the question, will you withhold your vote from the Republicans if Guliani is nominated?
More B.S.
Wonderful, you actual answered the question if Guliani is nominated by the Republicans you will vote for someone else outside the party. In fact you should really be ashamed for all the screaming about me being a bad for the party it's actual you who will jump ship and vote for another party if you don't get you petty way.
Unlike you, whose principles are fungible, I don't vote for statist liberals, no matter what letter is in front of their names.
So answer another question. You will willing help Hillary Clinton become President by withholding your vote from a republican candidate if that candidate is Rudy Guliani?
By the way my priciples are not yours. You see I can live with a conservative Christian as President just as easily as Guliani as President. The difference between you and I is that I am much more open to differences than you and believe in the big tent Republican party.
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.