Posted on 09/27/2005 6:37:12 AM PDT by areafiftyone
This is the story of how Hurricane Katrina made this conservative Republican fall in love with Rudy Giuliani all over again. I first developed a fond affection for the mayor when he did what many believed could not be done and cleaned up New York City. In 1999, I cheered him when he stood up for common decency and the taxpayers of New York by rejecting city funding for elephant dung art. My admiration turned to love when Mayor Giuliani reassured the nation, and the world, with his incredible response to the attacks of September 11.
An admirer of Giuliani and a believer that he had a good shot at the presidency long before Hurricane Katrina, I now find myself becoming a full-fledged fan of the prospect. I will likely get some grief from some of my fellow pro-life, social conservatives, but I hope they will consider not only what an attractive candidate Rudy would be in the post-Katrina political climate, but also to consider the attributes Giuliani would bring to the presidency.
On September 11, we saw what a leader looks like during a crisis and it looked like Rudolph Giuliani. In contrast, the recent example of New Orleans’ Mayor Nagin taking to the airwaves cursing the federal government and calling for the cavalry, not only did not look like leadership, but made Giuliani's performance on 9/11 look positively, well, presidential by comparison.
Many of the lessons learned from Katrina highlight Giuliani’s strengths. Considering that he received some of his harshest criticism as mayor for his tough law and order positions, it is impossible to imagine Giuliani giving looters a pass (and, I would argue, encouragement) as Mayor Nagin did in the early days of flooding in New Orleans.
Thanks to the blame-Bush media, it seems the public now believes that the first and ultimate responder to any kind of disaster, whether natural or man-made, should be the federal government, or more specifically, the President. Giuliani is the only potential 2008 candidate that has shown himself capable of handling a challenge of such historic proportions. Because issues of national security and war and peace in the Middle East will outlive the Bush presidency, the nation will be looking for a leader able to perform in a crisis.
Even more than his proven ability to perform under pressure, however, one thing that Giuliani may be able to do, that some other Republicans might not, is unite the country. If Bush, as amiable as he is, and with a reputation as a uniter as governor of Texas, could be painted as an extremist divider, it is reasonable to believe the same will be attempted with the next Republican candidate. Giuliani achieved giant stature in my eyes, and those of most other Americans, with his actions following 9/11. Because he is already known as a uniter and a strong leader, he will be resistant to attempts to portray him otherwise. He can also claim to have received a large number of votes from Democrats in past elections. Not many, if any, of the other potential Republican presidential candidates can say that.
Ironically, Giuliani's positions on abortion and gay rights, while making it more difficult for him to win the Republican primary, make it almost impossible for opponents to paint him as an extremist. Abortion will always be an important issue to Republican primary voters, but with Bush appointments of two (or possibly three) conservative Supreme Court justices, the issue is not as likely to be the deal breaker that it has been in some past elections. Choosing a pro-life running mate might be enough to win over enough pro-life Republican primary voters to capture the nomination. He would definitely have to answer some tough questions about social policy (and he better not have any Bernie Kerik problems), but if he plays things smart, he can win the Republican nomination.
Electability though, while obviously necessary, does not a good president make. Giuliani's effectiveness as mayor of New York and his excellent communication skills convince me that he could be a very successful president. From his words and actions following 9/11, and more recently from his speech at the 2004 Republican National Convention, I know he can inspire. Because of Giuliani's staunch, and often eloquent, defense of President Bush’s policy in Iraq, and because of his personal experience on 9/11, I have no doubt that he would continue to vigorously prosecute the War on Terror and would be a strong defender of Israel and a promoter of democracy in the Middle East.
It is still early. I’m not saying Rudy Giuliani will be my choice in the spring of 2008. I’m just saying that in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and with the mission in Iraq and the Middle East still far from over, “the world’s mayor” is looking pretty good right now.
Lorie Byrd lives in North Carolina where she worked as a litigation paralegal before becoming a stay-at-home to her two daughters six years ago. She has written on political matters at the group blog, Polipundit, since April 2004. She also writes at her own weblog, Byrd Droppings, and is currently a contributor at ConfirmThem.com and MediaSlander.com
Prince of the City wasn't a bad book, but it didn't tell the complete story. 'nuff said.
One of the things you don't know is that Rudy routinely hired good good people, then fired them, grabbing the credit. This is particularly true for the NYPD.
Lastly, Rudy is still a NY prosecutor at heart and far from ready for primetime.
Ahh, Turkey...where there have been 3 military coups in order to keep the muslims out of power...that is not democracy and that is not freedom. In addition, freedom is only guaranteed by inalienable God-given rights (see U.S. constitution), of which there are NONE in Turkey. As long as the people have a muslim worldview, democracy will only serve to advance islamic causes and beliefs and law. We see in Iraq that the Constitution isn't working - that place will erupt in civil war as soon as we leave. That prediction was just made by an Iraqi leader.
In regards to same sex marriage (not gay marriage - gay people are allowed to get married and consistently have been), I must not have been clear. Opposing same sex marriage is NOT being mean to gay people. That's my point. And President Bush and a President Rudy have almost no say on that topic, policywise. Even liberal Clinton signed the DOMA, I don't think Rudy wouldn't. There is broad consensus against same sex marriage.
Ahh yes - "civil unions" - that is just a euphemism for gay marriage, and is no better since it also underrmines thte institution of marriage - an institution of GOD, not man. Bush has come out in favor of these "civil unions" - that is NOT a conservative position by any means. In my book, it is not much different that favoring gay marriage. And I did not even address the issue of how Bush and the Congress sit back and do nothing while the Supreme Court usurps new powers not delineated in the U.S. Constitution.
Being mean to gay people is not a good path and not conservative. That's all I'm saying. The fact that Rudy is friendly with some homosexual people isn't damning to me, I hope it wouldn't be damning to anyone else.
Of course, being mean to anyone is wrong. I don't care if Rudy is friendly with gay people.
Elections are won in the middle not at either extreme.
As much as people on this board refuse to believe it, Bush is alienating the middle and dragging down Republicans with him.
Giuliani or McCain, who can appeal to the middle, are among the very few Republicans who can win the next election.
Rudy can't win on a Republican ticket. Just the NYC thing would alienate a ton of voters. Though it would be entertaining.
Is there a rule against certain political speech here? I didn't see it. Is that to say that free speech isn't allowed here - that any time the "moderators" disagree with the content of a poster, they shut him up? Say it ain't so Joe!
Hit what you aim at.
No but DocH thinks we should not post anything on Rudy/RHINOS here.
How he dealt with hiring and firing and motivations will all be gone over with a fine-toothed comb.
How he got control of the self-serving civil service unions that were destroying N.Y.C. will also be made known.
Don't get me wrong - I lived in NYC from birth (1968) to 2001 and Rudy did an excellent job! I agree with you!
Mr.SmartCitizen,
You read one paragraph and call me a liberal - my first thought was "what a jerk this guy is" but then realized that by promoting Guiliani I could see where you might get that idea. My first choice would be a John Ashcroft type, but I don't think he's running. What I do believe is that we're living in the last days before the return of Christ and according to the Bible, things have to get worse, alot worse and as much as my ideals would love to see someone more conservative than Bush or even Reagan, I don't realistically believe it is going to happen because world events are NOT moving that direction, but towards an eternal one. One thing is for sure, we're going to need a strong leader, one who'll be there during crisis and America is going to have continued crisis!
So you both are saying CC is allowed in NY? Then what is the story about Guilianni being anti gun? That isn't true?
I didn't say Turkey was perfect. We have a 7th century mideast mentality and want to bring them to an 18th century republic, it's not going to be easy. That's not to say it's impossible.
I'm not for same sex marriage nor civil unions, personally. That being said, civil unions would not be available only to homosexuals but to all. I think it's a bad idea, but i don't see a serious national movement towards that.
In any case, I don't see what Rudy would do to make it closer to reality.
In any case, what makes Rudy pro gay in a way that will seriously impact national policy, and in a way that you find distasteful enough to trump national security concerns?
What "plays" in NYC doesn't play in other parts of the country. For instance, Rudy's dad did hard time for armed robbery back in the day. He's also twice divorced, the first time from a second cousin (which is legal, though a little icky).
My favorite, however, is that he lived with a gay couple while in the midst of his second divorce. There was a game among the local media called "Where's Rudy?" One TV station found him leaving the apartment in the morning and ran the tape with the Odd Couple theme song, which cracked me up.
This is just a sample of the stuff that has been highly publicized in NYC. Here it gets yawns, but in many Red States people might find it offensive.
Lastly, my favorite Rudy gimmick was that he regularly ate dinner at "mobbed up" joints just to rattle their cages.
LOL I didn't know that.
I saw him do it several times in Little Italy and on Court Street. Cracked me up. And he wouldn't eat and run, either. He'd hang out for three or four hours.
I've noted a rise in trolls on Guilianni article postings. Maybe he isn't in anyone's pocket after all. hmmm.
LOL too funny! Tough guy!
Well, can you picture him flying into North Korea and popping into a restaurant, "Relax, I just heard you boys make a helluva kimchi, and I thought I'd check it out."
McCain will not be able to win.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1409261/posts?page=13#13
LOL I admit I post them but I do it in good fun to get a good debate going. Keeps us on our toes. I know the people who don't want Rudy to run will be on and the ones who want him to run will be there too. Jeeze I've been called all sorts of names on these posts, I don't expect anyone to get angry over Rudy but they do.
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