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
Years ago I was on the Fulton Mall -- back in the days when it was dangerous -- and there was Marty outside of the Modells, surrounded by gangsta type rapper types learning how to dance. They had a little Nissan with more speakers than engine and these tough guys were showing Marty the moves. Now I'd normally write it off to just another pol catering to the voters, but the guy was really trying to dance. Half an hour later, I walked by and they were still trying to teach him.
ROfLMAO! That's priceless!
Yeah, it looked hopeless. And he was getting sweaty. A sweaty Marty is not a pretty picture.
I bet you the Rappers were having a field day with the white guy with no rythmn. They probably thought he had guts though!
If you think an amoral America can survive, you are wrong. That is a decidedly secular point of view and it is at odds with the views of the men who founded this country. They did not believe America could survive without the blessing of God. The question is: How long will God strive with a nation that murders its young, outlaws His name in public, and subverts His institutions? I dare say, not much longer.
It's simple. I do not believe God will protect a country that dishonors and rebels against his immutable moral laws. And make no mistake, Bush and the government cannot protect you - 911 proved that. We have been told by our own government officials that it is not a question of "if" but "when" terrorists attack us with nuclear weapons (ponder that if you will in context with the open border and political correctness).
Only God can protect us. But, instead of turning to God, America has been busy erasing Him from the public square and rebelling against his moral laws, and you want to continue to set Him aside in order to win a war that cannot be won without God's favor.
If Giuliani is hanging around with the tutsones(sp?), thats understandable. Was Tony around? As long as he didn't hang around the 'Bing, Rudi's good.
I hope you are wrong but fear you are right. What this shows is the PROGRESSIVE nature of moral decay and decadence and licentiousness. America is in a moral freefall. Everyone must ask themselves, "Where does it end?"
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: A famous man once said, "Licentiousness destroys order, and when chaos ensues, the yearning for order will destroy liberty."
You're not a Conservative by any stretch of the imagination.
Abortion........Homosexual Agenda.........Anti-Gun. That's THREE issues you liberal gun-grabbing blue zone %$#%$#@$#!. So save that "Single Issue" LIE for your NYC Faggot buddies.
because of poor enforcement of existing laws. then let's enforce the existing laws.
Read his OWN words.
In a perfect world, of course we would all like someone conservative and unapologetically so. There seems to be no such person who can win on the horizon.
Therefore, we have to settle for someone. I am horrified at GWB on most domestic issues. If anything I prefer the late 90's style of governance where there were actually battles about spending. Now we have a bunch of pigs feeding at the slaughter on the taxpayer dollar.
I live on the border of NYC literally. The neighborhoods are much safer and it is noticable. What good is having a moral leader who can't stop crime and lawlessness?
I live on the border of NYC literally. The neighborhoods are much safer and it is noticable. What good is having a moral leader who can't stop crime and lawlessness?
Bloomberg has done a good job. Ferrer would be a disaster of Dinkins proportions if elected.
I agree with everything you said, but that has nothing to do with a pro gay or anti gay policy. Do you think that Rudy is pro gay, and if so, what does that have to do with what you wrote?
Precisely. All these paeans to his "competence" ignore the mean, self-righteous, vindictive streak in this man. This is a man who resents being disagreed with and hears only what he wants to hear. And there are doubtless lots of Bernie Keriks in his inner circle.
Giuliani authorized cops to confiscate the cars of drivers on the spot whom they suspected of drunk driving. We have a little something in this country about nobody being deprived of liberty or property without due process of law. Apparently he missed that in law school. Do you want this guy with the powers of the Patriot Act ?
If the contest is between HRC and RG I have no doubt that Rudi is much preferred. At this time I await another Republican who can beat her. Until I hear of one we will have to see what happens.
Here's DURASELL'S THEORY OF EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NYC:
A)NYC is about two things -- making money and work. That's it. Period. People come here to compete for the money and the jobs. What they do on their own time is nobody's concern. A bit of history -- when the Brits sailed into the harbor, Peter Stuy was ready to fight them tooth and nail to keep the city Dutch. The Brits, very sensibly said, "Be British and we avoid noise and fuss of a war, and everyone does business as usual." After that Peter could get two dogs on his side.
B)NYC is a large, highly complicated machine that no one politician can control. Bloomberg, Rudy, etc. etc. are just pieces of that machine, no different than the guys at Hunts Point (food) or the MTA(transportation). All they can do is keep the cops, firemen, teachers, garbage guys working etc. They can fine tune it, as appropriate, but that's about it. Nobody is in control. It's too complex.
C)Crime rises and falls with the economy and the impact of outside influences, i.e. crack, gangs, etc. etc.
D)NYC is amoral -- not immoral, but amoral. This makes it a test of character. We probably have more churches and other places of worship than any other city our size along with more places to indulge whatever vice a fevered imagination can summon up. Often this produces surprising results as well. Little known fact is that Warhol, king of the hipsters, used to attend mass regularly, four or five times a week at a tiny church on the upper east side. Conversely, not a week goes by when some seemingly religious guy can't be seen over on the west side cruising tranvestites.
E) It only seems safer. You can still get into serious trouble very, very quickly and for no other reason than being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
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