Giuliani Looking Good Right About Now

Town Hall ^ | 9/27/05 | Lorie Byrd

[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

[zbigreddogz]

This is an assinine position. Backing a non-pro-lifer doesn't make you not a pro-lifer. It merely acnowledges that there are other issues as well, and that ultimately, even a pro-choice R will most likely be more friendly to anti-Roe justices and some fringe life issues (such as Partial Birth Abortion) then other candidates.

I don't see myself as backing Rudy for President, at least not now, but if for some reason I did decide to, it doesn't make me any less pro-life. And if you think it does, I think you should stick your holier-then-thou attitude where the sun don't shine.

[HitmanLV]

I'll sign on to that! Excellent!

[pollyannaish]

I think that people are just realizing what a good job he did as mayor. He made it look easy and he raised the bar. So he is getting some long overdue appreciation.

I won't support him for President in the primaries. The only reason I would reconsider is if he is the only realistic choice against a Hillaryish candidate. Then I am going to have some serious soul searching to do.

But I'm not worried. He won't get that far. VP potential, but not the top job.

[durasell]

...a lot of people need to feel as if "someone's in charge." I believe that's why NYC makes them uncomfortable...

[zbigreddogz]

I don't think The Arkansas Grifters will get the Dem nomination, but if they do, Rudy, or anyone else with an "R" after their name will have my vote.

AMEN.

[durasell]

Then there was the time during the fiscal crisis in the 70s when Rohatyn and that bunch were running the city out of Elaine's, cutting deals with unions, etc. at 2 a.m.

[HitmanLV]

Rudy's tenure as mayor was controversial, and his enemies were on his back from the get-go and never let up. At any given time it seemed roughly 1/2 the city hated him and 1/2 the city loved him.

He was called every name in the book, with people characterizing him as a 'Hitler' or 'fascist' routinely, mostly because he had the daring and vision to actually tell the NYPD to enforce the laws in the books.

Conventional wisdom among the brainy types is that a city like nyc was 'ungovernable.' Those are the types that actually took a strange kind of offense for busting people for stuff like graffiti and arresting hookers on 43rd between Broadway & 8th Ave - interestingly where the NY Times is, by the way.

He set a mandate to enforce the laws. It worked very well in a relatively short time. His critics never let up, though.

When it came time for the 1997 election, even his harshest critics had to admit he did a good job. He was light years better than Dave Dinkins, who I always thought meant well but was in way over his head. The NYC Dems threw up Ruth Messinger, who is actually almost a parody of what a ny democratic woman politician would be like.

Al Sharpton actually looked like he forced a runoff in the dem primary, keeping Messenger from the 40% she needed to avoid a runoff. Wouldn't you know, after announcing a runoff, the dem machine in the Board of Elections seemed to find just enough votes to avoid a runoff (one that Sharpton might actually have won).

Even though Rudy was controversial, he beat Messinger easily.

In between 1998 and 2000 he had some rough times: prostate cancer, some gaffes, telling his wife he was leaving her during a press conference - which were usually very combative. He didn't challenge Hillary which basically conceded the seat to her. Though he did a great job in NYC, as 2001 rolled around he was tired and nyc was tired of him.

I always liked him, though.

His composure and decisiveness during 911 actually saved his long-term reputation, interestingly, and made it a national reputation to boot.

Had 911 not happened, the best he could probably have hoped for was NY AG, NY Governor if he was lucky, or maybe a US AG for a GOP President.

Rudy is a good guy and a natural choice for the next phases on the War on Islamic Terrorism. I have a feeling it's going to get harder, not easier in the next decade. Though I don't agree with him 100%, the truth is I don't agree with anybody 100%, so I won't hold that against him.

As I said in an earlier post, part of the GOP message to the dems these last years is to put some of their social concerns on the backburner in this difficult time, when national security is paramount. Now it's time for our side to put some of our social concerns on the backburner for the same reason.

Anyone who doesn't have the maturity to do that, and select a good wartime leader (which I think Rudy would be), is just being a phony, especially in light of our side's argument during the post 911 climate.

[HitmanLV]

Yea, I can see that.

As you know I am a NYC expatriate, having grown alienated from the town during the 1990s.

I actually think it got too safe - I think a town like nyc should have a bit of a bad attitude, and the threat of a knuckle sandwich should always be present. That has a very civilizing impact on a town, and I miss it.

Now it's too many man-boys (or boy-men) throwing up on Bleecker Street at 2am on a Thursday night for my taste. Sweatshirts, balding hair cropped short, baseball cap backwards.

And the women who love them.

Not my town anymore. Also the thing I find most alienating about nyc, and this genuinely seems lost on most of the inhabitants, is the astonishing provincialism. If it doesn't happen on the Rock, it doesn't happen at all. That's a huge turnoff to me, always was.

This is made more amusing to me by the stunning incongruence: it's a city of people who will talk your ear off telling you how sophisticated, worldly, well informed they are, and at the same time their provincialism betrays that rhetoric. It makes me laugh.

I wish NYC would remain frozen in either the early 1960s (that 'How to Murder Your Wife' image), or the early 1970s (The TV Odd Couple's NYC). Those are the NYC's that forever live in my mind: while not perfect, the city had style, sass, and a bad attitude.

Hey if you catch a plane now I can meet you in the lounge at the Sahara at 1am? What do you say? :-)

[Spiff]

Rudy is pro-radical homosexual agenda, pro-abortion (including the barbaric partial birth abortion, etc. He's not conservative. He's not even in line with the Republican Party Platform. It would be a disaster to put him on the ticket.

[pollyannaish]

Thanks for the first hand info. I like his ability to see through the "you can't do it" bs. You can—and he did.

I like him as well. There are people who bore me, and people who seem like genuine, interesting human beings. Rudy is one of those.

As far as his Presidential opportunities, I definitely do not rule out Guilliani. But he is not my top choice. You are absolutely dead on regarding the WOT. But I would also like someone with a bit more of a smaller government bent. I hope there is someone with a commitment to both that also has a strong presidential temperament.

Time will tell. I admire him greatly. I am glad he is on our side.

Like I said, I really appreciate your perspective on this. I am bookmarking your post for future reference. Thanks.

[HitmanLV]

A shame he wasn't selected to be the first (or the second) Director of Homeland Security. The bad guys would have soiled their dirty nightshirts at that news!

I suspect should he run and win (and I'd support him in the national election, though like you maybe not in the primary - depends who else is there), the bad guys would really lose control of their bowels for a good day or two.

Rudy as Prez during the war on terror is my kinda thing - a no-nonsense, hard headed guy with an attitude! Oh, and this time, it's PERSONAL! ;-)

[durasell]

Wait for it, it'll come back. The stock market will crash, kids come to the city looking for rock star fame, ganging up four to an apt., there will be new Cedar Taverns or Kettle of Fishes.

And even now, it's still the same, only different People still come to give life their best shot.

[pollyannaish]

I agree on the HLS. A global broken windows philosophy would cause quite the, well, yes, pants wetting.

Heck, just sending him to the UN with Bolton would pretty much cause meltdown.

[HitmanLV]

Works for me!

[durasell]

The broken window/quality of life thing wasn't Rudy, it was Bratton. As was the use of computers to track crime patterns.

[durasell]

Why don't you jump a plane, we'll hit the after hours joints. Yes, they still exist.

[HitmanLV]

Not today! I am taking Galpal to a Neil Diamond concert in LA on Friday and spending the weekend with her in The City of Angels.

Then back home to LV and my old pal from law school is in town for a law seminar/event/boring thing (which reminds me why I left the legal biz). So I'm booked for a bit!

I'll be in nyc in december, maybe we can do an adventure then! I'd love to put on my coat and hat (I have a nice fedora) and find trouble in manhattantown with you.

Let's start at The Oak Room at about 10pm - that's when the call girls start to show up, and they are always great for conversation, you know?

PS - Yea, the call girls show up at the bar in the Bellagio around 7pm! :-)

[HitmanLV]

'Bratton' is a bad word in Casa Giulliani, son! ;-)

[ncountylee]

If the choice is between Rudy and Hillary, it has to be Rudy. The beast must be stopped.

[durasell]

Ah, Oak Room/ Oak Bar are gone -- the Plaza is going condos/shopping mall, Trump drove it into the ground.