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
Ahhh the voice of reason! Thank you!
Hillary is the best thing the Republican Party has going for it.
And that is PATHETIC.
Yeah, Hitler was competent (the trains ran on time, especially to the concentration camps) also.
And so were the jack-booted government thugs that recently went against their oath to support and defend the Constitution (state and federal), by following the illegal, UNCONSTITUTIONAL orders of corrupt, inept Louisiana officials, by CONFISCATING the guns of law-abiding citizens.
Those JBT's were VERY competent at doing that, and I think RINO Rudy would be just the type of power-hungry, gun-grabbing bureaucrat to do this same thing at the drop of a hat, if he thought he could get away with it.
I think integrity, respect for our Constitution, including ALL of the Bill of Rights (not just the parts RINO Rudy, and his ilk, like), respect for life (especially that of the innocent and defenseless, like unborn babies), respect for religion and religious beliefs, and respect for our country's history and traditions are most important in gauging the leadership qualities of our prospective leaders.
After we gauge a prospective leader on those primary points above, then we can look at competence, and other traits that will be important issues for our elected leaders in the next, and all subsequent elections (if we don't let the demonRATs take power again).
Yeah, Hitler was competent (the trains ran on time, especially to the concentration camps) also.
And so were the jack-booted government thugs that recently went against their oath to support and defend the Constitution (state and federal), by following the illegal, UNCONSTITUTIONAL orders of corrupt, inept Louisiana officials, by CONFISCATING the guns of law-abiding citizens.
Those JBT's were VERY competent at doing that, and I think RINO Rudy would be just the type of power-hungry, gun-grabbing bureaucrat to do this same thing at the drop of a hat, if he thought he could get away with it.
I think integrity, respect for our Constitution, including ALL of the Bill of Rights (not just the parts RINO Rudy, and his ilk, like), respect for life (especially that of the innocent and defenseless, like unborn babies), respect for religion and religious beliefs, and respect for our country's history and traditions are most important in gauging the leadership qualities of our prospective leaders.
After we gauge a prospective leader on those primary points above, then we can look at competence, and other traits that will be important issues for our elected leaders in the next, and all subsequent elections (if we don't let the demonRATs take power again).
You are "seeing" a fantasy of your own imagining. There is no Cult of Personality here and making that ridiculous claim just shows you don't know what one really is.
Guiliani is a leader who can get things done and that is what the Executive branch is supposed to be. He has tackled extremely difficult problems successfully: cleaning up and making safer NYC (which many considered impossible) and attacking the Mob. There is no potential candidate with equivalent credentials.
You have a false understanding of the issue. First, can you show me in the Constitution where it says that people can marry other people of the same sex? Can you even show me "sexual orientation" in the Constitution? No, you can't.
Homosexuals have the same rights I do - they can marry anyone they want...of the opposite sex. What they want are SPECIAL rights. If you allow gays to marry then you cannot forbid polygamy or father marrying daughter - they all can claim a special right. Thereinlies the rub.
Invoking Godwin's law. Over and out.
The effectiveness of any argument is inversely related to the number of times Hitler is thrown into it. Hence you should work on yours. Oh yeah and using "Jackbooted Thugs" in the same argument also loses points big time. I do commend you for not throwing in "fascist."
Embarassing ain't it? Tellya another dirty little secret? Rudy ain't exactly a red-nosed reindeer when it comes to adventurous interactions with the opposite sex. He's also a "my way or the highway" kinda guy, with a petty jealous streak about who gets credit for what. In fact he drove out the best police chief NYC ever had because the guy was getting kinda famous.
Yo, Rudy, love ya babe. Take a friggin' hike ... or a FEMA job.
I think you have a false understanding of what I wrote. I never said marriage was a Constitutional right or that I favored Gay Marriage as law. I never said they should receive "special" rights or that "sexual orientation" was mentioned in the Constitution. Read again.."I do NOT favor gay marriage for one".....
"The choice is between Rudy and Hillary." - babaloo
That statement is false. Allen, McCain, and Giuliani each have about a 20% chance of nomination, and the GOP nominee has about a 50% chance of winning the election - do the math.
Thanks for the laugh. You made my morning.
Am I the only one who thinks if Rudy G. became serious about the Presidency he would move to the right? Look at where he was trying to get elected in when he was mayor. You aren't going to be very successful as a very right of center candidate in NYC. Nationally it is a different story. We see Hillary doing it, why do we think politicians from the right won't do the same thing?
Maybe Rudy's mom would agree with you.
Whoever the Republicans run for President in 2008, they would be well-advised to have someone on the ticket, either in the first spot or the second, who is strong on the Second Amendment. And I don't mean just lip service. I mean someone like Tom DeLay, who is not afraid to be seen in the company of law-abiding gun owners.
For entirely too long the Republicans have taken it for granted that gun owners would take one look at the gun-grabbing Democrats and vote in a block for the Republican candidate no matter what. Those days are over. There are other choices out there.
To get my vote in the next presidential election the Republican candidate, whoever he or she is, had better be vocal on a daily basis in favor of the right to keep and bear arms. And it would not hurt him or her to be a Life Member of the NRA. I guess that rules out gun-hating John McInsane.
In my view, anyone who votes for a candidate as LIBERAL as Rudy is at least a wishy-washy conservative and at most a liberal himself.
Nobody, but nobody, on either side of the aisle, is as big a gun grabber as Guiliani.
If you work for the government, you can own a gun. If you don't work for the government and you need a gun, call somebody from the government to come and assist you.
How sad it is that most Republicans have abandoned conservative principles of Ronald Reagan, and that the party can no longer stomach true conservatism (the lineup of liberal speakers at the last GOP convention is a clue to this reality). The GOP is no longer conservative - most are light democrats. It is just a matter of time before people start bolting this morally compromised party - the sooner the better!
I should have stated, "For the purposes of this argument, the choice is between Rudy and Hillary". Sheesh!
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